HENDERSON'S 


Handbook  of  Plants 

AND 

GENERAL    HORTICULTURE. 

BY 

PETER  HENDERSON, 

AUTHOR   OF 

•'GARDENING  FOR  PROFIT,"  "PRACTICAL  FLORICULTURE/' 
"GARDENING  FOR  PLEASURE,"  ETC.,  ETC., 

AND  JOINT  AUTHOR   OF 

"HOW  THE  FARM  PAYS." 


NEW  EDITION. 


NEW  YORK : 

PUBLISHED  BY  PETER  HENDERSON  &  COMPANY, 

35    AND   37    CORTLANpT   STREET. 


1910. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1890,  by 

PETER    HENDERSON     &    CO., 

In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington,  D.  CS, 


Press  of  John  C.  Kankin  Co.,  New  York. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITIOI. 


"7^    LTHOUGH  I  have  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  the  flattering  reception 
/  %        given  to  the  first  edition  of  the  Handbook  of  Plants,   issued  in  1881,  yet  I 
>L     %  have  ever  believed  that  its  scope  was  too  limited;  that  the  requirements 

^»^^  of  the  thousands  of  amateurs,  young  florists  and  gardeners,  needed  some- 
thing having  a  wider  range.  To  meet  that  want  there  is  not  only  added  in  the  present 
edition  all  the  new  genera  of  any  importance  up  to  date,  but  there  is  specified  in  many 
instances  the  more  important  and  useful  species  and  varieties  of  the  genera 
described,  together  with  brief  instructions  for  propagation  and  culture.  The  botanical 
and  technical  terms,  and  a  very  full  list  of  the  best-known  English  or  popular  names,  are 
also  given,  and  great  care  has  been  exercised  to  have  all  the  generic  names  accentuated 
according  to  the  latest  authorities.  Nearly  one  thousand  engravings  of  the  various 
plants  described  in  the  body  of  this  work  are  shown.  The  natural  system  of  arrange- 
ment being  now  generally  used,  is  adopted  in  the  descriptions  instead  of  the  Linnsean  or 
artificial  system. 

Very  full  instructions  are  given  for  the  culture  and  forcing  of  all  Fruits,  Flowers 
and  Vegetables  of  importance,  such  as  Grape  Vines,  Strawberries,  Roses,  Bulbs  of  all 
kinds.  Celery,  Cauliflower,  Tomatoes,  Cucumbers,  Mushrooms,  etc. ;  in  short,  I  believe 
that  there  is  sufficient  matter  given  on  all  gardening  subjects  to  allow  me  to  claim  for 
this  book  that  it  is  an 

A9IHR.ICAX  Gardener's  Dictionary. 

A  series  of  tables  and  memoranda  on  horticultural  and  agrictdtural  subjects,  such 
as  Seeds,  Crops,  Stock,  Forestry,  Measures,  Weights,  Temperature,  etc.,  is  also  added, 
which,  together  with  a  carefully  compiled  glossary  of  the  technical  terms  used  in 
describing  plants,  and  a  monthly  calendar  of  operations  for  the  green-house  and  window 
garden,  flower,  fruit  and  kitchen  garden,  will  undoubtedly  render  this  edition  valuable 
as  a  book  of  reference. 

The  name  of  the  book  will  now  be  "  The  Handbook  of  Plants  and  General  Horti- 
culture," and  I  beheve  that  for  all  practical  purposes  it  wiU  be  better  adapted  to  the 
wants  of  American  horticulturists  than  any  of  the  more  costly  British  works  on  garden- 
ing, and  at  one-third  of  their  cost;  for  though  from  a  foreign  standpoint  these  are  all 
ihey  claim  to  be,  yet  for  the  American  climate  much  of  the  information,  and  especially 
the  gardening  instructions,  are  not  only  useless,  but  actually  misleading. 

In  the  first  edition  of  this  work  I  was  largely  indebted  to  the  following  books  as 

authorities  : 

Loudon's  Encyclopfedia  of  Plants;  Paxton's  Botanical  Dictionary;  Paxton's  Magazine  of 
Botany ;  Johnson's  Gardener's  Dictionary ;  Mcintosh's  Book  of  the  Garden ;  Ehind's  Vegetable 
Kingdom  ;  Lindley's  Treasury  of  Botany ;  Orchid  Grower's  Manual ;  Miller's  Gardener's  Diction- 
ary ;  Gerarde's  Herbal  (1597) ;  Parkinson's  Garden  of  Pleasant  Flowers  (1629) ;  Dodoen's  Plants 
(1587) ;  Gray's  Manual  of  Botany ;  Chapman's  Southern  Flora ;  American  Agriculturist,  of  New 
York;  The  Gardener's  Monthly,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa. ;  and  The  Garden,  London,  England. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  I  am  indebted  for  plants  of  late  introduction  to — 

Nicholson's  Dictionary  of  Gardening,  The  Garden  Oracle,  Eobinson's  English  Flower  Garden, 
The  Gardener's  Chronicle,  Journal  of  Horticulture  (London),  and  the  various  American  horticultural 
journals. 

In  compiling  this  edition,  I  have  been  most  ably  assisted  by  Mr.  Wm.  J.  Davidson, 
of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  who  not  only  is  a  thorough  botanist,  but  is  perhaps  the  peer  of  any 
man  in  the  United  States  to-day  in  his  all-round  knowledge  of  garden  work. 

PETER  HENDERSON. 
Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  January,  1890. 


Il^DEX. 


Although  this  work  is  alphabetically  arranged,  yet  as  a  quicker  means  of  looking  up  cultural 
directions  of  important  plants  and  matters  pertaining  to  general  horticulture,  we  give  the  follow- 
ing Index : 


Page 

Alfalfa 15 

Alpine  Plants 17 

Annuals 2i 

Asparagus 35 

Avenues 39 

Bark    42 

Bedding  46 

Binding  Plants 50 

Blackberry 384 

Blight 61 

Borders,  Flower 53 

Bouquets,  etc 54 

Budding 69 

Cauliflower 75 

Celery 76 

Cisterns 88 

Club  Root 92 

Coffee 94 

Cold  Frames  iuul  Pits 96 

Color  in  Flowers 97 

Conseryatory 100 

Coral  Tree 144 

Cotton  Plant 172 

Cranberry 204 

Cultivator Ill 

Damping  off 120 

Designs 123 

Draining 133 

Egg  Plant 137 

Ferns 152 

Ferf  llizcrs 163 

Florists'  Flowers 156 

Forcing  Fruits,  Flowers  and  Vege- 
tables   ". 156 

Fountains 157 

Frozen  Plants 159 

Oas  Lime  aiid  Oas  Tar 163 

Ginkgo  Tree 390 

Gladiolus 166 

Glass  and  Glazing 167 

Grafting 173 

Grape  Vine 482 

Grasses 173  and  174 

Green-bouse 176 

Hand  Glass 180 

Hanging  Baskets 180 

Heating  by  Flues,  Hot-beds,  Dot 

Water,  etc 181-183 

Hedges 184 

Herbaceous  Plants 186 


Page 

Herbarium 188 

Horse-radish 193 

Hjbridization 197 

Immortelles 185 

Insecticides 201 

Insects 202 

Johnson  Grass 210 

Lawn 219 

Lilies 225 

Lily  of  the  Valley 101 

Magnolia 238 

liauures   242 

Marker 244 

Mildew 253 

Moles 256 

Mulching 2H0 

Mushrooms 261 

Narcissus 269 

Orchard  286 

Orchid  Culture 287 

Ornamental  Planting 290 

Paper  Plants 302 

Parlor  Gardening 303 

Pearl  Millet 309 

Pitcher  Plants 273 

Planting 330 

Planting,  Evil  of  Deep 330 

Plant  Protectors 331 

Plan's  in  Rooms 331 

Plants  for  Shady  Places 331 

Plants  for  Sea  Side 404 

Plant  Stove 331 

Plants,  Unhealthy 832 

Poisonous  Plants 337 

Potting ^ 344 

Propagation  by  Cuttings 350 

Propagation  by  Layering .  352 

Propagation  by  Seeds,  etc 349 

Pruning  353 

Rake,  use  of    363 

Raspberry    384 

Rhubarb 367 

Rock  Garden 373 

Rock  Work  374 

Rollers 375 

Roman  Hyacinth 195 

Rose   376 

Rose,  culture  of  the 380 

Rotation  of  Crops 383 

Bust  386 


Paox 

Rustic  Work 38» 

Sainfoin .  .  288 

Screens 402 

Sea  Kale 403 

Seeds,  where  grown 406 

Shading 411 

Soil 417 

Sorghum 419 

Sowing,  use  of  the  feet  in 422 

Smilax 267 

Strawberry 436 

Strawberry  Forcing 436 

Stock  Gilliflower 245 

Subsoiling 440 

Sub-tropical  Garden 440 

Table,  Stage  and  Bench 444 

Temperature 448 

Transplanting 463 

Trenching 460 

Tuberose 338 

Vases 474 

Ventilating 474 

Violets 480 

Walks 487 

Wardian  Case 488 

Water  Cress 270 

Waterfall 48» 

Watering 489 

Water  Lilies 278  and  478 

Water  Plants 490 

Weeds 492 

Winter  FlowerlDg  Plants 495 

Working  Roots 497 

Glossary     504-610 

Calendar  of  Garden  Operations 

(Monthly) 511-518 

Tables  on  Temperature 519 

Soil,  Memoranda  on 520 

Manures,  "         62(/ 

Fertilizers,  "         620 

Crops,  "         521 

Seeds,  "        521 

Stock,  "        522 

Forestry,  "         ..  523 

Masonry,  etc.,  523 

Weights  and  Measures 624 

Foreign  Money 525 

Measuring  Trees  and  other  Mis- 
cellaneous Information 626 


HENDERSON'S 

HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


AND 


GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


AAR 

Aaron's  Beard.     Hypericum  calydnum. 
aron's  Club.      Verbascum  Thapsus. 

Aba'ca,  a  popular  name  given  to  one  of  the 
Mvsas  or  Bananas  of  the  Philippine  Islands, 
which  yields  Manilla  hemp. 

Abe'le.  The  White  Poplar,  Populus  alba,  of  Eu- 
rope ;  a  tree  that  has  been  extensively  planted 
as  an  ornamental  tree,  but  discarded  because 
of  its  tendency  to  sucker  and  spread  beyond 
control. 

Abe'lia.  After  Dr.  Abel,  physician  to  the  embas- 
sage of  Lord  Amherst  to  China.  Nat.  Ord. 
Caprifoliacece. 

A.  small  genus  of  green-house  shrubs,  found 
in  India,  China,  Mexico,  and  Japan.  They  are 
of  a  slender  branching  habit,  bearing  opposite 
leaves  and  terminal  bunches  of  tubular  rose- 
colored  or  dark  crimson  flowers.  A.  rupestris, 
a  native  of  China,  is  of  dwarf  habit,  and  flow- 
ers profusely  in  autumn  or  winter.  The 
flowers  are  in  compact  clusters,  very  fragrant. 
A.  rupestris  grandifiora,  a  seedling  of  Italian 
origin,  has  larger  flowers,  and  the  whole  plant 
is  more  robust.  A.  floribunfla,  a  Mexican 
species,  has  dark-colored  flowers,  produced 
from  the  axils  of  the  leaves.  All  the  species 
are  inci'eased  by  cuttings.  Introduced  in 
1844. 

Abelmo'schus  esculentus.  The  modern  botan- 
ical name  for  Okra.     See  Hibiscus. 

Abe'ria.  A  genus  of  Flacourtiacece,  consisting  of 
a  few  species,  mostly  natives  of  tropical  Af- 
rica, the  Cape,  and  Ceylon.  The  fruits  of  A. 
Caffra,  the  Kei  apple  of  the  Cape,  are  of  a 
golden-yellow  color,  about  the  size  of  a  small 
apple,  and  are  used  by  the  natives  for  making 
a  preserve.  They  are  so  exceedingly  acid 
when  fresh,  that  the  Dutch  settlers  prepare 
them  for  their  table  as  a  pickle,  without  vin- 
egar. The  plant  is  also  much  grown  for 
hedges;  being  densely  clothed  with  strong, 
dry  spines,  it  forms  an  impenetrable  fence. 

Aberrant.  Something  which  differs  from  the 
customary  or  usual  structure,  or  deviates 
from  the  natural  or  direct  way.  Also,  a  group 
of  plants  which  stands  intermediate,  as  it 
were,  between  two  other  groups ;  e.  g.,  Fuma- 
riacece,  which  are  by  some  regarded  as  an 
aberrant  group  of  Papaveracem. 

AHbies.  Spruce,  Fir.  The  classical  Latin  name, 
Nat.  Ord.  Coniferoe. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  evergreen  trees. 
Most  of  the  species  are  orflamental,  and  are 


ABE 

extensively  planted  for  hedges  around  large 
grounds,  or  for  single  specimens  on  the  lawn. 
A.  excelsa,  the  Norway  Spruce,  is  the  most 
commonly  planted,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
graceful  and  popular  species.  A.  alba  is  the 
White  Spruce;  A.  balsamea,  the  Balsam  Fir; 
and  A.  nigra,  the  Black  or  Double  Spruce. 
The  correct  name  of  A.  Canadensis,  the  Hem- 
lock Spruce,  is  Tsuga  Canadensis,  which  see. 
A.  Douglaasii,  syn.  Pseudotsuga  Douglaaii,  is  a 
noble  species,  common  west  of  the  Eocky 
Mountains.  It  attains  a  height  of  two  hun- 
dred feet,  and  a  diameter  of  ten  feet,  and  is 
entitled  to  a  place  among  the  "great  trees" 
of  California. 

Abnormal.  Opposed  to  the  usual  structure. 
Thus,  stamens  standing  opposite  to  petals  are 
abnormal,  it  being  usual  for  stamens  to  be 
alternate  with  petals  if  equal  to  them  in  num- 
ber. Leaves  growing  in  pairs  from  the  same 
side  of  a  stem,  as  in  Atropa  Belladonna,  and 
flower  stalks  adherent  to  the  midrib  of  a 
bract,  as  in  Tilia,  are  also  abnormal. 

Abo'bra.  Its  Brazilian  name.  Nat.  Ord.  Cu- 
curbitacecB. 

A.  viridiflora  is  a  very  pretty  climber,  suita- 
ble for  planting  out  during  summer.  Foliage 
dark  green  and  glossy ;  flowers  insignificant, 
but  the  small  scarlet  fruit  makes  the  plant 
very  effective.  Eoot  tuberous,  perennial. 
Keep  during  winter  like  the  Dahlia. 

Abortive.  Imperfectly  developed  ;  as  abortive 
stamens,  which  consist  of  a  filament  only; 
abortive  petals,  which  are  mere  bristles  or 
scales. 

Abro'ma.  From  a,  privative,  and  broma,  food ; 
unfit  to  be  eaten.     Nat.  Ord.  Sterculiacece. 

Handsome,  free-flowering  species  of  easy 
culture,  growing  readily  in  common  loam,  and 
propagated  by  seeds  or  offsets.  The  flowers 
are  in  terminal  or  axillary  clusters,  yellow  or 
purple.  A.  sinuosa,  from  Madagascar,  intro- 
duced in  1884,  is  a  very  pretty  plant  of  slender 
habit.  The  bark  of  A.  augusta,  a  na-tive  of  the 
East  Indies,  furnishes  a  very  strong  white 
fiber,  used  in  the  manufacture  of  cordage  that 
is  not  liable  to  be  weakened  by  exposure  to 
wet.  Of  easy  culture ;  propagated  by  seeds 
or  cuttings.   Introduced  to  cultivation  in  1770. 

Abro'nia.  Sand  Verbena.  From  abros,  deli- 
cate ;  referring  to  its  involucrum.  Nat.  Ord. 
Nyctaginacece. 

These  charming  annuals  are  natives  of  Cal- 
ifornia.    A.  umbellata,  introduced  in  1826,  is  a 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


ABR 

handsome  trailing  plant,  well  adapted  for 
rock-work,  suspended  baskets,  or  beds,  flow- 
ering freely  during  the  autumn  months. 
Flowers  in  trusses,  like  the  Verbena,  of  a 
rosy-lilac  color,  very  fragrant.  They  succeed 
well  also  in  the  garden  border.  Seed  should 
be  sown  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  in  order. 
They  may  with  profit  be  started  in  a  hot-bed 
or  frame,  and  transplanted  to  any  desired  sit- 
uation. 

A'brus.  Wild  Liquorice.  From  abroa,  soft ;  in 
allusion  to  the  delicacy  of  the  leaves.  Nat. 
Ord.  Leguminofice. 

A.  precatorius,  the  only  species,  is  found  in 
India,  the  West  Indies,  and  the  Mauritius.  It 
is  chiefly  remarkable  for  its  small,  egg-shaped 
seeds,  which  are  of  a  brilliant  scarlet  color, 
with  a  black  mark,  indicating  the  place  where 
they  were  attached  to  the  pod.  These  seeds 
are  much  used  for  necklaces  and  other  orna- 
mental purposes,  and  are  employed  in  India 
as  a  standard  of  weight,  under  the  name  of 
Rati.  The  weight  of  the  Koh-i-noor  diamond 
is  known  to  have  been  ascertained  in  this  way. 
The  specific  name  is  from  precatorius,  prayer, 
the  seeds  being  used  for  rosaries. 

Absinth.    See  Artemisia  absinthium. 

Abu'tilon.  Chinese  Bell-flower.  Arabic  name 
for  a  plant  like  a  Mallow.  Nat.  Ord.  Malvacece. 
A  highly  interesting  genus  of  free-growing 
and  free-flowering  shrubs,  excellent  both  for 
the  green-house  and  for  garden  decoration  in 
summer.  They  produce  white,  rose,  yellow, 
or  orange-colored  flowers,  all  except  the  white 
being  veined  or  striped  with  red  and  crimson. 
They  grow  rapidly  when  planted  in  sandy 
loam,  and  are  readily  propagated  by  cuttings. 

Aca'cia.  From  akazo,  to  sharpen,  on  account 
of  the  prickliness  of  the  species  first  noticed. 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

An  extensive  group  of  really  handsome 
plants,  many  of  them  assuming  in  their  native 
positions  the  character  of  timber  trees ;  but 
with  us  are  easily  accommodated  in  a  good 
conservatory,  where  their  bright  yellow  flow- 
ers, produced  in  winter  and  early  spring,  are 
highly  ornamental.  The  species  best  deserv- 
ing of  cultivation  are  all  natives  of  Australia, 
New  South  Wales,  and  other  temperate  re- 
gions, and  are  among  the  hardiest  and  most 
easily  cultivated  of  green-house  plants.  They 
succeed  best  when  planted  out  in  the  green- 
house, but  may  be  satisfactorily  managed  in 
pots,  if  grown  in  a  sandy  loam.  Cuttings  may 
be  struck  in  a  gentle  heat  under  glass,  though 
young  plants  are  more  easily  obtained  from 
seed. 

Acae'na.  From  Akaina,  a  thorn ;  in  allusion  to 
the  thorns  or  bristles  on  the  calyx  or  fruit. 
Nat.  Ord.  Rosac&je. 

A  small  genus,  natives  of  Australia  and  Tas- 
mania. A.  micrnphulla  is  a  dwarf-growing 
plant,  with  dark  brown  pinnately-divided 
leaves,  growing  freely  in  light  soil ;  flowers  in 
globular  heads  in  August  and  September.  It 
is  chiefly  remarkable  for  the  crimson-colored 
spines  that  protrude  from  the  angles  of  the 
calyx.  Propagation  by  cuttings.  Introduced 
1854.     Syn.  A.  Novce  Zealandicn. 

Aca'lypha.  From  akaloa,  unpleasant,  and  aphe, 
touch.     Nat.  Ord.  EuphorbiacecB. 

This  genus  comprises  over  two  hundred 
species,  widely  distributed  over  the  warmer 


ACA 

regions,  several  being  extra-tropical  Ameri- 
can. A.  tricolor  is  a  handsome  green-house 
shrub  with  coppery-green  foliage,  curiously 
blotched,  mottled,  and  splashed  with  red  and 
crimson.  It  is  a  native  of  the  New  Hebrides. 
Introduced  in  18G6.  A.  Macafeeana,  A.  Mar- 
ginata,  and  others  of  the  hybridized  varieties, 
when  well  grown  have  highly-colored  leaves, 
and  as  they  stand  the  sun  well,  are  desirable 
for  vases,  rustic  designs,  or  garden  decora- 
tions.    They  are  increased  by  cuttings. 

Acantha'ceae.  A  large  order  of  soft-wooded 
herbaceous  plants  with  monopetalous  axillary 
flowers.  In  tropical  regions  they  are  very 
common,  constituting  a  large  part  of  the  herb- 
age. One  genus,  however,  the  Acanthus,  is 
found  in  Greece,  and  two,  Dianthera  and 
Ruellia,  are  natives  of  this  country.  The 
greater  part  are  mere  weeds,  but  some  are 
plants  of  great  beauty,  especially  the  species 
of  Justicia,  Aphelandra,  Cyrlanlhera,  and 
Ruellia.  For  the  most  part  they  are  mucilag- 
inous and  slightly  bitter,  and  some  are  used 
in  dyeing. 

Acantholi'mon.  From  Acanthos,  a  spine,  and 
limon,  sea-lavender;  referring  to  its  leaves 
and  bracts.     Nat.  Ord.  PlumbaginacecB. 

A.  glumaceum,  the  only  species  of  interest, 
is  a  dense,  tufty,  prosti-ate  plant,  with  needle- 
shaped  leaves  and  pink  flowers,  closely  re- 
lated to  Statice,  and  formerly  grown  under  the 
name  of  S.  Ararati;  it  is  well  adapted  for 
rock-work  ;  blooms  in  July  and  August.  Na- 
tive of  Armenia.     Introduced  in  1851. 

Acanthopa'nax.  From  acanthos,  a  spine,  and 
Panax ;  alluding  to  the  spiny  stems  and  Panax- 
like  aspect  of  the  plants.  Nat.  Ord.  AraliaceiB. 
A  genus  of  green-house  shrubs,  natives  of 
Japan,  China,  and  tropical  Asia,  differing  bo- 
tanically  from  Aralia,  from  which  genus  they 
are  removed.  There  are  about  eight  species, 
of  which  the  most  desirable  are  A.  ricinifolia 
(syn.  Aralia  Maximowiczii)  and  A.  spinosum, 
better  known  as  Aralia  pentaphylla. 

Acanthophip'pium.  A  genus  of  terrestrial  or- 
chids allied  to  Bletia,  with  large  fleshy,  tubu- 
lar flowers  growing  almost  at  the  base  of  the 
leaves.  The  flowers  are  rather  pretty  and 
fi'agrant,  remaining  a  long  time  in  bloom. 
There  are,  however,  so  many  more  desirable 
orchids  that  they  are  rarely  seen  in  collections 
of  these  popular  plants. 

Acanthophoe'nix.  A  genus  of  Palms,  estab- 
lished for  two  species,  closely  allied  to  Areca, 
from  the  Mascaren  Islands.  They  do  not  ap- 
pear to  differ  from  that  genus  except  in  habit. 
The  stems  are  shorter,  and  the  petiole  and 
midrib  of  the  leaves  are  armed  with  long  fili- 
form prickles.     Introduced  in  1868. 

Acanthorhl'za.  A  small  genus  of  Palms, 
closely  allied  to  Chamcerops,  from  which,  how- 
ever, they  differ  in  having  their  leaves  divided 
into  broad  segments,  and  the  peculiar  spiny 
roots  which  surround  the  base  of  the  stem. 
These  plants  are  very  ornamental,  either  for 
the  conservatory  or  the  sub-tropical  garden. 

Acan'thus.  From  akanthos,  a  spine ;  some  of 
the  species  being  spiny.  Nat.  Ord.  Acan- 
thacece. 

A  group  of  stately  ornamental  perennial 
plants,  mostly  hardy,  remarkable  for  their  vig- 
orous growth  and  beautiful  foliage.    It  is  con- 


ADONIS  ^STIVALIS. 


ABUTILON. 


AGBOSTEMMA  CORONABIA, 


ACROCLINIUM. 


^THIONEMA. 


''■""^^^3^ 


AOEBATUM  (DWARF). 


ACHILLEA  MILLE FOLIUM. 


ASONTS  VEBNALIS. 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


ACA 

jectured  that  the  leaf  of  A.  spinosus  furnished 
the  model  for  the  decoration  of  the  capitals  of 
the  columns  in  the  Corinthian  style  of  archi- 
tecture. Propagated  by  seeds  or  division  of 
the  roots. 

Acaulescent.    With  apparently  no  stem. 

Accessory.  Something  additional,  not  usually 
present. 

Acclimatize.  To  accustom  a  plant  to  live  in 
the  open  air  without  protection,  in  a  country 
where  it  is  not  indigenous.  We  give  the 
meaning  attached  to  the  term,  though  we 
question  the  popular  belief.  Plants  may  be- 
come acclimatized  in  the  course  of  ages,  but 
not  perceptibly  in  anj-  one  generation.  It  is 
true  we  can  temporarily  and  gradually  harden 
off  a  plant  so  that  it  will  stand  a  great  degree 
of  cold,  but  the  product  of  that  plant,  whether 
from  cuttings  or  seeds,  will  not  be  hardier 
than  the  original  individual. 

Accumbent.  Lying  against  anything ;  used  in 
opposition  to  incumbent,  or  lying  upon  some- 
thing ;  a  term  employed  in  describing  the  em- 
brj-o  of  Crucifers. 

A'cer.  Maple.  From  acer,  hard,  or  shai'p ;  the 
vrood  is  extremely  hard,  and  was  formerly 
much  used  for  making  pikes  and  lances.  Nat. 
Qj'd.  Aceracece. 

A  genus  comprised  for  the  most  part  of 
handsome  deciduous  shrubs  and  trees,  well 
adapted  for  forming  shrubberies,  and  used  ex- 
tensively as  shade  trees.  Several  of  the  spe- 
cies produce  very  valuable  timber.  Sugar  is 
one  of  the  constituent  parts  of  the  sap  in  all 
of  the  species,  and  in  this  country  large  quan- 
tities of  excellent  sugar  and  syrup  are  manu- 
factured from  the  sap  of  the  Sugar  Maple,  A. 
Saccharatum.  The  beautiful  varieties  of  A. 
Japonicum  and  A.  palmatum,  introduced  by 
Mr.  Thomas  Hogg  from  Japan,  form  strikingly 
handsome  objects  for  lawn  decoration.  The 
leaves  of  some  of  them  are  beautifully  dis- 
sected, rivalling  fern  fronds  in  beauty,  while 
many  others  have  the  richest  tints  of  yellow, 
pink,  red  and  brown,  giving  them  during  the 
entire  summer  a  rich  autumnal  appearance. 
They  are  perfectly  hardy,  and  are  increased 
by  grafting  on  a  dwarf  Japanese  species.  A. 
negundo,  or  Box  Elder,  is  now  called  Negundo 
aceroides,  or  N.  fraxinifolium,  which  see. 

Acera'cese.  A  natural  order  of  trees  and  shrubs 
inhabiting  Europe,  the  temperate  parts  of  Asia, 
the  north  of  India,  and  North  America.  The 
order  is  unknown  in  Africa  and  the  southern 
hemisphere.  The  bark  of  some  is  astringent, 
and  yields  reddish-brown  and  yellow  colors. 
The  order  only  contains  three  genera,  and 
rather  more  than  fifty  species,  of  which  the 
Maple  and  Sycamore  are  well-known  repre- 
sentatives. 

A'ceras.  Man  Orchis.  From  a,  without,  and 
Keras,  a  horn ;  the  lip  having  no  spur.  A 
very  interesting  genus  of  terrestrial  orchids, 
the  most  singular  of  which  is  the  Green  Man 
Orchis,  indigenous  to  dry,  chalky  pastures  in 
the  southeast  of  England. 

Acera'tes.  Green  Milkweed.  A  genus  of  ^scfe- 
pediacem,  natives  of  America  and  Mexico.  The 
leaves  of  A.  Viridiflora,  one  of  the  most  com- 
mon species,  are  singularly  variable  in  form, 
ranging  from  obovate  to  lanceolate,  or 
linear. 


ACI 

Acerose.  Needle  pointed ;  fine  and  slender,  with 
a  sharp  point. 

Acha'nia  Malvaviscus.  A  synonym  of  Malva- 
viscus  arboreus,  which  see. 

AcMlle'a.  Yariow.  Named  in  honor  of  Achilles, 
a  pupil  of  Chiron,  who  first  used  it  in  medi- 
cine.    Nat.  Ord.  Compoaitce. 

Free-flowering,  hardy  herbaceous  plants, 
particularly  suited  to  plant  among  rock-work, 
or  in  situations  refused  by  more  tender  plants. 
They  are  chiefly  European  plants,  and  the  pre- 
vailing colors  of  the  flowers  are  yellow  and 
white.  A.  millefolium,  or  Milfoil,  the  common 
Yarrow,  is  common  on  our  roadsides  and  neg- 
lected fields.  A.  tomentosa,  of  dense  habit, 
is  one  of  the  best  and  brightest  yellow  flowei's 
for  the  herbaceous  border,  or  rock-garden.  A. 
Ptarmica  flore-pleno  is  another  most  useful 
hardy  perennial,  producing  a  wealth  of  its 
double  white  flowers  all  summer.  It  is  also 
very  useful  for  cutting.  Called  erroneously 
by  some  A.  alba  flora-plena. 

Achime'nes.  From  cheimaino,  to  suffer  from 
cold,  and  a  prefixed  as  an  augraentive ;  allud- 
ing to  the  tenderness  of  the  genus.  Nat.  Ord. 
GesneracecB. 

One  of  the  finest  of  modern  introductions, 
the  whole  of  the  species  being  splendid  sum- 
mer ornaments  of  the  greon-house  or  conserv- 
atory. Flowers  of  all  shades,  from  white  to 
crimson.  The  scaly  bulbs  or  tubers  require 
to  be  kept  perfectly  dormant  in  winter,  and 
about  January  to  be  potted  in  light  loam  and 
leaf-mould,  plunged  into  a  moderate  hot-bed, 
and  encouraged  with  a  warm,  genial  atmos- 
phere. When  they  have  attained  a  few  inches 
in  height  they  may  be  placed  several  together 
in  a  shallow  pan,  or  repotted  separately,  and 
by  the  end  of  April  gradually  inured  to  the 
temperature  of  the  green-house,  where  they 
afford  a  blaze  of  beauty  the  whole  of  the  sum- 
mer. They  are  mostly  natives  of  Mexico  and 
Guatemala,  though  a  few  have  been  received 
from  the  West  Indies. 

Achyra'nthes.  From  acTiuron.chaff,  and  anthoa, 
a  flower;  in  allusion  to  the  chaffy  nature  of 
the  floral  leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaranthacece. 

Most  of  this  genus  are  of  but  little  value. 
Some  of  the  species  are  very  beautiful,  and 
largely  employed  in  ribbon-gardening,  or  any 
situation  where  plants  need  to  be  "trained," 
as  they  can  be  made  to  grow  in  any  desired 
shape  or  form.  They  require  the  full  sunshine 
to  develop  their  intense  color.  Propagated  by 
cuttings.     Syns.  Ireaine  and  Chamissoa. 

Acine'ta.  From  akineta.  immovable;  the  lip 
being  jointless.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacem. 

A  small  genus  of  curious  epiphytal  Orchids 
from  Mexico.  Flowers  yellow,  crimson  and 
yellow,  and  chocolate  and  crimson,  borne  on 
slender  spikes  about  one  foot  long.  They  are 
of  easy  culture,  requiring  a  house  of  medium 
temperature,  and  to  be  grown  in  baskets  of 
moss.     Introduced  in  1837. 

Aciphy'Ua.  From  ake,  a  point,  and  phyllon,  a 
leaf;  referring  to  the  sharply-pointed  seg- 
ments of  the  leaf. 

A  remarkable  genus  of  UmbellifercB .  differing 
only  by  its  curious  habit  and  spinescent  char- 
acter from  Ligusticum.  A.  Colensoi,  a  native 
of  New  Zealand,  forms  a  circular  bush  five  or 
six  feet  in  diameter,  of  bayonet-like  spines, 
having  flowering  stems  six  to  nine  feet  high, 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


ACI 

covered  with  very  long  spinous  leaflets.  Two 
species  are  known,  both  of  which  are  called 
Spear  Grass  and  Wild  Spaniard  by  the  settlers. 
Propagated  by  seeds  or  divisions  in  spring. 
Introduced  in  1875. 

A'cis.  After  Acts,  a  Sicilian  shepherd.  Nat. 
Ord.  AmaryllidaceoE. 

A  genus  of  hardy  bulbs  closely  allied  to  the 
Snowtiake ;  propagated  readily  by  offsets. 
They  should  have  a  sandy  soil,  and  not  be 
often  divided. 

Acme'na.  A  small  genus  of  green-house  ever- 
gieen  shrubs  of  the  Nat.  Ord.  Myrtace<B.  A. 
ovata  has  ovate  leaves,  which,  along  with  the 
stems  and  petioles,  ai"e  dark  purple,  giving  the 
plants  when  making  new  growth  a  very  strik- 
ing appearance. 

Acni'da.  Water  Hemp.  Taken  fi'ora  a,  priva- 
tive, and  knide,  nettle  ;  the  plant  being  like  a 
Nettle,  but  without  stings.  Nat.  Ord.  Cheno- 
podiacecB. 

A .  cannabina,  the  only  species,  is  a  coarse- 
growing,  uninteresting  plant,  common  in  salt 
marshes  on  the  coast  from  Massachusetts  to 
the  Carolinas. 

Aconite.     See  AconUum. 

Aconite,  Winter.  A  popular  name  for  Eranthis 
hyemalis. 

Aconitum.  Aconite,  Monkshood,  Wolfsbane. 
From  Acone,  a  town  in  Bithynia,  where  found. 
Nat.  Ord.  Ranunculacece. 

Herbaceous  perennials,  chiefly  natives  of 
Europe,  but  partly  of  North  America  and  Ja- 
pan. They  are  all  hardy,  and  are  generally 
tall-growing,  handsome  plants,  producing 
abundance  of  dark  blue,  purple  or  yellow  flow- 
ers. They  grow  freely,  and  are  good  plants 
for  the  open  border.  They  are  readily  in- 
creased by  division  of  the  roots,  which  are 
generally  tuberous,  or  by  seeds.  All  the  spe- 
cies are  more  or  less  poisonous,  the  poison 
being  strongest  in  the  root.  Like  all  plants 
which  grow  with  tall,  erect  stems,  and  pro- 
duce their  flowers  in  terminal  spikes,  they  are 
only  suitable  for  growing  in  borders  in  large 
gardens,  or  for  clumps  on  a  lawn.  The  species 
may  be  divided  into  two  kinds :  those  with  the 
helmet  like  a  monk's  cowl,  which  are  called 
Monkshood,  and  those  which  have  an  elon- 
gated conical  helmet,  and  are  called  Wolfs- 
bane. 

Aco'ntias.  A  small  genus  of  plants  so  named 
in  allusion  to  the  spots  on  the  stem,  which  re- 
semble those  of  a  species  of  serpent,  so  called. 
The  genus  belongs  to  the  Caladium  tribe 
of  the  Arum  family,  and  require  the  same 
treatment.  Natives  of  Brazil.  Syn.  Xan- 
thosma. 

Acorus.  Sweet  Flag,  Calamus.  From  a,  priva- 
tive, and  kore,  the  pupil  of  the  eye ;  referring 
to  its  medicinal  qualities.  Nat.  Ord.  AroidecB. 
A  well-known  genus  of  marsh  plants,  natives 
of  the  United  States,  Europe  and  Asia.  A. 
calamus  is  the  Sweet  Flag,  esteemed  for  its 
medicinal  virtues.  A.  gramineus  variegatus  is 
a  pretty  species,  with  white-striped  leaves 
forming  handsome  little  tufts,  very  useful  for 
hanging  baskets,  vases,  &c.,  as  well  as  for 
cutting. 

Acotyledona.  Plants  having  no  cotyledons  or 
seed-lobes,  as  in  Cuscuta.  In  systematic  bot- 
any applied  to  spore-bearing  plants  which  do 


ACB 

not  produce  cotyledons,  as  Ferns  and  Mosses ; 
also  to  spores  themselves,  which  are  embryos, 
without  cotyledons. 

Acrade'nia.     Nat.  Ord.  Rutaceoe. 

A  neat,  compact,  evergreen  green-house 
plant,  introduced  from  Tasmania  in  1845.  A. 
Franklinice  has  pure  white  flowers,  produced 
in  great  profusion  in  terminal  clusters.  Leaves 
fragrant,  opposite,  and  trifoliate. 

Acrocli'nium.  From  akros,  top,  and  Mine,  a 
bed  ;  referring  to  the  open  flowers.  Nat.  Ord. 
Compositce. 

This  interesting  annual  is  one  of  the  most 
valuable  of  the  class  known  as  Everlasting 
Flowers,  and  is  grown  extensively  for  winter 
bouquets.  The  seeds  should  be  started  in  the 
hot-bed  and  transplanted  where  they  are  to 
grow.  Flowers  should  be  picked  as  they  be- 
gin to  expand,  and  carefully  dried  in  the 
shade.  Introduced  from  Western  Australia 
in  1854. 

Acroco'mia.  From  akros,  top,  and  kom^,  a  tuft ; 
referring  to  the  way  the  leaves  are  produced. 
Nat.  Ord.  PalmacecB. 

A  genus  of  gigantic  Palms,  natives  of  South 
America  and  the  West  Indies.  Some  of  the 
species  grow  to  the  height  of  forty  feet,  with 
leaves  fifteen  feet  in  length,  giving  to  the  coun- 
tries they  inhabit  a  feature  of  exquisite  grand- 
eur. The  young  leaves  are  eaten  as  a  vege- 
table, and  the  fruit,  root,  and  stems  are  ap- 
plied to  various  economic  purposes.  Some  of 
the  species  are  found  in  our  green-houses,  but 
are  too  large  for  general  hot-house  culture. 

A'crogens.  Plants  increasing  at  the  sumnait, 
as  Ferns,  etc. 

Acrony'chia.  From  akron,  tuft  or  summit,  and 
onux,  a  claw,  on  account  of  the  original  spe- 
cies having  an  incurved  point  at  the  top  of  the 
petals.     Nat.  Ord.   Rutacem. 

A  Cunninghami,  the  only  described  species, 
is  a  tall  handsome  shrub,  bearing  clusters  of 
white  flowers  of  an  exquisite  odor,  resembling 
orange  blossoms,  combined  with  the  aromatic 
warmth  of  ginger.  The  leaves  abound  in  a 
resinous  or  oily  fluid  of  a  powerful  turpentine- 
like odor.  It  requires  to  be  grown  in  a 
warm  house,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings. 
Introduced  in  1838  from  Moreton  Bay. 

Acrope'ra.  From  acros,  the  extremity  and 
pera,  a  small  sack ;  because  of  the  saccate  ap- 
pendage at  the  apex  of  the  labellum.  Nat, 
Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  interesting  plants  from 
Mexico  and  Central  America,  producing  their 
curious  flowers  plentifully  in  pendant  bunches. 
A.  Loddigesii  is  one  of  the  more  common  spe- 
cies, and  is  a  fi-ee-flowering  plant  of  easy  cul- 
ture. None  of  the  species  take  a  very  high 
rank  among  Orchids.  This  genus  is  included 
under  Gongora,  by  some  botanists. 

Acro'phorus.  From  akros,  summit,  andp/ioreo, 
to  bear.     Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome  green-house 
Ferns  from  Borneo  and  New  Zealand.  They 
are  closely  allied  to  Davallia  and  require  the 
same  treatment. 

Acrophy'llum.  From  akros,  summit,  and 
phyllon,  a  leaf ;  referring  to  the  way  in  which 
the  leaves  are  produced  at  the  summit  of  the 
branches  above  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord. 
CunoniacecB. 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


ACR 

A  small  genus  of  verj'  handsome  green-house 
plants,  that  flower  profusely  in  the  spring. 
The  flowers  are  small,  white  tinged  with  red, 
produced  in  dense  whorls  round  the  upper 
part  of  the  stem  and  branches.  They  are  na- 
tives of  New  Holland,  introduced  in  1836. 
Propagated  by  cuttings. 

Acro'pteris.  From  akros,  a  summit,  and  pteris, 
a  I'ern.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

This  beautiful  Fern,  allied  to  Asplenium,  is 
a  green-house  variety,  readily  propagated  by 
division  of  the  roots.  It  requires  a  light, 
loamy  soil,  with  a  liberal  mixture  of  sand  and 
leaf  mould.     A  native  of  New  Holland. 

Acros'tichum.  Supposed  to  refer  to  the  begin- 
ning of  a  verse,  on  account  of  the  back  sur- 
faces of  the  leaves  being  so  lined  as  to  resem- 
ble in  some  degree  the  commencement  of  lines 
in  poetry.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece,. 

An  interesting  genus  of  tiopical  Ferns,  that 
succeed  well  in  a  mixture  of  loam  and  leaf 
mould.  The  species  having  long  fronds,  are 
admirably  adapted  for  growing  on  blocks  or 
in  hanging  baskets,  and  the  dwarfer  sorts  do 
well  in  Wardian  cases.  Increased  by  division 
of  roots,  or  by  seed.  First  introduced  from 
the  West  Indies  in  1792.  According  to  some 
botanists  the  genus  now  includes -Aconiopteris, 
Chrysodium,  Egenolphia,  Elaphoglossum,  Gym- 
nopteris,  Olfersia,  Polybotrya,  Rhipidopteris, 
Soromanes,  Stt7iochlcena  and  Stenoseinia 

Actae'a.  Baneberry.  From  aktara,  the  Elm ; 
resemblance  of  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord.  Ranun- 
culacecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials,  of 
but  little  beauty;  common  in  rich  woods  in  the 
Northern  States.     The  berries  are  poisonous. 

Actini'dia.  From  actin,  a  ray  ;  the  styles  radi- 
ate like  the  spokes  of  a  wheel.  Nat.  Ci'd. 
TemstroRmiaceoe.  A  genus  of  ornamental, 
hardy,  deciduous,  climbing  shrubs,  with  en- 
tire leaves  and  axillary  corymbs  of  white 
flowers.  A.  polygama  is  a  vigorous  and  ele- 
gant perfectly  hardy  climber,  with  white 
sweet-scented  flowers  much  resembling  the 
Hawthorn,  followed  by  bunches  of  edible 
berries.  It  was  introduced  from  Japan  in 
1870,  and  is  propagated  by  seeds,  lajers  or 
cuttings. 

A'ctino'meris.  From  aktin,  a  ray,  and  meris,  a 
part  referring  to  the  radiated  aspect  of  the 
plants.  Nat.  Ord.  Compositce.  Hardy  orna- 
mental plants,  allied  to  Helianthus,  with  yel- 
low Coreopsis-like  flower  heads;  natives  of 
this  country,  sometimes  cultivated 

A'ctinio'pteris.  From  aktin,  a  raj',  and  pteris, 
a  Fern  ;  the  fronds  are  radiately  cut  into  nar- 
row segments.  Nat.  Ord.  Filices.  A  small 
genus  of  neat  and  distinct  Stove  Ferns.  The 
fronds  of  A.  radiata,  grow  three  to  five  inches 
high,  divided  inwards  from  the  margin  and  is 
a  perfect  minititure  of  the  Fan  Palm,  Livis- 
tona  Chine7isis. 

Aculeate.  Furnished  with  prickles,  as  dis- 
tinguished from  spines. 

Acuminate.  A  term  applied  to  leaves  or  other 
flat  bodies  which  narrow  gradually  till  they 
form  a  long  termination.  If  the  narrowing 
takes  place  toward  the  base,  it  is  so  stated, 
as,  acuminate  at  the  base  ;  if  toward  the  point, 
the  term  is  used  without  qualification. 

Acute.    Sharp  pointed. 


ADD 

A'da.  A  complimentary  name.  Nat.  Ord. 
OrchidacecB. 

A.  aurantiaca,  the  only  species,  is  a  beauti- 
ful epiphytal  Orchid,  found  in  high  latitudes  in 
New  Grenada.  It  has  broad,  evergreen  foli- 
age, and  long  terminal  nodding  racemes  of 
orange-scarlet  flowers,  lasting  a  long  time  in 
perfection.  It  is  a  free-growing  plant,  and 
should  have  a  cool,  airy  situation  in  the 
Orchid-house.  It  is  increased  by  division. 
Introduced  in  1844. 

Adam  and  Eve.     See  Aplectrum. 

Ada'mia.  IsTamed  in  honor  of  John  Adam,  some 
time  Governor  General  of  India.  Nat.  Ord. 
Saxifragacece. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
shrubs,  natives  of  China  and  the  East  Indies. 
A.  versicolor,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the 
few  known  species,  is  a  native  of  China,  and 
forms  a  dwai-f  smooth-branched  shrub,  fur- 
nished with  large  opposite  leaves,  resembling 
those  of  Hydrangea  japonica.  The  flowers  are 
produced  in  a  pyi-amidal  panicle  nearly  a  foot 
in  diameter,  whitish  while  in  bud,  but  grad- 
ually change  to  purple  and  violet.  Propa- 
gated by  cuttings.     Introduced  in  1844. 

Adam's  Apple.     The  fruit  of  Miisa  paradisiaca. 

Adam's  Needle.     See  Yucca. 

Adam's  Needle  and  Thread.     Yucca  filamentosa. 

Adanso'nia.  Baobab  Tree.  Named  in  honor  of 
Michel  Adanson,  a  famous  French  botanist  and 
author,  born  in  1727.  Nat.  Ord.  SterculiacecB. 
A.  digitata  (called  Monkey  Bread)  is  a  native 
of  Western  Africa,  and  is  also  accredited  to 
Egypt  and  Abyssinia.  Previous  to  the  dis- 
covery of  the  Sequoia  in  California,  the  Adan- 
sonia,  or  Baobab,  as  it  is  popularly  called,  was 
considered  the  largest  tree  in  the  world,  some 
specimens  being  found  thirty  feet  in  diameter. 
At  the  height  of  twenty  feet,  the  trunks  sepa- 
rate into  branches  forty  to  flfty  feet  long  and 
the  size  of  great  trees,  with  their  remote 
branches  touching  the  ground.  The  roots  for 
a  long  distance  are  exposed,  some  of  them 
measuring  more  than  a  hundred  feet  in  length 
on  the  surface.  How  much  longer  they  are, 
unexposed,  could  not  readUy  be  ascertained. 
The  fruit  is  gourd-shaped,  and  is  from  nine  to 
twelve  inches  long,  and  about  four  in  diameter. 
The  pulp  is  farinaceous  and  fibious,  and  when 
ripe  has  a  refreshing,  acid  taste.  Eaten  with 
sugar  it  is  both  pleasant  and  wholesome.  The 
negroes  on  the  western  coast  apply  the  trunks 
of  these  trees  to  a  very  extraordinary  purpose. 
The  tree  is  liable  to  be  attacked  by  a  fungus, 
which,  vegetating  in  the  woody  part,  without 
changing  the  color  or  appearance,  destroys 
life,  and  renders  the  part  so  attacked  as  soft 
as  the  pith  of  trees  in  general.  Such  trunks 
are  then  hollowed  into  chambers,  and  within 
these  are  suspended  the  dead  bodies  of  those 
to  whom  are  refused  the  honor  of  burial. 
There  they  become  mummies,  perfectly  dry, 
and  well  preserved,  without  further  prepara- 
tion or  embalming,  and  are  known  by  the  name 
giuriots. 

Adder's  Moutb.  The  common  name  of  the  Mi- 
crostylis,  a  small  bulbous  plant,  common  in 
moist  woods  southward. 

Adder's  Tongue.  A  name  applied  to  the  Ery- 
thronium  Americanum,  and  also  to  the-  Fern, 
Ophioglo88um  vulgatum. 


10 


HENDERSONS   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


ADE 

Adena'udra.  From  aden,  a  gland,  and  aner,  the 
stamen  or  male  organ ;  referring  to  the  aspect 
of  the  anthers.     Nat.  Ord.  Rutacem. 

A  somewhat  extensive  genus  of  green-house 
evergreen  shrubs  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
Some  of  them  are  cultivated  for  their  large 
terminal  corymbs  of  bright  pink  flowers,  which 
are  produced  in  June.  All  the  species  are  in- 
creased by  cuttings  of  the  young  wood.  Intro- 
duced in  1812. 

Adenanthe'ra.  The  name  is  derived  from  aden, 
a  gland,  and  anthera,  an  anther,  in  allusion  to 
a  gland  on  each  anther.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumi- 
noscB. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome  tropical  ever- 
green trees.  A.  pavonia  grows  to  a  great  size 
in  the  East  Indies,  and  yields  a  solid,  useful 
timber,  called  Red  Sandal  wood.  A  dye  is 
obtained  by  simply  rubbing  the  wood  against 
a  wet  stone ;  and  this  is  used  by  the  Brahmins 
for  marking  their  foreheads  after  religious 
bathing.  The  seeds  are  of  a  bright  scarlet 
color,  and  are  used  by  the  jewellers  in  the 
East  as  weights,  each  seed  weighing  uniformly 
four  grains. 

Adena'uthos.  From  aden,  a  gland,  and  anthos, 
a  flower;  referring  to  the  glands  on  the  flow- 
ers.    Nat.  Ord.  Proteacece. 

Ornamental  evergreen  pilose  shrubs  with 
red  flowers,  natives  of  New  Holland.  Prop- 
agated by  cuttings.  First  introduced  iu 
1824. 

Adenoca'rpus.  From  aden,  a  gland,  and  karpos, 
fruit;  refcring  to  the  glands  on  the  fruit. 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

This  genus  is  allied  to  Cytisiis,  and  furnishes 
some  remarkably  handsome  plants  because  of 
their  profuse  racemes  of  yellow  flowers.  A. 
hispanicus  is  a  low,  compact,  rigid  bush,  re- 
markable for  the  number  of  its  short  lateral 
branches.  It  is  very  common  on  the  hillsides 
of  Southern  Europe.  A.  decorticans  is  a  beau- 
tiful evergreen  shrub  with  bright  yellow  flow- 
ers, having  the  general  appearance  of  Furze. 
It  was  introduced  from  Spain  in  1883. 

Adeno'phora.  A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous 
perermials,  allied  to  Campanula.  The  flowers 
are  bell-shaped,  and  produced  in  branching 
panicles.  They  are  readily  increased  by  seeds, 
but  will  not  bear  division,  and  disliUe  being 
removed.     Flowers  blue.     Native  of  Siberia. 

Ade'smia.  An  extensive  genus  of  South  Amer- 
ican plants,  belonging  to  tlie  Nat.  Ord.  Legu- 
minosce. They  are  mostly  plants  of  but  little 
interest.  A.  balsamifera,  a  Chilian  species, 
called  Jarilla,  is  a  plant  of  great  beauty  when 
in  flower.  It  yields  a  balsam  which  has  a  very 
pleasant  odor,  perceptible  at  a  great  distance. 

Adha'toda.  Native  name.  Nat.  Ord.  Acan- 
thaceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  shrubs,  na- 
tives of  India.  The  few  species  composing 
this  genus  were  formerly  included  in  Jtisticia. 
One  of  the  more  common  species,  A.  vasica, 
was  formerly  called  Justicia  Adhatoda.  A. 
cydonuBfolia  produces  its  flowers  in  panicles 
at  the  point  of  every  branch.  They  are  of  a 
rich  purple  color,  the  large  lower  lip  having  a 
white  stripe  in  the  centre.  It  is  very  showy 
when  in  bloom,  and  makes  an  excellent  plant 
for  training  up  pillars  or  rafters.  They  bear 
a  close  resemblance  to  the  Justicias,  and  re- 
quire the  same  treatment. 


ADL 

Adia'nteae.  A  section  of  polypodiaceous  Ferns, 
in  which  the  receptacles  to  which  the  spore 
cases  are  attached  are  placed  on  the  under 
surface  of  the  indusium  itself,  so  that  the 
fructification  is,  as  it  were,  upside  down,  and 
is  hence  said  to  be  resupinate. 

Adi'anto'psis.  From  adiantum  and  opais,  like ; 
resembling  the  Maiden-hair.  Nat.  Ord.  Poly- 
podiacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  elegant  little  Ferns  from 
South  America,  the  West  Indies,  and  Africa. 
A.  radiata,  one  of  the  best  known  species,  is 
common  in  the  West  Indies.  The  fronds  rise 
about  a  foot  high  from  a  tufted  crown,  and 
radiate  in  a  regular  manner  from  a  common 
center.  The  species  are  often  seen  in  cultiva- 
tion, on  account  of  their  small  size  and  elegant 
character.  Propagated  from  seed.  Some  au- 
thorities now  place  this  genus  under  Cheil- 
anthes. 

Adia'ntum.  Maiden-hair  Fern.  From  adiantos, 
dry ;  the  smooth  foliage  repelling  rain-drops. 
Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

Of  this  extensive  and  much-admired  genus 
of  Ferns,  this  country  furnishes  but  one  va- 
riety, A.  pedahim,  our  common  Maiden-hair, 
which  grows  in  moist  woods  in  nearly  every 
section.  Taken  up  in  early  spring  and  trans- 
planted into  shady  corners  of  our  gardens,  it 
grows  readily,  and  is  indispensable  in  the  nat- 
ural arrangement  of  flowers  in  vases  or  bas- 
kets. Some  of  the  exotic  species  of  this  genus 
may  safely  be  pronounced  the  most  beautiful 
Ferns  known,  which  is  a  very  broad  assertion, 
in  view  of  the  very  many  rare  and  beautiful 
plants  to  be  found  in  this  natural  order.  All 
doubts,  however,  of  the  truth  of  the  assertion 
will  be  removed  when  we  see  a  well-grown 
plant  of  A.  Farleyense  in  the  fei'n-house.  This 
interesting  plant  is  a  native  of  Barbadoes, 
whence  it  was  introduced  in  1864.  It  is  the 
most  distinct  and  beautiful  of  all  the  Maiden- 
hair Ferns,  and  the  most  difficult  to  grow  to 
perfection.  It  requires  a  warm,  moist  atmos- 
phere. A.  yracillimum  and  A.  cuneatum  are 
magnificent  plants,  and  are  grown  in  large 
numbers,  the  young  plants,  as  well  as  the  cut 
fronds,  being  used  extensively  in  floral  decora- 
tion. There  are  many  other  rare  species  under 
cultivation.  The  growing  of  this  genus  from 
spores  has  for  a  long  time  been  practiced,  and 
the  several  species,  with  the  exception  of  Far- 
leyense, have  been  increased  at  a  rapid  rate  in 
this  way.  But  getting  new  varieties  from 
spores,  after  hybridizing  some  of  the  finer  spe- 
cies, is  a  new  and  unexpected  result  that  has 
been  achieved  in  a  most  astonishing  and  satis- 
factoi'y  manner  by  F.  Eoenbeck,  of  Bayonne, 
N.  J. ,  who  has  not  only  given  us  several  varie- 
ties, but  one,  A.  Roenbeckii,  which  bears  his 
name,  that  is,  without  exception,  the  most 
useful  as  well  as  the  most  gmceful  of  any  yet 
introduced.  The  fronds  are  erect,  with  a  me- 
tallic luster,  combined  with  the  delicacy  and 
grace  of  the  finer  species.  It  is  well  adapted 
for  specimen  culture,  and  is  particularly  useful 
in  the  arrangement  of  cut  flowers,  and  when 
so  used  looks  like  a  lace  veil  hung  over  the 
flowers.  This  variety  was  first  exhibited  in 
1«76. 

Adlu'mia.  Mountain  Fringe.  Dedicated  by 
Raftnesque  to  Major  Adlum,  an  American  au- 
thor.    Nat.  Ord.  Fumariaceae. 


ADIANTUM  CUNEATUM. 


AGROSTIS   VULGARIS   (BED   TOP  GEASS) 


AGAPANTHTI8  tJMBELLATUS. 


la        AGROSTIS  NEBULOSA. 


AGBOSTEMMA. 


AGERATUM  MEXICANUM. 


AI/OPEOURDS  PRATENSI8  (MEADOW  FOX  TAIL  GRASS.) 


ALFALFA  OB  LUCERNE  (MEDICAGO.) 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


11 


ADN 

This  beautiful  climber  is  a  hardy  biennial, 
growing  in  moist  woods  in  New  York  and  the 
Alleghany  Mountains  of  Virginia.  It  is  com- 
monly called  Fumitory,  AUegliany  Vine,  and 
various  otlier  local  names.  It  grows  readily 
from  seed,  wliich  should  be  sown  in  May,  near 
a  trellis  or  arbor.  The  plants  will  flower 
freely,  without  further  care,  the  following 
season. 

Adnate.  Grown  to  anything  by  the  whole  sur- 
face ;  when  an  ovary  is  united  to  the  side  of 
the  calyx,  it  is  adnate. 

Ado'nis.  Name  of  classical  derivation.  Nat. 
Ord.  Ranuncalacem. 

Herbaceous  plants  with  showy  flowers,  na- 
tives of  Europe,  and  of  easy  culture  in  any 
soil.  The  most  ornamental  species  are  A.  ver- 
nalis,  the  spriug-llowering  .A.donis,  a  perennial 

•  with  bright  yellow  flowers,  which  is  quite 
hardy,  and  is  easily  increased  by  division  of 
the  root;  and  A.  aufuinnalis,  the  common  an- 
nual Flos  Adonis,  or  t'heasant's  Eye,  with  dark 
crimson  flowers.  The  annual  kinds  should  be 
sown  in  autumn,  as  they  will  stand  the  winter 
in  the  open  air ;  or  in  February  or  March,  as 
they  are  a  long  time  in  coming  up. 

Adventitious.  A  term  used  to  denote  some 
part  or  organ  that  is  developed  in  an  unusual 
position ;  as  the  leaf-buds  that  appear  on  va- 
rious parts  of  the  surface  of  the  stem,  instead 
of  being  confined,  as  is  generally  the  case,  to 
the  axils  of  the  leaves.  Applied  also  to  roots, 
etc. ;  for  example,  the  Ivy  throws  out  adventi- 
tious roots  from  along  the  stems,  by  which  it 
clings  to  walls  or  trees  for  support. 

Adverse.    Opposite. 

iE'chmea.  From  aichme,  a  point;  in  reference 
to  the  rigid  points  on  the  calices,  or  flower  en- 
velopes.    Nat.  Ord.  Bromeliacece. 

A  small  genus  of  tropical  pbnts,  often  epi- 
phytal, growing  on  the  trunks  of  trees  in  the 
dense  forests.  They  have  strap,  or  sword- 
shaped,  leaves,  and  produce  panicles  of  bril- 
liant scarlet  flowers.  Propagated  by  division 
of  the  suckers  or  offsets.  First  introduced  in 
1844. 

.ffigi'ceras.  From  aix,  a  goat,  and  keros,  a  horn ; 
alluding  to  the  shape  of  the  fruit.  Nat.  Ord. 
Myr8i7iacece. 

Small  trees  with  obovate  entire  leaves  and 
white  fragrant  flowers.  ^.  fragrans  is  a  stout 
green-house  evergreen  milky  shrub,  flowering 
in  April.  Introduced  from  New  Holland  in 
1824. 

iE'gilops.  Goat's  eye.  Supposed  to  be  useful 
for  a  disease  of  one  corner  of  the  eye  ;  lience 
the  name.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  genus  of  grasses  allied  to  Triticum,  or 
Wheat  grass.  It  occurs  wild  in  tlie  South  of 
Europe  and  parts  of  Asia.  It  has  been  held 
that  the  seeds  of  this  plant  may  be  changed 
into  wheat  by  cultivation  ;  and  that  the  ancient 
worship  of  Ceres,  which  considei-ed  the  fields 
of  Enna  and  of  Trinacoria  as  the  cradles  of 
agriculture,  had  its  origin  in  this  transforma- 
tion of  the  native  grass.  Professor  Latopio, 
of  Bordeaux,  affirms  that,  having  cultiv-iteil 
the  seed  of  the  ^gilops,  the  plant  has  changed 
its  generic  character,  and  has  made  approaclics 
to  that  of  wheat.  Other  specific  botanists 
have  made  the  same  assertion,  giving  the  re- 
sults of  their  various  experiments.    It  is,  how- 


^S 

ever,  but  just  to  say  that  but  little  credit  has 
been  given  to  tliese  statements.  We  preferto 
believe  wheat  to  have  been  a  special  creation, 
rather  tlian  to  have  evolved  from  an  inferior 
species. 

.Sl'gle.  Bengal  Quince.  From  jEgle  one  of  the 
Hcspcrides.     Nat.  Ord.  RutaceoB. 

j^.  Marmelos,  tlie  only  species,  is  a  native 
of  the  East  Indies,  where  it  is  highly  esteemed 
for  the  fragrance  of  its  orange-like  flowers, 
and  for  its  delicious  fruit,  wliich  also,  possesses 
an  aperient  quality  whicli  is  particularly  ser- 
viceable in  habitual  costiveness.  Not  only  the 
fruit,  but  other  portions  of  the  plant  arc  used 
for  medicinal  purposes ;  and  a  yellow  dye  is 
prepared  from  the  I'ind  of  the  fruit. 

.aigopo'dium.  Gout  weed.  Bishop-weed.  An 
umbelliferous  plant  with  smooth  thrice  ternate 
leaves  and  white  flowers,  propagating  itself  by 
creeping  root-stocks,  which,  like  our  native 
bind  weed  are  singularly  vivacious,  so  that 
when  once  it  gets  established,  it  is  very  diffi- 
cult to  eradicate.  A  great  pest  in  British  and 
Continental  gardens.  A  very  pretty  varie- 
gated variety  is  in  cultivation,  as  a  border 
plant. 

Aeration.  The  exposure  of  the  soil  to  the  free 
action  of  the  air,  as  essential  to  the  growth  of 
plants. 

Aerial.  Plants  or  parts  of  plants  which  grow 
entirely  above  the  surface  of  the  earth  or 
water. 

Ae'rides.  From  aer,  tne  air ;  in  reference  to  the 
power  they  have  of  living  on  air.  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidacece. 

A  splendid  genus  of  East  Indian  epiphytal 
Orchids,  remarkable  for  their  beautiful  white, 
pink,  or  rose-colored,  fragrant  flowers,  and  for 
their  rich  evergreen  foliage.  The  general  ap- 
pearance of  these  plants,  their  wonderful  tenac- 
ity of  life,  the  remarkable  property  they  pos- 
sess of  imbibing  the  whole  of  their  nutriment 
from  the  atmosphere,  without  the  intervention 
of  any  kind  of  earth,  and  the  elegance  and  rich 
perfume  of  their  flowers,  combine  to  make 
them  objects  of  universal  admiration.  They 
require  to  be  grown  in  a  high  temperature  and 
a  very  moist  atmosphere.  The  more  popular 
species  are  of  quite  recent  introduction. 

.ffischyna'nthus.  From  nischiino,  to  be  ashamed, 
and  anthos,  a  flower.  Nat.  Ord.  GesneracecB. 

A  beautiful  genus  of  tropical  epiphytal  plants. 
The  species  are  chiefly  found  in  tropical  Asia 
and  the  East  Indies,  and  maj'  properly  be 
classed  with  the  most  gorgeous  green-house 
plants.  They  have  mostly  pendant  stems,  op- 
posite fleshy  leaves,  and  scarlet  or  orange-scar- 
let flowers.  One  of  the  finer  species,  ^^.  spec- 
iosus  is  a  native  of  Ja\a.  It  is  of  sub-erect 
habit,  with  fascicles  of  about  twenty  erect, 
long-tubed  flovpers,  of  I'ich  orange-yellow  below 
and  passing  into  scarlet  at  the  top,  with  yel- 
low and  black  markings.  ^.  grandiflorus,  has 
orange-scarlet  flowers  with  a  banil  of  bright 
scarlet  round  the  entrance  of  the  tube.  ^. 
longiflorus,  with  bright  crimson  and  ^. 
Lohbianvs,  with  scarlet  flowers,  both  intro- 
duced from  Java,  are  of  the  same  general 
habit.  All  the  species  are  admirably  adapted 
for  hanging  baskets,  and  x'equire  to  be  grown 
in  considerable  heat  and  moisture.  First  in- 
troduced in  1845. 


12 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF   PLANTS 


^S 

iE'sculus.  Horse  Chestnut,  Buckeye.  From 
e8ca,  nourishment;  referring  to  the  ground 
flour  from  the  kernels  of  some  species.  Nat. 
Ord.   Sapindacem. 

A  genus  of  hardy  ornamental  deciduous 
trees,  too  well  known  to  need  description. 
jE.Hippocastanum,  the  commtm  Horse  Chest- 
nut, is  a  native  of  Asia,  introduced  into  our 
nurseries  from  Europe  at  an  early  day.  JE. 
glabra  (Buckeye)  is  a  large  growing  tree,  com- 
mon South  and  West,  particularly  in  Ohio, 
whence  the  name  Buckeye  State.  ^.  Jlava, 
the  Sweet  Buckeye,  and  j^.  pavia,  the  Bed 
Buckeye,  are  shrubs  or  small  trees,  natives  of 
Virginia,  and  West  and  South.  -^.  Californica 
is  a  beautiful,  large,  spreading  shrub,  the  most 
ornamental  of  the  whole  genus.  Its  flowers 
are  rose-colored,  in  racemes  about  six  inches 
long,  and  are  produced  in  great  abundance 
from  June  till  July.  All  the  species  are  prop- 
agated by  seeds.     See  Pavia. 

iEstivation.  The  manner  of  folding  the  calyx 
and  corolla  in  the  flower  bud. 

iEthione'ina.  From  aitho,  to  scorch,  and  nema, 
a  filament ;  in  reference  to  some  burnt  appear- 
ance in  the  stamens.     Nat.  Ord.  Cruciferce. 

This  is  a  beautiful  genus  of  the  Arabis  family, 
but  differs  from  the  greater  number  of  the 
Crucifers  in  light  elegant  habit  and  wiry  stems, 
and  usually  glaucous  leaves.  They  are  mostly 
found  on  sunny  mountains  near  the  Mediter- 
ranean, particularly  eastward,  and  are  especi- 
ally valuable  for  gardens,  forming  stronger 
and  more  free-flowering  tufts  in  cultivation 
than  in  a  wild  state.  ^.  grandiflormn  forms  a 
spreading  bush  about  a  foot  high,  from  which 
spring  numerous  racemes  of  pink  and  lilac 
flowers.  It  is  a  true  perennial,  growing  well 
in  the  ordinary  border,  but  from  its  prostrate, 
spreading  habit,  it  is  best  adapted  for  the  rock- 
garden,  when  the  roots  may  descend  into  deep 
earth,  and  the  stems  fall  gracefully  over  the 
rocks.  The  species  are  easily  raised  from  seed, 
and  thrive  well  in  ordinary  sandy  loam.  The 
best  known  kinds  ai'e  ^.  coridifolium,  pul- 
chellum,  and  grandiflorum. 

^thu'sa.  Fool's  Parsley.  Tlie  name  alludes  to 
the  acridity  of  the  plants,  and  is  derived  from 
aithusso,  to  heat  or  make  hot.  Nat.  Ord.  Urn 
belliferce. 

Quite  a  hardy  species  of  little  beauty.  The 
stem  and  leaves  of  jS.  Cynapium,  are  poison- 
ous and  contain  a  peculiar  alkali  called 
Cynopia. 

African  Almond.     Brabeium  Stellatifolium. 

African  Lily.     See  Agapanthus. 

African  Lotus.     Zizyphus  Lotus, 

African  Marigold.    See  Tageten  ereda, 

African  Oak  and  Teak.   Vitex  Doniana. 

Aga'lmyla.  From  agalma,  an  ornament,  and 
hide,  a  forest.     Nat.  Ord.  GesneracecB. 

A  small  genus  of  beautiful  green-house  or  hot- 
house plants  from  the  islands  of  the  Eastern 
Archipelago.  A.  staminea  is  a  very  handsome 
plant,  epiphytal  in  habit,  creeping  and  rooting 
on  the  trunks  of  trees.  It  has  very  strong 
stems,  large,  fleshy,  Gloxinia-like  leaves,  and 
axillary  fascicles  of  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
flowers  each,  tubular-shaped,  two  inches  long, 
bright  scarlet:     Propagated  by  cuttings. 

Agami'sia.  From  aganos,  desirable ;  in  reft;rence 
to  the  beauty  of  these  neat  little  plants.    Nat. 


AGA 

Ord.  OrchidacecB.  A.  pulchella  is  a  very  pretty 
and  rare  orchid,  a  native  of  Demarara.  It 
blossoms  at  different  times  of  the  year  and 
lasts  two  or  three  weeks  in  perfection.  The 
flowers  are  white,  with  a  blotch  of  yellow  in 
the  centre  of  the  lip.  A.  ccxrulea,  introduced 
from  Brazil  in  1876,  has  beautiful  dark-blue 
flowers,  the  lip  blotched  with  violet.  They 
require  a  warm,  moist  temperature,  and  suc- 
ceed best  when  grown  on  blocks  of  wood  or 
cork. 

Aganos'ma.  From  aganos,  mild,  and  osme,  scent 
of  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Apocynacem.  A  genus 
of  shrubby  climbing  plants,  with  opposite 
leaves,  and  terminal  corymbs  of  large  funnel- 
shaped  white,  yellow,  or  purple  flowers.  Na- 
tives of  India,  they  I'equire  a  warm  green- 
house and  thi'ive  best  in  a  compost  of  loam, 
leaf-mould  and  sand.   Propagated  by  cuttings. 

Agapau'thus.  From  agape,  love,  and  anthos,  a 
flower.     Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecB. 

The  Blue  African  Lily,  A.  umbellatus,  is  a 
noble  plant,  with  thick,  fleshy  roots,  and  re- 
tains its  leaves  all  the  winter.  There  is  a 
variety  with  striped  leaves.  A.  albidus  has 
white  flowers,  but  it  does  not  differ  from  the 
common  kind  in  any  other  respect.  The  Afri- 
can Lilies  all  require  a  loamy  soil,  enriched 
with  rotted  manure,  and  they  should  be  fully 
exposed  to  the  light.  The  plants  are  always 
large  before  they  flower ;  and  when  the  flower- 
stalks  appear,  the  plant  should  be  in  a  large 
pot,  so  that  the  roots  may  have  plenty  of 
room.  They  should  be  abundantly  supplied 
with  water,  taking  care,  however,  not  to  let 
any  remain  in  a  stagnant  state  about  the 
roots.  Thus  treated,  this  plant  will  frequent- 
ly send  up  a  flower-stalk  above  three  feet  high, 
crowned  with  twenty  or  thirty  flowers,  which 
will  open  in  succession.  It  flowers  in  sum- 
mer, and  forms  a  noble  ornament  to  an  archi- 
tectural terrace,  and  is  also  a  fine  object  on  a 
lawn. 

Agape'tes.  From  agapetos,  beloved,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  showy  character  of  the  plant.  Nat. 
Ord.  Vacciniacece.  A  genus  of  evergreen 
shrubs  with  alternate  leathery  leaves.  Na- 
tives of  India.  Several  species  are  in  cultiva- 
tion, one  of  the  best  of  which  A.  buxifolia,  has 
beautiful  bright  red  flowers  about  an  inch 
long.  It  forms  an  interesting  and  eftective 
green-house  plant. 

Aga'ricus.  Mushrooms.  Derived  from  Agaria, 
the  name  of  a  town  in  Sarmatia.  Nat.  Ord. 
Fungi. 

This,  the  most  extensive  genus  in  the  veg- 
etable kingdom,  is  divided  into  several 
groups.  Some  of  the  species  are  very  beauti- 
ful in  form  and  color.  Many  of  them  are 
poisonous  and  some  of  the  species  virulently 
so,  while  others  notably  A.  campestris  the 
common  field  Mushroom  is  not  only  edible, 
but  is  esteemed  a  great  delicacy.  See  Mush- 
room. 

Agathae'a.  Blue  Daisy.  From  agathos,  excel- 
lent ;  in  reference  to  the  beauty  of  the  flowers. 
Nat.  Ord.  CompositcB. 

A.  caclestw,  a  native  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  is  a  n(>at  green-house  plant,  somewhat 
resembling  the  Gazania  in  foliage  and  shape 
of  flower.  As  it  blooms  profusely,  and  the 
color  is  a  rare  and  beautiful  shade  of  blue, 
which  contrasts  rinely  with  the  golden  yelloTT 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


13 


AGA 

disk,  it  is  much  valued  as  an  ingredient  in 
winter  bouquets.  It  is  a  neat  plant,  and  the 
peculiar  color  (mazarine  blue)  is  very  unusual 
in  this  class  of  plants.  Propagated  by  cut- 
tings. 

A'gathophy'Uuna.  Madagascar  Nutmeg.  From 
agatlios,  pleasant,  and  phyllon,  a  leaf.  Nat. 
Ord.  LauraceoR.  A.  aromaticum  is  a  warm 
green-house  evergn^en  shrub  of  economic 
value  only.  The  fruit  is  aromatic,  but  en- 
closes a  kernel  of  an  acrid,  caustic  taste, 
known  as  Madagascar  Clove  Nutmeg. 

Aga've.  American  Aloe.  Century  Plant.  From 
ugmios,  admirable,  referring  to  the  stately 
form  in  which  some  of  them  flower.  Nat. 
Ord.  Amaryllidactm. 

This  genus  is  described  by  B.  S.  Wil- 
liams as  follows:  "They  ai'e  noble,  mas- 
sive growing  plants,  and  form  magnificent 
ornaments  in  the  green-house  or  conserva- 
tory; whilst,  from  their  slow  growth  they 
do  not  rapidly  get  too  large,  even  for  a 
small  green-house.  Indeed  some  of  the  real 
gems  of  this  genus  are  neat,  compact-growing 
plants,  seldom  exceeding  two  feet  in  height. 
Besides  being  fine  ornamental  plants  for  in- 
door decoration,  the  larger  growing  kinds  are 
unquestionably  the  finest  objects  for  the  em- 
bellishment of  terrace  walks,  or  surmounting 
flights  of  steps  in  the  oisen  air  during  the  siuu- 
mer  season,  and  also  for  plunging  in  rock- 
work,  or  about  any  rustic  nooks  in  the  pleas- 
ure grounds,  as,  in  such  situations,  they  are 
quite  in  keeping,  and  thrive  admirably.  As 
is  well  known,  they  attain  maturity  very 
slowly;  but  when  this  condition  is  reached, 
the  plant  sends  up  a  flower-spike,  and  after 
perfecting  this,  dies."  Auumber  of  the  dwarfer 
growing  species,  such  as  A.  applanata,  A. 
attenuata,  A.  Celsiana,  A.fiUfera,  A.  Salmiana. 
A.  VictorioB  Regina,  and  many  otliers,  are 
much  used  in  sub-tropical  gardening,  and  for 
bedding  out  on  lawns,  et'.,  during  summer. 
A.  Americana,  is  a  splendid  decorative  plant, 
a  native  of  South  America  introduced  to  cul- 
tivation in  1640.  The  varieties  with  striped 
foliage  are  considered  the  most  desirable  as 
ornamental  plants.  It  was  at  one  time  a  pre- 
vailing idea  that  this  plant  only  flowered  once  in 
a  hundred  years ;  but  this  is  found  now  to  be  a 
popular  error.  If  given  sufficient  heat,  it  will 
flower  when  ten  or  twelve  years  old.  The 
flower  stem  rises  from  the  center  of  the  phmt 
to  a  height  of  about  thirty  feet,  bearing  an 
immense  number  of  yellowish-green  flowers, 
after  perfecting  which  the  plant  perishes. 
New  plants  are  formed  around  the  base  of  the 
old  one  in  the  fonn  of  suckers.  It  furnishes 
a  vaiiety  of  products  ;  the  plants  form  impen- 
etrable fences;  the  leaves  furnish  flbers  of 
various  qualities,  from  that  used  in  the  finest 
thread  to  tliat  in  the  strongest  rope  cables; 
the  juice,  when  the  watery  part  is  evaporated, 
forms  a  good  soap,  and  will  mix  and  form  a 
lather  with  salt  water  as  well  as  fresh  ;  a  verj- 
intoxicating  drink  is  also  made  from  the  juice, 
as  well  as  other  preparations  of  a  similar 
nature ;  the  leaves  are  made  into  razor- 
strops,  and  are  also  used  in  scouring  all  sorts 
of  culinary  utensils.  Over  one  hundred  spe- 
cies have  been  described,  but  according  to 
Bentham  and  Hooker,  not  over  fifty  are  suf- 
ficiently distinct  to  rank  as  such.    They  are 


AGR 

distributed  over  South  America,  Mexico,  and 
the  Soutliern  States. 
Agera'tum.  From  a  not,  and  geras,  old ;  in 
reference  to  tlio  flowers  being  always  clear. 
Nat.  Ord.  CompoHitcR.  A.  Mexicanum,  the  type 
of  this  genus  is  a  Avell  known  occupant  of  our 
flower  boi'ders.  It  bears  a  profusion  of  lilac- 
blue  flowers  all  season,  and  is  very  useful  for 
cutting.  Several  very  dwarf  varieties  of  it 
have  originated  under  cultivation  which  are 
very  useful  in  ribbon  and  carpet  bedding.  A 
variegated  form  is  also  cultivated  for  its 
pretty  foliage.    Syn.    Coslestina. 

Agglomerate.    Collected  into  a  heap  or  head. 

Aglai'a.  From  Aglaia,  one  of  the  Graces.  Nat. 
Ord.  MeliacefB. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  trees  or  shrubs,  hav- 
ing very  small  flowers,  borne  in  axillary  pani- 
cles. The  leaves  are  showy  and  finely  divided. 
It  contains  about  nineteen  species,  natives  of 
China,  and  the  Malay  and  Pacific  Islands.  A. 
odorata  has  small  yellow  flowers,  very  sweet- 
scented,  said  to  be  used  by  the  Chinese  to 
scent  their  teas. 

Aglamo'rpha.  From  aglaos,  beautiful,  and  mor- 
2)ha,  a  form.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

A.  Meyeniana,  the  only  species,  is  a  beauti- 
ful herbaceous  Fern,  a  native  of  the  Philip- 
pine Islands.  It  is  propagated  by  division  or 
from  spores,  and  I'equires  the  same  treatment 
as  Polypodium,  under  whielx  genus  it  is  in- 
cluded by  some  authors. 

Aglaone'ma.  From  aglaos,  bright,  and  nema,  a 
thread ;  supposed  to  refer  to  the  sliining  sta- 
mens.    Nat.  Ord.  Aroidem. 

A  genus  of  stove-house  plants,  allied  to 
Arum,  with  entire  leaves  and  wliite  fragrant 
flowers. 

Agnes,  St.,  Plo'wer.      See  Leucqjum. 

Agno'stus.  A  synonym  of  Stenocarpus,  which 
see. 

Ago'nis.  From  agon,  a  gathering,  a  collection  ; 
in  allusion  to  the  number  of  the  seeds.  Nat. 
Ord.  MyrtacecB. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs  or  small  trees, 
natives  of  Western  Australia.  The  flowers 
are  white,  rather  small,  in  dense  globose  axil- 
lary, or  terminal  heads.  The  species  are  still 
rare  in  cultivation,  and  will  undoul>tedly  prove 
hardy  south  of  Washington.  Propagated  by 
cuttings. 

Agrimo'nia.  Agrimony.  A  corruption  of  ^r^e- 
mone.     Nat.  Ord.  Rosacece. 

A  small  genus  of  yellow-flowered,  Aveedy 
plants,  coranu)n  throughout  the  United  States. 
The  larger  flowered,  or  common  Agrimony,  is 
a  native  of  Europe,  but  lias  become  pretty 
generally  naturalized.  They  are  plants  of  but 
little  interest. 

Agroste'mma.  Rose  Campion.  From  agros,  a 
field,  and  strmma,  a  crown ;  referring  to  the 
beauty  of  the  flower.  Nat.  Ord.  Caryophyl- 
lacece. 

A.  coronaria  is  a  hardy  perennial,  introduced 
from  Russia  in  1834.  Suitable  for  border 
plants,  their  showy  white  and  red  flowers  con- 
trasting finely  with  shrubbery.  Propagated 
by  division  of  roots  or  by  seeds.  A .  coRli-rosea, 
or  Rose  of  Heaven,  is  a  favorite  annual  spe- 
cies, with  delicate  rose,  white  or  purple  flow- 
ers.    It  should  be  grown  in  groups. 


14 


HENDERSONS   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


AGE, 

Agro'stis.  Bent  Grass,  Bed  Top.  This  is  the 
Greek  name  for  all  grasses,  from  agros,  a  field. 
Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  well-known  genus  of  grasses,  including 
A.  canina,  the  Bhode  Island  Bent  Grass;  A. 
stolonifera,  the  Creeping  Bent  Grass,  and  A. 
vulgaris,  the  common  Bed  Top.  These  species 
have  all  been  introduced  from  Europe,  but  are 
now  thoroughly  naturalized  in  this  country. 
A.  pulchella  and  A.  nebulosa  are  both  very  del- 
icate, feather-like  annual  grasses,  valuable  for 
bouquet-making  and  for  winter  decorative 
purposes. 

Ague  Root.  A  common  name  tor  Aletrisfarinosa. 

Ague  Tree.     Laurus  Sassafras. 

Ague  Weed,  Indian.     Ewpatorium  perfoliatum. 

Aila'ntus.  From  ailanto,  Tree  of  Heaven,  refer- 
ring to  its  lofty  growth.  Nat.  Ord.  Xantho- 
xylacecB. 

Deciduous  trees  of  rapid  growth,  natives  of 
China.  They  were  at  one  time  extensively 
planted  as  street  treeg,  and  should  not  now  be 
so  generally  discarded,  as  they  will  thrive  well 
in  cities  and  barren  soils,  making  a  beautiful 
shade  tree,  as  well  as  valuable  timber.  The 
only  objection  that  has  ever  been  made  to 
them  is  the  unpleasant  odor  of  their  flowers. 
That  objection  can  be  easily  avoided.  This 
tree  is  dioecious,  and  is  rajudly  increased  bj' 
root-cuttings.  By  taking  cuttings  from  the 
female  plant,  the  flowers  of  which  are  inodor- 
ous, they  can  be  increased  to  any  extent. 

Ai'ra.  Hair  Grass.  The  Hair  Grass  is  named 
from  the  Greek,  and  signifies  to  desti-oy  ;  but 
why  it  has  received  this  unwelcome  n*ime  is 
apparently  uncertain.  Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 
There  are  several  species  common  to  this 
country  and  Europe.  A.  caspilosa  is  typical  of 
the  genus,  a  very  handsome  Grass,  the  flowers 
of  wliich  are  well  adapted  for  decoration,  being 
very  graceful.  It  will  flourish  in  almost  any 
situation,  but  prefers  damp  fields,  where  it 
forms  large  tufts,  known  as  "hassocks,"  and 
as  it  is  not  eaten  by  cattle  except  when  nothing 
else  can  be  procured,  a  field  in  which  it  abounds 
has  a  singularly  unsightly,  and  to  farmers  un- 
welcome appearance. 

Air  Plants.  These  are  plants  that  grow  on 
trees,  or  other  objects,  and  not  in  the  earth, 
deriving  their  nutriment  from  the  atmosphere. 
The  term  was  formerly,  and  is  still  to  some 
extent,  applied  to  epiphj'tal  Orchids.  There 
are,  howevei",  many  other  families  of  air 
plants.  The  class  is  to  be  distinguished  from 
the  various  parasites  that  have  no  roots  in 
the  earth,  but  derive  tiieir  nourishment  di- 
rectly from  the  plants  on  which  they  grow. 

Aito'nia.  In  honor  of  W.  Ailon,  once  Head 
Gardener  at  Kew.     Nat.  Ord.  Meliacea:. 

A  small  and  interesting  evergreen  shrub 
from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  bearing  pink 
flowers.     Introduced  in  1777. 

A'jax.  A  subdivision  of  the  genus  Narcissits, 
including  the  common  Daffodil,  and  other  spe- 
cies having  a  long  trumpet-shaped  cox'onet  to 
the  flowers. 

Aju'ga.  Bugle.  From  a,  privative,  and  sttgron, 
a  yoke ;  in  reference  to  the  calyx  being  one- 
leaved.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  annual  and  peren- 
nial herbaceous  plants.  A.  reptans  (common 
Bugle)  has  been  introduced  into  the  garden. 


ALE 

and  given  a  position  in  massing  and  ribbon 
bordei's  of  plants  for  its  dark-colored  foliage. 
The  species  were  at  one  time  highly  esteemed 
for  the  medicinal  properties  they  were  sup- 
posed to  possess.  "Euellus  writeth  that  thej' 
commonly  said  in  France,  howe  he  needeth 
neither  physician  nor  surgeon  that  hathe  Bugle 
and  Sanicle,  for  it  not  only  cureth  woundes, 
being  inwardly  taken,  but  also  applied  to  them 
outwardly." — Gerurde.  They  aie  propagated 
readily  from  seed. 

Akaz'za.  The  name  of  an  ordeal  poison  used 
in  the  Gaboon  country,  supposed  to  be  the 
product  of  a  species  of  Strychnos. 

Ake'bia.  The  name  it  bears  in  Japan.  Nat. 
Ord.  LardisabalacecB. 

A.  quinala  was  introduced  from  China,  in 
1844,  by  Eobert  Fortune.  It  is  a  hardy 
climber,  of  rapid  growth,  suitable  for  large 
arbors  or  trellises,  in  sunny  or  shady  situa- 
tions. It  will  twine  around  old  trees,  com- 
pletely covering  the  branches,  from  which  it 
will  hang  in  graceful  festoons.  The  color  of 
the  flower  is  dark  brown,  and  it  is  very  sweet- 
scented.  In  a  light,  I'ich  soil  it  will  grow  to 
the  height  of  thirty  feet.  It  is  propagated 
readily  by  layering  or  cuttings. 

Alatus.  Furnished  with  a  thin  wing  or  expan- 
sion. 

Albi'zzia.  Named  after  an  Italian.  Nat.  Ord. 
Leguminosce. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental  green-house 
plants,  very  like  Acacias,  to  which  they  are 
often  referred.  The  plant  so  well  known  as 
Acacia  lophantha  is  placed  under  this  genus. 

Albu'ca.  From  albus,  white,  referring  to  the 
prevalence  of  wnite  flowers  in  tlie  genus  (not 
a  very  happy  allusion,  though,  because  the 
flowers  are  mostly  green).  Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 
This  is  a  genus  of  but  little  beauty,  closely 
allied  to  the  Ornithogalum,  introduced  from 
tlie  Cape  of  Good  Hope  about  1750.  They  ai-e 
tender  bulbous  plants,  easily  cultivated  in  the 
green-house,  grown  in  pots  in  light,  sandy 
soil.    They  flower  in  May  and  June. 

Albumen.  The  matter  that  is  interposed  be- 
tween the  skin  of  a  seed  and  the  embryo. 
It  is  of  a  farinaceous,  oily  or  horny  con- 
sistency, and  surrounds  the  embryo  wholly 
or  in  part,  and  affords  nourishment  to  the 
young  plant  during  the  eai'liest  stages  of 
germination. 

Alburnum.  The  white  and  softer  part  of  wood, 
between  the  inner  bark  and  heai't-wood,  com- 
monly known  as  sap-wood ;  the  young  wood 
before  it  comes  to  a  proper  consistence. 

Alchemi'lla.  A  genus  of  herbaceous  annual  or 
perennial  plants,  belonging  to  the  natural  or- 
der Rosacece.  All  the  species  liave  lobed  leaves 
and  inconspicuous  yellow  or  greenish  flowers. 
A.  vulgaris,  the  commo.n  Lady's  Mantle,  is  fre- 
quent in  English  woods  and  wet  pastures. 

Alder.    See  Alnus. 

Alder,  Black.  The  popular  name  for  Prinos 
verlicillata. 

Alder,  Red.    Cunonia  Capensis. 

Alder,  "White.  The  popular  name  for  Clethra 
alnifolia. 

Ale-cost.  An  old  English  name  for  Pyrethrum 
Tanacetum,  commonly  known  as  Balaamita  vul- 
garis, the  Costmary  of  Gardens. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


15 


ALF 

Ale'tris.  Colie-root.  Star-grass.  From  aletron, 
meal ;  referring  to  the  powdery  appearance  of 
the  whole  plant.     Nat.  Ord.  H(x,modoracecB. 

There  are  but  two  species  included  in  this 
genus,  both  natives  of  the  United  States,  and 
pretty  generally  distributed.  A.  farinosa  is 
highly  esteemed  for  its  medicinal  properties, 
and  is  a  very  pretty  plant  for  the  border.  It 
is  a  herbaceous  perennial,  the  leaves  growing 
in  a  close  tuft,  from  which  arises  a  flower-steiu 
from  one  to  three  feet  high,  terminating  in  a 
spiked  raceme  of  small,  white,  oblong,  bell- 
shaped  flowers.  Propagated  by  division  or  by 
seeds. 

Aleuri'tes.  From  the  Greek  word,  signifying 
flour,  all  the  parts  of  the  plant  seeming  to  be 
dusted  with  it.     Nat.  Ord.  Ewphorbiacece. 

A.  triloba  is  a  handsome  evergreen  tree,  with 
small  white  clustered  flowers.  It  is  a  native  of 
the  Moluccas  and  the  Southern  Pacific  Islands, 
andiscommonlycultivated  in  tropical  countries 
for  the  sake  of  its  nuts,  which,  when  dried, 
are  stuck  on  a  reed  and  used  as  candles,  and 
as  an  article  of  food  in  New  Georgia.  It  is  of 
easy  culture,  and  is  propagated  freely  by  cut- 
tings. 

Aleurito'pteris.  A  genus  of  Ferns,  now  joined 
Avith  Cheilanihes. 

Alfalfa  or  Lucerne  {Medicago  Sativa).  Though 
this  has  been  a  favorite  forage  plant  in  some 
parts  of  the  Old  World  for  hundreds  of  years, 
it  is  not  surprising  that  in  a  country  so  wide- 
spread and  diversified  as  the  United  States,  a 
crop  that  is  so  valued  in  some  localities  is  un- 
known in  others. 

The  great  value  of  Alfalfa  is  in  its  enormous 
yield  of  sweet  and  nutritious  forage,  which  is 
highly  relished  by  stock  either  when  green  or 
cured  into  hay.  It  will  grow  and  yield  abun- 
dantly in  hot,  dry  sections,  and  on  poor,  light 
and  sandy  land,  where  no  grasses  can 
be  grown,  for  it  sends  its  roots  down  to 
enormous  depths,  they  having  been  found  in 
sandy  soil  13  feet  long ;  consequently  it  con- 
sumes food,  moisture,  and  the  leach  of  fer- 
tilizers from  depths  entirely  beyond  the  action 
of  drought  or  heat,  and  which  have  been  for 
years  beyond  the  reach  of  ordinary  plants. 

Alfalfa  greatly  enriches  the  soil  even  more 
than  ordinary  Clovers,  as  it  derives  a  very 
large  portion  of  nutritive  material  from  the 
atmosphere.  It  aerates  the  land  to  a  great 
depth,  and  a  large  portion  of  its  great  fleshy 
roots,  equalling  small  carrots  in  size,  annually 
decay  from  the  outside  and  keep  growing 
larger  from  the  center,  and  are  constantly 
increasing  the  fertility  of  the  ground. 

Alfalfa  is  not  considered  perfectly  hardy  in 
our  more  Northern  States,  yet  experiments 
made  by  some  of  our  Northern  Agricultural 
Experimental  Stations  prove  it  of  more  value 
North  than  previously  supposed. 

The  soil  best  suited  for  the  growth  of  Alfalfa 
is  that  which  is  deep  and  sandy ;  hence  the 
soil  of  Florida  and  many  other  portions  of  the 
cotton  belt  is  eminently  fitted  for  its  culture. 
When  Alfalfa  is  to  be  grown  on  a  large  scale, 
to  get  at  the  best  results,  the  ground  chosen 
should  be  high  and  level,  or  if  not  high,  such 
as  is  entirely  free  from  under  water.  Drainage 
must  be  as  nearly  perfect  as  possible — either 
naturally  or  artificially.  This  in  fact  is  a 
primary  necessity  for  every  crop — unless  it  be 
such  as  is  aquatic  or  sub-aquatic. 


ALF 

Deep  plowing,  thorough  harrowing  and  level- 
ing with  that  valuable  implement, the  "smooth- 
ing harrow,"  to  get  a  smoolli  and  level  surface, 
are  the  next  operations.  This  should  be  done 
in  the  Southern  States  from  1st  to  20th 
October — or  at  such  season  in  the  fall  as 
would  be  soon  enough  to  ensure  a  growth 
of  four  or  five  inches  before  the  season  of 
growth  stops.  Draw  outlines  on  the  prepared 
land  twenty  inches  apart  (if  for  horse  culture, 
but  if  for  hand  culture  fourteen  inches), 
and  two  or  three  inches  deep.  These  lines 
are  best  made  by  what  market  gardeners  call 
a  "marker,"  which  is  made  by  nailing  six 
tooth-shaped  pickets  six  or  eight  inches  long 
at  the  required  distance  apart  to  a  three  by 
four  inch  joist,  to  which  a  handle  is  attached 
— which  makes  the  marker  or  drag.  The  first 
tooth  is  set  against  a  garden  line  drawn  tight 
across  the  field,  the  marker  is  dragged  back- 
wards by  the  workman,  each  tooth  marking  a 
line  ;  thns  the  sis  teeth  mark  six  lines,  if  the 
line  is  set  each  time ;  but  it  is  best  to  place 
the  end  tooth  of  the  marker  in  a  line  already 
made,  so  that  in  this  way  only  five  lines  are 
marked  at  once,  but  it  is  quicker  to  do  this 
than  move  the  line.  The  lines  being  marked 
out,  the  seed  is  sown  by  hand  or  by  seed-drill, 
at  the  rate  of  eight  to  twelve  pounds  per  acre. 
After  sowing — and  this  rule  applies  to  all  seeds 
if  sown  by  hand — the  seed  must  be  trodden  in 
by  walking  on  the  lines,  so  as  to  )iress  the 
seed  down  into  the  drills.  After  treading  in, 
the  ground  must  be  levelled  by  raking  with 
a  wooden  or  steel  rake  along  the  lines  length- 
ways— not  across.  That  done,  it  would  be  ad- 
vantageous to  use  a  roller  over  the  land  so  as 
to  smooth  the  surface  and  further  firm  the 
seed,  but  this  is  not  indispensable.  When 
seeds  are  drilled  in  by  machine,  the  wheel 
presses  down  the  soil  on  the  seed,  so  that 
treading  in  with  the  feet  is  not  necessary. 
After  the  seeds  germinate  so  as  to  show  the 
rows,  which  will  be  in  from  two  to  four  weeks, 
according  to  the  weather,  the  ground  must  be 
hoed  between,  and  this  is  best  done  by  some 
light  wheel-hoe,  if  by  hand,  such  as  the 
"Planet,  Jr."  On  light  sandy  soil,  such  as  in 
Florida,  a  man  could  with  ease  run  over  two 
or  three  acres  per  day.  The  labor  entailed 
in  this  method  of  sowing  Alfalfa  in  drills  is 
somewhat  greater  than  when  sown  broadcast 
in  the  usual  way  of  grasses  and  clover,  but 
there  is  xio  question  that  it  is  by  far  the  best 
and  most  profitable  plan,  for  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  the  plant  is  &hardy  perennial,  and  is 
good  for  a  crop  for  eight  to  ten  years.  More- 
ovei",  the  sowing  in  drills  admits  of  the  crop 
being  easily  fertilized,  if  it  is  found  necessary  to 
do  so ;  as  all  that  is  necessary  is  to  sow  bone 
dust,  superphosphates,  or  other  concentrated 
fertilizer  between  the  rows,  and  then  stir  it  into 
the  soil  by  the  use  of  the  wheel-hoe.  Because 
Alfalfa  fiourishes  on  poor  and  worn  out  lands, 
it  should  not  be  thought  unadapted  to  good 
soils.  In  the  latter,  its  yield  almost  exceeds 
belief.  At  the  New  Jersey  State  farm,  seed  of 
it  sown,  April  28th,  in  drills,  and  the  plants 
cultivated,  had  grown  forty  inches  tall, 
when  cut  on  July  7th,  70  daj-s  from  sow- 
ing, yielding  (green)  7%,  tons  per  acre ;  the 
second  cutting  made  on  August  18th,  yielded 
(green)  8)^  tons  per  acre ;  the  third  cutting 
was  made  September  27th,  and  yielded  (green) 
4  «  tons  per  acre ;  a  total  of  20  tons  of  green 


16 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


ALG 

fodder  per  acre  the  first  year  sown,  which 
would  equal  at  least  five  tons  of  cured  hay.  If 
sown  on  light,  dry  soils  during  a  dry  spell,  or 
if  sown  broadcast,  not  much,  if  any,  crop  can 
be  expected  the  first  year,  as  the  roots  have 
to  get  a  vigorous  hold  of  the  soil ;  the  second 
year  it  can  (if  sown  under  such  conditions)  be 
cut  two  or  three  times,  but  it  is  not  until  the 
third  year  that  it  develops  into  full  vigor,  and 
after  that  it  yields  magnificent  crops  for  ten 
or  fifteen  years. 

Alfalfa  will  not  flourish  on  land  where  water 
stands  a  short  distance  below  the  surface,  nor 
in  heavy,  sticky  clays.  It  attains  its  highest 
perfection  on  mellow,  well-drained  or  roiling 
land  where  water  readily  passes  away. 

A'lgae.  A  large  and  important  tribe  of  Crypto- 
ganiia,  the  greater  part  of  which  live  either  in 
salt  or  fresh  water.  They  are  related  on  the  one 
hand  to  Funguses,  and  on  the  otlier  to  Lichens 
their  distinctive  characters  being  more  easily 
derived  from  their  respective  liabits,  than  from 
differences  of  structure.  Some  of  the  species, 
as  the  Dulse  and  Pepper  Dulse,  are  edible  and 
are  used  in  Britain  as  a  condiment,  while  the 
Carrageen  or  Irish  Moss,  besides  its  value  in 
cattle-feeding  when  boiled  and  mixed  with 
other  nutritious  matters,  forms  an  excellent 
dessert  something  like  curds  when  boiled  in 
milk. 

Algce,  best  known  as  "Sea  weed,"  have  long 
been  used  as  manure  by  the  farmers  along  the 
coasts  of  Long  Island,  New  England,  etc.,  im- 
mense quantities  being  thrown  ashore  in  the 
faU  of  the  year.  It  is  generally  composted 
with  barn  yard  manure  and  is  often  used  as 
a  covering  for  Strawberries  and  Asparagus  for 
winter. 

Algaro'ba  Bean,  or  Carob.  The  fruit  of  Cer- 
atonia  Siliqua,  which  see. 

Alha'gi.  The  Arabic  name  of  the  plant.  Nat. 
Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  small  genus  of  shrubby  plants,  Avith 
simple  leaves  and  spiny  fiower-stajks,  inhabit- 
ing Southern  Asia  and  Western  Africa.  A 
manna-like  substance  is  produced  from  some 
of  these  plants  in  Persia  and  Bokhara,  and  is 
collected  by  merely  shaking  the  branches. 
The  secretion  is  supposed  by  some  to  be  iden- 
tical with  the  Manna  by  which  the  Israelites 
were  miraculously  fed. 

Ali'sma.  Water  Plantain.  A.  Plantago  var. 
Americana,  is  a  native  aquatic  with  small 
white  or  rose-colored  flowers,  arranged  in  a 
loose,  compound,  many-flowered  panicle. 

Alisma'ceae.  A  small  order  of  aquatic  or  marsh 
plants,  with  three-petaled  flowers,  on  leafless 
scapes,  and  simple,  radical  leaves.  The  genera 
best  known  are  Alisma,  Butomus  and  Sagit- 
taria. 

A'lkanet,  or  Hoary  Puccoon.  The  common 
name  of  Lithospermum  canescens ;  also,  a  name 
applied  to  the  roots  of  Anchusa  tinctoria,  ex- 
tensively used  as  a  dye,  which  is  also  called 
"alkanet." 

Allama'nda.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  Allamand, 
of  Leyden.     Nat.  Ord.  Apocynacece. 

This  genus  consists  principally  of  handsome 
climbing  green-house  shrubs.  A.  Schottii,  a 
native  of  Brazil,  produces  immense  numbers 
of  large,  funnel-shaped  flowers,  which  are  of  a 
full  yellow,  with  a  deeper  yellow  throat.     A. 


ALO 

nobilis,  A.  Chelsoni  and  other  species  are  all 
most  desirable  flowering  plants  for  green- 
house decoration.  They  delight  in  a  warm, 
moist  situation,  and  should  have  a  light, 
fibrous  soil.  Propagated  by  cuttings.  First 
introduced  from  Brazil  in  1846. 

Allanto'dia.  From  allantos,  a  sausage ;  in  refer- 
ence to  the  cylindrical  form  of  the  indusium. 
A  genus  of  Ferns  now  reduced  to  one  species, 
A.  Brunoniana,  which  is  a  very  pretty  plant, 
Avith  fronds  one  to  two  feet  in  length.  It  is  a 
native  of  the  Himalayas,  at  an  elevation  of 
6,000  feet,  and  is  of  easy  culture  in  the  green- 
house.    Syn.  Asplenium  Juvanicum, 

Alleghany  Vine.     See  Adlumia. 

Ail-Heal.     Valeriana  officinalis. 

AUigator  Apple.     See  Anona  palustris. 

AUigator  Pear.     See  Persea  gratissima. 

Alligator  "Wood.  The  timber  of  Guarea  grandi- 
folia,  a  West  Indian  tree. 

A'Uium.  From  the  Celtic  all,  meaning  hot  or 
burning ;  referring  to  the  well-known  qualities 
of  the  genus.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacem. 

Of  the  one  hundred  and  fifty  species  of  this 
tribe,  but  few  are  considered  ornamental ;  in- 
deed, the  family,  probably  from  prejudice,  has 
been  much  neglected,  where  many  far  less 
showy  plants  have  found  favor.  A.  Moly  pro- 
duces large  trusses  of  golden  yellow  flowers 
in  June.  A.  Neapolitanum  is  a  fine  species, 
bearing  pui-e  white  fiowers  in  a  large  umbel. 
The  former  is  perfectly  hai-dy,  and  worthy  a 
place  in  the  garden.  The  latter  is  tender,  re- 
quiring the  protection  of  the  green-house. 
Propagated  readily  by  offsets.  The  various 
species  of  Allium,  as  Onion,  Leek,  Garlic,  Chives, 
etc.,  are  described  under  their  respective 
names. 

Allople'ctus.  A  small  genus  of  interesting 
green-house  shrubs,  belonging  to  the  order 
GesneracecB,  and  requiring  the  same  treatment. 

Alloso'rus.  From  alios,  diverse,  and  soros,  a 
heap ;  in  allusion  to  the  changing  of  the  sori. 
Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  very  beautiful  dwarf  Ferns. 
A.  crispus,  a  British  Fern,  sometimes  called 
the  Mountain  Parsley  Fern,  is  a  beautiful 
plant  for  rockeries.  Two  or  three  exotic  spe- 
cies are  favorites  in  the  green-house.  Tliey 
are  propagated  from  spores. 

Allspice.     Carolina.    Calycanthus  floridvs. 

Allspice-Tree.    See  Pimenta. 

Almond.    See  Amygdalus  communis. 

Almond,  Double-Flowering,  Dwarf.  Amyg^ 
daliis  nana,  which  see. 

Almond,  Earth  or  Chufa.    Cyperus  esculentua. 

Al'nus.  The  Alder.  From  al,  near,  and  Ian,  the 
bank  of  a  river ;  in  reference  to  the  situation 
where  the  Alder  delights  to  grow.  Nat.  Ord. 
BetulacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  shrubs  or  small  trees 
common  throughout  North  America  and 
Europe.  The  pi-incipal  use  of  the  Alder  is  for 
charcoal,  which  is  highly  valued  in  the  manu- 
facture of  gunpowder. 

Aloca'sia.  A  slight  alteration  of  Coiocosia.  Nat. 
Ord.  AroidecB. 

This  name  is  applied  to  a  section  of  the 
genus  Colocasia;  by  some  considered  a  distinct 
genus.     Natives  of  India,  the  Indian  Archi- 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTUEE. 


17 


ALO 

pelago,  &c.  A.  metallica  is  a  magnificent  spe- 
cies from  Boi'neo,  producing  very  large  oval 
leaves,  having  a  rich  bronze-colored  surface, 
making  it  a  conspicuous  ornament  for  the  hot- 
house. The  leaves  look  like  large  polished 
metal  shields.  Many  other  species,  some  of 
them  of  great  beauty,  with  large  and  hand- 
somely variegated,  usually  peltate,  leaves,  are 
highly-prized  occupants  of  our  plant  stoves. 

A'loe.  From  alloeh,  its  Arabic  name.  Nat.  Ord. 
LiliacecB. 

The  name  Aloe  is  so  frequently  applied  in 
conversation  to  the  American  Aloe,  or  Agave, 
that  many  persons  are  not  aware  that  the  true 
Aloe  is  not  only  quite  a  different  genus,  but 
l-elongs  to  a  different  natural  order,  the  Amer- 
ican Aloe  being  one  of  the  Amaryllis  tribe, 
while  the  true  Aloe  belongs  to  the  Lily  tribe. 
The  qualities  of  the  two  plants  are  also  essen- 
tially different,  the  American  Aloe  abounding 
in  starchy,  nourishing  matter,  while  every 
part  of  the  true  Aloe  is  purgative.  The  true 
Aloe  also  flowers  every  year,  and  the  flowers 
are  tube-shaped,  and  produced  on  a  spike ; 
Avhile  each  plant  of  the  American  Aloe  flowers 
but  once,  sending  up  an  enormous  flower-stem 
with  candelabra-like  branches  and  cup-shaped 
flowers.  The  true  Aloes  are  succulent  plants, 
natives  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  grow 
best  in  this  country  in  green-houses  or  rooms, 
in  a  light,  sandy  soil.  To  this,  when  the  plants 
are  wanted  to  attain  a  large  size,  may  be  added 
a  little  leaf-mould.  When  grown  in  rooms,  a 
poor  soil  is,  however,  preferable,  as  it  keeps 
the  plants  of  a  smaller  and  more  manageable 
size,  and  makes  them  less  easily  affected  by 
changes  of  temperature.  The  colors  of  the 
flowers  will  also  be  richer  when  the  plants  are 
grown  in  poor  soil.  The  drug  called  aloes  is 
made  principally  from  the  pulp  of  the  fleshy 
leaf  of  the  A.  socotrina,  the  flowers  of  which 
are  red,  tipped  with  green ;  but  it  is  also  made 
from  several  other  species. 

A'loe,  Partridge-Breast.     Aloe  variegata. 

A'loe,  Pearl.     Aloe  margaritifera. 

A'loes-Wood.     See  Aquilaria. 

Alo'na.  From  nola,  a  little  bell  (letters  trans- 
posed) ;  in  allusion  to  the  shape  of  the  flowers. 
Nat.  Ord.  Nolanacece. 

A  genus  of  pretty  evergreen  shrubs,  A.  Cte- 
lestis,  has  pale-blue,  large  flowers ;  an  excel- 
lent plant  for  growing  out-of-doors  during 
summer.  Propagated  by  cuttings.  Intro- 
duced from  Chili  in  1845. 

Alonso'a.  The  Mask  Flower.  Named  after  Za- 
nomi  Alonso,  a  Spaniard,  by  the  authors  of 
Flora  Peruviana.  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariaceoe. 
The  species  are  low  under-shrubs,  or  herba- 
ceous plants,  natives  of  Peru,  and  two  of  them 
— A.  incisifolia  and  A.  linearis — are  very  orna- 
mental, either  in  the  green-house  or  grown  as 
annuals  in  the  open  border  during  summer. 
They  thrive  well  in  any  light,  rich  soil,  and 
are  readily  increased  by  seeds  or  cuttings. 
They  are  very  desirable  for  flower-gardens,  on 
account  of  the  brilliant  scarlet  of  their  flow- 
ers ;  and  where  there  is  no  green-house,  the 
plants  should  be  raised  from  seeds  sown  on  a 
hot-bed  in  February,  or  struck  from  cuttings 
early  in  spring,  and  brought  forward  in  a  frame 
or  pit,  and  turned  out  into  the  open  air  in  May. 

Alopecu'rus.  The  generic  name  of  the  Foxtail 
Grass 


ALS 

Aloy'sia.  Lemon  Verbena.  Named  in  honor  o! 
Maria  Louisa,  Queen  of  Spain.  Nat.  Ord.  Ver- 
benacece. 

The  only  known  species  of  this  genus  is  A. 
citriodora,  introduced  from  Chili  in  1784,  and 
formerly  called  Verbena  triphylla,  or  the  Lemon- 
scented  Verbena.  Under  this  name  it  is  gen- 
erally sold,  and  is  a  universal  favorite,  readily 
propagated  from  cuttings,  and  planted  in  the 
open  border  in  May.  If  taken  up  after  a  light 
frost  and  put  in  a  cold  frame  or  cool  cellar 
during  winter,  the  plants  will  keep  well ;  and, 
planted  out  in  spring  again,  they  make  large 
and  pleasing  shrubs.  The  leaves,  when  dried, 
will  retain  their  odor  for  many  years.  Syn. 
Lippia  citriodora. 

Alphabet-plant.     Spilanthes  acmella. 

A'lpine.  Strictly  speaking,  this  term  refers  to 
the  higher  part  of  the  Alps,  in  contradistinc- 
tion to  "mountainous,"  which  designates  the 
middle  portion  of  the  higher  Alps,  or  tops  of 
inferior  mountains.  Plants  found  in  very  high 
elevations  are  called  Alpine  Plants. 

Alpine  Azalea.  The  popular  name  for  Loisleu- 
ria  procumbenB. 

A'lpine  Plants.  This  very  interesting  class  con- 
sists mostly  of  plants  nativesof  high  elevations, 
and,  although  they  are  naturally  exposed  to 
the  full  influence  of  the  sun  and  wind,  they 
require  in  our  hot,  dry  summers  shade  and 
and  shelter  more  than  exposure.  Wherever 
a  Eock  Garden  or  Bockery  is  constructed,  a 
portion  of  it  should  be  devoted  to  the  culture 
of  Alpines,  for  as  a  rule  they  floui'ish  better 
on  a  properly-constructed  Kockery  than  in  any 
other  position,  because  thorough  drainage  is 
effected,  and  the  long,  flne  roots  can  run  down 
in  the  crevices  where  the  soil  is  cool  and  moist. 
It  should,  however,  be  so  arranged  that  all 
aspects  are  secured,  shady  and  sunny,  fully, 
or  in  a  degree  only.  Many  Alpines  are 
easily  grown  in  the  ordinary  border  in  a 
sheltered,  well-drained  situation.  Excavate 
to  the  depth  of  eighteen  inches,  put  in  a  layer 
of  stones  or  rubble  six  inches  deep,  and  fill  up 
with  a  mixture  of  good  fibrous  loam  and  leaf- 
mould,  adding  sand  enough  to  keep  it  porous. 
When  the  desired  subjects  are  firmly  planted, 
the  surface  may  be  covered  with  small  stones 
or  rough  gravel,  which,  while  allowing  the 
rain  to  penetrate  the  soil,  checks  evaporation, 
keeping  it  moist  and  cool,  as  well  as  giving 
the  surface  an  appearance  more  in  keeping 
with  the  plants. 

Alpi'nia.  In  memory  of  Prosper  Alpinus,  an 
Italian  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Zingiberacece. 

A  genus  of  tropical  herbaceous  perennials, 
mostly  natives  of  the  East  Indies,  requii-ing 
to  be  grown  in  great  heat  and  moisture.  A. 
vittata  is  an  ornamental-leaved  species  of  small 
growth.  The  plant  throws  up  numerous 
stems  from  the  underground  rhizomes,  bear- 
ing lance-shaped  leaves,  pale  green  in  color, 
stiiped  with  creamy  white.  A.  alba  bears  a 
fruit  known  as  Ovoid  China  Cardamoms ;  others, 
as  A.  nutans,  are  remarkable  for  the  exceeding 
beauty  of  their  flowers.  They  are  increased 
by  division  of  their  roots. 

Alseuo'smia.     From  alsos,  a  grove,  and  euosmia, 
a  grateful  odor ;  alluding  to  the  powerful  fra- 
grance of  the  flowers.    Nat.  Ord.  CaprifoliaceoR. 
A  small  genus  of  highly-glabrous  shrubs, 
with  greenish  or  red  flowers,  and  generally 


18 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


ALS 

alternate  leaves.  A.  Macrophylla,  the  only 
species  yet  introduced  to  cultivation,  has 
small,  very  fragrant,  dull-red  flowers,  some- 
times streaked  with  white.  It  forms  a  neat 
green-house  shrub,  and  is  propagated  by  cut- 
tings of  the  half-ripened  wood.  Introduced 
from  New  Zealand  in  1881. 

Alsike.     See  TrifoUum  hyhridum. 

Also'phila.  From  atsos,  a  grove,  and  phileo,  to 
love  ;  in  reference  to  tlie  situation  best  suited 
to  tlie  plants.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacem. 

This  genus  contains  some  of  our  most  beau- 
tiful green-house  Tree  Ferns  A.  Australia, 
the  type,  is  a  native  of  Australia,  and  one  of 
the  most  ornamental  of  the  order.  In  the  or- 
dinary' green-house  it  thrives  finely,  produc- 
ing its  graceful  fronds  from  three  to  four  feet 
long  and  one  and  a  half  wide.  There  are  sev- 
eral species,  all  tropical,  and  all  worthy  a 
place  in  the  fern- house.  They  are  incieased 
by  division  or  from  spores.  Introduced  in 
1833. 

Alstroeme'ria.  In  honor  of  Bai-on  Alstramer,  a 
Swedish  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidacece. 

This  is  a  genus  of  tuberous-rooted  plants, 
with  beautiful  flowers,  natives  of  South  Amei"- 
ica,  and  capable  of  being  grown  to  a  high  de- 
gree of  perfection  in  the  hot-house,  green- 
house or  open  air,  according  to  the  species. 
The  soil  which  suits  all  the  Alstropmerias  is  a 
mixture  of  sandy  loam  and  leaf-mould,  or 
well-rotted  manure.  Of  all  the  hot-house 
species,  A.  Ligtu,  with  wliite  and  scarlet  flow- 
ers, is  tlie  most  difficult  tt  flower;  but  by  giv- 
ing it  abundance  ot  water  during  the  summer, 
and  a  strong  heat  in  December,  it  will  flower 
in  February :  and  one  plant  ■will  scent  a 
whole  house  with  fragrance  like  that  of 
Mignonette.  A.  edulis  is  another  hot  house 
species,  which  climbs  to  the  height  of  ten  or 
twelve  feet,  and,  like  all  other  climbers, 
thrives  best  when  turned  out  into  the  open 
border.  Propagation  is  effected  by  separation 
of  the  tubers,  or  by  seeds  ;  the  latter  is  apt  to 
produce  new  varieties,  as  they  are  by  no 
means  constant  from  seed. 

Alternanthe'ra.  Alluding  to  the  anthers  being 
alternately  fertile  and  barren.  Nat.  Ord. 
Amaranthacecc. 

This  useful  little  green-house  perennial  for 
ribbon  beds  and  edgings  is  a  native  of  Buenos 
Ayres,  introduced  in  1732.  Propagated  read- 
ily from  cuttings.  The  variegated-leaved 
varieties,  of  which  new  and  striking  sorts  are 
constantly  being  introduced,  alone  are  culti- 
tivated,  the  flowers  being  inconspicuous.  A 
recent  variety,  A.  paronychioidps  major,  is  now 
known  as  the  Rainbow  plant. 

Alternate.  Placed  on  opposite  sides  of  an 
axis,  on  a  different  level,  as  in  alternate 
leaves. 

Althae'a.  Marsh  Mallow.  From  altheo,  to  cure ; 
in  reference  to  its  medicinal  qualities.  Nat. 
Ord.  Malvacpct:. 

Theie  are  many  annuals  in  this  family, 
some  of  them  of  much  merit.  The  Marsh 
Mallows  are  hardy  perennials,  and  formerly 
much  used  as  border  plants.  A.  rosea,  the 
common  Hollyhock,  is  one  of  our  most  splen- 
did ornamental  biennials.  It  grows  to  the 
height  of  from  five  to  eight  feet,  and  there 
are  varieties  of  almost  every  color,  including 
white,  and  purple  so  deep  as  to  be  alpiost 


AMA 

black.  The  seeds  of  the  Hollyhock,  should 
be  sown  in  March  or  April.  When  the  plants 
come  up,  they  should  be  thinned  out,  and 
then  suffered  to  remain  till  September,  when 
they  should  be  transplanted  to  the  place  where 
they  are  to  flower.  Introduced  from  China  in 
1573.  The  hardy  shrub  commonly  known  as 
Althaia,  is  Hibiscus  Syriacus. 

Alum  Root.  The  common  name  of  Heuchera 
Americana,  the  roots  of  which  are  very  as- 
tringent. 

Aly'ssum.  Derived  from  o,  privative,  and  lyssa, 
rage  ;  from  a  notion  among  the  ancients  that 
the  plant  possessed  the  power  of  allaying  an- 
ger.    Nat.  Ord.  Cruciferce. 

Dwarf  hardy  perennials,  or  sub-shrubby 
plants,  with  cruciferous  flowers.  A.  saxatile 
is  very  suitable  for  rock-work,  or  the  front 
part  of  a  flower  border,  and  forms  a  beautiful 
spring-blooming  bed  in  the  flower  garden. 
Flowers  produced  in  large  clusters,  of  a  deep, 
pure  yellow.  It  is  increased  by  cuttings  and 
seeds.  The  herbaceous  species  are  propa- 
gated by  division,  the  sub-shrubby  ones  by 
cuttings.  Vigorous  two-year-old  plants  are 
the  best  for  flowering;  the  others  are  unim- 
portant. The  plant  commonly  called  Sweet 
Alyssura  is  not  of  this  genus;  it  is  Koniga 
marilima,  which  see. 

Amarabo'ya.  The  native  name.  Nat.  Ord. 
MeXastomacece. 

A  small  genus  (three  species)  of  evergreen 
shrubs,  natives  of  New  Grenada  The 
branches  are  thick,  bluntly  four-angled,  with 
large,  prominently  nerved  leaves,  green  above 
and  reddish-carmine  beneath.  The  white  or 
carmine  flowers  are  borne  in  tprminal  cymes, 
and  are  very  showy.     Introduced  in  1887. 

Amarantha'ceae.  An  extensive  order  of  herbs 
or  (rarely)  shrubs  with  inconspicuous  apetal- 
ous  flowers,  almost  in  all  cases  of  a  scarious 
or  shrivelled  texture.  The  majority  of  this 
order  are  weeds,  though  many  of  the  species 
of  Amaranthus  and  Gomphrena  (Globe  Ama- 
ranth) are  beautiful  border  plants  and  are 
well  known. 

Amaranth  Globe.     See  Gomphrena. 

Amara'nthus.  Amaranth.  Derived  from  a,  not, 
unA  miaraino,  to  wither;  in  reference  to  the 
length  of  time  some  flowers  retain  their  color. 
Nat.  Ord.  Amaranthaceo!.. 

Ornamental  foliaged  plants,  of  an  extremely 
graceful  and  interestingcharacter,  producing 
a  striking  effect,  whether  grown  for  the  deco- 
ration of  the  conservatory  or  the  out-door 
flower  gai'den.  If  the  seeds  are  sown  early  in 
a  warm  hot-bed  and  planted  out  the  last  of 
May  or  in  June,  in  rich  soil,  they  make  ex- 
ceedingly handsome  specimens  for  the  center 
of  beds,  or  mixed  flower  or  shrubbery  bor- 
ders. Most  of  the  varieties  are  natives  of  the 
East  Indies,  and  were  introduced  into  Eng- 
land about  1(500.  The  well-known  A.  tricolor,  or 
"Joseph's  Coat,"  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
of  ornamental-leaved  plants.  A.  caudatus, 
"Love  lies  Bleeding,"  is  another  showy  spe- 
cies, and  A.  salicifolius,  "The  Fountain  Plant,"" 
makes  a  lovely  specimen  for  lawni  decoration 
or  for  the  centre  of  a  "  foliage  bed." 

Amaryllida'ceae.  A  large  Natural  Order,  con- 
sisting for  the  most  part  of  bulbous  plants, 
but  occasionally  forming  a  tall,  cylindrical, 
woody   stem,  as   in  the  genus  Agave.     They 


AND   GENEEAL   HORTICULTURE. 


19 


AMA 

differ  from  Irisos  in  having  six  introrse  sta- 
mens, and  from  Liliaceous  plants  in  their 
ovai-y  being  inferior.  A  few  species  of  Nar- 
cissus and  Galanlhus  are  found  in  the  north  of 
Europe  and  the  same  parallels.  As  we  pro- 
ceed south  they  increase.  Pancratium  ap- 
pears on  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean, 
and  on  our  own  Southern  coasts ;  Crinuin 
and  Pancratium  in  the  West  and  East  Indies ; 
HcBmaiithus  is  found  for  the  first  time,  with 
some  of  the  latter,  on  the  Gold  Coast ;  Hip- 
peastra  show  themselves  in  countless  num- 
bers in  Brazil  and  across  the  whole  continent 
of  South  America  ;  and,  finally,  at  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  the  maximum  ot  the  order  is  be- 
held in  all  the  beauty  of  Hcemanthus.  Crinum, 
Clivia,  Cyrtanthus  and  Brunsvigia.  A  few  are 
found  in  New  Holland,  the  most  remarkable 
of  which  is  Doryanthes.  Poisonous  properties 
occur  in  the  viscid  juice  of  the  bulbs  of  £tt- 
phane  toxicaria  and  Hippeastrum ;  those  of 
Leucojum  vernum,  the  Snowdrop,  and  Daffodil 
and  other  kinds^  of  Narcissus,  are  emetic. 
Nevertheless,  the  Agave,  or  American  Aloe, 
as  it  is  called,  has  an  insipid,  sweet  juice. 
Others  are  detergent,  and  a  few  yield  a  kind 
of  arrow-root.  Between  300  and  400  species 
are  known. 

Amary'Ilis.  The  name  of  a  nymph  celebrated 
by  the  poet  Virgil.  Nat.  Oi'd.  Amaryllidacece. 
Bulbous  plants,  chiefly  natives  of  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope  and  South  America,  but  which 
have  been  increased  in  number  tenfold  by  hy- 
brids and  varieties  raised  in  England  and  on 
the  Continent.  All  the  kinds  are  eminently 
ornamental,  and  they  are  all  of  easy  culture, 
the  great  secret  being  to  give  them  alternately 
a  season  of  excitement  and  a  season  of  re- 
pose. To  do  this  effectually,  the  plants 
should  be  abundantly  supplied  with  water 
and  heat,  and  placed  near  the  glass  when 
they  are  coming  into  flower,  and  water  should 
be  withheld  from  them  by  degrees  when  they 
have  done  flowering,  till  they  have  entirely 
ceased  growing,  when  they  should  be  kept 
quite  dry  and  in  a  state  of  rest.  When  in  this 
state  they  may  be  placed  in  any  obscure  part 
of  a  green-house  where  it  is  drj',  and  of  a  tem- 
perature not  under  forty  or  fifty  degrees.  If 
kept  in  such  a  situation  during  winter,  some 
kinds  may  be  turned  out  into  a  warm  border 
in  spring,  where  they  will  flower ;  and  If  the 
season  be  fine,  they  will  renew  their  bulbs  in 
time  to  be  taken  up  before  the  approach  of 
frost.  The  chief  value  of  these  plants,  how- 
ever, is  to  produce  flowers  in  the  winter  sea- 
son which  thej'  readily  do  if  they  are  kept 
dry  and  dormant  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
summer  and  autumn.  Indeed,  by  having  a 
large  stock  of  these  bulbs,  a  regular  succes- 
sion of  flowers  may  be  procured  during  every 
month  in  the  year.  When  the  dormant  bulbs 
are  intended  to  be  brought  Into  flower,  they 
should  be  freshly  potted  in  sandy  loam  and 
leaf-mould,  and  put  in  a  hot-house  or  hot- 
bed, the  heat  beginning  at  flfty  degrees,  and 
ascending  to  sixty  or  seventy  degrees ;  and 
"When  the ,  leaves  appear,  they  should  be 
abundantly  supplied  with  water.  Where 
seeds  are  wanted  the  watering  must  be  con- 
tinued, though  somewhat  less  abundantly, 
after  the  flowei's  have  faded,  till  the  seeds  are 
ripe;  and  when  these  are  gathered,  they  ought 
to  be  sowji  immediately  in  light,  sandy  loam. 


AMH 

and  placed  in  a  frame,  or  near  the  glass,  in  a 
moist  part  of  the  hot-house.  If  the  young 
plants  are  potted  off  as  soon  as  they  are  an  inch 
or  two  in  height,  and  shifted  frequently  in  the 
course  of  the  growing  season,  they  will  attain 
a  flowering  size  in  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
months.  The  pots  in  which  these  and  all 
other  bulbs  are  grown  ought  to  be  thoroughly 
drained  by  a  handful  or  more  of  potsherds 
(broken  pots)  laid  in  the  bottom  of  each  pot, 
and  covered  with  turfy  loam,  and  tne  mould 
used  should  also  be  turfy,  in  order  the  more 
freely  to  admit  the  passage  of  water.  Our 
long  and  warm  summers  enable  us  to  culti- 
vate many  of  these  beautiful  bulbs  in  the  open 
air,  merely  protecting  the  roots  in  the  winter 
in  the  same  manner  as  those  of  the  Dahlia, 
See   Hippeastrum. 

Amary'Ilis  formosissima.  A  synonym  of  Spre- 
kelia,  which  see. 

Amaso'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Thomas  Ama- 
son,  an  American  traveller.  Nat.  Ord.  Ver- 
benacecB.  A  genus  of  South  American  shrubs 
found  chiefly  in  Brazil ;  closely  allied  to  Cler- 
odendron,  from  which  they  differ  chiefly  in 
habit.  A.  calycina,  better  known  as  A.  puni- 
cea,  is  particularly  striking,  in  having  a  series 
of  the  richest  Poinsettia-like,  vermilion-crim- 
son, spreading  bracts,  arranged  along  the  en- 
tire length  of  the  racemes,  which  are  a  foot 
long.  These  bracts  are  four  inches  in  length, 
and  remain  in  perfection  fully  two  months. 
Syn.  Taligalea. 

Ambro'sia.  The  botanical  name  of  Ragweed, 
Bitterweed,  etc. 

Amela'ncMer.  June  Berry,  Shad  Berry,  Ser- 
vice Berry.  From  Amelanchier,  the  popular 
name  of  one  of  the  species  in  Savoy.  Nat. 
Ord.  RosacecB. 

A.  Canadensis  (the  only  American  species) 
and  its  numerous  varieties  are  low  trees,  com- 
mon in  the  woods  in  the  Northern  States,  re- 
markable for  their  numerous  white  flowers, 
which  appear  about  the  middle  of  April,  com- 
pletely covering  the  tree  before  the  foliage  or 
flowers  of  the  neighboring  trees  have  com- 
menced their  growth.  The  foliage  resembles 
that  of  the  Peai",  and  changes  to  a  bright  yel- 
low in  autumn.  The  fruit  is  a  dark-purple 
berry,  ripe  in  July  or  August,  and  has  an 
agreeable  flavor. 

American  Aloe.    Agave  Americana,  which  see. 

American  Centaury.  The  popular  name  for 
Sabbatia. 

American  Columbo.     See  Frasera  Carolinensis. 

American  Ccwslip.     See  Dodecatheon  Meadia. 

American  Cranberry.  See  Oxycoccus  macro- 
carpus. 

American  Cress.     Barbarea  proicox. 

American  Frog  s  Bit.     Limnobium  spongia. 

American  Ivy.     Ampelopsis  quinquefolia. 

American  Pitcher  Plant.     See  Sarracenia. 

American  Wood  Lily.     See  Trillium. 

Amhe'rstia.  In  honor  of  the  Rt.  Hon.  Countess 
Amherst  and  her  daughter  Lady  Sarah 
Amherst ;  the  zealous  friends  and  promoters 
of  every  branch  of  natural  history,  but  espe- 
cially of  Botany.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminosoE. 

A.  nobilis,  the  only  species  is  an  East  Indian 
tree,  said  to  be  one  of  the  most  magnificent 


20 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


AMI 

blooming  trees  in  existence,  bearing  in  Spring 
large  racemes  of  vermilion-colored  flowers 
diversified  with  three  yellow  spots.  The 
Burmanese  name  of  the  plant  is  Thoca,  and 
handfuls  of  the  flowers  are  offered  before  the 
images  of  Buddha.  The  tree  is  to  be  found 
in  some  of  the  larger  English  collections  ;  but 
requiring  so  much  space  it  is  rarely  grown. 

Ami'cia.  This  pretty  Leguminous  green-house 
perennial  is  valuable  on  account  of  its  flower- 
ing late  in  the  fall,  flowers  yellow  splashed 
with  purple,  branches  and  petioles  pubescent. 
Introduced  from  Mexico  in  1S26. 

Ammo'biiun.  From  amnios,  sand,  and  bio,  to 
live  ;  in  reference  to  the  sandy  soil  in  which  it 
thrives.     Nat.  Ord.   Compositce. 

Pretty  aimuals  of  hardy  character  from  New 
Holland,  producing  white  everlastmg  flowers. 
The  seed  may  be  sown  in  the  open  border,  in 
almost  any  situation,  between  the  middle  of 
March  and  the  end  of  May. 

Anunobro'ina.  From  am?nos,  sand,  and  bromos, 
food;  a  name  given  by  Dr.  Toirey  to  a  leaf- 
less plant  of  parasitic  habit,  native  of  Northern 
Mexico.  The  plant  has  the  habit  of  an  Oro- 
banche.  the  scaly  roots  being  buried  in  the  sand, 
its  roots  parasitic  on  the  roots  of  an  unknown 
plant.  Colonel  Grey,  the  original  discoverer 
of  this  plant  met  with  it  in  the  country  of  the 
Papigo  Indians,  a  barren,  sandy  waste,  where 
rain  scarcely  ever  falls  but  "where  Nature 
has  provided  for  the  sustenance  of  man,  one  of 
the  most  nutritious  and  palatable  of  vege- 
tables." The  plant  is  roasted  upon  hot  coals, 
and  ground  witli  mesquit  beans  and  resem- 
bles in  taste  the  sweet  potato,  "  but  is  far 
more  delicate." 

Ammo'charis.  A  genus  of  Amaryllidacem,  usu- 
ally included  in  Brunsvigia.  ' 

Ammo'phila.  Beach  Grass.  From  ammos,  sand, 
and  phileo,  to  love;  in  allusion  to  its  native 
habitat.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  genus  of  coarse  growing,  reed-like  grasses 
common  on  the  sea-shores  of  this  country  and 
Europe.  A.  arundinacea,  Syn.  Calamagrostis 
Arenaria,  is  the  best  known  species;  as  an 
agricultural  grass  it  is  of  no  value,  but  its 
value  as  a  natural  sand-builder  cannot  be  over- 
estimated ;  many  thousand  acres  of  land  on 
various  parts  of  our  coast  are  preserved  from 
being  overwhelmed  with  the  drifting  sand 
solely  by  its  agency.  It  seems  to  have  been 
provided  for  this  special  purpose,  having  very 
strong  rhizomes,  or  creeping  roots,  from  30 
to  40  feet  long,  with  many  small  tubers,  about 
the  size  of  peas,  wliich  prevent  the  drifting  of 
the  sand  from  the  action  of  the  wind  and 
waves  tlius  forming  a  barrier  against  the  en- 
croachments of  the  ocean. 

In  speaking  of  the  importance  of  this  grass 
in  protecting  our  coasts,  Flint,  in  his  book  on 
grasses  says, — "The  town  of  Provincetown, 
once  called  Cape  Cod,  where  the  pilgrims  first 
landed,  and  its  harbor,  still  called  the  harbor 
of  Cape  Cod, — one  of  the  best  and  most  im- 
portant in  the  United  States,  sufliclfiit  in 
depth  for  ships  of  the  largest  size,  and  in  ex- 
tent to  anchor  three  thousand  vessels  at  once, 
owe  their  preservation  to  this  grass.  To  an 
inhabitant  of  an  inland  country,  it  is  difficult 
to  conceive  the  extent  and  the  violence  with 
which  the  sands  at  the  extremity  of  Cape  Cod 
are  thrown  up  from  the  depths  of  the  sea,  and 


AMO 

left  on  the  beach  in  thousands  of  tons,  by  every 
drifting  storm.  These  sand-hills  when  dried 
by  the  sun,  are  hurled  by  the  winds  into  the 
liaibor  and  upon  the  town.  Beach  grass  is 
said  to  have  been  cultivated  here  as  early  as 
1812.  Before  that  time,  when  the  sand 
driftnd  down  upon  the  dwelling-houses — as  it 
did  whenever  the  beach  was  broken — to  save 
them  from  burial,  the  only  resort  was  to 
wheeling  it  off  with  barrows.  Tiius  tons  were 
removed  every  year  from  places  that  are  now 
perfectly  secure  from  the  drifting  of  sand. 
Indeed,  were  it  not  for  the  window-glass  in 
some  of  the  oldest  houses  in  these  localities, 
you  would  be  ready  to  deny  this  statement; 
but  the  sand  has  blown  with  such  force  and 
so  long  against  this  glass,  as  to  make  it 
perfectly  ground." 

Congress  appropriated,  between  the  years 
of  1826  and  1839,  about  twenty-eight  thousand 
dollars,  which  were  expended  in  setting  out 
beach-grass  near  the  village  of  Provincetown, 
for  the  protection  of  the  harbor.  Other  ap- 
propriations have  since  been  made,  which,  to- 
gether witii  the  efforts  of  the  town  committee, 
whose  duty  it  is  to  enter  any  man's  enclosure, 
summer  or  winter,  and  set  out  the  grass,  if 
the  sand  is  uncovered  and  movable.  By  this 
means  they  are  now  rid  of  sand-storms,  which 
were  once  the  terror  of  the  place,  and  the 
coast  appears  a  fertile  meadow. 

Amo'niuin.  From  a,  not,  and  momos,  impurity ; 
in  reference  to  its  supposed  quality  of  counter- 
acting poison.     Nat.  Ord.  Zingiber aceoe. 

This  genus  of  aromatic  herbs  furnishes  the 
Grains  of  Paradise  and  the  Cardamom  Seeds, 
which  are  aromatic  and  stimulant.  The  plants 
grow  readily  in  the  green-house,  and  are  prop- 
agated by  division  of  the  root.  Introduced 
in  1820  from  the  East  Indies. 

Amo'rpha.  False  Indigo.  Fi'om  a,  not,  and 
morpha,  f.)rm  ;  in  reference  to  the  irregularity 
of  the  flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  small  genus  of  large,  spreading  shrubs, 
natives  of  North  America.  The  leaves  are 
compound,  resembling  the  Locust,  only  the 
leaflets  are  finer.  The  flowers  are  dark-purple 
or  violet,  spangled  with  yellow,  disposed  in  long 
panicles  on  the  tops  of  the  branches.  A  fruti- 
cosa  is  a  very  ornamental  shrub  for  the  1  iwn, 
and  is  readily  propagated  from  suckers,  which 
are  produced  in  abundance.  A.  canescms  is  a 
small-growing  species,  common  in  the  Western 
and  Southern  States.  It  has  received  the  local 
name  of  Lead  Plant,  on  account  of  the  white, 
hairy  down  with  which  it  is  covered. 

Amo'rphopha'llus.  From  amorphos,  disfigured, 
Sindphallos,  a  mace  ;  form  of  spadix.  Nat.  Ord. 
Aroidece. 

These  plants  were  formerly  in  the  genus 
Arum,  from  which  they  are  distinguished  by 
their  spreading  spathes.  They  are  natives  of 
India  and  other  parts  of  tropical  Asia,  where 
they  are  cultivated  for  the  abundance  of  starch 
that  is  found  in  their  root-stocks.  Most  varie- 
ties are  ornamental  plants  for  the  green-house 
or  garden.  A.  Rivieri,  called  the  Umbrella 
Plant,  is  particularly  so,  having  large,  solitary 
decompound  leaves  three  to  five  feet  in  diam- 
eter, on  a  thick,  tall,  marbled  stem,  very  orna- 
mental, either  as  a  solitary  plant  or  in  groups 
on  the  lawn.  After  planting,  the  first  appear- 
ance is  the  flower  stalk,  which  rises  to  the 


AMARYLLIS  BELLADONNA. 


AHMOBIUM. 


AUABTIiLIS  F0BM08ISSI1IA. 


AMARYLLIS  VITTATA  HYBR1D>. 


ANEMONE  COBONABIA. 


ANEMOKE  JAPONICA. 


AMABANTHU8  GIBBOSUS. 


AND   GENEKAL   HOKTICULTUKE. 


21 


AMO 

height  of  two  feet.  As  it  expands,  the  fetor 
it  exhales  is  overpowering  and  sickening,  and 
so  perfectly  resembles  that  of  carrion  as  to  in- 
duce flies  to  cover  the  club  of  the  spadix  with 
their  eggs.     Propagated  by  offsets. 

Amorphous.    Without  definite  form. 

Ampelo'psis.  Woodbine.  From  ampelos,  a  vine, 
and  opuis,  resemblance  :  in  reference  to  its  re- 
semblance to  the  Grape  vine.  Nat.  Ord.  VUa- 
cecB. 

A.  quinquefolia  is  well  known  by  its  common 
names  of  Virginia  Creeper  and  Five-leaved 
Ivy.  Its  flowers  have  no  beauty,  but  it  is 
worth  cultivating  as  an  ornamental  plant, 
from  the  brilliant  scarlet  and  orange  which 
its  leaves  assume  in  autumn,  and  which  look 
particularly  well  at  that  season,  when  in- 
termingled with  those  of  the  common  Ivy, 
from  the  fine  contrast  they  afford.  The  plant 
is  of  very  rapid  growth  in  any  kind  of  soil, 
and  it  is  propagated  by  layers  or  cuttings. 
The  Virginia  Creeper  is  one  of  our  finest  indig- 
enous climbers.  It  grows  very  rapidly,  at- 
taches itself  firmly  to  wood  or  stone  buildings, 
or  to  the  trunks  of  old  trees,  and  soon  covers 
these  objects  with  a  fine  mantle  of  rich  foliage. 
Nothing  can  bo  more  admirably  adapted  than 
this  plant  for  concealing  and  disguising  the 
unsightly  stone  fences  which  are  so  common, 
and  so  great  a  deformity  in  many  parts  of  the 
country.  A.  tricuspidata  (syn.  A.  Veitchii),  with 
its  sub- variety  A.  t.  Royalii,  is  one  of  the  most 
valuable  of  hardy  climbing  plants,  and  is  now 
planted  in  immense  quantities.  It  was  first 
extensively  used  in  this  country  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  where  it  is  now  to  be  seen  covering 
some  of  the  finest  public  and  private  build- 
ings in  the  city.  It  clings  with  great  tenacity 
to  wood,  as  well  as  brick  or  stone,  and  in 
summer  the  leaves  lapping  over  each  other 
resemble  a  coat  of  mail,  and  form  a  dense 
sheet  of  rich,  glossy  green,  changing  in  au- 
tumn to  the  most  gorgeous  shades  of  crimson, 
scarlet  and  yellow.  It  is  also  used  largely  on 
rocky  and  shaly  railroad  cuts  and  embank- 
ments, where  its  clinging  tendency  helps 
greatly  to  keep  the  rocks  from  dropping  on  to 
the  track.  ]t  is  perfectly  hardy,  and  is  prop- 
agated by  cuttings,  layers,  or  most  generally 
from  seeds.     Introduced  from  Japan  in  1868. 

Ampely'gonum.  The  name  is  an  allusion  to  the 
grape-like  fruit.     Nat.  Ord.  Polygonaceoe. 

This  interesting  species  from  China  is  one 
from  which  the  finest  quality  of  indigo  is  ob- 
tained. It  is  an  herbaceous  perennial,  obtained 
readily  from  seed. 

Amphicarpae'a.  Hog  Pea  Nut.  From  amphi, 
bolh,  and  Karpos,  a  fruit ;  in  allusion  to  the 
two  kinds  of  pods  ;  those  of  the  upper  flowers 
being  scimitar-shaped,  three  to  four-seeded ; 
those  of  the  lower,  pear-shaped,  fleshy,  usu- 
ally ripening  but  one  seed.  These  lower  pods 
bury  themselves  in  the  ground  after  fertiliza- 
tion.    Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

Ornamental  annuals,  with  herbaceous  twin- 
ing stems,  of  easy  culture.     Allied  to  Wistaria. 

Amphi'coine.  From  amphi,  around,  and  Kome, 
hair ;  in  allusion  to  the  structure  of  the  seeds. 
Nat.  Ord.  Bignoniaceoe. 

This  genus  consists  of  two  species  of  verj- 
elegant  perennial  herbs,  natives  of  the  temper- 


ANA 

ate  regions  of  North-western  India.  A.  Emodl 
is  a  remai'kably  handsome  plant,  and  well  de- 
serves a  place  in  choice  collections.  It  ii 
about  one  foot  high,  and  the  flowers,  which 
are  large  for  the  plant,  stand  erect  when  ex- 
panded. The  fruits  are  about  the  length  and 
thickness  of  a  small  quill,  and  their  seeds  are 
provided  with  a  tuft  of  hairs  at  each  end,  a 
circumstance  which  gave  rise  to  the  name. 

Axnplezicaul.  Stem-clasping ;  as  when  the  base 
of  the  leaf  surrounds  the  stem,  as  in  Oestrum 
auriculatum,  Lonicera,  etc. 

Amso'nia.  In  memory  of  Charles  Amson,  a  cel- 
ebrated traveler.     Nat.  Ord.  ApocyiiacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  herbaceous  perennial  plants, 
with  beautiful  blue  flowers  produced  in  ter- 
minal panicled  clusters.  The  several  species 
are  natives  of  the  United  States.  A.  Tabern(z- 
montana,  one  of  the  more  beautiful  species,  is 
common  on  low  grounds  in  the  Southern  and 
Western  States. 

Ainy'gdalus.  Almond.  From  amyaso,  to  lacer- 
ate ;  in  reference  to  the  fissured  cliannels  in 
the  stone  of  the  fruit ;  but  some  suppose  from 
a  Hebrew  word  signifying  vigilant,  as  its  early 
flowers  announce  the  return  of  spring.  Nat. 
Ord.  Rosacece. 

A.  nana  is  the  common  Flowering  Almond  of 
gardens,  of  which  there  are  several  varie- 
ties, the  double  white  and  double  pink  alone 
being  desirable.  Native  of  Russia.  Intro- 
duced in  1683.  Propagated  readily  by  suck- 
ers. A.  communis  bears  the  sweet,  and  .A.  am- 
arus  the  bitter  Almonds  of  commerce.  They 
are  supposed  to  be  natives  of  Western  Asia, 
and  are  mentioned  in  sacred  history  as  among 
the  best  fruits  of  the  land  of  Canaan.  The 
Almond  is  plentiful  in  China,  in  most  Eastern 
countries,  and  also  in  Barbary.  It  is  exten- 
sively cultivated  in  Italy,  Spain  and  the  South 
of  France.  The  several  varieties,  such  as 
hard,  soft  or  paper  shelled,  have  all  originated 
from  A.  communis. 

Amyrida'ceae.  With  the  appearance  of  Oranges, 
and  sometimes  with  the  dotted  leaves  of  that 
order,  these  plants  differ  in  their  fruit,  form- 
ing a  shell  whose  husk  eventually  splits  into 
valve-like  segments.  The  tropics  of  India, 
Africa  and  America  exclusively  produce  the 
species.  Their  resinous  juice  is  of  great 
importance,  forming  an  ingredient  of  frankin- 
cense and  other  preparations  demanding  a 
fragrant  combustible  matter. 

Anacanthous.    Spineless. 

Anacardia'ceae.  When  trees  or  bushes  have  a 
resinous,  milky,  often  caustic  juice,  dotless 
leaves,  and  small,  inconspicuous  flowers,  with 
an  ovary  containing  a  single  ovule,  suspended 
at  the  end  of  an  erect  cord,  it  is  pretty  certain 
that  they  belong  to  this  order,  of  which  nioi'e 
than  400  species  are  described,  inhabiting  the 
tropics  both  north  and  south  of  the  equator, 
but  not  known  to  occur  in  Australia.  PLstacia 
and  some  kinds  of  Rhus  inhabit  temperate 
latitudes.  Among  the  products  of  tlie  order 
are  the  Mango  fruit,  and  that  called  in  the 
West  Indies  the  Hog  Plum ;  the  nuts  named 
Pistachios  and  Cashews,  the  Black  Varnish  of 
Burmah  and  elsewhere,  Mastic,  Fustic,  etc. 
These  varnishes  are  extremely  acrid,  and  pro- 
duce dangerous  consequences  to  persons  who 
use  them  incautiously. 


22 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


ANA 

Anaca'rdium.  From  ana,  like,  and  kardia,  the 
heart;  in  reference  to  the  foi-m  of  the  nut. 
Nat.  Ord.  Anacardiacem. 

Ornamental  evergreen  trees,  natives  of  the 
East  and  West  Indies,  remarkable  for  their 
beautiful,  fragrant  flowers,  and  for  their  fruit, 
known  as  tiie  Cashew-nut.  The  trees  are  too 
large  for  introduction  into  the  green-house. 

Anacy'clus.  A  genus  of  Compositm  comprising 
about  ten  species  of  hardy  or  half-hardy  annual 
herbs,  natives  of  Southern  Europe  and  Nortli- 
ern  Africa.  A.  radiatus  purpurem,  a  very 
pretty  and  free-flowering  hardy  annual,  is  the 
only  species  in  general  cultivation,  and  thrives 
■well  under  ordinary  cultivation. 

Anaga'llis.  Pimpernel.  From  anagelao,  to 
laugh;  fabled  to  possess  a  virtue  to  remove 
sadness.     Nat.  Ord.  Primulacece, 

A  genus  of  pretty  dwarf  annual  and 
biennial  plants.  The  former  have  given  place 
to  the  many  seminal  improvements  of  the 
the  latter,  insomuch  as  to  be  rarely  met  wiLli. 
They  are  universal  favorites  for  planting  in 
the  beds  of  the  flower  garden,  where  their 
numerous  blue  or  red  flowers,  expanded  when- 
ever the  sun  shines,  are  very  effective.  They 
are  propagated  by  seeds  or  cuttings.  "When 
seed  is  desired,  the  branch  or  plant  on  which 
it  is  growing  should  be  taken  entire,  a  little 
before  the  autumn  frosts  begin,  and  hung  up 
in  a  dry,  sunny  place,  such  as  before  the 
windows  of  a  shed,  allowing  the  pods  to 
remain  upon  it  until  wanted  in  the  spring  for 
sowing  as  it  requires  a  long  time  to  become 
properly  ripened ;  afterwards  it  vegetates 
freely  if  sown  in  a  gentle  hot-bed.  The  garden 
varieties  are  hybrids.  The  species  under 
cultivation  were  introduced  from  Southern 
Europe  in  1830.  A.  arvensis,  the  common 
Pimpernel,  is  plenty  in  waste,  sandy  places  in 
the  United  States,  having  been  introduced 
from  Europe  and  become  thoroughly  natural- 
ized. 

Analogy.  Resemblance  to  a  thing  in  form,  but 
not  in  function,  or  in  function,  but  not  in 
form.  Corresponding  with  a  thing  in  many 
points,  but  differing  in  more,  or  in  points  of 
more  importance.  Thus  the  flowers  ot  Potent- 
ilia  and  Ranunculus  are  analogous. 

Anami'rta.  A  genus  of  plants  inhaljiting  Ceylon, 
Malabar,  and  the  Eastern  Isles  of  India,  and 
belonging  to  the  natural  order  Menwpermaceo}. 
The  most  important,  if  not  the  only  plant  of 
this  genus,  is  the  A.  cocculus,  the  plant  which 
produces  the  seeds  known  as  Cocculus  Indicus, 
whicli  were  formerly  used  in  the  adulteration 
of  malt  liquors ;  it  is  also  used  to  poison  fish. 
It  is  a  climbing  plant,  with  ash-colored  corky 
bark ;  not  in  cultivation. 

Anana'ssa  Pineapple.  From  nanas,  the  Guiana 
name.     Nat.  Ord.  Bromeliacece. 

A.  sativa,  the  common  Pineapple,  is 
universally  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the 
most  delicious  fruits  in  existence.  More  than 
three  hundred  years  ago  it  was  described  by 
Jean  de  Lery,  a  Huguenot  priest,  as  being  of 
such  excellence,  that  the  gods  might 
luxuriate  upon  it,  and  that  it  should  only  be 
gathered  by  the  hand  of  Venus.  It  is  a 
native  of  Brazil,  and  was  first  introduced  into 
Europe  in  1555,  having  been  sent  there  by 
Andre  Thevet,  a  monk,  from  Peru.  The 
plant  is  perennial,  not  unlike  the  Aloe,  but  the 


AND 

leaves  are  much  thinner,  and  of  a  hard  fibrous 
texture,  with  numerous  shoi-t,  sharp  spines 
on  the  edges;  the  variegated  form  is  highly 
prized  as  one  of  the  most  valuable  plants  for 
decorative  purposes.  The  fruit  varies  like 
most  other  species,  there  now  being  nearly 
fifty  varieties  in  cultivation. 

Auasta'tica.  From  anastatls,  resurrection,  in 
reference  to  its  hygroiucLrical  property.  Nat. 
Ord.  Crucifera. 

An  annual  plant,  indigenous  to  the  Egyptian 
deserts,  and  called  the  Rose  of  Jericho.  When 
full  grown  it  contracts  its  rigid  branches  into 
a  round  ball,  and  is  then  tossed  about  by  the 
wind.  When  it  alights  in  water,  or  damp 
ground,  the  branches  relax  and  open  out,  as  if 
its  life  were  renewed ;  hence  its  name  of 
Resurrection  Plant.  Among  the  super.stitious 
tales  told  of  it  is,  that  "it  first  bloomed  on 
Christmas  Eve,  to  salute  the  birth  of  the 
Redeemer,  and  paid  homage  to  His  resurrec- 
tion by  remaining  expanded  until  Easter. "  This 
curious  annual  can  readily  be  grown  from  seed, 
but  will  not  stand  the  severity  of  our  winters ; 
they  can,  however,  be  taken  up  and  kept  dry 
in  a  house.  When  wanted  to  expand,  put 
them  in  a  saucer  of  water. 

Anceps.    Two  edged,  as  the  stem  of  an  Iris. 

Ancho'manes.  A  remarkable  and  beautiful  stove 
aroid  allied  to  Amorphophallus.  A.  Hookeri,  has 
a  pale  purple  spathe  appeai-ing  before  the  leaf 
which  when  fully  developed  is  much  divided 
and  toothed.  Introduced  from  Fernando,  Po., 
in  1832. 

A'nchovy  Pear.     See  Grias. 

Auchu'sa  From  anchousa,  a  cosmetic  paint 
made  from  one  of  the  species ;  used  for  stain- 
ing ihe  skin.     Nat.  Ord.  Boraginacece. 

Hardy  herbaceous  plants,  suitable  for  deep 
shrubbery  borders  or  any  unfrequented  place. 
Most  of  the  species  have  purple  flowers. 

Ancylo'gyne.  From  ankylos,  curved,  and  gyne,  a 
female ;  the  pistil  is  curved.  Nat.  Ord. 
AcanthacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  tropical  under-shrubs, 
with  terminal  spikes  or  racemes  of  showy 
flowers.  A.  longiflora.  from  Guayaquil,  is  a 
valuable  species  for  the  green-house.  It 
produces  large,  drooping  panicles  of  rich 
purple,  tubulose  flowers,  two  inches  long,  and 
of  a  most  attractive  character.  Propagated 
by  cuttings.    Introduced  in  1866. 

Andrew's  (St.)  Cross.  Ascyrum  CruxAndreoB. 

Andro'gynous.  Producing  male  and  female 
flowers  on  the  same  plant,  or  on  the  same  spike 
or  head. 

Andro'meda  Kill  Calf.  A  classical  name,  after 
the  daughter  of  Cepheus  and  Cassiope,  king 
and  queen  of  Ethiopia.     Nat.  Ord.  Ericacece. 

A.  Mariana,  Stagger-bush,  so  common  on  the 
plains  of  Long  Island,  is  a  beautiful  represen- 
tative of  this  genus,  one  much  sought  after  in 
Europe,  where  it  is  considered  one  of  the 
finest  American  plants.  They  are  beautiful 
shrubs,  growing  about  two  feet  high,  with 
leaves  similar  to  those  of  the  privet ;  flowers 
white,  in  spikes  or  racemes  three  to  eight 
inches  long,  produced  in  June.  They  are 
conspicuous  throughout  the  season  on  account 
of  their  form  and  foliage.  The  foliage  is  said 
to  poison  lambs  and  calves. 


AND   GENEKAL   HORTICULTURE. 


23 


AND 

Andropo'gon.  Beard  grass.  A  genus  of  grasses 
of  but  little  value,  either  for  agricultural 
purposes,  or  as  objects  of  interest  in  the 
garden.  They  have  the  widest  geographical 
range  ;  several  of  the  species  are  common  on 
our  coasts,  growing  in  dry  sandy  soils. 

Andro'sace.  From  aner,  a  man,  and  sakos,  a 
buckler,  in  reference  to  the  resemblance  of 
the  anther  to  an  ancient  buckler.  Nat.  Ord. 
PrimulacccB. 

The  species  forming  this  genus  (which  is 
nearly  allied  to  the  Primula)  are  elegant  little 
plants  f  I'om  the  Alps.  They  consist  of  annuals, 
biennials,  and  perennials,  all  perfectly  hardy, 
and  well  adapted  for  rock-work  on  partially 
exposed  spots.  Pi-opagated  by  cuttings,  or 
from  seeds. 

Aneile'ma.  A  genus  of  green-house  perennials 
belonging  to  the  Nat.  Ord.  CommelynacccB. 

They  are  generally  of  a  trailing  or  creeping 
habit  and  are  useful  for  hanging  baskets,  etc. 
Natives  of  New  Holland  and  China.  Flowers 
blue. 

Ane'mia.  From  aneimon,  naked ;  in  reference 
to  the  naked  inflorescence.  Nat.  Ord.  Poly- 
podiacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  tropical  Ferns.  There 
are  numerous  species  in  the  West  Indies  and 
South  America,  some  of  which  are  of  an 
ornamental  character,  and  are  much  prized  in 
collections.  A.  adiantifolia  is  one  oi  the  most 
beautiful.  The  genus  is  more  interesting  to 
the  botanist  than  the  florist.  Propagated  by 
spores  or  division. 

Anemidi'ctyon.  Included  now  with  the  genus 
Anemia. 

Anemo'ne.  Wind  Flower.  From  anemos,  the 
wind ;  inhabiting  exposed  places.  Nat.  Ord. 
RanunculacecB. 

The  species  are  showy  flowering  plants, 
valued  for  their  hardy  nature,  and  also  because 
they  will  flower  at  any  required  season,  accord- 
ing to  the  time  the  roots  are  kept  out  of  the 
ground.  The  I'oots  of  A.  coronaria  are  solid, 
flattened  masses,  closely  resembling  ginger. 
They  should  be  planted  in  the  garden  as  early 
in  the  spring  as  possible,  in  very  rich  soil  and 
in  partial  shade.  When  the  tops  are  dead, 
take  up  and  store  in  a  dry,  airy  place,  or 
in  boxes  of  dry  sand  until  the  planting 
season.  For  indoor  cultivation  they  can  be 
planted  at  any  time  in  very  rich  soil  in 
pots  or  boxes.  The  prevailing  colors  are 
red,  white  and  blue ;  flowers  double  or 
semi-double.  A.  Japonica  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  of  garden  flowers  giving  a  profusion 
of  bloom  from  August  till  November,  and  even 
Liter  if  protected.  The  flowers  of  A.  Japonica 
alba  are  two  to  three  inches  across,  pure  white, 
with  a  centre  of  deep  lemon-colored  stamens, 
and  are  invaluable  for  cutting.  Introduced 
from  Japan  in  1844.  One  of  the  earliest  spring 
flowers  is  A.  nemorosa,  the  white  Wind  Flower 
of  our  woods.  A.  Pulsatilla  and  its  varieties, 
with  whitish,  violet  and  purple  flowers,  are 
known  in  English  gardens  as  Paaque  Flowers. 

Ane'thum.    See  Dill. 

Angels'  Eyes.    Veronica  Chamcedrys. 

Angels'  Trumpets.  A  popular  name  for  the 
flowers  of  Brugmansia  auaveolens. 

Ange'lica.    The  name  was  given  in  reference  to 


ANI 

the  supposed  angelic  medicinal  virtues  of  some 
species.     Nat.  Ord.   Umbelliferm. 

One  of  the  species,  A.  Curtisii,  is  common  in 
moist  places,  from  Pennsylvania  southward. 
The  "intrinsic  virtues"  that  it  was  once 
supposed  to  possess  are  entirely  lost,  its  great 
virtue  now  consisting  in  its  efticacy  as  a  trap 
for  earwigs.  If  the  stem  be  cut  in  short  pieces 
and  thrown  among  plants,  those  pests  will 
creep  into  the  hollow  stems,  and  their  de- 
struction is  simple  and  easy. 
Ange'lica-tree.  See  Aralia  spinosa. 
Angelo'nia.  From  angelon,  its  local  name  in 
South  America.      Nat.   Ord.   Scrophulariacece. 

A  genus  of  very  handsome  herbaceous 
perennials,  growing  from  one  to  three  feet 
high,  and  producing  dense  terminal  racemes 
of  deep  violet  colored  and  blue  flowers. 
Natives  of  South  America ;  propagated  by  cut- 
tings of  the  young  shoots.  Introduced  in  1846. 
Angio'pteris.  From  aggeion,  a  vessel,  and  pteris, 
a  wing.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacem. 

A  small  genus  of  noble  tropical  ferns,  com- 
mon in  Ceylon,  India  and  the  islands  of  the 
Eastern  Archipelago.  It  is  a  remarkably  hand- 
some genus,  but  the  plants  are  too  large  to  be 
of  use  in  the  green-house. 
Augrae'cum.  From  angurek,  the  Malayan  name 
for  air  plants.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacem. 

An  extensive  genus  of  tropical  Orchids, 
embracing  a  number  of  classes  that  are  mere 
weeds^nd  a  few  very  rare  and  beautiful  spe- 
cies. Among  the  latter  is  A.  sesqiiipedale,  a 
magnificent  plant,  a  native  of  Madagascar, 
where  it  grows  in  great  profusion,  covering 
trees  from  top  to  bottom.  The  stems  are 
three  to  four  feet  high,  the  foliage  about  a 
foot  long,  dark,  shining  green ;  flowers  six 
inches  in  diameter,  ivory  white,  Avith  a  tail 
from  ten  to  eighteen  inches  long.  Unlike 
many  of  this  order,  the  plants  flower  when 
quite  small.  The  flowers  have  a  powerful  fra- 
grance, particularly  at  night.  There  are  about 
forty  species,  nearly  all  natives  of  tropical  or 
South  Africa  and  the  Mascarene  Islands. 
Angulo'a.  In  honor  of  Angulo,  a  Spanish  natur- 
alist.    Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  very  remarkable  terrestrial 
Orchids,  inhabiting  the  forests  of  ^opical 
America.  They  have  broad,  ribbed^eaves, 
short,  leafy  scapes,  bearing  a  single  large, 
fleshy  flower,  white,  yellow,  or  spotted  with 
crimson,  on  a  pale  yellow  ground.  There  are 
several  of  the  species  under  cultivation.  Thf^y 
are  increased  by  division.  Introduced  in  1845. 
Angu'ria.  One  of  the  Greek  names  for  the 
Cucumber.     Nat.  Oi'd.  Cucurbitacecz. 

A  genus  of  climbing  plants  allied  to  Momor- 
dica.  They  have  a  somewhat  four-angled 
fruit,  and  some  of  the  species  are  well  worth 
cultivating.  Natives  of  South  America. 
Auigoza'nthus.  From  anoigo,  to  expand,  and 
anthos,  a  flower ;  in  reference  to  the  branching 
expansion  of  the  flower-stalks. 

A  curious  and  handsome  genus  of  HcBmodo- 
racecB  from  the  Swan  River  district  of  Austra- 
lia, including  some  very  distinct  and  peculiar 
species.  They  are  perennial  tufted-growing 
plants,  with  erect  stems,  clothed  with  short, 
thick,  persistent,  velvety  down,  which,  as  it 
contrasts  with  the  rather  large,  yellow  or  dark 
purple  flowers,  makes  them  desirable  plants 
for  green-house  decoration. 


24 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


ANI 

Animated  Oats.    See  Avena. 

Anise.     Pimpinella  anisum. 

Aniseed  Tree.    See  Ulicium. 

Annuals.  These  include  all  plants  which  spring 
from  the  seed,  flower  and  die  within  the  course 
of  a  year.  Many,  however,  which  are  not 
strictly  of  annual  duration,  but  which  are 
sown  every  year,  in  preference  to  housing  the 
roots  over  winter,  are  generally  classed  under 
the  head  of  Annuals.  To  produce  the  best 
results  where  such  seeds  are  to  be  sown  in  the 
open  border,  the  soil  should  be  enriched  with 
stable  manure  or  other  fertilizer,  just  as  for  a 
crop  of  vegetables  or  fruits ;  thoroughly  dug, 
and  raked  level  and  smooth.  The  location  for 
nearly  all  kinds  of  Annual  flowers  should  be 
free  from  shade,  though  many  sorts  will  suc- 
ceed well  where  they  get  sunlight  for  half  the 
day  only.  Hardy  Annuals  are  those  which 
require  no  artificial  aid  to  enable  them  to 
develop,  but  grow  and  flower  freely  in  the 
open  air.  All  such  may  be  sown  in  the  open 
ground  as  soon  as  the  soil  is  dry  enough  in 
spring  to  work.  Tender  Annuals  are  generally 
of  tropical  origin,  and  should  not  be  sown  in 
the  vicinity  of  New  York  until  the  first  week 
in  May.  Indeed,  the  best  rule  for  all  sections 
of  the  country,  from  Maine  to  Florida,  is  not 
to  sow  the  tender  kinds  until  such  time  as  the 
farmers  begin  to  plant  Corn,  Melons  and 
Cucumbers.  Many  seeds  of  Annuals  may  be 
sown  thickly  and  transplanted,  thinning  tliem 
out  suSiciently  to  allow  the  plants  to  develop 
and  exhibit  their  true  character.  Successive 
sowings  of  many  of  the  showy  species  will  be 
found  to  prolong  their  flowering  season.  They 
are  usually  sown  in  rows  from  six  to  twenty- 
four  inches  apart,  or  in  circular  patches  of 
from  one  to  two  feet  in  diameter,  each  circle 
being  from  one  to  two  feet  apart,  according  to 
the  growth  of  the  variety.  But  whether  sown 
in  rows  or  in  circular  patches,  the  soil  should 
be  first  loosened,  so  that  the  seed  may  be  cov- 
ered from  one  quarter  of  an  inch  to  one  inch 
iij  depth.  After  the  seed  is  sown,  shake  over 
it  fine  soil,  suSi^:ient  to  cover  the  seeds,  lighter 

'  or  heavier  according  to  their  size.  It  is  a 
good  plan  to  place  a  label  in  the  centre  of  each 
circular  patch  or  at  the  end  of  each  row,  so  as 
to  mark  where  the  seed  has  been  sown,  for  in 
nearly  all  soils  there  are  the  seeds  of  weeds, 
which  spring  up  often  quicker  than  the  flower 
seeds  do ;  therefore  it  .'s  necessary  to  know 
exactly  where  the  seeds  have  been  sown,  so 
that  the  weeds  can  be  pulled  out  or  hoed  up, 
and  not  crowd  and  smother  the  young  seed- 
lings. Some  of  the  more  tender  Annuals 
require  to  be  started  in  the  green-house  or 
hot-bod,  and,  after  being  potted  off  into  small 
pots,  and  gradually  hardened  off,  planted  out 
where  they  are  to  remain. 

Annular.     Having  a  ring-like  form. 

Anoe'ctochi'lus.  From  anoiktos,  open,  andchei- 
los,  a  lip ;  the  apex  spreading.  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidacece. 

These  admired  little  plants  have  small,  white, 
rather  inconspicuous  flowers,  but  the  want  of 
beauty  here  is  fully  compensated  for,  in  the 
rich  and  lovely  markings  of  the  leaves,  which 
are  covered  with  a  gold  network  on  a  choco- 
late-colored or  olive-green  velvet  like  ground. 
They  should  be  potted  in  a  mixture  of  leaf- 
mould,  sphagnum  and  silver  sand,  and  a  bell- 


ANO 

glass  kept  continually  over  them,  in  the 
warmest  part  of  the  hot-house,  in  order  to 
assimilate  their  present  condition  with  their 
native  one  in  the  hot,  humid  jungles  of  the 
East,  whence  they  have  been  derived.  First 
introduced  from  Java  in  1836. 

Anomalous.  Irregular,  unusual,  contrary  to 
rule ;  as  where  a  plant  is  very  unlike  the  great 
majority  of  those  to  which  it  is  most  nearly 
allied. 

Anomathe'ca.  From  anovioa,  singular,  and 
theca,  a  capsule  or  seed  pod.  Nat.  Ord.  Irid- 
acem. 

Interesting  little  bulbous-rooted  plants  from 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  A.  cruenta  is  useful 
for  planting  in  masses,  as  it  produces  its 
blood-colored  flowers  in  great  profusion.  They 
may  be  increased  to  almost  any  extent  from 
seed,  and  the  young  plants  will  bloom  the 
same  season  if  sown  in  a  gentle  heat  about 
the  early  part  of  March,  and  afterward 
removed  to  the  open  air. 

Auo'na.  Custard  Apple.  From  Menona,  its 
Banda  name.     Nat.  Ord.  Anonacece. 

A  South  American  and  West  Indian  genus  of 
shrubs  and  trees,  where  several  of  the  species 
are  cultivated  for  the  sake  of  their  fruits.  A. 
muricata,  the  rough  Custard  Apple,  is  a  middle- 
sized  tree,  growing  abundantly  on  the  savan- 
nahs in  Jamaica,  and  bearing  a  large,  oval 
fruit  of  a  greenish  yellow  color,  covered  with 
small  knobs  on  the  outside,  and  containing  a 
white  pulp,  having  a  flavor  compounded  of 
sweet  and  acid,  and  very  cooling  and  agree- 
able. It  is,  however,  too  common  to  be  much 
esteemed  by  the  wealthier  people,  though  it  is 
much  sought  after  and  relished  by  the  negroes. 
The  odor  and  taste  of  the  whole  plant  is  simi- 
lar to  that  of  the  black  currant.  This  fruit  is 
called  by  the  natives  Sour-sop.  A.  squamosa 
is  a  low-growing  tree  or  shrub,  common  in 
both  the  East  and  West  Indies.  The  fruit  is 
nearly  the  size  of  the  head  of  an  artichoke, 
scaly,  and  of  a  greenish  yellow  color.  The 
rind  is  strong  and  thick ;  but  the  pulp  is  deli- 
cious, having  the  odor  of  rose-water,  and  tast- 
ing like  clotted  cream  mixed  with  sugar.  It 
is,  like  many  other  fruits,  said  to  liave  a  much 
finer  flavor  in  the  Indian  Archipelago  than  in 
the  West  Indies.  The  local  name  for  this  fruit 
is  Sweet-sop.  A.  cherimolia,  a  South  American 
species,  is  known  as  the  Cherimoyer  in  Peru, 
where  it  is  accounted  one  of  their  best  fruits. 
The  tree  which  produces  this  fruit  has  a  trunk 
about  ten  feet  high  ;  the  leaves  are  oval,  and 
pointed  at  both  ends  ;  the  flowers  are  solitary, 
very  fragrant,  and  of  a  greenish  color;  the 
fruit  is  large,  heart-shaped,  rough  on  the  out- 
side, and  greyish-brown,  or  nearly  black,  when 
ripe.  The  flesh,  in  which  the  seeds  are  con- 
tained, is  soft,  sweet  and  pleasant,  and  highly 
esteemed  both  by  natives  and  foreigners.  A. 
jjalustris  yields  the  Alligator  Apple,  which  fruit 
is  shining  and  smooth  in  appearance,  sweet 
and  not  unpleasant  to  the  taste ;  but  it  is  a 
strong  narcotic,  and  therefore  not  generally 
eaten.  The  wood  of  the  Alligator  Apple  tree 
is  so  soft  and  compressible,  that  the  people 
of  Jamaica  call  it  cork-wood,  and  employ  it  for 
stoppers. 

Ano'pterus.  From  ano,  upward,  and  pleron,  a 
wing ;  in  reference  to  the  seeds,  which  are 
winged  at  the  apex.     Nat.  Ord.  Saxifragaceee. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


25 


ANS 

A.  glandiilosa,  the  only  species  introduced 
into  our  green-houses,  is  a  very  beautiful 
shrub,  remarkable  for  its  large,  handsome 
leaves,  and  axillary  panicles  or  spikes  of  large 
white  and  pink  flowers.  Introduced  from  Van 
Diemen's  Land  in  1846.  Propagated  by  cut- 
tings. 

Anse'llia.  In  honor  of  Mr.  Ansell,  the  botanical 
collector  who  accompanied  the  ill-fated  Niger 
expedition.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids.  A.  Afri- 
cana  is  a  very  beautiful  plant,  found  growing 
on  oil-palm  trees  in  the  island  of  Fernando 
Po.  It  has  a  tall  stem  resembling  the  sugar 
cane ;  broad,  strap-shaped  leaves,  and  large, 
drooping  panicles  of  greenish  flowers,  blotched 
with  purple.  The  plant  flowers  in  January, 
and  keeps  in  perfection  for  several  months. 
Propagated  by  division.     Introduced  in  1844. 

Antenna'ria.  From  antennce,  feelers ;  in  refer- 
ence to  the  downy  heads  of  the  seeds.  Nat. 
Ord.  Cotnpositce. 

A  genus  of  herbaceous  perennials,  widely 
disseminated  throughout  this  country  and 
Europe.  Some  of  the  species  are  used  as  bed- 
ding plants.  A.  Margaritacea,  a  native  spe- 
cies, popularly  known  as  Pearly  Everlasting, 
is  a  favorite  garden  plant  in  Europe 

Anterior.     Placed  in  front,  or  outwards. 

A'nthemis.  Chamomile.  From  anthemon,  a 
flower;  in  reference  to  the  great  number  of 
flowers  produced.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositor. 

The  genus  of  plants  to  which  the  Chamomile 
belongs,  the  flowers  of  which  are  much  valued 
as  a  tonic,  and  for  other  medicinal  properties. 
A.  tinctoria  furnishes  a  yellow  dye.  A.  Pyre- 
thrum,  the  Pellitory  of  Spain,  is  a  pretty  little 
perennial,  with  large  white  flowers,  stained 
with  lilac  on  the  back.  Miller  raised  this 
plant  in  a  rather  curious  way  in  1732,  finding 
its  seeds  among  some  Malaga  raisins  to  which 
they  had  adhered. 

Anthe'ricum.  From  anthos,  a  flower,  and  herkos, 
a  hedge  ;  in  reference  to  the  tall  flower  stems. 
Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A.  Liliastrum,  avery  pretty  hardy  herbaceous 
plant,  has  broadish  grassy  leaves,  and  a  flower 
stalk  one  and  a  half  to  two  feet  high,  bearing 
many  large,  pure  white,  sweet-scented  flow- 
ers, marked  on  each  segment  with  a  green  dot. 
This  is  commonly  called  St.  Bruno's  Lily.  A. 
vittatum  variegatum,  a  species  of  recent  intro- 
duction, from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  has 
folia.ge  of  a  bright  grassy  green  color,  beauti- 
fully striped  and  margined  with  creamy  white. 
In  variegation  and  habit  it  closely  resembles 
Pandanus  Veitchii,  but  is  of  more  rapid  growth 
and  easy  of  cultivation.  It  has  a  hardy  con- 
stitution, not  as  against  cold,  but  as  against 
the  dry  atmosphere  and  gases  of  the  drawing- 
room,  which  makes  it  a  valuable  plant  for  the 
conservatory  or  for  filling  in  baskets,  jardin- 
ieres, or  rustic  designs.  The  method  of  prop- 
agating this  species  is  both  interesting  and 
peculiar.  Buds  or  short  shoots  are  formed  on 
the  flower  stems,  which,  put  in  as  cuttings  in 
the  ordinary  way,  root  rapidly.  It  is  also 
propagated  by  seeds  or  division  of  roots.  In- 
troduced from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  in  1824. 

Antheri'dia.  The  reproductive  organs  in  crypto- 
gamic  plants,  analogous  to  anthers  in  flower- 
ing plants. 


ANT 

Antholy'za.  From  anthos,  a  flower,  and 
rage  ;  in  reference  to  the  opening  of  the  flower 
like  the  mouth  of  an  enraged  animal.  Nat. 
Ord.  Iridacece. 

A  pretty  genus  of  Cape  bulbs,  like  the  Ano- 
matheca,  but  of  sti'onger  habit.  They  should 
be  'grown  in  light,  rich  earth,  and  have  the 
protection  of  a  frame,  or  some  other  cover- 
ing, in  winter,  to  exclude  frost.  Scarlet  and 
orange  are  the  prevailing  colors  of  the  flowers. 
Introduced  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  in 
1759.     Propagated  by  offsets. 

Anthospe'rmum.  Amber  Tree.  From  anthos, 
a  flower,  and  sperma,  a  seed.  Nat.  Ord.  Rubi- 
acecB. 

An  ornamental  evergreen  shrub,  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  A.  ^thopicum  is  an  inter- 
esting plant,  with  verticillate  spikes  of  green 
and  white  flowers,  thriving  best  in  peat,  loam 
and  sand.     Increased  by  cuttings. 

Anthoxa'nthum;,  Sweet-scented  "Vernal  Grass. 
From  anthos,  a  flower,  and  xanthus,  yellow. 
Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  small  genus  of  grasses  found  in  nearly  all 
the  temperate  portions  of  the  globe.  A.  odor- 
atum,  the  best  known  species,  is  a  native  of 
Europe,  but  has  become  thoroughly  natural- 
ized in  this  country,  so  much  so  that  it  is  gen- 
erally supposed  indigenous.  This  is  one  of 
the  earliest  spring  grasses,  as  well  as  one  of 
the  latest  in  autumn,  and  is  almost  the  only 
grass  that  is  fragrant.  It  possesses  a  property 
said  to  be  peculiar  to  this  species,  known  as 
coumarin,  which  not  only  gives  it  its  aromatic 
odor,  but  imparts  it  to  other  grasses  with 
which  it  is  cured.  Professor  Johnstone  says 
the  fragrant  resinous  principle  which  occurs 
in  this  grass  is  the  same  which  gives  fragrance 
to  the  Tonka  Bean,  to  the  Faham  Tea  of  the 
Mauritius,  and  to  the  Melilotus  Alba.  The 
vapor  of  coumarin  is  stated  to  act  powerfully 
on  the  brain,  and  it  is  supposed  by  many  that 
hay  fever,  to  which  many  persons  are  liable, 
may  be  owing  to  the  presence  of  this  substance 
in  unusual  quantities  during  the  period  of 
hay-making.  This  grass  possesses  but  little 
value  of  itself,  as  its  nutritive  properties  are 
slight ;  nor  is  it  much  relished  by  stock  of 
any  kind.  A  slight  mixture  of  it  with  other 
grasses  is  sometimes  used  because  of  its  early 
growth. 

Anthri'scus.  Chervil.  Derivation  of  name 
uncertain,  but  said  to  have  been  given  by 
Pliny.     Nat.  Ord.  UmbellifercB. 

A  small  genus  of  mostly  uninteresting 
plants,  common  throughout  Europe.  There 
are  but  two  species  under  cultivation.  A. 
cerefolium,  the  common  Chervil,  an  annual 
plant  indigenous  to  various  parts  of  Europe,  is 
sometimes  naturalized  in  and  around  old  gar- 
dens. It  rises  to  nearly  two  feet  in  height, 
the  leaves  are  of  a  very  delicate  texture,  three 
times  divided,  and  the  flowers,  which  are  of 
a  whitish  color,  appear  in  June.  The  tender 
leaves  are  much  used  in  soups  and  salads,  and 
those  of  a  curled  variety  in  garnishing.  It  is 
easily  grown  from  seed,  which  should  be  sown 
early  in  May.  A.  bulbosus  {syn.  Chmrophyllum 
bulbosum),  the  tuberous-rooted  Chervil,  is  a 
native  of  France,  where  it  is  cultivated  to 
some  extent  as  a  vegetable.  In  size  and  shape 
the  root  attains  the  size  of  a  small  carrot.  It 
is  outwardly  of  a  grey  color,  but  when  cut  the 
flesh    is    white,    mealy,    and    by    no    means 


26 


HENDEESON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


ANT 

unpleasant  to  the  taste.  "When  boiled  the 
flavor  is  intermediate  between  that  of  the 
chestnut  and  potato,  in  consequence  of  which 
it  has  been  recommended  by  English  horti- 
culturists for  cultivation  as  a  substitute  for 
the  latter  root. 
Anthu'rium.  From  antkos,  a  flower,  and  oura, 
a  tail ;  referring  to  the  inflorescence.  Nat.  Ord. 
Aroidece. 

This  very  large  genus  of  stove  and  green- 
house plants,  natives  of  Central  and  Tropical 
America,  for  the  most  part  growing  upon  trees 
or  in  their  forks,  is  remarkable  both  for  the 
peculiar  inflorescence,  and  often  noble  and 
beautifully  veined  and  colored  leaves,  and  is 
distinguished  in  structure  from  all  the  Europe- 
an members  of  the  family  in  the  flowers  being 
hermaphrodite.  Of  tnose  species  most  admired 
for  their  flowers,  A.  Andreanum  and  A. 
Scherzerianutn,  are  the  most  noticeable.  The 
singular  form  and  intense  coloring  of  the 
flowers,  together  with  the  gracefully-curved 
foliage,  and  long  duration  of  the  flowers,  render 
them  most  valuable  plants  for  the  decoration 
of  the  warm  green-house.  A.  Splendidum,  A. 
Regale,  A.  Crystallinum,  and  many  other 
beautiful  species  are  grown  for  their  magnif- 
icent foliage  and  are  indispensable  in  a 
collection  of  stove  plants. 

Anthy'llis.  From,  anthos,  a  flower,  and  ioulos, 
down ;  literally  downy  flower.  Nat.  Ord. 
Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  trailing  herbs  or  shrubs,  annuals 
and  perennials.  About  twenty  species  are 
known,  chiefly  from  the  countries  bordering  on 
the  Mediterranean  Sea,  most  of  which  are 
uninteresting  plants.  A.  vulneraria,  is  a 
native  of  Great  Britain,  and  is  frequently  met 
in  dry  pastures  near  the  sea.  The  leaves  are 
large,  of  a  bluish  tinge  and  downy.  The 
flowers  are  yellow,  and  grow  in  crowded 
heads,  mostly  in  pairs.  Its  popular  name  is 
Kidney  Vetch,  or  Lady's  Fingers.  A.  Barba- 
Jovis,  is  an  evergreen  shrub,  a  native  of 
the  South  of  Europe.  It  has  pinnate  leaves, 
and  yellow  flowers,  and  the  whole  plant  has  a 
silvery  appearance,  from  which  it  has  derived 
its  name  of  Jupiter's  Beard  and  tlie  Silver- 
bush.  This  is  a  very  handsome  shrub,  but  not 
hardy  north  of  the  Carolinas. 

Antia'ris.  Upas  Tree.  From  antja,  its  Java  name. 
Nat.  Ord.  ArtocarpacecB. 

A.  toxicaria  is  the  fabled  Upas  Tree  of  Java, 
which  furnishes  a  deadly  poison  in  the  foi-m  of 
a  milky  juice  that  exudes  when  slightly  bruised 
or  cut.  The  exaggerated  accounts,  that  no 
other  plants,  or  animals,  or  birds  could  live 
near  the  tree ;  that  the  death  penalty  was 
satisfied  if  the  criminal  would  cut  from  the 
tree  a  branch  or  collect  some  of  its  juices, 
wei-e  effectually  dispelled  by  Mr.  Davidson, 
author  of  Trade  and  Travel  in  the  Far  East, 
who,  with  a  number  of  friends,  climbed  up  into 
the  tree,  took  lunch,  smoked  their  cigars,  and 
enjoyed  a  few  hours  socially  in  its  branches. 
The  Upas  has  undoubtedly  derived  its  evil  ' 
reputation  chiefly  fx-om  its  having  been  found 
growing  in  the  celebrated  valley  of  Java, 
where,  through  volcanic  agency,  there  is  a 
constant  evolution  of  carbonic  acid  gas,  fatal 
to  air-breathing  animals,  and  where  both 
man  and  beast  frequently  fall  victims  to  this 
invisible  danger.  "  As  if  to  prove  the  sajang 
that  reality   is  more  strange  than  fiction,  at 


ANT 

least  in  botany,  the  A-ery  nearest  plant  in 
affinity,  to  this  deadly  poisonous  tree,  is  the 
Cow  Tree  of  South  America,  whose  milky  juice 
is  as  wholesome  as  that  of  an  '  Alderney,'  and 
that  the  Bread  Fruit  Tree  is  also  closely  allied 
to  the  Upas." 

Antigo'non.  From  anti,  against  or  opposite, 
and  gonia,  an  angle.  A  splendid  genus  ot 
green-house  climbing  plants,  belonging  to  the 
Nat.  Ord.  Polygonacece. 

A.  leptopus,  a  native  of  Nicaragua,  is  a 
magnificent  climber  for  the  stove-house,  rival- 
ling tlie  Bougainvillea  in  the  color  and  abund- 
ance of  its  flowers.  The  chief  attraction  of 
the  flowers  is  afforded  by  the  sepals,  Avhich  are 
half  an  inch  long,  of  a  bright  rose  color.  A^ 
the  flowers  are  produced  in  such  great  pro- 
fusion, the  plant  in  its  season  of  flowering 
presents  a  brilliant  and  extremely  showy 
appearance.  Its  discoverer.  Dr.  Seeman,  writes 
respecting  it :  "I  am  well  acquainted  with  the 
contents  of  our  gardens  and  the  vegetation  of 
most  parts  of  the  world,  but  I  have  no  hesita- 
tion in  giving  it  as  my  deliberate  opinion  that 
there  is  no  more  graceful  or  beautiful  climber 
than  Antigonon  leploputt." 

Antigra'mme.  From  anti,  like,  and  gramma, 
writing.  Alluding  to  the  arrangement  of  the 
sori.    Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacem. 

This  genus  is  composed  of  two  species  of 
tender  ferns,  natives  of  Brazil.  A.  Brasiliensis, 
is  a  simple-fronded  Fern,  with  something  of 
the  habit  of  the  Bird's-nest  Fern,  Asplenium 
Nidus,  but,  in  a  mature  state  of  a  glaucous 
opaque  green-color,  and  remarkable  in  the 
young  plants,  for  having  a  broad  band  of 
silvery-gray  on  each  side  of  the  central  midrib 
of  the  frond,  giving  it  a  variegated  appearance. 
Propagated  by  seeds.     Introduced  in  1780. 

This  genus  is  now  included  under  Scolopen- 
drium,  by  some  authors. 

AntirrM'num.  Snapdragon.  Derived  from 
anti,  similar,  and  rhin,  nose.  The  flowers  of 
most  of  the  species  resemble  the  snout  of 
some  animal.     Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacece. 

Annual  and  perennial  plants,  natives  of  the 
middle  and  south  of  Europe,  and  of  which  one 
species,  A.  majits,  the  common  Snapdragon, 
is  in  every  garden.  There  are  many  varieties 
of  this  species,  the  finest  of  which,  A.  m.  cary- 
ophylloides,  has  the  flowers  striped  like  those 
of  a  flaked  Carnation.  All  the  species  of  Snap- 
dragon grow  in  any  soil  that  is  tolerably  dry, 
and  they  are  readily  increased  by  cuttings; 
for  though  they  produce  abundance  of  seeds, 
yet  the  varieties  can  only  be  perpetuated 
with  certainty  by  the  former  mode  of  propa- 
gation. The  beautiful  carnation-like  variety 
will,  indeed,  very  seldom  produce  striped  flow- 
ers two  years  in  succession  from  the  same 
root ;  and  thus  a  person  who  has  purchased  a 
plant  with  beautifully-striped  flowers  will  gen- 
erally have  the  mortification,  the  second  year, 
of  finding  it  produce  nothing  but  flowers  of 
the  common  Snap-dragon,  unless  cuttings  have 
been  made  from  the  young  shoots  of  the  plant, 
and  the  old  root  thrown  away.  As  this  plant, 
in  its  wild  state,  is  very  commonly  found 
growing  on  the  tops  of  old  walls,  it  may  be 
considered  as  one  of  the  most  ornamental 
plants  for  placing  in  such  a  situation. 

Ants.     See  Insects. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


27 


AOT 

Ao'tua.  From  a,  not,  and  ous,  ear ;  the  ear-liko 
appendages  to  the  calyx  are  wanting.  Nat. 
Ord.  Legmninosce. 

A  somewhat  extensive  genus  of  small  ever- 
green slirubs  from  New  Holland  They  are 
tilender  plants,  with  heath-like  leaves, 
arranged  in  whorls  around  the  stem.  The 
tiowers  are  pea-shaped,  bright  yellow,  on  short 
stalks.  A.  gracillima,  a  native  of  West  Aus- 
tralia, is  a  favorite  species  for  the  green-house. 
It  is  a  slender  shrub,  with  copious  yellow 
flowers,  which  are  so  thickly  set  on  the  stems 
as  to  hide  the  leaves  from  view.  Botanists 
report  several  very  beautiful  species  not  yet 
in  cultivation.  Propagated  by  seeds  or  cut- 
tings.    Introduced  in  18-14. 

Apetalous.     Without  petals. 

Aphela'ndra.  From  apheles,  simple,  and  aner, 
a  male ;  the  anthers  being  one-celled.  Nat. 
Ord.  Acanthacem. 

A  small  genus  of  dwarf  shrubs  from  tropical 
America,  allied  to  the  Justicia.  A.  cristata  is 
a  remarkably  handsome  hot-house  plant,  pro- 
ducing large  spikes  of  orange-scarlet  flowers. 
A.  aurantiaca  has  no  less  handsome  flowers  of 
Ught  orange  color,  and  grows  freely  in  the 
green-house.  A.  Margaritce  has  bright  orange 
or  apricot-colored  flowers,  growing  in  short, 
terminal  spikes.  The  leaves  are  barred  with 
w^hite  on  each  side  of  the  midrib ;  underneath 
they  are  of  a  clear,  rose  color ;  a  very  showy 
species,  introduced  from  Central  America  in 
1884.     They  are  increased  by  cuttings. 

Aphele'xis.  From  apheles,  simple,  and  exis, 
habit.     Nat.  Ord.  CompositcB. 

Green-house  evergreen  shrubs,  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  having  much  resemblance 
to  that  class  of  everlasting  flowers  known  as 
Helichrysum.  The  genus  is  composed  of  five 
species,  all  of  them  having  very  small  leaves, 
which  are  closely  pressed  to  the  stem  like 
those  of  club- moss.  The  flowers  are  solitary, 
of  a  pink  or  yellow  color,  in  small  clusters  of 
two  or  three.  A.  humilis  and  its  varieties 
are  most  showy  and  valuable  green-house 
plants.  When  in  bloom  they  remain  in  per- 
fection for  six  or  seven  weeks.  Propagated 
by  cuttings,  or  from  seeds.  Introduced  in 
1796. 

Aphides.     See  Insects. 

Aphylla'nthes.  Its  stems  are  like  a  rush,  and 
bear  on  their  summits  a  little  tuft  of  flowers  ; 
hence  the  name,  from  aphyllos,  leafless,  and 
anthos,  a  flower.     Nat.  Orel.  Liliacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy,  herbaceous,  rush- 
like perennials,  common  in  Southern  Europe. 
The  flower  scape  is  very  slender  and  grass- 
like and  bears  a  cluster  of  small  blue  flowers, 
that  are  of  but  short  duration.  This  plant  is 
of  considerable  interest  to  the  botanist,  but 
not  of  the  slightest  use  to  the  florist  or  gar- 
dener. 

Aphy'llon.  Naked  Broom  Rape.  A  genus  of 
Orobanchacece,  comprising  two  species,  both 
natives  of  this  country.  They  are  character- 
ized by  their  solitary  bractless  flowers,  regu- 
larly five-cleft  calyx,  and  almost  regular 
corolla.  The  flowers  are  perfect,  purplish,  on 
long,  naked  scapes  or  peduncles.  The  plants 
are  brownish  or  yellowish. 

Aphy'Uous.  Destitute  of  leaves.  It  sometimes 
signifies  their  partial  or  imperfect  produc- 
tion. 


APO 

Api'cra.  A  division  of  succulents  allied  to  the 
Aloe,  and  comprising  along  with  Haworlhia  a 
group  of  species  of  very  different  aspect  from 
the  great  cylindrical  or  tubular-flowered  Aloes 
more  commonly  associated  with  the  name. 
The  present  ai-e  dwarf  or  stemlcss  plants,  with 
very  crowded  leaves  and  slender  flower  scapes, 
bearing  erect  greenish-white  flowers. 

Apiculate.    Terminated  in  a  little  point. 

A'pios.  From  apion,  a  pear ,  in  reference  to  the 
form  of  the  roots.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosoe. 

A.  tuberosa,  the  only  species,  is  found  in  the 
woods  and  hedges  from  Massachusetts  to  the 
Carolinas.  It  is  an  elegant  climbing  plant, 
allied  to  the  Wistaria.  It  bears  large  clusters 
of  brownish-purple,  sweet-scented  flowers  in 
July.  Readily  propagated  by  division  of 
tubers,  which  are  edible.  Commonly  known 
as  Ground-nut,  and  erroneously  as  Tuberous 
Wistaria. 

A'pium.  From  apon,  Celtic  for  water ;  in  refer- 
ence to  the  habitat  of  the  genus.  Nat.  Ord. 
UmbeUiferce. 

Though  this  genus  contains  but  a  few  spe- 
cies, two  of  our  best  known  vegetables  belong 
to  it,  viz.:  The  "Celery,"  A.  graveolens,  and 
"Parsley,"  A.  petroselinum,  for  culture  of 
which,  see  under  their  respective  names. 

Aple'ctnim.  Putty  Root.  Adam  and  Eve. 
From  a,  not,  and  plektron,  a  spur ;  the  flower 
without  spurs.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A.  hyemale,  the  only  species,  is  a  hardy 
bulbous  Orchid.  The  flowers  are  produced  in 
summer  in  a  raceme  a  foot  or  more  high,  and 
are  of  a  dingy  color,  more  curious  than  beau- 
tiful. The  plant  is  occasionally  found  in  the 
Northern  and  Eastern  Slates. 

Aplopa'ppus.  A  synonym  of  Haplopappus, 
a  genus  of  Compositce,  of  but  little  interest. 

Apocyna'ceae.  A  large  natural  order  of  trees, 
shrubs  and  herbs,  with  simple,  opposite,  some- 
times alternate  or  whorled  leaves.  Most  of 
the  species  inhabit  tropical  countries ;  the 
northern  forms  are  the  Vinca  or  Periwinkle, 
Nerium  or  Oleander,  and  a  few  more.  In  gen- 
eral the  species  form  a  poisonous,  acrid,  milky 
secretion,  which  renders  them  dangerous ;  but 
others  are  mild  enough  in  their  action  to  be 
useful  in  medicine,  and  in  a  few  cases  the  milk 
is  bland  enough  to  form  a  palatable  beverage. 
Well-known  genera  belonging  to  this  order 
are  Allamanda,  Nerium,  Taberncemontana,  and 
Vinca.  About  600  species  are  known,  distri- 
buted through  about  100  genera. 

Apo'cynum.  Indian  Hemp.  From  apo,  from, 
and  kyon,  a  dog;  poisonous  to  dogs.  Nat. 
Ord.  Apocynacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials,  in- 
digenous throughout  the  United  States.  A. 
cannabinum  is  commonly  called  Indian  Hemp, 
from  the  fact  of  the  Indians  using  the  fibrous 
bark  as  a  substitute  for  hemp  in  making  their 
fishhig-nets,  mats,  clothing,  and  various  other 
articles  for  which  tli(!  true  Hemp  is  generally 
used.  A.  androsmmifolium  is  termed  by  Eng- 
lish botanists  the  "Fly  Trap  of  North  Amer- 
ica," and  is  cultivated  as  an  object  of  curiosity. 
They  do  not  class  it  as  insectiverous  further 
than  tliat  its  flowers  catch  and  kill  the  flies, 
but  do  not  feed  upon  them.  None  of  the  spe- 
cies possesses  suflicient  beauty  to  warrant  its 
introduction  into  the  garden. 


28 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


APO 

Aponoge'ton.  "Water  Hawthorn.  The  name  is 
derived  from  the  Celtic  apon,  water,  and  the 
Greek  word  geiton,  near ;  the  species  growing 
in  water.    Nat.  Ord.  Naiadacew. 

A  genus  of  interesting  aquatics,  inhabiting 
the  waters  of  tlie  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  the 
East  Indies  and  Australia.  A.  dintachyon  is  a 
handsome  aquatic  plant,  remarkable  for  its 
floating  branched  spikes  of  small  fragrant 
white  flowers.  This  species  is  a  native  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  but  will  flourish  in  a  lake 
or  stream  if  planted  at  a  depth  of  about  two 
feet  of  water.  In  appearance  it  resembles  a 
Pond  weed  (Potamogreton),  except  that  it  is  of  a 
clear  green  color,  without  any  tinge  of  brown. 
The  leaves  float  on  the  surface  of  the  water, 
are  oblong,  about  18  inches  long  when  full 
grown,  flat,  and  have  three  distinct  veins  run- 
ning parallel  with  the  main  rib.  A  charming 
variety,  with  rose-tinted  flowers,  is  also  in  cul- 
tivation, having  been  introduced  in  1885. 

Appendiculate.     Having  appendages. 

Applanate.    Flattened  out. 

Apple.  Pyrus  Malus.  The  history  of  the  Apple 
shares  obscurity  with  all  the  fruits,  vegetables, 
and  flowers  that  were  in  cultivation  before  any 
records  were  kept ;  consequently  speculation 
must  take  the  place  of  facts  in  connection  with 
the  early  history  of  this  valuable  fruit.  The 
general  opinion  is  that  the  origin  of  the  culti- 
vated Apple  is  the  wild  Crab,  which  is  found 
indigenous  in  nearly  all  parts  of  Europe,  as 
well  as  in  most  parts  of  the  United  States. 

The  Apple  can  only  be  grown  in  small 
gardens  as  a  dwarf,  either  kept  in  a  bush  form 
or  trained  as  a  pyramid  or  other  shape.  Two 
sorts  of  dwarfing  stocks  are  used  by  nursery- 
men, the  Doucin  and  the  Paradise.  Trees 
upon  the  Doucin  will  ultimately  grow  quite 
large ;  and  as  the  Paradise  is  the  only  stock 

•  which  makes  really  dwarf  trees,  the  amateur 
who  wishes  to  grow  dwarf  apple-trees  should 
make  sure  that  they  are  worked  on  Paradise 
stocks.  Of  course,  trees  of  this  kind  are  not 
advised  as  a  source  of  profit;  but  there  can 
scarcely  be  a  handsomer  object  in  the  garden 
than  a  bush  six  feet  high,  and  about  the  same 
through,  loaded  with  enormous  apples.  The 
following  sorts  are  recommended  for  garden 
culture.  (For  descriptions,  see  nursery  cata- 
logues.) Baldwin,  Gravenstein,  Ehode  Island 
Greening,  King  of  Tompkins  County,  Maiden's 
Blush,  Esopus  Spitzenberg,  Early  Harvest, 
Northern  Spy,  Porter,  Fall  Pippin,  Stump, 
Hubbardston  Nonsuch  and  Jonathan,  etc. 

Apple,  Adam's.     Citrus  Limetta. 
Alligator.     Ajiona  palustris. 
Balsam.     Momordica  Balsamina. 
Beef.     Sapota  rugosa. 
Bitter.      Cucwmis    {Citrulliis)  Colocynthis. 
Cherry.     Pyrus  baccata. 
Chinese.     Pyrus  (Malm)  Spectabilis. 
Dead  Sea  or  of  Sodom.     The  fruit  of  Solanwm 
Sodomeum,    also    applied   to    the    galls   of 
Quercus  infectoria. 
Devil's.     Mandragora  officinalis. 
Elephant's.     Feronia  elephantum. 
Golden,    u^gle  marmelos,  and  Spondias  lutea. 
Kangaroo.     Solanum  laciniatum. 
Love.     Lycopersicum  esculentum,  or  Tomato. 
May.     Passijlora  incarnata,  also  Podophyllum 

peltcUum. 
Mamme.     Mammea  Americana. 
Monkey.     Clusia  Jlava. 


AQU 

Apple.     N.  American  Crab.     Pyrus  Coronaria. 
Oak.     A  gall  produced  by  insects  on  the  leaves 

and  twigs  of  the  Oak. 
Of  Jerusalem.     Momordica  Balsamina. 
Of  Paradise.     Citrus  medica.     A  fruit  used  by 

the  Jews  at  the  feast  of  Tabernacles. 
Of  Scripture.     Probably  the  Apricot,  Prunus 
Armeniaca,  or  the  Quince,  Cydonia  vulgaris. 
Of  the  Earih.     An  old  name  for  Aristolochia 

rotunda  and  Cyclamen. 
Oregon  Crab.     Pyrus  rivularis. 
Paradise.     Pyrus  malus  prcecox,  much  used  for 

grafting  and  budding  superior  sorts  upon. 
Rose.     The  various  species  of  Eugenia. 
Sugar.     Anona  squamosa. 
Thorn.     Datura  Stramonium. 
Wild  Balsam.     Echinocystis  lobata. 
Wild  Star.     Chrysophyllum  olivcBforme. 

Apple-Berry.  Australian.  The  genus  Billar- 
diera,  which  see. 

Apple-Mint.     Mentha  rotundifolia. 

Apple-Scented  Geranium.  Pelargonium  odor- 
ata. 

Apple-Tree  of  Australia.  Eucalyptus  Stuartiana. 

Apple-Tree  of  New  South  "Wales.  Angophora 
subvelutina. 

Apple-Tree  of  "Victoria.     Angophora  lanceolata. 

Apple-"Wood.     Feronia  elephantum. 

Apricot.  Prunus  Armeniaca.  The  Apricot  is  a 
native  of  Central  Asia,  China,  Japan,  Armenia, 
and  Arabia.  In  all  these  countries  it  is 
found  in  its  native  state,  and  is  also  exten- 
sively cultivated.  The  difference  in  the 
quality  of  this  fruit  in  its  wild  and  cultivated 
states  is  not  so  great  as  in  most  other  fruits, 
nature  having  left  less  work  for  man  to  do  in 
order  to  enjoy  it  in  its  highest  condition. 
The  fruit  or  pulp  of  the  wild  Apricot,  however, 
does  not  compare  with  many  of  the  cultivated 
varieties  that  have  resulted  from  selections, 
yet  it  is  a  fair  and  wholesome  fruit.  The 
Apricot  is  extensively  grown  in  China  and 
Japan,  and  the  natives  employ  it  variously  in 
the  arts.  The  Persians  also  grow  this  fruit 
extensively ;  so  highly  do  they  esteem  it  that 
they  call  it  the  "Seed  of  the  Sun."  The  Apricot 
was  introduced  into  England  in  1524:  by  WooLf, 
the  gardener  to  Henry  VIII.  Parkinson  (1629) 
mentions  eight  varieties.  Since  then  many 
varieties  have  been  added  to  the  list  which  is  by 
no  means  so  extensive  as  that  of  other  kinds  of 
fruit.  The  ravages  of  the  Curculio  prevent  the 
cultivation  of  this  excellent  fruit  in  some 
parts  of  this  country ;  but  for  that  pest  it 
could  be  produced  in  the  greatest  abundance 
at  a  very  low  price. 

Apterous.    Without  wings. 

Aqua'tic  Plants.  The  culture  of  Aquatic  Plants 
is  most  interesting,  and  is  yearly  becoming 
better  understood.  Many  of  the  more  tender 
sorts  can  be  protected  during  winter,  and 
give  quantities  of  flowers  during  the  summer 
and  autumn  months  (see  Nymphma).  A 
number  of  species  of  the  following  genera  are 
well  worthy  of  attention.  Aponogeton,  Butomus, 
Cyperus,  Damasonium,  Calla,  Hottonia,  Lim- 
nocharis,  Menyanthes,  Nelu7nbimn,  Nuphar, 
Nymphcea,  Ouvirandra,  Pistia,  Pontederia, 
Polygonum,  Sagittaria,  Salvinia,  Thalia,  Trapa, 
Typha,   Villarsia,  Victoria,  etc. 

Aqua'ticus.    Living  in  water. 

Aquatilis.     Living  under  water. 


\MlKifHI>U.M 


ABECA  BAUEBI. 


ABECA  SAFIDA. 


ABBHENATHERUM  (TALL  MEADCW  OAT  GBASS). 


29 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


29 


AQU 

Aquifo'lia'cese.  The  common  Holly  Tree  Ilex 
Aquilfoliuin,  is  the  type  of  this  small  natural 
order  of  shrubs  and  trees.  The  species  may  be 
said  to  possess  in  general,  emetic  qualities, 
variously  modified  in  various  instances.  Bird- 
lime is  obtained  from  the  bark  of  the  common 
Holly,  and  the  beautiful  white  wood  is  much 
esteemed  by  cabinet-makers  for  inlaying. 
A  decoction  of  Ilex  vomitoria,  called  Black 
Drink,  was  used  by  the  Creek  Indians  at  the 
opening  of  their  Councils,  and  it  acts  as  a 
mild  emetic.  But  the  most  celebrated  pro- 
duct of  the  order  is  Mate,  or  Paraguay  Tea,  the 
dried  leaves  of  Ilex  Paraguariensis,  which  see. 
There  are  about  150  species,  and  the  follow- 
ing genera  Byronia,  Ilex,  and  Nemopanlhes. 
The  oi'der  is  sometimes  known  as  Illicinete. 

A.quila'ria.  Eagle  Wood.  From  aquila,  an  eagle  ; 
locally  called  Eagle-wood  in  Malacca,  where  it 
abounds.     Nat.  Ord.  Aquilariacece. 

A  small  genus  of  tropical  evergreen  shrubs 
and  trees.  A.  AgaUocha,  a  large  tree  inhabit- 
ing Silket,  and  provided  with  alternate  lanceo- 
late leaves,  furnishes  an  odoriferous  wood 
called  Aloes-wood,  or  Eagle-wood.  The  wood 
contains  an  abundance  of  resin,  and  an 
essential  oil,  which  is  separated  and  highly 
esteemed  as  a  perfume.  The  Orientals  burn 
it  in  their  temples  for  the  sake  of  its  slight 
fragrance,  on  which  account  it  was  used  in  the 
palace  of  Napoleon  the  First. 

Aquile'gia.  Columbine.  From  aquila,  an  eagle  ; 
alluding  to  the  form  of  the  petal.  Nat.  Ord. 
RanunculacccB. 

Perennial  herbaceous  plants  growing  from 
one  to  three  feet  high,  of  which  several  species 
are  very  ornamental,  especially,  A.  vtilgaris, 
and  its  varieties.  A.  Canadensis  is  the  wild 
Columbine  of  the  United  States.  A.  chry- 
snntha,  from  the  Rocky  Mountains,  has 
canary-colored  flowers,  contrasting  finely  with 
the  blue  A.  alpina  and  A.  ccerulea.  There  are 
also  many  beautiful  hybrids,  as  Avell  as  species 
In  cultivation.  They  are  of  easj'  cultivation 
and  are  propagated  by  seeds,  or  by  division  of 
the  root. 

A'rabis.  Rock  Cress.  From  Arabia  ;  probably 
in  reference  to  the  dry  situations  where  many 
of  the  species  grow.     Nat.  Ord.   Cruciferce. 

An  extensive  genus  of  annual  or  perennial 
herbaceous  plants,  bearing  white  or,  rarely, 
purple  flowers.  A.  alpina  has  white  flowers, 
which,  in  its  native  country,  appear  in  March ; 
and  A.  albida  flowers  the  greater  part  of  the 
year,  commencing  in  mild  winters  in  January, 
and  producing  its  large  tufts  of  white  blossoms 
till  October.  Some  of  the  species  and  vari- 
eties, such  as  .A.  vema,  A.  alpinanana,  and  A. 
hellidifolia,  do  not  grow  above  three  inches 
high,  and  are  admirable  plants  for  rock-work. 

Ara'ceae  or  Aro'ideae.  An  extensive  genus  of 
herbaceous  plants  with  numerous  unisexual 
or  hermaphrodite  flowers,  closely  packed 
upon  a  spadix,  shielded  when  young  by  the 
hooded  leaf  called  a  spathe,  as  is  seen  in  the 
common  Indian  Turnip,  Arismma  triphyllum. 
They  are  common  in  tropical  countries,  but 
rare  in  those  with  a  cold  or  temperate  climate. 
Most  of  them  have  tuberous  rhizomes,  but 
some  acquire  the  stature  of  small  trees,  the 
most  interesting  of  which  is  the  Dumb  Cane  a 
species  of  Dieffenbachia,  others  as  Philo- 
dendron  and  Monatera  have  scrambling  stems 


ARA 

by  which  they  attach  themselves  to  the  trunks 
of  trees.  The  tuberous  species  all  contain 
starch  in  such  abundance  that  it  may  be 
separated  in  the  form  of  arrow-root,  and  used 
as  food,  only  however,  after  very  careful 
washing  to  remove  the  acrid  juices;  and  the 
Colocasias  are  grown  as  an  article  of  food 
in  hot  countries  as  common  field  crops. 
Scarcely  more  than  200  species  are  known, 
Caladium,  Richardia,  Arum,  AmorpJiophallxis, 
etc.,  are  examples  of  this  order. 

A'rachis.  Peanut.  From  a,  privative,  and 
rachis,  a  branch ;  a  branchless  plant.  Nat. 
Ord.  Leguminosce,. 

A.  hypogma  (underground),  the  only  species, 
is  the  Peanut  of  our  shops.  It  is  a  native  of 
the  West  Indies  and  West'rn  Africa,  but  has 
become  generally  cultivated  in  all  warm 
climates  as  an  article  of  food,  to  be  eaten  like 
other  nuts,  or  as  food  for  swine.  It  is  also 
largely  cultivated  in  the  East  Indies  and 
Cochin  China  for  the  oil  obtained  from  the 
seeds,  which  is  thin  and  of  a  straw  color, 
resembling  the  finer  kinds  of  olive  oil.  It  is 
said  to  be  of  a  superior  quality,  and  for  table 
use  preferable  to  the  best  olive  oil.  It  is  free 
from  stearine,  and  is  used  by  watchmakers  and 
others  for  delicate  machinery.  The  plant  is  an 
annual,  of  a  trailing  habit,  with  yellow,  pea- 
shaped  flowers,  produced  from  the  axils  of  the 
leaves  in  bunches  of  five  or  seven,  close  to  or 
even  under  the  ground.  They  should  be 
grown  in  a  light,  sandy  soil,  and  the  stems 
covered  lightly  with  earth  when  in  flower,  as 
the  seeds  are  only  ripened  under  ground.  The 
peanut  is  profitably  grown  in  nearly  all  of  the 
Southern  States. 

A'rachnis.  Name  from  the  Greek :  a  spider. 
Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  curious  and  interest- 
ing epiphytal  orchids  from  Java;  deriving 
their  name  from  their  extraordinary  resem- 
blance to  a  spider.  A.  moschifera,  the  best 
known  species,  is  a  very  peculiar  plant,  some- 
what like  a  Renanthera  in  habit.  The  flowers 
are  large,  creamy  white,  or  lemon-color,  with 
purple  spots ;  they  are  delicately  scented  with 
musk,  and  continue  in  perfection  a  long  time. 

Arachnoid.  Resembling  a  cob-web  in  appear- 
ance. 

Ara'lia.  A  name  of  unknown  meaning.  Nat. 
Ord.  AraliaccB. 

This  genus  consists  of  trees,  herbs  and 
shrubs,  mostly  of  an  ornamental  character, 
but  of  no  value  as  flowering  plants.  The 
roots,  of  A.  midicaidis,  one  of  our  native  species 
is  largely  sold  for  sarsaparilla.  A.  racemosa, 
is  our  beautiful  Spikenard,  much  esteemed  for 
its  medicinal  properties.  A.  spinosa,  one  of 
our  native  shrubs  or  low  trees,  is  common  in 
cultivation,  and  is  known  as  the  Angelica  Tree 
and  Hercules  Club.  A.  papyrifera,  which 
assumes  a  tree  form,  grows  in  great  quantities 
in  the  deep,  swampy  forests  of  the  island  of 
Formosa.  The  stems  of  this  species  are  filled 
with  pith  of  a  very  fine  texture,  from  which  is 
manufactured  the  celebrated  rice  paper  of  the 
Chinese,  which  is  chiefly  used  in  making  artifi- 
cial flowers.  A.  Sieboldi  (Syn.  Fatsiajaponica) 
has  large  leathery,  deep  green  leaves  and  is 
much  used  in  sub-tropical  and  window  gar- 
dening; a  veiy  beautiful  variegated  variety 
of  this  species  is  in  cultivation.  The  vari- 
ous species    with    much    divided  leaves   in- 


30 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


AEA 

troduced  from  the  South  Sea  Islands,  such 
as  A.  Veitchii,  A.  reticulata,  A.  gracillima, 
etc.,  are  extremely  beautiful  and  admirably 
suited  for  the  warm  green-house  and  for  table 
decoration. 

Ara'lia'ceae.  These  form  a  small  natural  order 
closely  approaching  Umbellifers,  from  which 
they  in  reality  differ  in  little,  except  in  their 
fruit.  They  are  also  more  generally  arbores- 
cent, many  of  them  being  trees  or  large  shrubs, 
and  very  few  herbs.  Several  are  conspicuous 
for  their  broad,  noble  foliage.  The  species  are 
found  in  the  tropical  and  sub-tropical  regions 
of  the  world,  and  in  some  of  the  coldest,  as  in 
Canada,  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  and 
Japan.  Aralia  polaris  even  occurs  in  Lord 
Auckland's  Islands,  in  503^  ^  south  latitude. 
Hedera,  Panax  and  Aralia,  are  examples  of 
this  order. 

Arauca'ria.  From  araucanos,  its  name  among 
the  people  in  whose  country  the  Araucaria 
imbricata  grows  in  Chili.  Nat.  Ord.  ConiferoB. 
The  genus  consists  of  lofty  evei'green  trees, 
none  of  which  will  bear  the  open  air  of  the 
climate  of  the  Northern  States.  The  most 
beautiful  of  the  species  is  A.  excelsa,  from 
Norfolk  Island,  where  it  is  known  as  Norfolk 
Island  Pine.  It  grows  to  the  height  of  200 
feet.  ■  Its  symmetrical  growth  and  deep  green, 
finely-cut  foliage  give  it  a  fern-like  appear- 
ance. All  the  species  are  fine  ornaments  for  the 
lawn  during  summer,  but  require  the  protec- 
tion of  the  green-house  during  winter. 
Propagation  can  be  eifeeted  by  cuttings, 
though  a  slow  and  uncertain  process.  They 
grow  readily  from  seed. 

Arauja,  is  given  by  Bentham  and  Hooker  as 
the  correct  name  of  the  genus  Physianthus. 

Arborescent.  Having  a  tendency  to  become  a 
tree. 

Arboretum.  A  collection  of  hardy  trees  formed 
for  pleasure  or  instruction,  and  which,  when 
well  managed,  is  a  source  of  much  interesting 
study.  They  afford  shelter,  improve  the 
local  climate,  renovate  bad  soils,  etc.,  and  also 
by  concealing  or  hiding  disagreeable  objects, 
heighten  the  effect  of  agreeable  ones,  create 
beauty,  and  add  value.  A  properly  arranged 
Arboretum  should  be  constructed  with  a  view 
to  picturesque  beauty  and  not  systematically, 
as  is  usually  the  case  in  Botanic  Gardens, 
although  scientific  purposes  are  best  served 
by  a  systematic  arrangement. 

Arbor  Vitce.    A  common  name  for  Thuja. 

A'rbutus.  Strawberry-tree.  From  arboise,  a 
Celtic  word  for  rough  fruit.  Nat.  Ord. 
Ericacew. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs  or  low  growing 
trees,  numbering  about  twenty  species, 
natives  of  southern  Europe,  the  Canary 
Islands,  Chili,  and  in  some  parts  of  this 
country.  A.  imedo  is  called  the  strawberry-tree 
from  its  fruit  resembling  a  strawberiy  at  a 
distance.  It  is  a  small  tree  from  ten  to  twenty 
feet  high.  Flowers  numerous,  Avhite,  appearing 
in  September  or  October.  Fruit  scarlet,  ripen- 
ing the  second  year.  This  fine  evergreen  is 
common  in  southern  Europe,  and  is  also  met 
about  the  lakes  of  Killarney,  in  Ireland.  The 
fruit  of  this  species,  when  eaten  in  quantites  is 
said  to  be  narcotic.  A  Avine  is  made  from  it  in 
Corsica,  but  it  has  the  same  property  as  the 
fruit.    In  Spain  both  a  sugar  and  a  spirit  are 


ARE 

obtained  from  it.  The  bark  and  leaves  of 
the  same  plant  are  used  as  astringents;  in 
some  parts  of  Greece  they  are  employed  in 
tanning  leather.  It  is  cultivated,  where  the 
climate  will  permit,  as  an  ornamental  shrub, 
and  as  it  ripens  its  fruit  the  second  year,  it  la 
particularly  beautiful  in  October  and  Novem- 
ber, being  covered  at  the  same  time  with 
blossoms  and  ripe  fruit. 

Archange'Uca.  From  arche,  chief,  and  angelica, 
from  its  supposed  virtues.  Nat.  Ord.  Umbelli- 
feroR. 

A  genus  of  mostly  useless  biennial  plants;  a 
few  of  the  species  are  natives  of  this  country. 
A.  officinalis,  is  the  Angelica,  formerly  much 
used  in  domestic  medicine. 

Archego'nium.  The  female  organ  in  ferns,  etc. 
Analogous  with  the  ovary  in  fiowering  plantsi. 

Archill  or  OrcMU.  A  coloring  matter  obtained 
from  various  species  of  Lichens,  especially 
Rocella  tinctoria. 

A'rctium.  A  name  that  is  now  employed  by 
some  botanists  for  the  genus  Lappa,  Burdock. 

Arctosta'phyloa.  Bearberry,  From  arktos,  a 
bear,  and  staphyle,  a  berry ;  the  Greek  of  the 
popular  name.    Nat.  Ord.  Ericacece,. 

A  small  genus  of  fruit-bearing  shrubs,  com- 
mon in  our  Northern  and  Eastern  States. 
The  whole  plant  of  A.  Uva-ursi  is  astringent, 
and  has  been  used  for  tanning  leather.  The 
berries  of  the  several  species  are  a  favorite 
food  of  game  birds. 

Arcto'tis.  Derived  from  arktos,  a  bear,  and  o^is, 
an  ear ;  shaggy  fruit.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

This  genus  consists  of  annuals,  biennials, 
and  green-house  perennials.  The  annuals 
should  be  started  in  the  hot-bed  early,  as  they 
require  a  long  season  to  develop  their  showy 
flowers,  which  are  sulphur  and  orange.  They 
grow  freely  in  ordinary  soil,  and  keep  in 
bloom  until  killed  by  frost.  Introduced  from 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  in  1774. 

Arcuate.  Curved  or  bent  like  a  bow ;  forming 
an  arch. 

Ardi'sia.  From  ardis,  a  spear  head;  in  refer- 
ence to  the  sharp-pointed  divisions  of  the 
flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Myrsinaceoe. 

Handsome  green-house  plants  from  the  East 
Indies,  producing  either  red  or  white  flowers. 
A.  crenulata  is  admired  alike  for  its  white 
flowers  and  vermilion  berries,  being  constantly 
covered  with  either  one  or  the  other,  or  both. 
Propagated  by  seeds  in  the  green-house. 
Plants  usually  fruit  when  one  year  old,  and  are 
invaluable  plants  for  winter  decoration. 
There  is  also  a  pretty  white-fruited  variety. 

Ardui'na.  A  genus  of  Apocynaccm,  consisting 
of  shrubs  with  a  milky  juice.  Natives  of 
Asia,  Africa  and  tropical  Australia.  A.  bispin- 
osa  is  a  pretty,  close-growing  green-house 
shrub,  with  small,  box-like  leaves  and  white, 
sweet-scented  flowers.  A.  grandifiora  is  a 
native  of  Natal,  where  the  fruits  are  much 
valued,  and  known  as  the  Natal  Plum.  They 
have  an  agreeable  sub-acid  flavor,  and  are 
used  to  make  an  excellent  preserve. 

Are'ca.  Called  areec  in  Malabar,  when  an  old 
tree.     Nat.  Ord.  PalmacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  lofty,  magnificent 
Palms,  natives  of  the  East  and  West  Indies 
and  South  America.  The  most  prominent  of 
the  species  is  A.  oleracca,  the  Cabbage  Palm. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


31 


ARE 

This  Is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  stately 
of  the  Palm  tribe,  and  is  called  in  some  of  the 
tropical  islands  the  Royal  Palmetto.  The  stem 
of  a  full-sized  tree  at  the  base  is  seven  feet  in 
circumference,  and  it  rises  to  the  enormous 
height  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet.  A 
noted  traveler,  in  his  description  of  this  tree, 
says  :  "  Near  the  base,  the  trunk  is  of  a  brown 
color,  hard,  woody,  and  jointed,  with  a  pith 
inside  like  the  elder.  The  upper  part  of  the 
trunk,  from  whence  the  foliage  springs, 
resembles  a  well-turned,  finely-polished  bal- 
uster, of  a  lively  green  color,  gently  swelling 
from  its  pedestal,  and  diminishing  gradually 
to  the  top,  where  it  expands  into  branches, 
waving  like  plumes  of  ostrich  feathers.  These 
are  decorated  with  numerous  leaflets,  some  of 
which  are  about  three  feet  long,  and  an  inch 
and  a  half  broad,  tapering  into  a  sharp  point. 
The  leaflets  gradually  decrease  in  size  as  they 
approach  the  extremities  of  the  branches. 
This  lofty,  i-egular  group  of  foliage,  impelled 
by  the  most  gentle  gale,  and  constantly  wav- 
ing in  feathery  elegance,  is  an  object  of  beauty 
which  cannot  be  imagined  by  an  inhabitant  of 
temperate  climes,  unused  to  the  magnificent 
vegetation  of  a  tropical  sun.  Within  the 
leaves,  which  constitute  the  summit  of  the 
trunk,  the  portion  called  the  cabbage  lies  con- 
cealed. This  substance  is  white,  about  two 
feet  long,  of  cylindrical  form,  and  the  thick- 
ness of  a  man's  arm.  It  is  composed  of  longi- 
tudinal flakes  like  ribbons,  and  so  compact  as 
to  form  a  solid,  crisp  body.  When  eaten  raw, 
it  tastes  somewhat  like  the  almond,  but  more 
tender  and  delicious.  When  cut  into  slices 
and  boiled,  it  is  served  up  with  meat  as  a 
vegetable.  To  obtain  this  great  delicacy — 
growing  on  the  veiy  summit  of  such  a  stately 
tiunk — the  noble  tree  must  be  felled  to  the 
ground.  In  the  place  where  the  cabbage  grew, 
a  species  of  beetle  generally  deposits  its  eggs, 
from  Avhich,  in  due  time,  grubs  are  hatched, 
that  have  received  the  name  of  Palm-tree 
Worms.  They  are  aVjout  the  size  of  a  man's 
thumb,  very  fat  and  esteemed  a  great  lux- 
ury. They  are  fried  with  a  little  butter  and 
salt,  and  their  flavor  partakes  of  all  the  spices 
of  India."  A.  catechu,  is  a  handsome  tree  cul- 
tivated in  all  the  Avarmer  parts  of  Asia  for  its 
fruits,  known  as  Areca  or  Betel  nuts.  These 
nuts  are  cut  into  narrow  pieces,  which  are 
rolled  up  with  a  little  lime  in  the  leaves  of  the 
Betel  pepper.  The  pellet  is  then  chewed,  and 
is  hot  and  acrid,  but  possesses  aromatic  and 
astringent  properties,  and  is  considered  bene- 
ficial rather  than  otherwise.  The  natives  are 
so  addicted  to  the  practice  that  they  would 
rather  go  without  food  than  their  favorite 
Areca  nuts. 

Arena'ria.  Sandwort.  From  arena,  sand ;  in 
reference  to  the  sandy  soil  in  which  the  plants 
grow.     Nat.  Ord.  Caryophyllacece. 

A  large  genus  of  diminutive  weeds,  usually 
found  growing  on  sandy  soils. 

Are'nga.  Name  not  explained.  Nat.  Ord.  Pal- 
maceoR. 

A.  saccfutrifera,  is  a  very  useful  and  inter- 
esting Palm,  a  native  of  the  Asiatic  islands. 
In  its  native  country  the  fibres  attached  to 
the  petioles  are  twisted  into  ropes,  the  me- 
dulla of  the  tnmk  is  used  as  sago,  and  the 
saccharine  juice  forms  excellent  sugar.  It  is 
said  that  this  species  alone  will  supply  all  the 


ARI 

actual  needs  of  the  native:  food,  clothing,  and 
a  simple  hut  made  from  the  leaves,  are  all 
supplied  from  this  species,  and  are  all  that  a 
native's  necessities  require.  Known  also  as 
Sagtierus  saccharifer. 

Areolate.  Divided  off  into  distinct  spaces,  usu- 
ally more  or  less  angular.  The  skin  of  a  plant 
is  areolate. 

Arethu'sa.  A  classical  name,  after  one  of 
Diana's  nymphs.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacecc. 

A.  bulbosa  is  a  beautilul  species  found 
growing  in  damp  places  and  bogs,  Virginia  to 
Maine,  and  northward.  The  flowers  are  a 
bright  rose-purple,  from  one  to  two  inches 
long.  One  of  the  prettiest  of  our  native 
Orchids. 

Arga'nia.  From  argam,  its  aboriginal  name. 
Nat.  Ord.  Sapotacece. 

A.  Sideroxylon,  the  Argal  tree ;  or  Iron 
Wood,  is  a  remarkable  evergreen  tree,  a  native 
of  Morocco.  It  has  a  spiny  trunk  of  con- 
siderable size,  but  of  low  stature.  It  gives  off 
branches  at  a  few  feet  from  the  ground,  which 
incline  downwards  imtil  they  rest  upon  the 
earth;  at  length,  at  a  considerable  distance 
from  the  trunk,  they  ascend,  and  again  reach 
out  to  a  long  distance.  A  tree  mentioned  in 
the  Journal  of  Botany,  measured  sixteen  feet 
only  in  height,  while  its  circumference  was 
220  feet.  The  wood  is  vei-y  hard,  and  so  heavy 
as  to  sink  in  water. 

Argemo'ne.  Prickly  Poppy.  From  argema,  a 
cataract  of  the  eye  ;  in  reference  to  its  medi- 
cinal qualities.     Nat.  Ord.  Papaveracecc. 

Highly  ornamental  hardy  annuals  and  peren- 
nials from  Mexico,  with  large  flowers  like 
those  of  the  Poppy,  and  of  the  easiest  culture. 
The  plants,  spreading  widely,  require  a  good 
deal  of  room  to  look  handsome.  The  seed  of 
A.  Mexicana  is  the  Fico  del  Inferno  (Infernal 
Fig)  of  the  Spaniards ;  a  purgative  and  power- 
ful narcotic,  especiallyif  smoked  with  tobacco. 

Argenteus.  Silvery,  a  pale  color  resembling 
silver. 

Argyre'ia.  Named  in  reference  to  the  white, 
silvery  texture  of  the  leaves,  from  argyreioa, 
silvery.    Nat.  Ord.  ConvolvulacecB. 

A  fine  genus  of  strong-growing  climbers 
from  the  East  Indies.  They  are  only  adapted 
for  the  green-house,  and  require  a  long  time, 
with  liberal  pot  room,  to  bring  them  into 
flower.  A.  cuneata  is  a  dwarf-growing,  free- 
flowering  species,  colors  white  and  purple, 
resembling  the  Ipomcea.  Pi-opagated  by  cut- 
tings.   Introduced  in  1822. 

Aril,  Arillus.  A  fleshy  groAvth  which  rises  up 
from  the  placenta  and  encompasses  the  seed, 
like  the  Mace  surrounding  the  Nutmeg,  and 
the  red  sac  the  Euonymus. 

Arisae'ma.  Indian  Turnip.  Dragon  Arum. 
From  aron.  Arum,  and  sana,  a  standard;  in 
reference  to  the  close  affinity  to  Arum.  Nat. 
Ord.  AroidecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  tuberous-rooted  peren- 
nials. Two  of  the  species,  A.  tripkyllum,  the 
Indian  Turnip,  and  A.  Dracontium,  the  Green 
Dragon  or  Dragon  Root,  are  common  in  moist 
woods  and  along  streams  in  most  parts  of  the 
United  States.  They  bear  cultivation  well, 
and  make  beautiful  plants  for  a  shady  border. 
The  flowers  are  popularly  known  as  Jack-in- 
the-Pulpit.  These  are  succeeded  by  a  cluster 
of  scarlet  berries,  that  make  a  showy  appear- 


32 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


ARI 

ance  until  winter.  The  biting,  acrid  properties 
of  this  genus  are  such  that  the  smallest  por- 
tion chewed,  cither  of  leaves  or  root,  produces 
a  feeling  as  if  the  tongue  Avere  pierced  with 
needles. 

Aristate.  Having  a  beard  or  awn,  as  the  glumes 
of  barley. 

Ari'stea.  From  arista,  a  point  or  beard ;  in 
reference  to  the  rigid  points  of  the  leaves. 
Nat.  Ord.  IridacecB. 

A  genus  of  tender  herbaceous  perennials 
from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  embracing  about 
fifteen  species.  They  vary  in  height  from 
three  inches  to  three  feet  and  produce  their 
interesting  blue  flowers  all  summer.  Easily 
propagated  by  division  or  seeds. 

Aristi'da.  From  arista,  a  beard  or  awn.  Nat. 
Ord.  GramimtcecB. 

A  genus  of  harsh  perennial  grasses,  com- 
mon on  dry,  barren  soils  throughout  the  United 
States.  A.  dichotoma  is  commonly  known  as 
Poverty  Grass,  as  it  is  a  sure  indication  of 
poor  and  barren  soil.  A.  stricta  is  the  Southern 
Wiregrass. 

Ari'stolo'chia.  Birthwort.  From  aristos,  best, 
and  locheia,  parturition,  its  supposed  medi- 
cinal character.     Nat.  Ord.  AristolochiacecB. 

A  genus  of  climbing  plants  natives  princi- 
pally of  South  America,  a  few  species  being 
found  in  North  America,  Europe  and  India. 
Most  of  them  extend  their  branches  a  long 
distance,  though  some  are  to  be  found  that  are 
neat  and  compact  in  their  growth.  The  flowers 
of  all  are  extremely  curious,  generally  of  some 
lurid  color,  and  bearing  a  resemblance  to  the 
expanded  mouth  of  a  horn.  The  larger  ones 
have,  not  inaptly,  been  compared  to  the  ear 
of  an  elephant,  while  others  are  distinguished 
by  a  long,  pendant  pouch.  The  tender  species 
require  either  the  hot-house  or  green-house, 
and  a  few  are  sufficiently  robust  to  bear  ex- 
posure to  our  winters.  They  grow  freely  in 
rich  loam  and  leaf  mould.  A.  sipho  (Dutch- 
man's Pipe)  is  a  native  of  the  Southern  States, 
and  one  of  the  best  climbers  for  covering 
walls  or  trellises;  under  favorable  circum- 
stances it  will  grow  twenty  feet  in  a  season. 
The  foliage  is  large,  of  a  deep,  rich  green ; 
it  is  propagated  by  seed,  layers,  or  cuttings, 
and  is  perfectly  hardy.  A.  serpentaria,  the 
Virginian  Snal<e  Root,  is  well  known  for  its 
aromatic-stimulant  root,  and  is  used  in  medi- 
cine. 

Ari'stolochia'ceae.  In  the  tropical  parts  of  both 
hemisplieres,  and  occasionally  beyond  those 
limits,  occurs  a  race  of  plants  with  singularly 
inflated,  irregular  flowers,  consisting  of  a 
calyx  oidy,  of  a  dull,  dingy  color,  varying  from 
yellow  to  shades  of  chocolate,  purple,  or 
brown,  and  often  emitting  an  offensive  odor. 
A  hot  summer  appears  to  be  one  condition  of 
their  existence,  with  a  few  exceptions,  the 
most  striking  of  which  are  the  Asarums,  little 
stemless  plants,  natives  of  Europe  and  North 
America. 

Ari-stote'lia.  A  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs  of 
the  Nat.  Ord.  TiliactCB. 

A.  Macqui  is  esteemed  for  its  handsome 
foliage.  The  berries  are  pui-ple,  becoming 
black  with  age  and  are  edible.  The  wood  is 
used  in  Chili  for  making  musical  instruments, 
its  tough  bark  forming  the  strings.  The  varie- 
gated form  is  a  very  ornamental  plant. 


ARE 

Arme'niaca.    The  Apricot.    Prum'M  Armeniaca. 

Arme'ria.  Thrift.  Tlie  Latin  name  for  the 
Sweet  William.     Nat.  Ord.  PlumbaginaceoB. 

A  genus  of  highly  ornamental,  haixly  herba- 
ceous plants,  of  dwarf  habit,  wit!)  flowers  of 
various  shades  between  pink  and  purple,  pro- 

.  duced  on  the  majority  of  the  species  in  great 
profusion.  The  common  Thrift,  A.  vulgaris, 
is  a  well-known  substitute  for  Box  as  an  edging 
to  flower  borders.  They  grow  with  freedom 
in  almost  any  soil,  and  without  regard  to  situ- 
ation, except  that  the  drip  of  trees  is  injurious 
to  most  of  them.  Propagated  by  division. 
Exceedingly  common  on  the  rocky  sea  coasts 
of  Britain.  Several  pretty  vai-ieties  have  been 
introduced  into  cultivation,  especially  a  gar- 
den variety  called  Crimson  Gem,  with  large 
heads  of  bright  crimson-pink  flowers,  and 
tufted  habit. 

Arne'bia.  Handsome,  hardy  herbaceous  per- 
ennials of  the  Nat.  Ord.  Boraginuceoe ;  allied  to 
Lithosper7num. 

A.  echioides  is  one  of  the  showiest  hardy 
plants  for  the  herbaceous  border  or  rock- 
garden.  Flowex's  bright  primrose  yellow,  with 
a  purplish  spot,  borne  in  large  terminal  spikes. 

A'rnica.  From  arnakis,  a  lamb's  skin ;  in  ref- 
erence to  the  texture  of  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord. 
CompositcB. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy,  dwarf  herbaceous 
plants.  Some  of  the  species  are  common  in 
this  country,  though  not  of  special  interest. 
A.  montana  is  a  native  of  the  mountainous  dis- 
tricts of  Northern  and  Middle  Europe.  The 
tincture  of  Arnica  is  prepared  from  this 
species  ;  was  first  introduced  by  the  homa>- 
opathists,  and  soon  after  came  into  general 
use,  and  is  considered  invaluable  for  wounds 
or  bruises. 

Arno'tto,  or  Ana'tto.     See  Bixa  Orellano. 

Aromatic  Wintergreen.     See  GauUheria. 

Aroni'cum.  From  arnikis,  a  lamb's  skin  ;  in  ref- 
ence  to  the  softness  of  the  flower-heads.  Nat. 
Ord.   Compositce. 

A  small  genus  of  pretty  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, inhabiting  Central  Europe  and  Asia. 
They  have  flower  stalks  varying  from  three 
inches  to  two  feet  high,  with  terminal 
heads  of  bright,  yellow  flowers.  A.  Clvsii, 
a  pretty  little  Alpine  species  growing  from 
three  to  five  inches  high,  is  well  adapted 
for  a  border  plant  or  for  rock- work.  They  are 
increased  by  division,  or  from  seed.  Syn. 
Doronicum  CIvmH.,  From  arpe,  a  scimitar,  and 
phyllon,  a  leaf  ;  the  leaf  is  sword-shaped. 

Arpophy'Uum.    Nat.  Oxd.  Orchidacem. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome  Orchids  from 
Mexico  and  New  Grenada.  They  are  of  grace- 
ful habit,  easy  of  culture,  and  the  flowers  last 
long  in  perfection.  They  are  increased  by 
division,  and  should  be  grown  rapidly  to  pro- 
duce large  bu-lbs,  as  small  ones  do  not 
flower. 

Arrhena'therum.  Oat-grass.  From  arrhen,  a 
male,  and  anther,  a  point ;  on  account  of  awns 
on  the  male  spikes.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece,. 

A  small  genus  of  strong  growing  grasses, 
occasionally  cultivated  in  this  country  as  a 
pasture  grass  and  for  hay ;  it  is  not  supposed 
to  be  very  rich  in  nutritive  matter,,  but  is 
considered  valuable  in  mixture  with  other 
grasses  for  moist  meadows,  as  it  produces  a 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


33 


ARR 

plentiful  supply  of    early    foliage,    which  is 
eaten  with  avidity  by  cattle.     It  is  a  trouble- 
some grass  witli  other  crops. 
Arrow  Cane.     Gynerium  saggitatum. 
Arrow  Grass.     Triglochin  paliistre. 
Arrow^-head.     Cliinese.     Sogittaria  Chinensia. 

Common.     Sagittaria  sagiitcpfolia. 
Arrow  Poison.    Gaboon  or  Trop.  Africa.     Stro- 

phanthus  hu^pidns. 
Guiana,  Curari  or  Curali.     Strychnos  toxifera. 
Javanese.     Strychnos  Tiente. 
Malay.     Aiiiiaris  toxicaria. 
Arrow-root.     A  pure  liind  of  starch  emploj'ed 

tor  dietary  and   other   purposes,    obtained 

from  various  sources,  the  principal  of  which 

are  the  following : 
American.     Zea  mays. 
Bermuda.     Maranta  arundinacea. 
Brazilian  or  Tapioca      Manihot  viilissima 
Chinese.     Nelumbmm  speciosum. 
E.    Indian.     Curcuma    angustifolia,  and  other 

species. 
English.     Solamim  tuberosum. 
Mexican.     Dion  edule. 
Portland.     Arum  viaculatum. 

Arrow- wood.     American.     YihumuTn  dentatum. 
Californian.     Viburyium  ellipticum. 
Bi'itish     Columbian.       SjJircea    Douglassi,    S. 
opulifolia. 

Artane'ma.  An  interesting  genus  of  plants 
belonging  to  the  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacece. 
A.  fimbriatum  (closely  allied  to  Torenia) 
is  a  handsome  evergreen  shrub  with  large 
funnel-shaped,  fringed,  blue  flowers,  bloom- 
ing from  June  to  November.  It  was  intro- 
duced from  Moreton  Bay,  New  Holland,  in 
18.30,  and  is  readily  increased  by  cuttings  or 
seeds. 

Art'anthe.     Derivation  of  name  not  given.    Nat. 
Ord.  PiperacecB. 

A  small  genus  belonging  to  the  Pepper 
family.  They  are  woody  plants,  with  jointed 
stems,  rough  leaves,  and  spilies  of  flowers 
opposite  the  leaves.  A.  elongata  furnishes 
one  of  the  articles  known  by  the  Peruvians  as 
Matico,  and  which  is  used  by  them  for  the 
same  purpose  as  Cubebs,  the  produce  of  a 
nearly-allied  plant ;  but  its  chief  value  is  the 
power  it  has  of  staunching  blood.  The  un- 
der-surface  of  the  leaf  is  rough,  traversed 
by  a  network  of  projecting  veins,  and  covered 
with  hairs ;  hence  its  effect  in  stopping  hem- 
orrhage is  probably  mechanical,  like  that  of 
lint,  cobweb,  and  other  commonly  used  ap- 
pliances. The  species  are  not  esteemed  valu- 
able a^  flowering  plants.  Placed  by  some 
\  authors  under  Piper. 

Artemi'sia.   "Wormwood.    From  Artemis,  one  of 
the  names  of  Diana.     Nat.  Ord.   ComposifcB. 

Shrubby  or  hei'baceous  phmts  with  their 
leaves  usually  muchdivided  and  frequently  qf 
a  grey  color.  The  genus  is  widely  distributed 
over  the  temperate  regions  of  the  globe  and 
most  of  them  are  remarkable  for  their 
strong  odor  and  bitter  taste.  In  certain 
parts  of  the  West,  as  Utah,  Texas,  New 
Mexico,  etc.,  there  are  large  tracts  almost 
entirely  destitute  of  other  vegetation  than 
that  afforded  by  various  kinds  of  Artemisia 
which  cover  vast  plains,  and  give  them 
an  universal  greyish  green  hue.  They 
are    unfortunately    of   no   value  for    forage. 


ART 

This  genus  contains  amongst  others  the  well 
known  Southern  wood  or  Old  Man,  A.  Abro- 
tanum,  the  finely  divided  leaves  of  which  have 
a  fragrant  aromatic  odor.  A.  Absvilfuum,thQ 
common  Wormwood,  possesses  aromatic, 
bitter,  and  tonic  properties  and  was  formerly 
much  used  as  a  vermifuge ;  it  is  also  in  con- 
nection with  several  species  growing  inSwitz-. 
erland  and  used  in  tlie  manufacture  of  the 
bitter  aromatic  tonic  "  Extrait  d'  Absinthe." 
The  Tarragon,  A.  Dracunculus,  differs  from  the 
majority  of  its  fellows.  In  that  its  leaves  are 
undivided,  they  are  narrow,  of  a  bright  green 
color  and  possess  a  peculiar  aromatic  flavor 
much  valued  in  Salads,  etc.  Native  of  Siberia. 
The  Chinese  Chrysanthemums  are  fre- 
quently miscalled  Artemisias. 

Arthropo'dium.  From  arthron,  a  joint,  and 
pous,  a  foot;  the  foot-stalks  of  the  flowers 
being  jointed.  A  genus  of  Australian  and  New 
Zealand  Liliacece  allied  to  Anthericum,  with 
grass-like  leaves,  and  purplish  or  white  flow- 
ers in  loose  racemes. 

Arthroste'mma.  From  arthron,  a  joint,  and 
stemon,  a  stamen,  in  reference  to  the  stamens 
being  jointed.  Stove  or  green-house,  ever- 
green shrubs,  from  Central  America,  belong- 
ing to  the  Nat.  Ord.  Melastomacece. 

Some  of  the  species  are  very  handsome, 
with  rose  or  lilac  flowers,  resembling  the 
Rhexias.     Propagated  by  cuttings. 

A'rtichoke.  The  Cynara  scolymiis,  the  Globe 
Artichoke  of  gardens,  is  a  hardy  perennial, 
growing  from  three  to  four  feet  in  height, 
with  numerous  branches.  The  leaves  meas- 
ure from  three  to  four  feet  in  length,  pinnati- 
fid,  or  cut  in  deep,  horizontal,  convex  seg- 
ments, which  are  covered  with  an  ash-colored 
down,  the  whole  plant  resembling  a  large 
Thistle.  The  portion  eaten  is  the  under  side 
of  the  head,  before  the  flower  opens.  The 
whole  head  is  removed  and  boiled,  the  leaves 
laid  aside,  and  the  bottom  eaten,  dipped  in 
butter,  with  a  little  pepper  and  salt.  The 
Artichoke  is  a  supposed  native  of  the  south  of 
Europe.  The  first  account  oi  its  cultivation 
was  in  Italy,  in  1473,  and  from  that  period, 
when  it  was  said  to  be  verj'  scarce,  it  has 
steadily  grown  in  favor,  and  its  cultivation 
extended.  The  artichoke  thrives  best  in  a 
light,  very  rich,  moist  soil.  One  containing  a 
large  propoi'tion  of  saline  properties  suits  it 
best.  Propagated  by  seeds  or  by  suckers 
from  established  plants.  The  Jenitinlpin  Arti- 
choke is  in  no  sense  a  true  Artichoke,  but  t  he 
tuberous  root  of  a  species  of  Sunflower,  Heli- 
anthiis  tttberosus,  a  native  of  the  north-western 
States,  the  north-western  British  Possessions 
and  Canada.  Its  nativity  has  generally  been 
credited  to  Brazil,  without  any'  good  author- 
ity; on  the  contrary,  there  is  abundant  proof 
that  it  abounds  in  a  wild  state  in  the  localities 
above-named.  Its  cultivation  is  now  strongly 
rec^ommended  on  dry  soils,  liable  to  excessive 
droughts.  It  is  said  that  1,500  bushels  per 
acre  can  be  produced,  upon  which  swine  will 
thrive  finely,  the  tubers  furnishing  sufficient 
water  to  allay  thirst.  They  also  furnish  excel- 
lent food  for  sheep.  Some  agriculturists 
claim  that  the  tops,  cut  and  properly  cured, 
form  an  excellent  hay,  with  a  yield  of  five  or 
six  tons  to  the  acre. 

Articulated.    Jointed,  having  joints. 


34 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


ART 

Artillery  Plant.  See  Pilea  serpillifolia  and 
P.  hertiiaricefolia. 

Artocarpa'ceae.  A  group  of  apetalous  trees, 
not  unlike  the  Plane-trees  of  Europe  ;  but  for 
the  most  part  inhabiting  the  tropics.  They 
abound  in  a  milliy  juice,  and  have,  for  the  most 
part,  their  female  flowers  collected  into  fleshy 
masses  or  heads.  Moreover,  they  have  great 
sheathing,  convolute  stipules,  liiie  those  of  a 
Fig-tree.  This  natural  order  presents  strange 
anomalies  :  tlie  invaluable  Bread-fruit  tree  of 
the  tropics,  the  useful  Cow-tree  of  Caraccas, 
and  the  virulent  poison  of  the  Upas-tree  of 
Java,  side  by  side.  The  more  important 
genera  are  Artocarpus  and  Antiaris. 

Artoca'rpus.  Bread  Fruit.  From  artos,  bread, 
and  carpos,  fruit ;  the  fruit  balied  resembles 
bread.     Nat.  Ord.  Artocurpacem. 

A.  incisa,  the  Bread-fruit,  originally  found 
in  the  southeastern  parts  of  Asia  and  the 
islands  of  the  Pacific,  though  now  intro- 
duced into  the  West  Indies  and  South  Amer- 
ica, is  one  of  the  most  interesting  as  well  as 
singular  productions  of  the  vegetable  king- 
dom. The  Bread-fruit  is  a  beautiful  as  well 
as  a  useful  tree.  The  trunk  rises  to  the 
height  of  about  forty  feet,  and,  in  a  full-grown 
tree,  is  from  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  in  diam- 
eter ;  the  branches  come  out  in  a  horizontal 
manner,  the  lower  ones  about  ten  feet  from 
the  ground,  and  they  become  shorter  and 
shorter  until  they  reach  the  top,  giving  the 
tree  an  appearance  of  perfect  symmetry.  The 
leaves  are  of  a  lively  green,  divided  into  seven 
or  nine  lobes,  from  eighteen  inches  to  two  feet 
long.  The  fruit  is  about  nine  inches  long, 
heart-shaped,  of  a  greenish  color,  and  marked 
with  liexagonal  warts  in  clusters.  The  pulp 
is  white,  partly  farinaceous  and  partly  fibrous; 
but  when  quite  ripe  it  becomes  yellow  and 
juicy.  The  Bread-fruit  furnishes  the  chief 
sustenance  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Society 
and  South  Sea  Islands,  and  is  used  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  in  the  West  Indies.  It  is 
usually  cut  into  pieces,  and  roasted  or  baked 
in  ovens  on  the  ground  heated  by  hot  stones. 

Arum.  From  aron ;  supposed  to  be  an  ancient 
Egyptian  word.     Nat.  Ord.  AroideoR. 

There  are  several  interesting  species  con- 
tained in  this  genus  which  may  be  accounted 
pretty  additions  to  the  collections  of  the  hot- 
house and  green-house,  though  the  flowers 
possess  a  disagreeable  odor.  In  contrast  with 
the  other  species  is  A.  Palestinum,  that  has 
flowers  of  deep  crimson,  with  a  delicious  fra- 
grance not  unlike  the  Violet.  In  shape  it 
resembles  the  Calla  Lily,  Richardia  ^thiopica  ; 
in  fact,  when  it  was  introduced,  in  1876,  into 
the  United  States,  it  was  under  the  name  of 
"Crimson  Calla."  Numerous  offsets  are 
annually  produced,  by  which  the  species  are 
extended.  A.  Sanctum,  the  Black  Calla,  a  late 
introduction  (1887)  from  the  Holy  Land,  is 
described  as  "producing  large,  sweet-scented 
flowers,  rising  above  the  leaves  on  a  slender 
but  vigorous  stalk,  of  a  brown-red  color  at  the 
lower  part  and  green  at  the  upper  end.  The 
spathe  is  from  fourteen  to  eighteen  inches 
long  and  four  inches  wide,  of  a  brilliant  dark 
purple  color  and  green  underneath.  The 
spadix  is  about  ten  inches  long,  velvet-like, 
and  quite  black.  The  whole  plant  is  most 
stately  and  elegant  in  appearance."  A.  Dra- 
cuncuhis,  the  Dragon  Arum,  deserves  a  place 


ASA 

in  the  flower  garden  for  its  large, very  remark- 
able flowers.  This  species  requires  the  same 
treatment  as  the  Gladiolus^  The  roots  of  all 
this  natural  order,  when  green,  contain  a 
milky  fluid,  which  is  exceedingly  acrid, 
exciting  a  painful  sensation  of  burning  heat 
in  the  tongue  and  mouth.  When  cut  in  slices 
and  applied  to  the  skin,  it  will  very  quickly 
produce  a  blister.  This  same  active  principle 
is  not  confined  to  the  roots  of  the  various 
genera  and  species,  but  is  found  in  the  leaves 
as  well.  A  piece  of  the  Calla  leaf,  not  larger 
than  a  pin's  head,  if  taken  into  the  mouth, will 
produce  violent  and  painful  burnings.  Some 
of  the  species  yield  an  excellent  quality  of 
Arrow-root. 

Arum  Lily.     Richardia  u^thiopica. 
Spotted  Leaved.     Richardia  maeulata. 
Yellow.     Richardia  hastata. 

Arundina'ria.  An  alteration  of  the  word  Arundo, 
to  which  this  genus  may  be  compared  in  refer- 
ence to  its  large  size.  Nat.  Ord.  GraminacecB. 
A  genus  of  grasses  of  a  shrubby  or  arbo- 
rescent nature,  with  strong-jointed  stems, 
resembling  those  of  the  Bamboo  cano.  They 
are  mostly  from  the  warmer  parts  of  the  globe, 
and  in  some  instances  attain  a  great  size.  A. 
falcata  is  one  of  the  hardiest  kinds,  and  is 
very  ornamental  in  the  sub-tropical  garden. 
This  species  will  endure  the  winter  without 
protection,  from  Washington,  southward.  A. 
Schomburgkii,  a  native  of  Guiana,  is  an  import- 
ant species.  The  canes  grow  sixteen  feet  high, 
with  a  diameter  at  the  base  of  from  twelve  to 
eighteen  inches.  It  is  this  plant  that  chiefly 
furnishes  the  native  Indians  with  the  tubes 
from  which  they  blow  their  poisonous  arrows, 
vfhich  act  with  such  fatal  effect  on  their  vic- 
tims. A.  gigantea  and  A.  tecta,  two  species 
found  in  the  Southern  and  Western  States, 
from  Florida  to  Indiana,  form  canes  from  ten 
to  twenty  feet  high  and  are  now  much  used 
by  florists  for  plant  stakes,  the  toughest 
and  best  of  which  come  from  Indiana. 

Aru'ndo.  Eeed.  A  word  of  doubtful  deriva- 
tion, perhaps  from  the  Latin  word  arundo,  a 
reed.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacem. 

A.  Donax  is  a  splendid  Bamboo-looking  reed, 
rather  tender  in  severe  winters,  but  which,  if 
the  season  be  favorable,  will  grow,  in  rich  soil 
kept  moist,  to  the  height  of  ten  or  twelve  feet 
in  one  year,  producing  a  flne  oriental  appear- 
ance when  standing  singly  on  a  lawn  or  near 
water.  This  variety  is  a  native  of  Southern 
Europe,  introduced  in  1648,  and  for  many 
years  has  been  an  inmate  of  our  flower  gar- 
dens. A.  Donax  variegata,  a  variety  with 
leaves  beautifully  striped  in  different  colors, 
similar  to  those  of  the  commor  Ribbon-grass 
of  our  gardens,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
plants  for  the  sub-tropical  garden.  It  re- 
quires, however,  the  protection  of  the  green- 
house during  winter  in  our  Northern  States. 
It  is  propagated  by  division  of  the  roots,  and 
will  succeed  in  ordinary  garden  soil. 

Asafoe'tida  plant.     Narthex  asafoRtida. 

Asafoe'tida  plant,  Persian.     Ferula  Persica. 

Asaraba'cca.  A  common  name  for  Asarum 
Europ(Bum. 

A'sarum.  Wild  Ginger.  From  a,  private,  and 
saron,  feminine ;  the  application  of  the  term 
unexplained.     Nat.  Ord.  Aristolochiacem. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


35 


ASC 

A  genus  of  rather  curious  hardy  herbaceous 
perennials,  common  in  most  parts  of  the 
United  States,  usually  in  rich,  moist  woods. 
They  are  highly  esteemed  for  their  medicinal 
properties.  A.  Cnnarfe«*e  is  the  Canada  Snake- 
root  or  Wild  Ginger.  It  is  recognized  by  its 
single  pair  of  broad,  kidney-shaped  leaves, 
and  a  single  large,  brownish-purple  flower  on 
a  short  peduncle,  sometimes  nearly  buried. 
The  roots  are  pungent  and  aromatic. 

Ascending.  Directed  upwards ;  as  the  stem, 
wliich  is  the  ascending  axis. 

Ascle'piada'ceae.  The  very  large  natural  order 
which  bears  this  name  is  known  by  its  pollen 
being  collected  in  the  form  of  waxy  masses  or 
bags,  derived  from  the  separable  inner  lining 
of  the  anther  cells,  and  by  the  fruit  consisting 
most  commonly  of  a  pair  of  divaricating  in- 
flated seed-pods.  Fully  1,000  species  are 
known,  for  the  most  part  inhabiting  the 
tropics  of  the  Old  and  New  Worlds.  They 
vary  extremely  in  appearance,  many  being 
leafless  succulents,  like  Stapelia;  others 
(and  they  are  more  numerous)  consisting  of 
twiners  like  Hoya;  while  another  portion 
consists  of  upright  herbaceous  plants,  such 
as  Asclepias  and  Vincetoxicum ;  a  few  are 
tropical  trees.  As  a  general  rule  the  species 
are  poisonous ;  an  acrid  milk  wliich  pervades 
all  their  parts  being  eminently  emetic  and 
purgative.  The  genera  Stapelia,  Hoya,  Ascle- 
pias, Vincetoxicum,  Ceropegia  and  Ptriploca, 
ai'e  good  examples  of  the  order. 

Ascle'pias.  Milkweed.  The  Greek  name  of  the 
^^sculapius  of  the  Latins.  Nat.  Ord.  Ascle- 
piadacete. 

An  extensive  genus  of  tall-growing  plants, 
mostly  of  a  hardy  herbaceous  character, 
remarkable  for  their  curious  flowers  and  the 
silky  substance  which  fills  the  seed-pod.  The 
most  ornamental  native  species  is  A.  tuberosa, 
which  has  fine  orange-colored  flowers  but  is 
somewhat  difficult  to  cultivate.  A.  Mexicana, 
white,  and  A.  Curassavica,  orange -scarlet, 
both  tender  species,  are  excellent  plants  for 
the  mixed  border  in  summer;  the  former  is 
especially  valuable  for  cut  flowers.  They  are 
all  easily  raised  from  seeds. 

A'scyrum.  From  a,  without,  and  skyros,  hard ; 
that  is  to  say,  a  plant  that  is  soft  to  the  touch. 
Nat.  Ord.  Hypericacece. 

A  genus  of  elegant  little  herbs  and  sub- 
shrubs  numbering  flve  species,  all  of  them 
American  with  a  distribution  from  the  North- 
ern States  to  New  Grenada.  A.  Crux  Andrece, 
is  called  St.  Andrew's  Cross  from  the  circum- 
ference of  the  four  pale  yellow  petals  approach- 
ing each  other  in  pairs,  they  appear  like  a 
cross  with  equal  arms.  Collectively  they  are 
called  St.  John's-worts. 

Ash.     American    Black    or    Water.     Fraxinus 
sambucifolia. 
Black  Mountain.    Eucalyptus  Leucoxylon. 
Blue.     Fraxinus  quadrangulata. 
Cape.     Ekebergia  Otpen^sia. 
Carolina  Water.     Fraxinus  platycarpa. 
Chinese.     Fraxinus  Chinensis. 
Common.     Fraxinus  excelsior. 
Flowering.     Fraxinus  Ornus. 
Gray.     Fraxinus  Americana  var.  cinerea. 
Ground,    ^gopodium  podograria,  and  Angelica 

sylvestris. 
Hoop.     Celtis  crassifolia. 


ASP 

Ash.     Jerusalem.     Isatis    tinctoria,   or   Reseda 
luteola. 
Manna.     Fraxinus  Ornus  var.  rotundifolia. 
Movmtain  or  Wild.   English.   Pyrus  aucuparia. 
Mountain.     N.  American.     Pyrus  Americana. 
Northern  Prickly.     Xanthoxylum  Americamu/m. 
Oregon.     Fraxinus  Oregana, 
Poison.     Rhus  Venenata. 
Prickly.     Xantfio-cylum  fraxineum. 
Red  American.     Fraxinus  p^cbescens. 
Southern  Prickly.    Xanthoxylum  Carolinianv/m. 
Wafer.     Ptelea  trifoliata. 
AVater.     Fraxinus  sambucifolia. 
White.    Fraxinus  Americana  var.  alba. 

Ash-keys,  or  Ash  Candles.    The  fruit  of  Fraxi- 
nus excelmor. 

Ash-leaved  Maple.     Acer  Negundo. 

Asiatic  Poison  Bulb.     Crinum  Asiaticum. 

Asi'mina.  Papaw.  Named  from  Asijuinier  of 
the  French  colonists.     Nat.  Ord.  Anonacece. 

A.  triloba,  the  only  species,  is  a  low-grow- 
ing ti-ee  or  shrub,  common  in  the  W^estern 
and  Southern  States,  where  it  is  popularly 
known  as  Papaw.  The  fruit  is  from  three  to 
four  inches  long,  yellowish,  and  when  fully 
ripe  is  by  many  highly  esteemed. 

Aspa'ragus.  From  a,  intensive,  and  spar- 
asso,  to  tear;  in  reference  to  the  strong 
prickles  of  some  species.  Nat.  Ord.  Liliaceoe. 
Of  this  extensive  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous 
and  green-house  plants,  the  common  garden 
Asparagus,  A.  officinalis,  is  the  best  known 
species.  There  are,  however,  several  green- 
house climbing  species,  natives  of  Southern 
Africa,  that  have  of  late  years  been  cultivated 
for  decorative  purposes,  and  well  deserve  a 
place  in  every  collection,  however  small.  Of 
these  A.  tenvissimus  is  the  most  largely  cul- 
tivated as  it  is  easily  increased  by  cuttings, 
and  its  foliage  is  remarkable  for  its  extreme 
slenderness,  and  delicate  appearance.  A.  plu- 
mosus,  and  its  variety  A.  p.  nanus,  are  most 
elegant  plants,  with  smooth  stems,  and  grace- 
fully arching,  fine  filmy  foliage,  rivalling  the 
delicate  beauty  of  the  finest  Maiden-hair  Ferns, 
while  their  cut  sprays  have  the  advantage  of 
much  greater  persistency  than  an^fern,  re- 
taining their  freshness  in  water  f roA  three  to 
four  weeks.  They  also  form  excellCTit  plants 
for  the  green-house,  when  trained  in  pots, 
and  are  invaluable  for  cutting.  They  are  un- 
fortunately slow  of  propagation  being  in- 
creased only  by  seeds,  or  by  division.  They 
were  introduced  to  cultivation  in  1876. 

The  Garden  Asparagus,  A.  officinalis,  is  a 
native  of  Great  Britain,  Russia,  and  Poland. 
In  many  other  parts  of  Europe  it  is  found 
growing  wild,  but  is  probably  an  escape  In 
many  localities,  and  is  perfectly'  naturalized,  as 
it  is  sparingly  on  our  own  coasts.  The  Aspar- 
agus is  one  of  the  oldest  as  well  as  one  of  the 
most  delicious  of  our  garden  vegetables.  It 
was  cultivated  in  the  time  of  Cato  the  Elder, 
200  years  B.  C. ;  and  Pliny  mentions  a  sort  that 
grew  in  his  time  near  Ravenna,  of  which 
three  heads  would  weigh  a  pound.  From 
these  accounts  it  would  appear  that  there  is 
nothing  new  under  the  sun  in  the  line  of 
Asparagus.  Many  of  our  best  gardeners  con- 
tend that  adaptation  of  soil,  together  with 
thorough  cultivation,  alone  explains  the 
differen(;e  in  this  vegetable,  as  offered  in  our 
markets,  but  we  feel  satisfied  that  there  are 


36 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


ASP 

varietios  in  Asparagus,  as  well  as  in  other 
vegetables,  and  such  selections  as  Conover's 
Colossal,  and  the  Palmetto,  are  undoubted 
improvements  on  the  original  sort.  Its  value 
and  importance  as  a  Vegetable  can  hardly  be 
over-estimated,  it  is  extensively  grown  and 
when  properly  managed  produces  a  lucrative 
crop. 

The  preparation  of  the  Asparagus  bed 
should  be  made  with  more  care  than  for  most 
vegetables,  from  the  fact  that  it  is  a  perma- 
nent crop,  which  ought  to  yield  as  well  at  the 
end  of  twenty-five  as  of  five  years,  if  the 
soil  has  been  well  prepared.  The  Asparagus 
bed,  to  start  with,  should  be  on  ground  thor- 
oughly drained,  either  naturally  or  artificially, 
and  if  choice  can  be  had,  on  a  rather  light, 
sandy  loam.  This  should  be  trenched  and 
mixed  with  sufficient  manure  to  form  a  coat- 
ing at  least  six  inches  thick  over  the  bed. 
This  manure  should  be  worked  into  the  soil 
by  trenching  to  the  depth  of  two  feet,  as  the 
roots  of  the  plant  will  reach  quite  that  depth 
in  a  tew  yeais.  In  setting,  the  crowns  of  the 
plants  should  be  placed  at  least  three  inches 
below  the  surface.  Asparagus  maybe  planted 
either  in  the  spring  or  the  fall.  If  in  the 
spring,  it  should  be  done  as  early  as  the 
ground  is  dry  enough  to  work ;  and  if  in  the 
fall,  just  as  soon  as  the  plants  can  be  had, 
which  is  usually  in  the  early  part  of  October. 
We  prefer  fall  planting  on  light,  well-drained 
soils,  for  the  reason  that,  if  it  is  done  then, 
young  roots  are  formed  which  are  ready  to 
grow  on  the  approach  of  spring ;  but  if  the 
planting  is  done  in  March,  April,  or  May,  this 
formation  of  new  roots  has  to  take  place  then, 
and  causers  a  corresponding  delay  in  growth. 
Plants  are  sold  by  market  gardeners  and  seeds- 
men ;  and  as  it  will  save  a  year  or  two  to  pur- 
chase them,  it  is  not  worth  while  to  raise 
them  from  seed  in  a  private  garden. 

The  edible  portion  is  the  undeveloped  stems, 
which,  if  cut  away  as  soon  as  they  appear,  are 
followed  by  others,  which  start  from  the 
crown  of  the  plant.  The  cutting,  if  continued 
too  long,  would  finally  exhaust  the  root; 
hence  it  is  customary  to  stop  cutting  as  soon 
as  early  peas  become  plenty,  and  allow  the 
remaining  shoots  to  grow  during  the  rest  of 
the  season,  and  thus  accumulate  sufficient 
strength  in  the  plant  to  allow  it  to  produce 
another  crop  of  shoots  the  next  season. 

The  surface  of  the  Asparagus  bed  should 
have  a  top  dressing  of  three  or  four  inches  of 
rough  stable  manure  evciy  fall  (November), 
which  sliould  be  lightly  forked  into  the  bed 
in  the  spring.  The  vari(>ty  mostly  grown  is 
the  Colossal,  although  the  new  Frencii  variety, 
known  as  the  Palmetto,  is  likely  to  supersede 
it,  its  merit  being  that  the  shoots  grow  more 
uniformly  large  than  the  Colossal. 

In  some  localities  Asparagus  is  attacked  by 
an  insect  called  the  Asparagus  Beetle.  The 
best  method  of  getting  rid  of  this  pest,  that 
we  have  found,  is  to  coop  up  a  hen,  and  let 
the  chickens  eat  the  insects  and  their  eggs. 

Asparagus  can  also  be  forced  to  advantage 
if  brought  into  market  before  March.  By 
that  time  Florida  begins  to  supply  our  mar- 
kets in  quantity,  and  the  price  depreciates. 
Strong,  healthy  young  plants,  three  to  four 
years  old,  are  best  suited  for  this  purpose, 
and  should  be  sown  yearly  and  grown  on  in 
succession,  on  the  surface  plan ;  that  is,  not 


ASP 

planted  deep  in  the  ground  as  for  permanent 
beds.  The  general  management  for  forcing  is 
similar  to  that  required  for  Ehubarb.  See 
article  on  "  Forcing  Vegetables." 

Aspa'ragus,  Bath  or  Prussian,  consists  of  the 
spikes  when  about  eight  inches  long,  of 
Omithogalum  Pyrenaicum  which  grows  abund- 
antly enough  in  hedges  and  pastures  in  that 
locality  (Bath,  England),  to  V^e  worth  gather- 
ing for  sale. 

Aspa'ragus  of  the  Cossacks.     Typha  latifolia. 

Aspa'sia.  From  aspazomai,  I  embrace ;  the 
column  embraced  by  the  labellum.  Nat.  Ord. 
OrcMdacem. 

A  small  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids  from 
Central  and  South  America.  One  of  the  more 
important  species,  A.  epidendroides,  has  yellow 
and  brown  sepals,  the  petals  light  purple,  the 
lip  white,  with  purple  in  the  centre.  The 
species  should  be  grown  in  baskets,  or  on 
blocks  of  wood  or  cork,  with  plenty  of  moss. 
They  do  not  require  a  high  temperature,  but 
need  plenty  of  air.  Increased  by  division. 
Introduced  in  1833. 

A'spen.     See  Populvs  tremula. 

A'spera.     Bough,  with  hairs  or  points. 

Aspe'rula.  The  diminutive  of  a^'iper,  rough ;  in 
reference  to  the  rough  leaves.  Nat.  Ord. 
RuhiaceoB. 

Pretty,  dwarf,  hardy  plants,  chiefly  natives 
of  the  European  Continent,  well  adapted  for 
shaded  situations  among  trees.  A.  odorata, 
the  common  Woodruff,  is  esteemed  for  its 
delightful  scent.  This  pretty  little  plant, 
when  wilted,  has  the  odor  of  new-mown  hay, 
and  when  kept  among  clothes,  it  not  only 
imparts  an  agreeable  perfume  to  them,  but 
preserves  them  from  insects. 

Asphalt.  Artificial  Asphalt  is  used  very  gen- 
erally for  foot-paths  in  gardens,  etc.  One  of 
the  best  methods  is  the  following :  Lime 
rubbish,  two  parts  ;  coal  ashes,  one  part,  (both 
must  be  very  dry  and  sifted  very  fine) ;  mix 
them  and  leave  a  hole  in  the  middle  of  the 
heap,  wherein  pour  boiling  hot  coal-tar;  mix 
well  together.  When  as  stiff  as  mortar,  lay  it 
down  three  inches  thick,  on  a  dry  and  previ- 
ously well-leveled  surface,  sprinkle  with  dry 
sifted  sand  and  roll  tlioroughly  with  a  heavy 
roller.  Only  just  enough  tar  to  last  about  ten 
minutes  must  be  taken  from  the  furnace  at 
one  time,  as,  if  it  be  not  boiling,  the  walks 
will  become  soft  under  the  action  of  very  hot 
sun.  This  may  be  repeated  every  three  years. 
It  is  imperative  that  the  surface,  lime,  coal 
ashes,  and  sand,  be  perfectly  dry,  and  that 
the  days  selected  for  the  operation  be  very 
fine,  the  hotter  the  better. 

Aspho'deliis.  Asphodel.  From  a,  privative, 
and  sphallo,  to  supplant ;  the  stately  flowers 
not  easily  surpassed.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

Showy  plants  suitable  for  the  open  border, 
with  white  or  yellow  flowers.  They  may  be 
grown  in  any  soil,  and  are  readily  increased 
by  separation  of  the  roots.  Most  varieties  are 
from  the  south  of  Europe,  have  long  been  in 
cultivation  in  our  gardens,  and  are  perfectly 
hardy. 

Aspi'dieae.  A  section  of  polypodineous  Ferns, 
in  which  the  sori  are  punctiform  or  dot-like, 
find  covered  either  by  reniform  or  peltate 
indusia. 


ABiiOHos£  (globe;. 


ARUM   SANCTUM  (BLACK  CALLA). 


ASTTLBK  JAPONICA. 


ASTER   (SCARLET   TRIUMPH). 


/^w/'^% 


ft'-' 


m 


ASTER  (CBOWK). 


ASTER   (MINIATURE   BOUQUET) 


&SFABAGT7S  TKNUISSIMU8. 


AVENA  FLAVESCENS   (YELLOW  OAT  GRASS.) 


37 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


37 


ASP 

Aspidi'stra.  From  aspidiseon,  a  little  round 
shield ;  the  form  of  the  llower.  Nat.  Ord. 
Liliacece. 

A  small  genus  found  in  China  and  Japan, 
remarkable  for  producing  their  flowers  under 
the  sui'face  of  the  earth.  They  are  useful 
house  plants,  and  are  propagated  by  suckers. 
The  foliage  of  A.  elativr  variegata  (green  with 
broad  stripes  of  wliite)  contrasts  finely  with 
ornamental-foliaged  plants.  For  the  produc- 
tion of  well-marked  plants,  the  pots  in  wliich 
they  are  grown  should  be  small,  and  the  soil 
liberally  mixed  with  sand.  Introduced  in 
1835. 

Aspi'dium.  Shield  Fern,  Wood  Fern.  From 
asijidion,  a  little  buckler ;  the  shape  of  the 
iudusium.     Nat.  Ord.  Polyjwdiacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  and  green- 
house Ferns.  Many  of  the  species  are  com- 
mon in  moist,  shady  places  throughout  the 
United  States.  The  green-house  varieties  are 
mostly  from  the  West  Indies.  All  the  species 
are  of  easy  cultui'e.  Many  of  them  are 
deservedly  popular  in  the  fern-house  or  shady 
border. 

Asple'nieae.  A  section  of  polypodineous  Ferns, 
in  which  the  simple  linear  or  oblong  sori  are 
parallel  with  the  veins,  and  oblique  to  the 
midrib,  produced  on  one  side  of  the  veins, 
and  covered  by  indusia  of  the  same  form. 

Asple'nium.  Spleenwort.  From  a,  privative, 
and  splen,  spleen  ;  referring  to  its  supposed 
medicinal  properties.  Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 
This  genus,  as  established  by  Linnaeus,  was 
a  very  extensive  one,  and  the  species  exceed- 
ingly varied.  So  much  confusion  existed  in 
regard  to  it,  that  modern  botanists  have 
divided  and  sub-divided  it ;  yet  it  contains  a 
large  number  of  hardy  and  tropical  species, 
many  of  which  are  exceedingly  beautiful  and 
interesting,  and  ai-e  commonly  found  in  our 
green-houses.  Some  of  the  species  have  the 
very  singular  property  of  bearing  little  buds  on 
their  surface,  from  which  young  plants  are 
formed.  It  is  not  an  uncommon  thing  to  see 
fifteen  or  twenty  of  these  young  plants,  all 
perfectly  developed,  from  one  to  two  inches 
high,  on  a  single  frond.  They  are  popularly 
known  as  bulb-bearing  Ferns.  Several  of  the 
species  are  indigenous  throughout  the  United 
States,  and  there  is  scarcely  a  country  in 
which  some  of  the  species  may  not  be  found. 

Aste'lma.  Strawberry  Everlasting.  From  a, 
not,  and  stelma,  a  crown  ;  in  reference  to  the 
construction  of  the  fruit.  Green-house  ever- 
green shrubs  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
The  bracts  of  the  flowers  of  A.  eximium  are  of 
a  rich  rosy  tint,  and  are  incurved  so  as  to 
form  close  heads,  bearing  some  resemblance 
to  Strawberries.  It  has  been  long  introduced 
but  is  comparatively  rare  in  cultivation. 

A'ster.  Star-wort.  Michaelmas  Daisy.  From 
aster,  a  star.     Nat.  Ord.  Composites. 

There  are  upward  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
species  included  in  this  geniis,  chiefly  hardy 
herbaceous  plants,  useful  for  ornamenting  the 
flower  borders  in  the  autumn  ;  generally  at- 
taining a  height  of  from  two  to  four  feet,  and 
producing  white,  purple  or  blue  flowers.  They 
are  easily  increased  by  separating  the  old 
stools.  The  well-known  German  and  China 
Asters    are  now  classed  under  Callistephns. 


ATA 

The  sweet,  musk-scented  plant  known  as 
Aster  Argophyllus  is  now  pl&ced  under  Eurybia, 
which  see. 
Asti'lbe.  From  a,  privative,  and  stilbe,  bright- 
ness ;  flowers  not  very  striking.  Nat.  Ord. 
SaxifragacecB. 

A.  Juponica,  sometimes  called  SpirmaJaponi- 
ca,  Hoteia  J(ip(»iicaand  A.  harbata,  isa  nativeof 
Japan,  and  ii  perfectly  hardy  herbaceous  plant. 
The  dark  green  cut  leaves  form  a  handsome 
tuft,  from  which  arise  numerous  crowded 
panicles  of  feathery  white  flowers.  Excellent 
for  forcing  in  pots,  and  fine  for  cutting.  There 
is  a  variety  with  variegated  foliage,  green  and 
yellow,  not  so  vigorous  in  habit,  but  in  all 
other  respects  similar.  Propagated  by  divi- 
sion.   See  Spircea. 

Astra'galus.  Milk  Vetch.  The  ancient  Greek 
name  for  some  leguminous  plant.  Nat.  Ord. 
Leguminosce. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  annuals,  per- 
ennials, and  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs. 
Many  of  the  species  are  beautiful  plants 
for  the  flower  garden.  They  are  vigorous 
growers,  and  succeed  in  a  well-drained,  sandy 
soil.  The  genus,  is  widely  distributed,  there 
being  scarcely  a  country  where  it  is  not  indig- 
enous. The  flowers  are  pea-shaped,  and 
mostly  yellow  or  purple.  Several  of  our  na- 
tive species  produce  a  fruit  resembling  green 
plums,  that  are  edible.  On  the  prairies  they 
are  called  Ground  Plums.  A.  mollissimus, 
popularly  known  as  "  Loco,"  or  "Crazy 
Weed,"  is  the  notorious  cattle-poisoning 
weed  of  Colorado  and  California.  Cattle  and 
horses  eating  it  show  many  of  the  symptoms 
of  drunkenness,  and  under  certain  circum- 
stances the  results  are  fatal.  The  gum-like 
substance  called  Tragacanth  is  the  produce 
of  several  species  growing  in  Persia,  Asia 
Minor,  and  Kurdistan.  The  gum  exudes 
naturally  from  the  bark  in  the  same  way  that 
gum  exudes  from  the  bark  of  Cherrj^  or  Plum 
trees.  While  many  of  the  species  are  useful 
or  ornamental,  by  far  the  larger  number  are 
troublesome  weeds. 

Astra'ntia.  A  genus  of  Umbelliferce.  Native  of 
Europe  and  Western  Asia,  containing  ten  or 
twelve  species.  They  are  hardy  herbaceous 
perennials,  with  black  aromatic  roots,  and 
generally  white  or  pink  flowers.  A.  Camiola 
and  A.  Major  are  the  most  distinct  and  orna- 
mental species,  easily  increased  by  root  divi- 
sion. 

Astroca'ryum.  From  astron,  a  star,  and 
karyon,  a  nut;  referring  to  the  distribution 
of  the  fruit.     Nat.  Ord.  PalmaacE. 

A  small  genus  of  Palms  allied  to  Cocas, 
chiefly  natives  of  the  Upper  Amazon.  They 
have  large  pinnate  leaves,  and  are  armed  with 
spines,  sometimes  a  foot  long,  and  exceedingly 
sharp.  The  fruit  of  some  of  the  species  fur- 
nishes food  for  cattle  and  swine.  The  young 
leaves  of  A.  vulgare  yield  a  fine  thread,  from 
which  the  best  hammocks  are  woven. 

Ata'ccia.  Malay  name.  Nat.  Ord.  TaccacecB. 
There  are  few  more  remarkable-looking 
plants  than  A.  cristata,  sometimes  met  in  the 
gardens  under  the  incorrect  name  of  Taeca 
integrifolia.  It  has  a  short,  conical,  under- 
ground caudex,  or  rhizome,  and  produces 
from  this  caudex  three  or  four  large,  oblong, 
acuminate,    purplish-green    stalked    leaves. 


38 


HENDEESON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


ATA 

The  scape  is  about  as  long  as  the  leaves,  erect, 
stout,  angled,  dark  purple,  terminated  by  a 
large  four-leaved  involucre,  of  which  the  two 
outer  leaflets  are  dark  purple,  and  the  two 
inner  much  lai-ger,  placed  side  by  side,  green 
with  a  deep  purple  base  and  stalk.  The 
species  are  remarkable  for  their  curious  struc- 
ture, but  are  of  no  value  as  flowering  plants, 
or  for  economic  purposes. 

Atama'sco  Lily.     See  Zephyranthes. 

Athana'sia.  Ornamental  green-house  ever- 
green shrubs,  belonging  to  the  Nat.  Ord. 
Compositce.  They  have  yellow  flowers,  lasting 
a  long  time  in  perfection.  Natives  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

Atherospe'rma.  Plume  Nutmeg.  From  ather, 
an  awn,  and  sperma,  a  seed  ;  the  seed  awned. 
Nat.  Ord.  Monimiaceoe. 

A  beautiful  green-house  evergreen  tree, 
with  the  aspect  of  a  stately  conifer.  Flowers 
white,  in  panicles,  the  leaves  being  strongly 
musk-scented.  A  native  of  New  Holland, 
readily  propagated  by  cuttings.  Introduced 
in  1821. 

Athy'rium.  A  small  genus  of  ferns,  until  re- 
cently included  in  Aspleniiim.  A.  Goringianum 
pichim  is  a  beautiful  half-hardy  deciduous  va- 
riety from  Japan. 

Atlee  Gall.  A  gall  nut  produced  abundantly 
by  Tamarix  orientalis,  which  is  called  Atl^  by 
the  Egyptians.  It  is  filled  with  a  deep  scarlet 
liquid. 

Atra'gene.  A  genus  of  ornamental,  hardy, 
climbing,  deciduous  shrubs,  closely  allied  to 
Ch^matis,  and  belonging  to  Nat.  Ord.  Ranun- 
culacece. 

They  occur  in  the  temperate  regions  of  the 
Old  and  New  Continent.  A.  Americana  (Syn. 
Clematis  verticillaris)  is  found  in  Western  New 
England,  Virginia  and  Wisconsin.  A.  alpina, 
blue,  and  its  white  vai'iety,  are  not  uncommon 
in  cultivation. 

Atrapha'xis.  A  genus  of  PolygonacecB.  Natives 
of  Asia  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  consist- 
ing of  low  shrubs  with  rigid,  much  branched, 
often  spiny  stems.  A  few  species  are  culti- 
vated as  green-house  plants,  but  the  most  in- 
teresting, A.  Spinosa,  is  perfectly  hardy  and 
forms  a  dense  shrub,  which  when  covered 
with  flowej'S  is  very  showy.  It  is  an  excellent 
plant  for  the  rock-garden,  growing  well  in  any 
situation.     Syn.  Tragopyron. 

A'triplex.  Oraehe,  Mountain  Spinach.  From 
ater,  black,  and  plexus,  woven  together ;  on 
account  of  the  dark  color  and  habit  of  some 
of  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  ChenopodiacecB. 

A.  hortetisis,  the  only  species  of  interest,  is 
a  tall-growing,  hardy  plant,  annual,  known  in 
our  gardens  as  Oraehe.  It  is  but  little  grown 
in  tills  country,  but  very  popular  in  France. 
It  is  a  native  of  Tai'tary,  introduced  into 
France  in  1548.  It  grows  freely  with  ordinaiy 
garden  culture.  Seeds  are  sown  in  both  spring 
and  fall  to  secure  a  succession. 

A'tropa.  Deadly  Nightshade.  Named  after 
Atruiws,  one  of  the  Three  Fates.  Nat.  Ord. 
Solanaccm. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials 
and  evergreen  shrubs,  remarkable  for  their  poi- 
sonous properties.  A.  Belladonna,  one  of  the 
best  known  species,  is  a  hardy  herbaceous 
plant,  indigenous  to  shady  grounds  and  waste 


AUG 

places  in  Southern  Europe  and  Western  Asia, 
also  in  Great  Britain.  The  root  is  thick, 
whitish  and  perennial,  sending  forth  annually 
a  strong,  branched,  purple-colored  stem,  from 
three  to  five  feet  high.  The  leaves  are  of  un- 
equal size,  and  are  entire,  oval-pointed,  stand- 
ing in  pairs  on  very  short  footstalks.  The 
flowers  are  large,  bell-shaped,  pendant,  and 
of  a  brown  purple  hue  ;  appearing  in  June  or 
July,  and  are  succeeded  by  round,  purple  ber- 
ries, which  ripen  in  September.  All  parts  of 
the  plant  are  poisonous.  It  is  supposed  to 
have  been  the  plant  which  produced  such  re- 
markable and  fatal  effects  on  the  Komans  dur- 
ing their  retreat  from  the  Parthians,  under 
Mark  Antony,  as  recorded  in  Plutarch's 
Life  of  Antony.  Buchanan  relates  the  de- 
struction of  the  army  of  Sweno  the  Dane, 
when  it  invaded  Scotland,  by  the  berries  of 
this  plant.  They  were  mixed  with  the  drink 
which  the  Scots,  according  to  the  terms  of 
the  truce,  were  to  supply  to  the  Danes, 
which  so  intoxicated  them  that  the  Scots 
killed  a  greater  part  of  Sweno's  army  while 
asleep.  The  extract  of  Belladonna  is  exten- 
sively used  in  the  Homoeopathic  practice  of 
medicine,  in  cases  of  fever,  and  also  as  a  diur- 
etic. Dr.  Milno  remarks,  that  nature  has 
been  more  parsimonious  in  her  Avarnings  in 
respect  to  this  plant,  than  to  others  of  the 
same  natural  famil}^  Neither  the  smell  nor 
the  taste  is  offensive,  and  if  the  color  of  the 
flowers  proves  in  some  degree  a  repellant, 
that  of  the  fruit,  on  the  other  hand,  is  in  an 
equal  degree,  at  least,  attractive  and  inviting. 
Attale'a.  From  attains,  magnificent ;  in  reference 
to  the  beauty  of  these  Palms.  Nat.  Ord.  Pal- 
macecB. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful  Palms  allied  to 
Cocos.  With  one  or  two  exceptions,  they  are 
natives  of  Brazil.  A.  funifera  yields  a  black 
fiber  resembling  whalebone,  an  article  of  con- 
siderable commercial  value  as  a  material  for 
making  brooms  and  brushes.  It  is  popularly 
known  as  Piassaba  Palm.  The  nuts  of  this 
species  are  very  hard,  about  four  inches  long, 
finely  mottled,  dark  and  light  brown,  and  are 
highly  esteemed  for  turning  into  knobs,  um- 
brella handles,  and  various  other  purposes. 
A.  Cohune  furnishes  Cohoun  nuts,  from  which 
is  extracted  Cohoun  oil,  used  for  burning,  for 
which  purpose  it  is  superior  to  cocoanut  oil. 
The  species  are  too  large  for  green-house 
cultivation. 

Attenuated.     Tapering  gradually  to  a  point. 

Aubergine,    Egg    Plant.      Solanum    melongena 
var.  oxngerum. 

Aubrie'tia.  Named  after  M.  Aubriet,  a  French 
botanical  draughtsman.  Nat.  Ord.  Criiciferm. 
A  genus  of  pretty  little  plants,  generally 
about  three  inches  high,  admirably  adapted 
for  pots  or  miniature  rock-work  ;  the  flowers 
are  purple,  and  appear  in  March.  They  are 
readily  propagated  by  division.  Natives  of 
the  South  of  Europe,  introduced  in  1710. 

Au'cuba.     The  name   of    the   shrub  in  Japan. 
Nat.  Ord.  Cornacem. 

A  genus  of  hardy  evergreen  shrubs  from 
Japan,  useful,  and  highly  prized  for  their 
vigorous  habit,  rapid  growth,  and  capability 
of  enduring,  and  even  thriving  in,  the  atmos- 
phere of  cities.  The  flowers  are  inconspicu- 
ous, but  since  the  introduction  of  the  male 


AND   GENEliAL   HORTICULTURE. 


39 


AUR 

or  pollen-bearing  plant,  by  Robert  Fortune, 
to  England  in  1861,  we  have  been  enabled  to 
secure  the  beautiful  coral-red  berries,  which 
are  borne  in  profusion,  and  render  the  bushes 
exceedingly  ornamental.  Tlie  conspicuously 
marked  foliage  of  A.  Japonica  varkguta,  which 
is  green  and  yellow,  atlniirably  adapts  it  for 
the  shrubbery  border,  or  as  a  single  plant  upon 
the  lawn.  This  variety  is  not  usually  hardy 
north  of  Washington.  Propagated  by  cut- 
tings, which  root  freely  in  sand.  Introduced 
in  1783. 

Aurantia'ceae.  The  Orange,  Lemon,  and  simi- 
lar fruits  are  produced  by  trees  belonging  to 
this  natural  order.  They  are  all  bushy  or 
woody  plants,  having  the  leaves  filied  with 
transparent  oil  cysts,  giving  them  a  dotted 
appearance,  and  a  fruit  more  or  less  pulpy. 
Less  than  100  species  are  known.  The  genera 
are  almost  exclusively  found  in  the  East  In- 
dies, whence  they  have,  in  some  cases,  spread 
over  the  rest  of  the  tropics. 

Aureus.  Of  a  bright  golden  color,  composed  of 
yellow  with  a  small  portion  of  red. 

Auricle.     An  ear. 

Auricomus.  A  head  or  tuft,  like  hair,  of  a 
golden  color. 

Auricula.     See  Primula  auricula. 

Auriculate.  Aurieled.  Having  ear-like  ap- 
pendages, as  in  the  case  of  many  leaves,  as  in 
Jasminum  auriculatum. 

Auriculately-sagittate,  Eared  at  the  base,  so 
as  to  give  the  leaf  the  appearance  of  the 
head  of  an  arrow. 

Austra'lis  (Southern).  This  terra  is  frequent- 
ly applied  to  plants  which  grow  in  warm 
climates,  without  regard  to  their  being 
strictly  confined  to  the  southern  hemisphere. 

Autumn  Bell  Flo'wer.  Gentiana  Pneumon- 
anthe. 

Ave'na.  Oat.  A  name  of  obscure  origin.  Nat. 
Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  genus  of  grasses  of  which  the  common 
Oat,  A.  sativa,  is  tiie  best  known,  and 
which  is  invaluable  in  agricultural  econ- 
omy. There  are  several  species  of  Oats, 
and  a  vast  number  of  varieties.  The  nativity 
of  the  Oat  is  accredited  to  Mesopotamia;  this 
is,  however,  a  matter  of  conjecture.  The 
quality  and  appearance  of  the  Oat  vary 
greatly  when  grown  on  different  soils  and  in 
different  climates.  The  justly  celebrated 
Norway  Oat  loses  its  distinctive  character 
when  grown  in  the  warm,  dry  climate  of  the 
Middle  New  England  States,  and  seed  has 
consequently  to  be  imported  every  season, 
in  order  to  keep  the  crop  up  to  the  high 
standard  claimed  for  it.  Tlie  Naked  or 
Hull-less  Oat  is  A.  nuda,  found  growing  wild  in 
many  parts  of  Europe,  and  considered  merely 
a  degeneration  of  the  common  Oat.  A  very 
fine  variety  of  this  species  has  been  introduced 
from  China,  but  its  merits  as  a  farm  crop  have 
not  been  fully  tested.  A.  aterilis,  a  native  of 
the  South  of  Europe,  is  the  Animated  Oat  of 
the  gardens.  The  "animation"  is  produced 
by  tiie  contraction  and  expansion  of  the  awns, 
which  cause  the  seed  to  crawl  a  short  dis- 
tance. Moisture  from  dews  is  sufficient  to 
produce  this  slight  motion. 

Avens.     Geum  urbanum. 


AZA 

Avenues     in     Landscape     Gardening.        In 

forming  an  avenue,  a  gi-adual  winding 
line  should  above  all  be  obtained,  which 
must  in  no  way  interfere  with  the  view 
from  the  house.  An  old  authority  on  thia 
subject  says  that  "  there  never  should  be  any 
deviation  from  a  straight  line  unless  for  somb 
real  or  apparent  cause,"  so  in  a  winding  or 
curved  line  a  tree,  rock  or  building  must  be 
placed  at  the  bends  as  a  reason  for  going 
around  such  obstacles.  Twelve  to  fifteen 
feet  is  the  width  usually  allowed  for  the  road, 
but  this  depends  upon  individual  taste;  this 
remark  also  applies  to  planting  in  double 
rows,  the  trees  forming  a  series  of  ti'iangles ; 
or  in  single  rows.  The  distance  across  the 
road  from  one  row  of  trees  to  those  opposite 
should  be  at  least  twenty-five  feet.  The  Lime 
or  Linden  tree  is  extensively  used  for  avenues, 
on  account  of  its  regular  growth  and  the 
shade  it  affords.  The  American  and  English 
Elms  are  also  valuable  trees  for  this  purpose. 
The  Horse  Chesnut  in  sheltered  spots,  is  very 
ornamental,  and  the  various  species  of  Maples 
and  Planes,  are  unsurpassed  for  this  purpose. 
The  Spruce  and  other  Firs  are  also  much  used 
and  are  eminiintly  suited  for  avenue  planting. 
Groups  of  shrubs  and  herbaceous  plants  may 
be  introduced  between  the  trees,  and  so  re- 
move any  bareness  that  may  occur. 

Avocado  Pear.     Persea  gratissima. 

Awl  Tree.     Morinda  citrifolia. 

Awl-^wort.     Subularia  aquatica. 

Axil,  Axilla.  The  angle  formed  by  the  union 
of  the  leaf  and  stem  or  other  organs ;  the  point 
on  the  stem  from  which  a  leaf  proceeds. 

Aza'lea.  From  azaleos,  dry ;  in  reference  to  the 
habitation  of  the  plant.     Nat.  Ord.  Ericacem. 

Beautiful  flowering  plants,  natives  of  North 
America,  Turkey,  and  China.  The  American 
or  Hard}'  Azaleas,  A.  calendulacfci,  A.nudiflora 
and  A.  viscosa,  with  hosts  of  ganlen  varieties 
bred  from  them,  are  inhabitants  of  all  our 
best  shrubberies,  and  have  been  so  wonder- 
fully improved  by  seedling  culture  as  to 
throw  into  the  shade  the  original  species ; 
there  can  now  be  selected  twenty  or  thirty 
varieties  better  than  the  very  best  of  the 
original  species.  Every  year,  too,  adds  to  the 
diversity  of  sorts  and  to  the  size  of  the 
flowers  which  is  one  of  the  characteristics  of 
the  improved  kinds.  In  many  places  they 
thrive  in  the  common  soil  of  the  garden,  but, 
in  general,  they  require  leaf  mould  to  be  dug 
in  with  the  natural  soil ;  and  where  there  is  to 
be  any  quantity  grown,  or  a  nursery  of  them 
made,  beds  of  leaf  mould,  or  composts  of 
the  greatest  part  of  this,  must  be  made  up. 
They  are  raised  from  seed  sown  in  beds  in  the 
open  air,  but  from  its  extreme  diminutive- 
ness,  many  prefer  sowing  in  pans  and  wide- 
mouthed  pots.  When  they  are  large  enough, 
they  should  be  planted  out  in  beds  six  inches 
apart.  The  second  year  evei-y  alternate  plant 
may  be  taken  out  and  planted  elsewhere,  to 
make  room  ;  and  as  they  increase  in  size  they 
should  have  more  room.  They  are  propa- 
gated chiefly  by  grafting  and  by  layers,  but  cut- 
tings of  the  last  year's  wood  will  root  readily 
in  sand.  A.  Pontica  is  a  native  of  Turkey. 
A.  Indica  (the  Chinese  Azalea)  and  its  varieties 
are  those  we  meet  with  in  the  green-house. 
The    florists'    catalogues  abound  with    rare 


40 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


AZA 

sorts,  the  results  of  careful  and  skillful 
cross-fertilization.  We  are  largely  indebted 
for  our  finer  sorts  to  the  nurserymen  at 
Ghent,  Belgium.  They  are  increased  easily 
in  spring  by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened 
young  shoots. 
Aza'ra.  Named  after  J.  N.  Azara,  a  Spanish 
promoter  of  botany.  Nat.  Ord.  FlacourtiacecB. 
A  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs,  natives  of 
Chili.  A.  GUliesii,  is  the  most  desirable 
species.  Its  leaves  are  evergreen,  somewhat 
resembling  the   Holly;   flowers  yellow,  pro- 


BAL 

duced  in  axillary  clusters.  Propagated  by 
cuttmgs.  Introduced  in  1844. 
Azo'lla.  A  very  curious  genus  of  aquatic  cryp- 
togamous  plants  found  floating  upon  the 
water,  forming  green  or  reddish  patches, 
throwing  down  rootlets  on  the  under  side, 
amongst  which  are  situated,  principally  in 
the  axils  of  the  leaves,  the  organs  of  fructifi- 
cation. The  species  occur  in  Australia,  and 
New  Zealand.  The  only  native  species,  A. 
Caroliniana,  is  found  in  still  water,  from  New 
York  to  Wisconsin,  and  southward. 


B. 


Babia'na.      From    hahianer,    the    Dutch    for 
baboon;   in  reference  to  the  bulbs  being 
eaten  by  baboons.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

A  genus  of  Cape  plants,  with  solid  bulbs  or 
corms,  which  are  eaten  by  the  Hottentots,  and 
which,  when  roasted,  are  said  to  resemble 
chestnuts.  All  the  species  have  showy  flow- 
ers, of  various  colors,  blue  predominating. 
Some  of  the  varieties  are  finely  variegated. 
■'Tliey  succeed  in  very  sandy  loam,  and  may  be 
grown  either  in  pots  for  ornamenting  the 
green-house,  or  planted  in  a  cold  frame,  whei'e, 
if  protected  from  frost  in  winter,  they  may  be 
allowed  to  remain  altogether.  They  increase 
rapidly  by  offsets.  Introduced  from  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope  in  1757. 

Babingto'nia,  Named  in  compliment  to  Charles 
Babington,  of  Cambridge,  England,  a  distin- 
guished botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  MyrlacecB. 

B.  camphorosmtB,  the  only  species  of  import- 
ance in  this  genus,  is  a  graceful  green-house 
shrub  from  New  Holland.  It  is  of  easy  culti- 
vation and  produces  flowers  freely  during  the 
summer  months,  in  terminal  clusters,  color 
white  or  pinkish.  The  branches  have  a  droop- 
ing habit,  giving  the  plant  a  graceful  outline. 
Propagated  by  cuttings.     Introduced  in  1842. 

Baby's  Breath.  See  Muscari;  also  a  local 
name  for  Gypsophila  paniculata. 

Baccate.  Having  a  pulpy  or  succulent  texture ; 
berried,  fleshy. 

Bac'charis.  Groundsel-tree.  From  Bacchus, 
the  god  of  wine ;  referring  to  the  spicy  odor  of 
the  roots.  The  ancients  sometimes  boiled 
down  their  wines  and  mixed  them  with  such 
spices.     Nat.  Ord.  CompositcE. 

This  genus  consists  of  upward  of  200  spe- 
cies, all  South  American  except  three,  two  of 
which  are  found  from  Massachusetts  south- 
ward, and  the  third  in  California.  They  are 
tall-growing  shrubs,  and  distinguished  from 
their  allies  by  having  the  male  flowers  on  one 
plant  and  the  females  on  another.  The  fertile 
plant  of  the  native  B.  halimifolia  is  very  con- 
spicuous in  the  autumn  by  its  very  long  and 
white  pappus.  There  is  a  singular  and  remark- 
able fact  in  relation  to  one  of  the  species,  B. 
Douglassi,  which  is  found  in  California  and  in 
Chili,  without  being  found  in  any  intervening 
place.  The  medicinal  pn  >perties  of  some  of  the 
South  American  species  are  highly  esteemed 
for  fevers  and  rheumatism. 


Bachelor's  Buttons.  A  garden  name  given  to 
the  flowers  of  Centaurea  Cyanus,  Globe  Ama- 
ranthus,  and  to  the  double-flowering  buttercup, 
Ranunculus  acris,  fl.  pi. 

Ba'ctris.  From  baktron,  a  cane ;  the  young 
stems  being  used  for  walking  sticks.  Nat. 
Ord.  Palmacew. 

A  genus  comprising  several  species  of 
slender-growing  palms,  inhabiting  the  West 
Indies,  Central  and  South  America.  They  do 
not  rank  with  the  handsomest  of  palms, 
although  when  young  they  are  of  an  orna- 
mental character.  B.  integrifolia,  a  native  of 
Rio  Negro,  is  an  elegant  species,  with  a 
slender  reed-like  stem,  producing  a  small 
crown  of  dark-green  leaves, densely  armed  with 
long,  flat,  black  spines.  It  can  be  used  with 
beautiful  elTect  for  table  decoration.  B.  Mar- 
aja,  the  Marajah  Palm  of  Brazil,  grows  upon 
the  banks  of  the  Amazon  and  other  rivers.  It 
is  the  largest  species  of  the  genus,  its  t'"unk 
attaining  the  height  of  fifty  feet.  It  is  thickly 
armed  with  spines,  and  has  a  succulent, 
rather  acid  but  agreeably-tasted  fruit,  from 
which  a  vinous  beverage  is  prepared.  B. 
minor,  has  a  stem  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet 
high,  and  seldom  more  than  an  inch  in 
diameter.  Its  stems  are  very  smooth,  and  are 
used  for  walking-sticks. 

Bae'ria.  In  honor  of  Professor  Baer  of  the 
University  of  Dorpat.     Nat  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  genus  of  bright  yellow  Californian  annu- 
als, with  solitary  terminal  flowers  about  one 
inch  across.  They  are  pretty  and  desirable, 
B.  chrysostoma  being  of  dwarf,  slender,  erect 
habit,  and  very  showy.  Px-opagated  by  seeds 
sown  in  spring. 

Bahi'a.  Name  probably  from  the  port  of  Bahia 
in  South  America.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

B.  lanata,  the  only  described  species,  is  an 
ornamental,  hardy  herbaceous  perennial, 
much  branched  from  the  base  of  the  stem, 
and  having  a  greyish  appearance.  It  produces 
its  large  yellow  flower  heads  in  great  pro- 
fusion, and  is  readily  increased  by  seeds  or 
division. 

Bala'ntiuta.  A  name  proposed  for  a  genus  of 
Ferns,  now  considered  synonymous  with  i>icfc- 
sonia. 

Bald  Cypress.    See  Taxodium  distichum. 

Balloon  Vine.     See  Cardiospertnum. 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


41 


BAL 

Ballo'ta.  Fetid  Horehound.  From  ballo,  to 
reject ;  in  allusion  to  its  offensive  odor.  Nat. 
Ord.  Labiatce. 

A  small  genus  of  mere  weeds,  occasional!}' 
met  with  in  the  Eastern  States,  having  found 
their  way  from  Europe,  wi\ere  they  are 
natives. 

Ball  Thistle.     Another  name  for  Globe  Thistle. 

Balm.  Melissa  officinalii*.  A  perennial  herb 
often  used  in  the  manufacture  of  a  drink  for 
sick  p>ersons,  and  sometimes  employed  for 
culinary  purposes. 

Bee.     Monarda  didyma. 

Field.     Calamintha  nepeta. 

Indian.     Trillium  pendidum. 

Of  Gilead.     Cedronella  triphylla. 

Of  Gilead  Tree.  Balsamodendron  Gileadense, 
and  Populus  bahamifera  vur.  candicans. 

Of  Heaven.     Oreodapfme  Californica. 

Balmony.  One  of  the  popular  names  of  Chelone 
glabra. 

Balsam.  Ladies'  Slipper.  Impatiens  Balsamina. 
A  well-known,  tender  annual,  a  native  of 
India.  It  is  one  of  the  showiest  and  most 
popular  of  summer  flowers,  blooming  as  it 
does  till  the  advent  of  frost.  Numerous  hand- 
some varieties  are  grown,  the  prevailing  colors 
of  which  are  red  and  white,  the  former  extend- 
ing to  every  shade  of  purple,  crimson,  scarlet, 
rose,  lilac,  and  carnation  or  flesh-color;  but 
some  of  the  most  superb  sorts  are  elegantly 
spotted  with  white.  The  spotted  varieties 
form  a  class  by  themselves,  and  are  justly 
regarded  as  among  the  most  brilliant  orna- 
ments of  the  garden ;  there  are  the  crimson, 
scarlet,  rose,  purple,  and  violet-spotted. 
Another  class  is  striped,  after  the  manner  of 
Carnations,  with  purple,  crimson,  rose,  scarlet 
on  pure  white  grounds,  some  with  one  color, 
others  with  two  or  more  colors,  and  some  are 
curiously  mottled  and  striped.  The  most 
improved  varieties  are  very  double,  and  styled 
Camellia-flowered  by  the  French.  Some  of 
the  flowers  are  almost  as  perfect  and  as  double 
as  those  of  the  Camellia,  and  nearly  as  regular 
in  shape.  The  Germans  call  them  Rose- 
flowered,  as  many  of  them  approach  the  per- 
fection of  that  flower  in  shape  and  fullness. 
There  is  a  class  of  Dwarf  Balsams  that  do  not 
grow  over  a  foot  high,  but  very  full  and  bushy 
in  habit.  They  do  not  produce  flowers  so 
double  as  the  Camellia  or  Rose-flowered 
varieties,  but  are  desirable  for  the  garden. 
They  should  not  be  planted  with  the  tall 
varieties,  which  attain  the  height  of  two  or 
three  feet,  when  properly  cultivated.  The 
only  way  to  propagate  the  Balsam  is  from 
seeds,  which  do  not  always  produce  kinds 
exactly  the  same  as  the  parent,  but  approach 
very  near,  when  great  care  has  been  taken  to 
keep  the  different  varieties  by  themselves,  as 
is  now  practiced  by  those  who  make  a  busi- 
ness of  raising  the  seed.  Careful  growers  of 
Balsams,  who  wish  to  raise  prize  flowers,  never 
use  seed  less  than  three  years  old  ;  and  they 
are  particular  in  saving  it  from  the  most 
double  and  handsomest  flowers,  the  best  being 
those  which  have  their  colors  distinctly 
marked,  like  a  Carnation.  Introduced  from 
the  East  Indies  in  1596. 

Balsam.  A  name  given  to  various  gum-resinous 
or  oleo-resinous  substances.  Baj-ee  Balsam, 
a     product     of     Balsamodendron    pubescens. 


BAM 

Canadian  Balsam,  a  product  of  Abies  balsamea. 
Carpathian  Balsam,  a  product  of  Pinus  Cem- 
bra.  Copalra  Balsam,  a  product  of  Liquidam- 
bar  styraciflua.  Hungarian  Balsam,  an  oleo- 
resinous  product  of  Pinus  Pnmilio.  Balsam  of 
Acouchi,  a  product  of  Idea  Aracouchini. 
Balsam  of  Copaiva,  an  acrid  production  of 
various  species  of  Copaifera.  Balsam  of 
Maria,  a  product  of  Verticillaria  acuminata. 
Balsam  of  Peru,  a  product  of  Myrospermum. 
Peruiferum.  Balsam  of  Quinquino,  a  pro<luct 
of  Myrospermum  pubescens,  sold  as  White 
Balsam.  Balsam  of  Tolu,  a  product  of 
Myrospermum,  toluiferum.  Balsam  of  Umiri, 
a  product  of  Humirium  floribundum.  Tam- 
acoari  Balsam,  a  product  of  a  Brazilian  species 
of  Caraipa.  White  Balsam,  the  same  as  the 
Balsam  of  Quinquino  above. 

Balsam  Apple  and  Balsam  Pear.  See 
Momordica. 

Balsam  Fir.    See  Abies. 

Balsami'aece.  A  tribe  of  plants  belonging  to 
the  order  Geraniacece,  sepals  and  petals  all 
colored,  consisting  of  six  segments  one  of 
them  ending  below  in  a  conical  spur.  The 
best  known  genus  is  Impatiens. 

Balsa'mita.  A  genus  of  Composites,  of  but  little 
interest,  only  that  it  contains  the  well  known 
Costmary,  or  Alecost,  B.  vulgaris,  a  native 
of  Italy ;  although  common  in  eveiy  village 
garden  in  Britain  and  on  the  continent  it  is 
almost  entirely  discarded  for  culinary  pur- 
poses, and  even  in  France  it  is  only  used 
occasionally  to  mix  in  salads.  This  plant  is 
the  Pyrethrum  tanacetum  of  Linnaeus. 

Balsa'mode'ndron.  From  balsamon,  an  old 
Greek  name  for  balm  or  balsam,  and  dendron, 
a  tree.     Nat.  Ord.  Burseraceoe. 

A  genus  of  balsam-bearing  trees  with  small 
green,  often  uni-sexual  flowers.  B.  myrrha  is 
supposed  to  yield  some  of  the  gum  resin 
known  as  myrrh,  others  produce  Balm  of 
Gilead,  or  Balm  of  Mecca;  a  gum  resin 
obtained  by  incision  into  the  bark,  and  con- 
sidei'ed  by  the  ancients  as  a  f)anacea  for 
almost  all  the  ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to. 

Balsam  Tree.     A   common  name  for  Balsam- 
odendron, and  Clusia. 
Canada.     Abies  balsamea  and  Pinus  Fraseri. 
Copalm.     Liquidambar  Styracijlua. 
Florida.     Amyris  Floridana. 
Hungarian.     Pinus  Pumilio. 
Jamaica.     Clusiaflavu. 

Balsam  Weed.  A  popular  name  for  GnaphaU 
ium  polycephalum,  a  native  plant  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  paper. 

Bamboo.     Australian.     Poa  ramigera. 
Blow-pipe.     Arundinaria  Schomburgkii, 
Common.     Bambusa  arundinacea. 
Fortune's.     Bambusa  Fortuned. 
Metake.     Bambusa  Japonica. 
Sacred.     Nandina  domestica. 

Bambu'sa.  Bamboo  Cane.  From  bambu.  Its 
Indian  name.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  genus  of  gigantic  reeds,  common  through- 
out Southern  China  and  Japan.  B.  arundi- 
nacea is  the  species  of  greatest  importance. 
When  growing  it  has  the  appearance  of  an 
immense  sheaf  of  wheat  standing  on  end.  It 
grows  in  large  tufts  or  clumps,  some  of  them 
upwards  of  sixty  feet  in  height,  and  the 
quantity  of  canes  which  they  yield  is  simply 


42 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


BAN 

enormous.  The  cane  is  porous  in  the  center 
and  partlj'  hollow.  Externally  the  epidermis 
is  composed  of  a  hard  wood,  into  which  silex 
enters  so  largely  that  it  will  strike  fire  with  a 
steel  like  a  piece  of  flint.  Although  this  plant 
grows  spontaneously  and  luost  profusely  in 
nearlj'  all  the  immense  southern  districts  of 
the  Chinese  Empire,  yet  the  Chinese  give  the 
cultivation  of  this  reed  great  care  and  atten- 
tion. They  have  treatises  and  whole  volumes 
solely  on  this  subject,  laying  down  rules 
derived  from  experience,  and  showing  the 
proper  soils,  the  best  kinds  of  water,  and  the 
seasons  for  planting  and  transplanting 
the  useful  production.  The  variety  of  pui"- 
poses  to  which  the  Bamboo  is  applied  is 
almost  endless.  The  Chinese  use  it,  in  one 
way  or  other,  for  nearly  everything  they 
require.  The  sails  of  their  ships,  as  well  as 
the  masts  and  rigging,  consist  chiefly  of 
Bamboo,  manufactured  in  different  ways. 
Almost  every  article  of  furniture  in  their 
houses,  including  mats,  screens,  chairs,  tables, 
bedsteads,  and  bedding,  are  made  of  the  same 
material ;  and  in  some  sections  entire  dwell- 
ings are  constructed  of  Bamboo.  Fine  paper 
is  made  from  the  fiber  of  this  plant.  In  short, 
scarcely  anything  is  to  be  found  in  China  either 
upon  land  or  water,  into  the  composition  of 
which  Bamboo  does  not  enter.  The  same 
extensive  use  is  also  made  of  this  reed  in 
Japan,  Java,  Sumatra,  Siam,  and  other  East- 
ern countries. 

Bana'na  or  Plantain  Tree.     Musa  Sapientum. 
Abyssinian.     Musa  Ensete. 
Dwarf  Chinese.     Musa  Cavendishii. 

Banded  Rush.     See  Scirpus. 

Bane-berry,     See  Aetata  spicata. 

Bane-wort.     Atropa  belladonna. 

Baniste'ria.  A  name  applied  to  a  genus  of 
the  natural  family,  Malphighiacem,  consisting 
of  trees  or  shrubs,  frequently  climlaing.  They 
are  natives  of  Brazil  and  the  West  Indies. 
Several  are  in  cultivation  for  the  sake  of  their 
pretty,  yellow  flowers  and  in  some  instances, 
fine  foliage.    Propagated  by  cuttings. 

Ba'nksia.  A  genus  of  Proteacece,  established  by 
the  younger  Linnteus  in  honor  of  Sir  Joseph 
Banks.  Green-house  evergreens  principally 
grown  for  the  beauty  of  their  foliage,  which 
is  remarkable  for  its  harsh,  rigid  coriaceous 
character.  The  leaves  are  generally  dark  green 
on  the  upper  surface  and  clothed  with  a  white 
or  rufous  down  beneath,  their  margins  being 
either  deeply  serrated  or  spinous,  rarely 
entire.  This  genus  is  peculiar  to  Australia 
and  contains  upwards  of  fifty  species. 

Banner  Plant.     The  genus  Anthurium. 

Banyan  Tree.     See  Ficiis  indica. 

Baobab  Tree.     See  Adansonia  digilata. 

Ba'phia.  Camwood.  Barwood.  From  baphe,  a 
dye,  referring  to  the  use  of  the  wood  in  dyeing. 
Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

B.  nitida,  the  only  species,  produces  the 
Camwood  or  Barwood  of  commerce.  It 
is  an  evergreen  tree,  growing  to  the 
height  of  fifty  feet,  with  shining  green 
leaves,  composed  of  two  pairs  of  leaflets 
and  an  odd  one.  Its  flowers  are  yellow, 
and  bear  some  resemblance  to  the  common 
laburnum.  It  is  a  native  of  Sierra  Leone, 
and  forms  an  important  article  of  commerce. 


BAR 

The  native  women  on  the  west  coast  of  Africa 
use  the  pounded  wood  for  painting  their 
bodies ;  amulets  are  also  made  of  it,  and  it  is 
used  in  their  Fetish  ceremonies.  Introduced 
in  1793. 

Bapti'sia.  From  bapto,  to  dye ;  some  of  the 
species  possessing  dyeing  properties.  Nat. 
Ord.  LegjimivoscE. 

This  genus  of  native  plants  (commonly 
called  False  Indigo)  are  rather  pretty  for  the 
border.  Flowers  are  white,  blue  or  yellow. 
They  grow  in  any  good  garden  soil,  and  are 
increased  by  division. 

Barbaoe'nia.  Named  after  M.  Barbacena,  a 
Governor  of  Minas  Geraes.  Nat.  Oi'd. 
Amaryllidacece. 

Very  pretty  and  singular  herbaceous 
perennials.  B.  purpurea,  has  flowers  of 
moderate  size,  of  the  richest  velvety  purple 
imaginable,  leaves  narrow,  long,  and  droop- 
ing in  the  way  of  Pandanus  grammifolius.  - 
"Lindley"  says  that  they  are  capable  of 
existing  in  a  dry,  hot  air,  without  contact 
with  the  earth,  on  Avhich  account  they  are 
favorites  in  South  American  gardens,  where, 
with  Orchids  and  Bromeliads,  they  are  sus- 
pended in  the  dwelling  houses,  or  hung  to  the 
balustrades  of  the  balconies,  in  wliieh  situa- 
tion, they  flower  abundantly,  filling  the  air 
with  their  fragrance. 

Barbadoes  Cherry.     Malpighia  glabra. 

Barbadoes  Gooseberry.     See  Pereskia. 

Barbadoes  Lily.     Hippeastrum  equestris. 

Barbadoes  Pride.     Adenanthera  Pavonina. 

Barbare'a.  Winter  Cress.  So  named  on  ac- 
count of  its  having  been  formerly  called  the 
Herb  of  St.  Barbara.     Nat.  Ord.  Cruciferce. 

B.  vidgaris  is  a  hardy  herbaceous  plant,  in 
early  days  esteemed  as  a  salad.  It  closely 
I'esembles  the  common  Water  Cress,  but 
grows  on  dry  soils.  Its  use  is  now  discarded. 
It  is  a  native  of  Europe,  and  has  become 
naturalized  in  some  parts  of  this  country. 

Barbate.  Having  long,  soft  hairs  in  one  ol 
more  tufts. 

Barberry.     See  Berberis. 

Barbs.     Hooked  hairs. 

Barcla'ya.  A  singular  genus  of  East  Indian 
aquatics,  belonging  to  the  Nat.  Ord.  Nymphee- 
acecB. 

They  bear  but  little  resemblance  to  the 
ordinary  water-lilies, though  botanically  allied. 
As  botanical  specimens  they  are  very  interest- 
ing ;  as  flowering  plants  they  are  not  likely  to 
occupy  a  very  prominent  place  in  the  list  of 
ornamental  plants. 

Bark.  All  the  outer  integuments  of  a  plant 
beyond ,  the  wood,  and  formed  of  tissue 
parallel  with  it.  It  is  also  the  officinal  name 
given  to  the  cortical  layers  of  various  plants, 
used  chiefly  for  medicinal  and  tanning  pur- 
poses. The  name  is,  par  excellence,  applied  to 
the  Peruvian  or  Cinchona  barks,  the  source 
of  Quinine.  Of  these  there  are  many  varie- 
ties, namely :  Calisaya  Bark,  Royal  Yellow, 
Cinchona  Calisaya ;  Light  Calisaya,  C.  Bolivi- 
ana,  C.  scrobicidata;  Peruvian  Calisaya,  C. 
scrobicidata  (Delondriana) ;  Carabaya  Asii, 
Jaen,  C.  ovata ;  Dark  Jaen,  C.  villosa ;  Hard 
Carthagena,  C.  cordifolia,  Woody  Carthagena, 
C.  Condaminea;  Spongy  Carthagena,  Coquetta, 
Bogota,    C.    lancifolia,  (Condaminea);   Crown, 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


43 


BAR 

C.  Calisaya;  Select  Crown,  C.  chahuanguera ; 
Ashy  Crown,  C.  macrocu  Ujx,  C.  rotundifolia ; 
Fine  Crown,  C.  crispa;  Loxa  Crown,  C.  Con- 
daminea;  Wiry  Crown,  C.  hirsuta ;  Cinnamon, 
C.  coccinea ;  Cusco,  Ariza,  C.pnhescens;  Red 
Cusco,  St.  Ann's,  C.  scrohicuhttn ;  Huanuco, 
Gray,  C.  micrantha,  C.  glandulifcra,  C-  nitida; 
Original  Loja,  C.  uritusinga;  Negrilla,  C. 
heterophylla ;  Red,  C.  conglomerata ;  Genuine 
Red,  C.  succirubra;  Spurious  Red,  C.  magni- 
folia.  Tlae  principal  sorts  are  sometimes 
classed  thus  :  Gray  Barks  :  Crown  or  Loxa,  C. 
condaminea,  C.  scrobiculata,  C.  niacrocalyx ; 
Lima,  Huanuco,  Silver,  C.  micrantha,  C.  lan- 
ceolata,  C.  glanduUfera,  and  probably  C.  pur- 
purea. Red  Barks  :  C.  nitida.  Yellow  Barks  : 
C.  Calisaya,  C.  micrantha,  C.  Condaminea, 
C.  lancifolia.  Rusty  Barks :  C.  hirsuta,  C. 
micrantha,  C.  ovilafolia,  and  probably  C.  pur- 
purea. White  Barks :  C.  ovata,  G.  j)ubescens, 
C.  cordifolia.  For  a  complete  account  of  the 
medicinal  Cinchona  Barks,  see  Mr.  Howard's 
splendid  volume,  entitled,  "  The  Nueva 
Quinologia  of  Pavon." 

The  following  Barks  are  also  employed  ofB- 
cinally  or  economically  :  Alcornoco  or  Alcor- 
noque,  the  astringent  bark  of  several  species 
of  Byrsonima,  or,  according  to  some  authori- 
ties, of  Bowdichia  virgillioides.  Angostura 
Bark,  the  febrifugal  bark  of  Galipea  Cusparia 
or  G.  officinalis.  Babul  Bark,  the  astringent 
bark  of  Acacia  Arabica.  Bastard  Cabbage 
Bark,  the  bark  of  Andira  inermis;  the  same 
as  Worm  Bark.  Bastard  Jesuit's  Bark,  the 
bark  of  Ivafrutescens.  Bonace  Bax'k,  the  bark 
of  Daphne  tinifolia.  Canella  Bark,  the  stimu- 
lant aromatic  bark  of  Canellaalba.  Caribaean 
Bark,  the  astringent  bark  of  E.vostemma  cari- 
bceum.  Cascarilla  or  Sweet  Wood  Bark,  the 
aromatic  bark  of  Croton  Cascarilla  and  C. 
pseudo-China.  China  Bark,  the  febrifugal 
bark  of  Buena  hexandra.  Conessi  Bark,  the 
astringent  bark  of  Wrightia  antidysenterica. 
Culilawan  Bark,  the  aromatic  stimulant  bark 
of  Cinnamomum  Culilawan.  Eleuthera  Bark, 
the  aromatic  bark  of  Croton  Ca.'^carilla.  False 
Angostura  Bark,  the  bark  of  Sirychnos  nux- 
vomica.  French  Guiana  Bark,  the  febrifugal 
bark  of  Portlandia  hctandra.  Hemlock  Bark, 
the  astringent  bark  of  Tsuga  Canadensis,  used 
for  tanning  leather.  Jesuit's  Bark,  the  same 
as  Peruvian  Bark.  Juribali  Bark,  an  astrin- 
gent bark  of  Demerara,  supposed  to  be  the 
produce  of  some  Cedrelaceous  plant.  Me- 
lambo  Bark,  the  aromatic  febrifugal  bark  of 
some  species  of  Galipea,  or  one  of  its  allies. 
Mesereum  Bark,  the  acrid,  irritant  bark  of 
Daphne  Mezereum.  Monesia  Bark,  the  bark  of 
some  South  American  Sapolacece.  Muruxi 
Bark,  the  astringent  bark  of  Byrsonima.'^piccuta, 
used  by  the  Brazilian  tanners.  Niepa  Bark, the 
febrifugal  bark  of  Samadera  Indica.  Ordeal,. 
Sassy,  or  Saucy  Bark,  is  the  poisonous  bark 
of  ErythrophlcBum  guineenne,  of  Sierra  Leone. 
Panococco  Bark,  the  sudorific  bark  of  Swartzia 
tomentosa.  Quercitron  Bark,  the  yellow  dye 
bark  of  Quercus  tincloria.  Quillai  Bark,  the 
bark  of  Quillaia  saponaria,  used  as  a  substi- 
tute for  soap.  Sassafras  Bark,  is  the  aromatic 
bark  of  Atherosperma  moschala.  Stringy  Bark 
of  Tasmania,  Eucalyptus  gigantea.  Sweet  Wood 
Bark,  the  same  as  Cascarilla  Bark.  Nine 
Bark,  an  American  name  for  Spiraea  opxdifolia. 
White  Wood  Bark,  the  same  as  Canella  Bark. 
Winter's  Bark,   the   tonic  aromatic   bark  of 


BAR 

Drymis  Winteri.  Worm  Bark,  the  bark  of 
Andira  inermis,  formerly  used  as  an  anthel- 
mintic. There  are  other  barks,  but  these  are 
the  principal  ones  having  a  commercial  or 
medicinal  value. 

Barke'ria.  After  the  late  Mr.  Barker,  of  Bir- 
mingham, Eng.,  an  ardent  cultivator  of 
Orchids.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacem. 

A  small  genus  of  very  beautiful  epiphytal 
Orchids,  natives  of  Mexico  and  Central 
America.  They  closely  i-esemble  the  well- 
known  genus  Epi(.lendrum.  B.  spectabilia, 
called  in  Guatemala,  Flor  de  Isabel,  is  the 
finest  species.  It  is  one  of  the  votive  olTer- 
ings  of  the  Catholics  in  that  country.  The 
plants  should  be  grown  in  baskets  of  moss 
in  a  warm  house.  Tiiey  are  iucreaseil  by 
division.     Introduced  in  1843. 

Barle'ria.  After  the  Rev.  J.  Barrelier,  of  Paris. 
Nat.  Ord.  Acanthuceae. 

A  large  genus  of  herbs  and  shrubs,  natives 
of  the  tropical  regions  of  both  the  Oki  and 
the  New  Worlds.  The  flowers  are  purple, 
yellow,  orange,  or  white,  produced  in  axillary 
or  terminal  spikes  or  heads.  But  few  of  the 
species  have  been  introduced  into  the  garden 
or  green-house.  B.  cristata,  a  native  of  the 
East  Indies,  is  a  pretty  little  hot-house  ever- 
green plant,  bearing  its  purplish-lilac  flowers 
in  great  profusion  in  summer,  making  it  a 
desirable  border  plant.  It  is  propagated  by 
cuttings.     Introduced  in  179G. 

Barley.  The  common  name  for  Hordeum  vul- 
gare,  which  see . 

Barna'rdia.  Name  in  honor  of  E.  Barnard, 
F.  L.  8.     Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  half-hardy  bulbs  from 
China  and  Japan.  The  flowers  are  pale  blue, 
similar  to  the  Scilla,  and  from  the  resemblance 
the  finest  species  has  been  called  B.  scilUoides. 
They  require  to  be  grown  in  a  frame.  Pro- 
pagated by  offsets.     Introduced  in  1819. 

Barnyard  Grass.  The  common  name  for  Pani- 
cum  Crus-galii. 

Baro'sma.  From  barys,  heavy,  and  osme,  odor ; 
referring  to  the  powerful  scent  of  the  leaves. 
Nat.  Ord.  Rutacece. 

A  genus  of  evergreen,  green-house  shrubs, 
natives  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  where  the 
leaves  are  used  by  the  Hottentots  to  perfume 
themselves  with.  The  Bucku  leaves  of  com- 
merce, which  are  much  used  in  medicine  as  a 
stimulant  and  tonic,  are  produced  from  sev- 
eral of  the  species. 

Barren  Flo-wers.  The  staminate,  or  male 
flowers  of  many  plants,  are  popularly  known 
as  Barren  flowers,  and  are  generally  produced, 
as  in  the  ca,se  of  cucumbers,  melons,  etc.,  by 
monoecious  plants,  that  is,  those  having  male 
and  female  organs  in  different  flowers,  but  on 
the  same  plant.  A  good  example  of  Barren 
flowers  is  seen  in  the  ray-florets  of  many  com- 
posite plants,  such  as  the  Thistle  or  Aster, 
which  are  frequently  really  neuter,  having 
neith(>r  male  nor  female  organs. 

Barringto'nia.  Named  after  the  Hon.  Dainea 
Barrington.     Nat.  Ord.  MyrtaceoR. 

This  genus  consists  of  tropical  evergreen 
trees,  some  of  which  are  of  large  dimensions. 
They  are  found  in  many  parts  of  India,  but  in 
the  greatest  numbers  in  the  Malayan  penin- 
sula and  the  islands  of  the  India  Ocean  ;  two 
species  are  found  in  N.  Australia,  and  one  on 


44 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


BAR 

the  banks  of  the  Zambesi  River,  in  East 
Africa.  Without  exception  they  are  beautiful 
objects  when  in  flower. 

B.  speciosa,  a  native  of  the  Moluccas,  and 
one  of  the  handsomest  of  the  genus,  attains  a 
height  of  fifty  feet,  with  a  circumference  of 
from  ten  to  fifteen  feet ;  it  is  genei-ally  found 
near  the  sea.  From  its  seeds  a  lamp-oil  is 
expressed  ;  mixed  with  bait  they  are  used  to 
inebriate  fish  in  order  to  facilitate  their  cap- 
ture. The  roots,  bark,  and  seeds  of  the  sev- 
eral species  are  much  used  in  medicine  by  the 
native  practitioners.    Syn.  Stravadium. 

Barringto'nia'ceae.  A  small  order,  now  placed 
as  a  tribe  of  Myrtacece. 

Barto'nia.  Named  after  Dr.  Barton,  one  of  our 
distinguished  botanists.  Nat.  Ord.  Loasacece. 
B.  aurea,  a  native  of  California,  is  a  splendid 
annual,  with  golden  yellow  flowers,  which 
have  quite  a  metallic  luster  when  the  sun 
shines  upon  them.  The  seed-pod  is  curiously 
twisted.  Like  all  the  California  annuals,  it 
is  very  apt  to  die  off  if  the  roots  become  at  all 
withered  by  drought,  or  if  the  collar  of  the 
plant  be  exposed  to  the  full  heat  of  the  sun  ; 
and  thus  it  does  best  when  grown  in  masses, 
so  that  the  ground  may  be  quite  covered 
with  its  leaves.  It  succeeds  best  in  a  moist 
situation.      Introduced  in  1834. 

Barvrood.     Baphia  nitida. 

Basal.  Situated  at  the  base  of  anything,  or  at- 
tached to  the  base  of  any  organ  or  part. 

Base'lla.  Malabar  Nightshade.  Its  Malabar 
name.     Nat.  Ord.  ChenopodiacecB. 

A  genus  of  climbing  plants,  mostly  biennial. 
B  alba  and  B.  cordifoUa  are  grown  in  the  East 
Indies  as  pot-herbs,  and  are  used  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  Spinach.  Some  of  them  are  also 
grown  in  France,  to  furnish  the  Paris  market 
with  summer  Spinach,  and  they  are  grown  for 
the  same  purpose  in  China.  B.  niJbra,  a  va- 
riety of  B.  cordifoUa,  yields  a  rich  purple  dye. 
Some  of  the  species  have  tuberous  roots. 
B.  alba  is  suitable  for  a  suspended  pot  or 
basket,  being  quite  pretty  when  in  bloom.  B. 
ludda,  when  in  fruit,  is  a  very  interesting 
plant.     Propagated  by  division  and  by  seed. 

BaseUa'ceae.  A  series  of  usually  herbaceous 
climbers,  and  considered  a  tribe  of  Chenopo- 
diacecB. 

Basil,  Sweet.     Ocimum  Basilicum.     Which  see. 

Basil,  "Wild.     The  genus  Pycnanthemum. 

Basil  Thyme.  Common  name  for  Calamintha 
Acinofi. 

Ba'ssia.  Butter  Tree.  Named  after  M.  Bassi, 
Curator  of  the  Botanic  Garden  at  Boulogne. 
Nat.  Ord.  Sapoiacece. 

Tall  trees,  natives  of  the  hottest  parts  of 
the  East  Indies  and  Africa ;  the  leaves  are  al- 
ternate, produced  in  terminal  tufts.  The 
trees  are  of  considerable  importnnce  in  their 
native  countries.  B.  bulryacea  yields  a  thick, 
oil-like  butter  from  its  fruit.  It  makes  good 
soap,  and  is  adapted  for  burning.  From  the 
juice  of  the  flowers  a  kind  of  sugar  is  pre- 
pared. The  flowers  of  B.  lafifoUa,  the  Mah- 
wah  Tree,  are  used  as  an  article  of  food  in 
India,  and  when  dried  keep  good  a  long  time. 

.  A  good  sized  tree  will  continue  to  shed  its 
blossoms  for  fifteen  days,  at  the  rate  of  one 
hundred  pounds  per  day,  which  weight  is 
reduced  one-half  in  the   process  of  drying. 


BAU 

A  maund  (eighty  pounds)  of  dried  Mahwah 
will  furnish  a  fortnight's  food  to  a  family  of 
two  parents  and  three  childx'en.  It  is  gener- 
ally eaten  with  the  seeds  of  the  Sal  Tree 
{Shorea  robusta) ;  a  small  quantity  of  rice 
being  sometimes  added.  The  fruit  of  the 
Illupie  Ti-ee,  B.  longifolia,  yields  oil  for  lamps 
and  various  other  purposes ;  it  is  also  used 
for  food.  B.  Parkii  is  the  Shea  Tree,  or  But- 
ter Tree,  mentioned  by  Mungo  Park  in  his 
travels.  Some  of  the  species  furnish  a  very 
valuable  timber  for  the  mechanic  arts. 

Basswood  or  WMtewood.     Tilia  Americana. 

Bast.  A  strong  woody  fibre,  much  used  in 
some  places  for  making  brooms,  brushes,  etc., 
obtained  from  the  leaf  stalks  of  Attulea 
funifera  and  of  Leopoldlnia  Piassaba.  Also 
the  inner  bark  of  the  Lime  Tree,  of  which  the 
Russian  mats  used  in  gardens  are  made. 
Cuba  Bast  is  the  fibrous  inner  bark  of  Paritium 
elatum,  much  used  for  tying  up  cigars,  and  by 
gardeners  for  tying  up  plants,  etc.,  as  is  also 
the  bast  of  the  Lime  Tree.  Raphia,  however, 
is  now  fast  superseding  these  materials 
among  gardeners  for  tying  purposes.  See 
Raphia. 

Bastard,  or  False  Acacia.  Robinia  Pseudo- 
acacia. 

Bastard  Pennyroyal.  See  Trichostema  dichoto- 
mum. 

Bata'tas.  Its  Indian  name.  Nat.  Ord.  Convol- 
vulacecB. 

A  somewhat  extensive  genus  of  tubei'ous- 
rooted  climbing  plants,  tender  or  half-hardy. 
Some  of  the  species  are  handsome  green- 
house climbers,  with  large,  purple,  showy 
flowers.  As  the  flowers  fade  quickly  and 
have  no  commercial  value,  the  species  are 
rarely  cultivated.  The  most  interesting 
species  is  B.  edulis,  the  well-known  Sweet 
Potato,  for  description  of  which  see  Potato. 
The  several  species  ai-e  natives  of  Mexico, 
South  America  and  the  East  Indies. 

Batema'nnia.  In  compliment  to  James  Bate- 
man,  a  celebrated  English  collector  and  culti- 
vator of  Orchids,  and  author  of  the  "  Orchid- 
aceee  of  Mexico  and  Guatemala."  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids,  most 
of  which  liave  small,  inconspicuous  flowers. 
Batemannia  Burlii  is  a  very  rare  and  showy 
plant,  from  Costa  Rica,  with  flowers  three 
inches  in  diameter,  of  a  reddish  brown,  with 
yellow  spots,  lip  white  and  dark  purple. 
They  require  to  be  grown  in  a  house  with 
moderate  heat,  and  to  be  watered  with  great 
caution.     Introduced  in  1872. 

Baue'ra.  Named  after  two  brothers,  German 
botanical  draughtsmen.  Nat.  Ord.  Saxifra- 
gacece. 

A  genus  of  small  green-house  shrubs, 
natives  of  New  Zealand  and  Australia. 
Their  pale  red  or  pink  flowers  are  produced 
in  the  axils  of  the  leaves  in  great  profusion. 
They  form  very  neat,  pretty  green-house  ever- 
green plants,  flowering  nearly  the  whole  year 
through.     Easily  increased  by  cuttings. 

Bauhi'nia.  Named  after  the  brothers  John  and 
Casjjer  Bauhin,  botanists  in  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury.    Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosoe. 

The  numerous  species  that  compose  this 
genus  are  extensively  diffused  throughout  the 


BESSEHA  ELEOANS. 


BELLIS  (double  DAISY). 


BABBACENIA. 


BEGOKIA   COnALLINA. 


44 


BEGONIA  AEGYEOSTTGMA. 


BEGONIA   (bINGLE  TUBEUULbi 


BEGONIA  DIADEMATA. 


BEGONIA  METAT.T.TCA. 


BEGONIA  BEX  VAB. 


45 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTUKE. 


45 


BAY 

tropics,  particularly  in  Brazil  and  India. 
They  are  generally  climbers,  frequently  at- 
taining a  gigantic  si'M" ;  some  few,  however, 
form  trees,  or  large  shrubs.  B.  tomenlosa  is  a 
native  of  Ceylon,  where  it  forms  a  small  tree, 
growing  about  fifteen  feet  liigh,  and  having 
pale,  yellow  flowers,  spotted  with  crimson, 
which  has  given  rise  to  the  superstitious  idea 
that  they  were  sprinkled  with  the  blood  of  St. 
Thomas,  hence  the  tree  is  called  St.  Thomas' 
Tree.  B.  V'aWii  is  the  Maloo  climber  of  India, 
a  plant  whose  gigantic  shrubby  stems  often 
attain  a  length  of  300  feet,  and  climb  over  the 
toj)s  of  tiie  highest  trees  in  the  forest,  twist- 
ing so  tightly  round  their  stems  that  they 
not  unfrequently  strangle  and  cause  death, 
the  stems  ultimately  decaying  and  leaving  a 
sheath  of  climbers  standing  in  their  place. 
The  young  shoots  and  leaves  are  covered  with 
a  rust-colored  scurf,  and  are  furnished  with 
tendrils.  The  leaves  are  very  large,  often 
more  than  a  foot  in  diameter,  composed  of 
two  oval-shaped  lobes  joined  together  for 
about  half  their  length,  and  heart-shaped  at 
the  base.  The  flowers  are  snowy-white,  and 
arranged  in  racemes.  The  exceeding  tough 
fibrous  bark  of  this  species  is  employed  in 
India  for  making  ropes,  which,  from  their 
great  strength,  are  used  in  the  construction  of 
the  suspension  bridges  across  the  Eiver 
Jumna.  The  bark  of  another  Indian  species 
is  used  for  making  the  slow-matches  used 
with  native  guns. 

Bay -berry.     See  Myrica  cerifera. 

Bay  Oak.     Quercus  sessiliflora. 

Bay  Rose.     Epilohium  angustifolium. 

Bay  Tree.     Magnolia  glauca. 

Bay  Tree.  Poison,     lllicum  Floridanum. 

Bay  Tree.  Rose.     Nerium  Oleander. 

Bay  Tree.   Sweet.     Lauriis  nobilis. 

Beach  Grass.     See  Ammophila. 

Beach  Pea.  The  common  name  of  Lathyrus 
maritimus,  a  species  growing  plentifully  in 
New  Jersey  and  northward. 

Bead  Tree.    See  Ormosia. 

Bean.  Phaseolus.  The  varieties  of  our  com- 
mon Garden  or  Bush  Bean  luive  their  origin 
in  P.  vulgaris,  which  is  supposed  to  be  a  native 
of  the  East  Indies,  though  there  ai-e  none  of 
the  species  found  wild  that  in  anyway  resem- 
bles the  varieties  under  cultivation.  The 
earliest  notice  that  we  have  of  the  Kidney 
Bean  is  that  given  by  Pliny,  who  calls  them 
Phaseoli,  and  says  the  pod  is  to  be  eaten  with 
the  seed.  •'According  to  Diodorus  Siculus, 
the  Egj'ptians  were  the  first  to  cultivate  it, 
and  to  make  it  an  article  of  common  diet,  yet 
they  conceived  religious  notions  concerning 
it  which  made  them  at  length  refrain  from 
eating  it.  Their  priests  dared  not  either 
touch  it  or  look  at  it.  Pythagoras,  who  was 
educated  among  the  Egyptians,  derived  from 
them  theirveneration  for  the  bean,  and  forbade 
his  disciples  to  eat  it.  He  taught  that  it  was 
created  at  the  same  time  and  of  the  same 
elements  as  man ;  that  it  was  animated  and 
had  a  soul,  which,  like  a  human  soul,  suffered 
the  vicissitudes  of  transmigration.  Aristotle 
explains  the  prohibition  of  Pythagoras  sym- 
bolically. He  says,  that  beans  being  the 
ordinary  means  of  voting  on  public  matters, 
the  white  bean  meaning  an  affirmative,  and 


BEA 

the  black  a  negative,  therefore  Pythagoras 
meant  to  forbid  his  disciples  to  meddle  with 
political  government.  The  Itoman  priests 
affirmed  that  the  bean  blossom  contained  in- 
fernal letters,  referring  to  the  dark  stains  on 
the  wings,  and  it  is  probable  that  all  the 
superstitions  on  the  subject  sprang  from  the 
fruit." — Am.  Ency.  This  species  was  first 
cultivated  in  England  in  liiOd,  having  betm  in- 
troduced from  the  Netherlands.  Many  varie- 
ties were  known  to  Gerarde  in  1590.  The 
running  or  Pole  Beans  are  of  the  species  P. 
inultijlorus,  introduced  from  South  America  in 
1663.  (See  Phaseolus.)  The  English  Bean, 
so  called  by  our  seedsmen,  and  commonly 
known  as  Broad  Windsor,  is  Faba  vulgaris  var. 
macrosperma,  a  genus  that  has  been  under 
cultivation  as  long  as  we  have  any  records  of 
gardening.  It  is  supposed  to  have  originated 
in  Egypt,  from  the  fact  that  the  early  Greek 
Avriters  mention  receiving  it  thence.  Of  this 
class  there  are  many  varieties,  none  of  which 
succeed  well  with  us. 

Bean.  The  common  name  for  Fabn.  Bog 
Bean,  the  Buckbean,  Menyanthes  trifoliata. 
Cujumary  Bean,  the  tonic  seed  of  Aydendron 
Cujumary.  Egyptian  or  Pythagorean  Bean, 
the  fruit  of  Nelumbium  .<ipeciosum.  French  or 
Bush  Bean,  Phaseolus  vulgaris.  Haricot  Bean, 
the  seed  of  Phaseohos  vulgaris.  Honey  Bean, 
the  seed-pods  of  Gleditschia  triacanthos.  In- 
dian Bean,  an  American  name  for  Calalpa. 
Kidney  Bean,  the  common  name  for  Phaseolus, 
especially  for  those  kinds  cultivated  as  escu- 
lents. Lima  Bean,  the  popular  name  for 
Phaseolus  lunatus,  of  which  the  Sieva  or 
Southern  Lima  and  its  dwarf  variety  Hender- 
son's Bush  Lima  Bean  are  evidently  varieties. 
Locust  Bean,  the  pod  of  Ceratonia  siliqua. 
Molucca  Bean,  the  s<^ed  of  Guilandina  Bondu- 
cella.  Ordeal  Bean  of  Old  Calabar,  the  seeds 
of  Physostigma  ve.nenatum.  Ox-eye  B(!an,  the 
seed  of  Mucuna  urens.  Pichurim  Bean,  a  com- 
mercial name  for  the  cotyledons  of  Nectandra 
Puchury.  Sacred  Bean,  tiie  common  name  for 
Nelumbium.  Sahuca  Bean,  the  seeds  of  Sqja 
hispida.  St.  Ignatius's  Bean,  the  seed  of 
Slrychnos  mulliflora;  also  a  Brazilian  name  for 
the  seeds  of  Fevilleoy  cordifolia.  Scarlet  Run- 
ner Bean,  the  seed  of  Phaseolus  viulliflorus. 
Smoking  Bean,  the  seed-pods  of  Catalpa  big- 
nonioides.  Tonga  or  Tonquin  Bean,  the  seed  of 
Dipterix  odorata.  Underground  Bean,  Arachui 
hypogma,  commonly  called  Pea-nuts.  Water 
Bean,  an  English  name  for  the  family  of 
Nehimbiacece.  Wild  Bean,  a  common  name 
for  Apios.  Algaroba  Bean  is  Ceratonia  sili- 
qua. Asparagus  Bean,  or  Yard  Long,  Dolichos 
sesqtdpedalis.  HibbertBean,  Phaseolus  lunatus 
(same  as  Lima  Bean).  Horse  or  Field  Bean, 
Faba  vulgaris  var.  equina.  Horse-eye  Bean, 
Mucuna  urens.  Inga  Bean,  the  pod  of  the 
Bastard  Cassia.  Malacca  Bean  is  the  seed 
of  Semecarpus  anacardium.  Mesquit  Bean, 
the  seed  of  Prosopis  glandulosa.  Pigeon 
Bean  is  the  small-seeded  field  Bean.  Rani's 
Horn  Bean  is  Dolichos  bicontorlis.  Red 
Bean  is  Vigna  unguiculata.  Sea  Bean,  Florida 
Bean,  a  common  name  for  the  seed  of  Entada 
scandens  and  of  Ormosia  dasycarpa.  Seaside 
Bean  is  Canax'alia  obtustfolia  and  Vigna 
luteola.  Sugar  Bean,  Phaseolus  saccharatvs 
and  P.  lunatus.  Sword  Bean  is  Entada  scan- 
dens  and  Canavalia  gladiata.    Tick  Bean  is  the 


46 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


BEA 

common  field  Beo,n,  Faba  vulgaris.  Tree  Bean 
of  Australia  is  Bauhinia  Hookerii.  Yam  Bean 
is  Dolichoa  tuberosum.  Year  Bean  is  Phaseolus 
vulgaris.   Vanilla  Bean  is  Vanilla  planifolia,  etc. 

Bearberry.     See  Arctostaphylos. 
Californian.     Rhamnus  Purshianus. 

Beard  Grass.     See  Andropogon  and  Polypogon. 

Beard-tongue.  A  popular  name  of  the  genus 
Pentstemon. 

Bear  Grass.     See  Yucca. 

Bear's  Foot.  Helleborus  fc^tidus,  H.  viridis,  H. 
niger,  Aconitum  napelhts  and  Alchemilla  vul- 
garis. 

Beato'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Donald  Beaton,  a 
celebrated  Scotch  gardener  and  writer.  Nat. 
Ord.  IridacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  Mexican  bulbs,  allied  to 
the  Tigridia,  and  requiring  the  same  treat- 
ment. Flowers  purple,  growing  in  pairs  or 
singly  on  a  stem  about  a  foot  high.  Intro- 
duced in  1841.     Propagated  by  offsets. 

Beauca'rnea.  A  commemorative  name.  Nat. 
Ord.  Liliacecn. 

A  name  given  to  a  genus  of  Agave-like  lili- 
aceous plants,  formerly  described  under  the 
name  Pincenectitia.  The  few  known  species 
are  Mexican  plants,  with  arborescent  stems, 
remarkable  for  the  large  bulbiform  swelling 
■which,  from  the  earliest  stages  of  its  growth, 
forms  at  its  base ;  these  support  a  spreading 
terminal  crown  of  long  narrow  leaves.  B.  re- 
curvata,  is  a  noble  conservatory  plant  when  it 
has  formed  a  large  stem  and  full  head  of  leaves ; 
its  flowers  from  4,000  to  5,000  in  number,  are 
white,  small,  and  fragrant,  borne  in  a  large 
terminal  panicle,  three  or  more  feet  in  height. 
Beaucarneas  are  grown  principally  for  the 
beauty  of  their  foliage  and  are  grotesque, 
gi-aceful,  and  extremely  curious  in  habit  and 
form.  They  are  also  excellent  subjects  for 
sub-tropical  or  lawn  decoration  in  summer. 
Propagated  chiefly  by  imported  seeds. 

Beaufo'rtia.  Named  after  Mary,  Duchess  of 
Beaufort.     Nat.  Ord.  Myrtacem. 

A  small  genus  of  very  desirable  green-house 
plants  from  New  Holland.  They  should  be 
grown  in  loam  and  sand  in  about  equal 
quantities,  and  in  a  cool  part  of  the  green- 
house will  flower  splendidly.  The  flowers  are 
scarlet,  i)ink,  or  red.  Propagated  by  cuttings 
of  the  half-ripened  wood. 

Beaumo'ntia.  Named  after  Mrs.  Beaumont,  of 
Bretton  Hall,  Eiig.     Nat.  Ord.  Apocynacece. 

This  gonus  of  green-house  twiners  has  but 
few  species,  all  natives  of  the  East  Indies.  B. 
grandiflora  is  remarkable  for  its  handsome 
flowers  which  are  pure  white,  borne  in  ter- 
minal or  axillary  corymbs.  The  plant  is  diffi- 
cult of  propagation,  which  is  effected  by 
cuttings.  Great  age  is  required  to  bring  it 
into  flower.  When  a  large  plant  is  obtained 
and  grown  imder  favorable  circumstances,  it 
has  but  few  rivals.     Introduced  in  1820. 

Beaver  Poison.  A  common  name  applied  to 
Ciciita  macidata. 

Beaver  Tree  or  Beaver  "Wood.  Magnolia 
glauca. 

Bedding.  This  term  is  used  by  florists,  mostly 
when  plants  are  set  out  in  what  is  known  as 
the  "Carpet,"  "Ribbon  Line,"  or  "Massing 
in  Color"  style  of  decorative  planting.     The 


BEG 

"Carpet  Style  "  is  that  produced  by  planting 
low-growing  plants  of  different  colors  and 
forms  of  leaves,  to  form  carpet-like  pat- 
terns. They  must  be  such  plants  as  present 
a  smooth,  well  defined  color,  and  not  exceed- 
ing three  or  four  inches  in  height.  To  pro- 
duce the  proper  effect  by  this  style  of  planting 
the  plants  must  be  set  close  enough  to  form  a 
mass,  covering  the  soil  completely  up,  or  the 
effect  will  not  be  so  good.  Bedding  in  "ribbon 
lines  "  is  usually  done  along  margins  of  drives 
or  walks,  in  widths  from  one  to  ten  feet,  as 
desired,  the  plants  used  being  such  as  to  give 
the  most  pleasing  conti'ast  in  color.  The 
plants  usually  selected  are  such  as  will  either 
form  a  slope  to  the  walk  by  planting  the 
highest  at  the  back  with  the  lowest  growing 
in  front,  or  else,  if  the  line  is  a  wide  one,  such 
as,  by  placing  the  highest  plants  in  the  center 
and  the  others  on  each  side,  will  slope  to  each 
side  of  the  line.  But  to  keep  the  lines  of  color 
well  defined  and  smooth,  the  plants  must  be 
carefully  pinched  back,  so  as  to  keep  each  line 
to  its  proper  height.  Bedding  by  "massing 
in  color "  is  on  the  same  principle,  only  that, 
instead  of  the  plants  being  planted  in  lines, 
they  are  set  in  contrasting  masses  of  different 
colors,  in  any  number  of  shades  desired, 
though  the  eftect  is  most  marked  when  but 
few  colors  are  used  in  one  bed.  Large  beds 
are  often  formed  of  one  color,  such  as  scarlet, 
maroon,  blue,  pink,  or  yellow,  which,  seen  at 
a  distance,  in  contrast  Avith  the  green  of  the 
lawn,  is  by  many  more  admired  than  when  the 
colors  are  placed  together. 

Bed  Stra-w.  One  of  the  common  names  of  the 
genus  Galium. 

Bee  Balm.     Mellissa  officinalis. 

Bee  Flower,  or  Bee  Orchis.     Ophrys  Apifera. 

Bee  Larkspur.     Delphinium  grandiflorum. 

Beech.     American.     See  Fagus  ferruginea. 
Blue.     Carpinus  Americana. 
Common,    See  Fagus  sylvatica. 

Beech-drops  or  Cancer  Root.  A  common  name 
of  Epiphegus  Virginica,  a  parasite  that  grows 
on  the  roots  of  Beech  trees. 

Beech  Fern.     Polypodium  Phegopteris. 

Beech  Horn,  or  Horst.     Carpinus  Betulus. 

Beef  Steak  Plant.  Saxifraga  Sarmentosa,  and 
Begonia  Evansiana. 

BeefWood.     The  genus  Casuarina. 

Beet,  Chard,  Sea-Kale,  or  Spinach.  Beta 
Braziliense,  and  B.  Cicla. 

Beet.     Red.     Beta  vulgaris,  which  see. 

Befa'ria.  In  memory  of  M.  Bejar,  a  Spanish 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Ericacem. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  shrubs, 
found  in  the  Alpine  districts  of  Peru  and 
Mexico.  They  are  mostly,  extremely  beauti- 
ful plants,  and  grow  at  a  great  height  in  the 
mountainous  districts,  often  at  the  very 
extreme  of  vegetation.  The  genus  is  nearly 
related  to  Rhododendron;  it  is  rarely  culti- 
vated.    Syn.  Bejaria. 

Beggar's  Lice.  A  common  name  of  Cynoglossum 
Morisoni. 

Beggar's  Ticks.  The  common  name  of  a  vei-y 
disagreeable  weed,  Bidens  chrysanthemoides. 
It  has  received  this  distinctive  name  because 
the  fruit  adheres  to  anything  with  which  it 
comes  in  contact. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


47 


BEG 

Bego'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  M.  Begon,  a 
French  patron  of  botany.  Nat.  Ord.  Bego- 
niacece. 

All  the  species  of  Begonia  are  interesting 
and  beautiful  winter  ornaments  of  the  hot- 
house or  green-house,  of  the  simplest  culture 
in  any  rich  soil  if  allowed  an  abundant  supply 
of  water.  Cuttings  may  be  struck  without 
trouble.  B.  Rex,  the  tj'pe  of  the  large-leaved 
sorts,  and  the  most  ornamental  of  the  species, 
is  best  propagated  by  cutting  the  leaves  in 
sections,  eacli  being  so  cut  as  to  form  a  junc- 
tion of  the  ribs  at  the  lower  end  of  the  cutting. 
These  should  be  laid  in  a  damp,  warm  place, 
or  on  the  propagating  bench  with  good  bottom 
heat ;  or  a  leaf,  or  a  portion  of  one,  may  be 
laid  flat  in  any  shady  place  in  the  house. 
Within  the  last  twenty-five  years  a  new  race 
of  tuberous-rooted  sorts  has  been  introduced 
from  the  South  American  Andes,  of  which 
B.  rosmflora,  B.  Veitckii,  B.  octopetala  and  B. 
Bolivknsis  are  typical  species,  from  which,  bj' 
cross-fertilization  and  selection  a  large  num- 
ber of  beautiful  and  almost  hardy  kinds  have 
been  raised.  This  is  shown  in  the  size,  sub- 
stance, and  rich  colors  of  the  flowers  of  the 
majority  of  the  plants  of  this  race.  They  are 
equally  valuable  for  the  green-house  or  for 
out-door  decoration  in  summer.  The  tubers 
should  be  kept  warm  and  dry  during  the 
winter,  from  November  to  April,  when  they 
may  be  started  into  growth. 

Bego'nia'ceae.  A  natural  order,  comprising  a 
large  number  of  useful  and  ornamental  garden 
plants.  The  only  genera  are  Begonia  and 
Begoniella.  The  species  are  common  in  the 
East  and  West  Indies,  and  South  America, 
and  a  few  are  found  in  Madagascar,  and  South 
Africa.  They  are  said  to  possess  bitter  and 
astringent  qualities. 

BeUado'nna.     See  Atropa  Belladonna. 

Bellado'nna  Lily.  A  common  name  for  Ama- 
ryllis Belladonna. 

Belleva'lia.  In  memory  of  P.  R.  BeUeval,  a 
French  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecE. 

A  small  genus  of  bulbous  plants  found  in 
the  Mediterranean  region  and  in  temperate 
Asia.  They  are  perfectly  hardy,  growing 
freely  under  the  same  conditions  in  which  the 
Grape  Hj^acinth,  Muscari,  is  grown,  and  the 
finer  species  of  which  they  closely  resemble. 
Introduced  in  1844. 

Bell-flower.    See  Campanula. 

Be'llis.  The  Daisy.  From  hellu.^,  pretty;  re- 
ferring to  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  ComposUce. 
Well-kno^NTi  perennials,  of  which  B.perennis, 
the  common  Daisy,  has  been  in  cultivation  in 
the  British  and  Continental  gardens  from  time 
immemorial.  The  most  beautiful  varieties 
are  the  large  double,  the  large  quilled,  and 
the  Hen-and-Chickens;  but  there  are  many 
others.  In  Germany  numerous  curious  varie- 
ties have  been  raised  by  saving  the  seed  of 
the  handsomest  kinds.  Each  sort  is  much 
improved  by  being  taken  up,  divided,  and  re- 
planted every  autumn.  They  are  all  admira- 
ble plants  for  making  edgings  to  borders,  and 
they  are  well  suited  for  growing  in  pots, 
though  at  present  they  are  almost  neglected. 
They  thrive  best  in  a  loamy  soil,  richly  man- 
ured, which  should  be  dug  over  and  well 
broken  before  planting,  and  they  will  bear 
transplanting  even  when  in  flower,  provided 


BER 

they  are  taken  up  with  a  portion  of  soil  at- 
tached. These  pretty  plants  are  seldom  seen 
in  our  gardens  in  as  great  abundance  as  they 
deserve  to  be,  which  is  owing,  no  doubt,  to 
their  being  very  impatient  of  our  hot  sum- 
mers. They  should  therefore  be  grown  in  a 
shady  and  rather  cool  border. 

Be'llium.  A  genus  of  pretty  dwarf  free-flower- 
ing plants,  nearlj'  related  to  the  common 
Daisy,  Bellis  perennis,  and  requiring  similar 
treatment.  Excellent  plants  for  rockwork  or 
a  similar  situation. 

Bell  Pepper.    See  Capsicum. 

Bellwort.     See   Utricularia  grandi&ora. 

Bellworts.  The  English  popular  name  for  the 
Nat.  Ord.  CampanulacecR. 

Belope'rone.  A  considerable  genus  of  Acan- 
thacece,  from  Tropical  America,  containing 
many  species  of  beautiful  shrubs  with  large 
purple  or  blue  flowers  borne  on  terminal 
spikes ;  nearly  allied  to  Justicia,  and  requiring 
the  same  treatment. 

Bene.    See  Sesamum. 

Bengal  Qiiince.    See  ^gle. 

Benjamin  Bush.  A  popular  name  of  Lindera 
Benzoin,  which  is  also  called  Spice  Bush. 

Bent  Grass.    See  Agrostis. 

Bentha'mia.  Named  after  Mr.  Bentham,  a  dis- 
tinguished English  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Cor- 
nacecB, 

A  small  genus  of  half-hardy  evergreen 
shrubs,  natives  of  northern  India.  The  fruit 
makes  it  a  conspicuous  plant  forthe  lawn.  It 
is  of  a  yellowish  white  color,  about  the  size  of  a 
Raspberry,  but  not  edible.  B.  Japonica,  very 
much  resembles  the  flowering  Dogwood, 
blooming  two  months  later  in  tlie  season. 
Propagated  from  seeds  or  by  cuttings. 

Benzoin.  A  genus  of  native  shrubs  now  known 
as  Lindera,  which  see. 

Berberida'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  shrubs  or 
hardy  perennials,  with  terminal  or  axillary 
flowers,  usually  racemose,  with  alternate, 
compound  leaves.  These  plants  are  found  in 
South  America  as  far  as  the  Straits  of  Magel- 
lan, and  in  the  mountainous  parts  of  the 
northern  hemisphere.  They  are  common  in 
the  northern  provinces  of  India,  but  none  are 
found  in  Africa,  Australia,  or  the  South  Sea 
Islands.  The  fruit  of  some  of  the  species  is 
used  as  a  presei-^-e,  and  is  sometimes  eaten  in 
a  fresh  or  dried  state.  They  possess  acid, 
bitter,  and  astringent  qualities,  and  oxalic 
acid  occurs  in  some.  The  stem  and  bark  of 
several  species  are  used  in  dyeing  yellow. 
The  astringent  substance  called  Lycium  by 
Dioscorides  is  supposed  to  be  furnished  by 
the  root  of  various  species  of  Berberry,  and  a 
similar  preparation  is  much  used  in  India  as 
a  febrifuge.  The  pinnate-leaved  Berberries 
form  the  sub-genus  Mahonia.  The  order  con- 
tains twelve  genera  and  a  hundred  and  ten 
species,  among  which  are  Berberis,  Leontice, 
Epimedium,  Nandina,  Jeffersonia,  etc. 

Berberido'psis.  From  Berberis,  and  opis,  like ; 
resembling  the  Barberry.  Nat.  Ord.  Berberi- 
dacexz. 

A  small  genus  of  half-hardy  evergreen 
shrubs,  natives  of  Chili.  B.  corallina  is  a 
handsome  shrub  of  sub-scandent  habit,  thick, 


48 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


BEE 

Icatliory  leaves,  and  drooping,  many- flowered 
racemes  of  long-stalked,  crimson-scarlet 
flowers.  This  species  is  perfectly  hardy 
south  of  Washington,  and  is  a  shrub  of  re- 
markable beauty.  Propagated  by  cuttings 
or  from  seed.     Introduced  in  18G2. 

Be'rberis.  The  Barberry.  From  berberys,  its 
Arabian  name.     Nat.  Ord.  Berberidacece. 

There  are  several  varieties  of  the  common 
Barberry,  all  of  which  are  ornamental  shrubs, 
easily  propagated  by  cuttings  or  layers,  and 
well  adapted  for  a  large  lawn,  especially  the 
purple-leaved  variety.  They  thrive  best  in 
rather  a  light,  sandy  soil.  The  fruit  is  acid 
and  highly  esteemed  for  preserving,  and  for 
this  purpose  the  seedless  variety,  B.  vulgarvi 
asiierina,  is  mostly  preferred.  This  variety  is 
a  native  of  Europe.  B.  Darivinii,  introduced 
from  Chili  in  1849,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
of  the  genus.  It  forms  a  densely  spreading 
bush  with  very  immerous  racemes  of  bright 
oi'ange  colored  flowers. 

Berche'mia.  Named  after  M.  Berchem,  a  French 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Rhamnacem. 

B.  volubilis  is  a  common  climbing  shrub  in 
the  swamps  of  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas, 
where  it  is  popularly  known  as  Supple-Jack, 
because  of  its  lithe,  tough  stems.  In  foreign 
countries  it  is  cultivated  as  an  ornamental 
climber,  but  in  dry  soils  it  rarely  grows  more 
than  eiglit  or  ten  feet  in  height. 

Berkhey'a.     See  Stobaia. 

Bergamot      A  common  name  for  Mentha  citrata. 
American  Wild.     Monardafistulosa. 
Medicinal.     Citrus  Bergamia  var.  vulgaris. 

Bermuda  Grass.     See  Cynodon  Dactylon. 

Bermuda  Lily.     See  Lilium  Harrisii. 

Bertholle'tia.  Brazil  Nut.  Named  after  L.  C. 
Berthollet,  a  distinguished  chemist.  Nat.  Ord. 
MyrtacecB. 

B.  excelsa,  the  tree  that  bears  the  Brazil  Nuts 
of  commerce,  is  the  only  species  of  this  genus, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  majestic  trees  in 
the  Brazilian  forests.  It  often  attains  a  height 
of  150  feet,  and  has  a  diameter  of  from  three 
to  four  feet  at  the  base.  It  is  found  in  the 
greatest  abundance  in  the  forests  on  the 
banks  of  the  Amazon,  and  it  is  also  common  in 
Central  America,  and  in  several  of  the  States 
of  South  America.  The  nuts  are  incased  in  a 
shell  from  four  to  six  inches  in  diameter,  which 
is  extremely  hard.  Each  shell  contains  about 
twenty  nuts.  So  enormous  is  the  weight  of 
this  fruit,  that  at  the  period  when  it  falls  the^ 
natives  dare  not  enter  the  forests  without 
covering  their  heads  and  shoulders  with  a 
strong  l>uckler  of  wood.  The  time  for  collect- 
ing these  nuts  is  in  winter,  when  the  Indians, 
in  great  numbers,  ascend  the  rivers  to  obtain 
their  harvest  of  nuts,  upon  which  they  depend 
for  the  year's  subsistence.  When  the  nuts  are 
spread  on  the  ground  all  the  animals  of  the 
forest  surround  them  and  dispute  their  pos- 
session. The  Indians  say  it  is  the  feast  of  the 
animals  as  well  as  themselves,  but  they  are 
angry  with  their  rivalry.  The  gathering  of 
the  nuts  is  celebrated  with  rejoicings,  like  the 
"Harvest  Home"  of  Old  England.  About 
once  in  live  years  another  species  or  variety 
is  seen  in  small  quantities  in  a  few  of  the  fruit 
stores  of  New  York.  It  is  of  a  lighter  color, 
much  less  angular,  less  oily,  and  very  much 
finer  in  quality  than  the  common  Brazil  Nut. 


BET 

It  is  called  the  Paradise  Nut,  and  is  quite  dis- 
tinct. It  is  said  to  grow  in  the  interior  of  the 
country,  and  is  gathered  ))y  the  Indians,  and 
brought  to  the  coast,  which  they  visit  at  long 
intervals  for  the  purpose  of  trade. 
Bertolo'nia.  In  honor  of  A.  Bertoloni,  an 
Italian  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Melastomacece. 

A  genus  of  very  pretty  trailing  or  creeping 
plants,  natives  of  the  dense  foi'ests  of  Brazil. 
B.  maculata,  typical  of  the  genus,  is  an  exceed- 
ingly beautiful  hot-house  creeper.  The  leaves 
are  spotted  on  the  surface,  and  purple  under- 
neath. It  requires  a  warm,  moist  atmosphere, 
and  is  readily  increased  by  cuttings.  Intro- 
duced in  1848. 

Beschorne'ria.  A  genus  of  Agave-like  Amaryl- 
lidaceous  plants,  allied  to  LittcBa,  and  Four- 
croya.  B.  tubifiora,  and  B.  yuccoides,  are 
highly  ornamental  species,  very  useful  for 
lawn  decoration  in  summer. 

Besle'ria.  Erect,  dwarf,  branching  plants,  bear- 
ing yellow,  white,  or  purple  flowers  and  scar- 
let or  purple  berries,  introduced  from  tropical 
America  and  belonging  to  the  Nat.  Ord.  Ges- 
neracece. 

They  are  very  pretty  stove  shrubs,  requir- 
ing a  moist,  warm  atmosphere,  and  are 
readily  increased  by  cuttings. 

Besse'ra.  Named  after  Dr.  Besser,  professor  of 
botany  at  Brody.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacem. 

A  small  genus  of  very  beautiful  Mexican 
bulbs,  allied  to  the  Squills.  The  flowers  are 
scarlet,  purple,  or  white,  produced  on  slender 
scapes  about  a  foot  high.  They  may  be 
grown  in  a  frame,  like  half-hardy  bulbs,  but  it 
is  less  trouble  to  treat  them  the  same  as  the 
Tigridia.  The  bulbs  must  be  kept  warm  and 
dry  during  the  winter,  if  taken  up  Propa- 
gated by  offsets.     Introduced  in  1846. 

Be'ta.  Beet.  From  bcft,  the  Celtic  word  for 
red ;  in  i-eference  to  the  red  color  of  the  Beet. 
Nat.  Ord.  Chenopodiacece. 

The  several  species  included  in  this  genus 
are  natives  of  Europe,  Northern  Africa,  and 
AVestern  Asia.  Four  of  the  species  are  culti- 
vated as  esculents ;  the  others  are  of  no  par- 
ticular interest.  J3.  vulgaris,  the  parent  of 
our  garden  varieties,  is  a  native  of  Egypt  and 
along  the  whole  sea-coast  of  the  Mediterranean, 
and  is  now  ft)und  growing  wild  in  those  locali- 
ties. The  Beet  has  been  highly  esteemed  as 
a  garden  vegetable  for  more  than  2,000  years, 
and  is  specially  noticed  by  all  the  early  writers 
on  plants.  The  roots  of  the  Beet  have  been 
much  improved  by  cultivation,  both  as  regards 
size  and  quality,  and  long  ago  they  arrived  at 
that  state  of  perfection  beyond  which  pro- 
gress in  the  line  of  improvement  must,  of 
necessity,  be  slow.  The  several  varieties  of 
Mangel-wurzel  and  Sugar  Beet,  now  grown  so 
extensively  in  Europe,  belong  to  the  species 
B.  vulgaris  var.  macrorhiza.  The  Chard  Beet, 
or  Swiss  Chard,  is  B.  cycla,  a  native  of 
Portugal,  first  introduced  into  English  gar- 
dens in  1670.  It  is  extensively  cultivated 
in  the  gardens  of  Europe,  and  forms  one 
of  the  principal  vegetables  of  the  laboring 
class,  the  leaves  only  being  used.  They  are 
stripped  off  and  boiled  as  a  substitute  for 
Spinach.  The  rib  of  the  leaf,  which  is  strong 
and  fleshy,  is  sometimes  dressed  as  Aspar- 
agus. Sea  Beet  is  B.  maritima,  a  species  of 
easy  culture,  used  for  greens  only,  and  one  of 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


id 


BET 

toe  best  plants  under  cultivation  for  that 
use.  It  is  a  native  of  the  British  coasts. 
The  Chilian  Beet,  B.  ChiliensL'^,  a  species  of 
recent  introduction,  a  native  of  Chili,  as  its 
name  implies,  is  becoming  popular  for  orna- 
mental gardening,  particularly  for  large  rib- 
bon borders,  tlie  two  varieties,  one'  with 
bright  yellow,  the  other  with  crimson  foliage, 
contrasting  ttnely  witli  other  plants. 

Betony.  The  common  name  of  Stachys  Be- 
toiiica. 

Be'tula.  Birch.  From  its  Celtic  name,  betu. 
Nat.  Ord.  Betulacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  deciduous  trees,  com- 
mon in  all  the  cold  and  inhospitable  climates. 
Some  of  the  species  are  the  last  trees  found 
as  we  approach  the  snow  in  the  most  elevated 
districts.  Thl^  genus  is  largely  represented 
in  our  Nortuern  States  by  B.  alba,  the  com- 
mon White  Binrh.  which,  from  the  tremulous 
habit  of  the  foliage,  is  in  some  localities  called 
Poplar  Birch.  This  species  is  remarkable  for 
its  elegance.  It  seldom  divides  the  main 
stem,  which  extends  to  the  summit  of  the  tree, 
giving  out  from  all  parts  numerous  slender 
branches,  forming  a  very  neat  and  beautiful 
spray  of  a  dark  chocolate  color,  contrasting 
finely  with  the  wliiteness  of  the  trunk.  When 
grown  as  a  single  specimen,  this  tree  assumes 
a  beautiful  pyramidal  form,  making  a  moder- 
ate-sized tree  of  great  beauty.  B.  lenta  is  the 
Black  or  Cherry  Birch,  so  named  from  its 
resemblance  to  the  American  Black  Cherries. 
The  bark  of  the  young  twigs  of  this  species 
has  a  sweet,  aromatic  taste.  The  wood  is 
dark  rose  color,  fine-grained,  and  much  used 
in  fine  cabinet  work.  There  are  several  other 
native  species  common  in  our  Northern  States, 
all  interesting,  mostly  low-growing  trees  or 
large  shrubs. 

Beurre'.  A  general  name  applied  to  a  class  of 
dessert  Pears,  which  have  their  flesh  of  what 
is  called  a  buttery  texture,  as  the  name  itself 
indicates. 

Bi.  In  compounds  signifies  twice ;  as  Bicolor, 
two-colored ;  Bidentate,  with  two  teeth. 

Bidens.  The  botanical  name  of  the  well-known 
Beggar's  Ticks. 

Bid-wl'llia.  Named  after  Mr.  Bidwill,  of  Sydney, 
an  ardent  cultivator  of  bulbs.  Nat.  Ord. 
LiliacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  Australian  and  Peruvian 
bulbs,  allied  to  Anthericum.  The  fiowers 
are  white,  borne  in  racemes,  and  differing  but 
little  from  the  Asphodelus.  Propagated  by 
offsets. 

Biennial.  Lasting  two  years.  A  biennial  plant 
requires  two  years  to  form  its  flowers  and 
fruit ;  growing  one  year,  and  flowering,  fruit- 
ing and  dying  the  next.  This,  however,  Is 
not  true  of  all  climates.  Many  plants  that  are 
classed  as  biennials  in  England,  when  sown 
in  the  southern  parts  of  the  United  States,  or 
in  a  hot-bed  In  March,  at  the  North,  and 
planted  out  In  summer,  will  flower,  seed,  and 
die  just  as  many  annuals  do. 

Bifrena'ria.  From  bis,  twice,  and  froRnum,  a 
strap ;  in  reference  to  the  double  strap,  or 
band,  by  means  of  which  the  pollen  masses 
are  connected  with  their  gland.  Nat.  Ord. 
OrchidacecB. 

A  genus  of  pretty  orchids,  closely  allied  to 
Maxillaria,  differing  very  slightly  from  that 


genife,  and  succ<>oding  well  under  the  same 
treatjnent.  B.  HarrisonioR,  a  very  beautiful 
whitq  species,  with  a  purple  lip,  is  known  in 
cultivation  under  the  following  synonyms : 
Colax,  Dendrobium,  Lycaste,  and  Maxillaria 
Harrifionict. 

Bigno'nia.  Trumpet  Creeper.  Named  after 
Abbe  Bignon,  librarian  to  Louis  XIV.  Nat. 
Ord.  Bignouiacece. 

An  e.Ktensive  genus  of  highly  ornamental 
plants,  and  the  type  of  an  order  equally  beauti- 
ful. Most  of  the  species  are  hot-house 
climbers,  though  a  few  assume  a  more  arbo- 
I'escent  character.     B.    caprcolala,  a  native  of 

'  Florida,  Is  sufTiciently  hardy  to  withstand  our 
severest  weather  when  trained  against  a  wall. 
The  flowers  of  all  are  large  and  showy,  pro- 
duced in  panicles,  and  are  of  various  colors, 
red,  blue,  white,  or  yellow.  They  should  be 
grown  in  rich  loam,  in  a  suntiy  position,  or 
they  will  not  flower  well.  Introduced  in  1820. 
B.  radicans,  is  a  synonym  of  Tecoma  radicans, 
which  see. 

B.  Venvtsta,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the 
genus,  is  particularly  suited  for  large  green- 
houses, for  training  on  rafters,  or  festooning 
between  pillars,  etc.  Producing  its  rich, 
orange-red  flowers  in  clusters,  in  great  pro- 
fusion, during  the  winter  months,  makes  It 
still  more  desirable.  B.  magnifica,  with  flow- 
ers varying  from  delicate  mauve  to  rich- pur- 
plish crimson,  introduced  from  Columbia  In 
1879,  is  another  very  handsome  and  showy 
species,  flowering  In  summer. 

Bignonia'ceae.  A  large  order  of  trees,  or  twin- 
ing shrubby  plants,  with  usually  opposite 
compound  leaves,  and  showy,  often  trumpet- 
shaped  flowers.  The  plants  are  found  in  the 
tropical  regions  of  both  hemispheres,  but  most 
largely  In  the  eastern.  In  America  they 
extend  from  Pennsylvania  in  the  North  to 
Chili  in  the  South.  Some  yield  dyes,  and 
others  supply  timber.  There  are  forty-six 
genera,  and  over  150  known  species.  Bignonia, 
Catalpa,  Tecoma  and  Eccrovwcarpus  are  rep- 
resentative genera. 

Big-Root.     See  Megarrhiza. 

Billardie'ra.  Apple  Berry.  Named  after  Labil- 
lardiere,  a  French  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Pittoa- 
poracecB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
climbers,  natives  of  Australia  and  Tasmania. 
The  species  are  not  remarkable  for  beauty  of 
plant  or  flower,  but  are  highly  esteemed  for 
their  sub-acid  fruit,  which  is  pleasant  and 
wholesome.  The  fruit  is  a  small  berry,  either 
blue  or  amber-colored.  Propagated  by  cut- 
tings. 

Billbe'rgia.  Namt'd  after  Billberg,  a  Swedish 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Bromeliacem. 

These  are  handsome  plants  when  well  grown. 
The  colors  of  the  flowers  are  at  once  rich, 
vivid,  and  delicate,  and  are  usually  contrasted 
in  the  highest  manner  by  the  equally  bright 
tints  of  the  colored  bracts.  They  should  be 
grown  in  pots  of  rich  loam.  In  a  warm  green- 
house, or  plunged  into  an  active  hot-bed  until 
the  growth  Is  completed,  when  a  cooler  and 
drier  place,  as  on  a  shelf  of  the  hot-house, 
will  induce  them  to  flower  freely.  Propagated 
by  suckers.    Introduced  from  Brazil  In  1825. 

BiUberry.     See  Vaccinium. 

Bilstead.     A  common  name  of  the  Liquidambar. 


50 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


BIN 

Binding  Plants.  A  name  that  may  be  given  to 
such  plants,  the  roots  of  Tvhich  aro  useful  for 
binding  the  soil  on  the  banks  of  reservoirs, 
aqueducts,  etc.,  as  well  as  the  loose  sand- 
banks on  exposed  shores  or  wastes.  Various 
species  of  Willows,  Easpbei-ries,  Blackberries, 
Vacciniums,  and  with  strong  spreading  roots, 
are  useful  for  the  former.  Alsike  Clover  is 
also  well  suited  for  this  purpose,  its  long, 
fibrous  roots  holding  the  soil  well  together. 
The  Bermuda  Grass,  Cynodon  Daclylon,  is 
also  exceedingly  valuable  anywhere  south  of 
Virginia,  and  with  Ammophila  or  Ca1o,magros(is 
arenaria,  is  invaluable  for  binding  loose  sand 
on  exposed  sea-shores  and  water-courses.  (See 
Ammophila).  Ampelopsis  Veitchii,  the  Japan 
or  Boston  Ivy,  has  also  been  found  useful  for 
planting  on  railroad  cuttings  and  embank- 
ments to  prevent  loose  rocks  from  falling  on 
the  tracks. 

Bindweed.  A  popular  name  for  Convolvulus 
arvensis. 

Birch.     See  Betula. 

Bird  Cherry.     See  Cerasxis  Padus. 

Bird  of  Paradise.  A  name  applied  to  the  flowers 
of  the  Strelitzia  RegincB,  from  their  supposed 
resemblance. 

Bird  Pepper.     Capsicum  haccatum. 

Bird's  Bill.     Trigonella  ornithorrhynchus. 

Bird's  Foot,  or  Bird's  Foot  Trefoil.  Lotus  corn- 
iculatus. 

Bird's-nest.     Daucus  Carota,  or  "Wild  Carrot. 

Bird's-nest  Fern.     Asplenium  Nidus. 

Birth-root.     Trillium  erectum. 

Birth-wort.     The  genus  Aristolochia. 

Bishop's  Cap,  or  Mitre-wort.  The  genus 
Alitella. 

Bishop' s-^wort.     Stachys  Betonica. 

Bishop-^veed.     See  ^gopodium  podograria. 

Bismarkia.  In  honor  of  the  German  statesman. 
An  imperfectly-known  genus  of  Palmacece,  of 
which  B.  nobilis  is  the  only  species.  It  is  a 
very  ornamental  plant,  with  the  appearance 
and  habit  of  a  Pritchardia.  Introduced  from 
Madagascar  in  1886. 

Bitter  Almond.     Amygdalus  communis. 

Bitter  Apple.     Cucumis  Colocynthis. 

Bitter  Cress.    The  genus  Cardamine. 

Bitter  Nut,  or  Swamp  Hickory.     Carya  amara. 

Bitter  Root.     Lewisia  rediviva. 

Bitter  Sweet.  A  popular  name  for  Celastrus 
scandens;  also  applied  to  Solarium  Dulcamara. 

Bitter  Vetch.     The  genus  Orobus. 

Bitter  Weed     Ambrosia  artemisicefolia. 

Bi'xa.  Arnatto.  Its  native  South  American 
name.     Nat.  Ord.  Flacourtiacece. 

South  American  trees,  or  shrubs,  B.  Orel- 
hna,  commonly  known  as  the  Arnatto  tree, 
is  a  native  of  tropical  America,  the  "West 
Indies,  Sumatra,  and  Java,  and  is  much  valued 
because  of  the  coloring  matter  which  is  pro- 
cured from  the  pulp  that  suiTounds  the  seeds, 
and  which  is  an  important  article  of  com- 
merce. It  seldom  attains  to  more  than  twelve 
feet  in  height.  The  leaves  are  of  a  deeper 
green  on  one  side  than  on  the  other,  and  are 
divided  by  fibres  of  a  reddish-brown  color; 
they  are  four  inches  long,  broad  at  the  base. 


BLA 

and  tend  to  a  sharp  point.  The  stem  has 
likewise  fibres,  which,  in  Jamacia,  are  con- 
verted into  serviceable  ropes.  The  tree  pro- 
duces oblong,  bristled  pods,  somewhat  re- 
sembling those  of  a  chestnut.  These,  at  first, 
are  of  a  beautiful  rose-color;  but,  as  they 
ripen,  change  to  a  dark-brown,  and  bursting 
open,  display  a  splendid  crimson  farina,  or 
pulp,  in  which  8.re  contained  thirty  or  forty 
seeds,  in  shape  similar  to  raisin  stones.  This 
pulp  is  separated  by  throwing  the  freshly- 
gathered  seeds  into  a  tub  of  water,  and  stir- 
ring them  until  the  red  matter  is  detached, 
when  it  is  strained  oi¥  and  evaporated  to  the 
consistency  of  putty.  In  this  state  it  is  made 
up  into  rolls,  and  is  ready  for  market.  This 
drug  is  used  in  coloring  cheese,  butter,  and  for 
inferior  chocolates.  It  is  also  used  by  silk- 
dyers  ;  and  by  varnish-makers,  for  imparting 
a  rich  orange  tint  to  some  kinds  of  varnish. 

Bixi'neee,   or  Bixa'ceae.     A   name  sometimes 

given  to  the  order  Flacourtiacece,  which  see. 
Black  Alder,  or  "Winter-berry.     Prinos  Verti- 

cillata. 
Black-beny.     See  Rubus. 
Black -berry  Lily.     See  Pardanthus. 
Black  Bind- weed.     Polygonum  Convolvulus. 
Black  Bryony.     See   Tamus. 
Black  Gum,  or  Sour  Gum.     Nyssa  multifiora. 
Black  HaTV.     Viburnum  prtmifolium. 
Black  Horehound.     Balotta  nigra. 
Black  Jack,  or  Barren  Oak.     Quercus  nigra. 
Black  Moss,     or    Florida    Moss.       Tillandaia 

usneoides. 
Black  Mustard.     See   Sinapis  nigra. 
Black  Oat  Grass.     Stipa  avenacea. 
Black  Oyster     Plant.       See    Scorzonera    His- 

panica. 
Black  Pepper.     See  Piper  nigrum. 
Black  Snake  Root.     Sanicula  Marilandica. 
Black  Thorn.       Prunus  spinosa,  also  Cratcegus 

tomentosa. 
Black  "Varnish  Tree.  MelanorrhcRa  usitatissima. 
Bladder-'wort.     The  genus  Utricularia. 
Bladder  Catch-fly.     Silene  inflata. 
Bladder  Nut.     Staphylea  trifoliata,  and  S.  pin- 
nata. 


Bladder  Senna. 

borescens. 


Colutea   herbacea,  and  C.  ar- 


Blanching.  This  process  is  effected  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  crispness,  and  for  con- 
verting what  would,  under  ordinary  circum- 
stances, be  a  dangerous  plant — in  the  case  of 
Celery  especially  so — into  a  highly  popular  deli- 
cacy. Blanching  can  only  be  accomplished  by 
entirely  excluding  the  light  from  the  plants, 
thus  depriving  the  coloring  matters  of  their 
power  to  decompose  water  and  carbonic  acid 
gas. 

Blandfo'rdia.  Named  in  honor  of  George,  Mar- 
quis of  Blandford.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliaceoe. 

Beautiful  green-house  bulbs  from  New  South 
"Wales.  They  should  be  grown  in  large  pots 
filled  with  leaf  mould,  loam  and  sand,  placed 
in  the  green-house,  and,  if  properly  attended 
to  with  water,  will  flower  freely.  The  flowers 
are  crimson  or  orange.  Introduced  in  1812. 
Propagated  by  seeds  and  offsets. 


iND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


51 


BLA 

Blazing  Star.  ^  common  name  of  Liatria  squar- 
rosa,  and  also  given  to  ClmmceUrium  luteum. 

Ble'chuxun.  From  blechnon,  a  Greek  name  for 
a  Fern.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacem. 

A  considerable  genus  of  Ferns  of  the  same 
group  as  Lomaria,  the  distinction  between  the 
two  consisting  in  tlie  fructification  of  Lom- 
aria being  marginal,  and  that  of  BlechrMm 
being  within  the  margin.  The  genus  contains 
a  considerable  number  of  species,  which  are 
abundant  in  tropical  countries ;  South  America 
and  the  West  Indian  Islands  having  contrib- 
uted the  greatest  number. 

Bleeding  Heart.  The  popular  name  of  Dielytra 
{Diclytra,  Dicentra)  apectabilis. 

Blephi'lia.  A  genus  of  uninteresting  herbs, 
nearly  allied  to  Monarda,  Horse-mint,  common 
in  the  southern  and  western  States. 

Blessed  Thistle.  Cnicus  benedictus.  A  genus 
of  Thistles,  natives  of  the  Levant  and  Persia. 
Naturalized  and  common  on  th'?  roadsides  in 
the  southern  States;  now  called  by  some 
authors,  Carbenia  benedicta. 

Ble'tia.  Named  after  a  Spanish  botanist  of  the 
name  of  Blet.     Nat.  Ord.  OrcMdaceiB. 

Pretty,  tuberous-rooted,  terrestrial  Orchids, 
which  produce  large  spikes  of  shaded  purple 
flowers  and  require  to  be  grown  in  pots  of  li- 
brous  loam  and  leaf  mould.  A  somewhat  high 
temperature,  say  70''  or  75",  with  plenty  of 
moisture  while  they  are  growing,  and  a  consid- 
erable reduction  of  both  as  soon  as  it  is  com- 
pleted, is  necessary  to  cultivate  them  in  per- 
fection. They  are  increased  by  means  of 
offsets.  Introduced  from  Mexico  in  1822.  B, 
Tankervillice,  is  now  included  under  Phaivs, 
which  see. 

Bli'ghia.  Named  in  honor  of  Capt.  Bligh,  who 
first  carried  the  bread-fruit  to  the  "West 
Indies.   Nat.  Ord.  SapindaceoB. 

This  is  called  the  Akee  Tree,  and  is  a  plant 
much  esteemed  in  Africa  and  the  West  Indies 
on  account  of  its  fruit,  which  is  as  large  as  a 
goose's  egg,  and  of  a  reddish  or  yellow  color. 
This  fruit  contains  several  large  seeds,  the 
coating  of  which  is  eaten ;  it  is  said  to  possess 
an  agreeable  sub-acid  taste,  very  grateful  to 
the  palate.     Syn.  Cupania. 

Blight.  As  used  by  cultivators  this  term  is  of 
vague  significance.  It  is  applied  to  those 
diseases  of  grain,  etc.,  which  usually  depend 
upon  the  presence  of  parasitic  Fungi.  The 
Pear  Blight  so  destructive  to  pear  trees  for 
many  years  past,  is  now  generally  believed  to 
be  owing  to  the  presence  of  a  Fungus, 
though  not  a  few  still  believe  that  it  is  to  be 
attributed  to  a  diseased  condition  of  the  sap. 
There  have  been  several  theories  put  forth  to 
account  for  this  destructive  disease,  and  the 
subject  still  remains  more  or  less  a  mysteiy. 
Insects  have  also  been  charged  with  producing 
the  disease ;  but  whatever  the  cause,  all  know 
the  results  to  be  only  too  fatal,  and,  thus  far, 
without  remedy.  Blight  is  not  confined  to  the 
field  and  the  orchard,  but  also  finds  its  way  to 
plants  in  the  garden.  If  Fungi  are  not  the 
cause  of  the  disease,  they  may  be  said  to  be 
always  present  as  a  result. 

Blind  Shoots.  A  term  given  to  such  shoots  as 
do  not  show  fiower  buds. 

Blood  Flower.    The  common  name  for   Hce- 
manthus. 
West  Indian.     Aaclepiaa  curaaaavica. 


B(E 

Blood  Root.     See  Sanguinaria  Canadenae. 

Blood  Wood.     Austi-alian.     Eucalyptus  corym- 
boaa. 
E.  Indian.     Lageratrcemia  Reginm. 

Blue  Bella.  Campanula  rotundifolia,  and  Scilla 
nutana. 

Blue-berry.     Vacciniiim  Pennaylvanicum,  etc. 

Blue-bottle.     Centaurea  cyanus. 

Blue  Cohosh.  A  popular  name  of  Caulophyllum 
thalictroides,  also  called  the  Pappoose  root. 

Blue  Curls.  A  popular  name  for  the  genus 
Trichostema. 

Blue  Daisy.  Agathea  ccelestvi  and  Aater  Tripo- 
lium. 

Blue-eyed  Grass.     Siayrinchium  Bermudianum. 

Blue  Flag.     Iris  versicolor. 

Blue  Grass.     Kentucky.     See  Poa  pratenaia. 

Blue  Gum.     See  Eucalyptus  globulus. 

Blue  Palmetto.     See  Rhapidophyllum. 

Blue  Pea.     See  Clitoria  ternatea. 

Blue  Tangle.  Dangleberry,  Huckleberry.  Gay- 
luaaacia  frondosa. 

Bluets.  Common  name  for  Houslonia  coRrulea ; 
also  the  French  name  for  Centaurea  Cyanus. 

Blue  Weed,  or  Viper's  Bugloss.  Echium  vul- 
gar e. 

Blumenba'chia.  In  honor  of  Dr.  Blumenbach, 
of  Gottingen,  a  distinguished  comparative 
anatomist.     Nat.  Ord.  Loaaacem. 

Elegant  branched  climbing  or  trailing,  an- 
nual, biennial,  or  perennial  herbs,  with  large 
white  or  yellow  flowers,  and  generally  covered 
with  stinging  hairs,  which  are  very  objection- 
able. 

Bocco'nia.  Named  after  P.  Bocconi,  M.D.,  a 
Sicilian.     Nat.  Ord.  Papaveraceos,. 

B.  cordata,  the  only  species  adapted  for  the 
border,  is  a  handsome,  hardy  herbaceous 
plant,  a  small  clump  or  single  specimen  of 
which  would  take  high  rank  among  ornamen- 
tal-leaved plants,  but  unfortunately,  it  refuses 
to  be  kept  within  bounds,  and  will,  when  once 
established,  not  only  take  possession  of  the 
border,  but  the  lawn  as  well ;  and  for  this 
reason,  notwithstanding  its  great  beauty,  it 
should  not  be  planted  on  the  lawn.  Syns. 
B.  japonica  and  Macleaya  yedoenais. 

Boehme'ria.  Ramee  or  Ramie.  In  memory  of 
George  Rudolph  Boehmer,  a  German  botanist. 
Nat.  Ord.  Urticacem. 

A  genus  of  herbaceous  plants  or  shrubs, 
allied  to  the  true  Nettles,  but  differing  from 
them  in  not  having  stinging  hairs.  The  most 
interesting  species  is  B.  nivea,  the  Chinese 
Grass-cloth  Plant.  It  is  a  small,  shrubby 
plant,  about  three  or  four  feet  high,  throwing 
up  numerous  straight  shoots,  which  are 
about  as  thick  as  the  little  finger,  and  covered 
with  soft  short  hairs.  Its  leaves  grow  on 
long  hairy  footstalks,  and  are  broadly  heart- 
shaped,  about  six  inches  long  and  four  broad. 
They  are  of  a  deep  green  color  on  the  upper 
side,  but  covered  on  the  under  side  with  a 
dense  coating  of  white  down,  which  gives 
them  an  appearance  like  that  of  frosted  silver. 
The  beautiful  fabric  known  as  Grass-cloth, 
which  rivals  the  finest  cambric  in  softness  of 
texture,  is  manufactured  from  the  fiber  ob- 
tained from  the  inner  bark  of  this  plant.  The 
Chinese  bestow  an  immense  amount  of  care 


52 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


BOG 

and  labor  upon  its  cultivation  and  the  prep- 
aration of  its  fiber.  They  obtain  three  crops 
of  its  stems  annually,  the  second  being  con- 
sidered the  best.  To  obtain  the  fiber,  the 
bark  is  stripped  off  in  two  long  pieces  and 
carefully  scraped  with  a  knife,  so  as  to  get  rid 
of  all  useless  matter,  after  which  it  is  softened 
and  separated  into  fine  filaments  either  by 
steeping  it  in  hot  water  or  holding  it  over 
steam.  This  plant  has  been  introduced  into 
the  Southei-n  States,  where  it  grows  freely ; 
but  the  difficulty  in  separating  the  fiber  so  as 
to  make  its  production  profitable,  has  yet  to 
be  overcome. 

Bog  Asphodel.     See  Narthecium. 

Bog  Moss.    See  Sphagnum. 

Bog  Myrtle.     Myrica  Gale. 

Bog  Rush.  Juncus.  Common  in  all  marshy 
gi'ounds  or  swamps. 

Boilers,  Q-reenhouse.     See  Heating. 

Bokhara  Clover.  One  of  the  popular  names  of 
Melilotua  Alba;  an  excellent  Bee-food  plant  all 
season. 

Bolbophy'llum.  From  bolbos,  a  bulb,  and  phyl- 
IcTii,  a  loaf;  referring  to  the  leaves  issuing 
from  tho  apex  of  the  pseudo-bulbs.  Nat  Ord. 
OrctiidaceiB. 

A  genus  of  dwarf  epiphytal  Orchids  from 
Africa  and  the  East  Indies,  more  curious 
than  beautiful.  Flowers  large,  single  or  in 
pairs ;  color,  yellow  or  white,  with  purple 
spots  or  stripes.  Not  often  seen  in  collections. 
Sj'n.  Bulhophyllum. 

Bo'Uea.  Derivation  of  name  net  given.  Nat. 
Ord.  Orchidacem. 

A  small  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids,  consist- 
ing of  only  two  species,  natives  of  New  Gren- 
ada. They  are  showy  plants,  with  radical 
foliage,  from  the  base  of  which  the  flowers  are 
produced  on  single  scapes.  The  flowers  are 
shaded  pink,  with  a  bright  yellow  lip.  They 
require  to  be  grown  in  pots  of  Moss,  in  rather 
a  warm  house,  and  are  increased  by  division. 
Placed  by  some  authors  under  Zygopetalum. 

Bolto'nia.  A  genus  of  three  species  belonging 
to  the  Cowpostto  family,  and  peculiar  to  North 
America,  where  they  extend  from  Canada  to 
the  Southern  States.  They  produce  an  abun- 
dance of  flower  heads  with  whitish  or  purplish 
rays,  very  much  like  the  Asters  to  which 
genus  they  might  at  first  glance  be  referred. 
They  are  well  worth  a  place  in  the  mixed 
border. 

Bonia'rea.  Derivation  of  name  not  given.  Nat. 
Ord.  AmaryllidacecB. 

A  somewhat  extensive  genus  of  tuberous- 
rooted  plants,  formerly  included  in  the  genus 
AlstroRtneria,  and  differing  only  in  the  fruit. 
The  species  abound  in  the  Peruvian  Andes, 
and  are  common  in  other  high  elevations  in 
South  America.  B.  edulis  is  a  West  Indian 
species,  the  roots  of  which  are  eaten  like  those 
of  the  Jerusalem  Artichoke.  For  culture 
and  pi'opagation  see  Alstronmeria. 

Bo'mbax.  Silk  Cotton  Tree.  From  bombax, 
cotton ;  in  reference  to  the  woolly  hairs  which 
envelop  the  seed,  like  those  of  the  Cotton- 
plant.     Nat.  Ord.  Sterculiacece. 

A  genus  of  tall  growing  trees,  that  abound 
in  South  America  and  the  East  and  West 
Indies.  B.  Ceiba,  a  typical  species,  has  a 
spiny  trunk,  and  is  one  of  the  tallest  trees  of 


BOR 

both  Indies,  but  the  wood  is  very  light  and  not 
much  valued  except  for  canoes.  Their  trunks 
are  so  large,  that  when  hollowed  out  they  make 
very  large  ones,  so  that  in  the  West  Indies 
they  frequently  carry  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
hogsheads  of  sugar,  of  from  six  to  twelve 
hundred  pounds  each.  The  cotton  which  is 
enclosed  in  the  seed-vessels  is  seldom  used, 
except  by  the  poorer  inhabitant,  to  stuff  pil- 
lows or  chairs ;  and  it  is  generally  thought 
unwholesome  to  lie  upon. 

Bonapa'rtea.  Named  in  honor  of  Napoleon 
Bonaparte.     Nat.  Ord.  Bromeliacem. 

A  genus  remarkable  for  the  gracefulness  of 
their  long,  rush-like  leaves.  They  are  well 
adapted  for  growing  in  vases  out  of  doors  in 
summer.  They  require  a  warm  house  in 
winter.  Propagated  by  seeds.  Introduced 
from  Mexico  in  1828. 

B.  juncea  has  been  placed  under  the  genus 
Agave,  as  A.  geminijlora,  by  some  l>otanists. 

Bone  Dust.  One  of  the  safest  and  best  of  con- 
centi'ated  fertilizers.  When  used  broadcast,  it 
should  be  sown  on  the  soil  after  digging  or 
plowing,  just  thick  enoutrh  to  cover  it  with  a 
thin  layer,  about  as  thickly  as  sawdust  or 
sand  is  used  on  a  floor.  If  used  on  dug 
ground,  it  should  be  well  chopped  and  mixed 
through  the  soil,  so  as  to  mix  it  to  a  depth  of 
five  or  six  inches.  If  on  ground  that  has  been 
plowed,  a  thorough  harrov/ing  Avill  mix  it  to 
the  required  depth.  Tliis  tliickuess  will  re- 
quire at  the  rate  of  from  fifteen  hundred  to 
twenty-five  hundred  pounds  per  acre.  If  to 
be  used  in  drills  or  "hills,"  or  only  where 
seed  are  to  be  sown  or  plants  planted,  and 
not  over  the  whole  ground,  it  will  take  only 
about  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  three 
hundred  pounds  per  acre,  which  should  be 
mixed  in  the  soil  in  the  same  manner. 

Boneset.     See  Eupatorium. 

Bonne'tia.  Named  after  C.  Bonnet,  a  disting- 
uished naturalist.  Nat.  Ord.  TernstromiacecB. 
A  small  genus  of  Brazilian  and  Peruvian 
shrubs  or  low  growing  trees,  the  flowers  of 
which  are  mostly  white,  nearly  as  large  as 
those  of  a  Camellia  and  are  produced  singly 
and  in  panicles.  The  leaves  of  B.  paniculata, 
have  an  agreeable  aromatic  smell  when 
bruised. 

Bonus  Henricus,  Good  King  Henry.  Cheno- 
podium  Bonus  Henricus. 

Boraginaceae.  A  large  order  of  herbs  or 
shrubs,  having  spirally  coiled  inflorescence, 
round  stems  and  altei'nate  rough  leaves. 
The  fruit  consists  of  distinct  seeds  without 
albumen.  The  plants  are  principally  natives 
of  northern  temperate  regions.  They  are 
found  in  southern  Europe,  the  Levant,  and 
Central  Asia.  In  high  northern  latitudes 
they  are  less  frequent,  and  nearly  dis- 
appear within  the  trc^pics.  The  plants 
abound  in  mucilaginous  and  demulcent  quali- 
ties. Some  yield  dyes,  as  Alkanet  {Anchusa 
tinctoria).  The  common  Btirage  {Borago 
officinalis),  when  steeped  in  water,  imparts 
coolness  to  it,  and  is  used  in  the  beverage 
called  cold  tankard.  The  leaves  of  Mertensia 
maritima  have  the  taste  of  Oysters,  whence  the 
common  name  of  Oyster  Plant.  The  species 
of  Myosotis  are  universally  prized  under  the 
name  of  Forget-me-not.  There  are  fiftj'- 
eight  known   genera  of  this  order,  and  over 


BRUSSELS  SPROUTS. 


BONAFABTEA. 


BOKASSUS  (FALUTRA  PAIM.) 


BOUVABDIA8. 


BBUGMANSIA  SUAVEOLENS. 


BEAOHYCOME. 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


BOR 

six  hundred  species.  Myosotia,  Borago, 
Cynoglossum,  Lithospermum,  Cerinthe,  Symphy- 
tum, and  Anchusa,  are  examples  of  this 
order. 

Bora'go.  Borage.  Altered  from  cor,  heart,  and 
ago,  to  affect ;  referring  to  the  cordial  quali- 
ities  of  the  herbs.    Nat.  Ord.  Boraginacece. 

Hardy  annual  and  perennial  herbs,  common 
throughout  Europe.  The  leaves  of  B.  officinalis 
are  sometimes  used  m  salads  or  boiled  as 
spinach.  The  spikes  of  flowers  are  aromatic, 
and  sometimes  used  in  cooling  drinks.  All 
the  species  are  easily  cultivated  and  are  admir- 
ably adapted  for  naturalizing  in  dry,  stony 
places.  They  also  afford  excellent  food  for 
bees  during  the  whole  season. 

Bora'ssus.  Palmyra  Palm.  Linnaeus  applied 
this  name  to  the  spathe  of  the  date-palm.  Nat. 
Ord.  Palmacoe. 

A  genus  of  magnificent  Palms,  consisting  of 
two  species  only,  which  have  a  wide  geo- 
graphical distribution,  ranging  from  the 
north-eastern  parts  of  Arabia,  through  the 
Indian  Ocean,  and  the  southern  parts  of 
Hindostan,  to  the  Bay  of  Bengal.  The 
number  of  Palmyras  in  the  Jaffua  peninsula 
and  adjacent  islands  alone  has  been  estimated 
at  nearly  six  million  and  a  half,  being  at  the 
rate  of  thirty-two  trees  for  each  of  the  popu- 
lation. The  utility  of  the  plant  is  commensu- 
rate with  its  extended  dispersion,  a  providen- 
tial arrangement  in  the  economy  of  nature,  of 
which  the  food-plants  afford  many  instructive 
examples.  This  plant  is  believed  to  yield  one- 
fourth  part  of  the  food  of  about  250,000  in- 
habitants of  the  northern  provinces  of  Ceylon, 
while  it  forms  the  chief  support  of  six  or 
seven  millions  of  the  people  of  India  and  other 
parts  of  Asia ;  thus,  remarks  Seeman  in  his 
History  of  Palms,  "  proving  itself  one  of 
the  most  important  plants  on  earth,  rival- 
ing the  date-tree,  and  ranking  only  below 
the  cocoa-nut  palm  in  usefulness."  The 
fronds  give  shelter  to  scores  of  animals  by 
night  and  day,  besides  affording  a  refreshing 
supply  of  moisture,  the  grooves  of  the  petioles 
and  the  construction  of  the  leaves  being 
peculiarly  suitable  for  conveying  and  retain- 
ing rain.  The  same  causes  attract  orchids 
and  other  epiphytes,  and  ferns,  which  find 
their  conditions  of  growth  on  the  stem ;  and 
various  species  of  the  fig,  including  the  true 
banyan-tree,  are  found  in  living  embrace  with 
the  Palmyra.  In  the  Botanic  Garden  at 
Calcutta  a  banyan  sprang  from  the  crown  of  a 
palm  where  the  seed  had  been  deposited  by  a 
bird,  and,  sending  its  roots  down  to  the  earth 
through  tlie  palm-stem,  destroyed  and  replaced 
it.  But  in  the  region  of  the  Palmyra,  the 
banyan  often  becomes  the  foster-mother  of 
that  beautiful  and  serviceable  plant.  One  of 
the  largest  banyans  of  Ceylon,  the  resort  of 
pleasure  parties  from  Jaffua,  has  two  or  three 
Palmyras  growing  in  it,  the  united  trees  cover- 
ing one  and  one-twelfth  acres  of  ground.  The 
cocoa  palm  is  celebrated  for  its  365  uses ;  a 
poem  in  the  Tamil  language  extols  the  Palmyra 
for  800  purposes  to  which  it  can  be  applied, 
without  exhausting  the  catalogue.  The  roots 
yield  a  medicine ;  the  young  plants  are  used 
for  food,  prepared  in  various  ways ;  the  wood 
serves  innumerable  purposes,  in  building  and 
furnishing  houses,  and  for  the  manufacture  of 
umbrella  handles,  walking-canes,  fancy  boxes. 


BOR 

and  for  hundreds  of  other  small  articles; 
fields  are  fenced  with  the  mid-rib  of  its  leaves, 
the  decayed  leaves  furnish  good  manure  for 
the  soil ;  mats  are  made  of  the  leaves,  and  are 
used  instead  of  carpets  on  the  floors,  for 
ceilings,  for  drying  coffee  upon ;  baskets,  bags, 
hats,  caps,  fans,  in  short,  every  tiling  manu- 
factured of  wood  or  straw,  is  also  produced 
from  some  part  or  parts  of  this  palm. 
The  plants  reach  maturity  about  the  twelfth 
or  fifteenth  year.  Then  they  yield  a  toddy, 
"a  beverage  almost  as  famous  for  its  use 
as  for  its  abuse."  The  fruit  of  this  palm 
is  sometimes  eaten  raw,  but  more  generally 
roasted,  and  is  in  great  repute  by  the  natives, 
who  assemble  together  under  the  shade  of 
a  tree,  light  a  fire,  squat  around  it,  sucking 
the  pulp  out  of  the  fibres  of  the  roasted 
fruits,  tearing  them  asunder  with  nails 
and  teeth  in  the  most  approved  style, 
and  presenting  a  truly  oriental  spectacle 
of  gustative  enjoyment.  A  full  grown  Palmyra 
is  from  sixty  to  seventy  feet  high :  the  trunk 
at  the  bottom  is  about  five  and  a  half  feet,  and 
at  the  top,  two  and  a  half  feet  in  circumference. 

Borders.  Flower.  A  flower-border  is  generally 
a  continuous  bed  of  greater  length  than  width, 
skirting  a  shrubbery  or  fence,  and  containing 
plants  of  a  mixed  character.  It  should  be 
thoroughly  drained,  well  manured,  and  raised 
slightly  above  the  surrounding  level.  No 
rules  can  be  laid  down  as  to  the  arrangement 
of  the  plants,  which  of  course  depends  on  indi- 
vidual taste ;  all  formal  hues,  however,  should 
be  avoided,  the  taller  plants  either  singly  or 
in  groups  forming  the  back-ground,  with  the 
dwarfer  subjects  in  front.  As  the  object 
should  be  to  obtain  a  continuous  succession  of 
bloom,  the  best  results  will  be  obtained  when 
the  border  is  made  up  mainly,  of  herbaceous 
perennials  as  permanent  occupants,  with  a 
liberal  admixture  of  hardy  spring-blooming 
bulbs,  such  as  Narcissus,  Snow-drops,  TuHps, 
Scillas,  etc.,  assisted  by  quantities  of  summer 
blooming  plants,  Lantanas,  Geraniums, 
Dahlias,  Heliotrope,  etc.  Many  sorts  of  hardy 
annuals  are  useful  to  fill  up  vacant  places,  and 
assist  largely  to  keep  up  a  succession  of  bloom 
till  frost  comes.    See  Herbaceous  Plants. 

Borbo'nia.  A  genus  of  ornamental  green- 
house evergreen  shrubs  belonging  to  the  pea- 
flowered  section  of  Leguminoace,  and  num- 
bering some  thirteen  species,  all  natives  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The  flowers  are  gener- 
ally yellow,  borne  in  terminal  heads.  They 
require  cool  green-house  treatment  and  are 
propagated  by  cuttings. 

Borecole.  Kale.  Brassica  oleracea  fimbriala. 
The  chief  characteristic  of  the  Borecoles  or 
Kales  consists  in  their  not  producing  heads 
like  the  Cabbage,  or  eatable  flowers  like  the 
Cauliflower  or  Broccoli,  and  by  their  beauti- 
fully cut  and  curled  leaves,  which  are  of  a 
green  or  purple  color,  or  variegated  with 
red,  green,  or  yellov/.  Several  of  the  sub- 
varieties  are  known  in  our  markets,  and  ex- 
tensively grown  by  market  gardeners,  the 
most  popular  being  the  dwarf  green  curled 
Scotch,  the  brown  or  purple  German  curled ; 
and  for  early  spring  use,  the  Siberian  Kale  or 
"Sprouts."  The  Borecole  is  a  native  of  the 
British  coasts  and  the  north  of  Europe.  The 
garden  varieties  are  not  many  removes  from 
the  species. 


54 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


BOE 

Boro'nia.  Named  after  Boroni,  an  Italian 
attendant  of  Dr.  Sibthorp.  Nat.  Ord.  Rutacem. 
A  genus  of  elegant  green-house  shrubs 
from  New  Holland.  The  flowers  aie  pink  or 
whitish.  They  are  very  elegant  and  useful 
shrubs,  requiring  the  same  treatment  as 
ordinary  hard-wooded  gref.n-house  plants, 
being  much  aided  by  a  little  extra  heat  in 
spring  when  starting  into  growth.  Propa- 
gated by  cuttings. 

Bosside'a.  Named  after  M.  Bossier  Lamartiniere, 
a  French  botanist,  who  accompanied  the 
unfortunate  La  Peyrouse  round  the  world. 
Elegant  Australian  green-house  shrubs  of  the 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

Flowers  yellow  or  yellow  and  purple,  B. 
linophylla,  B.  rotundifolia,  B.  cinerea  (Syn.  B. 
tenuicaulvi),  and  others  of  the  genus  are  highly 
ornamental,  and  no  green-house  collection  of 
any  pretensions  is  to  be  found  without  some 
of  them.     Propagation  by  cuttings  or  seeds. 

Boswe'llia.  Olibanum  Tree.  Ornamental  and 
economic  evergreen  trees  of  the  Nat.  Ord. 
Burseracem. 

These  trees  are  remarkable  as  furnishing  a 
gum-resin.  B.  glabra  is  used  in  India  in 
place  of  pitch  ;  B.  thurifera,  known  also  as  B. 
serrata,  a  very  common  tree  in  Coromandel, 
furnishes  the  resin  known  as  Indian  Olibanum, 
which  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  Frankin- 
cense of  the  Ancients,  and  is  still  employed 
for  its  grateful  perfumes  as  incense  in  the 
Eoman  Catholic  churches. 

Botry'chium.  Moonwort.  From  botrys,  a 
bunch ;  in  reference  to  the  bunch-like  form  of 
the  fructification  forming  a  separate  branch 
on  frond.     Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  ferns,  composed  of  about  a 
dozen  species,  found  in  nearly  all  countries 
except  Africa.  B.  lunaria,  Moonwort,  is 
found  rarely  in  the  North  and  West.  B.  Vir- 
ginica  is  a  very  beautiful  and  ornamental 
native  species,  easily  transplanted  to  the 
hardy  fernery.  Many  of  the  other  species  are 
common  in  x-Ich  woods. 

Bottle-brush.  Equisetum  sylvaticum,  E.  arvense, 
and  Hippuris  vulgaris. 

Bottle-brush  Flowers.  The  flowers  of  Beau- 
fortia  splendens,  Melaleuca  hypericifolia,  Metro- 
sideros  fioribunda,  and  some  species  of  Callis- 
ti/mon. 

Bottle-gourd.     Lagonaria  vulgaris. 

Bottle-grass.  One  of  the  common  names  of 
Setaria. 

Bottle-tree,  AustraLan.  Brachychiton  {Dela- 
beehea)  rupestris. 

Bougainvi'Uea.  Named  after  the  French  navi- 
gator De  Bougainville.  Nat.  Ord.  Nyctagi- 
nactce- 

Gorgeous  warm  green-house  or  conserva- 
tory plants,  comprising  some  of  the  most 
showy  climbers  in  cultivation.  Their  beauty 
lies  in  the  showy  rose-colored  bracts  which 
envelop  the  small  greenish  flowers.  Those 
of  B.  spectabilis,  are  singularly  handsome. 
B.  glabra  may  be  grown  in  pots  but  the  other 
species  require  more  room  and  are  best 
planted  out  in  the  green-house  border.  Na- 
tives of  South  America;  easily  increased  by 
cuttings. 

Bouncing  Bet.  A  popular  name  of  Saponaria 
officinalis. 


BOU 

Bouquets,  Baskets  of  Flov^rers,  etc.  Bouquet 
making  is  (or  at  least  ought  to  be)  the  art  of 
arranging  cut  flowers. 

Many  people  decry  the  artificial  arrangement 
of  flowers,  but  how  shall  we  otherwise  use 
them  to  advantage?  The  moment  we  begin 
to  tie  them  together  we  leave  nature,  and 
ought  to  do  so  only  to  study  art.  In  their 
simplest  arrangement,  form  and  color  must 
be  studied  to  produce  the  best  effect,  and 
whoever  best  accomplishes  this,  will  surely 
succeed  in  displaying  his  flowers  to  the  best 
advantage. 

Probably  the  simplest,  easiest,  and  com- 
monly the  most  desirable,  method  of  using 
cut  flowers  is  arranging  them  in  vases.  The 
more  loosely  and  unconfused,  the  better. 
Crowding  is  particularly  to  be  avoided,  and  to 
accomplish  this  readily  a  good  base  of  greens 
is  required,  to  keep  the  flowers  apart.  This 
filling  up  is  a  very  important  part  in  all 
bouquet  making,  and  the  neglect  of  it  is  the 
greatest  stumbling-block  of  the  uninitiated. 
Spiked  and  drooping  flowers,  with  branches 
and  sprays  of  delicate  green,  are  indispensable 
to  the  grace  and  beauty  of  a  vase  bouquet. 
To  preserve  the  individuality  of  flowers,  which 
is  of  the  greatest  impoitance,  the  placing  of 
those  of  similar  size  and  form  together  ought 
to  be  avoided.  Thus  Heliotrope,  Stevia,  Eupa- 
torium,  or  Alyssum,  when  combined,  lose 
their  distinctive  beauty ;  but,  if  placed  in  juxta- 
position to  larger  flowers,  and  those  of  other 
forms,  their  beauty  is  heightened  by  contrast. 
It  may  be  stated  as  a  rule,  that  small  flowers 
should  never  be  massed  together.  Large 
flowers  with  green  leaves  or  branches  may  bo 
used  to  advantage  alone,  but  a  judicious  con- 
trast of  forms  is  most  effective. 

Some  years  ago.  Bouquets  were  invariably 
arranged  in  the  formal  style,  the  colors  being 
used  in  consecutive  rings,  or  alternating  with 
each  other  in  geometrical  forms.  Taste,  or 
fashion,  if  you  will,  has  changed  for  the 
better,  and  closely-made,  mushroom-like 
bouquets,  are  now  the  exception  rather  than 
the  rule.  The  flowers  are  now  arranged  quite 
loosely,  plenty  of  Maiden-hair  Fern  and 
Smilax  being  used  so  as  to  show  off  each 
flower  distinctly.  Indeed  the  modern  Bouquet, 
especially  if  composed  of  roses,  looks  as  if  the 
flowers  had  been  picked  up  and  tied  together 
without  any  thought  of,  or  attempt  at  ar- 
rangement. In  these  bunches,  one  color  is 
usually  chosen,  with  a  bunch  of  Violets,  Heli- 
otrope, Mignonette  or  other  sweet  smelling^ 
flowers,  tied  on  one  side  as  a  contrast,  and  to 
add  fragrance  to  the  arrangement.  For  extra 
occasions,  Bouquets  are  made  of  Orchid  blos- 
soms, generally  two  or  more  sorts  that  har- 
monize in  color,  being  used,  aided  by  a  liberal 
admixture  of  Fern  fronds  or  sprays  of  the 
beautiful  filmy  South  African  Asparagus. 
Bouquets  of  Lily  of  the  Valley,  forced  White 
Lilacs,  Violets,  etc.,  are  often  used,  either 
alone  or  in  combination  with  one  or  two  other 
flowers,  the  colors  generally  massed,  however, 
rather  than  mixed,  fashion  now  leaning  to- 
wards simplicity  and  naturalness  of  arrange- 
ment. Baskets  and  Plateaus  of  flowers  are 
also  arranged  on  the  same  principles,  groups 
of  different  flowers  or  of  the  same  flower  in 
different  shades  being  used  in  preference  to 
an  admixture  of  color. 
Bourbon  Palm.     See  Livistona. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTUEK. 


55 


BOU  . 

Bousslnga'ultia.  Madeira  Vine.  Named  in 
honor  of  J.  B.  BoussingauU,  a  celebrated  nat- 
uralist and  traveler.  Nat.  Ord.  Chenopodiaccce. 
The  only  species,  B.  baselloides,  is  an  ele- 
gant climbing  tuberous-rooted  plant  from 
the  Andes,  a  rapid  grower  and  profuse 
bloomer.  The  flowers  are  nearly  white  and 
deliciously  fragrant.  It  grows  readily  in  any 
garden  soil,  and  is  readily  increased  by  divi- 
sion or  by  seed.  Introduced  in  1836. 
^  Bouva'rdia.  Named  after  Dr.  Bouvard,  curator 
of  the  Botanic  Garden,  Paris.  Nat.  Ord. 
Cinchonacece. 

Green-house  evergreen  shrubs,  introduced 
from  Mexico.  They  are  amongst  the  most  im- 
portant plants  cultivated  for  winter  flowers, 
owing  to  the  yearly  increasing  variety  of  color, 
and  their  excellent  adaptation  for  that  purpose. 
They  are  also  effective  as  bedding  plants  for 
the  flower  garden,  beginning  to  bloom  in 
August  and  continuing  until  frost.  Many 
very  superior  varieties  have  originated  in  this 
country,  notably  the  pure  w^hite  free-growing 
and  free-flowering  B.  Davisoni,  and  the  rich 
crimson  B.  elegans,  both  sports  from  B. 
Hogarth,  a  brilliant  scarlet  variety;  the 
double  white  B.  Alfred  Neuner,  and  double  red 
B.  Pres.  Garfield,  with  many  other  excellent 
free-flowering  sorts.  Propagated  by  rooL  cut- 
tings, or  by  cuttings  of  young  wood  in  sand. 

Bo-we'nia.  In  honor  of  W.  O.  Bowen,  a  gover- 
nor of  Queensland. 

A  remaikable  genus  of  Cycadacece,  consist- 
ing of  but  one  species,  which  was  discovered 
in  Australia  in  1819.  The  species  is  described 
in  the  Botanical  Magazine  as  follows:  "The 
most  prominent  character  of  Bowenia  is  the 
compound  leaf,  its  general  characters  (all  but 
shape),  texture  and  venation  ;  the  leaflets  do 
not  differ  from  those  of  Macrozamia,  and  are 
so  very  similar  to  those  of  the  West  Indian 
Zamia  that  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish  them 
generically,  except  that  in  Bowenia  the  leaflet 
is  decurrent  by  the  petiole,  acd  not  articulated 
with  rachis."  The  fern-like  aspect  presented 
by  this  plant  is  very  remarkable  and  interest- 
ing, giving  it  a  prominent  position  among 
green-house  plants.  Propagated  by  seeds  or 
from  suckers. 

Box.  The  common  name  of  Buxus  sempervirens, 
a  plant  at  one  time  much  used  for  edgings  in 
ornamental  gardening.  It  is  a  native  of 
Europe  and  Asia,  and  is  readily  increased  by 
cuttings. 

Boxberry.  A  name  sometimes  applied  to  the 
Wintergreen,  Gaultheria  procumbens. 

Box  Elder.     See  Negundo. 

Boxes  for  Seeds.  Seeds,  particularly  flower 
seeds,  when  sown  under  glass,  do  much 
better  when  sown  in  shallow  boxes  than 
in  flower-pots.  A  convenient  size  is  the 
ordinary  soap  box,  cut  into  four,  making  a 
depth  of  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  inches. 
Or,  what  is  even  more  convenient,  the  shallow 
boxes  in  which  tin  is  imported.  These  are 
filled  nearly  full  with  finely-sifted  soil,  which 
is  made  as  level  and  smooth  as  possible.  On 
this  smooth  surface  the  seeds  are  sown,  and 
then  pressed  down  level  into  the  soil,  and 
over  the  seeds  is  sifted  dry  moss,  leaf  mould, 
or  cocoanut  fiber  (which  has  been  run  through 
a  sieve  as  fine  as  mosquito  wire),  in  quantity 
enough  to  fairly  cover  the  seeds.     This,  from 


BBA 

its  spongy  nature,  retains  raoisture,  while  its 
lightness  offers  but  little  resistance  to  the 
tender  seed  germ.  The  same  style  of  box  Is 
used  for  "pricking  off."     See  "propagation." 

Box  Thorn.     See  Lycium  barbarum. 

Box-wood.    West  Indian.  Vitex  umbrosa. 

Brabei'um.  African  Almond.  From  brnbeion, 
a  sceptre,  in  reference  to  the  racemosed 
flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  ProteacecE. 

An  ornamental  green-house  evergreen,  with 
white,  sweet-scented  flowers,  disposed  in 
elegant,  axillary,  spiked  racemes.  Its  seeds 
are  called  Wild  Chestnuts  and  Wild  Almonds, 
and  are  both  roasted  and  eaten,  and  used  as 
a  substitute  for  coffee.  Introduced  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope  in  1751. 

Brachychi'ton.  From  brachys, short,  and  chiton, 
a  tunic ;  plant  covered  with  imbricated  hairs 
and  scales.     Nat.  Ord.  Sterculiaceoe. 

A  genus  of  tropical  and  sub-tropical  trees 
from  Australia.  B.  acerifolium  is  called  the 
Flame  Tree  about  Illawarra,  on  account  of  its 
bright  scarlet  fiowers,  which  make  the  tree  a 
conspicuous  object  at  a  distance.  B.  Bidwillii, 
a  native  of  the  Wide  Bay  district,  has  bright 
crimson  flowers,  produced  in  axillary 
bunches.  B.  Delabechia,  Syn.  Delabechia 
rupestris,  is  a  very  interesting  species,  popu- 
larly known  as  the  Bottle  Tree  of  Australia. 

Brachyco'mc.  From  brachys,  short,  and  home, 
hair.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositm. 

This  beautiful  annual  is  found  on  the  banks 
01  the  Swan  River,  in  Australia,  ajid  has  there 
the  very  appropriate  name  of  Swan  River 
Daisy,  as  the  flower  closely  resembles  the 
Daisy.  The  plant  grows  from  six  to  ten 
inches  high,  and  has  a  closely  compact 
branching  habit,  producing  an  abundance  of 
flowers.  It  is  well  adapted  for  small  beds 
or  rockeries.  Propagated  by  seeds.  Intro- 
duced in  1840. 

Brachyse'ma.  From  brachys,  short,  and  aema, 
standard ;  the  flowers  having  the  standard 
petal  short.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosm. 

A  genus  of  handsome  green-house  shrubs, 
mostly  climbing,  from  Australia.  B.  aphyllum 
is,  as  its  name  would  imply,  a  leafless  plant, 
the  branches  being  singularly  compi-essed 
and  winged,  so  as  to  perform  the  functions  of 
leaves.  Small  brown  scales  are  found  scat- 
tered over  these  branches,  and  from  these  the 
flowers  grow.  They  are  single,  large,  and  of 
a  bright  blood-red  color.  B.  lanceolalum  is  a 
very  handsome  species,  and  well  adapted  for 
the  green-house,  flowering,  as  it  does,  in 
winter  or  the  early  spring  months.  Its  leaves 
are  ovate  or  lanceolate  in  form,  with  a  glossy 
upper  surface,  and  covered  with  a  silvery 
pubesence  underneath.  The  fiowers  are  in 
axillary  clusters,  large  and  rich  scarlet. 

Bracteae  or  Bracts.  The  leaves  placed  imme- 
diately below  a  calyx,  if  they  are  at  all  altered 
from  their  usual  form. 

Bracted  Bindw^eed.     See  Calystegia^ 

Bra'hea.  Named  after  Tycho  Bracks,  the  cele- 
brated astronomer.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmaceae. 

A  genus  of  medium-sized  Palms,  with  fan- 
like leaves  and  spiny  leaf-stalks.  B.filamen- 
tosa,  a  native  of  Lower  California,  is  largely 
cultivated  in  our  green-houses  for  decorative 
purposes.  It  is  of  graceful  habit  and  rapid 
growth,  succeeding  well  with  but  little  care  in 


56 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


BRA 

the  green-house.  This  species  is  also  known 
as  Pritchardia  Jilifera.  It  is  now  said  that  B, 
filamento8a  is  neither  a  Brahea  nor  a  Pritch- 
ardia, and  it  is  therefore  proposed  to  call  it 
Washingtonia,  which  see.  Young  plants  are 
obtained  from  seed.  B.  edulis  i3  now  placed 
under  Erythea,  which  see. 

Brahmin's  Beads.  An  Indian  name  for  the 
corrugated  seeds  of  Elceocarpus,  which  are 
used  by  the  Brahmins,  for  necJilaces,  etc. 

Brai'nea.  After  J.  C.  Braine,  of  Hong  Kong. 
Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacem. 

B.  i7imgnis,  the  only  known  species,  is  a  very 
handsome  dwarf  Tree  Fern,  a  native  of  Hong 
Kong.  The  stem  is  from  three  to  four  feet 
high ;  the  fronds  about  three  feet  long,  finely 
pinnate,  giving  the  plant  an  elegant  outline. 
Sir  W.  J.  Hooker  says :  "  We  have  here  a  very 
remarkable,  and,  if  I  may  say  so,  a  new  form 
among  the  Ferns." 

Brake  or  Bracken.  The  popular  name  of 
Pteris  aqvAlina,  one  of  our  common  strong- 
growing  Ferns. 

Bramble.    See  Ruhua. 

Brassavo'Ia.  Named  after  A.  M.  Brasaavola,  a 
Venetian  botanist.    Nat.  Ord.  Orchidactm. 

A  small  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids,  belong- 
ing exclusively  to  tropical  America.  Buc  few 
of  the  species  have  merits  that  entitle  them 
to  a  place  in  general  collections.  The  few  are 
of  easy  culture,  and  produce  flowers  nearly 
six  inches  across,  white,  or  creamy  white, 
spotted  with  chocolate.  The  plants  are  all 
dwarf,  with  very  short  flower  stems.  They 
are  usually  grown  on  a  block,  in  a  rather  high 
temperature,  and  are  increased  by  division. 
Introduced  in  1840. 

Bra'ssia.  Named  after  Mr.  Brass,  a  traveler 
and  botanical  collector.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacem. 
This  genus  of  Orchids  is  nearly  allied  to 
Oncidium,  but  not  so  popular  because  of  their 
dull-coloi'ed  flowers.  Some  of  the  species  are 
highly  valued  by  growers,  as  they  pro- 
duce, with  but  little  care  and  trouble,  an 
abundance  of  flowers  from  June  to  August. 
Flowers  mostly  yellow,  or  greenish  white 
spotted  with  brown.     Introduced  in  1844. 

Bra'ssica.  Cabbage.  From  bresic,  the  Celtic 
name  for  Cabbage.     Nat.  Ord.  Cruciferm. 

From  this  genus  which  is  found  throughout 
Europe,  more  particularly  in  Great  Britain, 
there  has  been  produced  a  greater  variety  of 
culinary  vegetables  than  from  any  other.  It 
comprehends  Cabbage,  Cauliflower,  Turnip, 
Borecole,  Broccoli,  Brussels  Sprouts  and  Kohl 
Rabi,  each  oi!  which  will  be  noticed  under  its 
popular  name. 

Brassica'cese.  A  sub-order  or  tribe  of  Cruel- 
fercB. 

Bravo'a.  Named  after  Bravo,  a  Mexican 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  AmaryllidacecB. 

This  genus  consists  of  but  a  single  species, 
B.  geminiflora,  a  graceful  little  tuberous-rooted 
plant,  native  of  Mexico.  It  has  a  small 
tuft  of  narrow  leaves,  from  which  arises 
a  flower  spike  about  a  foot  high,  with  a  ter- 
minal cluster  of  small,  crimson,  Amaryllis-like 
flowers,  in  July.  It  will  flower  in  the  open 
border,  but  requires  the  protection  of  tbe 
green-house  during  Avinter.  Propagated  by 
division. 


BRO 

Brazilian  Tea.  Rex  Paraguarienaia  and  /Sto- 
chytarpheta  Jamaicensis. 

Brazil  Nut.    See  Bertholletia. 

Brazil  "Wood.     See  CcBsalpinia. 

Bread  Fruit.    See  Artocarpus. 

Bread  Nut.    See  Brosimum. 

Bre'dia.  A  gpuus  of  MelastomacecB,  consisting 
of  two  species  of  shrubby  plants  from  Japan 
and  China,  with  unequal  foliage,  and  terminal 
cymes  of  rose-colored  flowers.  B.  hirsuta  is  a 
very  showy  plant  with  rosy-pink  flowers,  one- 
half  inch  across,  and  is  increased  readily  by 
cuttings  or  from  seeds.  It  is  a  native  of 
Japan  and  was  introduced  in  1870. 

Bre'xia.  From  hrexis,  rain ;  in  reference  to  the 
protection  from  rain  given  by  the  large  leaves 
of  some  of  the  species.  Nat.  Ord.  Saxir 
fragacecR. 

A  small  genus  of  very  handsome  evergreen 
trees,  natives  of  Madagascar.  The  flowers 
are  of  a  leathery  texture,  greenish  color,  and 
produced  in  axillary  umbels.  They  have 
alternate  leatherj'  leaves,  furnished  with  spiny 
teeth.  The  plants  are  readily  increased  by 
cuttings,  but  are  too  large  for  ordinary  cultiva- 
tion in  the  green-house. 

Briar-root.  A  corruption  of  the  French 
"  Bruyere  "  of  which  pipes  are  made,  Erica 
arborea. 

Bridal-'Wreath.  A  popular  name  for  Spiraea 
prunifoliafl.  pi. 

Brimstone  (Vegetable).  The  inflammable  spores 
of  Lycopodium  clavatum,  and  L.  Selago,  some- 
times employed  in  the  manufacture  of  fire- 
works. 

Bristle  Fern,     Trichomanea  radicana. 

Bristly.     Covered  with  stiff  hairs. 

Bristly  Foxtail  Grass.     See  Setaria. 

Bri'za.  Quaking  Grass.  From  brizo,  to  nod ;  on 
account  of  the  quaking  character  of  the  spike. 
Nat.  Ord.  GraminacecB. 

A  handsome  genus  of  grasses,  some  of 
which  are  cultivated  in  the  garden  as  orna- 
mental plants.  When  dried  they  are  highly 
esteemed  for  bouquets  of  dried  flowers  and 
grasses.  The  kinds  usually  grown  are  B. 
media,  a  perennial,  and  B.  maxima,  a  larger 
species,  an  annual  from  the  south  of  Europe. 
It  is  of  easy  culture,  requiring  only  to  be 
sown  where  it  is  wanted  to  be  grown,  in  the 
open  border,  as  early  in  spring  as  the  ground 
can  be  prepared. 

Brizopy'rum.  Spike  Grass.  Name  compound- 
ed of  briza,  the  quaking  grass,  and  pyroa, 
wheat.     Nat.  Ord.  GraminacecB. 

B.  Spicatum,  the  best  known  species,  is  a 
salt  marsh  grass,  with  creeping  rootstocks, 
stems  from  ten  to  eighteen  inches  high,  in 
tufts.     It  has  no  agricultural  value. 

Broccoli.  Brassicaoleraceahotrytis,  This  vege- 
table somewhat  resembles  the  Cauliflower, 
from  which  it  is  supposed  to  have  originated, 
although  there  is  nothing  definitely  known  as 
to  its  origin.  It  is,  however,  more  recent 
than  most  others  of  the  genus.  Miller  says  it 
was  introduced  into  England  from  Italy  in 
1724,  two  varieties,  white  and  purple,  from 
which  all  the  present  garden  varieties  have 
been  produced. 


AND  GENEEAL  HORTICULTURE. 


57 


BRO 

Brodiae'a.  Named  after  J.  J.  Brodie,  a  Scotch 
cryptogamist.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacecs. 

Very  curious  little  bulbous-rooted  plants. 
B.  Caiifomica,  with  blue  and  white  flowers,  is 
easily  cultivated  in  sandy  loam  with  the  con- 
venience of  a  green-house  or  cold  frame. 
Increase  is  sparingly  effected  by  offsets.  Intro- 
duced in  184S. 

Brome  Grass.    See  Bromus. 

Bromelia'ceae.  The  Pine-apple  family.  A 
natural  order,  consisting  of  short-stemmed 
plants,  with  rigid,  channeled,  and  often  scurfy 
and  spiny  leaves  and  showy  flowers.  They 
are  natives  of  the  American  continent  and 
islands,  whence  they  have  been  distributed  to 
Africa  and  the  East  Indies.  A7ianassa  saliva, 
the  Pine-apple  or  Ananas,  is  one  of  the  best 
known  and  most  delicious  of  this  or  any  other 
order.  The  fruit  is  composed  of  the  pistils 
and  bracts  of  several  flowers  united  into  a 
succulent  mass,  and  crowned  by  a  series  of 
green  leaves.  The  fibers  of  the  plant  are 
used  in  manufactures.  The  Pine-apple  is 
grown  under  glass  very  successfully  in  Europe, 
but  the  fine  condition  in  which  they  are 
received  here  from  Jamaica  and  other  places, 
makes  their  culture  under  glass  here  unneces- 
sary. Some  of  the  Bromeliads  grow  attached 
to  the  branches  of  trees,  and  are  called  Air 
Plants,  the  best  known  here  being  Tillandsia 
usneoides,  the  Tree  Beard  of  South  America. 
Under  the  name  of  Florida  Moss  it  is  very 
largely  used  for  decorative  purposes.  It  is 
also  used  for  stuffing  cushions,  etc.,  under 
the  name  of  Spanish  Moss,  Black  Moss,  or 
Long  Moss.  There  are  twenty-eight  known 
genera,  and  176  species  of  this  order.  Brom- 
elia,  Ananassa,  Bilbergia,  ^chmea,  and  Til- 
landsia, are  examples  of  the  order.  The 
bracts  of  some  of  the  species  are  exceedingly 
beautiful. 

Bro'mus.  Brome  Grass.  So  called  from  bro- 
mos,  the  Greek  name  for  a  wild  oat.  Nat.  Ord. 
Graminacece. 

A  genus  of  poor,  coarse -growing  grasses,  of 
little  use  in  agriculture,  and  of  little  beauty. 
This  is  the  pest  of  the  farmer,  to  which  he 
applies  a  significant  and  a  justly  proper 
name.  Cheat  or  Chess.  However  much  it  may 
cheat  the  farmer  by  crowding  out  Wheat  and 
Rye,  we  catmot  excuse  him  for  cheating  him- 
self with  the  absurd  delusion,  so  widely  preva- 
lent, that  his  Wheat  has  turned  into  Chess, 
from  some  cause  which  cannot  be  explained. 
The  species  are  annuals,  and  the  seed  will 
remain  a  long  time  in  the  ground,  and  germi- 
nate only  when  the  conditions  of  growth  are 
favorable.  It  is  a  native  of  Europe,  though 
naturalized  in  many  places  in  this  country. 
B.  Schroederi,  Rescue  Grass,  or  Australian 
Prairie  Grass,  is  a  valuable  forage  grass, 
remarkable  for  the  rapidity  of  its  growth  and 
its  productiveness.  As  soon  as  the  first  cut- 
ting is  made  a  new  growth  shoots  up,  and  this 
can  be  repeated  sometimes  four  or  five  tim(>s 
during  the  season,  providing  it  is  cut  before 
the  seed  matures.  It  thrives  in  almost  any 
soil,  but  is  better  adapted  to  that  which  is  wet 
or  moist. 

Brongnia'rtia.  Named  in  honor  of  Brongniart, 
a  French  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosae. 

A  valuable  and  rather  scarce  plant,  having 
flesh-colored  flowers.     It  should  be  treated  as 


BRO 

a  green-house  shrub,  potting  it  in  loam  and 
sand.     A  native  of  New  Spain,  introduced  in 

1827. 

Brook  Limo.     Veronica  Bccabiingn. 
American.     Veronica  Americana. 

Brook  Mint.     Mentha  hirsuta. 

Brook  "Weed  or  Water  Pimpernel.  The  popu- 
lar name  of  Samoliis,  a  comiuou  plant  in  wet 
or  marshy  places. 

Broom.  A  name  applied  to  Cytisus  or  Saroth- 
amnus  scoparius,  and  also  to  Lygeum  Spartum, 
African  Broom  is  a  common  name  for  A>ipa- 
lathus.  Butcher's  Brootu  is  Rusciis  airaleu.tus, 
and  is  also  a  common  name  for  Rttscvs.  Dyer's 
Broom  is  Genista  tinctoria.  New  Zealand 
Broom  is  Carmichaelia  an--ilralis.  Hush  Broom 
is  a  common  name  for  Viminaria;  it  is  also 
applied  to  Spartiumjunceum.  Spanish  liroora 
is  Spartiumjunceum.  Broom  Corn  is  Sorgki/m 
vidgare,  the  branched  panicles  of  whieii  are 
made  into  carpet  brooms  and  clothes  brushes. 

Broom  Grass.     Andropogon  scxtparius. 

Broom  Rape.     A  popular  name  of  the  genus 

Orobanche. 
Broom  "Weed.     Corchorus  siliqu/)sus. 

Bro'simum.  Bread  Nut.  From  brosimos,  good 
to  eat;  the  fruit  being  edible.  Nat.  Ord. 
Artocarpacece. 

A  small  genus  of  tall-growing  trees,  natives 
of  the  West  Indies  and  South  America,  where 
they  are  highly  esteemed  for  the  food  obtained 
from  them,  and  for  the  valuable  timber  the^' 
furnish.  13.  Alicastrum  is  the  Bread-nut  Ti'ee 
of  Jamaica,  the  fruit  of  v*'hich  is  about  an  inch 
in  diameter,  and  contains  a  single  seed  or  nut, 
which  is  said  to  form  an  agreeable  and  nour- 
ishing article  of  food.  When  boiled  or  roasted 
the  nuts  have  the  taste  of  hazel-nuts.  Snake- 
wood  or  Leopard-wood  is  the  heart-wood  of 
one  of  the  species,  B.  Aubletti,  a  native  of 
Trinidad  and  British  Guiana.  B.  galactoden- 
dron,  which  is  the  celebrated  Cow  Tree  of 
South  America,  yields  a  milk  of  as  good  qual- 
ity as  that  from  the  cow.  It  forms  large  for- 
ests on  the  seacoast  of  Venezuela,  growing  100 
or  more  feet  higli,  with  a  smooth  trunk  six  to 
eight  feet  in  diameter.  Its  milk,  which  is 
obtained  by  ma,king  incisions  in  the  trunk,  so 
closely  resembles  the  milk  of  the  cow,  both  in 
appearance  and  quality,  that  it  is  commonly 
used  as  an  article  of  food  by  the  inhabitants 
of  the  localities  where  the  tree  abounds. 
Unlike  most  other  vegetable  milks,  it  is  per- 
fectly wholesome,  and  very  nourishing,  pos- 
sessing an  agreeable  taste,  like  that  of  sweet 
cream,  and  a  balsamic  odor;  its  only  unpleas- 
ant quality  being  a  slight  amount  of  stickiness. 
Like  animal  milk,  it  quickly  forms  a  yellow, 
cheesy  scum  on  the  surface,  and  after  a  few 
days  turns  sour  and  putrefies. 

Broughto'nia.  Named  after  Mr.  Broughton,  an 
English  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchviacem. 

A  small  genus  of  very  handsome  West 
Indian  Orchids,  soraewhat  resembling  the 
LcBlia  and  Cafllej/a.  They  commonly  grow  on 
bushes  in  Cuba  and  Jamaica.  The  flowers  are 
crimson  and  produced  from  the  top  of  the 
pseudo-bulb  during  the  summer,  and  are  of 
long  duration.  They  are  of  easy  culture, 
growing  best  on  blocks  of  wood,  and  should 
have  plenty  of  light  and  sun.  Propagated  by 
division.    Introduced  in  18'24. 


58 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


BRO 

Broussoiie'tia.  Named  after  Broiissonet,a.French 
naturalist.     Nat.  Orel.  UrticacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  trees  closely  allied  to  the 
Mulberry.  B.  papyrifera,  is  the  well-known 
Paper  Mulberry,  v/hich  is  so  called  on  account 
of  its  fibrous  innerbark  being  used  by  the 
Chinese  and  Japanese  for  making  paper.  It 
grows  wild  in  China  and  Japan,  and  also  in 
many  of  the  islands  of  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
where  the  natives  manufacture  a  large  part 
of  their  clothing  from  its  bark.  It  forms  a 
small  tree,  attaining  about  twenty  or  thirty 
feet  in  height,  with  a  trunk  seldom  more  than  a 
foot  in  diameter,  and  generally  branching  at 
a  short  distance  from  the  ground.  The  young 
branches  are  covered  with  short,  soft  hairs. 
The  bark  from  the  young  shoots  onlj^  is  used 
for  making  paper.  In  the  South  Sea  Islands, 
a  strong  cloth  is  made  from  this  bark,  which 
is  commonly  used  for  clothing,  either  plain  or 
printed,  and  dyed  of  various  colors. 

Browa'llia.  Named  after  J.  BrowalUus,  Bishop 
of  Abo.     Nat.  Ord.  ScrophulariacecB. 

The  Browallias  are  handsome,  free-flower- 
ing, half  hardy  annuals.  They  succeed  best 
started  in  the  green-house  and  repotted  before 
being  planted  out;  they  can,  however,  be 
successfully  grown  by  being  started  in  the 
hot-bed  ;  and  often  groAV  well  when  sown  in  the 
open  border.  The  plants  will  be  completely 
studded  over  with  their  beautiful  blue  or 
white  flowers  the  whole  summer.  They  are 
also  excellent  winter-flowering  plants.  B. 
Jamesoni,  known  also  as  Streptosolon,  is  a 
beautiful  autumn  flowering  species,  with  large 
panicles  of  bright  orange-colored,  tubular 
flowers,  with  a  lighter-colored  throat.  Re-in- 
troduced recently  from  New  Grenada,  after 
being  lost  to  cultivation  for  over  thirty  years. 

Brown  Bugle.     Ajuga  reptans. 

Bro'-wnea.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  Patrick 
Browne,  who  wrote  a  history  of  Jamaica. 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  small  genus  of  low  evergreen  trees  chiefly 
confined  to  Venezuela  and  New  Grenada.  The 
leaves  are  alternate,  and  from  one  to  one  and 
a  half  feet  long,  with  from  four  to  twelve 
pairs  of  entire  leaflets.  The  flowers  are  rose- 
colored  or  crimson,  and  disposed  in  terminal 
or  axillary  heads.  B.  gra7idiccj)s  has  large  and 
beautiful  heads  of  flowers,  of  a  pink  color,  ar- 
ranged in  tiers,  the  outer  ones  expanding  flrst, 
followed  by  the  others  until  all  are  open,  when 
the  flower-head  somewhat  resembles  that  of 
a  Rhododendron.  A  singular  fact  in  connec- 
tion with  this  plant  is,  that  the  leaves  droop 
during  the  day  so  as  to  almost  hide  the 
flowers  from  view,  and  protect  them  from  the 
heat  of  the  sun.  At  evening  they  rise  up 
again,  and  remain  erect  during  the  night,  and 
the  flowers  are  thus  exposed  to  the  falling 
dew.  The  species  are  rarely  seen  under  cul- 
tivation. 

Brugma'nsia.  Named  in  honor  of  Prof.  S.  J. 
Brugmans,  a  botanical  author.  Nat.  Ord. 
SolanaceoR. 

Peruvian  shrubs,  or  low,  succulent-stemmed 
trees,  of  which  B.  suaveolens  (better  known  by 
the  name  of  Datura  arborea),  B.  Knightii,  and  B. 
«ansfMmeaare  magnificent  species.  Being  large 
plants,  growing  to  the  height  of  ten  or  twelve 
feet,  they  look  best  when  planted  in  the  ground 
in  a  conservatory ;  but  they  will  grow  well  in 


BRY 

large  pots,  or  they  maybe  planted  in  the  open 
garden  in  the  summer  season,  and  taken  up 
and  preserved  in  a  cellar,  from  wliich  the  frost 
is  excluded,  during  winter,  to  be  replaced  in 
the  open  border  the  following  spring.  The 
flowers,  popularly  called  Angels'  Trumpets, 
are  trumpet-sliaped,  a  foot  or  more  in  length, 
and  very  fragrant.  The  plants  grow  freely  in 
light,  rich  soil;  and  they  are  readily  propa- 
gated by  cuttings  either  of  the  shoots  or 
roots. 

Brune'lla.  Name  changed  from  Prunella, 
which  see. 

Brunfe'lsia.  A  name  given  to  a  genus  of 
ScrophidariacecB,  in  honor  of  Otto  Brunfels,  of 
Metz,  who  pul)lished  the  first  good  figures  of 
plants  in  1530. 

Elegant  free-flowering  evergreen  plants, 
natives  of  South  America  and  the  West 
Indies.  B.  calycina  has  large  purple  flowers 
disposed  in  large  trusses,  which  are  produced 
in  succession  throughout  the  whole  year. 
B.  conferlijlora,  has  light  blue  flowers,  borne 
on  terminal  heads  or  cymes.  All  the  species 
are  fragrant,  and  may  be  propagated  by 
cuttings. 

Bruns\i'gia.  Named  after  the  house  of  Bruns- 
wick.    Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidacece. 

Of  this  splendid  genus  of  Cape  bulbs,  Sweet 
observes:  "Some  of  the  bulbs  grow  to  a 
great  size,  and  I'equire  large  pots  to  have  them 
flower  in  perfection  ;  or,  if  planted  out  in  the 
open  borders  in  spring,  there  will  be  a  better 
chance  of  their  flowering,  taking  the  bulbs  up 
again  in  autumn  ;  or  the  best  way  to  succeed 
well  with  them  is  to  have  a  pit  built  on  purpose 
for  them,  so  as  to  occasionally  be  covered 
with  the  lights  to  keep  off  too  much  wet,  and 
to  be  covered  close  in  severe  weatiier,  as  they 
cannot  bear  the  frost.  The  mould  must  be 
made  for  them  of  full  one-third  sand,  more 
than  one-third  of  turfy  loam,  and  the  rest  of 
leaf  mould,  all  well  mixed  together,  but  not 
chopped  too  small,  as  the  roots  run  better 
through  it  for  being  rough  and  hollow. 
When  in  full  growth  and  flower  they  require 
a  frequent  supply  of  water,  but  none  while  dor- 
mant." B.  Josephince  is  very  seldom  induced 
to  flower  in  this  country,  though  it  is  no  un- 
common occurrence  in  its  native  country, 
where  it  is  said  to  produce  very  large  heads 
of  flowers.  Several  species  flower  more 
freely,  though  none  so  grand.  Propagated  by 
offsets. 

Brussels  Sprouts.  Brasaica  oleracea  hullata 
geminifera,  a  variety  of  the  Cabbage,  which 
see. 

Bryo'nia.  From  bryo,  to  sprout ;  in  allusion 
to  the  quick  growth  of  the  stems.  Nat.  Ord. 
Cucurbitacece. 

A  genus  of  climbing,  hardy  herbaceous  per- 
ennials, natives  of  Europe,  the  East  Indies, 
and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  B.  alba  and  B. 
dioica&re  generally  considered  by  botanists  to 
be  one  species,  the  only  difference  being  in 
the  color  of  the  berries.  The  species  is  what 
is  generally  known  as  the  Common  Bry- 
ony, and  is  found  in  the  hedgerows  of  Great 
Britain.  It  has  a  very  large  tuberous  root, 
from  which  twining  stems  spring,  which  are 
annual  and  rough.  The  plants  climb  by 
tendrils,  and,  what  is  very  unusual,  the  direc- 
tion of  the  spiral  is  now  and  tlien  changed,  so 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


59 


BRY 

that,  after  proceeding  In  one  course  for  some 
distance,  tlie  tendril  suddenly  (changes  to  an 
opposite  direction.  The  male  and  female 
flowers  are  in  separate  clusters;  sometimes, 
though  not  always,  they  are  on  different 
plants.  The  plant  has  a  fetid  odor,  and  pos- 
sesses acrid,  emetic  and  purgative  properties, 
and  from  its  elegant  appearance  in  autumn, 
with  its  brilliant  colored  fruit,  accidents  not 
unfrequently  occur  to  children  and  others, 
incautiously  tasting  the  fruit,  which  is  an 
active  poison.  Singularly  enough,  the  young 
shoots  maj'  be  cooked  and  eaten  with  impu- 
nity. When  served  up  in  the  same  manner  as 
Asparagus,  thej'  are  said  to  equal  it  in  flavor. 
Many  of  the  species  are  not  poisonous,  and 
are  much  valued  for  their  medicinal  prop- 
erties. 

Eryono'psis  laciniosa,  is  a  beautiful  cucurbi- 
taeeous  annual  climber  with  palmately,  five- 
cleft  leaves,  yellow  flowers  and  very  pretty 
fruit  about  the  size  of  a  cherry,  green  marbled 
with  white.  It  was  introduced  from  Ceylon 
in  1710.  It  is  now  placed  under  Bryonia,  by 
some  authors. 

Bry'ony.     See  Bryonia. 

Bryophy'llum.  So  named  from  hryo,  to  grow, 
and  phyllon,  a  leaf ;  in  reference  to  the  circum- 
stances of  the  leaf,  when  laid  upon  damp  earth, 
emitting  roots,  whence  arise  young  plants. 
Nat.  Ord.  Cra>^sulacecB. 

B.  calycinum,  a  species  common  in  the 
green-house,  is  a  native  of  India.  When  in 
flower  it  is  quite  handsome,  producing  loose 
panicles  of  drooping,  greenish-purple  flowers. 
It  is  very  easily  grown. 

Buchii,  Bucha  or  Buka.  A  name  applied  in 
South  Africa  to  the  leaves  of  several  species 
of  Bar  OS  ma. 

Buchne'ra.     A  syn.  for  Stephandra. 

Buckbean.  The  common  name  of  a  plant 
belonging  to  the  Gentian  family,  Menyanthes 
trifoliata,  common  in  wet  places  and  of  little 
interest. 

Buckeye.     See  ^sculus. 

Bucklandia.  Named  after  Dr.  Buckland,  a  pro- 
fessor of  geology  at  Oxford.  Nat.  Ord.  Ham- 
amelidacece. 

B.  Populnea,  the  only  species  in  cul- 
tivation, is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  trees 
of  the  forests  of  the  Sikkim  Himalayas  at  an 
elevation  of  4,000  to  6,000  feet.  It  attains  a 
height  of  one  hundred  feet,  with  a  cylindrical 
trunk,  and  oblong  crown  of  evergreen  foliage. 
The  leaves  are  orbicular-cordate  and  may  be 
likened  to  those  of  a  Dioscorea,  being  when 
young  of  a  rosy  purple  color  with  golden-green 
veins.     Introduced  in  1875. 

Buckthorn.     See  Rhamnus. 

Buck^vheat.  Fagopyrum  escuUntum.  The  com- 
mon Buckwheat  is  a  native  of  Central  Asia, 
and  has  long  been  under  cultivation.  It  is 
more  extensively  grown  as  an  article  of  food 
in  this  country  than  in  any  other.  Buckwheat 
cakes  being  purely  an  American  institution. 
It  thrives  on  a  poor  soil  that  would  not  sustain 
many  other  plants,  and  give  a  fair  yield.  Of 
the  improvement  in  the  quality  of  this  grain 
from  its  native  wild  state  we  have  no  record. 
There  are  several  varieties  grown,  but  the 
quality  depends  largely  upon  soil  and  climate. 
The  Japanese  Buckwheat  lately  introduced  has 


BUG 

proved  to  be  a  great  improvement  on  the 
ordinary  sorts,  the  kernels  being  at  least 
twice  the  size  of  any  other  variety,  peculiar  in 
shape,  and  of  a  rich  dark  shade  of  brown  in 
color.  Flour  made  from  it  is  equal  in  quality, 
if  not  superior  to  any  other  sort.  It  is 
enormously  pi'oductive,  yielding  two  or  three 
times  as  much  as  any  other  sort,  both  in  grain 
and  straw. 

Buckwheat  Tree.  Cliftonia  {MylocaryuhC)  li{}va- 
trina. 

Budding.  This  is  the  practice  in  use  of  placing 
a  bud  of  one  variety  of  plant  on  another.  The 
shoot  or  stock  to  be  budded  upon  must  always 
be  in  a  thrifty,  growing  state,  so  that  the  bark 
can  be  raised  freely  from  the  wood,  and  the 
bud  to  be  inserted  must  be  in  such  a  state 
that  it  shows  prominently  at  the  asil  oi  the 
leaf.  Select  a  smooth  portion  of  the  stem  of 
the  shoot  to  be  budded  upon,  strip  it  of  leaves 
(or  thorns,  if  any)  sufficient  to  allow  room  for 
the  operation ;  then  make  a  cut  through  the 
bark  to  the  wood  in  length  sufficient  to  admit 
the  bud,  with  a  cross  cut  at  the  top.  Above 
this  cross  cut  make  a  slight  sloping  cut  in  the 
bark,  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  length, 
so  as  to  admit  the  easy  insertion  of  the  bud. 
This  custom  is  not  general,  but  it  will  be 
found  to  be  easier,  and,  we  think,  safer.  Next 
take  the  shoot  from  which  the  bud  to  be 
inserted  is  to  be  cut,  and  selecting  such  as 
have  the  properly  developed  condition  of  bud, 
cut  it  from  the  shoot  about  half  an  inch  on 
each  side  of  the  bud,  just  deep  enough  to  get 
about  as  much  thickness  of  the  wood  as  the 
bark.  If  the  portion  of  the  shoot  from  which 
the  bud  is  taken  is  well  ripened,  it  is  best  to 
separate  the  wood  from  the  bark  ;  but  if  not, 
it  will  do  quite  as  well  not  to  remove  it,  but 
insert  the  bud  in  the  stock  just  as  it  is  cut. 
The  edges  of  the  cut  in  the  stock  are  lifted 
and  slightly  pressed  outward  by  the  point  of 
the  budding-knife,  the  bud  inserted,  and 
pushed  down  by  the  ivory  handle.  To  keep 
the  bud  in  place  it  is  wrapped  neatly  round 
with  any  soft  tying  material,  the  fiber  known 
as  Raphia  being  the  best.  In  two  or  three 
weeks  after  the  bud  has  been  put  in  it  will  be 
safe  to  remove  the  tying.  All  shoots  starting 
below  the  bud  must  be  rubbed  off  as  soon  as 
they  start,  and  when  the  bud  begins  to  grow, 
the  portion  of  the  stock  above  the  graft  must 
be  cut  off,  so  that  the  inserted  bud  may  get 
the  fuU  benefit  of  growth. 

Buddle'ia.  Named  after  A.  Buddie,  an  English 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  ScrophulariacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  herbaceous  plants, 
shrubs,  and  low-growing  trees.  Leaves  oppo- 
site and  thickly  covered  with  hairs.  The 
flowers  of  some  of  the  species  are  very  beauti- 
ful and  fragrant;  they  are  mostly  small,  bright 
orange,  purplish  or  lilac,  and  arranged  in 
small  globular  heads,  on  long  peduncles. 
They  are  natives  of  South  America,  Mexico, 
Africa,  and  tropical  Asia.  Some  of  the  species 
are  half-hardy,  and  would  be  likely  to  succeed 
well,  south  of  Washington. 

Buffalo  Berry.     Missouri.    Shephetdia  argentea. 

Buffalo  Grass,   or  Buffalo  Clover.     See    Tri- 

folium. 

Buffalo  Nut.     Pyndaria  oleifera. 
Bugle.     See  Ajuga  reptans. 


60 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


BUG 

Bugle  Weed.  The  popular  name  of  Lycopus 
Virginictts. 

Bugloss.     Lycopsis  arvensis. 

Bugloss.     CoAvslip.     Pulmonaria  officinalis. 

Buglosa.     Viper's.     Echium  vulgare. 

Bulb.  An  underground  bud,  consisting  of 
numerous  fleshy  scales  placed  one  over  the 
other,  a  modifit^d  form  of  the  leaf  bud.  A 
bulb  is  usually  placed  partly  or  entirely  under- 
ground. There  are  several  kinds  of  bulbs, 
the  following  being  the  most  common:  A 
Naked  Bulb  is  a.  bulb  whose  scales  are  loose 
and  almost  separate,  as  in  the  Crown  Im- 
perial. A  Tunicated  Bulb  is  one  whose  fleshy 
scales  overlap  each  other,  forming  concentric 
layers,  the  outer  ones  being  thin  or  mem- 
braneous, such  as  Hyacinths,  Onions,  Tulips, 
etc.  A  Solid  Bulb  is  properly  a  Corm,  which 
see. 

Bulbiferous.    Bearing  or  producing  bulbs. 

Bulbil.  An  axillary  bulb  with  fleshy  scales, 
falling  off  its  parent  spontaneously,  and  prop- 
agating it.  Applied  more  especially  to  those 
buds  on  the  stem,  which  occasionally  assume 
the  character  of  bulbs,  as  in  Lilium  tigrinum. 

Biilbi'ne.  rrf)m  bolbos,  a  bulb.  Nat.  Ord. 
Liliacere. 

Half-hardy  plants,  available  for  flower- 
gardening  purposes.  They  are  showy,  frag- 
rant, do  not  require  any  particular  care  in 
their  management,  and  are  propagated  rapidly 
by  cuttings.  Natives  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope ;  introduced  in  1820. 

Bulboco'dium.  From  bolbos,  a  bulb,  and  kodion, 
wool ;  referring  to  the  woolly  covering  of  the 
bulbs.     Nat.  Ord.  Melanthacem. 

Very  handsome  hardy  bulbs,  bearing  purple 
flowers,  and  well  deserving  of  attention.  They 
should  be  carefully  watered  in  dry  weather. 
B.  vemum,  one  of  our  earliest  spring  flowers, 
was  introduced  from  Spain  in  1629.  The  other 
species,  B.  versicolor,  flowering  towards  the 
autumn,  was  introduced  from  the  Crimea  in 
1820. 

Bulbophy'llum.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  genus  of  Orchids  containing  a  number  of 

species,  few  of  which  are  worth  cultivating 

except  as  curiosities. 
BuUace.     Prunus  insititia. 
BuUace.     Jamaica.     Melicocca  bijuga. 
BuUate.     Blistered,  or  puckered. 
Bull-rush,  or  Club-rush.     The  popular  name  of 

the  genus  Scirpus  ;  also  Typha  latifolia. 

Bunielia.  The  Greeks  gave  this  name  to  the 
common  Ash.     Nat.  Ord.  SapotacecB. 

A  genus  of  spiny  shrubs,  with  hard  wood, 
remarkable  for  the  beauty  of  their  foliage. 
Natives  of  the  West  Indies  and  the  Southern 
United  States.  Our  native  species  are  locally 
known  as  Gum  Elastic,  Shittim-wood,  Iron- 
wood,  Saffron  Plum,  etc. 

Bunch-berry.  A  common  name  of  Comus  Cana- 
densis, Dwarf  Cornel  or  Dog-wood. 

Bu'nium.  A  genus  of  tuberous-rooted  umbel- 
liferous plants,  chiefly  inhabitants  of  southern 
Europe  and  western  Asia;  interesting  on  ac- 
count of  their  producing  edible  tubers.  Those 
of  B.jlexuosum,  a  native  of  Britain,  are  called 
Ar-nuts,  Pig-nuts,  Kipper-nuts,  etc.  B.ferulcB- 
folium,  produces  tubers  as  large  as  hazel  nuts, 


BUR 

which  are  eaten  by  the    Greeks  under  the 
name  Topana. 

Bu'phane.  A  misprint  (subsequently  corrected 
by  Herbert),  for  Buphone,  from  bons,  an  ox, 
and  phone,  destruction,  in  allusion  to  the 
poisonous  properties  of  the  plant,  but  Buphane 
is  the  name  adopted  by  the  authors  of  the 
"  Genera  Plantarum,"  and  by  Baker  in  his 
♦' Amaryllidete."     'Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidaceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  South  Africa  bulbs,  for- 
merly included  in  the  genus  Brunsvigia.  They 
are  remarkable  in  having  precocious  flower- 
scapes,  with  from  100  to  2U0  flowers  in  a  single 
head.  B.  toxicuria  is  called  the  Poison  Bulb, 
and  is  said  to  be  fatal  to  cattle.  B.  disticha 
has  immense  bulbs,  the  flowers  of  the  former 
are  flesh-colored,  and  quite  small ;  those  of 
the  latter  orange-red.  All  this  class  are  quite 
difficult  to  manage.  They  succeed  best  grown 
in  a  pit,  and  protected  against  cold  and  wet. 

Buphtha'lmum.  Ox-eye.  From  boMS,  an  ox, 
and  opMhalmos,  an  eye ;  in  allusion  to  the  re- 
semblance the  disk  of  the  flowers  bears  to  an 
ox's  eye.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositaz. 

A  genus  including  many  hardy  annuals, 
perennials,  and  green-house  evergreen  shrubs. 
Two  of  the  more  conspicuous  species  are 
hardy  perennials,  natives  of  Central  Europe. 
They  gi-ow  from  a  foot  to  a  foot  and  a  half 
high ;  leaves  narrow,  flowers  large,  bright 
yellow.  They  have  too  weedy  an  appearance 
for  a  collection  of  choice  plants. 

Burbi'dgea.  Named  after  F.  W.  Burbidge,  the 
discoverer  of  the  genus  in  Borneo.  Nat.  Ord. 
Scitaminece. 

B.  nitida,  the  only  described  species,  is 
a  very  large,  brilliant-flowered,  stove-house 
herbaceous  perennial,  allied  to  Hedychium. 
Its  flowers  are  bright  orange  scarlet,  borne  in 
many-flowered  terminal  panicles  four  to  six 
inches  long.  It  was  introduced  from  N.  W. 
Borneo  in  1879,  and  is  increased  by  division. 

Burdock.  The  well-known  popular  name  for 
Lappa  officinalis,  of  which  there  are  two 
varieties,  minor  and  major;  the  common  Bur- 
dock being  the  latter. 

Bur  Grass.     Cenchrvs  echinatvs. 

Burlingto'nia.  Named  after  the  Countess  of 
Burlington.    Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  genus  of  very  handsome  epiphytal  Orchids, 
inhabiting  Brazil.  They  ai'e  remarkable  for 
their  long,  pendulous  racemes  of  snow-white 
flowers,  with  the  lip  touched  or  lined  with 
yellow.  A  few  of  the  species  have  flowers  in 
which  yellow  or  lilac  colors  predominate. 
The  plants  of  this  genus  are  all  of  dwarf  habit, 
with  beautiful  evergreen  foliage.  They  will 
grow  either  on  cork  or  in  baskets,  and  are 
propagated  by  division.    Introduced  in  1824. 

Burma'nnia'ceae.  A  natural  order  differing 
principally  from  Orchidacece  in  their  having 
perfectly  regular  flowers.  They  are  all  her- 
baceous plants  bearing  blue  or  white  flowers, 
and  inhabit  marshy  or  shady  places.  With 
the  exception  of  Burmannia  bijlora,  which  is 
found  in  Virginia,  they  are  all  tropical 
species. 

Bur  Marigold.  One  of  the  common  names  of 
the  genus  Bidens. 

Burnet.     See  Poterium  Sanguisorba. 
Saxifrage.     Pinpinella  Saxifraga. 


BUCKWHEAT   (JAPANESE). 


BKOMUS  INEKMIS   (aWNLEBS  BKuME   GRASS). 


CALANDBINIA. 


CALLIOPSIS  (D-WAEF). 


CALAMPELIS. 


CAI.CEOLABIA. 


CALENDULA. 


CACTI   (GROUP  OF). 


CALOCHOETUS. 


6i 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


61 


BUR 

Burning  Bush.     Dictamnus  Fraxinella. 
American.     Euonymus  atropurpureus. 

Burtonia.  Named  after  D.  Burton,  a  col- 
lector for  the  Kew  Gardens.  Nat.  Ord.  Legu- 
minosm. 

A  small  genus  of  dwarf,  heath-like  shrubs, 
natives  of  Australia.  The  flowers  are  pea- 
shaped,  axillary,  and  often  thickly  gathered 
on  the  ends  of  the  branches ;  the  corolla  rich 
purple,  the  keel  of  a  deeper  color,  and  the 
standard  generally  having  a  yellow  blotch 
at  its  base.  There  are  only  a  few  species 
under  cultivation,  but  they  are  all  conspic- 
uous objects  in  the  green-house.  They 
come  into  flower  in  April,  and  are  propagated 
from  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened  wood.  Intro- 
duced in  1803. 

Bur  Reed.     See  Sparganium. 

Burweed.     The  common  name  for  Xanthium. 

Bush  Clover.  The  popular  name  of  the  genus 
Lespedeza. 

Bush  Honeysuckle.  A  popular  name  for  the 
genus  Dkrvilla. 

Butcher's  Broom.     See  Riiscits. 

Butoma'ceae.  An  order  of  aquatic  plants  now 
generally  included  under  Alistnacees. 

Bu'tomus.  Flowering  Rush.  From  bovs,  an  ox, 
and  temno,  to  cut ;  in  reference  to  its  acrid 
juice  causing  the  mouth  to  bleed.  Nat.  Ord. 
Alisinacem. 

B.  umbellatus  is  a  beautiful  aquatic  plant, 
common  in  the  marshes  of  Great  Britain. 
Gerarde  (1629),  in  speaking  of  this  plant  saj'S  : 
•'  The  Water  Gladiole,  or  Grassie  Rush,  is  of 
all  others  the  fairest  and  most  pleasant  to  be- 
hold, and  serveth  very  well  for  the  decking 
and  trimming  up  of  houses,  because  of  the 
beautie  and  braverie  thereof."  A  variety 
with  striped  leaves,  lately  introduced,  is  now 
highly  recommended  for  collections  of  aquatic 
plants. 

Butter-and-Eggs.  A  local  name  for  Linaria 
vulgaris. 


CAB 

Butter-Bur.     Petasites  vulgaris. 

Buttercup.     See  Ranunculus. 

Butterfly  Flower.     The  genus  Schizanthus. 

Butterfly  Orchid.     Oncidium  Papilio. 

E.  Indian.     Phalcenopsis  atnabilis,  and  others. 

Butterfly   Orchis.     Habemaria  chlorantha,  and 

H.  bifolia. 
Butterfly  Pea.     A  name  sometimes  given  t« 

Clitoria. 
Butterfly  Weed.    A  popular  name  for  Asr.kpias 

tuberosa. 
Butternut     See  Juglans. 
Butter  Tree.     See  Bassia. 
Butterwort.     See  Pinguicula. 
Button  Bush.     Cephalanthus  ocrAdentalia. 
Button  Flower.     The  genus  Gomphia. 
Button  Snake-root.     Liatris  pycnostachya. 
Button  "Weed.     Centaurea  nigra. 
Button  Wood.     See  Platanus. 

Bu'xus.  A  small  but  important  genus  of  Spurge- 
worts  (Euphorbiacew),  one  species  of  which  is 
the  well  know^n  common  evergreen  Bos  of 
our  gardens,  employed  both  as  an  ornamental 
shrub  and  as  an  edging  plant  for  walks,  etc. 
It  is  a  native  of  both  Europe  and  Asia,  but 
found  principally  in  Spain,  Italy,  the  coasts  of 
the  Black  Sea,  Persia,  Northern  India  and 
Japan.  It  varies  considerably  in  height, 
some  varieties  growing  twenty-five  to  thirty 
feet,  with  a  trunk  of  eight  to  ten  inches  in 
diameter,  while  others  never  exceed  three  to 
four  feet,  and  have  very  small  stems.  It  is 
most  valued  for  its  wood,  the  chief  character- 
istics of  which  are,  excessive  hardness,  great 
weight,  evenness  and  closeness  of  grain,  light 
color,  and  being  susceptible  of  a  fine  polish. 
These  are  the  qualities  that  render  it  so 
valuable  to  the  wood  engraver,  the  turner, 
mathematical  and  musical  instrument  makers, 
and  others. 


c. 


Caapeba,    Pareira    Brava  Root,   or  Velvet- 
Leaf.    See  Cissampelos. 
Cabbage.     Brasnica  oleracea.    For  the  following 
history  of  the  Cabbage  we  are  indebted  to  the 
Treasury  of  Botany : 

"  The  Cabb.age,  in  its  wild  state,  is  a  native 
of  various  parts  of  Europe,  as  well  as  of  several 
places  near  the  sea  in  England.  It  is  a  bien- 
nial, with  fleshy-lobed  leaves,  undulated  at 
the  margin,  and  covered  with  bloom ;  al- 
together, so  different  in  form  and  appearance 
from  the  Cabbage  of  our  garden  that  few 
would  believe  it  could  possibly  have  been  the 
parent  of  so  varied  a  progeny  as  are  com- 
prised in  the  Savoy,  Brussels  Sprouts,  Cauli- 
flower, Broccoli,  and  their  varieties.  A  more 
wonderful  instance  of  a  species  producing  so 
many  distinct  forms  of  vegetation  for  the  use 
of  man  is  scarcely  to  be  met  with  throughout 


the  range  of  the  vegetable  kingdom.  The 
common,  or  cultivated  Cabbage,  B.  oleracea 
capitata,  is  well  known,  and  from  a  very  early 
period  has  been  a  favorite  culinary  vegetable, 
in  almost  daily  use  throughout  the  civilized 
world.  The  ancients  considered  it  lii^ht  of 
digestion  when  properly  dressed,  and  very 
wholesome  if  moderately  eaten.  For  the  in- 
troduction of  our  garden  variety  of  Cabbage 
we  are  indebted  to  the  Romans,  who  are  also 
believed  to  have  disseminated  it  in  other 
countries.  It  is  said  to  have  been  scarcely 
known  in  Scotland  until  the  time  of  the  Com- 
monwealth, when  it  was  carried  there  from 
England  by  some  of  Cromwell's  soldiers ;  but 
it  now  holds  a  prominent  place  in  every  gar- 
den throughout  the  United  Kingdom."  From 
its  wild  state  the  Cabbage  has  ^een  brought  to 
its  present  state  of  perfection  very  gradually, 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


CAB 

by  careful  selotition  under  cultivation.  The 
various  stages  of  these  improvements  have 
not  been  sufficiently  noted  to  enable  us  to 
award  the  credit  where  it  properly  belongs. 
All  the  Cabbage  tribe  requires  the  soil  to  be 
rich,  deep  and  well  drained — naturally  or  arti- 
ficially— and  abundantly  manured.  For  the 
early  kinds  plant  thirty  inches  between  rows 
and  sixteen  inches  between  the  plants,  and 
for  late  kinds  plant  three  feet  by  two  feet.  In 
the  improvements  made  within  the  last  fifty 
years  the  market  gardeners  around  New 
York  have  taken  a  conspicuous  part,  and  to 
them  we  are  indebted  for  our  best  market 
varieties.  The  three  most  popular  kinds  for 
market  purposes  are  "Early  Wakefield," 
•'Early  Summer"  and  "Succession."  The 
Ked  Cabbage,  B.  oleracea  rubra,  is  an  entirely 
distinct  variety,  but  its  origin  and  early 
development  are  unknown.  It  has  been  known 
in  Holland  for  several  hundred  .years,  and  the 
Dutch  have  made  the  growing  of  the  seed  an 
extensive  business.  The  Savoy  Cabbage,  B. 
oleracea  bullata,  differs  but  little  from  the 
other  kinds  of  Cabbage.  It  is  distinguished 
by  its  leaves  being  wrinkled  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  have  a  netted  appearance.  The  Savoys 
are  remarkable  for  their  tender,  crisp  leaves 
and  excellent  flavor.  It  would  seem  not  to 
be  generally  known  that  the  Savoys  are  the 
most  delicious  of  all  the  Cabbages.  The 
Brussels  Sprouts,  or  Bud-bearing  Cabbage,  B. 
oleracea  bullata  geminifera,  originated  in  Bel- 
gium, and  has  from  a  very  early  date  been  ex- 
tensively grown  ai'ound  Brussels,  where  it 
seems  to  thrive  better  than  in  most  other 
countries.  It  forms  a  head  somewhat  like 
the  Savoy,  of  which  it  is  considered  a  sub- 
variety,  differing  in  the  remarkable  manner 
in  which  it  produces  at  the  axils  of  the  leaves, 
along  the  whole  length  of  the  stem,  a  num- 
ber of  small  sprouts  resembling  miniature 
Cabbages  of  one  or  two  inches  in  diameter,  of 
an  excellent  flavor. 

Cabbage.  Arkansas.  Streptanthus  obtwiifolius. 
Skunk,  or  Meadow.     Symplocarpus  fcetidus. 

Cabbage  Maggot.     See  Insects. 

Cabbage  Palm.  See  Areca  and  Oreodoxa  olera- 
cea. 

Caca'lia.  Tassel  Flower.  From  kakos,  perni- 
cious, and  lian,  exceedingly;  supposed  to  be 
hurtful  to  the  soil.    Nat.  Ord.  Compositm. 

C.  cocdnea,  the  only  species  worthy  of  cul- 
tivation in  the  flower  garden,  is  a  half-hardy 
annual,  that  can  be  grown  readily  from  seed 
sown  where  wanted  to  grow.  Its  bright  scar- 
let blossoms  are  borne  in  profusion  from  July 
to  October.  Introduced  from  New  Holland  in 
1792. 

Caca'o  or  Coco'a.  The  seeds  of  The,obroma 
Cacao,  which  form  the  chief  ingredient  in  pure 
chocolate. 

Caccinia.  Named  tn  honor  of  G.  Caccini,  an- 
Italian  Savant.     Nat.  Ord.  Boraginacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  perennial  herbs, 
natives  of  the  Orient.  C.  glauca,  the  only 
species  yet  in  cultivation,  has  racemose  cymes 
of  violet-blue  flowers  changing  to  red.  It 
grows  from  one  to  three  feet  high,  and  may 
be  increased  by  seeds  or  division.  Intro- 
duced from  Afghanistan  in  1880. 

Cacta'ceee.  A  natural  order  consisting  of  suc- 
culent  shrubs,  with  remarkable  spines  clus- 


CAG 

tored  on  the  stems,  which  are  angular,  round, 
two-edged,  or  leafy,  and  have  their  woody 
matter  often  arranged  in  a  wedge-like 
manner.  The  calyx  consists  of  numerous 
sepals,  the  petals  are  numerous ;  the  stamens 
are  numerous,  with  long  filaments.  The 
fruit  is  succulent,  and  the  seeds  without 
albumen.  They  are  natives  of  various  parts 
of  America,  but  have  been  introduced  into 
many  parts  of  the  world.  The  fruits  of  the 
Opuntias  are  called  Indian  Figs,  and  are 
edible,  having  a  sub-acid  and  refreshing 
juice.  The  stems  of  some  of  the  species 
are  eaten  by  cattle.  These  stems  varj'  greatly 
in  form,  some  being  spherical,  others  jointed, 
while  stdl  others  are  triangular,  and  some 
send  polygonal  shafts  sixty  feet  or  more  into 
the  air.  These  stems  are  very  succulent  or 
fleshy,  and  the  plants  are  thus  adapted  to  dry 
climates,  or,  rather,  such  as  have  a  "dry  sea- 
son." Among  the  tall-growing  kinds  may  be 
mentioned  Cereus  giganteus  growing  sixtj'  or 
more  feet  high,  and  from  one  to  two  feet  in 
diameter ;  C.  Peruvianus,  with  stems  thirty  to 
forty  feet  high ;  C.  Thurberi,  with  stems  ten 
to  flfteen  feet  high,  and  C.  Schottii,  with  stems 
eight  to  ten  feet  high.  The  spines  on  some 
Cacti  are  very  formidable,  and  on  others  very 
numerous.  The  spines  and  bristles  on  a 
specimen  ot  Echinocartus  plalyceras  were  reck- 
oned at  51,000,  and  those  of  a  Pilocereus  senilis 
at  72,000.  Opuntia  vulgaris,  our  common 
Prickly  Pear,  bears  an  edible  fruit.  O.  cochi- 
nillifera  (Nopalea),  the  Nopal  plant,  is  very 
largely  grown  for  rearing  the  Cochineal 
insect  {Coccus  Cacti).  The  number  of  known 
genera  is  eighteen,  and  there  are  over  eight 
hundred  species.  Cereus,  Epiphyllum,  Phyllo- 
cactus,  Mammillaria,  Melocactus,  Pereskia,  etc., 
are  examples  of  this  order. 

Ca'ctus.     A  name  applied  by  Theophrastus  to 
semi-spiny  plants.     Nat.  Ord.  Cactacece. 

The  very  remarkable  succulent  plants, 
arranged  by  Linnaeus  under  the  name  of  Cac- 
tus, have  been  distributed  by  modern  bot- 
anists over  numerous  genera,  which  they  are 
still  continually  changing  and  re-arranging. 
At  first  a  few  plants  were  left  in  the  genus  Cac- 
tus, but  now  that  genus  is  annihilated,  and 
seven  or  eight  new  genera  substituted  for  it ; 
still,  as  all  the  plants  that  once  composed  it, 
and  the  new  ones  of  the  same  nature  that  col- 
lectors are  continually  sending  home,  are 
known  by  the  general  name  of  Cacti,  it  has 
been  thought  advisable  to  give  here  a  slight 
sketch  of  the  whole  family.  In  the  time  of 
Linnaeus  very  few  Cacti  were  known,  and 
even  in  the  year  1807,  Persoon  enumerated 
only  thirty-two;  but  now  about  500  living 
species  are  to  be  found  in  a  single  collection, 
and  numbers  of  new  species  are  being  sent 
home  by  collectors  every  year.  These  new 
species  are  chiefly  found  in  the  tropical 
regions  of  America,  but  they  extend  over  75° 
of  latitude,  some  being  found  within  the 
boundary  of  the  United  States  and  some  near 
the  town  of  Conception,  in  Chili.  By  far  the 
greater  number,  however,  grow  in  the  dry, 
burning  plains  of  Mexico  and  Brazil,  where 
they  are  subjected  to  the  alternate  seasons  of 
extreme  moisture  and  extreme  drought.  In 
these  arid  plains,  where  all  nature  seems 
parched  up  for  six  months  in  the  year,  the 
Cacti  have  been  mercifully  provided  to  serve  as 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


63 


CAC 

reservoirs  of  moisture,  and  not  only  the  na- 
tives, by  wounding  the  fleshy  stems  with 
their  long  forest  knives,  supply  themselves 
with  a  cool  and  refreshing  juice,  but  even  the 
cattle  contrive  to  break  through  the  skin  with 
their  hoofs,  and  then  to  suck  the  liquid  tliey 
contain,  instinct  teaching  them  to  avoid 
wounding  themselves  with  the  spines.  Some 
of  the  species  serve  the  Indians  with  food. 
The  Cacti  ai'e  arranged  by  nature  into  several 
distinct  groups,  the  first  of  which  consists  of 
the  tree  Cacti,  or  those  kinds  of  Cereus  which 
have  long,  slender  stems,  and  which  usually 
grow  on  the  summits  of  the  mountains  of 
Me.xico  and  Brazil,  forming  a  singular  kind  of 
crest.  These  are  generally  thirty  or  forty 
feet  high,  and  sometimes  are  branched  like 
candelabra,  and  sometimes  consists  of  only 
one  naked  stem,  not  thicker  than  a  man's  arm, 
though  of  such  enormous  height.  Others, 
again,  not  only  grow  to  a  height  of  fifty  or 
sixty  feet,  but  have  a  diameter  of  two  or  three 
feet.  The  Mamraillarias  and  Echinocacti, 
which  form  another  group,  grow  in  the  val- 
leys of  the  temperate  regions,  generally  in 
loamy  soils  and  low  grass ;  and  the  Opuutias 
and  Pereskias,  which  form  two  others,  are  also 
principally  found  in  the  temperate  latitudes. 
The  Melocacti,  or  Melon  Cacti,  and  the  Ehip- 
salis,  which  has  narrow-Jointed  stems,  and 
two  other  groups,  are  found  in  the  hottest 
parts  of  the  tropics.  With  regard  to  the  cul- 
ture of  Cacti,  it  is  found  that,  generally  speak- 
ing, they  ought  to  have  a  season  of  complete 
rest,  followed  by  one  of  excitement.  They 
ought  to  be  watered  sparingly  while  dormant, 
and  freely  when  in  bloom,  and  grown  in  a 
light,  sandy  soil.  Several  of  the  best  known 
genera  of  Cactus,  such  as  Epiphyllum,  Cereua 
and  Phyllocactus,  will  be  found  under  their 
respective  heads. 

Cactus.     Cochineal.     Opuntia  cochinillifera  and 
0.  Tuna. 
Old  Man.     Pilocereus  senilis. 
Rat's  Tail.     Cereus  flay elliformis. 
Turk's  Cap.     The  genus  Melocactus. 

Cactus  Dahlia.     Dahlia  Juarezii. 

Caducous.     Falling  off  soon ;  deciduous. 

Caesalpi'nia.  In  memory  of  Andreas  CcBsalpinus, 
chief  physician  to  Pope  Clement  VIII.  Nat. 
Ord.  LeguininoscE. 

A  genus  of  tropical  trees  of  considerable 
importance  in  an  economic  point  of  view,  but 
without  special  beauty.  C.  coriaria,  a  West 
Indian  and  South  American  species,  yields 
large  quantities  of  tannin,  whicii  is  extracted 
from  its  seed  pods.  C.  Braziliensis,  furnishes 
the  Brazil-wood,  exceedingly  valuable  for 
dyeing  purposes,  and  an  important  article  of 
commerce. 

Caesius.  A  pale  blue ;  a  blue  metallic  luster 
seen  on  some  leaves,  as  those  of  Selaginella 
coesia. 

Caffre  Bread.  A  South  African  name  applied 
to  various  species  of  Encephalartos,  and  Zamia. 

Caeruleus.     Blue  ;  the  clear  blue  of  the  sky. 

Caespitose.     Growing  in  little  tufts  or  patches. 

Caja'nus.  Pigeon  Pea.  From  catjang,  its  Mala- 
bar name.     Nat.  Oid.  LeguminoscB. 

A  genus  of  valuable  perennial  shrubs,  culti- 
vated in  the  tropics  for  their  seeds,  which 
constitute  an  important  article  of  food.     C. 


CAL 

indicus,  is  a  native  of  the  East  Indies,  but  is 
now  naturalized  and  cultivated  in  the  West 
Indies,  and  most  other  tropical  countries.  Of 
this  species  there  are  two  varieties,  one  is 
called  the  Congo  Pea,  in  Jamaica,  and  fur- 
nishes the  negroes  with  their  principal  food. 
The  variety  ^ai'M«  is  called  in  the  West  Indies 
No  eye  Pea,  and  is  considered  in  its  green 
state  but  little  inferior  to  our  garden  Peas, 
and,  when  dried  and  split,  quite  as  good.  Pea- 
meal  of  veiy  good  quality  is  pi-epj,red  from 
both  var.eties.  Horses  and  cattle  are  veiy 
fond  of  the  young  branches  and  leaves,  either 
in  a  fresh  or  dried  state.  Although  perennial 
shrubs,  they  are  usually  treated  as  annuals ; 
after  the  seeds  are  gathered  the  plants  are 
used  for  fuel. 

Cajeput-tree.    See  Oreodaphne. 
Calabar  Bean,  or  Chopnut.     Phyaostigma  ven- 
enosum. 

Calabash.  Sweet.  The  fruit  of  Paasifl^ra  mali- 
formis. 

Calabash-Tree.     Various  species  of   Crescentia. 

Cala'dium.  A  word  of  uncertain  derivation, 
probably  from  kaladion,  a  cup.  Nat.  Ord. 
AroidecB. 

Of  this  genus  of  tuberous-rooted  plants 
there  are  many  rare  and  beautiful  species  and 
varieties  that  rank  high  as  ornamental  foliage 
plants,  useful  only  as  green-house  or  rather  hot- 
house plants,  as  they  will  not  succeed  well 
with  a  temperature  below  60°.  Thej'  must  be 
kept  dormant  from  October  to  April,  and  should 
never  be  chilled  when  started  to  grow.  Those 
found  in  the  swamps  of  the  River  Amazon,  in 
the  province  of  Para,  are  pre-eminent  for 
graceful  growth,  and  for  elegant  and 
brilliant  markings.  All  the  species  are  easily 
propagated  hy  division  of  the  tuber,  just  as 
the  growth  begins.  Introduced  in  1828.  The 
plant  commonly  known  as  Caladium  esculen- 
tum  does  not  belong  to  this  genus,  and  will  be 
described  under  Colocasia. 

Calamagro'stis.  A  genus  of  coarse-growing 
grasses,  a  description  of  which  will  be  found 
under  Ammophila,  a  division  of  the  genus. 

Calamint.     See  Calamintha. 

Calami'ntba.  Calamint.  From  kalos,  beautiful, 
and  mintha,  mint.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 

A  genus  of  coarse -growing,  hardy  herba- 
ceous perennials,  with  purplish  or  whitish 
flowers.  They  are  indigenous  or  extensively 
naturalized  in  many  parts  of  this  country. 
They  are  mostly  aromatic  herbs,  and  former- 
ly had  important  medicinal  properties  attrib- 
uted to  them.  C.  nepeta,  Basil  Thyme,  is  one  of 
the  liest  known  species.  None' of  them  has 
sufficient  merit  to  warrant  its  introduction 
into  the  garden,  either  for  ornament  or 
use. 

Cala'mpelis.  (Eccremocarpus.)  From  kaloa, 
beautiful,  and  ampelis,  a  vine.  Nat.  Ord. 
BignoniarecB. 

The  only  species,  C.  scabra,  is  a  well-known, 
beautiful,  half-hardy  climbing  plant.  Trained 
to  a  trellis  or  to  a  south  wall  in  the  open  air, 
it  forms  a  very  ornamental  object  through  the 
summer  months,  its  bright  orange-colored 
flowers  being  conspicuous  among  the  pleasing 
delicate  green  of  the  foliage.  It  grows  tjest 
in  rich  loam,  and  should  be  protected  in  a 
cold  pit  through  the  winter.    Cuttings  root 


(64 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


CAL 

readily  in  a  gentle  heat.     Introduced  from 
Chili  in  1824. 

Ca'lanius  (a  Reed).  This  word  has  been 
restricted  to  hollow,  inarticulate  stems,  like 
those  of  Rushes. 

Ca'lamus.  From  kalamos,  a  reed,  an  old  Greek 
name.    Nat.  Ord.  PalmacecB. 

An  elegant  genus  of  Palms  very  useful  in 
their  young  state  for  house  decoration.  C 
Rotang,  C.rudentum,  C.viminalis,  and  probably 
eeveral  other  species  furnish  the  canes  or 
rattans  so  commonly  employed  for  the  bottoms 
of  chairs,  conches  and  similar  purposes.  In 
the  countries  where  these  palms  abound,  the 
inhabitants  make  use  of  them  for  a  great 
variety  of  purposes,  baskets  of  all  kinds,  mats, 
hats  and  other  useful  articles  being  commonly 
made  of  them.  Their  most  imjiortant  use  how- 
ever, is  for  the  manufacture  of  the  ropes  and 
cables  usually  employed  hj  junkrf  and  other 
coasting  vessels.  C.  Scipionum,  the  stems  of 
which  are  much  thicker  than  the  preceeding, 
furnishes  the  weil  known  Malacca  canes  so 
much  prized  for  walking-sticks.  There  are 
over  two  hundred  species  in  this  genus,  all 
natives  of  tropical  and  sub-tropical  regions, 
more  especially  Eastern  Asia. 

Calamus  aromaticus.  An  old  name  for  the 
Sweet  Flag,  Acorus  calamus. 

Calandri'nia.  Named  after  Calandrini,  a  Ger- 
man botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  PortulacacecB. 

Very  beautiful  dwarf-growing  plants,  uiu- 
ally  treated  as  tender  annuals,  though  of  per- 
ennial duration  if  protected  in  winter.  The 
seeds  may  be  sown  in  gentle  heat  about  the 
middle  of  March,  and  when  planted  in  the 
open  air  in  May,  become  a  blaze  of  beauty 
whenever  the  sun  shines  upon  them.  The 
soil  should  be  light  and  rather  dry.  The  best 
of  the  species  are  C.  speciosa,  grandifora,  dis- 
color, and  umbellata.  Introduced  frora  South 
America. 

Cala'nthe.  From  kales,  beautiful,  and  anthos, 
a  flower;  literally,  a  pretty  blos.som.  Nat. 
Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  large  genus  of  stemless  terrestrial 
Orchids,  having  broad,  many-ribbod  leaves, 
-and  long  spikes  of  flowers,  which  are  of 
various  colors,  white,  lilac,  purple,  and  cop- 
per-colored. They  require  a  very  light  house 
for  the  perfect  development  of  flowers  and  to 
give  them  good  color.  The  same  general  treat- 
ment as  given  the  Bletia,  with  the  exception  of 
more  careful  watering,  is  all  they  require. 
Most  species  are  natives  of  tropical  Asia,  and 
are  propagated  by  divi-ion  of  the  roots.  In- 
troduced about  1820. 

Cala'thea.  ZebraPlant.  Yromkalathus,ahasket; 
in  reference  to  the  leaves  being  worked  into 
baskets  in  South  America.  Nat.  Ord.  Scita- 
minem. 

A  genus  of  interesting  plants,  with  beauti- 
fully marked  foliage,  distinguished  from 
Maranta  by  mere  botanical  characters. 
Many  of  the  most  beautiful  species  of  the 
latter  have  been  transferred  to  this  genus.  C. 
Veitchii,  zebrina,  Vanden  Heckii,  regalis,  Makoy- 
ana,  Massingeana,  and  many  others  ate  among 
the  most  beautiful  and  showy  of  warm 
green-house  or  stove  plants.  They  are  mostly 
natives  of  Brazil,  and  require  a  high  tempera- 
ture and  humid  atmosphere  for  perfect  devel- 
opment.   They  are  increased  by  root  division. 


CAL 

Calcariform.     Shaped  like  a  spear. 

Calcerla'ria.  Slipperwort.  From  calceolua,  a 
slip])er,  in  reference  to  the  shape  of  the  flower. 
Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariace<B. 

The  numerous  species  of  this  well-known 
genus,  found  abundantly  in  the  regions  of 
Chili  and  Peru,  are  divided  into  two  classes, 
herbaceous  and  shrubby.  The  former  are 
found  near  the  line  of  the  sea,  the  latter  are 
inhabitants  of  the  higher  parts  of  the  Cor- 
dilleras ;  hence  it  is,  that  among  the  many  in- 
troduced species,  some  are  more  or  "less 
hai-dy,  growing  freely  in  a  shady  border,  and 
others  require  the  humid  atmosphere  of  a 
green-house.  Many  of  the  original  species 
have  been  modified  by  hybridizing,  and  are 
rarely  found  in  collections.  The  hybrids 
are  very  numerous,  and  many  are  highly 
prized.  The  European  florists,  having  made 
a  specialty  of  this  genus,  have  brought  out 
varieties  remarkable  for  size,  color  and  mark- 
ings. Propagation  of  the  herbaceous  varieties 
is  readily  effected  by  seeds,  and  the  shrubby 
varieties  by  cuttings  or  from  seeds. 

Calceolate.  Having  the  form  of  a  slipper,  or 
round-toed  shoe. 

Cale'ndula.  Pot  Marigold.  From  calendcB, 
the  first  days  of  the  months  ;  in  reference  to 
its  flowers  being  produced  almost  every 
month.     Nat.  Ord.  Composite. 

There  are  several  handsome  species,  some 
of  which  are  shrubby  and  some  annuals.  The 
common  Marigold,  C.  officinalis  and  its  double 
varieties,  and  C.  stellata,  are  the  handsomest 
of  the  annual  species.  The  Cape  Marigolds, 
C.  pluvialis  and  C.  hybrida,  have  been  removed 
to  a  new  genus,  which  is  called  Dimorphotheca. 
Both  these  species  are  hardy  annual  plants, 
with  very  elegant  flowers,  which  close  at  the 
withdrawal  of  the  sun ;  and  as  they  do  not 
open  at  all  when  it  is  dark,  or  heavy  clouds 
foretell  the  approach  of  rain,  Linnajus  called 
the  commonest  species  C  pluvialis,  or  the 
Rainy  Marigold.  The  florets  of  the  ray  of  the 
flowers  of  this  plant  are  of  a  pure  white  inside, 
and  of  a  dark  purple  on  the  outside;  while 
those  of  C.  hybrida  are  of  a  dingy  orange  out- 
side. A  tincture  is  mode  from  the  flowers  of 
the  several  varieties,  that  is  considered  highly 
efficacious  for  brui.ses  or  sprains,  affording 
relief  more  quickly  than  arnica. 

Calico  Bush.     See  Kalmia  latifolia. 

California  Fuschia.     See  Zauschneria. 

California  Laurel .     See  Orcodaphne. 

California  Nutiueg.     See  Torreya  Califomica. 

California  Poppy.     See  Eschscholtzia. 

Calisa'ya  Bark,  or  Yellow  Cinchona  Bark  Tree. 
See  Cinchona  Calisaya. 

Calla.  Water  Arum.  From  kallos,  beauty.  Nat. 
Ord.  Aroidem. 

C.  palustris,  the  only  species,  is  an  herba- 
ceous marsh  plant,  cf  but  little  interest,  com- 
mon in  swamps  throughout  the  Northern 
States.  The  roots  yield  an  edible  starch,  and 
were  formerly  procured  for  that  article ;  but 
they  are  no  longer  used  for  that  purpose,  and 
the  i)lant  is  without  special  merit.  Richardia 
yEthojnca,  so  well  known  as  the  "Calla  Lily," 
is  frequently  erroneously  called  Calla  .^^ho- 
pica. 

Calla.    Black.     See  Arum  sancta. 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


65 


CAL 

Callica'rpa,  From  kaloft,  beautiful,  and  carpos, 
fruit ;  referring  to  the  beautiful  berries.  Nat. 
Ord.  Verbenaceoe. 

A  considerable  genus  of  low-growing  shrubs, 
mostly  tender  evergreens.  C.  Americana,  a 
species  common  fi-om  Virginia  southward,  is 
a  hardy  deciduous  shrub,  of  great  beauty,  and 
one  of  the  most  aesirable  for  the  lawn  or 
shrubbery  border.  In  a  good  soil  it  grows 
about  four  feet  high,  very  branching  from 
near  the  root,  giving  the  plant  a  most  grace- 
ful outline.  The  flowers  are  small,  incon- 
spicuous, in  numerous  axillary  cymes  or 
clusters.  The  beauty  of  the  plant  consists  in 
its  clusters  of  violet-colored  berries,  ■which 
are  exceedingly  showy  from  September  until 
December.  It  is  freely  propagated  by  seed  or 
from  cuttings.  C.  Japonica  is  also  hardy, 
Avith  a  little  protection. 

Calli'chroa.  This  genus  of  Californian  Compo- 
sit(B  is  now  usually  included  under  Layia, 
which  see. 

Callio'psis.  Derived  from  kallistos,  beautiful, 
and  opsis,  the  eye ;  in  allusion  to  the  beauti- 
ful bright  eye  of  the  flower.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positoe. 

This  is  a  genus  of  showy  annuals,  separated 
from  Coreopsis.  They  are  of  a  hardy  char- 
acter, requiring  only  to  be  sown  in  rich  earth 
about  the  end  of  March,  and  afterward  thinned 
out.  Those  taken  up  for  the  purpose  may  be 
transplanted,  and  will  afford  a  later  bloom. 
They  usually  attain  a  height  of  about  three 
feet,  and,  consequently,  should  be  sown  some 
distance  from  the  margin  of  the  bed.  If  a 
ver}'  early  bloom  be  desired,  a  few  plants  may 
be  raised  on  heat  and  transplanted  in  May. 
A 11  are  American  plants,  found  from  Arkansas 
to  Texas. 

Callipro'ra.  Pretty  Face.  From  kallos,  beauty, 
and  prora,  a  front ;  referring  to  the  front  view 
of  the  flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecB. 

C.  lutea,  the  only  species,  is  a  beautiful  little 
yellow-flowering  California  bulb,  the  flowers 
of  which  are  produced  in  August,  in  umbels, 
drooping,  on  short  scapes.  Not  hardy  in  this 
climate.  Propagated  by  offsets.  Syns.  Bro- 
dicea  ixioides,  and  Milla  ixioides. 

Callirho'e.  Named  for  Callirhoe,  a  daughter  of 
the  rivei'-god  Archelous.  Nat.  Ord.  Malvacew. 
This  genus  of  American  plants  comprises 
both  annuals  and  perennials.  The  former  are 
a  showy,  free-blooming  class,  somewhat  re- 
sembling the  Scaiiet  Linum ;  the  latter  pro- 
duce flowers  much  larger  and  very  beautiful, 
but  are  rarely  met.  The  annual  varieties  grow 
readily  fi'om  seed ;  tlie  perennials  from  seed 
or  by  di\ision  of  the  root.     Syn.  NuttalUa. 

Callista'chys.  Fiom  kalos,  beautiful,  and 
stachys,   a  flower-spike.     Sat.   Ord.  Legumin- 

08CB. 

Green-house  plants  from  New  Holland,  pro- 
ducing beautiful  yellow  flowers.  They  grow 
readily  and  without  trouble  under  ordinary 
treatment.  Cuttings  strike  freely  in  sand, 
covered  with  a  glass.  Introduced  in  1815. 
Syn.  Oxylobiiun. 
CalUste'mon.  A  name  indicative  of  the  beauty 
of  the  stamens,  which  are  of  a  beautiful  scarlet 
color.     Nat.  Ord.  Myrtacem. 

All  the  species  of  this  genus  are  very  orna- 
mental, and  neat  in  habit.  Natives  of  Aus- 
tralia, and  well  adapted  for  a  cool  green-house 


CAL 

or  conservatory.     Metrosideros  speciosa  is  a 
synonym  for  C.  apeciosus. 

Calliste'phus.  China  Aster.  From  kallistos, 
most  beautiful,  and  stephos,  a  crown.  Nat.  Ord. 
CompositcB. 

C.  Chinensis  is  the  well-known  China  Aster, 
the  varieties  of  which  are  so  universally 
gi'own.  The  seed  should  be  sown  in  March 
on  a  gentle  heat  for  the  earliest  bloom,  and 
others  may  be  sown  in  the  open  ground  as 
soon  as  it  is  fit  to  work,  to  afford  a  succession 
of  flowers.  The  first,  after  being  gradually 
inured  to  the  open  air,  may  be  xemoved 
to  their  destined  places  as  soon  as  danger 
from  frost  is  past.  The  soil  for  them  cannot 
be  too  rich ;  on  this,  and  selecting  an  open 
situation,  x-ests  all  the  art  of  obtaining  fine 
flowers.  There  are  so  many  varieties  now  in 
cultivation  that  it  is  impracticable  to  particu- 
larize them  in  a  work  like  this,  suffice  it  to 
say,  they  are  all  beautiful,  and  deserving  of 
cultivation.  The  original  species  was  intro- 
duced from  China  in  1731.  Syn.  Callis- 
tetnma. 

Callitha'uma.     Derivation  not  explained.     Nat. 

.  Ord.  AmaryllidacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  Peruvian  bulbs,  with 
yellow  flowers,  produced  on  a  slender  scape 
before  the  leaves  start,  like  the  Guernsey 
Liiy.  They  may  be  grow^n  successfully,  with 
the  protection  of  a  frame  during  winter.  Pro- 
pagated by  offsets.     Introduced  in  181:3. 

Calli'tris.  From  kalos,  beautiful ;  referring  to 
the  appearance  of  the  whole  plant.  Nat.  Ord. 
ConifercB. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen,  cj-press-like 
trees,  allied  to  Thuja.  Thej^  are  natives  of 
New  Holland,  Barbary,  and  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  C.  quadrivalvis  is  a  large  tree  with 
straggling  branches.  It  is  a  native  of  Bar- 
bary, but  can  be  successfully  grown  from  the 
Carolinas  southward.  The  resin  of  this  tree 
is  used  in  varnish-making  under  the  name  of 
Gum  Sandarach.  It  yields  a  hard,  durable, 
and  fragrant  timber,  of  a  mahogany  color ; 
for  which  reason  it  is  largely  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  mosques  and  similar  buildings  in 
the  north  of  Africa.     Syn.  Frenela. 

Calli'xine.  A  genus  of  LiliacecB.  Now  included 
with  Luzuriaga,  which  see. 

Callu'na.  Heather.  From  kalluno,  to  adorn; 
in  reference  both  to  the  beauty  of  the  Heather, 
and  to  its  use  as  a  scrubbing-brush  or  broom. 
Nat  Ord.  EricacecB. 

C.  vulgaris,  the  only  species,  is  the  well- 
known  "Heather"  of  Scotland,  popularly 
known  as  Ling  or  Common  Heath ;  a  low- 
growing,  much-branched  little  shrub,  with 
very  pretty  rose-colored,  purple,  or  white, 
fragrant  flowers,  produced  in  crowded  axillary 
clusters,  forming  one-sided  (mostly)  spikes  or 
racemes.  This  beautiful  little  plant  has  be- 
come naturalized  in  a  few  localities  in  this 
country.  It  is  reported  at  Tewksbury,  Mass., 
and  at  Cape  Elizabeth,  Maine.  It  is  also 
found  sparingly  in  Nova  Scotia  and  New- 
foundland. 

Ca'Uus.  A  hardened  part.  This  term  is  best 
known  as  used  to  denote  the  cambium  that 
forms  at  the  cut  end  of  a  slip  or  cutting  before 
the  roots  appear,  and  heals  the  wound  over. 
It  has  a  granular  or  warty  appearance,  and 
hence  the  name. 


66 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


CAL 

Calocephalus.  From  kaloa,  beautiful,  and  cep- 
hale,  a  head ;  alluding  to  the  inflorescence. 
Nat.  Ord.  Composites. 

A  genus  of  cottony  or  woolly  annual  or  per- 
ennial herbs  or  shrubs,  natives  of  Australia. 
C.  Brownii,  is  the  only  cultivated  species  and 
is  much  used  in  carpet  bedding  and  ribbon 
bordering.  It  is  best  known  in  cultivation  as 
Leucophyta  Brownii. 

Calocho'rtus.  Mariposa  Lily.  From  kalos, 
beautiful,  and  chortvs,  grass;  referring  to 
the  leaves.  Nat  Ord.  Liliacece. 
This  genus  contains  some  of  our  gayest 
i  and  most  beautiful  half-hardy  bulbs.  They 
were  found  in  Columbia  and  California  by  the 
intrepid  and  unfortunate  collector,  Douglas. 
The  flowers  somewhat  resemble  the  Tulip  in 
shape.  Colors  are  white,  purple,  and  yellow, 
most  of  them  I'ichly  spotted.  They  grow  freely 
in  light,  sandy  loam,  should  have  slight  pro- 
tection in  winter,  and  succeed  well  grown  in 
pots.  They  flower  from  July  until  September. 
Propagated  by  offsets.     Introduced  in  1826. 

Calode'ndron.  Derived  from  kalos,  beautiful 
and  dendron,  a  tree ;  in  reference  to  the  beauty 
of  the  plant.     Nat.  Ord.  Rutweoe,. 

C.  Capense,  the  only  described  species,  is 
a  tall  growing,  green-house  evergreen  tree  of 
an  ornamental  character.  Its  stems  are  pubes- 
cent, leaves  in  opposite  pairs,  and  pubescent 
on  both  surfaces.  The  creamy  white  flowers, 
composed  of  linear  oblong  petals,  are  borne 
in  immense  terminal  panicles.  Native  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  first  introduced  1789. 

Calony'ction.  The  circumstance  of  the  flowers 
opening  at  night  has  suggested  the  derivation 
of  the  generic  name,  from  kalos,  beautiful, 
and  nyx,  night.  The  plants  comprising  this 
genus  are  again  relegated  to  Ipomcea  and 
Convolvulvs. 

Calo'phaca.  From  kalos,  beautiful,  and  phake, 
a  lentil;  in  reference  to  the  lentil-like  flowers. 
Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

C.  Wolgarica,  the  only  described  species  is 
a  hardy  deciduous  shrub  from  Siberia.  Its 
flowers  are  yellow,  produced  in  axillary 
clusters,  and  somewhat  I'eserables  the  Cytisus, 
an  allied  plant.  Loudon  says  of  it :  "  Grafted 
standard  high  on  the  common  Laburnum,  it 
forms  an  object  at  once  singular,  picturesque 
and  beautiful."  It  is  difficult  of  propagation 
except  by  grafting  or  from  seed. 

Calo'phanes.  From  to?os,  beautiful,  and  p/iatno, 
to  appear.     Nat.  Ord.  Acanthaeeaz. 

C.  oblongifolia,  is  a  flne  hardy  herbaceous 
plant  from  Florida,  bearing  lively  blue  flowers, 
of  little  merit  as  a  border  plant,  as  the  flowers 
are  too  small  to  be  effective.  Introduced  in 
1832. 

Calophy'llum.  This  genus  of  OuttifercB  con- 
tains about  twenty  species  mainly  natives  of 
the  East,  only  four  or  five  being  found  in 
America.  They  are  large  trees  with  shining 
green  leaves,  elegantly  marked  by  numerous 
transverse  veins.  Some  species  yield  valuable 
oils,  and  resins,  and  tiie  timber  of  some  of  the 
larger  sorts  is  much  used  for  building,  masts, 
etc.  Several  species  are  in  cultivation  for 
their  ornamental  foliage. 

Calopo'gon.  From  kalos,  beautiful,  and  pogon, 
a  beard ;  the  lip  being  beautifully  fringed. 
Nat.  Ord.  Qrchidacem. 


CAL 

A  small  genus  of  tuberous  Orchids,  found 
in  swampy  situations  on  the  south  side  of 
Long  Island  and  many  other  parts  of  the 
United  States.  The  flowers  are  borne  on  a 
scape  growing  about  one  foot  high ;  color 
bright  purple,  quite  conspicuous.  Like  most 
of  our  native  Orchids,  it  improves  by  cultiva- 
tion. Shady  situations  and  a  light,  fibrous 
soil  will  suit  it. 

Calotha'mnus.  One  of  the  beautiful  genera  of 
Myrtacem,  in  which  Australia  abounds.  Shrubby 
green-house  plants,  with  needle-like  leaves 
and  scarlet  flowers.  The  name  indicates  that 
the  branches  become  covered  with  the  beauti- 
ful flowers.  Propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
flrm  young  wood. 

Ca'ltha.  Marsh  Marigold.  Butter  Cup.  A  con- 
traction of  kalathos,  a  goblet ;  referring  to  the 
shape  of  the  flower.  Nat.  Ord.  Ranunculacece. 
C.  palustris  is  an  indigenous  hardy  herba- 
ceous perennial,  common  in  swamps  and 
marshy  places  throughout  the  Northern 
States.  The  flowers  are  bright  yellow,  borne 
in  large  clusters,  in  April  or  AJay.  The  leaves 
are  highly  esteemed  as  a  pot  herb.  The  plant 
is  frequently  called  Cowslip,  a  name  that 
properly  belongs  to  Primula  veris. 

Caltrops   Water.     The  fruit  of   Trapa  nutans, 

which  see. 

Calycantha'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  shrubs 
with  square  stems  and  opposite,  entire  leaves 
without  stipules,  and  solitary  lurid  flowers, 
which  have  an  aromatic  fragrance  ;  natives  of 
North  America  and  Japan.  The  bark  of  Caly- 
canthus  Jloridus,  the  Cai'olina  AUspiee,  is  used 
as  a  substitute  for,  and  to  adulterate  cin- 
namon. There  are  two  known  genera, 
Calycanthus,  of  this  country,  and  Chimonanthus, 
of  japan,  comprising  six  species. 

Calyca'nthus.  Sweet-scented  Shrub,  Straw- 
berry Shrub,  Caiolina  Allspice.  From  kalyx, 
a  cup  or  calyx,  and  anthos,  a  flower ;  from  the 
closed  cup  Avhich  contains  the  pistils.  Nat. 
Ord.  CalycanlhacecB. 

C.  Jloridus  is  a,  native  deciduous  shrub,  re- 
markable for  the  scent  of  the  flowers  (which 
is  commonly  thought  to  resemble  that  of  ripe 
fruit),  as  well  as  for  their  peculiar  color.  It 
is  a  native  of  the  Southern  States,  perfectly 
hardy,  and  will  grow  in  almost  anj'  soil  or 
situation.  Propagated  by  seeds  or  offsets. 
The  bark  of  this  species  is  used  in  the  adul- 
teration of  cinnamon.  There  are  other  species 
and  varieties,  but  this  is  the  most  conspicuous 
and  desirable. 

Calyciform.  Formed  like  a  calyx. 

Caly'pso.  Name  from  kalypto,  to  conceal,  not 
merely  to  the  covering  of  the  stigma,  but  pre- 
serving an  analogy  between  this  botanical 
beauty,  so  difficult  of  access,  and  the  secluded 
goddess,  whose  isle  was  fabled  to  be  protected 
miraculously  from  the  observation  of  navi- 
gators.    Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

C.  borealis,  the  only  species,  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  of  our  native  Orchids.  It  is  a 
tuberous  plant  with  one  leaf  and  one  flower 
only.  The  fiower  is  rose-colored  and  has 
something  of  the  appearance  of  a  Cypripedium, 
owing  to  its  forming  a  large  pouch,  which  is 
woolly-hairy  inside.  It  is  found  in  cold  bogs 
and  wet  woods  in  northern  New  England, 
west    and  northwards,   its  bulbs  resting  in 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


67 


CAL 

moss ;  the  flowers  appear  as  soon  as  the  snow 
melts  in  spring. 
Calyste'gia.  Bracted  Bindweed.  From  kalyx,  a 
calyx,  and  stega,  a  covering;  in  reference  to 
the  calyx  being  hid  by  two  bracts,  as  is  the 
case  with  a  section  of  Bindweeds.  Nat.  Ord. 
ConvolvulacecB. 

This  somewhat  extensive  genus  includes 
our  common  hedge  Convolvulus,  but  only  a 
few  species  are  considered  interesting.  C. 
pvbescens,  from  China,  a  hardy  double-flowered 
variety,  is  useful  as  a  screen,  or  for  covering 
unsightly  places,  the  chief  objection  to  it 
being  its  tendency  to  get  beyond  control. 
Propagated  by  division  of  root  in  spring. 

Calyx.  The  most  external  of  the  floral  en- 
velopes; it  is  called  adherent  or  superior 
when  it  is  not  separate  from  the  ovary ;  free 
or  inferior  when  it  is  separate  from  that  part ; 
and  calyculate  when  it  is  surrounded  at  the 
base  by  bracts  in  a  ring. 

Camaro'tis.  From  camara,  an  arched  roof ;  in 
reference  to  the  form  of  the  lip  or  labellum. 
Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  East  Indian  and  Brazilian 
Orchids,  bearing  pale  rose  flowers,  with  yellow 
lip,  produced  on  pendulous  racemes  in  March 
and  April.  They  require  a  warm,  moist  house, 
and  need  but  little  rest.  They  are  increased 
by  division.  Introduced  in  1818.  Syn.  Sarco- 
chilus. 

Cama'ssia.  Wild  Hyacinth.  From  quamash,  so 
called  by  Indians,  who  eat  the  bulbs.  Nat. 
Ord.  LiliacexB. 

Allied  to  the  Scilla  or  Squill.  C.  esadenta  re- 
sembles the  common  blue  Hyacinth,  but  is 
larger,  its  leaves  being  about  a  foot  long,  very 
narrow,  and  grooved  down  the  inside.  Its 
flower  stalks  grow  from  one  to  two  feet  high, 
and  bear  large,  showy  purple  flowers.  This 
plant  grows  in  moist  grounds  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  its 
bulbs  form  a  staple  food  of  the  Indians,  the 
different  tribes  visiting  the  plains  for  the  pur- 
pose of  collecting  them,  immediately  after  the 
plant  has  flowered.  The  occasion  is  one  of 
their  feasts,  in  which  the  women  take  an  im- 
portant part,  as  the  labor  of  digging  devolves 
entirely  upon  them.  The  unman-ifd  females 
endeavor  to  excel  each  other  in  the  quantity 
they  collect,  their  fame  as  future  good  wives 
depending  upon  their  activity  upon  the  Qua- 
mash plains.  The  roots  are  cooked  by  digging 
a  hole  in  the  ground  and  paving  it  with  large 
stones,  upon  which  a  fire  is  lighted  and  kept 
up  until  they  are  red  hot,  when  they  are 
covered  with  alternate  layers  of  branches  and 
roots  till  the  hole  is  full.  It  is  then  covereil 
with  earth,  and  a  fire  kept  burning  upon  it  for 
twenty-four  hours,  when  the  roots  are  taken 
out,  dried,  or  pounded  into  cakes  for  future 
use. 

Cambium.  The  viscid  fluid  which  appears 
between  the  bark  and  wood  of  Exogens,  when 
the  new  wood  is  forming. 

Came'lUa.  Named  in  honor  of  George  Joseph 
Kamel,  or  Camellus,  a  Moravian  Jesuit  and 
Eastern  traveler.     Nat.  Ord.  Temsfrcemiacece. 

This  well-known  genus  is  so  closely  allied 
to  the  tea  family  as  to  be  distinguished  from 
it  with  great  difficulty,  the  great  difference 
being  in  the  number  of  parts  and  position 
of  the  flower.     The  number  of  true  specie^ 


CAM 

of  this  splendid  genus  is  very  limited,  not 
exceeding  six  or  seven,  and  only  one  or  two 
of  them  are  thought  worth  cultivation,  except 
for  botanical  purposes.  The  hundreds  of 
beautiful  varieties  which  grace  our  collections, 
possessing  at  once  the  most  rich  and  vivid 
colors  in  their  flowers,  and  the  noblest  gran- 
deur in  the  whole  aspect  of  the  plants,  fully 
compensate  for  this  scarcity  of  species,  and 
leave  us  little  to  desire  that  may  not  reason- 
ably be  expected  from  the  same  skill  and  per- 
severance which  have  already  produced  such 
splendid  results.  C.  Japonica  may  be  regarded 
as  the  parent  of  the  whole  race  of  cultivated 
Camellias.  It  is  a  native  of  China  and  Japan, 
where  it  attains  the  altitude  of  a  tree,  and  is 
much  employed  by  the  natives  of  those 
countries  in  decorating  their  gardens.  Camel- 
lias delight  in  an  even  temperature,  rapid 
fluctuation  being  injurious  at  any  season,  and 
the  same  regular  and  equable  amount  of  both 
light  and  moisture  should  prevail  for  the 
whole  year,  that  in  effect  the  difference 
between  the  summer  and  winter  seasons  may 
be  lessened  as  far  as  practicable  For  this 
purpose  the  plant  should  be  kept  in  summer 
in  a  cool  green-house,  moderately  shaded 
from  the  sun.  When  the  plants  are  in  a  grow- 
ing state  they  require  abundance  of  water, 
both  at  the  roots  and  over  the  leaves.  After 
making  their  growth,  and  setting  their  flower- 
buds,  they  require  less  attention  than  at  any 
other  period.  Moderate  supplies  of  water  and 
a  situation  as  cool  as  can  be  afforded  without 
danger  of  frost  or  nipping  currents  of  air  are 
best.  About  the  middle  of  March  is  the  com- 
mencement of  the  ordinary  growing  season, 
when  a  higher  temperature  and  plenty  of  water 
to  the  roots  should  be  given  them.  Potting 
should  be  done  when  the  greatest  benefit  will 
be  conferred  on  the  prospective  shoots,  which 
will  be  before  the  roots  have  made  much  pro- 
gress, or  as  soon  after  blooming  as  may  be.  A 
distinction  in  the  quality  of  soil  to  be  used 
should  be  made  in  accordance  with  the  state 
of  each  plant,  bearing  in  mind  that  they  gr.  >w 
much  stronger  in  loam,  but  do  not  usually 
produce  flowers  so  freely,  and  vice  versa  for 
healthy  specimens;  and  under  ordinary  cir- 
cumstances an  addition  of  leaf  mould  seems 
most  advisable,  introducing  a  small  propor- 
tion of  sand,  and  using  the  soil  quite  rough. 
At  this  time  it  should  be  determined  at  what 
period  the  plants  will  be  required  to  bloom  in 
the  ensuing  st^ason,  whether  early  or  late,  to 
accord  with  which  the  plants  may  be  either 
forced  or  retarded.  They  will  bear  almost 
any  amount  of  heat  while  growing,  but  after 
the  formation  of  the  flower-buds  it  must  be 
withheld,  as  the  slightest  application  then, 
instead  of  hastening  their  development,  will 
infallibly  cause  them  to  fall  off.  Hence,  the 
only  way  to  "force"  Camellias  into  early 
flowering  in  fall  and  winter  is  to  keep  them  at 
a  high  temperature  while  growing  in  spring. 
A  temperature  of  about  65°  is  the  most  proper 
for  such  as  are  desired  to  flower  in  the  follow- 
ing winter ;  45°  or  50°  will  be  sufficient  for  the 
next,  or  those  which  may  be  said  to  bloom 
naturally,  while  the  portion  required  to  fur- 
nish flowers  for  the  late  spring  months  should 
be  placed  out  of  doors.  This  treatment  must 
be  continued  until  the  new  growths  are  com- 
pleted, and  the  incipient  flower-buds  can  be 
discovered,    When    a   cool,  shaded  situation 


68 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


CAM 

should  be  provided  for  each  section  as  they 
require  it ;  observing  to  supply  them  bounti- 
fully with  water  during  the  whole  period  of 
growth,  with  an  occasional  sprinkling  over 
the  foliage,  and  moderate  shade.  Any  situa- 
tion secure  from  frost  will  preserve  them 
through  the  winter,  and  as  the  flowers  expand, 
the  plants  may  be  removed  wherever  their 
presence  may  be  deemed  most  ornamental. 
Many  of  the  best  Camellias  in  cultivation 
have  been  raised  from  seed  in  this  country ; 
several  of  the  finest  of  which  have  originated 
in  Boston,  with  Messrs.  M.  P.  "Wilder  and  C.  H. 
Hovey,  and  have  been  awarded  the  highest 
honors.  The  usual  mode  of  propagation  is  by 
cuttings,  or  by  grafting  or  inarching,  either  of 
which  should  be  done  as  soon  as  the  new 
wood  is  firm  enough  to  handle.  The  sub- 
jects operated  on  should  be  placed  in  a  close, 
humid  atmosphere,  such  as  is  afforded  by  a 
common  hand-glass  placed  over  a  tan-bark 
bed.  The  union  takes  place  in  a  few  weeks, 
and  with  encouragement,  the  scions  will  form 
fine  plants  in  one  season.  The  Tea  Plant,  known 
generally  as  Thea  Bohea  or  Thea  viridis,  is  now 
returned  by  many  botanists  to  this  genus 
under  the  name  of  C.  theifera. 

Camoe'nsia.  Named  in  honor  of  Louis  Cam- 
oens,  a  celebrated  Portuguese  poet.  Nat.  Ord. 
Leguminosce. 

C.  maxima,  the  only  species  yet  in  cultiva- 
tion, was  introduced  from  Angola  in  1878,  and 
is  the  largest-flowered  leguminous  plant 
known.  It  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of 
tropical  climbers.  The  splendid  bunches  of 
pendulous  milk-white  flowers,  tinged  with 
gold  on  the  edges  of  the  petals,  grow'in  droop- 
ing racemes  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves ;  the 
petals  are  white,  venose,  frilled  at  the  margin, 
where  they  are  tinted  with  golden-yellow. 
Propagated  by  cuttings. 

Campa'nula.  Bell  Flower.  The  diminutive  of 
campana,  a  bell;  literally,  a  little  bell.  Nat. 
Ord.  Campanulacece. 

This  extensive  and  well-known  genus  con- 
sists of  more  than  two  hundred  species, 
including  annuals,  biennials,  and  perennials. 
Some  of  the  hardy  perennials  are  dwarf  plants, 
producing  a  profusion  of  flowers,  which  ren- 
der them  particularly  adapted  for  I'ock-work 
or  for  growing  in  pots.  C.  pyramidalis  is  a 
tall-growing  variety,  at  one  time  a  very  popu- 
lar plant,  and  some  of  the  old  gardeners  still 
cling  to  it  with  a  peculiar  fondness.  When 
grown  in  pots  it  requires  frequent  repot- 
ting, which  will  bring  it  to  an  enormous  size. 
"When  well  grown  it  is  a  splendid  plant.  C. 
medium  (Canterbury  Bell)  is  a  very  ornamental 
garden  flower  of  the  easiest  culture,  with 
double  and  single  varieties,  bearing  blue,  red, 
purple,  and  white  flowers.  Like  other  bien- 
nials, it  may  either  be  sown  where  it  is  to 
remain,  any  time  after  midsummer,  or  may  be 
sown  in  beds  in  spring  for  transplanting.  C. 
rotundifoUa  (Hairbell)  is  the  most  beautiful  of 
our  native  species.  Some  of  the  species  are 
grown  in  France  and  Italy  as  esculent  roots. 
All  succeed  well  in  any  good  soil,  and  are  pro- 
pagated freely  by  seeds  or  division. 

Campa'nula'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  milky 
herbs  or  undershrubs,  with  alternate  leaves, 
having  no  stipules,  and  usually  bearing  showy 
blue  or  white  flowers.  The  plants  are  chiefly 
natives  of  the  north  of  Asia,   Europe,   ard 


CAM 

North  America,  and  are  scarcely  known  in  hot 
regions.  The  chains  of  the  Alps,  Italy,  Greece, 
the  Caucasus,  and  the  Altai,  are  their  true 
homes.  Several  are  found  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  The  plants  have  a  milky,  acrid  Juice, 
but  the  roots  and  young  shoots  are  often  culti- 
vated as  articles  of  food,  as,  for  example,  the 
Eampion  {Campanula Rapunculus).  There  are 
twenty-nine  known  genera,  and  540  species. 
Some  of  them  furnish  handsome  flowers  for 
the  border.  Jasione,  Phyteuma,  Campanula, 
Adonophora,  and  Platycodon  are  examples  of 
the  order. 

Campa'nulate.  Bell-shaped,  as  the  corolla  of 
Campanula. 

Campeachy  Wood.  The  red  dye-wood,  better 
known  as  Logwood,  obtained  from  Hcema- 
toxylon  Campechianum. 

Camphire,  or  Samphire.     Onthmum  maritimum. 

Camphor.     See  Camphora. 

Ca'mphora.  Camphor-tree.  From  Camphor, 
the  commercial  name  of  its  chief  product. 
Nat.  Ord.  Lauracem. 

C.  officinalis,  the  only  species  constituting 
this  genus,  is  an  evergreen  tree  that  grows  to 
a  considerable  height,  dividing  into  many 
branches  covered  with  smooth,  greenish  bark. 
Its  flowers  are  small,  white,  destitute  of  calyx, 
with  a  six-petalled  corolla.  The  fruit  re- 
sembles that  of  the  cinnamon. 

This  tree  is  a  native  of  China  and  Japan, 
growing  abundantly  in  the  woods  of  the 
western  part  of  the  island.  The  roots, 
wood  and  leaves  have  a  strong  odor  of 
camphor.  This  substance  is  found  to 
lodge  everywhere  in  the  interstices  of 
the  fibres  of  the  wood,  also  in  the  pith,  but 
most  abundantly  in  the  crevices  and  knots. 
The  camphor  of  commerce,  or  Chinese  cam- 
phor, is  obtained  from  the  wood,  branches 
and  leaves,  by  dry  distillation.  It  is  chiefly 
produced  in  the  island  of  Formosa,  and  is 
brought  in  great  quantities  to  Canton,  whence 
foreign  countries  are  supplied. 

Campion,     Moss.     Silene  acaulis. 

Hose.     Lychnis  coronaria,  and  L.  Flos  Jovis. 

Campsi'dium.  From  Kampsis,  a  curving.  Nat. 
Ord.  BignoniacecB. 

C.  filicifolium  is  a  beautiful  climber  from 
Chili.  The  foliage  is  of  a  dark  shining  green 
color,  and  resembles  the  fronds  of  some 
Ferns.  The  flowers  are  small,  of  a  rich 
orange  color.  It  is  a  rapid  grower,  well 
adapted  for  covering  rafters  or  back  walls  in 
the  green-house.  In  the  woods,  in  its  wild 
state,  it  grows  forty  to  flfty  feet  high,  cover- 
ing the  tops  of  the  trees  in  a  most  graceful 
manner. 

Camptoso'rus.  "Walking  Fern.  The  rather 
rare  or  local  C.  rhizophyllus,  is  the  only  native 
representative  of  the  genus,  and  is  remark- 
able for  its  fronds,  tapering  above  into  a 
slender  prolongation  like  a  runner,  which 
often  roots  at  the  apex,  and  gives  rise  to  new 
fronds,  and  these  in  turn  to  others ;  hence 
the  popular  name.     Syn.  Asplenium. 

Campylobo'trys.  From  kampylos,  a  curve,  and 
botrys,  a  bunch  ;  alluding  to  tlie  form  of  the 
inflorescence.     Nat.  Ord.  Cinchonacece. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful  green-house 
shrubs,  natives  of  Brazil.  They  are  more 
remarkable  for  their  glossy  foliage  than  for 


CAMPANULA  PUNCTATA. 


63 


CAMPANULA   (TALL). 


CAPSICUM  VAE. 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


69 


CAM 

the  beauty  of  the  flowers.  C.  regalia  has  ellip- 
tic leaves,  with  a  satiny  luster  and  a  rich 
bronzy-green  color.  This,  with  one  or  two 
other  species,  has  been  introduced  into  the 
green-house  for  the  rare  beauty  of  the  foliage. 
They  were  introduced  in  1859,  and  are  propa- 
gated by  cuttings.  By  some  authors  this 
genus  is  placed  under  Hoffmannia. 

Camwood.    See  Baphia. 

Canada  Balsam.     Abies  Balsamea. 

Canada  Rice.     Zizania  aquatica. 

Canada  Tea.     GauUheria  procumbens. 

Canada  Thistle,     See  Cirsium. 

Canary  Bird  Flower.    See  TropcBoluvi. 

Canary  Grass.     See  Phalaris. 

Canava'lia.  A  genus  of  elegant  twining  plants 
of  the  Nat.  Ord.  LegurninoscB. 

The  purple  or  white  and  red  flowers  are 
produced  in  racemes  from  the  axils  of  the  tri- 
foliate leaves.  Well  adapted  for  training  up 
the  rafters  of  a  stove  or  warm  green-house. 

Cancer  Root.  A  common  name  applied  to  the 
genus  Epiphegus,  and  also  to  Conopholis, 
on  account  of  their  supposed  medicinal  vir- 
tues. 

Cancer  Root.  One-Flowered.  Aphyllon  uni- 
fiorum. 

Cancer-'wort.     Linaria  spuria,  and  L.  Elatine. 

Candidas.  A  pure  white ;  but  not  so  clear  as 
snow-white. 

Candle-berry  Myrtle.  Myrica  cerifera,  and  M. 
Gale. 

Candle-berry  Tree.     Aleuriies  triloba. 

Candle  Tree.  Panama.  See  Parmentiera  cerifera. 

Candle  Wood.  Californian.  Fouquiera  splen- 
dens. 

Cando'Uea.  Named  for  A.  De  Candolle,  of 
Geneva,  author  of  many  botanical  works. 
Nat.  Ord.  Dilleniacece. 

A  genus  of  very  ornamental  evergreen 
shrubs,  natives  of  Australia.  C.  tetrandra  is  a 
very  compact-growing  and  free-flowering  plant 
with  yellow  flowers,  borne  at  the  ends  of  the 
branches.  Introduced  in  1842.  It  is  a  valu- 
able addition  to  our  fall  and  winter  blooming 
plants.  Propagated  by  cuttings,  or  by  seeds 
when  obtainable. 

Candy-tuft.    See  Iberis. 

Cane-brake.  A  common  name  for  different 
species  of  Arundinaria. 

Cane.  Dumb.  Dieffenbachia  seguiiie,  "which  see. 
Chair-bottom.     Various  species  of   Calamus, 

which  see. 
Malacca.     Calamus  scipionum. 
Rattan.     Calamus  draco  {C.  Rotang). 
Sugar.     Saccharum  officinarum. 
Sugar,  Chinese.     Sorghum  Saccharatum. 

Cane  Stakes.  The  tree-like  culms  or  stems  of 
two  species  of  Arundinaria,  found  in  swamps 
and  by  the  margms  of  rivers  from  Florida  to 
Indiana.  They  are  much  used,  especially  by 
florists,  for  plant  stakes,  as  they  can  be  cut  to 
any  desired  length,  and  are  ready  for  use  at 
once.  Those  from  Indiana  are  considered  the 
best,  as  they  are  tougher  and  more  durable. 

Canescens.  More  or  less  gray,  verging  on 
white ;  grayish-white ;  hoary ;  a  term  ap- 
plied to  hairy  surfaces. 


CAN 

Canker.  A  rather  indeflnite  term,  used  to  denote 
a  disease  resulting  in  the  slow  decay  of  trees 
or  other  plants  attacked  by  it.  See 
Carcinodes. 

Ca'nna.  Indian  Shot.  The  Celtic  name  for  a 
cane  or  reed.     Nat.  Ord.  SdtamineoB. 

This  is  an  extensive  and  very  interesting 
genus  of  tender  herbaceous  perennials.  Most 
of  the  species  have  showy  crimson,  orange 
and  yellow  flowers.  They  are  usually  grown 
for  the  remarkable  beauty  of  their  foliage, 
which  is  highly  ornamental;  hence  they  are 
favorite  plants  in  cultivation,  and  produce  a 
striking  effect  either  singly,  or  grouped  in  beds 
upon  the  lawn  in  the  summer  months.  If 
planted  in  a  rich,  deep  soil,  and  freely  watered, 
some  of  them  will  grow  ten  feet  during  the 
season,  and  from  a  single  tuber  make  a  clump 
three  or  four  feet  in  diameter.  A  new  section, 
introduced  in  1884  by  a  Mr.  Crozet  of  France, 
has  a  dwarf  bushy  habit.  The  flowers  are 
produced  in  abundance  from  June  to  October 
when  they  can  be  lifted  and  flowered  during 
winter  in  green-houses.  This  section  comprises 
many  grand  varieties,  the  flowers  of  many  of 
which  are  marked  like  orchids.  Beauty  is  not 
their  only  claim  to  consideration,  some  of  the 
species,  as  C.  edulis,  being  grown  extensively 
in  Peru  and  the  Sandwich  Islands  as  a  vege- 
table. Arrow-root  is  also  made  from  this 
species.  Propagated  by  seeds  or  more  com- 
monly by  division  of  tubers,  which  should  be 
kept  during  the  winter  like  Dahlias. 

Ca'nnabis.  Hemp.  So  called  from  ganeh,  its 
Arabic  name,  and  from  the  Celtic  appellation 
can,  reed,  and  ab,  small.  Nat.  Ord.  UrticacecB. 
Of  the  two  species  that  compose  this  genus, 
the  truly  important  one  is  C.  sativa,  a  native 
of  India,  which  furnishes  the  Hemp  of  com- 
merce. The  Hemp  plant  is  an  annual,  growing 
•from  four  to  eight  feet  high ;  in  very  hot 
climates  it  frequently  grows  twenty  feet  high. 
The  flowers  are  of  separate  sexes  on  differ- 
ent plants,  the  males  being  produced  in 
racemes,  and  generally  crowded  together 
towards  the  top  of  the  plant  or  end  of  the 
branches;  the  females  are  in  short  spikes, 
their  calyx  consisting  merely  of  a 
single  sepal,  rolled  around  the  ovary,  but 
open  on  one  side,  and  they  have  two  hairy 
stigmas.  The  fruit  (commonly  known  as 
"Hemp-seed")  is  a  small,  grayish-colored 
smooth,  shining  nut,  containing  a  single  oily 
seed.  For  the  production  of  good  fiber  the 
seed  is  sown  close,  so  as  to  produce 
straight  stems  without  branches.  The  har- 
vesting takes  place  at  two  periods ;  the  male 
being  pulled  as  soon  as  it  has  done  flowering, 
and  the  female  not  until  the  seeds  are  ripe. 
After  gathering  it  undergoes  treatment  sim- 
ilar to  that  given  flax  to  separate  the  fiber.  In 
Persia  and  other  very  hot  countries  the  plant 
furnishes  a  soft  resin,  which  is  collected  by 
the  coolies,  and  is  smoked  like  tobacco,  or 
pounded  into  pulp,  so  as  to  make  a  drink, 
both  being  stimulant  and  intoxicating.  The 
Asiatics  are  passionately  addicted  to  the  use 
of  this  means  of  intoxication,  as  the  names 
given  to  the  Hemp  show  :  "leaf  of  delusion," 
"  increaser  of  pleasure,"  etc. 

Canoe-Wood.  The  Tulip  tree.  Liriodendron 
tulipifera. 

Canterbury  Bells.     See  Campanula  m^diwrn. 


70 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


CAN 

Ca'ntua.  From  Cantu,  the  name  of  one  of  the 
species  in  Peru.     Nat.  Ord.  Polemoniace^. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  shrubs 
from  Peru.  The  foliage  is  fleshy,  the  flowers 
large  and  showy,  produced  in  terminal 
corymbs,  the  colors  being  white,  scarlet, 
yellow  and  blue.  They  require  the  same 
treatment  as  the  Fuchsia.  C.  buxifolia  is  the 
Magic  Tree  of  the  Peruvian  Indians,  and  was 
formerly  used  to  decorate  their  houses  on 
feast  days.  All  the  species  are  readily 
increased  by  cuttings,  C.  coronopifolia,  a  native 
of  South  Carolina,  is  Gilia  coronopifolia  of 
Ruiz  and  Pavon. 

Caoutchouc.  The  elastic,  gummy  substance 
known  as  Indian  Rubber,  which  is  the  juice 
of  various  plants  growing  in  tropical  climates 
in  different  parts  of  the  world.  It  is  chieflj' 
obtained  from  the  Ficus  elastica,  Castilloa 
elastica,  Urceola  elastica,  etc.  The  milky  juice 
of  Siphocampijlos  caoutchouc  is  quite  different 
from  the  Caoutchouc  of  commerce. 

Cape  Bulbs.  A  term  employed  to  designate  a 
large  number  of  bulbs  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  that  require  the  protection  of  a  frame 
to  be  grown  in  this  latitude.  They  are  not 
sufficiently  hardy  to  endure  our  winters  with- 
out protection.  Among  the  class  may  be 
found  Ixias,  Bdbianas,  Sparaxis,  Tritonias, 
Geissorhiza,  etc. 

Cape  Figwort.     See  PhygeUus. 

Cape  Gooseberry.     Physalis  Peruviana. 

Cape  Jessamine.     See  Gardenia  florida. 

Cape  Poison  Bulb.  Buphane  disticha  (Syn. 
Brunsvigia   toxicaria). 

Cape  Pond  "Weed.     Aponogeton  distachyon. 

Cape  Treasure  Flower.     Gazania  pavonia. 

Caper  tree.     See  Capparis. 

Capitate.  Having  a  head ;  pin-headed,  as  the 
stigma  of  the  Primrose.  Also,  growing  in  a 
head,  or  close  terminal  clusters,  as  the 
flowers  of  Composite,  etc. 

Capparida'ceas.  A  natural  order  composed  of 
herbs,  shrubs,  or  trees  with  alternate  leaves 
and  solitary  or  clustered  flowers.  The  order 
is  divided  into  two  sub-orders :  Cleomece, 
with  dry,  dehiscent  (splitting)  fruit,  and  Cap- 
parem,  with  a  berry  fruit.  The  plants  are 
chiefly  tropical,  and  abound  in  Africa  and 
India.  Some  are  found  in  Europe  and  in 
North  America.  They  have  pungent  and 
stimulant  qualities,  and  have  been  used  for 
scurvy.  Tlie  flower  buds  of  Capparis  spinosa 
furnish  the  well-known  Capers.  C.  ^gyptiaca 
is  thought  by  some  to  be  the  Hyssop  of  Scrip- 
ture. There  are  thirty-three  known  genera 
and  3^)5  species.  Capparhi,  Cleome,  Polanisia, 
and  Cratceva,  are  examples  of  the  genera. 

Ca'pparis.  Caper-tree.  From  kabar,  the  Arabic 
name  for  Capers.     Nat.  Ord.  Capparidacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  tend<'r  or  half-hardy 
climbing  or  trailing  plants.  The  best  known 
of  the  species  is  C.  spinosa,  a  native  of  the 
south  of  Europe.  In  habit  it  resembles  the 
common  bramble.  The  Capers  are  the  buds, 
which  are  gathered  just  before  expanding,  and 
pickled.  In  Italy  the  unripe  fruit  is  some- 
times pickled  in  vinegar  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  buds.  Capers  are  chiefly  imported  from 
Sicily,  though  they  are  extensively  grown  in 
the  south  of  France. 


CAR 

Caprifolia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  shrubs  or 
herbs,  often  twining,  natives  of  the  northern 
parts  of  Europe,  Asia  and  America,  found 
sparingly  in  northern  Africa,  and  unknown  in 
the  southern  hemisphere.  Some  are  astrin- 
gent, and  othei's  have  emetic  and  purgative 
qualities.  Many  have  sho^^y  and  fragrant 
flowers.  The  common  Honeysuckle  (Lonicera) 
is  one  of  the  most  esteemed  of  our  climbing 
or  twining  plants.  Among  other  plants  of  the 
order  may  be  mentioned  the  Snowball  or 
Guelder  Rose  ( Vibtirnum  opnlus),  the  Snow- 
berry  (Symphoricarpus  racemosus),  the  Ekler 
(Sambucus  nigra),  and  the  Laurustinus  (Vi- 
burnum Tinus),  as  well  as  Linnam  borealis. 
The  black  berries  of  the  species  of  Viburnum 
found  on  the  Himalaya  Mountains  are  eatable 
and  agreeable. 

Capse'Ua.  A  common  weed  belonging  to  Nat. 
Ord.   Cruciferce. 

C.  Bursa-pastoris,  Shepherd's  Purse,  a  native 
of  Europe,  is  so  called  from  the  resemblance 
of  its  pods  to  some  ancient  form  of  purse. 
It  has  accompanied  Europeans  in  all  their 
migrations,  and  established  itself  wherever 
they  have  settled.  It  is  a  troublesome  weed, 
hence  its  utilitarian  popular  name,  "  Pick- 
pocket," is  more  appropriate  perhaps,  than 
the  sentimental  one  "Shepherd's  Purse." 

Ca'psicum.  Chili  Pepper.  From  kapto,  to 
bite ;  referring  to  its  pungency.  Nat.  Ord. 
SolanacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  tender  annual  and 
biennial  plants,  natives  of  the  East  and  West 
Indies,  China,  Brazil  and  Egypt.  C.  annuum 
is  the  common  garden  pepper,  a  native  of 
India,  from  which  many  varieties  have  origi- 
nated. C.  frutescens,  a  native  of  Chili,  is  the 
species  that  furnishes  the  Cayenne  Pepper  of 
commerce,  and  is  also  used  in  the  preparation 
known  as  Pepper  Sauce.  C.  grossum,  a  native 
of  India,  is  the  Bell  Pepper  of  our  gardens. 

Capsule.    A  dry  dehiscent  seed  vessel  or  fruit. 

Caraga'na.  Siberian  Pea-tree.  So  called  from 
Carachana,  its  name  in  Tartary.  Nat.  Ord. 
LeguminoscB. 

An  Asiatic  genus  of  shrubs  or  low  growing 
trees.  One  of  the  best  knowa  of  the  species 
is,  C.  Arborescens,  the  Siberian  Pea-tree,  a  low 
sized  shrubby  tree,  with  numerous  yellow, 
tapering  twigs,  and  very  small,  pinnate  leaves 
of  the  same  character  as  those  of  the  Acacias, 
but  much  smaller  and  of  a  rare  golden-green 
color ;  the  flowers  are  small,  yellow,  and  pro- 
duced singly  or  in  clusters,  at  the  axils  of  the 
leaves.  It  is  a  tree  of  marked  beauty  in  early 
summer,  by  the  contrast  it  presents  with 
shrubs  of  dark  and  less  delicate  foliage.  C. 
Chamlagu,  a  Chinese  species,  is  a  low  spread- 
ing shrub,  two  to  four  feet  high,  with  branches 
at  first  upright  and  then  decumbent.  Loudon 
says:  "When  grafted  on  C.  arborescens,  it 
forms  a  singularly  picturesque  pendulous 
tree ;  beautiful  not  only  when  it  is  in  leaf 
or  in  flower,  but  from  the  graceful  lines 
formed  by  its  branches,  even  in  the  midst  of 
winter,  when  they  are  completely  stripped  of 
their  leaves."  The  flowers  are  produced 
freely  in  large  clusters,  yellow  or  reddish,  in 
May  or  June. 

Carageen  or  Carrageen.  Irish  Moss.  A  name 
given  in  Ireland  to  Chondrus  crispus  and  some 
other  allied  Algce.     Vast  quantities  are   col- 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


71 


CAR 

lected  for  sale,  and  supply  a  useful  article  for 
feeding  cattle,  and  making  jelly  for  invalids. 
Its  decided  sea  taste  and  odor  are  against  its 
being  a  perfect  substitute  for  isinglass. 
There  is  no  doubt,  however,  that  in  the  sick 
chamber  it  is  a  far  better  substitute  than 
gelatine,  as  that  has  very  small,  if  any  nutri- 
tive qualities,  a  fact  not  perhaps  sufficiently 
known. 

Caragua'ta  A  genus  of  BromeliacecB,,  closely 
allied  to  Tillandsia ;  stove-house  epiphytes. 
Their  bright  scarlet  bracts  are  very  showy 
when  in  bloom. 

Caraway.    See  Carum. 

Carcinodes.  A  term  applie  1  to  what  is  com- 
monly called  Canker  in  trees,  which  may  be 
characterized  as  a  slovr  decay,  and  in  regard 
to  which  the  Rev.  M.  J.  Berkeley,  an  excellent 
authority,  says :  "  The  appearances  are  very 
different  in  different  plants,  and  the  causes 
dififerent.  The  same  plant,  as  the  Apple,  may 
even  exhibit  three  or  four  different  kinds  of 
Canker.  One  form  arises  from  the  attack  of 
the  Woolly  Aphis;  a  second  from  the  devel- 
opmont  of  bundles  of  adventitious  roots, 
whose  tips  decay  and  harbor  moisture,  and 
contaminate  the  subjacent  tissues ;  a  third 
exhibits  itseiJ  without  au}  apparent  oaufec,  in 
the  form  of  broad,  dark,  or  even  black  patches, 
spreading  in  every  direction ;  while  a  fourth 
shows  pale,  depressed  streaks,  which  soon 
become  confluent,  and  eventually  kill,  first 
the  bark,  and  then,  as  a  necessary  conse- 
quence, the  underlying  wood.  The  only 
remedy  is  to  cut  out  completely  the  affected 
parts,  and  that  is  not  ahvaj^s  efficacious.  The 
Canker  of  the  Plum  and  Apricot  is  brought  on 
by  gtimming.  In  many  cases  Canker  arises 
doubtless  from  the  roots  penetrating  into 
some  ungenial  soil,  which  vitiates  the  Juices 
and  induces  death  to  the  weaker  cells,  from 
which  it  spreads  to  surrounding  tissue.  The 
rugged  appearance  is  generally  due  to  a 
struggle  between  the  vital  powers  of  the  plant 
and  the  diseased  action." 

Cardami'ne.  Ladies'  Smock.  Cuckoo  Flower. 
From  kardamine,  a  diminutive  of  kardamon, 
cress  ;  referring  to  the  acrid  flavor.  Nat.  Ord. 
CrucifercB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous 
perennials,  common  in  many  parts  of  the 
United  States,  Europe,  and  northern  Asia.  C. 
pratensi^,  popularly  known  as  Ladies'  Smock 
or  Cuckoo  Flower,  is  a  very  pretty  meadow 
plant,  with  large  lilac  flowers,  common  in 
Europe,  but  a  rather  rare  plant  in  this  coun- 
try. A  double  variety  of  this  species,  some- 
times found  growing  wild,  is  remarkably 
proliferous,  the  leaflets  producing  new  plants 
where  they  come  in  contact  with  the  ground, 
and  the  flowers,  when  they  wither  sending 
up  a  stalked  flower-bud  from  their  centers. 
The  leaves  of  some  of  the  species  are  used 
in  salads. 

Ca'rdamon.    See  Amomum. 

Cardinal  Flower.    See  Lobelia  cardinalis. 

Cardiospe'rmum.  Balloon  Vine.  Fi'om  kar- 
dia,  a  heart,  and  sperma,  seed ;  in  allusion  to 
the  shape  of  the  seeds.  Nat.  Ord.  Sapin- 
dacecB. 

Of  this  small  genus  only  one  species  is 
grown  as  an  ornamental  plant,  viz.,  C.  Hali- 
cacabum,  which  is  a  rapid-growing,  hamlsouM" 


CAR 

climber,  remarkable  for  {in  inflated  mem- 
branous capsule,  from  which  it  receives  its 
common  name,  Balloon  Vine,.  It  grows  readily 
from  seed.     Introduced  from  India  in  150-1. 

Cardoon.    See  Cynara. 

Ca'rduus.  Thistle.  From  ard,  the  Celtic  word 
for  a  prickle  or  sharp  point ;  referring  to  the 
spines  of  the  Thistle.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositop,. 

Some  of  the  species  are  very  ornamental, 
though  manj'  of  them  are  tall,  robust-growing 
plants,  which  require  a  great  deal  of  njom 
and  are  too  large  for  a  small  garden.  C. 
Marianus  (Syn.  Silybum  Marianum)  the  Iloly 
Thistle,  is  well  marked  by  the  white  veins  on 
its  large,  shining  leaves,  fabled  to  have  been 
produced  by  a  portion  of  the  milk  of  the  Vir- 
gin Mary  having  fallen  on  them.  They  are 
annuals,  growing  freely  from  seed. 

Ca'rex.  From  careo,  to  want;  the  upper  spikes 
being  without  seeds.     Nat.  Ord.  Cjtperacece. 

This  genus  includes  more  than  1,000  species, 
widely  distributed  over  the  temj)erate  and 
Arctic  regions.  They  are  all  perennial  grasses ; 
a  few  species  are  handsome  plants  for  the 
green-house,  and  useful  for  basket  work  and 
aquariums.  They  are  usually  found  growing 
in  bogs,  marshes,  or  moist  woods,  where  they 
yield  a  very  inferior  quality  of  grass.  C. 
Fraseri  is  the  handsomest  species  of  the 
genus,  resembling  at  a  short  distance,  when 
in  flower,  one  of  the  LiliaceoR.  The  leaves  of 
several  of  the  species  are  used  for  seating 
chairs,  and  various  other  purposes  for  which 
we  use  the  common  Flag.  There  are  more 
than  300  species  in  this  country,  all  of  which 
are  without  interest  except  to  the  botanist. 

Caricature  Plant.     See  Graptophyllum. 

Carinate.    Keel-shaped. 

Carludo'vioa.  Named  after  Charlts  IV.  of 
Spain,  and  Louisa,  his  queen.  Nat.  Ord, 
CyclanthacecB. 

A  genus  of  low-growing,  palm-like,  stove- 
house  plants.  Some  of  them  have  long, 
climbing  stems,  sending  out  aerial  roots, 
which  fasten  upon  the  trunks  of  trees  or  hang 
down  like  ropes,  while  others  are  stemless 
and  form  dense  thickets.  C.  palmata  is  one 
of  the  more  interesting  species.  Its  leaves 
are  shaped  and  plaited  like  a  fan,  and  are 
borne  on  long,  slender  stocks.  Thoy  are  of 
tolerably  large  size,  and  deeply  cut  into  four 
or  flve  divisions,  each  of  which  is  again  cut. 
It  is  from  the  leaves  of  this  species  that  the 
well-known  Panama  hats  are  made.  The 
leaves  are  cut  when  young,  and  the  stiff  par- 
allel veins  removed,  after  which  they  are  slit 
into  shreds,  but  not  separated  at  the  stalk 
end,  and  immersed  in  boiling  water  for  a  short 
time,  and  then  bleached  in  the  sun.  This 
species  is  also  exceedingly  useful  for  any  orna- 
mental or  decorative  purpose.  C.  jjlicala  is 
a  very  interesting  climbing  species,  with  foli- 
age similar  to  that  of  C.  palmata,  but  with 
much  shorter  leaf-stalks.  Tlrero  are  several 
other  species  useful  for  decorative  purposes, 
and  valuable  from  the  fact  that  they  will  suc- 
ceed in  any  out-of-the-way  corner,  where  most 
other  plants  would  perish.  This  genus  is 
common  throughout  the  shady  thickets  of 
Panama,  and  along  the  coast  of  New  Grenada 
and  Ecuador.  They  are  increased  from 
suckers  or  from  seed. 

Carnation.     See  Dianthus  caryophyllvs. 


72 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


CAR 

Cameus.    Pale  red,  or  flesh-color. 

Carnivorous  Plants.  A  term  applied  to  Dioncea 
miLscipula,  Darlingtonia  Califomica,  the  Dro- 
seras,  and  other  insect-catching  plants,  on  the 
supposition  that  they  feed  on  the  insects 
which  they  entrap. 

Carob  Tree.     See  Ceratonia. 

Carolina  Allspice.  A  popular  name  of  the 
Calycanlhus,  or  Sweet-scented  Shrub. 

Carolina  Jasmine.     See  Gelsemium. 

Carpel.  A  division  of  the  ovary;  one  of  the 
roUed-up  leaves  of  which  the  pistil  is  com- 
posed, whether  they  are  combined  or  distinct; 
the  small  parts  of  which  compound  fruits  are 
formed. 

Carpente'ria.  Named  after  the  late  Professor 
Carpenter  of  Louisiana.  Nat.  Ord.  Saxifrag- 
acem. 

An  ornamental,  hardy,  tall-growing  shrub 
with  pure  white  flowers.and  broadly-lanceolate 
pinnately-veined  leaves,  whitened  beneath, 
with  a  minute  and  close  pubescence.  Intro- 
duced to  cultivation  from  the  Sierra  Nevadas, 
California,  in  1880. 

Carpi'nus.  Hornbeam,  Iron  Wood.  From  the 
Celtic  car,  wood,  and  pinda,  head ;  the  wood 
being  used  for  the  yokes  of  cattle.  Nat.  Ord. 
CorylacecB. 

C.  Americana,  the  only  representative  of  this 
genus  in  our  woods,  is  a  low-growing  tree  of 
compact  form,  and  a  very  rigid  trunk.  It  is 
particularly  handsome  in  autumn,  because  of 
Its  richly-colored  foliage.  It  is  found  in 
nearly  all  parts  of  the  country,  but  is  not 
plentiful  in  any  section.  The  wood  of  this 
tree  is  exceedingly  hard  and  close-grained, 
and  is  well  suited  for  any  work  requiring  great 
hardness  and  strength. 

Carpoly'za.  From  karpos,  fruit,  and  lyssa, 
rage ;  in  reference  to  the  three-celled  fruit,  or 
seed-pod,  opening  like  the  mouth  of  an 
enraged  aqimal.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidacem. 

A  genus  of  South  African  bulbs,  the  only 
species  being  C.  spiralis,  which  is  a  very  pretty 
little  plant.  The  leaves  and  flower  scape  are 
twisted,  from  which  fact  it  derives  its  specific 
name.  The  flowers  are  white,  sepals  pink, 
tipped  with  green.  It  requires  protection  in 
winter,  or  may  be  kept  dry  and  grown  in  pots, 
starting  them  about  the  first  of  February. 
They  are  propagated  by  offsets.  Introduced 
in  1791. 

Carrion  Flo'wer.  Coprosmanthus  herbaceus, 
Smilax  herbacea,  and  the  genus  Stapelia. 

Carrot.  Daucus  carota.  The  wild  Carrot,  indig- 
enous to  Great  Britain  and  many  other  parts 
of  Europe,  and  so  extensively  naturalized  in 
this  country  as  to  become  one  of  the  most 
troublesome  pests  of  the  farmer,  has  generally 
been  supposed  to  be  the  parent  of  the  many 
varieties  of  the  common  garden  Carrot,  which 
has  been  under  cultivation  from  time  im- 
memorial. Dioscorides  describes  accurately 
the  Carrot,  both  as  a  wild  plant  and  as  culti- 
vated as  an  esculent  root.  The  parentage  was 
not  questioned  until  Miller,  the  celebrated 
English  gardener  and  botanist,  undertook  to 
improve  the  wild  Carrot  by  cultivation,  and 
signally  failed  in  his  many  and  varied 
attempts.  Others  have  experimented  at  dif- 
ferent times,  with  no  better  success.  The 
prevailing  opinion  now   is  that  the   garden 


CAR 

Carrot  is  a  distinct  species,  or  was  obtained 
under  circumstances  entirely  different  or 
unknown  at  the  present  day.  The  carrot  was 
introduced  into  England,  in  about  its  present 
form,  by  the  Dutch,  during  the  reign  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  and  soon  thereafter  became  a  favor- 
ite vegetable,  and  a  useful  as  well  as  a  profit- 
able field  crop.  Careful  selection  has  gradually 
improved  the  quality  in  certain  respects,  of 
the  Carrot,  during  the  past  hundred  years, 
and  good  cultivation  is  now  required  to  keep 
the  varieties  up  to  their  proper  standard. 

Cartha'mus.  Safflower.  From  quartom,  to 
paint,  in  Arabic ;  the  flowers  yield  a  fine 
color.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

This  genus  consists  of  two  species  only, 
annual  plants,  found  in  Caucasus  and  Egypt.  C. 
tinctorius,  the  Saffron  Thistle,  is  extensively 
cultivated  in  India,  China,  and  other  parts  of 
Asia,  for  the  coloring  matter  which  its 
flowers  yield.  These  flowers  contain  two 
kinds  of  coloring  matter — the  one  yellow, 
which  is  soluble  in  water,  the  other  red, 
which  being  of  a  resinous  nature,  is  insolu- 
able  in  water,  but  is  soluble  in  alkaline  carbon- 
ates. The  fruit  is  never  converted  to  any  use, 
as  it  dyes  only  dull  shades  of  color ;  the  other 
is  a  beautiful  rose-red,  capable  of  dyeing  every 
shade,  from  the  palest  rose  to  a  cherrj'-red. 
It  is  chiefly  used  for  dyeing  silk,  affording 
various  shades  of  pink,  rose  crimson  and 
scarlet.  Mixed  with  finely-powdered  talc  it 
forms  the  well-known  substance  called  rouge. 
In  France  this  species  is  grown  for  the  beauty 
of  its  flowers,  and  in  Spain  it  is  grown  in 
gardens  to  color  soups,  olives  and  other 
dishes.  It  is  readily  grown  from  seed,  which 
should  be  started  in  the  hot-bed  or  green- 
house. 

Ca'rum.  Caraway.  From  Caria,  in  Asia  Minor, 
where  it  was  first  discovered.  Nat.  Ord. 
Umbelliferce. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  biennials,  but  one 
species  of  which,  C.  Carui,  is  of  any  special 
interest.  This  is  a  native  of  Europe,  and  pro- 
duces the  Caraway  seeds  which  contain  an 
aromatic  volatile  oil,  and  are  used  in  flavoring. 
The  plants  are  of  the  simplest  culture,  requir- 
ing only  to  sow  the  seeds  where  the  plants  are 
wanted  to  grow. 

Ca'rya  Hickory.  The  Greek  name  for  the 
Walnut.     Nat.  Ord.  Juglandacece. 

A  well-known  genus  of  hardy  deciduous 
trees,  conflned  wholly  to  North  America.  C. 
alba  is  the  common  Shell-bark  or  Shag-bark 
Hickory,  so  called  on  account  of  the  rough, 
shaggy  bark  of  the  trees,  peeling  off  in  long, 
narrow  strips  from  large  trees.  This  species 
furnishes  the  best  Hickory  nuts.  C.  olivcefor- 
mis  is  the  Pecan-nut  tree,  common  from  Illi- 
nois southward.  It  is  a  large  and  beautiful 
tree.  Its  delicious  nuts  are  well-known.  C. 
porcina  is  the  Pig-nut,  one  of  the  most  valu- 
able as  a  timber  tree,  but  the  fruit  is  worth- 
less. C.  amara  is  the  Bitter-nut  or  Swamp 
Hickory-nut.  C.  sulcata  is  the  Western  Shell- 
bark  Hickory,  remarkable  for  the  size  of  the  nut 
which  has  a  very  thick  shell,  but  is  of  excel- 
lent quality.  C.  tomentosa,  common  in  the 
West  and  South,  bears  the  largest  nuts  of  any 
of  the  species,  the  size,  however,  being  at  the 
expense  of  the  quality.  The  timber  of  all  the 
species  is  valuable  for  any  purpose  where 
strength  and  elasticity  are  required. 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


73 


CAR 

Caryoph'yllaceae.  An  extensive  order  of  herbs, 
with  stems  swollen  at  the  joints,  the  flowers 
terminal,  solitary,  or  disposed  iu  racemes, 
panicles  or  corymbs ;  the  leaves  entire  and 
opposite.  The  plants  of  this  order  are  natives 
principally  of  temperate  and  cold  I'egions. 
They  inhabit  mountains,  rocks,  hedges  and 
■waste  places.  Humboldt  says  that  Clove- 
worts  constitute  a  twenty-secondth  part  of 
the  flowering  plants  of  France,  one  twenty- 
seventh  of  those  of  Germany,  one  seventeenth 
of  Lapland,  and  one  seventy-secondth  of 
North  America.  There  are  some  very  showy 
flowers  in  the  order,  such  as  the  well-known 
and  popular  Pinks  and  Carnations ;  but  the 
grt-ater  number  are  mere  weeds.  The  Clove 
Pink  {Dianthiis  Caryophylliis)  is  the  origin  of 
all  the  cultivated  varieties  of  Carnations,  as 
Picotees,  Bizari-es  and  Flakes.  The  common 
Chickweed  {Stellaria  media)  and  Spurry  {Sper- 
gula  arveTisis).  the  latter  used  as  fodder  for 
sheep,  are  other  examples.  There  are  about 
sixty  genera  and  1,100  species.  Dianthus, 
Silene,  Lychnis,  Cerastium,  Arenaria,  Alsine, 
Saponaria,  are  examples  of  this  order. 

Caryophy'llus.  Clove-tree.  From  karuon,  a 
nut,  and  phyllon,  a  leaf;  referring  to  the 
appearance  of  the  flower-buds.  Nat.  Ord. 
Myrtace<]B. 

C.  aromatieus,  the  tree  producing  the  well- 
known  spice  called  Cloves,  is  a  handsome 
evergreen,  rising  from  fifteen  to  thirty  feet, 
with  lai'ge  elliptic  leaves  and  purplish  flowers, 
arranged  in  terminal  heads  on  short-jointed 
stalks.  It  is  a  native  of  the  Molucca  Islands, 
where  it  is  not  only  cultivated  for  its  great 
commercial  value,  but  also  as  an  ornamental 
tree.  The  whole  tree  is  highly  aromatic,  and 
the  foot-stalks  of  the  leaves  have  nearly  the 
same  pungency  as  the  calyxes  of  the  flowers. 
A  celebrated  writer  who  had  visited  the 
islands,  says  :  "  Clove-trees  as  an  avenue  to  a 
residence  are  perhaps  unrivalled — their  noble 
height,  the  beauty  of  their  form,  the  luxuri- 
ance of  their  foliage,  and,  above  all,  the  spicy 
fragrance  with  which  they  perfume  the  air, 
produce,  on  driving  through  a  long  line  of 
them,  a  degree  of  exquisite  pleasure  only  to 
be  enjoyed  in  the  clear,  light  atmosphere  of 
those  latitudes." 

Caryo'pteris.  From  karuon,  a  nut,  and  pteron,  a 
wing;  the  fruit  is  winged.  Nat.  Ord.  Ver- 
benacefB. 

C.  Mastacanthus,  the  best  known  species,  is 
a  hardy  herbaceous  plant,  of  easy  culture, 
blooming  in  autumn.  The  flowers  are  light 
azurt!-blue  in  color,  and  are  borne  in  axillary 
globose  heads.  It  grows  about  two  feet  high, 
and  was  introduced  from  China  in  1844. 

Caxyo'ta.  Toddy  Palm.  The  old  Greek  name 
used  by  Dioscorides ;  the  Greeks  first  applied 
this  name  to  their  cultivated  Date.  Nat.  Ord. 
Palmacece. 

C.  urens,  commonly  called  Fish-tail  Palm,  is 
the  most  prominent  species  of  this  genus.  It 
is  a  beautiful  tree,  growing  from  sixty  to 
eighty  feet  high,  with  a  trunk  a  foot  in  diam- 
eter, producing  many  pendulous  spikes  of 
flowers,  which  are  succeeded  by  strings  of  suc- 
culent globular  berries,  dark  red  when  ripe, 
and  are  very  sharp  and  acrid  in  taste.  In 
Ceylon  it  yields  a  sort  of  liquor,  sweet,  whole- 
some, and  no  stronger  than  water.  It  is  taken 
from  the  tree  two  or  three  times  a  day,  each 


CAS 

yield  from  a  large  tree  being  from  three  to 
four  gallons.  When  boiled  down  it  makes  a 
coarse  brown  sugar  called  jaggoiy.  When  the 
tree  has  come  to  maturity  there  comes  out  a 
bud  from  the  top ;  that  bud  the  natives  cut 
and  prepare  by  putting  salt,  pepper,  lemons, 
garlic,  leaves,  etc.,  over  it,  which  keeps  it 
from  ripening.  They  daily  cut  off  a  thin  slice 
from  the  end,  and  the  liquor  drops  into  a  ves- 
sel, which  they  set  to  catch  it.  The  buds  are 
most  delicious  to  the  taste,  resembling  wal- 
nuts or  almonds.  The  species  are  natives  of 
the  Indies,  and  are  grown  in  the  green-house, 
where  they  succeed  well  with  the  same  treat- 
ment which  other  tropical  Palms  require. 

Cascarl'Ua  Bark.    See  Croton. 

Cashew-Nut.    See  Anacardium. 

Cassa'ndra.  Leather-leaf.  C.  Calyculata,  the 
only  known  species,  sometimes  included  under 
Androvieda,  is  generally  distributed  through- 
out the  northern  hemisphere.  It  is  a  low, 
much-branched  shrub  belonging  to  the  Nat. 
Ord.  Ericacece,  and  produces  its  pretty 
white  flowers  on  one-sided  racemes,  early  in 
spring. 

Cassava  Bread,  or  Cassava  Meal.  See  Mani- 
hot  utilissima. 

Ca'ssia.  Senna.  From  the  Greek  name  of  a 
plant,  Kassian,  of  the  Bible.  Nat.  Ord. 
LeguminoscB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  and 
green-house  perennials,  found  scattered  over 
nearly  all  parts  of  the  globe.  Many  of  the 
species  are  well  known,  and  considered  of 
great  importance  for  their  medicinal  proper- 
ties. The  leaflets  of  several  of  the  species 
constitute  what  is  known  in  medicine  as 
Senna  leaves.  Those  from  C.  acutifolia  and 
C.  obovata,  African  and  East  Indian  species, 
are  the  most  highly  esteemed.  The  leaves  of 
C.  Marilandica,  wild  Senna,  a  native  of  the 
Middle  and  Southern  States,  have,  to  some 
extent,  the  same  properties,  and  are  some- 
times used  as  a  substitute  for  the  officinal 
Senna.  This  species  may  be  justly  regarded  as 
one  of  our  most  valued  plants  for  the  border. 
It  grows  from  three  to  four  feet  high ;  foliage 
a  beautiful  deep  green,  not  unlike  the  finer 
Acacias;  flowers  bright  yellow,  produced  in 
shoi-t  axillary  racemes,  continuing  a  long  time 
in  succession.  Some  of  the  roadsides  of  Long 
Island  are  bordered  with  this  plant,  and  no 
public  park,  with  all  that  art  can  bestow  upon 
its  di-ives  in  the  way  of  ornamentation,  can 
compare  in  simplicity  and  beauty  with 
these  roadsides.  C.  nictitans,  Wild  Sensitive 
Plant,  another  native  species,  is  a  very  beau- 
tiful hard}'  annual,  common  on  our  roadsides, 
growing  about  six  inches  high,  and  in  appear- 
ance almost  identical  with  the  Sensitive  Plant, 
Mimosa  pudica,  and  well  worth  cultivating  for 
its  beautiful  foliage.  C.  chamscrb^ta,  com- 
monly known  as  Partridge  Pea,  is  a  very 
pretty  species,  common  in  the  Southern 
States. 

Cassi'nia.  Named  after  M.  Henri  Cassini,  an 
eminent  French  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positce. 

A  very  handsome  genus  of  shrubby  plants 
or  herbaceous  perennials,  natives  of  Australia 
and  New  Zealand.  C  Vauviliersii  produces 
numerous  small  white   flowers    in    compact 


74 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


CAS 

clusters,  which  though  pretty,  are  not  enough 
to  I'ecommend  the  plant  for  general  culture  ; 
but  its  golden  coat  which  suffuses  the  back 
of  the  leaves,  and  still  more  densely  the  entire 
young  stems,  will  always  make  it  an  object  of 
interest.  It  is  perfectly  hardy,  and  is  readily 
increased  by  cuttings. 

Casta'nea.  Chestnut.  From  a  town  of  that 
name  in  Thessaly.     Nat.  Ord.  CorylacecB. 

The  Chestnut  Tree  is  well  known 
because  of  the  nuts,  which  are  universally 
esteemed.  There  are  two  species  indigenous 
to  this  country,  the  common  Chestnut,  C.  ves- 
ca,  found  throughout  the  States,  and  C.  pumila, 
a  low-growing  tree  or  shrub,  common  south- 
ward, which  produces  a  smaller  nut,  known 
as  the  Chinquapin.  The  Spanish  Chestnut,  a 
variety  of  C.  vesca,  differing  from  our  native 
Chestimt  mainly  in  the  size  of  the  fruit,  is  a 
native  of  Asia  Minor,  introduced  at  a  very 
early  date.  This  tree  grows  to  an  immense 
size.  A  tree  near  Queens,  L.  I.,  planted 
nearly  one  hundred  years  ago,  has  a  trunk 
almost  twelve  feet  in  circumference,  and  is 
about  fifty  feet  high,  with  immense  spreading 
branches.  It  is  one  of  the  noblest  shade  trees 
to  be  found  in  this  countr3^  A  species  of 
late  introduction  from  Japan  promises  to 
become  one  of  our  most  useful  as  well  as 
most  ornamental  trees,  or,  more  properly,  tall 
shrubs.  The  fruit  of  this  species  was 
received  in  New  York  a  few  years  since  in  a 
consignment  of  goods  from  Japan.  The 
merchant  receiving  the  same,  seeing  the  nuts 
were  of  such  excellent  quality,  fully  equal  to 
those  of  our  native  species,  and  as  large  as  the 
Spanish  Chestnut,  attempted  the  growing  of 
them,  and  with  remarkable  success.  In  five 
years  they  commenced  to  fruit,  and  are  now 
bearing  profusely.  The  shrub  is  of  an  orna- 
mental character,  suitable  for  the  lawn.  The 
fruit  or  nuts  are  borne  within  two  feet  of  the 
ground.  Those  who  have  ha'l  a  favorable 
opportunity  to  judge  of  its  character,  predict 
its  early  adoption  as  a  hedge  plant,  for  which 
purpose  it  seems  well  adapted.  In  addition 
to  its  value  as  an  ornamental  hedge,  it  would 
undoubtedly  prove  valuable  for  its  yield  of 
nuts. 

Castille'ja.  Painted-Cup.  Named  in  honor  of 
Don  Ca»till(ja,  a  Spanish  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
Scrojihiilnriacece. 

This  genus  consists  of  about  forty  species, 
nearlj'  all  of  which  are  American,  a  few  being 
found  in  northern  Asia.  They  are  remai-kable 
for  their  brightly  colored  floral  leaves  or 
bracts,  the  most  of  which  are  more  showy  than 
the  flowers,  which  are  commonly  yellowish  or 
greenish.  C.  indivisa,  a  beautiful  perennial 
species,  has  recently  been  introduced  into 
our  gardens  from  Europe,  although  it  is  a 
native  of  Colorado.  It  is  one  of  our  most 
desirable  hardy  plants,  producing  its  brilliant 
scarlet  bracts  in  great  profusion.  This 
species  is  so  cntir(>ly  distinct  from  most  other 
plants,  and  at  the  same  tiim^  so  showN-,  and 
can  be  grown  with  as  litth;  diflieulty  as  most 
other  herbaceous  plants,  that  we  cannot  but 
consider  it  a  great  acquisition. 

Castillo'a.  A  Mexican  tree  belonging  to  the 
Nat.  Ord.  Urticacece.,  and  having  male  and 
female  flowers  alternating  one  with  the  other, 
on  the  same  branch.  C.  elastica,  contains  a 
milky  juice  yielding  Caoutchouc. 


CAT 

Castor  Oil  Bean.    See  Ricinus. 
Casuari'na.     Beef-wood.  Supposed  to  be  named 
from  the  resemblance  the  leaves  bear  to  the 
feathers  of  the  Cassowary.     Nat.  Ord.  Casuri- 
nacecB. 

A  genus  of  very  curious  ti-ees,  constituting 
of  themselves  a  distinct  family.  They  have 
veiy  much  the  appearance  of  gigantic  Horse- 
tails {Equisetaceoe),  being  trees  with  thread- 
like, jointed,  furrowed  branches,  without 
leaves.  The  flowers  are  not  of  a  showy  char- 
acter. These  plants  are  met  most  abundantly 
in  tropical  Australia,  and  occasionally  in  the 
Indian  Islands,  New  Caledonia,  etc.  In  Aus- 
tralia, from  their  somber  appearance,  they 
are  planted  in  cemeteries.  The  timber  fur- 
nished by  these  trees  is  valuable  for  its  ex- 
treme hardness  and  its  red  color,  it  is  called 
in  the  islands  Beef-wood.  The  several  species 
are  highly  esteemed  for  their  uses  in  the  me- 
chanic and  useful  arts.  A  few  of  them  have 
been  introduced  into  green-houses  for  their 
singular  appearance. 

Cata'lpa.  Indian  Bean.  Cigar  Tree.  The 
Indian  name  of  the  first  discovered  species. 
Nat.  Ord.  Bignoniacem. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental  trees,  natives 
of  North  America,  the  West  Indies,  Japan 
and  China.  C.  bignonioides  (syn.  Syringmfolia), 
a  native  of  the  Southern  States,  and  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  shade  trees,  has  bright,  yellow- 
ish-green, heart-shaped  leaves,  and  is  remark- 
able for  its  numerous  loose  panicles  of  white 
flowers,  spotted  with  orange  and  purple.  C. 
b.  aurea,  a  golden-leaved  variety,  is  slower 
growing  than  the  parent  and  is  golden  over  the 
entire  leaf  on  the  young  growths  in  June,  and 
the  second  growth  in  August  and  September. 
C.  speciosa,  the  Western  Catalpa,  cultivated 
and  now  widely  naturalized  in  southern 
Arkansas,  western  Louisiana,  and  eastern 
Te.xas,  has  white  flowers,  in  rather  large  pan- 
icles and  in  genei'al  appearance  is  similar  to 
G.  bigno7iioides,  but  may  be  easily  distin- 
guished from  that  species  by  its  much  larger 
flower,  fruit,  and  scimI.  C.  Bungpii,  generally 
known  as  C.  KcEmjjferi,  is  probably  a  small 
form  of  C.  bignonioides,  and  is  a  remarkable 
shrub,  growing  from  six  to  eight  feet  high, 
with  a  diameter  f I om  eight  to  ten  feet.  The 
trees  when  young  make  a  rapid  growth,  and 
are  particularly  valuable  for  lawn  or  street 
decoration,  being,  so  far,  entirely  exempt 
from  the  i-avages  of  insects  and  caterpillars. 

Catana'nche.  From  katanangke,  a  strong  in- 
centive ;  in  reference  to  an  ancient  custom 
among  the  Greek  women  of  using  it  in  love 
potions.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositm. 

A  small  genus  of  annuals  and  hardy  her- 
baceous perennials.  C.  cxrulea,  a  perennial 
species,  with  slender  stalks,  long,  narrow 
leaves,  and  large  heads  of  sky-blu<^  flowers, 
is  a  native  of  the  south  of  Europe.  From 
this  species  several  varieties  have  been  pro- 
duced with  white  and  double  flowers,  all  very 
desirable  for  the  open  bcn-der  and  for  cuttings. 
They  are  increased  by  division  or  from  seeds. 
C.  lutea,  an  annual  species  with  yellow  flowers, 
is  a  native  of  Candia. 

Catase'tum.  From  kala,  downward,  and  se<a,  a 
bristle ;  referring  to  the  position  of  the  two 
horns  of  the  column.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacetB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  strong  and  rapid 
growing,  terrestrial  orchids,   common   in  the 


AND   GENERAL   HOliXIGULTUKE. 


75 


OAT 

tropical  portions  of  South  America.  The 
flowers  of  tiiis  genus  are  remarliable  for  sin- 
gularity of  form,  and  some  are  very  beautiful, 
and  have  a  delicious  fragrance.  The  same 
plant  not  unfrequently  produces  what  would 
seemingly  appear  to  be  totally  different 
flowers,  it  has  a  decided  propensity  to 
"sport."  The  singular  shape  of  their  flowers, 
and  other  mariied  characteristics,  entitle 
them  a  place  in  every  collection.  When  at 
rest  they  should  be  kept  cool  and  dry ;  in  a 
growing  state,  they  require  strong  heat  and 
copious  waterings.     Increased  by  division. 

Cat-brier.     See  Smilax. 


Catchfly. 

Lobols'. 


See  Silene. 

See  Silene  armeria. 


Ca'techu  Tree.     Acacia  {Mimosa)  Catechu. 

Caterpillars.     Scorpiuriis  vermiculatus. 

Catkin.  A  deciduous  spike,  consisting  of  uni- 
sexual apetalous  flowers.  The  flowers  of  the 
Willow,  Hazel,  etc.,  are  Catkins. 

Cat-Mint  and  Catnip.    See  Nepeta. 

Cat-Tail.  One  of  the  popular  names  of  Pearl 
Millet;  also  applied  to  Equisetum,  Hippuris, 
and  a  few  other  plants. 

Cat-Tail  Flag.     See  Typha. 

Cat's  Tail  Grass.  One  of  the  common  names 
of  the  genus  Phleum,  Timothy  or  Herd's 
Grass. 

Cattle-poison  Plant.  W.  Australia.  Several 
species  of  Gastrolobiums. 

Cattle'ya.  Named  after  Mr.  Cattley,  a  dis- 
tinguislied  patron  of  botany.  Nat.  Ord. 
OrchidacecE. 

What  the  Rose  and  Carnation  are  among 
garden  plants,  the  Cattleya  is  among  Orchids, 
pre-eminently  beautiful.  Not  a  species  but 
possesses  claims  of  the  strongest  nature  on 
the  culturist's  attention,  either  for  its  delicate 
loveliness  or  the  rich  and  vivid  coloring  of  its 
large  and  handsome  flowers.  They  are  na- 
tives of  the  temperate  parts  of  South  America, 
and  in  cultivation  are  found  to  succeed  in  a 
lower  temperature  than  is  necessary  for  the 
majority-  of  plants  of  the  same  order.  They 
will  grow  either  on  cork,  blocks  of  wood,  or 
in  pots  of  sphagnum,  carefully  drained  and 
moderately  watered  at  all  times ;  indeed,  the 
damp  atmosphere  of  the  house  is  nearly  suffi- 
cient for  them  through  tlie  winter  ;  and  if 
about  fifty  degrees  of  heat  is  steadily  main- 
tained tluough  this  period,  with  an  increase 
of  about  ten  degrees  in  summer,  the  plants 
will  be  found  to  grow  vigorously,  and  conse- 
quently flower  in  perfection.  The  colors  of 
the  flowers  run  through  all  the  shades  of 
white,  rose,  rosy-lilac,  crimson  and  carmine, 
nor  is  even  yellow  absent.  Where  all  are 
beautiful  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  select.  The 
following,  however,  should  be  in  every  col- 
lection. C.  cilrina,  criupa,  HarriHonice,  infpr- 
media,  labiaia,  Loddigesii.  Percivilleana,  Skin- 
neri,  3fo8SME and  Trianm,  with  their  numerous 
varieties,  and  many  others.  All  the  Caltleya,H 
are  increased  by  division.    See  Orchids. 

Caudate.    Tailed ;  having  a  process  like  a  tail 

Caudez.  The  axis  of  a  plant,  consisting  of  the 
stem  and  root.  Applied  also  to  tlie  trunk  of 
Palm3  and  Tree  Ferns.  Caudex  repens  is  a 
creeping  stem,  or  what  is  now  called  a 
rhizome.      Caudex  dcAcendens  is  the  root. 


GED 

Caulescent.     Acquiring  a  stem. 

Cauliflower.  BroMsicn  olrracea  caulijlora.  The 
Cauliilowcu"  is  tlie  most  delicate  and  delicious 
of  the  genus  Bra.Hsica.  Its  early  history  is 
entirely  unknown,  but  it  is  supposed  to  have 
originated  in  Italy.  It  is  mentionecl  by 
Gerarde  in  1597,  as  then  very  rare  in  England, 
and  it  was  not  brought  to  any  degree  of  per- 
fection, or  grown  for  the  market,  until  about 
1700.  From  that  period  until  the  present, 
there  has  been  a  slow,  but  marked  and  steady 
improvement  in  the  size  and  quality  of  this 
vegetable.  To  the  English  and  Dutch  gar- 
deners we  are  chiefly  imhsbted  for  the  per- 
fection the  Cauliflower  has  attained.  Heads 
of  immense  size  are  now  grown  for  the  market ; 
it  being  by  no  means  uncommon  to  see  ahead 
perfectly  sound  and  smooth,  fully  ten  inches 
in  diameter,  and,  contrary  to  the  usual  rule, 
size  is  not  obtained  at  the  expense  of  quality, 
the  larger,  if  differing  at  all,  being  more 
tender  anci  delicious.  The  varieties  of  the 
Cauliflower  are  numerous.  In  this  woik  we 
cannot  point  out  the  best,  as  locality  and  se- 
lection cause  variations  more  marked  than 
even  the  varieties.  The  most  po[)ular  in  the 
United  States  at  this  time  are  Snowball  and 
Erfurt  for  early,  and  Algiers  for  late.  For 
the  perfection  of  the  Caulillower  a  deep,  rich, 
loamy  soil  is  required,  a  low,  moist  situation 
being  preferable ;  it  will  not  succeed  in  dry 
ground.  Where  irrigation  can  be  employed, 
the  greatest  benefits  will  be  derived ;  in  fact, 
a  large  crop  will  be  secured  with  irrigation, 
when  without  it  the  result  would  be  total  fail- 
ure. Culture  nearly  the  same  as  for  cabbage, 
which  see. 

Caulophy'llum.  The  generic  name  of  the  plant 
commonly  known  as  Blue  Cohosh,  sometimes 
called  Pappoose-root. 

Cayenne  Pepper.    See  Capsicum. 

Ceano'thus.  Red  Root,  New  Jersey  Tea.  An 
obscure  name  in  Theophrastus,  probably  mis- 
spelled.    Nat.  Ord.  Rhainnacem. 

A  genus  of  low-growing  shrubs,  one  of  the 
most  conspicuous  and  best  known  being  C. 
Americanus,  a  species  common  in  dry  wood- 
lands. This  shrub  attained  considerable 
notoriety  during  the  American  Revolution,  on 
account  of  its  leaves  being  dried  and  used  as 
a  substitute  for  tea,  a  practice  not  yet  wholly 
discontinued.  The  roots  are  used  in  dyeing 
wool  of  a  Nankeen  or  cinnamon  color.  There 
are  species  from  Mexico  and  South  America, 
that  have  lately  been  introduced  into  the 
green-house,  and  regarded  with  favor.  Their 
season  of  flowering  is  too  short  to  warrant 
very  general  cultivation. 

Cecro'pia.  Snake  wood.  A  genus  of  orna- 
mental, evergreen,  soft-wooded,  milky  trees, 
natives  of  South  America,  and  belonging  to 
the  Nat.  Ord.  Urticacece. 

C.  peltata,  the  Trumpet  Tree  of  the  West 
Indies  and  South  America,  so  called  be- 
cause its  hollow  branches  are  used  for  musi- 
cal instruments,  is  the  only  species  of 
interest. 

Cedar.     See  Juniperus. 
Barbadoes  and   Bermuda.     Juniperus  Bcrmw 

diana. 
Red  Califomian.     Libocedrus  decurreua. 
Red  Virginian.    See  Juniperus. 


76 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


CED 

Cedar-Apples.  The  Pennsylvanian  name  for 
the  curious  excrescences  on  Juniperus  Virgini- 
anus,  caused  by  a  fungus. 

Cedar  of  Lebanon.    See  Cedrus. 

Cedre'leae.  Formerly  regarded  as  a  distinct 
order,  now  included  as  a  tribe  of  the  Nat. 
Ord.  Meliacece. 

Cedrone'lla.  Supposed  to  be  derived  from 
kedron,  the  cedar,  because  of  its  fragrant 
resinous  scent.     Nat.  Ord.  LabiatcB. 

A  small  genus  of  sweet-scented  perennial 
herbs,  rarely  shrubs,  with  pale,  purplish 
flowers  in  spikes  or  terminal  racemes ; 
natives  of  North  America  and  the  Canary 
Isles.  C.  cordata,  a  neat  little  alpine  plant 
with  a  leaf  somewhat  like  the  Ground  Ivy, 
and  a  lilac,  slightly  dotted,  flower  somewhat 
like  that  of  the  Salvia,  is  very  dwarf  and 
pretty,  and  will  probably  prove  a  desirable 
plant  for  rockwork. 

Cedron  Tree.    See  Simaba. 

Ce'drus.  The  Cedar.  From  Latin  Cedrus, 
Greek  Kedros ;  a  name  for  a  coniferous  tree 
in  the  time  of  Homer.    Nat.  Ord.  ConifercB. 

This  genus  consists  of  a  few  species  that 
have  been  separated  from  Abies  and  Juniper- 
us, their  characteristics  being  their  evergreen 
leaves,  disposed  in  bundles,  or  fasicles,  and 
their  upright  cones.  The  Cedar  of  Lebanon 
is  one  of  the  most  prominent  species,  so  often 
mentioned  in  Sacred  History.  It  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  evergreen  trees  for  lawn 
decoration,  though  rarely  met  with.  There 
is  a  noble  specimen  on  the  grounds  of  "W.  F.  D. 
Manice,  at  Queens,  L.  I.  It  is  upwards  of  thirty 
feet  high,  with  a  trunk  four  and  a  half  feet  in 
circumference.  There  was  a  still  larger  speci- 
men a  few  years  since  on  the  grounds  of  the 
late  Geo.  C.  Thorburn,  at  Astoria,  L.  I. 
C  Deodara,  the  Deodar  or  Indian  Cedar,  is 
of  vigorous  pyramidal  form  with  light  silvery 
glaucous-green  foliage,  very  graceful  and 
drooping.  It  is  a  most  charming  evergreen, 
not  entirely  hardy,  north  of  Philadelphia,  but 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  ornamental  trees  in 
the  Southern  States. 

Ce'landine.  The  popular  name  of  the  genus 
Chelidonium,  which  see. 

Celastra'ceae.  This  natural  order  consists  of 
shrubs,  or  small  trees,  natives  of  the  warmer 
parts  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  North  America, 
and  far  more  abundant  beyond  the  tropics 
than  within  them.  There  are  thirty-flve 
known  genera,  and  over  two  hundred  and 
flfty  species.  Celastrus,  Euonymus,  and 
ElcEodendron,  are  examples  of  this  order. 

Cela'strus.  Staff  Tree,  Bitter  Sweet.  From 
kelas,  the  latter  season ;  referring  to  the  fruit 
hanging  on  the  trees  all  winter.  Nat.  Ord. 
CelastracecB. 

This  genus,  consists  of  trees,  shrubs,  and 
climbers.  One  native  species,  C.  scandens, 
is  a  handsome  twining  shrub,  remarkable  for 
its  orange-colored  capsules,  and  the  scarlet 
coating  of  the  fruit.  It  is  planted  as  an 
ornamental  climber,  and  is  known  by  its  pop- 
ular name  of  Bitter  Sweet.  Propagated  by 
seeds  and  suckers. 

Celeriac  or  Turnip-Rooted  Celery.  Apium 
gtaveolens  var.  rapaceum.  A  very  distinct 
variety  of  Celery,  the  peculiarity  of  which 
consists  in  the  root,  which  closely  resembles 


GEL 

that  of  a  turnip,  and  is  the  part  eaten.  It  is 
more  hardy  than  the  common  Celery,  and 
can  be  preserved  for  use  much  later  in  the 
spring.  It  is  but  little  grown  except  in 
France  and  Germany,  where  it  is  employed 
as  a  vegetable  and  as  a  salad.  It  is  usually 
boiled  until  tender,  and  then  slightly  pickled 
in  vinegar. 

Ce'lery.  Apium  graveolens.  Celery  is  a  native 
of  England,  and  is  found  in  its  wild  state  in 
marshy  places  and  ditches  near  the  coast.  It 
is  a  biennial.  There  are  in  its  wild  state  two 
kinds,  the  red  and  the  white -stalked,  of  both 
of  which  there  are  numerous  garden  varieties, 
the  cultivation  of  which  is  carried  on  to  a  very 
great  extent,  both  here  and  in  Europe.  As  it  is 
a  crop  of  vast  importance  we  give  in  a  con- 
densed form  such  information  regarding  its 
cultivation,  as  will  enable  anyone  to  succeed 
in  its  cultivation. 

The  seeds  are  sown  on  a  well-pulverized, 
rich  border,  in  the  open  ground,  as  early  in 
the  season  as  the  ground  can  be  worked.  (For 
instructions  in  sowing,  see  article  headed 
"Sowing  and  Planting,  Use  of  the  Feet  in.") 
The  bed  is  kept  clear  of  weeds  until  July, 
when  the  plants  are  set  out  for  the  crop. 
But  as  the  seedling  plants  are  rather  trouble- 
some to  raise,  when  for  private  use  only,  and 
as  they  can  usually  bo  purchased  cheaper 
than  they  can  be  raised  on  a  small  scale,  it  is 
scarcely  worth  while  to  sow  the  seedi  But 
when  wanted  in  quantity,  the  plants  should  al- 
ways be  raised  by  the  grower,  as  Celery  plants 
are  not  only  difficult  to  transplant,  but  are 
usually  too  expensive  to  buy  when  the  crop  is 
grown  to  sell.  The  European  plan  is,  to  make 
a  trench  six  or  eight  inches  deep  in  which  to 
plant  Celery;  but  our  violent  rain  storms 
in  summer  soon  showed  us  that  this  plan  was 
not  a  good  one  here,  so  we  set  about 
planting  on  the  level  surface  of  the  ground, 
just  as  w^e  do  with  all  vegetables.  Celery  re- 
quires an  abundance  of  manure,  which,  as 
usual  with  all  other  crops,  must  be  well 
mixed  and  incorporated  with  the  soil  before 
the  Celery  is  set  out.  "Wlien  the  ground  is 
well  prepared,  we  stretch  a  line  to  the  dis- 
tance required,  and  beat  it  slightly  with  a 
spade,  so  that  it  leaves  a  mark  to  show  where 
to  place  the  plants.  These  are  set  out  at 
distances  of  six  inches  between  the  plants,  and 
usually  four  feet  between  the  rows,  when  the 
Celery  is  to  bo  "  banked"  up  for  early  or  fall 
use;  but  when  grown  for  winter  use,  from 
two  to  three  feet  between  the  rows  is  suffi- 
cient. Great  care  must  be  taken,  in  putting 
out  the  Celery  to  see  that  the  plant  is  set  just 
to  the  depth  of  the  roots ;  if  much  deeper,  the 
"  heart "  mightbe  too  much  covered  up  which 
would  impede  the  growth.  It  is  also  important 
that  the  soil  be  well  packed  to  the  roots  in 
planting,  and  this  we  do  by  returning  on  each 
row,  after  planting,  and  pressing  the  soil 
against  each  plant  firmly  with  the  feet ;  and  if 
the  operation  can  be  done  in  the  evening,  and 
the  plants  copiously  watered,  no  further  at- 
tention will  be  required. 

Planting  may  be  done  any  time  from  the 
15th  of  June  to  the  first  week  in  August. 
After  planting,  nothing  is  to  be  done  but  keep 
the  crop  clear  of  weeds  until  September ;  by 
that  time  the  handling  process  is  to  be  begun, 
which  consists  in  drawing  the  earth  to  each 


CELEBY  (HANDLING) , 


OKLEBX  (SIOKINQ   IN   TBENCHE8  FOB  WINTKB). 


CELEBY    (HALF   DWABT). 


CEKEUS  GEANDIFLOBUS. 


CELOBIA  JAPONICA. 


CENTAUEEA  CLEMENTEl. 


CENTRANTHUS  MACKOSIPHON. 


CELOSIA  CEISTATA. 


0EL08IA  PLUM08A. 


OENTAUBEA  CTANUI. 


AND   GENERAL  HOIITICULTURE. 


77 


COEL 

side  of  the  Celery,  and  pressing  it  tightly  to 
it,  so  as  to  give  the  leaves  an  upward  growth 
preparatory  to  bhuiehing  for  use.  Supposing 
this  handling  process  is  done  by  the  middle 
of  September,  by  the  first  week  in  October  it 
is  ready  for  "  banking  up,"  which  is  done  by 
digging  the  soil  from  between  the  rows,  and 
laying  or  banking  it  up  with  the  spade  on 
each  side  of  the  row  of  Celery.  After  being 
60  banked  up  in  October,  it  will  be  ready  for 
use  in  three  or  four  weeks,  if  wanted  at  that 
time.  But  if,  as  in  most  cases,  it  is  needed 
for  winter  use  only,  and  is  to  be  put  away  in 
trenches,  or  in  the  cellar,  as  will  hereafter  bo 
described,  all  that  it  requires  is  the  operation 
of  "handling."  If  the  Celery  is  to  be  left  in 
the  open  ground  where  it  was  grown,  then  a 
heavy  bank  must  be  made  on  each  side  of  the 
rows,  and  as  cold  weather  approaches — say  in 
this  latitude  by  the  middle  of  November — an 
additional  covering  of  at  least  a  foot  of  leaves 
or  litter  must  be  closely  packed  against  the 
bank,  to  protect  it  from  frost ;  but  it  is  not 
safe  to  leave  it  in  the  banks  where  it  grows, 
in  any  section  of  the  country  where  the  tem- 
perature gets  lower  than  10  degrees  above 
zero. 

Perhaps  the  best  way  to  keep  Celery  for 
family  use  is  in  a  cool  cellar.  This  can  be 
done  by  storing  it  in  narrow  boxes,  of  a  depth 
a  little  less  than  the  height  of  the  Celery.  A 
few  inches  of  sand  or  soil  are  placed  in  the 
bottom  of  the  box,  and  the  Celery  is  packed 
upright,  the  roots  being  placed  on  the  sand  at 
the  bottom;  but  no  sand  or  anything  else 
must  be  put  between  the  stalks  of  the  Celery, 
all  that  is  needed  being  the  damp  sand  on  the 
bottom  of  the  box,  the  meaning  of  which  is, 
that  before  Celery  will  blanch  or  whiten,  it 
must  first  start  at  the  root ;  hence  the  neces- 
sity of  placing  the  roots  on  an  inch  or  so  of 
damp  sand.  Boxes  thus  packed  and  placed  in 
a  cool  cellar  in  November,  will  be  blanched  fit 
for  use  daring  January,  February,  and  March, 
though  for  succession  it  will  be  better  to  put 
It  in  the  boxes,  from  the  open  ground,  at  three 
different  times,  say  October  25th,  November 
10th,  and  November  20th.  Or  if  the  boxes  are 
not  at  hand,  the  Celery  may  be  put  away  on 
the  floor  of  the  cellar,  in  strips  of  eight  or 
nine  inches  Avide,  divided  by  boards  of  a 
width  equal  to  the  height  of  the  Celery.  That 
is,  if  the  Celery  is  two  feet  high,  the  boards 
separating  it  must  be  about  the  same  height. 
The  reason  for  dividing  the  Celery  in  these 
narrow  strips  by  boards  is  to  prevent  heating, 
which  would  take  place  if  placed  together  in 
too  thick  masses.  The  dates  above  given 
apply,  of  course,  to  the  latitude  of  New  York ; 
if  further  south,  do  the  work  later;  if  further 
north,  earlier.  If  one  has  no  suitable  cellar, 
the  Celery  can  be  very  readily  preserved  in 
the  manner  followed  by  market  gardeners. 
Thus,  after  it  has  been  "  handled  "  or  straight- 
ened up,  as  before  described,  what  is  intended 
for  use  by  Christmas  should  be  dug  up  about 
October  25th ;  that  to  be  used  in  January  and 
February,  by  November  lOtn;  and  that  for 
March  use,  by  November  20th,  which  latter 
date  is  as  late  as  it  can  be  risked  here.  Al- 
though it  will  stand  quite  a  sharp  frost,  the 
■weather  by  the  end  of  November  is  often 
severe  enough  to  kill  it,  or  so  freeze  it  in  the 
ground  that  it  cannot  be  dug  up.  The  ground 
in  whicli  it  is  to  be  preserved  for  winter  use 


CEL 

must  bo  as  dry  as  possible,  and  so  arranged 
that  no  water  can  remain  in  the  trench.  Dig 
a  trench  as  narrow  as  possible  (if  it  should 
not  be  wider  than  ten  inches),  and  of  a  depth 
equal  to  the  height  of  the  Celery;  that  is,  if 
the  plant  of  Celery  be  eighteen  inches  high, 
the  trench  should  be  dug  eighteen  inches 
deep.  The  Celery  is  then  packed  exactly  in 
the  manner  described  for  storing  in  boxes 
to  be  placed  in  the  cellar;  that  is,  stand 
it  as  near  upright  as  possible,  and  pack  as 
closely  together  as  can  be  done  without  bruis- 
ing it;  no  soil  or  sand  must  be  put  between 
the  stalks.  As  the  weather  becomes  cold,  the 
trenches  should  be  gradually  covered  with 
leaves  or  litter  to  the  tiiickness  of  six  or  eight 
inches,  which  will  be  enough  to  prevent  severe 
freezing,  and  enable  the  roots  to  be  taken  out 
easily  when  wanted.  Another  method  now 
practised  by  the  market  gardeners  of  New 
Jersey  is  as  follows :  before  the  approach  of 
very  cold  weather — say  the  middle  of  Decem- 
ber— the  Celery  in  the  trenches  is  pressed 
somewhat  closely  together  by  passing  a  spade 
down  deeply  alongside  of  the  trench  on  each 
side,  but  about  three  or  four  inches  from  the 
Celery.  It  is  best  done  by  two  men,  so  that 
they  press  against  each  other,  thus  firming 
the  top  of  the  Celery  in  the  trench  until  it  is 
compact  enough  to  sustain  a  weight  of  three 
or  four  inches  of  soil,  which  is  taken  from  the 
sides  of  the  trench  and  spread  over  the  Celery. 
This  earth  covering  k^eps  it  rather  fresher 
than  the  covering  of  litter,  though  on  the  ap- 
proach of  cold  weather  the  earth  covering  is 
not  sufficient,  and  a  covering  of  six  or  seven 
inches  of  leaves  must  yet  be  placed  over  the 
earth  covering. 

From  200  to  500  roots  are  usually  required 
for  the  use  of  an  ordinary  family.  The  vari- 
eties we  recommend  are  the  Golden  Dwarf, 
Sandringham,  Golden  Self-blanching,  White 
Walnut,  White  Plume,  and  London  Eed. 

The  peculiarity  of  the  variety  known  as 
"White  Plume"  is  that  naturally  its  stalks 
and  portions  of  its  inner  leaves  are  white,  so 
that  by  closing  the  stalks,  either  by  tying 
them  up  with  matting,  or  by  simply  drawing 
the  soil  up  against  the  plants  and  pressing  it 
together  with  the  hands,  and  again  drawing 
up  the  soil  with  the  hoe  or  plough,  so  as  to 
keep  the  soil  that  has  been  squeezed  against 
the  Celery  in  its  place,  completes  the  work  of 
blanching ;  while  it  is  well-known  that  in  all 
other  kinds  of  Celery,  in  addition  to  this,  the 
slow  and  troublesome  process  of  "banking" 
with  the  spade  is  a  necessity.  Another  great 
merit  of  the  "White  Plume"  Celery  is  that 
it  far  exceeds  any  known  vegetable  as  an 
ornament  for  the  table,  the  inner  leaves  being 
disposed  somewhat  like  an  ostrich  feather,  as 
to  suggest  the  name  we  have  given  it  of 
"White  Plume."  It  is  well  known  that  one- 
half  the  value  of  a  Celery,  particularly  in  our 
best  hotels  and  restaurants,  is  held  to  be  its 
value  as  a  table  ornament,  and  for  this  purpose 
this  new  variety  is  admirably  fitted.  In 
addition  to  this,  its  eating  qualities  are  equal 
to  the  very  best  of  the  older  sorts,  being  crisp, 
solid  and  having  a  peculiar  nutty  flavor, 
peculiar  to  the  "Walnut"  and  some  of  the 
red  sorts ;  altogether  we  cannot  find  words 
sufficient  to  describe  its  many  merits  as  it 
deserves.  The  great  bugbear  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  Celery,  by  those  engaged  in  growing  it 


78 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


CEL 

for  market,  has  been  the  labor  entailed  in  the 
"banking"  to  whiten  or  blanch  it;  and  with 
the  unskilled  amateur  growing  a  few  hundred 
for  private  use,  the  troublesome  process  of 
"banking"  has  usually  been  detriment  suffi- 
cient to  prevent  him  from  trying.  In  the  first 
week  of  October,  of  1882,  the  Celery  banks  in 
Hudson  Co.,  N.  J.,  must  have  cost  at  least 
$10,000  in  labor  to  erect ;  but  a  rain  storm  of 
twenty-four  hour's  duration  washed  the  banks 
down  and  destroyed  the  work  of  weeks.  Had 
this  new  Celery  been  under  process  of  blanch- 
ing, no  high  banks  would  have  been  needed 
and  the  storm  would  have  been  nearly  harm- 
less, as  the  "wash"  would  have  done  but  a 
trifling  injury.  But  absolute  perfection  is 
hardly  to  be  expected  in  anything,  and  the 
"White  Plume"  Celery  has  one  drawback; 
the  very  qualities  that  make  its  culture  so 
simple  in  the  fall  and  early  winter  months, 
unfits  it  for  a  late  Celery  that  will  keep  until 
spring,  as  its  tenderness  of  structure  causes 
it  to  rot  quicker  than  the  old  green  kinds; 
but,  to  be  used  during  the  months  of 
October,  November,  December  and  the  early 
part  of  January,  we  advise  it  to  be  grown,  if 
quality  and  the  saving  of  labor  is  a  consider- 
ation. It  is  equally  as  hardy  against  frost  as 
the  other  kinds;  in  size  and  weight  it  is 
very  similar  to  those  popular  kinds:  the 
"  Golden  Dwarf  "  and  "Half  Dwarf  "—in  fact 
it  originated  in  what  is  known  as  a  "sport" 
from  the  "  Half  Dwarf ;  "  that  is,  a  single  plant 
showed  the  whiteness  of  stem  and  peculiar 
feathery  leaves,  which  fortunately,  permanent- 
ly reproduced  itself  from  seed  and  gave  us 
this  entirely  new  type  of  Celery.  Its  culture 
is  in  all  respects  the  same  as  that  directed  for 
the  other  sorts,  with  the  exception  that  we  are 
saved  the  trouble  of  high  "banking."  It  is 
also  we  think,  the  earliest  Celery  in  cultivation, 
and  though  fit  to  use  long  before  other  sorts, 
is  found  to  keep  nearly  as  well  as  tlie  best  of 
the  older  kinds,  except  perhaps  the  red  which 
though  comparatively  new  in  cultivation  in 
this  country  is  fully  equal  if  not  superior  in 
flavor  and  crispness  to  the  white,  and  is  de- 
cidedly more  hardy  and  a  much  better  keeper. 

A  new  variety  known  as  the  "Bouquet" 
Celery,  with  beautiful  feathery  foliage,  intro- 
duced in  1888,  is  very  useful  for  table 
decoration,  as  well  as  for  all  purposes  for 
which  Celery  is  used,  as  it  is  equally  as  good 
as  any  of  the  others. 

We  are  often  asked  for  the  cause  of  and 
remedy  for  Celery  rusting  or  burning.  The 
cause,  we  think,  is  the  condition  of  the 
weather,  which  destroys  the  tender  fibers,  or 
what  are  called  the  working  roots  of  the  plant, 
for  we  find  it  is  usually  worse  in  seasons  of 
extreme  drought  or  moisture,  particularly  in 
wai'm  weather. 

We  know  of  no  remedy  nor  do  we  believe 
there  is  any.  We  may  say,  however  that  it  is 
less  liable  to  appear  on  new,  fresh  soils,  that 
are  free  from  acids  or  sourness,  than  on  old 
soils  that  have  been  sui'feited  with  manure, 
and  have  had  no  rest. 

Although,  under  ordinary  conditions,  if 
proper  varieties  of  Celery  are  used,  the  crop 
should  never  be  pithy  or  hollow,  yet  we  have 
found  that  now  and  then  even  the  most  solid 
kinds  of  Celery  have  become  more  or  less 
hollow  when  planted  in  soft,  loose  soils,  such  as 
reclaimed  peat  bogs,  where  the  soil  is  mostly 


CEN 

composed  of  leaf  mould.  In  fact,  on  heavy  or 
clayey  soils  the  Celery  will  be  specifically 
heavier  than  on  lighter  soils. 
Cells.  Cavities  in  the  interior  of  a  plant. 
The  cells  of  tissue  are  those  which  form  the 
interior  of  tlie  elementary  vesicles.  Cells  of 
the  stem,  air-cells,  etc.,  are  spaces  organically 
formed  by  a  peculiar  building  up  of  tissue  for 
various  vital  purposes. 

Cellular  System.  That  part  of  the  plant  which 
consists  of  cells  or  elementary  vesicles. 

Celo'sia.  From  kelos,  burnt;  in  reference  to  the 
burnt-like  appearance  of  the  flowers  of  some 
of  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaranthacece. 

These  are  ornamental  or  curious  plants. 
Only  one  or  two  species,  however,  are 
regarded  as  sufficiently  ornamental  to  be 
included  in  ordinary  collections.  One  of  these, 
C.  cristata,  the  common  Cockscomb,  is  almost 
universally  grown.  To  be  grown  well,  the 
seed  should  be  sown  in  March,  in  the  green- 
house or  hot-bed.  As  soon  as  the  young 
plants  can  be  handled  safely,  they  should  be 
placed  singly  in  small  pots,  filled  with  the 
same  kind  of  soil  in  which  they  are  started. 
In  these  they  should  remain  until  symptoms 
of  flowering  appear,  when  they  may  be 
changed  into  larger  pots  or  turned  out  into 
the  border,  where  they  should  have  a  rich 
soil,  such  as  loam  and  rotten  manure,  in 
equal  parts ;  then,  with  a  liberal  supply  of 
liquid  manure,  flower-lieads  of  enormous  size 
will  be  obtained.  It  is  on  this  account  that 
small  pots  are  recommended  for  the  young 
plants  up  till  the  appearance  of  the  flowers ; 
.  for  if  the  roots  be  allowed  much  space  at  this 
period,  the  stem  naturally  increases  in  height 
witliout  a  compensating  increase  in  tlie  size 
of  the  "  comb."  This  species  was  introduced 
from  Asia  in  1570,  and  from  it  florists  have 
produced  a  great  number  of  varieties.  The 
other  species  differ  from  C.  cristata  in  having 
large  plumes  of  inflorescence,  which  form 
pyramidal  masses  of  color.  Many  sorts  have 
a  graceful  pendant  habit,  which  renders  them 
objects  of  great  beauty.  When  well  grown 
they  are  excellent  subjects  for  table  decora- 
tion, and  also  for  the  green-house,  or  for  cut- 
ting during  the  autumn  and  early  winter 
months. 

Ce'lsia.  A  small  genus  of  Scrophulariads,  con- 
sisting of  hardy  or  half-hardy  annuals  or 
biennials.  C.  cretica.  a  hardy  biennial,  is  the 
best  known  and  by  far  the  showiest  of  the 
species.  As  cultivated,  it  grows  three  to 
four  feet  in  height,  with  a  long  terminal  spike 
of  large  yellow  blossoms,  each  of  which  arises 
from  the  axil  of  a  small  leaf  or  bract.  A 
native  of  Crete.     Introduced  in  1752. 

Ce'ltis.  Nettle  Tree,  Hack-berry,  Sugar- berry. 
An  ancient  name  for  the  Lotus.  The  fruit  of 
the  European  Nettle  Tree  is  supposed  to  have 
been  the  food  of  the  Lotophagi.  Nat.  Ord. 
Urticacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy  deciduous,  low,  or  medi- 
um-sized trees,  of  an  ornamental  character. 
Several  of  the  species  and  their  varieties  are 
common  in  the  Southern  and  Western  States, 
where  they  have  received  the  various  popular 
names  above  given. 

Ce'nchrus.  Bur  Grass,  Hedge-hog  Grass.  From 
Kegchros,  the  Oriental  name  of  the  Millet. 
Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 


AND   GENEKAL   HORTICULTURE. 


79 


CEN 

C.  tribuloidea,  the  only  species,  is  common 
on  the  sandy  hills  on  the  coast,  or  near  salt 
water ;  also  near  the  great  northern  lakes.  It 
is  regarded  as  a  troublesome  weed,  on  account 
of  its  prickly  burrs. 

Centa'urea.  The  classical  name  of  a  plant 
fabled  by  Ovid  to  have  cured  a  wound  in  the 
foot  of  Chiron  made  by  the  arrow  of  Hercules. 
Nat.  Ord.  CoinpositcE. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous 
perennial  and  annual  plants,  varying  in  height 
from  one  to  five  feet,  and  of  nearly  every 
shade  of  color  from  yellow  to  red,  blue,  or 
deep  purple.  As  they  continue  to  bloom  for  a 
long  time,  they  are  well  suited  for  the  margin 
of  borders  in  the  flower  garden,  and  some  of 
the  dwarf  species  may  be  even  admitted  into 
beds.  The  perennial  kinds  grow  in  almost  any 
description  of  soil,  nor  are  the  annuals  more 
pai'ticular ;  they  merely  require  to  be  sown 
where  they  are  to  remain,  being  afterward 
thinned  to  the  proper  distances  from  each 
other.  Centaurea  cyanuf*,  a  native  of  Britain, 
is  the  Blue  Bottle  or  Ragged  Sailor  of  our  gar- 
dens. C.  candidissima  and  C  gymnocarpa  are 
natives  of  the  Levant,  and  are  most  valuable 
border  plants,  their  leaves  being  heavily 
clothed  on  both  sides  with  a  white,  downy 
covering,  wjiich  gives  them  a  striking  aspect. 
Propagated  by  seed  sown  in  January  or  Feb- 
ruary in  a  hot-bed. 

Centauri'dium.  Origin  of  name  unknown.  Nat. 
Ord.  CompositcB. 

The  only  species  of  this  is  C.  Drummondi,  a 
Texas  plant,  free-flowering,  and  succeeding 
well  in  a  light  soil.  Color  bright  orange.  A 
hardy  annual,  growing  freely  from  seed.  Syn. 
Xanthisma  Texana. 

Ce'ntaury.     Erythrcea  centaurium. 

Centaury.  American.  A  common  name  for  the 
genus  SabaUia. 

Centrade'nia.  From  kentron,  a  spur,  and  aden, 
a  gland ;  having  spur-like  glandular  append- 
ages to  its  anthers.  Nat.  Ord.  Melastomacece. 
Tropical  undershrubs  and  herbaceous  per- 
ennials, C.  rosea  and  grandifolia,  natives  of 
Mexico,  are  moderate-sized,  dwarf,  spreading 
plants  of  easy  growth,  producing  freely  in 
spring  close  heads  of  pinkish-white  flowers. 
They  require  the  same  treatment  as  the 
Fuchsia,  and  are  increased  from  cuttings. 

Centra'nthus.  Red  Valerian.  From  kentron,  a 
spur,  and  anthos,  a  flower;  referring  to  the 
spur-like  process  at  the  base  of  the  flower. 
Nat.  Ord.   Valerianacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  annuals  from  Gre- 
nada, and  herbaceous  perennials  from  the 
south  of  Europe.  They  are  mostly  of  com- 
pact habit,  free-flowering,  and  very  pretty. 
The  annuals  are  well  adapted  for  rock-work 
or  ribbon  borders,  and  grow  freely  in  common 
garden  soil.     Introduced  in  1849. 

Centroclinium.    A  synonym  for  Onoseris,  which 

see. 

Centropo'gon.  From  kentron,  a  spur,  and pogon, 
a  beard ;  in  reference  to  the  fringe  which 
envelops  the  stigma.     Nat.  Ord.  Lobeliacea. 

A  small  genus  of  very  handsome  herhaceous 
perennials  from  Surinam  and  Guat«^iala.  One 
of  the  species  bears  edible  fruit.  C.  iovaricnnis 
is  a  very  beautiful  plant  for  the  green-house, 
having  rosy-crimson  flowers,  similar  in  form 


CEP 

to  the  Lobelias,  but  of  larger  size,  produced 
singly  on  short  axillary  peduncles.  The  most 
popular  member  of  this  geims  is  a  hybrid 
between  C.  fastuo8us  and  Syplwcampylos  betu- 
loefolius,  and  known  as  C.  Lucyanus.  It  has 
pretty  rosy-carmine,  tubular  flowers,  and 
from  its  flowering  naturally  during  the  dead 
of  winter  it  is  a  most  desirable  plant.  Raised 
by  M.  Desponds,  of  Marseilles,  in  1856.  They 
are  increased  by  division  or  from  seed. 

Centrose'ma.  Spurred  Butterfly  Pea.  A  genus 
of  Leguminosce,  consisting  of  hardy  and  green- 
house twining  perennial  plants,  with  one 
exception  conflned  almost  exclusively  to  South 
America,  and  mostly  to  Brazil.  The  leaves 
are  made  up  of  three  leaflets,  rarely  five  or 
seven,  the  leaflets  opposite  and  the  terminal 
one  rather  distant.  Some  of  the  species  pro- 
duce large  and  elegant  pea-like  flowers,  singly 
or  in  axillary  racemes ;  colors,  white,  violet, 
rose  or  blue.  C.  Virginianum  is  widely  distrib- 
uted, the  species  being  common  in  dry, 
sandy  woods  from  Maryland  southward,  also 
in  Brazil  and  West  Africa.  All  the  species  are 
increased  readily  from  seed.  Included  by 
many  botanists  with  Kennedya. 

Centroste'mma.  A  genus  of  tropical  climbing 
shrubs,  closely  allied  to  Hoya. 

Century -plaiit.     See  Agave  Americana. 

Cephae'lis.  From  kephale,  a  head  ;  in  reference 
to  the  arrangement  of  the  flowers.  Nat,  Ord. 
RubiacecB. 

Shrubs,  rarely  perennial  herbs,  mostly  na- 
tives of  Tropical  America.  C.  Ipecacuanha  pro- 
ducing the  true  Ipecacuanha  belongs  to  this 
genus,  and  is  a  native  of  Brazil.  It  is  a  most 
ornamental  and  deciduous  shrub,  the  root 
of  which  has  been  long  used  in  medicine.  It 
is  in  cultivation,  and  was  introduced  in  1839. 

Cephala'ntlius.  Button  Bush.  From  kephale, 
a  head,  and  anthos,  a  flower ;  The  flowers  are 
disposed  in  globular  heads.  Nat.  Ord.  Rubi- 
acetB. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  deciduous  shrubs 
confined  to  North  America,  and  common  in 
marshy  places  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific  coasts,  and  from  Maine  to  Florida. 
C.  occidentalis,  is  a  handsome  bushy  shrub, 
bearing  numerous  creamy  white  flowers,  in 
round  heads. 

Cephalota'xus.  A  small  genus  of  Japanese 
Coniferte,  resembling  the  Yew  in  general  ap- 
pearance. C.  Fortunei,  the  best  known 
species,  is  a  tree  of  medium  size,  rounded 
form,  dark  green  foliage,  and  long,  slender, 
drooping  branches.  Propagated  by  seeds  or 
cuttings. 

Cephalo'tus.  New  Holland  Pitcher  Plant. 
From  kephaloles,  headed ;  the  filaments  of  its 
stamens  are  capitate.  Nat.  Ord.  Saxifraga- 
cecB. 

C.  follicidaris,  the  only  species,  is  a  native 
of  swampy  places  in  King  George's  Sound.  It 
has  a  very  short  or  contracted  stem,  with 
spoon-shaped  stalked  leaves,  among  which 
are  mingled  small  pitcher-like  bodies,  placed 
on  short,  stout  stalks,  and  closed  at  the  top 
with  lid  -  like  the  true  Pitcher  Plants  (Nepeti- 
thes).  These  pitchers  are  of  a  green  color, 
spotted  with  yellow  or  brown,  and  provided 
with  hairs.  The  fiowers  are  white,  small,  and 
produced  on  a  long  spike.  Propagated  by 
offsets.    Introduced  in  1822. 


80 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


CER 

Ceraceous.     Wax-like- 

Cera'stium.  Mouse-ear  Chickweed.  From 
keras,  a  horn ;  because  many  of  the  species 
have  capsules  like  an  ox's  horn.  Nat.  Ord. 
Caryophyllacem. 

Of  this  somewhat  extensive  genus  only  a 
few  of  the  species  are  worthy  of  cultivation, 
but  none  of  the  annuals.  Some  of  the  hardy 
trailing  species  are  quite  ornamental  when 
used  for  edgings  or  rock-work.  C.  tomentosum 
has  greyish-white  foliage,  and  is  largely  em- 
ployed as  an  edging  to  summer  flower  beds, 
and  as  a  ground-woi'k  in  carpet  bedding.  Pro- 
pagated by  division  of  the  roots  or  by  seeds. 

Cera'sus.  Cherry.  From  Cerasus,  a  town  of 
Pontus,  in  Asia,  whence  the  Cherry  was 
brought  to  Rome  by  Lucullus.  Nat.  Ord. 
Rosacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy  deciduous  trees  and 
shrubs,  the  species  and  varieties  including 
some  of  our  most  ornamental  trees  for  the 
lawn,  as  well  as  highly  prized  fruit  trees  for 
the  orchard.  The  numerous  varieties  of  cul- 
tivated Cherries  are  supposed  to  have  origin- 
ated from  C.  avium  and  C.  vulgaris.  Those 
belonging  to  C.  avium  are  best  represented  by 
the  Bigarreau  and  Black  Heart  varieties; 
those  of  C  vulgaris  by  the  May  Duke  and 
Morello.  Both  of  these  species  appear  to  be 
natives  of  Eui'ope,  although  Pliny  states  that 
there  were  no  Cherries  in  Italy  before  the 
victory  obtained  over  Mithridates  by  Lucul- 
lus, who  was,  according  to  the  above  author, 
the  first  who  brought  them  to  Rome  from 
Cerosante  about  sixty-eight  years  before  the 
Christian  era.  It  is  also  stated  by  the  same 
authority,  that  "  in  less  than  120  years  after, 
other  lands  had  Cherries,  even  as  far  as 
Britain  beyond  the  ocean."  Theophrastus, 
300  years  B.  C,  mentions  the  Cherry  as  being 
common  in  Greece,  from  which  some  writers 
contend  that  the  name  of  the  city  was  de- 
rived from  the  tree,  instead  of  the  tree  from 
the  town  or  city.  The  Cherry-tree  begins  to 
bear  usually  in  two  or  three  years  after  plant- 
ing trees  of  the  size  sold  at  the  nurseries, 
and  continues  to  enlarge  in  growth  and  pro- 
ductiveness annually,  until  it  often  attains  a 
larger  size  than  most  of  our  fruit-trees.  It 
grows  freely  in  almost  any  soil  that  is  free 
from  moisture,  preferring,  however,  like  most 
other  fruits,  a  deep  loamy  soil.  The  tree  may 
be  ti-ained  as  desired,  either  in  pyramidal 
form  or  with  a  round  top,  by  pruning  and 
directing  the  shoots.  They  are  now  worked 
extensively  on  the  Mahaleb  stock.  Many 
varieties  being  found  to  be  more  hardy  on  it, 
and  it  is  adapted  to  a  greater  variety  of  soil. 
The  following  are  good  varieties  (for  descrip- 
tion see  nursery  catalogues) :  Black  Tartarian, 
Coe's  Transparent,  Downer's  Late,  May  Duke, 
Kirtland's  Mary,  Rockport,  Yellow  Spanish, 
Late  Duke,  and  Morello.  The  well-known  Wild 
Cherry  of  our  woods  is  C.  serotina.  The 
common  double  Cherry  and  the  French 
double  Cherry  deserve  a  place  in  every 
garden ;  and  equally  so  do  the  Chinese  Cherry, 
C.  pseudo-cerasus ;  the  All-Saints'  Cherry,  C. 
semperjlorens ;  the  Bird  Cherry,  C.  padus; 
and  the  Virginian  Bird  or  Choke  Cherry,  C. 
Virginiana. 

Cerato'nia.  Carob  Tree.  From  keras,  a  horn ; 
in  reference  to  the  shape  of  the  seed-pod. 
Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoacB. 


CER 

C.  siliqua,  the  only  species,  is  a  tree  of 
medium  size,  growing  extensively  in  the  south 
of  Europe,  particularly  in  some  of  the  Spanish 
provinces,  and  produces  a  fruit  known  as  the 
Algoroba  or  Carob  Bean,  which  is  an  import- 
ant article  of  commerce.  It  is  chiefly  used 
for  the  feeding  of  cattle,  but  is  largely  used 
by  the  poor  for  food  when  there  is  a  scarcity 
of  grain.  This  is  generally  considered  the 
Locust  Tree  of  Scripture ;  and  in  Spain,  where 
the  seeds  are  eaten,  it  is  called  St.  John's 
Bread.  Under  this  name  the  pods  are  often 
sold  on  the  streets  in  New  York.  It  is  now 
generally  supposed  that  the  shells  of  the 
Carob  pod  were  the  husks  that  the  prodigal 
son  desired  to  partake  of  witli  the  swine. 

Cerato'pteris.  A  peculiar  genus  of  tropical 
aquatic  Ferns,  found  growing  in  quiet  waters. 
The  fronds  are  much  divided,  membranaceous, 
and  succulent,  the  sterile  ones  being  more 
foliaceous  and  less  divided,  with  evident 
reticulated  veins.  C.  thalictroides  is  the  only 
species,  and  when  well  grown  in  water,  forms 
a  handsome  plant  and  is  not  inaptly  called  the 
Floating  Stag's-horn  Fern. 

Ceratoste'ma.  From  keras,  a  horn,  and  sterna, 
a  stamen  ;  the  anthers  are  spurred.  Nnt.  Ord. 
VacciniacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  pretty  green-house 
evergreen  shrubs,  natives  of  Peru.  The 
flowers  are  tubular,  of  orange,  crimson,  or 
scarlet  color,  produced  in  terminal  clustei's 
in  May.  Propagated  by  cuttings.  Introduced 
in  1846. 

Ceratosti'gma  plumbaginoides.  This  is  now 
given  as  the  correct  name  of  Valoradia  plum- 
baginoides, better  known  in  cultivation  as 
Plumbago  Larpenice. 

Ceratoza'mia.  A  genus  of  Cycadacem,  deriving 
its  name  from  the  presence  of  two  horns  on 
the  scales  of  its  Zamia-like  fruit.  C.fusco- 
viridis  is  a  magnificent  plant  of  recent  intro- 
duction from  Mexico.  It  is  a  tree  of  moderate 
size,  with  leaves  from  three  to  four  feet  long, 
broadly  pinnate,  and  of  a  fine  arching  habit. 
The  young  leaves  are  of  a  rich,  bi'onzy,  choco- 
late color,  gradually  changing  to  olive  green, 
and  ultimately  developing  into  deep  green. 
Young  plants  are  obtained  by  suckers  or 
from  seed. 

Cercidiphy'llum  Japonicum.  A  late  and  valu- 
able introduction  from  Japan.  The  leaves 
are  medium  sized,  heart-shaped  and  purple 
when  young,  like  those  of  tiie  Judas  Tree. 
The  flowers  are  inconspicuous.  The  shape  of 
the  tree  is  pyramidal,  bark  smooth  and  as  a 
whole,  is  a  stately  and  beautiful  object. 

Ce'rcis.  Judas  Tree.  From  kerkis,  a  shuttle- 
cock ;  the  name  given  by  Theophrastus.  Nat. 
Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  genus  of  handsome,  low-growing  trees, 
with  singular  leaves  and  very  showy  flowers. 
The  flowers  have  an  agreeable  acid  taste,  and 
are  frequently  used  by  the  French  in  salads,  or 
made  into  fritters  with  batter,  and  the  flower 
buds  are  pickled  in  vinegar.  It  is  an  orna- 
mental tree  in  spring  as  the  flowers  completely 
clothe  the  branches  and  even  the  upper  part 
of  the  trunk  with  purple  before  the  leaves 
appear.  C.  siliquastrum  is  a  native  of  the 
south  of  Europe,  and  of  which  Gerarde,  in  com- 
pliance with  the  popular  notions  of  his  time, 
says :    "  This  is  the  tree  whereon  Judas  did 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


8r, 


CER 

hang  himself ;  and  not  upon  the  Elder  Tree, 
as  it  is  said."  (Herbal,  1596.)  C.  Canadensis, 
a  native  species,  is  common  on  the  banks  of 
streams  from  Canada  to  Louisiana.  C.  Japon- 
ica,  from  Japan,  is  a  very  dwarf  tree  or  shrub, 
with  bright  rosy-pink  flowers,  much  larger 
than  C.  Canadensis,  and  exceedingly  beautiful 
in  early  spring. 

Ce'reus.  Torch  Thistle.  From  cereus,  waxy; 
referring  to  the  shoots  of  some  of  the  species 
being  easily  bent.     Nat.  Ord.  Cactacem. 

An  extensive  genus,  the  species  of  which 
are  remarkable  for  their  singularity  of  form, 
and  for  the  beauty  of  their  flowers.  Few 
classes  present  greater  contrasts.  Some  are 
round,  some  angular,  some  smooth,  and 
others  fluted.  Some  are  climbers  or  creepers, 
while  others  grow  like  huge  trees,  attaining  a 
height  of  sixty  feet,  with  a  diameter  of  two  or 
three  feet.  The  night-blooming  section  is 
very  interesting  and  beautiful,  C.  grandijlorus, 
the  type,  usually  requires  age  to  flower  well. 
A  strong  plant  will  frequently  have  six  to  ten 
exceedingly  large  and  beautiful  sweet-scented 
flowers  open  in  an  evening.  They  are  very 
transient,  lasting  only  a  few  hours,  neither  do 
they  open  again  when  once  closed.  They 
begin  to  open  between  six  and  eight  o'clock  in 
the  evening,  are  fully  expanded  by  eleven, 
and  by  three  or  four  in  the  morning  they  are 
closed;  but  during  their  short  continu- 
ance there  is  scarcely  any  flower  of  greater 
beauty,  or  that  makes  a  more  magniflcent 
appearance.  The  flowers  of  the  night-bloom- 
ing section  vary  in  size  from  six  to  fourteen 
inches  in  diameter,  according  to  the  species, 
C.  MacDonaldi,  being  the  largest,  and  some- 
times measuring  fourteen  to  sixteen  inches. 
The  sepals  in  some  are  brown,  in  others 
brownish- yellow,  and  in  others  again  pinkish- 
brown.  The  petals  in  some  are  pale,  yellow- 
ish-white, and  in  others  pure  white.  The 
stamen  are  usually  a  bright  yellow.  Some 
are  sweet-scented,  others  the  reverse,  while 
some  are  odorless,  but  all  are  beautiful.  The 
flowers  of  the  day-blooming  section  are 
usually  small,  but  very  bright  and  pretty. 
For  other  night-blooming  kinds,  see  Phyllo- 
cactus. 

Ceriferous.     Bearing,  or  producing  wax. 

Ceri'nthe.  Honeywort.  From  keros,  wax,  and 
anthos,  a  flower;  referring  to  its  being  a 
favorite  flower  with  bees.  Nat.  Ord.  Boragin- 
acece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  annuals,  common  in 
Central  Europe.  One  species,  a  native  of  the 
south  of  France,  is  a  hardy  perennial.  The 
annuals  have  long  been  cultivated  in  gardens, 
under  the  name  of  Honeywort.  They  have 
tubulai*,  yellow  flowers,  in  one-sided  droop- 
ing racemes.  They  sow  themselves  when 
once  planted,  and  require  but  little  care. 

Cemuous.  Inclining  a  little  from  the  per- 
pendicular; generally  applied  to  drooping 
flowers. 

Cerope'gia.  A  genus  of  Asclepediacem,  contain- 
ing over  fifty  species,  usually  twining,  some- 
times erect  perennial  plants,  often  with 
tuberous  roots ;  remarkable  ff)r  the  peculiar 
shape  and  marking  of  the  flowers.  C.  elegans, 
has  been  long  in  cultivation,  but  is  surpassed 
by  C.  Gardnerii,  with  creamy  white  and  purple 
flowers,  and  C.  Thwaitesii,  with  yellow  flowers 


CHA 

beautifully  sprinkled  with  dark  blood-red 
spots.  The  two  latter  are  comparatively  late 
introductions  from  Ceylon,  and  are  elegant 
green-house  twiners. 

Cero'xylon.  Wax  Palm.  From  keros,  wax,  and 
xylon,  wood  ;  tlie  trunk  being  coated  with  wax. 
Nat.  Ord.  PalmacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  Palms,  consisting  of  three 
species,  two  of  which  are  handsome  trees  of 
great  size.  C.  andicola,  the  Wax  Palm  of 
New  Grenada,  was  discovered  by  the  cele- 
brated traveler,  Humboldt,  who  describes  the 
tree  as  attaining  the  prodigious  height  of 
160  feet,  while  it  differs  from  other  species  of 
Palms  in  flourishing  under  a  much  colder 
temperature,  it  being  found  on  elevated  moun- 
tains, extending  as  high  as  the  lower  limit  of 
perpetual  snow.  Its  tall  trunk  is  covered 
with  a  thin  coating  of  a  whitish  waxy  sub- 
stance, giving  it  a  marbled  appearance.  This 
substance,  which  forms  an  article  of  com- 
merce, consists  of  two  parts  resin  and  one  of 
wax  and  is  obtained  by  scraping  the  trunk.  It 
is  mixed  with  tallow  and  made  into  candles, 
which  are  of  superior  quality.  The  trunk 
yields  a  valuable  timber,  used  for  building 
purposes,  and  the  leaves  are  used  for  thatch- 
ing roofs.    Propagated  from  seed. 

Ce'strum.  From  Kestron,  an  ancient  Greek 
name.     Nat.  Ord.  Solanacem. 

Green-house  shrubs,  natives  of  the  East 
Indies  and  South  America.  C.  Parqui,  syn. 
C.  nocturnum,  frequently  called  the  Night- 
Blooming  Jasmine,  is  a  much  esteemed 
species,  which  flowers  abundantly  all  sum- 
mer, if  planted  in  the  open  air  in  Maj',  and 
fills  the  whole  garden  with  its  fragrance  at 
night,  though  perfectly  inodorous  during  the 
day.  It  should  be  taken  up  in  autumn,  and  if 
kept  in  a  box  or  pot,  rather  dry,  may  be  easily 
preserved  in  a  warm  cellar  until  spring.  C. 
aurantiacum,  with  large  panicles  of  orange- 
colored  flowers,  is  an  excellent  plant  for  early 
winter  green-house  decoration.  Some  au- 
thors include  Habrothamnus  under  this  genus. 

Ce'terach.  From  Chetherak,  the  Arabic  name. 
Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  Ferns,  somewhat  resem- 
bling the  Aspleniums.  C.  officinarum,  the 
Scale  Fern,  is  an  interesting  species,  suitable 
for  rock-work,  but  impatient  of  much  water, 
as  are  all  of  the  species.  Both  the  hardy  and 
green-house  species  are  valuable  in  collec- 
tions. They  are  natives  of  Great  Britain  and 
the  Canary  Islands. 

Chaeno'stoma.  A  considerable  genus  of  herbs 
and  under-shrubs,  belonging  to  Scrophula- 
riacece,  and  natives  of  South  Africa.  C  hinpida 
is  a  dwarf  shrubbj^  species  with  white  axillary 
flowers  produced  in  great  abundance  all  the 
season.     Propagated  by  seeds  or  cuttings. 

Chaerophy'llum  Bulbosum.  Bulbous  rooted 
Chervil.     See  Antkriscus. 

Chaerophy'llum  Sativum.  A  synonym  of  An- 
thriscus  cerefolium  (Chervil). 

Chain  Fern.    See  Woodwardia. 

Chamaeba'tia.  From  chamai,  on  the  ground, 
dwarf,  and  6a/o8,  a  bramble;  referring  to  its 
low  growth  and  bramble-like  flowers.  Nat. 
Ord.  Rosacew. 

C.  foliosa,  the  only  representative  of  this 
genus,  is  a  beautiful  Californian  shrub,  about 
three  feet  high.     The  leaves  are  very  finely 


82 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


CHA 

divided,  resembling  those  of  the  Millfoil 
{Achillea),  but  of  a  much  harsher  texture, 
and  liaving  a  pleasant  balsamic  odor.  The 
flowers  are  white,  in  terminal  cymes,  very 
much  like  those  of  the  Hawthorn. 

Chamaecla'don.  From  chamai,  dwarf,  and  kladon, 
a  branch ;  in  allusion  to  the  habit  of  the  species. 
Nat.  Ord.  Aroidece. 

A  genus  of  stove-house  plants,  natives  of 
tropical  Asia,  and  the  Malayan  Archipelago. 
C.  metallicum,  the  only  species  yet  in  cultiva- 
tion is  a  grand  arad,  of  close  tufted  growth, 
with  ovate  leaves  of  a  rich,  deep  bronzy-green 
color.     Introduced  from  Borneo  in  1884. 

Chamaecy'paris.  From  chamai,  dwarf,  and 
kuparissos.  Cypress ;  The  Bastard,  or  Dwarf 
Cypress.  White  Cedars.  Nat.  Ord.  Coniferce. 
A  genus  ranking  extremely  close  to  Cu- 
pressus,  the  principal  distinction  between  the 
two,  being  the  more  numerous  ovules  beneath 
the  fertile  scales  of  the  latter.  Like  most  of 
the  other  genera  belonging  to  this  order  this 
one  is  overloaded  with  synonyms,  scarcely 
any  two  authorities  agreeing  as  to  the  correct 
generic  name.  Many  species  of  Cupressus, 
and  Retinospora,  are  placed  under  this  genus 
by  some  botanists. 

Chamaedo'rea.  From  chamai,  dwarf,  and  dorea, 
a  gift ;  referring  to  the  nuts  of  this  Palm  being 
easily  reached.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacem. 

A  genus  of  Palms  containing  about  forty 
species,  common  in  Mexico  and  South 
America.  C.  Emesti-Augusti  is  a  small  species, 
a  native  of  New  Grenada.  It  grows  from 
four  to  five  feet  high,  with  wedge-shaped 
leaves  about  two  feet  long.  The  female 
flower  spikes  of  this  species,  which  are  very 
beautiful,  are  about  a  foot  long,  cylindrical, 
and  undivided.  At  first  they  are  of  a  dark 
green  color,  studded  with  red,  bead-like 
flowers.  After  these  fall  away,  the  spike  be- 
comes a  bright  coral-red  color.  Several  of  the 
species  are  interesting  green-house  plants, 
and  are  readily  grown  from  seed. 

Chameeli'rium.  Devils-bit.  C.  luteum,  the  only 
species,  is  a  Liliaceous  plant,  nearly  allied  to 
Helonias,  and  is  not  uncommon  in  low  grounds 
from  western  New  York  to  Illinois.  It  is  a 
smooth  herb  with  a  bitter,  thick,  and  ab- 
ruptly-tuberous x'oot-stock,  and  a  tall,  erect 
stem,  terminated  by  a  long  spiked  raceme  of 
small  white  bractless  flowers.  Known  popu- 
larly as  Blazing  Star. 

Chaineepe'uce.  From  chamai,  dwarf,  and  peuke, 
a  pine  ;  resemblance.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  genus  of  uninteresting  plants,  annuals, 
perennials,  and  biennials,  common  through  • 
out  Europe.  Of  the  entire  genus,  the  only 
two  deserving  attention  are  C  Casabonce,  and 
C.  diacantha.  Both  of  these  are  effective  for 
sub-tropical  gardening,  growing  in  compact 
rosette-like  patches  and  not  producing  flower 
stems  until  the  second  year. 

Chamae'rops.  From  chamai,  dwarf,  and  rhops, 
a  twig ;  most  of  the  species  being  dwarf.  Nat. 
Ord.  Palmacew. 

A  genus  of  low-growing  Palms,  including 
several  species,  some  growing  as  far  north  as 
the  Carolinas.  The  Palmetto  State  furnishes 
C.  Palmetto,  hence  the  name.  Many  of  the 
species  are  half-hardy,  and  all  make  beautiful 
plants  for  lawn  decoration.  They  make  a 
rapid  growth  in  summer  if  given  a  rich  loam. 


CHE 

and    liberal    applications  of    liquid   manure. 
They  are  increased  by  seed, 

Chamisso'a.  A  genus  of  AmaranthacecB,  now 
included  in  Achyranthes,  which  see. 

Chamomile.  The  popular  name  of  Anthemia 
nobilis. 

Chara'ceae.  A  small  natural  order  of  Acrogens, 
consisting  oi  two,  or  at  most  three,  genera. 
The  species  are  all  aquatic,  and  are  found  in 
almost  all  parts  of  the  world,  but  they  are 
most  common  in  temperate  countries.  The 
species  are  either  monoecious  or  dioecious,  the 
two  kinds  of  fruit  being  often  seated  close  to 
each  other. 

Cha'ries  Heterophylla.  Given  by  some  authors 
as  the  correct  name  of  Kaulfussia  amelloides. 

Charlock.  The  common  name  of  Sinapis  arven- 
sis,  a  well-known  weed. 

Cheat,  or  Chess.    See  Bromus. 

Checkerberry.    See  Gaultheria. 

Cheila'nthes.  Lip  Fern.  From  cheilos,  a  lip, 
and  anthos,  a  flower ;  in  reference  to  the  form 
of  the  indusium.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacem. 

An  extensive  genus  of  Ferns,  found  scat- 
tered over  nearly  all  parts  of  the  world.  There 
are  several  species  found  in  most  parts  of  the 
United  States.  Some  of  the  tropical  species 
are  exceedingly  pretty,  among  which  C.  fari- 
nosa,  a  native  of  the  Island  of  Luzon,  has 
ivory-black  stems,  the  fronds  being  dark  green 
above,  and  of  a  pure  white  beneath,  caused  by 
a  powdery  substance,  which  has  given  this 
species  the  popular  name  of  Silver  Fern. 
Many  other  species  are  in  cultivation  ;  C.  hirta, 
.  lanuginosa,  viscosa,  Ellisii,  and  many  others 
being  particularly  desirable.  They  are  prop- 
agated from  spores,  or  by  division  of  the 
roots  when  just  commencing  to  grow. 

Cheira'nthus.  Wallflower.  From  cheir,  the 
hand,  and  anthos,  a  flower ;  in  reference  to  the 
custom  of  carrying  the  Wallflower  in  the  hand 
for  a  nosegay.     Nat.  Ord.  Cruciferm. 

Well-known  herbaceous  plants,  much  prized 
for  the  delightful  odor  of  their  flowers,  which 
are  produced  from  April  to  July.  C.  Cheiri, 
the  common  Wallflower,  is  generally  grown, 
and  is  a  great  favorite  in  English  gardens, 
where  it  flowers  freely.  Our  climate  does  not 
suit  it  so  well  as  that  of  England,  as  it  delights 
in  a  moist  atmosphere.  The  fine  double 
varieties  are  increased  by  cuttings,  and  should 
be  grown  in  a  cool  house,  in  a  strong,  rich 
loam.  Most  of  the  species  are  from  southern 
Europe,  and  have  been  grown  for  centuries. 

Chelido'nium.  Celandine,  Swallow-wort.  From 
Chelidon,  a  swallow ;  it  is  said  that  the  plant 
flowers  at  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  swal- 
lows, and  dries  up  at  their  departure.  Nat. 
Ord.  Papaveracece. 

C.  majus,  the  only  species,  is  a  perennial 
herb,  abounding  in  an  acrid,  saffron-colored 
juice.     It  is  a  common  plant  in  waste  places. 

Chelo'ne.  Shell-flower.  From  chelone,  a  tor- 
toise ;  the  back  of  the  helmet  of  the  flower 
being  fancifully  compared  to  a  tortoise.  Nat. 
Ord.  ScrophulariacecB. 

Most  of  the  genus  are  hardy  herbaceous 
perennial  plants,  common  in  moist  places 
westward.  The  flowers  are  white,  rose-color, 
or  purple,  their  singular  beauty  entitling 
them  to  a  place  in  every  collection.  They 
succeed  well  in  ordinary  garden  soil,  and  are 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


83 


CHE 

propagated  by   division  of  the  roots  and  by 
seed. 

Chenopodia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbs  or 
under-shrubs,  generally  inconspicuous  plants, 
but  including  some  valuable  species  used  as 
pot-herbs.  Spinach,  Spinacia  oleracea,  and 
Beet,  Beta  vulgaris,  are  examples.  There  are 
seventy-four  known  genera,  and  over  500 
species  in  this  order. 

Chenopodium.  From  chen,  a  goose,  and  pous, 
a  foot ;  in  allusion  to  the  shape  of  the  leaves. 
Nat.  Ord.  ChenopodiMcece.  An  extensive  genus, 
many  of  the  species  being  troublesome  weeds, 
the  more  common  being  C.  album,  the  Pig- 
weed ;  C.  glaucum,  Ooose-foot ;  and  C.  Ambro- 
8oides,  Mexican  Tea.  The  stems  of  the  Mercury 
Goose-foot  or  Good  King  Henry,  are  still  used 
in  some  parts  of  England  as  a  substitute  for 
Asparagus,  while  the  leaves  are  used  while 
young  instead  of  Spinach. 

Cherimoyer.     See  Anona  Cherimolia. 

Cherokee  Rose.     See  Rosa  Icevigata. 

Cherry.     See  Cerasus. 
Barbadoes.     Malphigia  glabra. 
Bird.     Cerasus  padus. 
Choke.     Cerasus  Virginiana. 
Cornelian.     Cornus  mas. 
Laurel.     Prunus  Lauro  cerasus. 
Plum.     Pru7ius  cerasifera. 
Winter.     Physalis  Alkekengi. 

Cherry-Pepper.     Capsicum  cerasiforme. 

Chervil.     See  Anthriscus. 

Chervil,  Tuberous  rooted,  or  Turnip.  Chcsro- 
phyllum  bulbosum. 

Chess.     See  Bromus. 

Chestnut.     The    common    name  for    Castanea 

vesca. 
Earth.     Bunium  flexuosum    and    Conopodium 

denudatum. 
Horse,     ^scuhis  Hippocastanum. 
Spanish  or  Sweet.     Castanea  vesca. 
Water.     Trapa  natans. 

Chestnut-oak.   Quercus  Prinus,  and  Q.  Castanea. 

Chick  Pea.     See  Cicer. 

Chick  "Weed.     Stellaria  media. 
Mouse-ear.     Cerasliam  vulgatum. 
Water.     Montia  fontana. 

Chicory.     See  Cichorium  Intybus. 

ChiU  Pepper.  A  common  name  for  Capsicum 
baccatum. 

Chilo'psis.  From  cheilos,  a  lip,  and  opsis,  like  ; 
referring  to  the  irregular  lobes  of  the  corolla. 
Nat.  Ord.  BignoniacecB. 

C.  linearis,  the  oidy  species,  is  a  native  of 
Mexico ;  it  is  an  erect  branching  shrub,  with 
long  alternate  leaves,  producing  beautiful 
rose-colored  flowers  in  terminal  dense  spicatc 
racemes.  It  is  but  rarely  met  in  green-house 
collections.  It  was  introduced  in  1825,  and  is 
propagated  by  cuttings. 

Chiiua'phila.  From  cheima,  winter,  and  phileo, 
to  love ;  these  little  plants  remaining  green 
all  winter.     Nat.  Ord.  Ericacem. 

A  small  genus  of  pretty  little  native,  hardy, 
trailing,  evergreen  plants,  commonly  known 
as  Pipsissewa  and  Spotted  Wintergreen,  the 
latter  name  being  applied  to  C.  maculata,  one 
of  our  most  beautiful  native  plants  with  varie- 
gated foliage.    It  is  common  in  dry  woods 


CHI 

throughout  the  Middle  States,  but  is  very  diffi- 
cult of  cultivation  in  the  garden. 

Chimona'nthus.  Japan  Allspice.  From  cheimon, 
winter,  and  anthos,  a  flower;  r<>l'erring  to  the 
time  of  flowering.     Nat.  Ord.  Calycanthacece. 

C.  fragrans,  the  only  species  is  a  native  of 
Japan,  and  is  remarkable  for  the  fragrance  of 
its  flowers,  which  appear  in  early  spring,  be- 
fore the  leaves  begin  to  unfold.  It  is  a  slen- 
der, much  branched  shrub,  with  flowers 
about  an  inch  in  diameter,  made  up  of  a  large 
number  of  pale  yellow  waxy  petals,  arranged 
in  several  rows,  either  yellowish-red  or  choco- 
late-colored, and  which  last  for  a  long  time. 
In  this  latitude  itretjuires  a  sheltered  position. 

China  Aster.     See  Callistephus. 

Chinese  Bell-flower.    See  Abutilon. 

Chinese  Grass-cloth  Plant.    See  Baehmeria. 

Chinese  Hawthorn.     See  Photina. 

Chinese  Primrose.     See  Primula. 

Chinese  Rose.     Hibiscus  rosa-sinensis. 

Chinese  Sugar-cane.     See  Sorghum. 

Chi'nquapin.     Castanea  pumila,  the  most  palat- 
able of  all  the  Chestnut  family  ;  indigenous 
to  the  Middle  Atlantic  States. 
Water.     See  Nelumhium  luteum. 

Chiona'nthus.  Fringe  Tree.  From  chion,  snow, 
and  anthos,  a  flower;  in  reference  to  its  long 
racemes  of  pure  white  flowers.  Nat.  Ord. 
OleacecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  deciduous  shrubs.  C. 
Virginica,  one  of  the  best  known,  and  com- 
monly grown  under  the  popular  name  of 
Fringe  Tree,  is  a  very  ornamental  shrub  of 
easy  cultivation,  particularly  adapted  for  the 
lawn,  not  only  for  its  showy  flowers  in  spi'ing, 
but  for  its  deep  green  glossy  foliage,  which, 
under  favorable  circumstances,  will  equal  in 
size  that  of  the  Magnolia  grandijlora,  retain- 
ing its  freshness  until  late  in  the  autumn. 
This  species  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
southward,  and  is  readily  propagated  from 
seeds  or  cuttings.  It  succeeds  best  when 
grafted  on  the  common  ash,  being  much  more 
vigorous,  and  will  attain  a  height  of  twenty- 
ftve  feet. 

Chio'nodo'xa.  Glory  of  the  Snow.  From  chion, 
snow,  and  doxa,  glory ;  in  reference  to  the 
plants  flowering  among  the  melting  snows  of 
their  native  habitats.  A  small  genus  of  hardy 
Liliaceoe.  C.  LucillcB,  which  has  lately  been 
reintroduced,  is  praised  by  all  as  one  of  the 
most  exquisite  of  spring  flowering  plants.  It 
is  also  valuable  for  winter  blooming  in  the 
house  and  for  cut  flowers.  Native  of  Asia 
Minor  and  Crete. 

Chionogra'phis.   From  chion,  snow,  and  graphis, 

a  pencil ;   the  flower  spike  being  like  a  brush 
of  snow.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliaceie. 

A  very  ornamental  herbaceous  perennial, 
with  pure  white  flowers.  Introduced  from 
Japan,  in  1880.  It  requires  a  slight  protec- 
tion outside  in  winter,  and  is  propagated  by 
seeds  or  divisions  of  the  roots. 

Chiri'ta.  A  small  genus  of  Gesneracem,  natives 
of  tropical  Asia.  The  flowers  of  G.  lilacina 
are  very  beautiful  and  are  produced  in  great 
abundance ;  color  pale  blue  with  a  white 
throat,  ornamented  with  a  large  yellow  blotch 
at  the  base.  C.  sinenni'i  is  also  a  very  fine 
species.     Culture  similar  to  Gloxinia. 


8-1 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OP  PLANTS 


CHI 

Chiro'nia.  A  classical  name,  after  Chiron,  one 
of  the  Centaurs,  fabled  to  be  the  father  of 
medicine.     Nat.  Ord.  GentianacecB. 

Green-house  plants  of  short  duration,  and, 
consequently,  requii'ing  to  be  frequently 
raised  from  cuttings,  which  strike  freely  in 
sand.  C.  floribwnda,  Avith  rose-colored  flowers, 
and  its  variety,  with  white  flowers,  are  the 
most  desirable,  and,  with  other  species, 
are  frequently  raised  from  Cape  seeds,  the 
plants  being  all  indigenous  to  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope.     Introduced  in  1756. 

Chives.  The  popular  name  of  Allium  SchoE.no- 
prasum,  the  smallest  of  the  Onion  family, 
though  one  of  the  finest  flavored.  It  is  a 
hardy  herbaceous  perennial,  native  of  Siberia, 
and  of  the  easiest  culture,  growing  freely  in 
almost  any  soil  or  situation.  Propagated  by 
division,  either  in  spring  or  auturan._ 

Chlida'uthus.  From  chlideios,  delicate,  and 
anthos,  a  flower ;  alluding  to  the  delicate  tex- 
ture of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidacetc. 
C.  fragrans,  the  only  species,  a  pretty, 
bulbous-rooted  plant,  which  may  be  grown  in 
the  flower  garden  during  the  summer,  when 
its  bright  yellow  flowers  are  highly  interest- 
ing. In  winter  it  requires  the  same  treatment 
as  the  Gladiolus.  It  is  propagated  freely  by 
offsets,  which  should  all  be  removed  before 
planting,  to  enable  the  bulb  to  flower  well. 
Introduced  from  Buenos  Ayres  in  1820. 

Chlo'ris.  From  chloros,  green  ;  alluding  to  the 
color  of  the  herbage.  Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 
A  very  extensive  genus  of  grasses,  including 
a  few  desirable  species  for  the  green-house. 
Among  them  is  C.  radiata,  a  pretty  little 
annual  species,  with  beautiful  one-sided  spikes 
of  silky  flowers,  wnich  give  it  a  very  curious 
appearance.  There  are  several  other  species 
under  cultivation,  all  useful  for  basket  and 
similar  work. 

Chloro'galum.  Soap-plant.  From  chloros, 
green,  and  gala,  milk  ;  referring  to  their  green 
juice.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  genus  of  distinct,  hardy  bulbs,  containing 
three  species,  all  natives  of  California.  C. 
pomeridianum  has  branched,  panicled  stems, 
with  white,  purplish-veined  flowers,  opening 
only  after  mid-day,  whence  its  specific  name, 
meaning  "afternoon."  The  bulbs  are  some- 
times used  in  California  as  a  substitute  for 
soap.  Syns.  Phalangium  pomeridianum,  and 
Ornithogalum  divaricatum. 

Chloro'phora.  From  chloros,  greenish,  and 
phoreo.  to  bear;  alluding  to  the  economic 
properties  of  C.  tincloria.  Nat.  Ord.  Urti- 
cacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  milky  trees,  consisting  of 
two  species,  one  native  of  tropical  Asia,  and 
the  other  of  tropical  Africa.  C.  tinctoria,  the 
Fustic  Tree,  yields  yellow,  brown,  olive,  and 
green  dyes.    Syn.  Maclura  tinctoria. 

CMo'rosis.  A  disease  to  which  plants  are  sub- 
ject, and  often  admitting  no  cure.  It  consists 
in  a  pallid  condition  of  the  plant,  in  which  the 
tissues  are  weak  and  unable  to  contend  against 
severe  changes,  and  the  cells  are  more  or  less 
destitute  of  chlorophyl.  It  is  distinct  from 
blanching,  as  it  is  also  from  the  white  color 
in  ornamental-leaved  plants,  of  which,  how- 
ever, it  may  be  a  modification.  Plants  may 
be  affected  by  chlorosis  as  soon  as  the  cotyl- 
edons make  their  appearance.    The  best  cul- 


CHO 

ture  will  not  always  restore  such  plants  to 
health.  The  most  promising  remedy  is  to 
water  them  with  a  very  weak  solution  of  sul- 
phate of  iron.  An  example  of  this  condition 
is  to  be  found  in  cases  where  the  variegated 
leaves  of  Pelargoniums,  etc.,  run  to  pure 
white  without  any  green.  In  all  such  cases 
death  is  certain  to  ensue,,  unless  the  leaves 
again  become  more  or  less  green. 

Chloro'xylon.  Satin-wood.  From  chloros, 
greenish-yellow,  and  xylon,  wood.  Nat.  Ord. 
Meliacece. 

C.  Swietenia,  the  Satin-wood  tree  of  the  East 
Indies,  attains  a  large  size,  and  is  a  valuable 
timber  tree.  The  wood  is  very  handsome, 
light-colored,  with  a  satin-like  lustre,  and 
sometimes  beautifully  mottled  or  curled  in 
the  grain,  bearing  some  resemblance  to  box- 
wood, but  rather  deeper  in  color.  The  best 
kind  of  satin-wood,  however,  comes  from  the 
West  Indies,  and  is  the  produce  of  a  different 
tree,  of  which  we  have  no  description. 

Chocolate.    See  Theobroma. 

Choi'sya.  Named  after  M.  Choisy,  a  botanist 
of  Geneva.    Nat.  Ord.  Rutacece. 

C.  lernata,  the  only  species,  is  a  handsome 
white-flowered,  sweet-scented  shrub,  growing 
about  six  feet  high,  quite  hardy  in  the  Southern 
States.  It  is  a  native  of  Mexico,  an  evergreen, 
and  will  succeed  well  with  ordinary  green- 
house treatment.  It  is  increased  by  cuttings. 
Introduced  in  1825. 

Choke-Berry.  The  popular  name  of  the  fruit 
of  the  Pyriis  arbutifolia,  a  common  shrub  from 
two  to  ten  feet  high,  found  in  damp  thickets. 

Choke  Cherry.     See  Cerasus  Virginiana. 

Choko.    See  Sechium. 

Chondri'lla.  From  chondros,  a  lump  ;  the  plants 
bear  lumps  of  gummy  matter  on  the  stems. 
Nat.  Ord.  Cotnpositce. 

A  genus  of  mostly  uninteresting  plant  s  al- 
lied to  Lactuca  (Lettuce).  C.juncea,  a  native 
of  southern  Europe,  has  escaped  from  the 
garden  and  become  naturalized  in  some  of  the 
Southern  States.  It  is  a  straggling,  many- 
branched  plant,  and  almost  destitute  of  leaves 
when  in  flower.  There  are  more  than  twenty 
species  included  in  this  genus,  mostly  weedy 
plants. 

Chore'tis.  From  choros,  to  unite  in  chorus ; 
this  genus  Vjeingan  intermediate  link  between 
Hymenocallis  and  Ismene.  Nat.  Ord.  Amarylli- 
dacece. 

An  interesting  genus  of  half-hardy  bulbs 
from  Texas  and  Mexico,  requiring  a  rest  from 
November  until  May.  They  grow  freely  in  a 
light,  sandy  soil  in  the  open  border,  or  they 
may  be  groAvn  in  pots  in  the  green-house,  and 
for  this  purpose  they  should  be  started  in 
March  in  a  cool  house,  heat  and  water  to  be 
increased  with  their  growth.  The  flowers  are 
very  beautiful,  pure  white,  with  a  green  eye 
and  a  greenish  stripe.  Propagated  by  division 
of  the  bulbs. 

Chori'zema.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosa. 

This  interesting  green-house  plant  was  first 
discovered  in  Western  Australia  bj'  Labillar- 
diere.  This  botanist  was  attached  to  the  ex- 
pedition sent  by  the  French  Government  in 
search  of  the  lost  La  Perouse,  and  on  one  of 
his  excursions  suffered  much,  with  his  party, 
for  the  want  of  water.     At  last  they  met  with 


«4 


CHAIISCTPABIS. 


CHAIfSFEUCX  DIACANTHA. 


OHBYSANTHEMUMS   (CHINESE). 


CHEYSANTHEMUMS  (JAPANESBlX 


CHETSANTHEMUM  (MRS.  AliPHEUS  HAEDT), 


CHEYSANTHEMUM  (ANEMONE  FLOWEEED) 


CINEKAHIA  MAKITIMA. 


CHEYSANTHEMUM  (SINGLE  ANNUAI.). 


CXNTKABTA  HTBErDil- 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


85 


CHR 

springs  that  furnished  an  ample  supply,  near 
which  he  found  this  plant,  which  he  named 
Chorizema,  from  choron,  a  dance,  and  zema,  a 
drink  ;  in  allusion  to  the  joyful  feelings  of  the 
party  on  meeting  with  a  supply  of  water.  Of 
this  really  beautiful  genus  there  are  many 
species ;  the  one  most  commonly  met  is  C. 
xarium,  a  rapid-growing  and  free-flowering 
kind.  The  flowers  are  of  a  bright  orange  red 
color,  in  long  terminal  racemes,  flowering 
through  the  winter  months.  It  is  i-eadily 
propagated  by  cuttings,  which  should  be 
taken  in  February,  and  grown  in  small  pots 
until  the  weather  is  suitable  for  planting  out, 
as  they  should  be  grown  in  the  border  during 
summer.  Before  there  is  danger  from  frost, 
take  up  anil  pot  in  five-inch  pots,  in  good  rich 
loam  and  sand.  Cut  well  back,  and  give  it  a 
warm,  sunny  situation,  with  liberal  watering 
as  soon  as  the  new  growth  commences.  It 
will  begin  to  bloom  in  eight  to  ten  weeks. 

Cliristinas  Rose.     Helleborus  niger. 

Christopher  Herb.  Actcsa  spicata  and  Osmunda 
regalis. 

Christ's  Thorn.  Cratcegus  Pyracantha  and 
Pallurus  aculeatus. 

Chrysa'nthemum.  From  chrysos,  gold,  and 
anthos,  a  flower;  alluding  to  the  color  of  some 
of  the  flowers  being  yellow.  Nat.  Ord. 
Compositm. 

A  large  and  important  genus  of  herbaceous 
or  slightly  shrubby  plants,  of  which  the  Ox- 
eye  Daisy  of  our  fields  is  a  well  known  repre- 
sentative. Many  species  have  been  introduced 
from  various  countries  of  which  C.  grandi- 
Jlorum  from  the  Canary  Islands,  and  C.  pin- 
natifidum  from  Madiera,  are  of  a  shrubby 
habit,  and  flower  during  a  large  portion  of  the 
year.  C.  fridescens  is  "  the  Marguerite  "  or 
Paris  Daisy  of  the  florists,  the  flowers  of 
which  and  others  of  a  similar  description  are 
largely  used  in  floral  decorations.  The  variety 
"Etoile  d' Or,"  and  the  double  yellow  sort 
called  the  '-Golden  Marguerite,"  are  also 
very  popular  and  are  good  subjects  for  the 
flower  border  in  summer.  C.  coronarium  from 
the  Levant  and  C.  carinatum  called  also  C. 
tricolor,  from  Barbary,  and  their  many  va- 
rieties, are  very  ornamental  border  annuals. 
The  species,  however,  which  holds  so  high  a 
rank,  and  with  reason,  among  florists'  flowers 
is  C  sinense  the  Chinese  Chrysanthemum,  the 
value  of  which  as  an  ornament  of  the  flower- 
garden,  the  green-house  or  conservatory  in 
the  autumnal  months,  is  well  known  and  duly 
appreciated.  Their  cultivation  is  exceedingly 
simple. 

If  wanted  to  flower  only  in  the  open  ground, 
all  that  is  necessary  is  to  plant  them  in  the 
open  border  in  any  good  ground,  well  enriched 
with  manure.  If  possible,  plant  them  in  a  warm 
sheltered  spot,  particularly  in  any  section 
north  of  Baltimore,  as,  being  the  latest  of  all 
flowers  of  autumn,  a  better  development  will 
be  had  if  planted  in  a  place  sheltered  by  a 
fence,  hill  or  shrubbery.  As  they  are  usually 
grown  in  pots,  they  can  be  planted  out  any  time 
from  April  to  July,  though  preference  may  be 
given  to  May.  They  form  an  average  width 
by  October  of  two  feet  in  diameter,  if  the  tops 
are  pinched  off  so  as  to  make  them  bushy ; 
they  should  be  set  out  at  about  two  feet  apart 
each  way.  The  "topping"  or  "pinching" 
back,   as    it    is  called,    should  not  be  done 


CHR 

later  than  1st  of  August,  if  much  later  it 
might  destroy  the  flowering  to  some  extent. 
When  wanted  to  be  grown  for  green-house 
or  house  culture,  the  best  plan  for  amateurs  is 
to  put  each  plant  when  received  in  a  flower 
pot  six,  seven  or  eight  inches  wide  and  deep ; 
plunge  these  pots  to  the  rims  in  the  open 
ground,  level  with  the  soil,  treating  exactly 
the  same  as  recommended  for  planting  in  the 
open  border,  by  pinching,  etc.  Care  should, 
however,  be  taken  to  turn  the  flower  pots 
round  every  eight  or  ten  days,  so  as  to  prevent 
the  roots  getting  through  the  bottom  of  the 
pot,  the  object  being  to  confine  the  whole  roots 
within  the  pot.  This  same  plan  is  the  best 
for  amateurs  who  cultivate  any  kind  of  plant 
to  gi'ow  in  the  house  or  green-house  in  winter. 
The  large  flowers  which  are  seen  at  the 
exhibitions  are  obtained  by  pinching  off  all 
the  buds  but  one  on  each  shoot,  just  as 
soon  as  the  buds  can  be  seen;  "disbudded," 
as  it  is  called,  in  this  way,  many  kinds  of 
Chrysanthemum  flowers  can  be  obtained  six 
to  nine  inches  in  diameter.  This  is  the 
method  used  to  obtain  all  the  fine  flowers 
seen  at  the  Exhibitions.  It  is  deceiving,  how- 
ever, to  those  unacquainted  with  the  plan, 
because  a  flower  so  obtained  showing  six  or 
seven  inches  in  diameter,  if  grown  with  half 
a  dozen  flowers  on  the  same  spray,  would  not 
be  half  the  size.  Hence  amateurs  who  have 
selected  special  kinds  from  the  cut  flower 
tables  at  Exhibitions,  must  not  be  disappoint- 
ed at  finding  them  half  the  size  when  they 
flower,  unless  they  use  the  same  process  of 
disbudding  to  obtain  large  flowers. 

The  Chrysanthemum  is  classed  by  growers 
into  the  following  sections :  Incurved,  Ra- 
nunculus flowered  or  Exhibition,  Recurved  or 
Reflex-flowered,  Anemone  or  Quilled-Aster 
flowered,  Pompone,  Small  ReflexedorChusan, 
Daisy-flowered,  Quilled  or  Pin-feathered  Jap- 
anese, and  Large-flowered  Japanese,  in  all  of 
which  there  are  many  beautiful  varieties. 

Chrysanthus.    Yellow  flowered. 

Chryse'is.  A  name  sometimes  given  to  Esch- 
scholtzia. 

Chrysoba'ctron.  From  chrysos,  gold,  and  bac- 
tron,  a  wand ;  alluding  to  the  magnificent 
racemes  of  C.  Rossii.     Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecB. 

This  is  a  small  genus  from  the  Auckland 
and  Campbell  Islands,  New  Zealand,  closely 
allied  to  Anthei^um.  They  are  found  growing 
in  marshy  places,  and  will  only  succeed  well 
with  pot  culture.  Tlie  soil  should  be  a  fibrous 
loam,  and  the  pots  in  which  they  are  grown 
should  be  partly  immersed  in  water.  The 
flowers  are  bright  yellow,  produced  in 
racemes,  and  are  very  beautiful.  Propagated 
by  division  of  the  roots.     Introduced  in  1848. 

Chrysoba'lanus.  From  chrysos,  gold,  and 
balanos,  an  acorn ;  in  reference  to  the  yellow 
fruit  of  some  of  the  species.  Nat.  Ord.  Rosor 
cecB. 

A  genus  of  stove  or  green-house  shrubs, 
with  simple  leaves  and  white  flowers  borne  in 
panicles  ;  fruit  edible.     Natives  of  Florida. 

Chryso'gonum.  From  ohrysos,  gold,  and  gonu, 
a  knee,  or  joint;  the  flowers  are  generally 
produced  at  the  joints  of  the  stem.  Nat.  Ord. 
CompositcB. 

C.  Virginianum,  the  typical  species  and 
probably  the  only  one  in  cultivation,  is  found 
in  the  Western  States  from  Illinois  south- 


86 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


CHR 

ward.  It  is  a  very  pretty,  hardy  perennial, 
with  yellow  flowers,  well  worth  a  place  in 
every  herbaceous  border. 

Chrysophy'llum.  Star  Apple.  From  chrysos, 
gold,  and  phyllon,  a  leaf ;  referring  to  the  color 
of  the  underside  of  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord. 
SapotacecB. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  leaved  evergreen 
trees.  C.  imperiale,  a  very  showy  and  desira- 
ble species,  is  best  known  in  cultivation  as 
Theophrasta  imperialis. 

Chryso'psis.  From  chrysos,  gold,  and  opsus, 
aspect;  in  allusion  to  the  golden  blossoms. 
Nat.  Ord.   Compositce. 

A  genus  of  hardy  annual  or  perennial  North 
American  plants,  a  greater  portion  of  the 
species  having  all  their  parts  covered  with 
villous  or  silky  hairs.  C.  Mariana  grows 
about  two  feet  high,  and  is  quite  ornamental 
when  in  flower.  C.  villosa,  with  numerous 
yellow  flower  heads  half  an  inch  in  diameter, 
is  said  to  be  one  of  the  commonest  plants  on 
the  prairies  of  the  Saskatchawan. 

Chrysu'rxis.  From  chrysos,  gold,  and  oura,  a 
tail ;  alluding  to  the  compact  heads  of  flowers. 
Nat.  Ord.  'Graminacece. 

A  small  genus  of  annual  grasses,  natives  of 
the  south  of  Europe  and  north  of  Africa.  C. 
aurea,  the  only  species  of  interest,  is  a  very 
ornamental  border  plant  of  free  growth,  and 
is  very  useful  for  cutting.  Native  of  the  south 
of  Europe  and  north  of  Africa.  Syn.  Lamarkia. 

ChxiSa.,  or  Earth  Ahnond.  Cyperus  esculentus. 
A  species  of  earth-nut  used  to  fatten  hogs, 
not  to  be  confounded  with  Cocoa  or  Nut-grass, 
for  though  it  belongs  to  the  same  class,  Chufa 
is  eradicated  with  great  ease,  and  is  never  a 
pest.  The  nuts  or  tubers  are  larger  and  more 
elongated,  and  are  very  sweet  and  nutritious. 

Chy'sis.  From  chysw,  melting ;  in  reference  to 
the  fused  appearance  of  the  pollen  masses. 
Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  genus  of  very  handsome  Orchids,  natives 
of  Central  America.  The  flowers  are  mostly 
white,  or  ereamy  white,  heavilj'  tipped  with 
pink,  the  lip  being  beautifully  marked  with 
carmine  and  yellow.  C.  aurea  maculata,  has 
golden  yellow  flowers,  with  a  large  orange 
spot ;  lip  white,  with  violet  rays.  When  in  a 
growing  state  they  require  liberal  heat  and 
moisture,  and  a  cool,  dry  house  when  at  rest. 
They  are  increased  by  division  just  as  they 
commence  a  new  growth.  Introduced  in 
1830. 

Cibo'tium.  From  Mbotion,  a  small  box  ;  refer- 
ring to  the  form  of  the  spore  vessels.  Nat. 
Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  interesting  Ferns  re- 
lated to  Dicksonia.  They  are  large  and  very 
handsome,  and  in  some  cases  arborescent. 
The  fronds  are  bi-pinnate,  and  often  glaucous 
beneath.  C  Barometz  is  believed  to  be  the 
Tartarian  Lamb,  about  which  travelers  have 
told  so  wonderful  a  tale.  This  "  Lamb  "  con- 
sists merely  of  the  decumbent,  shaggy  caudex 
of  a  kind  of  Fern,  which  is  unquestionably  this 
species.  The  "  traveler's  tale  "  is  that  on  an 
uncultivated  salt  plain  of  vast  extent,  west  of 
the  Volga,  grows  a  wonderful  plant,  with  the 
appearance  of  a  lamb,  having  feet,  head,  and 
tail  distinctly  formed,  and  its  skin  covered 
with  soft  down.  The  lamb  grows  upon  a  stalk 
about  three  feet  high,  the  part  by  which  it  is 


CIC 

sustained  being  a  kind  of  navel.  It  turns 
about  and  bends  to  the  herbage,  which  serves 
for  its  food,  and  pines  away  when  the  grass 
dries  up  and  fails.  The  fact  on  which  this 
tale  is  based  appears  to  be,  that  the  caudex  of 
this  plant  iT[iay  be  made  to  present  a  rude  ap- 
pearance of  an  animal  covered  with  silky, 
hair-like  scales,  and  if  cut  into  is  found  to 
have  a  soft  inside  of  a  reddish,  flesh-colored 
appearance.  "When  the  herbage  of  its  native 
haunts  fails  through  drought,  its  leaves  no 
doubt  die,  and  both  perish  from  the  same 
cause,  and  independently  of  each  other. 
From  these  appearances,  the  common  people 
believe  that  in  the  deserts  of  Scythia  there 
exist  creatures  half  animal  and  half  plant. 
The  species  are  very  interesting  plants 
for  the  green-house,  the  fructiflcation  on 
the  large  bi-pinnate  fronds  being  remarkably 
pretty.  They  are  propagated  by  division, 
and  by  spores.    Introduced  in  1824. 

Ci'cer.  Chick-pea.  Egyptian  Pea.  Fromkykis, 
force  or  strength ;  in  reference  to  its  qualities. 
Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscR. 

A  genus  of  leguminous  plants,  consisting  of 
annuals,  perennials  and  vmdershrubs,  form- 
ing one  portion  of  the  Vetch  tribe.  Some  of  the 
species  are  included  in  the  genus  Astragalus, 
by  some  botanists. 

C.  arietinum,  commonly  known  as  Chick, 
pea  or  Egyptian  pea,  is  an  annual  plant- 
growing  about  a  foot  or  more  in  height, 
a  native  of  the  south  of  Europe  and  India, 
where  it  is  extensively  cultivated  for  its  seeds 
which  form  one  of  the  pulses  known  under 
the  name  of  "  Gram,"  and  which  are  greatly 
used  by  the  natives  as  an  article  of  food, 
being  ground  into  meal,  and  either  eaten  in 
puddings  or  made  into  cakes.  The  leaves  of 
this  species  consist  of  from  three  to  seven 
pairs  of  leaflets  with  an  odd  one  at  the  end, 
the  leaflets  being  egg-shaped,  and  having 
their  edges  cut  into  very  sharp  teeth.  Both 
leaves  and  stems  are  covered  with  glandular 
hairs  containing  oxalic  acid,  which  exudes 
from  them  in  hot  weather  and  hangs  in  drops, 
ultimately  forming  crystals. 

In  Mysore  the  natives  collect  the  dew  from 
the  "  Gram  "  plantsby  means  of  muslin  cloths, 
which  become  saturated  with  it.  The  liquid 
thus  obtained,  which  is  very  acid,  is  preserved 
in  bottles  for  use,  and  is  regarded  as  a  sure 
medicine  in  cases  of  indigestion,  being  admin- 
istered in  water.  It  is  stated  that  the  boots 
of  a  person  walking  through  a  dewy  Gram 
field  will  be  entirely  destroyed  by  the  pun- 
gency of  this  acid  given  out  by  the  leaves. 

Cicho'rium.  Chicory  or  Succory.  An  ancient 
Egyptian  name.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

C.  Intybus,  the  plant  so  extensively  cultivated 
in  Europe  as  a  substitute  for  coffee,  or  for  its 
adulteration,  is  commonly  known  as  Wild 
Endive,  and  is  found  growing  wild  in  most 
parts  of  Europe,  being  by  far  the  most  com- 
mon in  England.  It  is  also  naturalized  in 
this  country,  and  is  common  in  neglected  fields 
and  along  roadsides  in  neighborhoods  long 
settled.  Its  flowers  are  bright  blue,  produced 
in  great  profusion  in  August  and  September. 
The  plant  grows  in  its  wild  state  from  one  to 
three  feet  high,  but  under  cultivation  it  often 
reaches  six  feet.  The  roots  are  fleshy,  not 
unlike  the  Dandelion,  to  which  family  it 
belongs.     For  the  adulteration  of  coffee,  the 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTUEE. 


87 


CIC 

root  is  dried  and  ground,  in  whicli  state  it 
closely  resembles  ground  coffee.  The  use  of 
Chicory  is  common  and  undisguised,  and 
many  consider  a  mixture  preferable  to  pure 
coffee,  and  buy  the  two,  and  mix  to  suit  their 
own  tastes.  So  great  is  the  demand  for  it  for 
this  purpose,  that,  notwithstanding  its  cheap- 
ness and  ease  of  culture,  it  is  often  adulterated 
by  roasted  wheat,  rye,  acorns,  carrots,  and 
other  articles  of  a  similar  nature.  The  plants 
are  largely  cultivated  in  France  for  their 
leaves,  which  are  blanched  and  used  as  a  salad. 
A  large-leaved  variety,  called  the  "  Witloof," 
is  much  cultivated  in  Belgium,  the  plants 
being  taken  up  in  autumn,  forced  and  blanched 
in  a  warm,  dark  place,  and  used  either  cooked 
or  as  a  salad,  forming  what  is  called  by  the 
French  "  Barbe  de  Capucin."  C.  Edivia  is  the 
Endive,  which  see. 

Cicu'ta.  Cowbane,  "Water  Hemlock.  The 
ancient  Latin  name  of  the  Hemlock.  Nat. 
Ord.  Umbelliferce. 

A  small  genus  of  biennial  plants,  very  com- 
mon in  moist  waste  places.  C.  maculata,  com- 
monly known  as  Spotted  Cowbane,  somewhat 
resembles  Sweet  Cicely,  and  is  often  mistaken 
for  it.  Tlie  root  is  an  active  poison  in  its 
green  state,  but  loses  its  virulent  qualities 
when  dried.  It  is  a  dangerous  pest  to  the 
farmer,  the  herbage  often  proving  destructive 
to  cattle,  when  eaten  by  them,  and  many 
children  have  lost  their  lives  by  eating  the 
roots,  which  they  have  mistaken  for  Cicely. 
C.  virosa,  a  species  common  throughout 
Europe,  furnished  the  poison  given  to  Phocion 
and  Socrates. 

Cienko'wskia.  Named  in  honor  of  Professor  L. 
Cienkowsky,  a  Russian  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
SdtaminecB. 

C.  Kirkii,  the  only  described  species,  is  a 
handsome  and  interesting  plant,  a  native  of 
eastern  tropical  Africa.  Its  blossoms,  which 
are  exceedingly  attractive,  are  produced  on  a 
many-flowered  scape,  and  are  of  a  purplish - 
rose  color,  with  a  bifid  golden  spot  in  the 
center.  It  was  introduced  from  Zanzibar  in 
1872.     Syn.  Kcempferia. 

Ciliae.  Somewhat  stiffish  hairs,  which  form  a 
fringe  on  the  margin  of  an  organ,  as  those  on 
the  leaf  of  Sempervivum  lector  urn. 

Ciliate.     Fringed  with  hairs. 

Cimici'fuga.  Bug-bane.  A  genus  of  Ranun- 
culacecB,  allied  to  Acttea  C.  racemosa.  Black 
Snake-root.  The  most  showy  and  best  known 
species  is  common  in  rich  woods,  from 
Maine  to  Wisconsin.  It  has  tri-ternate 
leaves,  and  a  stem  three  to  eight  feet  high, 
bearing  white  flowers  in  elongated  wand-like 
racemes.  Several  of  the  species,  also,  are 
natives  of  eastern  Europe  and  Siberia. 

Cincho'na.  Named  after  the  Countess  of  Cin- 
chon,  Vice-Queen  of  Peru,  who  was  cured  of  a 
fever  in  1638  by  this  remedy.  Nat.  Ord.  Cin- 
chonacecB. 

This  genus  yields  the  well-known  Peruvian 
bark  of  commerce.  It  requires  the  protection 
of  a  warm  green-house  to  preserve  it  in  even 
moderate  vigor.  It  is  the  type  of  an  extensive 
and  highly  interesting  order. 

Cinchona'cese.  A  large  and  important  order  of 
trees,  shrubs,  and  herbaceous  plants,  now  re- 
garded as  a  division  or  sub-order  of  Rubiaceoe, 
which  see. 


CIN 

Cinera'ria.  From  cineres,  ashes ;  in  reference  to 
the  gray  down  covering  the  surface  of  the 
leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  CompositcB. 

There  are  upward  of  fifty  species  of  this 
genus  enumerated,  varying  in  habit  from  the 
dwarf  herbaceous  plant,  not  rising  more  than 
half  a  foot,  to  the  tall,  soft-wooded,  suffruti- 
cose  species  with  a  stature  of  five  or  six  feet. 
The  flowers  of  most  of  them  are  of  a  pale 
greenish  yellow,  though  some  have  white,  red, 
or  purple  flowers.  C.  cruenta,  introduced 
from  the  Canary  Islands  in  1777,  is  the  species 
from  which  all  the  florist's  varieties  have 
originated  and  which  are  among  the  most 
ornamental  and  useful  plants  that  can  be 
grown  for  green-house  or  conservatory  deco- 
ration. A  packet  of  seeds  of  a  good  strain 
will  produce  a  great  variety  of  colors,  and  as 
the  plants  are  of  easy  culture,  and  do  not  re- 
quire much  heat,  they  should  be  grown  by 
every  one  possessing  a  green-house  where 
frost  is  excluded  during  winter;  the  plants 
flourishing  best  in  a  cool,  rather  moist  atmos- 
phere. The  seeds  may  be  sown  from  July 
till  September,  and  potted  off  separately  in  a 
light  rich  soil,  and  are  best  grown  in  an  ordi- 
nary garden  frame  or  cold  pit,  facing  north, 
till  tht^advent  of  frost,  when  they  should  be 
brought  into  the  green-house  and  repotted  at 
different  times,  according  to  their  size  and 
forwardness,  thus  insuring  a  succession  of 
bloom  during  the  late  winter  and  spring 
months.  As  the  old  plants  are  very  difficult 
to  keep  over  summer,  and  seedlings  make 
much  more  vigorous  plants  than  those  sum- 
mered over,  it  is  better  to  sow  a  succession 
annually  of  a  good  strain,  and  when  the  plants 
have  flowered  throw  them  away.  Through- 
out the  entire  existence  of  the  plants  they 
should  be  guarded  from  drought,  and  the  at- 
tacks of  green  fly,  to  which  they  are  very  sub- 
ject. Tobacco  stems,  cut  up  fine,  and  placed 
among  the  pots  on  the  bench,  form  an  excelr 
lent  preventive  for  the  latter.  They  should 
also  be  fumigated  frequently,  but  not  strongly, 
as  although  the  fly  may  not  be  detected  at 
first  the  plants  may  be  infested  beneath  the 
young  leaves.  All  Cinerarias  are  benefitted  by 
applications  of  manure  water,  from  the  time 
the  fiower-heads  are  formed  until  they  open. 
C.  Maritima,  a  native  of  the  south  of  Europe, 
has  silvery  gray  foliage,  downy  beneath ;  it 
is  much  used  for  vases  and  hanging-baskets, 
as  well  as  in  ribbon  gardening,  etc. 

Cinnabar.    Scarlet  touched  with  orange. 

Cinnamo'mum.  Cinnamon.  Derived  from  the 
Arabic  kinamon,  cinnamcm.  Nat.  Ord.  Laura- 
cecB. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  trees,  well  known  as 
furnishing  the  Cinnamon  of  commerce.  C. 
Zeylanicum  is  largely  cultivated  in  Ceylon  for 
its  bark,  which  furnishes  the  best  Cinnamon. 
The  bark  is  stripped  off  the  branches,  when  it 
rolls  up  into  quills,  the  smaller  of  which  are 
introduced  within  the  larger,  and  then  dried 
in  the  sun.  The  thinner  the  bark  is,  as  a  rule, 
the  finer  the  quality.  G.  Cassia  furnishes 
the  Cassia  bark,  which  is  much  like  Cinnamon, 
but  thicker,  coarser,  stronger,  less  delicate  in 
flavor,  and  cheaper.  It  is  commonly  used  in 
the  adulteration  of  Cinnamon.  Both  species 
furnish  what  are  known  as  Cassia  buds,  which 
are  something  like  cloves,  and,  like  them, 
consist    of     the     unexpanded    flower   buds. 


88 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


CIN 

They  possess  properties  similar  to  those  of 
the  bark.  There  are  several  other  species  of 
this  genus  that  furnish  aromatic  barks,  which 
are  used  iu  flavoring  and  in  medicine. 

Cinnamon  Fern.  The  popular  name  of  one  of 
our  native  Ferns,  Osmunda  Cinnamomea. 

Cinnamon  Root.  A  common  name  for  Inula 
Conyza. 

Cinnamon  Tree.     See  Cinnamomum. 

Cinnamon  Vine.  A  name  given  to  Dioscorea 
batatas. 

Cinque-foil,  or  Five-Finger.  One  of  the  popu- 
lar names  of  Potentilla,  which  see. 

Circae'a.  Enchanter's  Nightshade.  A  classical 
name,  after  Circe,  a  celebrated  enchantress, 
skilled  in  poisonous  herbs.  Nat.  Ord.  Ona- 
gracecB. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, of  but  little  interest ;  natives  of  Europe, 
and  naturalized  in  many  parts  of  this  country. 

Circinal.     Eesembling  a  circle. 

Circinate.  Bent  like  the  head  of  a  crosier,  as  in 
the  young  leaf  of  a  Fern  when  it  begins  to 
grow. 

Cirrhope'talum.  From  cirrhus,  a  tendril,  and 
petalon,  a  flower  leaf;  in  reference  to  the 
strap-shaped  petals.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  small,  very  curious 
epiphytal  Orchids,  natives  of  tropical  Asia 
and  the  South  Sea  Islands.  Their  flowers  are 
remarkable  for  having  the  lateral  sepals  pro- 
longed into  narrow  streamers.  From  this 
peculiar  feature,  and  the  fact  that  they  occupy 
but  little  room,  a  few  of  the  species  have  been 
introduced  into  the  more  general  collection 
of  Orchids.    Propagated  by  division. 

Cirrhose.  Eitherfurnished  witha tendril,  as  the 
Grape-vine  or  the  leaves  of  Gloriosa  superba ; 
or  assuming  the  form  and  functions  of  a  ten- 
dril, as  the  peduncles  of  Clematis  cirrhosa;  or 
where  the  tendrils  are  in  some  way  remark- 
able, as  the  Nepenthes. 

Ci'rsium.  Common  or  Plumed  Thistle.  From 
kirsos,  a  swollen  vein ;  in  reference  to  being 
pricked  by  the  spines.     Nat  Ord.  Compositce. 

The  Thistle  family  is  too  well  known  to 
need  special  mention.  Two  of  the  more 
troublesome  species,  C.  lanceolatum,  the  com- 
mon Thistle,  and  C.  arvense,the  Canada  Thistle, 
are  both  natives  of  Europe,  though  perfectly 
naturalized  in  this  country.  There  are  many 
native  species,  the  most  conspicuous  being  C. 
muticum,  Swamp  Thistle,  a  perennial,  common 
in  moist  woods  and  swamps,  often  growing  as 
high  as  eight  feet.  This  genus  is  now  placed 
under  Cnicus  by  some  botanists. 

Cissa'mpelos.  A  genus  of  MenispermacecB,  with 
the  climbing  character  of  the  Ivy,  kissos  of 
the  Greeks,  and  the  clustered  fruit  of  the  vine 
Ampelos.  The  most  important  plant  of  the 
genus  is  the  Velvet-leaf,  or  Caapeba,  C. 
Pareira,  a  native  of  the  West  Indies,  Central 
America,  and  India.  The  root  of  this  plant 
furnishes  the  "Pareira  brava "  of  the  drug- 
gists, much  used  in  medicine. 

Ci'ssus.  From  kisaos,  ivy ;  in  reference  to  their 
scrambling  habit.     Nat.  Ord.   VUacem. 

A  genus  of  climbing  plants,  allied  to  VUis. 
With  a  few  exceptions,  they  are  plants  of  but 
little  interest  to  the  florist.  One  of  the  species, 
however,  C.  discolor,  is  a  plant  remarkable  for 


CIS 

the  beauty  of  its  foliage,  and  its  adaptation  to 
the  hot-house.  This  species  is  a  native  of 
Java,  and  was  introduced  into  England  in  1854 
by  Messrs  Kollison  and  Sons,  of  Tooting,  and 
is  described  by  Mr.  Lowe  as  follows :  "  The 
leaves,  which  are  six  inches  long  and  two 
and  a  half  broad,  are  colored  on  the  upper 
surface  in  the  richest  manner  conceivable,  the 
plant  rivaling,  in  its  beautiful  foliage,  the 
finest  of  the  Ancectochilus  family ;  the  color 
being  a  rich  green,  clouded  with  white,  peach, 
and  dark  purplish  crimson,  and  covered  with 
a  metallic  luster.  The  under  side  of  the  leaf 
is  a  I'ich  brownish  crimson.  No  description 
or  painting  can  do  justice  to  the  beauty  of 
these  superb  leaves  when  in  perfection."  This 
plant  is  a  rapid  grower,  requiring  a  very  rich 
soil  and  humid  atmosphere,  together  with  a 
high  temperature,  to  bring  it  to  perfection.  It 
should  be  grown  in  a  shaded  house,  and  care 
should  be  taken  not  to  syringe  the  plant,  as 
water  on  the  leaves  destroys  the  metallic 
luster.  It  is  readily  increased  by  cuttings. 
The  leaves  are  much  valued  by  florists  for 
their  various  work  in  baskets,  designs,  etc. 

Cista'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  shrubs  or  herbs, 
often  viscid,  with  simple  entire  leaves  an(i 
showy  flowers,  found  chiefly  in  the  south  of 
Europe  and  the  north  of  Africa,  and  rarely  in 
North  or  South  America.  They  are  usually 
resinous,  and  have  a  balsamic  fragrance. 
Helianthemum  vulgare,  the  common  Rock  Rose 
of  England,  has  remarkably  irritable  stamens, 
which  in  sunny  weather  move  on  being 
touched.  There  are  eight  genera  and  about 
190  species  in  this  order ;  the  best  known  of 
Avhich  are  Cistus,  Helianthemum  and  Hudsonia. 

Cisterns.  The  superior  value  of  rain-water  for 
plant  cultivation  and  general  garden  purposes 
is  often  overlooked  when  building  green- 
houses, as  it  is  frequently  conducted  to  drains 
when  accommodation  for  its  reception  should 
be  provided  in  the  shape  of  cisterns.  These 
are  generally  constructed  with  stones  or  brick, 
and  coated  inside  with  cement.  Where  the 
ground  will  admit  of  it,  an  excellent  and 
cheap  method  is  to  have  the  sides  of  the  cis- 
tern sloped  as  much  as  the  soil  will  allow,  and 
coat  it  one  inch  thick  with  a  mixture  of  one 
part  cement  to  three  of  gravel,  finishing  with 
a  thin  coating  of  pure  cement.  This  forms  a 
wall  which  when  dry  becomes  as  hard  as  iron, 
and  will  last  for  years.  The' size  of  cisterns 
should  vary  according  to  their  intended  use. 
If  they  are  to  furnish  a  daily  supply  of  water, 
they  need  not  be  so  large  as  for  keeping  a  sup- 
ply for  summer  only.  The  average  depth  of 
rain  which  falls  in  this  latitude  rarely  exceeds 
six  to  seven  inches  for  two  months.  The  size 
of  the  cistern  therefore  need  not  exceed  that 
of  a  body  of  water  on  the  whole  roof  of  the 
building  seven  inches  deep.  To  ascertain  this 
amount  multiply  the  length  by  the  breadth  of 
the  building,  reduce  this  to  inches,  and  divide 
the  product  by  231,  and  the  quotient  will  be 
gallons  for  each  inch  of  depth.  Multiplying 
by  seven  will  give  the  full  amount  for  two 
months'  rain  falling  upon  the  roof;  divide  by 
313^,  the  quotient  will  be  barrels.  Cisterns 
intended  only  for  drawing  from  in  times  of 
drought,  to  hold  all  the  water  that  may  fall, 
should  be  about  three  times  the  preceding 
capacity. 

Ci'stua    Rock  Rose.     From  kiste,  a  box ;  in  ref- 


AND   GENEKAL   HORTICULTUKE. 


89 


CIT 

erence  to  the  form  of  the  seed  vessel.     Nat. 
Ord   Cistacem. 

A  genus  of  handsome  shrubs,  few  of  which 
are  in  cultivation.  They  are  natives  of  south- 
ern and  western  Europe,  north  Africa,  and 
the  Canary  Islands.  Some  of  the  species  are 
elegant  shrubs,  having  terminal  flower  stalks 
bearing  one  or  more  flowers,  resembling  in 
appearance  those  of  the  Dog  Rose.  They  sel- 
dom last  more  than  a  few  hours  after  expand- 
ing, and  do  not  open  except  in  sunny,  weather. 
The  flowers  ai-e  either  white  or  rose-colored, 
with  yellow  or  purplish  marlis  at  their  base. 
Some  of  the  species  furnish  a  gum  that  is  used 
in  Turkey  as  a  perfume  and  for  fumigation ; 
also  supposed  to  be  a  specific  for  the  plague. 
Propagated  by  seeds,  layers,  or  cuttings. 

Cithare'xylum.  Fiddle-wood.  From  kithara, 
a  lyre,  and  xylon,  wood ;  in  reference  to  the 
supposed  fitness  of  the  wood  for  musical 
instruments.     Nat.  Ord.  Verbenaceoz. 

A  genus  of  tall-growing  trees,  common  from 
Florida  to  Brazil.  It  furnishes  a  hard,  dur- 
able wood,  suited  for  various  purposes  in  tlie 
mechanic  arts.  Its  supposed  use  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  musical  instruments  is  a  mistake. 
One  of  the  species  is  called  by  the  French 
Fidele,  for  its  durability  in  building.  The 
English  have  corrupted  the  name  to  Fiddle- 
wood,  by  which  name  it  is  popularly  known. 

Citrinous.     Lemon-colored. 

Citron.  (Citrus  medica.)  This  is  by  some  sup- 
posed to  be  the  same  species  as  the  Lemon  ; 
it  is  a  native  of  the  forests  of  the  north  of 
India,  but  is  extensively  cultivated  in  south- 
ern Europe.  In  its  wild  state  the  tree  grows 
to  the  height  of  about  eight  feet,  erect  and 
prickly,  with  long  reclining  branches,  in  gen- 
eral appearance  resembling  the  Lemon.  The 
fruit  is  from  six  to  nine  inches  in  length, 
ovate,  with  a  protuberance  at  the  top.  There 
are  two  rinds,  the  outer  thin,  with  innumera- 
ble glands,  full  of  a  most  fragrant  oil ;  the 
inner  thick,  white  and  f  ungoiis ;  it  is  this  inner 
rind  which  is  preserved  and  much  used  in 
confections,  cake,  etc. 

Citrone'lla.    Oil  Plant.     Andropogon  citratum. 

Citrullus.  From  Citrus,  in  allusion  to  the 
Orange-like  fruits.     Nat.  Ord.  Cucurbitacece. 

A  small  genus  of  trailing  annual  or  peren- 
nial herbs.  C.  colocynthis  furnishes  the  cathar- 
tic drug  Colocynth,  or  Bitter  Apple.  C.  vul- 
garis is  the  well-known  Water  Melon,  which 
see. 

Ci'trus.  Orange  Tree.  Derivation  of  name 
unknown.  Supposed  to  refer  to  Citron,  a  town 
in  Judea.     Nat.  Ord.  Rutacece. 

The  genus  Citrus  includes  the  Orange, 
Lemon,  Lime,  Citron,  Shaddock,  etc.,  all  well 
deserving  cultivation,  both  for  their  flowers 
and  their  fruit,  but  of  which  only  a  few  kinds 
of  Oranges  and  Lemons  are  generally  grown. 
When  grown  for  ornamental  purposes  in 
green-house  or  rooms,  they  all  thrive  well  in 
a  mixture  of  rich  loam  with  a  little  rotted 
dung ;  but  great  care  is  necessary  not  to  over- 
pot  them,  or  give  them  too  much  water  when 
not  in  a  growing  state.  The  dilTerent  species 
and  varieties  are  generally  propagated  by  bud- 
ding, grafting  and  inarching  on  the  common 
Lemon,  which  grows  readily  from  seed. 
Oranges  are  also  frequently  raised  from  seed ; 
but  unless  they  are  budded  or  grafted  when 


CLA 

about  two  years  old,  it  will  be  many  years 
before  they  flower.  Orange  Trees  may  also 
be  propagated  by  cuttings,  which  are  best 
from  the  old  wood,  struck  in  sand  in  a  gentle 
bottom  heat,  and  shaded.  Plants  raised  in 
this  manner  flower  and  fruit  much  sooner  than 
any  others,  but  they  scarcely  ever  attain  a 
large  size.  Both  the  Orange  and  Lemon  are 
such  favorites  in  this  country  that  scarcely  a 
cottage,  where  a  flower-pot  or  tub  can  be  put 
into  requisition,  is  without  one  or  the  other 
of  these  plants.  When  placed  in  unsuitable 
soil  and  carelessly  watered,  they  seldom 
remain  long  in  a  good  state  of  health.  When 
they  become  sickly  and  yellow  they  should  be 
turned  out  of  the  pots,  a  large  portion  of  the 
old  soil  should  be  shaken  from  the  roots,  and 
they  should  be  repotted  in  a  mixture  of  fine 
loamy  soil  and  rotted  manure,  with  about  one- 
fourth  of  charcoal  dust,  or  powdered  charcoal. 
There  are  numerous  varieties  of  Oranges  and 
Lemons  grown  for  the  fruit.  Our  markets 
were  formerly  supplied  from  the  south  of 
Europe,  the  Azores  and  the  West  Indies. 
Until  within  a  few  years  the  "Havana"  was 
the  most  highly  esteemed,  but  the  Florida 
Orange  Is  now  the  leading  variety  in  the  mar- 
kets. The  cultivation  of  the  Orange  in  Flor- 
ida commenced  previous  to  1820,  but  was 
carried  on  only  to  a  limited  extent  for 
some  years  thereafter.  From  1830  to  1835 
many  large  groves  were  planted,  nearly  all  of 
which  were  destroyed  by  the  extraordinary 
frost  of  the  latter  year.  The  previous  year 
there  were  trees  at  St.  Augustine  that  pro- 
duced each  14,000  oranges— a  handsome  rev- 
enue from  a  single  tree.  The  dreaded  effects 
of  a  frost  almost  entirely  discouraged  further 
plantings  for  a  number  of  years.  The  culti- 
vation of  the  Orange  is  now  attracting  greater 
attention  in  Florida  than  ever  before.  The 
Indian  River  country  abounds  in  plantations 
that  are  yielding  large  and  profitable  crops. 
Some  of  the  more  scientific  growers,  from 
careful  experiments  and  close  observation, 
hold  the  opinion  that  frosts  as  severe  as  those 
of  1835  will  not  injure  the  trees  if  the  precau- 
tion be  taken  to  shade  the  trunks  from  the 
sun  a  short  time,  until  the  circulation  of  the 
sap  is  fully  restored.  Lemons,  Limes  and 
Shaddocks  are  also  largely  grown  In  Florida. 
In  some  parts  of  Texas  and  in  California  the 
cultivation  of  these  fruits  is  being  rapidly 
extended. 
Cladra'stis  Yellow  Wood.  Name  of  obscure 
derivation.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

This  genus  includes  several  species,  none  of 
which  are  of  special  interest,  excepting  G. 
tinctoria,  better  known,  perhaps,  as  Virgilia 
lutea,  a  native  species  indigenous  in  eastern 
Kentucky  and  southward.  It  is  a  small  and 
handsome  tree,  with  a  compact,  broadly 
rounded  head,  leaves  compound  like  those  of 
the  Locust,  of  a  light,  pleasing  green  color, 
changing  in  autumn  to  a  warm  yellow.  The 
flowers  appear  in  June  in  pendulous  racemes  of 
great  beauty,  pea-shaped,  white  and  fragrant, 
and  are  produced  in  such  profusion  as  almost 
to  clothe  the  tree,  making  it  a  beautiful  object 
for  the  lawn.  It  is  perfectly  hardy,  though  of 
slow  growth,  and  commences  to  flower  when 
only  a  small  shrub.  Propagated  by  cuttings 
of  the  roots  or  by  seeds.  C.  amurensis,  the 
East  Indian  representative  of  the  foregoing, 
is  a  tree  reaching  the  height  of  forty  feet, 


90 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


CLA 

bearing  pinnate  leaves  and  long,  dense 
racemes  of  whitish  flowers.  It  is  a  very  orna- 
mental tree,  flowering  freely  in  August,  and 
being  quite  hardy,  is  a  decidedly  useful  addi- 
tion to  the  shrubbery  or  lawn.  It  was  intro- 
duced from  the  Amoor  Valley  in  1880. 
Clammy.     Viscid,  sticky. 

Cla'rkia.  In  honor  of  Captain  Clarke,  who 
accompanied  Captain  Lewis  in  his  journey  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains.  Nat.  Ord.  OnagracecB. 
A  genus  of  hardy  annuals,  mostly  from  Cal- 
ifornia. The  whole  of  the  species  are  indis- 
pensable to  every  flower  garden  where  annuals 
are  grown.  The  first  sowing  should  take  place 
in  September ;  a  few  will  survive  the  winter, 
and  afford  an  early  bloom  in  the  following 
'season.  The  next  and  principal  sowing  should 
be  done  in  March,  and  a  few  more  put  in  about 
the  end  of  April,  together  with  those  trans- 
planted, will  continue  a  fine  display  through 
the  whole  summer.  They  grow  in  any  soil, 
so  that  the  situation  is  open  or  free  from  the 
drip  of  trees,  and  merely  require  to  be  thinned 
to  about  a  foot  from  each  other.  This  rule 
will  apply  to  nearly  all  those  that  are  known 
as  "tender  annuals." 

Clary.  Salvia  Sclarea.  A  biennial  plant  of 
the  order  Labiatce,  a  native  of  the  south  of 
France,  Switzerland  and  of  Italy.  It  has  been 
under  cultivation  as  a  pot-herb,  for  seasoning 
soups,  since  early  in  the  sixteenth  century. 
It  is  grown  in  the  same  manner  as  the  common 
sage,  Salvia  officinalis. 

Clavate.  Club-shaped,  as  where  any  organ, 
slender  at  the  base,  gradually  enlarges  to- 
wards the  apex,  as  the  filaments  of  Thalictrum 
clavatum. 

Claw.  The  long,  narrow  base  of  some  petals, 
analogous  to  the  footstalk  of  leaves,  as  in 
Dianthus. 

Clayto'nia.  Spring  Beauty.  Named  after  Dr. 
John  Clayton,  an  early  American  botanist. 
Nat.  Ord.  Poriulacacem. 

A.  genus  of  very  pretty,  hardy  plants,  of 
either  annual  or  perennial  duration.  The  for- 
mer only  require  to  be  sown  where  they  are  to 
remain,  and  the  latter  succeed  when  planted 
in  loam  without  further  trouble.  Their 
flowers  are  either  white  or  pink  of  various 
shades.  Several  tuberous-rooted  perennial 
species  are  found  in  moist  woods  in  this 
country  from  Virginia  westward  to  California. 
They  do  not  differ  materially  from  the  annual 
species  in  flowering,  and  ai'e  worthy  of 
cultivation. 

Cleavers  or  Clivers.     See  Galium. 

Cleiso'stoma.  From  kleio,  to  close,  and  stoma, 
a  mouth ;  in  allusion  to  the  mouth  of  the  spur 
being  closed.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  genus  of  East  Indian  epiphytal  orchids, 
the  several  species  of  which,  are  beautiful 
plants,  although  most  of  them  have  small 
flowers,  a  fact  that  renders  them  unpopular 
with  orchid  growers.  They  require  the  same 
treatment  as  the  Aerides. 

Cle'matis.  Virgin's  Bower.  From  klema,  a 
vine-branch ;  in  reference  to  their  climbing 
like  a  vine.     Nat.  Ord.  RanunculacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  handsome  twining 
shrubs,  natives  of  North  America,  Europe, 
Japan,  and  occasionally  met  with  in  Australia, 
Asia,  and  Africa.     C.   Virginiana  is  the  well- 


CLE 

known  Virgin's  Bower,  a  species  common  in 
the  woods  and  roadsides  of  New  York  south- 
ward. There  are  several  other  species  com- 
mon in  this  country.  C.  .^ammuto,  the  sweet- 
scented  Virgin's  Bower,  is  much  admired  for 
its  gracefulness,  delicious  fragrance,  and  poeti- 
cal associations.  For  the  many  large-flowering 
varieties  we  are  indebted  to  Sieboldt  and  For- 
tune, who  discovered  them  in  Japan.  From 
the  several  species  introduced  by  them  very 
many  varieties  have  been  produced,  among 
which  is  C.  Jac/cmami.  a  variety  with  large  pur- 
ple flowers,  very  showy,  and  deservedly  popu- 
lar. Some  of  the  varieties  are  pure  white,  with 
both  double  and  single  flowers.  The  whole 
of  them  are  quite  hardy,  though  the  young 
growth  should  be  protected  the  flrst  winter. 
They  delight  in  a  strong,  rich  soil,  and  for 
climbing  up  stumps  of  old  trees,  training  to 
trellises,  covering  arbors  or  verandas,  or 
planting  to  droop  over  amongst  rock-work,  no 
plants  are  more  suitable  or  will  make  a  more 
gorgeous  display.  Not  only  are  they  well 
adapted  for  running  up  all  kinds  of  supports, 
festooning,  etc.,  but  many  of  the  grand  hy- 
brid varieties,  are  equally  suitable  for 
trailing  over  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and 
covering  beds,  either  alone  or  associated  with 
a  few  distinct  foliaged  plants.  They  are  pro- 
pagated by  layering  the  young  shoots  in  sum- 
mer or  by  root  grafting  on  some  of  our  stronger 
growing  native  varieties.  The  shoots  of  the 
half-ripened  young  wood  can  also  be  freely 
rooted  by  cuttings  during  the  summer 
months.  C.  crispa,  a  native  species,  is  very 
popular,  and  deservedly  so.  The  flowers,  of 
medium  size,  are  of  beautiful  purple,  and 
deliciously  fragrant ;  a  characteristic  absent 
from  most  of  the  class.  C.  coccinea,  a  recent 
introduction  from  Texas,  presents  us  with  a 
new  and  desirable  color. 

Cleo'me.  From  kleio,  to  shut ;  in  reference  ta 
the  parts  of  the  flower.  Nat.  Ord.  Cappari- 
dacece. 

An  extensive  genus,  consisting  of  tropical 
shrubs,  annuals  and  biennials,  which  are  not 
suitable  for  general  cultivation.  This  genus, 
however,  contains  several  very  curio\is  and 
pretty  indigenous  annuals,  with  white,  rose, 
and  purple  flowers,  natives  of  the  Southern 
and  Western  States.  They  are  all  easy  of 
cultivation.  They  should  be  started  in  a  hot- 
bed, and  the  plants  putout  in  the  open  border 
at  the  proper  season  for  tender  annuals. 

Clerode'ndron.  From  kleros,  a  chance,  and 
dendron,  a  tree ;  said  to  be  owing  to  the 
uncertainty  of  the  medicinal  qualities.  Nat. 
Oi'd.  VerbenacecB. 

It  is  diflicult  to  conceive  more  beautiful 
objects  than  several  members  of  this  genus 
when  well  cultivated.  Cuttings  taken  off  any 
time  during  summer  root  readily,  or  in  wmter 
in  gentle  heat,  and  should  be  kept  in  small 
pots  through  the  succeeding  winter,  on  a 
shelf  or  underneath  a  bench  in  the  green- 
house. About  the  first  of  February  repot 
them,  giving  them  a  liberal  shift.  The  soil 
should  be  light  and  very  rich.  To  flower 
freely,  they  require  frequent  shiftings  from 
smaller  into  larger  pots.  With  this  treatment 
they  can  be  made  to  bloom  continually  during 
the  entire  season.  <.)ld  plants  can  be  grown 
on  with  occasional  shiftings,  and  make  splen- 
did plants  for  garden  decoration  during  sum- 


AND   GENEKAL  HORTICULTURE. 


91 


CLE 

mer.  They  must,  however,  be  grown  in  the 
shade.  After  flowering,  water  freely,  in  order 
that  they  may  make  a  good  growth ;  after 
which  they  should  have  partial  sun  to  ripen 
the  wood.  If  not  wanted  for  winter  flowering, 
remove  the  plants  in  the  fall  to  a  light  cellar, 
free  from  frost,  giving  them  through  the 
winter  just  enough  water  to  sustain  life.  In 
the  spring,  when  all  danger  from  frost  is  over, 
remove  the  plants  to  any  desired  position  in 
the  garden  or  on  the  veranda  for  another  sea- 
son of  bloom.  C.  Thompsoiice,  known  also  as 
C.  Balfourii,  introduced  from  Old  Calabar  in 
1861,  has  bright  crimson  flowers  disposed  in 
large  panicles,  with  pure  white  calyxes,  is  the 
best  and  most  showy  variety,  and  one  we 
have  seen  in  full  oloom  a  number  of  years 
in  succession,  with  the  above  treatment.  It 
makes  a  valuable  climbing  plant  for  the  green- 
house when  so  desired. 

Cle'thra.  White  Alder,  Sweet  Pepperbush. 
From  kleihra,  the  Greek  name  of  the  Alder, 
which  this  genus  somewhat  resembles  in  foli- 
age.    Nat.  Ord.  Ericacece. 

A  genus  of  deciduous  shrubs,  several  species 
of  which  are  common  in  swamps  and  low 
places  along  our  southern  coast.  C.  alnifolia 
is  common  in  the  Middle  States,  and  is 
remarkable  for  its  sweet-scented  flowers, 
which  are  borne  in  terminal  racemes  in  July 
and  August.  Like  many  other  of  our  native 
plants,  it  improves  by  cultivation,  and  will 
succeed  well  in  a  shrubbery  border,  however 
dry.  It  should  be  transplanted  in  early 
spring. 

Cleye'ra.  Named  after  Andrew  Cleyer,  M.D.,  a 
Dutch  botanist  of  Batavia.  Nat.  Ord.  Tem- 
straimiacem. 

A  genus  comprising  a  few  Indian  and  Jap- 
anese evergreen  shrubs  with  Camellia-like 
leaves,  and  small  axillary  white  or  yellowish 
flowers,  sometimes  sweet-scented.  C.  Jap- 
onica  tricolor  is  a  very  handsome  variegated 
plant,  with  leathery,  obovate,  dark-green 
leaves,  obliquely  marked  with  bands  of 
greyish-green,  the  broad,  creamy-white  mar- 
gin, tinged  of  a  oright  rose-color,  being  very 
conspicuous  in  the  younger  foliage.  Propa- 
gated by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened  shoots. 

Clia'nthus.  Glory  Pea.  From  kleios,  glory,  and 
anthos,  a  flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Lfguminosm. 

A  genus  of  magnificent,  half-hardy  shrubs 
from  Australia,  remarkable  for  their  showy 
flowers,  which  are  borne  in  terminal  or  axil- 
lary racemes.  C.  puniceus,  the  Parrot's  Bill, 
is  a  magnificent,  half-hardy,  shrubby  climber, 
with  bright  crimson  flowers,  a  native  of  New 
Zealand.  It  grows  very  freely  in  rich  loam  if 
its  roots  are  allowed  sufficient  room ;  and  it 
generally  thrives  best  when  planted  against 
the  back  wall  of  a  conservatory.  Cuttings 
planted  in  pots  in  the  autumn,  and  kept  in  the 
shady  part  of  the  green-house,  will  be  rooted 
by  spring,  when  they  may  be  planted  in  the 
open  border.  It  is  a  plant  that  rarely  flowers 
well  in  a  pot,  as  it  requires  abundance  of  room 
for  its  roots,  and  grows  rapidly,  with  rather 
succulent  shoots,  requiring  abundance  of 
water  during  the  growing  season,  and  very 
little  at  any  other  time.  When  grown  in  the 
open  ground  the  juicy  nature  of  its  roots  ren- 
ders it  a  favorite  food  for  snails,  and  when 
kept  in  the  conservatory  or  green-house  it  is 
very  apt  to  be  attacked  by  the  red  spider.     If 


CLI 

these  enemies  be  kept  away,  and  the  plant  be 
grown  in  rich  soil,  composed  of  equal  parts  of 
loam  and  thoroughly  rotted  manure,  and  well 
supplied  with  air,  light,  and  water,  with 
abundance  of  room  for  its  roots,  the  rapidity 
of  its  growth  and  the  splendor  of  its  flowers 
will  almost  surpass  belief;  but  unless  these 
points  are  attended  to,  the  plant  is  scarcely 
worth  growing.  C.  Dampieri,  Gloi-y  Pea,  a 
species  from  the  desert  regions  of  Australia, 
is  by  far  the  most  beautiful  of  the  genus, 
either  for  the  green-house  or  the  border.  Its 
cultivation  is  rather  difficult.  It  does  not 
grow  to  such  dimensions  as  the  former,  but  is 
of  the  same  habit,  and  succeeds  best  when 
treated  as  an  annual.  The  flowers  are  brilliant 
scarlet,  and  marked  with  a  black  blotch  in  the 
center.  If  the  seeds  are  planted  in  May  in 
the  open  border  where  they  are  to  grow,  in  a 
rich,  sandy  loam,  they  will  make  magnificent 
plants,  and  flower  freely  from  August  until 
killed  by  frost.  Five  degrees  of  frost  will  not 
injure  either  the  plants  or  the  flowers.  They 
will  not  at  any  time  bear  transplanting.  Intro- 
duced in  1852. 

Climber.  A  plant  that  grows  upright  upon 
trees,  walls,  etc.,  and  supports  itself  by  ten- 
drils or  by  air-roots ;  an  example  of  the  for- 
mer being  the  Grape  Vine  (Vitis),  and  of  the 
latter  the  Virginia  Creeper  [Ampelopsis). 

Climbing  Fern.     See  Lygodium  scandens. 

Climbing  Fumatory.     See  Adlumia  cirrhosa. 

Climbiag  Gentian.    The  genus  Crmcfurdia. 

Climbing  Hempweed.     See  Mikania  scandens. 

Climbing  Hydrangea.  See  Hydrangea  scandens. 
The  name  is  also  applied  to  Schizophragma 
Hydrangeoides. 

Clinto'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  De  Witt  Clin- 
ton, at  one  time  governor  of  the  State  of 
New  York.    Nat.  Ord.  Liliacew. 

Very  beautiful  and  interesting  steraless 
perennials,  with  creeping  root-stocks,  admir- 
ably adapted  for  the  herbaceous  border. 
They  are  found  in  rich  woods  from  New  York, 
southward,  along  the  AUeghanies ;  one 
species,  with  deep  rose-colored  flowers  is 
found  in  California.  The  genus  very  com- 
monly known  as  Clintonia  (Douglas),  belonging 
to  LobeliacecB,  is  more  properly  called  Dow- 
ningia.  as  the  Clmtonia  of  Rafinesque  has 
priority  over  that  of  Douglas.   See  Downingia. 

Clito'ria.  Blue  Pea,  Butterfly  Pea.  From  kleio, 
to  shut  up  ;  in  reference  to  its  seeding  within 
the  flower  long  before  the  flower  drops  off. 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

Very  hamlsome  hot-house  climbers,  of 
graceful  habit,  the  majority  producing  large, 
highly-colored  flowers.  C.  ternatea,  Syn. 
Ternatea  vulgaris,  introduced  from  India  in 
1739,  is  perhaps  the  finest,  its  lovely  blue 
flowers  receiving  universal  admiration.  The 
whole  of  the  perennial  species  succeed  in 
rich  loam,  the  annual  kinds  require  the  ordi- 
nary treatment  of  tender  annuals.  C.  Mariana 
has  a  curious  distribution,  being  found  in  the 
Southern  States  and  Mexico,  and  appearing 
again  in  the  Khasia  Mountains  in  India, 
without  being  found  in  any  intervening  place. 
Propagated  by  cuttings  or  seeds. 

Cli'via.  Named  after  a  Ducliess  of  Northumber- 
land, a  member  of  the  Clive  family.  Nat. 
Ord.  Amaryllidacece. 


92 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


CLO 

Olivia  nobilis,  the  only  species,  is  a  robust 
growing  plant,  which,  once  established,  is 
very  prolific  of  flowers.  It  grows  well  in 
sandy  loam,  if  allowed  the  warmest  part  of 
the  green-house,  or  a  cool  shelf  in  the  hot- 
house. Its  flowers,  which  are  produced  in  a 
pendulous  umbel,  are  of  a  delicate  flesh  color 
throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  tube, 
heightening  to  a  deep  red  over  the  limb,  the 
segments  of  which  are  bright  green.  It  is 
increased  by  division  of  the  roots.  Native 
of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  Introduced  in 
1823.  Syn.  Imantophyllum  Aitoni. 
Cloud-Berry.     See  Rubus  Chamcemorus. 

Cloud  Grass.     A  common    name  for  Agrostis 

ntbulosa. 

Clover.  The  common  name  for  Trifolium, 
especially  applied  to  the  kinds  cultivated  for 
hay  and  pasture. 

Cloves.  The  small  bulbs  formed  within  the 
mother-bulb  of  certain  plants;  such  as 
garlic. 

Clove  Tree.  Caryophyllus  aromaficiis.  The 
Cloves  of  commerce  are  the  dried  unexpanded 
flower  buds. 

Club-moss.  The  common  name  of  Lycopodium 
clavatum. 

Club  Root.  A  disease  of  the  most  destructive 
character,  which  frequently  attacks  Cabbage, 
Cauliflower,  and  other  plants  of  the  Brassica 
tribe.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  misconception 
as  to  what  is  the  cause  of  Club  Root,  it  being 
attributed  variously  to  wet  land,  dry  land,  hog 
manure,  and  several  other  causes  that  have 
got  nothing  to  do  with  it  whatever.  All  observ- 
ing horticulturists  who  have  had  experience 
in  the  cultivation  of  Cabbage  or  Cauliflower, 
in  any  vicinity  where  there  is  an  oyster  shell 
deposit,  know  that  the  Club  Root  is  never 
seen  in  any  soil  wherein  there  is  an  admixture 
of  oyster  shells.  Thousands  of  acri'S  on  the 
shores  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  on  Long  Island 
and  in  New  Jersey,  have  just  such  soils,  and 
there  Cabbage  crops  have  been  grown  for 
upward  of  fifty  years  successively  without  a 
sign  of  this  disease ;  while  in  other  soils  only 
a  few  hundred  yards  distant,  but  having  no 
mixture  of  oyster  shell  in  the  soil,  it  is  found 
that  Cabbages  cannot  be  grown  successively  on 
the  same  soil  without  being  attacked  by  Club 
Root.  The  inference  is,  therefore,  plain,  that 
the  insect  causing  the  disease  called  Club 
Root  cannot  exist  in  contact  with  the  lime  of 
the  oyster  shell ;  for  that  the  disease  is  caused 
by  an  insect  is  well  proven,  as  it  is  found  that 
the  excrescence  known  as  Club  Root,  when 
examined,  is  found  to  contain  a  small,  whitish, 
grub-like  larva.  It  is  evident  that  the  grow- 
ing crop  of  Cabbage  invites  in  some  way  the 
perfect  insect;  for  it  is  found,  that  if  Cabbage 
is  planted  for  the  first  time  on  new  soil,  it  is 
rarely  attacked  by  Club  Root,  while  if  planted 
the  next  year  on  the  same  soil,  if  lime  is  not 
present,  it  is  almost  certain  to  be  attacked  ; 
and  for  this  reason  it  is  fair  to  presume  that 
the  perfect  insect,  allured  by  the  Cabbage 
crop,  deposits  its  eggs  in  the  soil,  which  re- 
main undeveloped  until  the  ne.xt  season, 
when  they  are  hatched  and  attack  the  roots  of 
the  Cabbage  plants,  and  thus  bring  on  the 
disease.  As  an  evidence  of  the  correctness  of 
this  belief,  we  never  fail  to  find,  for  example, 
if  we  plant  alongside  of  each  other,  a  crop  of 


COB 

Cabbage  and  a  crop  of  Potatoes  or  Beets, 
that  if  the  succeeding  year  we  plant  the 
whole  with  Cabbage,  the  part  only  that  was 
planted  with  Cabbage  the  year  before  will  be  af- 
fected by  Club  Root,  and  the  parts  planted  with 
Potatoes  or  Beets  will  escape.  From  our  ex- 
perience that  Cabbage  planted  in  soils  mixed 
with  oyster  shells  is  exempt  from  Club  Root, 
it  is  evident  that  the  lime  in  the  oyster  shells 
is  the  agent  destructive  to  the  insect ;  there- 
fore, in  soils  having  no  oyster  shells,  we  have 
found  if  air-slacked  lime  is  put  on  at  the  rate 
of  150  bushels  to  the  acre  after  plowing,  and 
well  harrowed  in,  so  as  to  mix  it  with  the  soil, 
that  it  in  most  cases  will  destroy  the  larvae 
which  causes  Club  Root.  We  have  also  found, 
from  its  containing  large  quantities  of  lime, 
that  Bone  Dust,  used  as  a  fertilizer  at  the  rate 
of  one  to  two  tons  per  acre,  is  another  almost 
certain  antidote  against  Club  Root.  We 
woulti  advise  the  use  of  lime  after  all  plowing, 
but  the  Bone  Dust  should  only  be  put  on  be- 
fore the  crop  is  planted  in  spring. 

Club-rush  or  Bulrush.  The  common  name  of 
the  genus  Scirpus,  a  common  marsh  plant; 
also  applied  to  Typha  latifolia. 

Clu'sia.  Balsam  Tree.  Named  in  honor  of 
Clusius  of  Atrois,  author  of  Historia  Plan- 
tarimn,  and  many  other  works,  1526-1609. 
Nat.  Ord.  GultifercB. 

A  genus  of  evei-green  trees  or  shrubs,  often 
epiphytal,  peculiar  to  tropical  America,  and 
growing  in  very  humid  hot  places.  Nearly 
sixty  species  are  enumerated,  many  of  which 
yield  resin  from  the  flowers,  as  well  as  from 
the  trunks  and  branches. 

Clustered.  Where  numerous  similar  parts  are 
collected  in  a  close,  compact  manner,  as  in 
the  flowers  of  Cuscula. 

Cni'cus  Benedictus.  Blessed  Thistle.  An 
annual  herb,  with  smoothish,  clasping, 
scarcely  pinnatifid  cut  leaves,  and  large 
bracted  heads  of  yellow  flowers.  Native  of 
Europe,  scarcely  naturalized  southwards. 
The  genus  Cirsium,  is  included  in  the  genus 
by  some  botanists. 

Cobae'a.  Named  in  honor  of  B.  Cobo,  a  Spanish 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  PolemoniacecB. 

The  two  known  species  of  these  plants 
are  elegant,  fast-growing  climbers,  which 
may  be  grown  in  the  green-house,  the 
conservatory,  or  the  garden  in  summer, 
where,  from  their  rapid  <levelopment,  they 
are  particularly  desirable  for  covering  walls, 
arbors,  or  other  objects  of  a  similar  nature. 
It  is  preferable  to  treat  them  as  annuals.  The 
seed  should  be  sown  in  March,  in  light,  rich 
soil,  on  a  gentle  heat.  The  young  plants 
should  be  potted  separately  into  small  pots, 
as  soon  as  they  can  be  handled  with  safety, 
using  the  same  kind  of  soil,  and,  after  being 
gradually  inured  to  the  temperature  they  are 
likely  to  be  subject  to  in  their  after  growth, 
may  finally,  when  about  a  foot  in  height,  be 
placed  where  they  are  to  remain.  It  is  sel- 
dom that  seed  is  matured  in  the  open  air,  but 
in  a  green-house  or  conservatory  it  is  pro- 
duced abundantly.  C.  scandens,  the  species 
in  general  cultivation,  is  a  native  of  Mexico, 
and  was  introduced  in  1792.  A  white  flowered 
variety  of  C.  scandens  originated  here  in  1872, 
and  one  with  variegated  leaves  in  1874. 


CLIANTHtrS  DAMPIEBI. 


CLEMATIS  CKISPA. 


COFFEA  (COFFEE  PLAKT). 


COIX  LACHBYMffi. 


COCOS  WEDDELUANA. 


COBAA  BCANDENS. 


COCOS  NUCIFEBA   (COCOA-NUT   PALM). 


COLEU8   (VABIETIE8  OP). 


93 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


93 


COB 

Cobu'rgia.  Named  after  Prince  Leopold  of  Saxe- 
Coburg,  now  King  of  Belgium.  Nat.  Ord. 
Aniaryllidacece. 

An  interesting  genus  of  lialf-hardy  bulbs 
from  Soutii  America,  (mostly  from  Peru), 
requiring  the  same  trcament  as  Sprckelia 
formosissima.  The  flowers  are  mostly  scarlet 
and  very  showy.  They  require  a  strong,  rich 
soil.  Propagated  by  offsets.  Introduced  in 
1826,  but  rarely  seen  except  in  botanical  col- 
lections. 

Coca.     See  Erylhroxylon. 

Cocci'neus.  A  pure  carmine  color,  slightly 
tinged  with  yellow. 

Cocci'nia.  Derivation  of  name  not  given.  Nat. 
Ord.  Cucurhitacece. 

C.  Indicii,  the  only  species  and  formerly  called 
Momordica  monad elphia,  is  a  climbing  shrub, 
common  in  the  hedges  of  India.  It  has  large 
white  flowers.  The  fruit  is  oblong,  marked 
with  ten  white  lines.  When  ripe  it  is  of  a  red 
color,  and  is  used  by  the  natives  in  their 
sauces.  The  leaves  and  other  parts  of  the 
plants  are  used  in  medicine. 

Coccocy'pselum.  From  Icokkos,  fruit,  and 
kypsele,  a  vase ;  referring  to  the  form  of  the 
berries.     Nat.  Ord.  RubiacecE. 

A  small  genus  of  soft- wooded  trailing  plants 
from  the  West  Indies  and  Central  America. 
C.  repens  is  interesting  from  its  bluish-purple 
berries.  As  a  genus,  they  do  not  occupy  a 
prominent  place  either  as  ornamental  or  use- 
ful plants. 

Coccolo'ba.  Sea-side  Grape.  From  kokkos,  a 
berry,  and  lobos,  a  lobe ;  in  reference  to  the 
fruit.     Nat.  Ord.  PolygonacecB. 

Most  of  this  genus  are  tropical  evergreen 
trees,  interesting  and  beautiful,  but  too  large 
for  ordinary  green-house  culture.  C.  platy- 
clada  is  a  dwarf  species,  with  curious  flat 
stems,  growing  from  five  to  ten  feet  high. 
It  succeeds  well  planted  in  an  ordinary  flower 
border,  and  is  useful  in  filling  large  vases  and 
rustic  tubs,  or  for  planting  in  rock-work.  It 
is  propagated  freely  by  cuttings.  The  flowers 
are  small  and  white,  produced  at  the  axils  of 
the  leaves.  The  correct  name  of  this  plant  is 
now  given  as  Muehlenbeckia  platyclada,  which 
see. 

Co'cculus.  Derived  froiji  kokkos,  the  systematic 
name  of  the  Cochineal ;  given  to  this  genus 
because  most  of  the  species  bear  scai'let 
berries.     Nat.  Ord.  Menispermacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  climbing  shrubs,  re- 
markable for  their  medicinal  properties. 
With  one  exception  the  species  are  all  natives 
of  the  East  Indies.  C.  Carolinus,  common  in 
woods  and  thickets  from  North  Carolina  to 
Florida,  is  a  very  handsome  climber,  remarka- 
ble for  its  racemes  of  white  flowers,  which  are 
succeeded  by  clusters  of  bright  scarlet  ber- 
ries, that  remain  on  the  vine  all  winter.  This 
is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  climbers  under 
cultivation,  and  will  succeed  well  where  there 
is  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  degrees  of 
frost.  It  is  increased  by  cuttings  or  from 
seeds.     Syn.  Wendlandia. 

Co'cculus  Indicus,  Plant.  See  Anamirta  {Me- 
nispermum)  cocculus. 

Co'chlearia.  From  cochlear,  a  spoon ;  the 
leaves  of  most  species  are  hollowed,  like  the 
bowl  of  a  spoon.     Nat.  Ord.  Cruciferce. 


COG 

A  genus  of  annual  or  perennial  herbs,  usu- 
ally smooth  and  fleshy.  There  are  about 
twenty-five  species  widely  distributed  over 
the  temperate  and  cold  regions  of  the  northern 
hemisphere.  C.  officinalis  is  the  Scurvy  Grass, 
valuable  as  an  anti-scorbutic.  C.  Armoracea 
is  the  Horse  Radish,  which  see. 

Cochleate.  Twisted  in  a  short  spire,  resem- 
bling the  convolutions  of  a  snail-shell,  as 
the  pod  of  Medicago  cochleata,  or  the  seed  of 
Salicornia. 

Cochlioste'ma.  From  cochlios,  spiral,  and 
sterna,  a  stamen.     Nat.  Ord.  CommelynacecB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  perennials  allied  to 
Tradescantia,  natives  of  Brazil.  They  are 
rather  curious  in  form,  having  contracted 
stems  and  tufted  leaves,  like  those  of  a 
Bromelia.  The  flowers  are  blue,  and  borne 
on  branched  clusters.  Of  the  two  species  in 
cultivation,  one  is  small  and  the  other,  C. 
Jacobianum,  is  very  large  and  showy,  equally 
valuable  from  a  horticultural  point  of  view, 
as  it  is  interesting  from  its  peculiar  structure. 
They  are  increased  by  division.  Introduced 
in  1866. 

Cockle.  The  common  name  of  Lychnis  Githago, 
a  troublesome  weed  in  grain  fields.  Intro- 
duced from  Europe. 

Cocklebur  or  Clotbur.  The  popular  name  of 
Xanthium,  a  coarse  annual  weed,  common  on 
the  sea-coast,  especially  southward. 

Cockscomb.     See  Celosia. 
Cock's-Foot  Grass.     Dactylis  glomerata. 
Cock's-Spur  Thorn.     Cratasgus  Crus-galli. 
Cocoanut.     The   nut  of   Cocos  nucifera,  which 
see. 

Cocos.  Cocoanut  Tree.  From  the  Portuguese 
word,  coco,  a  monkey ;  in  reference  to  the  end 
of  the  nut  resembling  the  head  of  the  monkey. 
Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

C.  nucifera,  the  well-known  Cocoanut  Tree, 
is  the  type  of  this  genus  of  Palms,  to  which, 
in  addition,  about  a  dozen  other  species  be- 
long. They  mostly  form  tall,  graceful  trees, 
and  the  majority  of  them  are  natives  of  the 
tropical  regions  of  America,  one  only,  the 
common  Cocoanut,  being  found  in  Asia  or 
Africa.  The  trees  grow  to  a  great  height, 
with  a  straight  trunk,  and,  like  almost  every 
species  of  the  Palm  tribe,  without  branches. 
The  leaves  are  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet 
long.  The  flowers  come  out  round  the  top  of 
the  trunk  in  large  clusters,  inclosed  in  a 
aheath,  and  the  nuts  succeed  them,  commonly 
ten  or  twelve  together.  There  are  few  trees 
more  extensively  or  variously  useful.  The 
leaves  are  employed  as  thatch  to  cover  houses, 
and  to  make  mats  either  for  sitting  or  lying 
upon.  The  leaf,  when  reduced  to  fine  fibers, 
is  the  material  of  which  beautiful  and  costly 
carpets  are  made  for  those  In  the  higher 
ranks ;  the  coarse  fibers  are  made  into  brooms. 
After  these  useful  materials  are  taken  from 
this  leaf,  the  stem  still  remains,  which  Is 
about  three  inches  thick,  and  furnishes  fire- 
wood. The  wood  of  this  Palm,  when  fresh 
cut,  is  spongy,  but  becomes  hard  after  being 
seasoned,  and  assumes  a  dark  brown  color. 
On  the  top  of  the  tree  a  large  shoot  is  pro- 
duced, which,  when  boiled,  resembles  Broc- 
coli, but  is  said  to  be  of  a  more  delicate  taste  ; 
and  though  much  liked,  is  seldom  used  by 


94 


HENDEESON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


COD 

the  natives,  because,  on  cutting  it  off,  the  pith 
is  exposed,  and  the  tree  dies.     Between  this 
cabbage  like  shoot  and  the  leaves  there  spring 
several  buds,  from  which,  on  raalving  an  in- 
cision, there  distills  a  juice  differing  but  little 
from  water,  either  in  color  or  consistence.     It 
is  the  employment  of  a  certain  class  of  men 
to  climb  to  the  top  of  the  trees  in  the  evening, 
with  earthen  pots  tied  to  their  waists,  which 
they  fix  there  to  receive  the  juice,  which  is 
regularly  carried  away  before  the  sun  has  had 
any  influence  upon  it.     This  liquid  is  sold  at 
the  bazaars  by  the  natives  under  the  name  of 
toddy.    After  being  kept  a  few  hours  it  begins 
to    ferment,    acquires  a  sharp  taste,  and  a 
slightly  intoxicating  quality,  in  which  state  it 
is  drank   by  the  natives  and  poorer  classes 
with  avidity.     It  is  also  used  as  yeast,  for 
which  it  forms  an  excellent  substitute.    By 
boiling  it  a  coarse  kind  of  sugar  is  obtained  ; 
and  by  distillation  it  yields  a  strong,  ardent 
spirit,  which  is  sold  at  a  low  price,  constitut- 
ing it  a  most  pernicious  beverage.  The  outside 
rind  or  husk  of  the  fruit  yields  the  fiber  from 
which  the  well-known  Cocoanut  matting  is 
manufactured.      In  order   to    obtain    it   the 
husks  are  soaked  in  salt  water  for  six   or 
twelve  months,  when  the  fibre  is  easily  sepa- 
.  rated  by  beating,  and  is  made  up  into  a  coarse 
kind  of  a  yarn  called  coir.     Besides  its  use  for 
matting,  it  is  extensively  used  in  the  manu- 
factuie  of  heavy  cordage  for  ship's  cables.    It 
is  also  used  for  various  kinds  of  brushes,  and 
for  stuffing  mattresses,  cushions,  etc.     The 
next  important  product  of  the  fruit  is  the  oil, 
which  is  procured  by  boiling  and  pressing  the 
white  kernel  or  albumen  of  the  nut.     It  is 
liquid  at  the  ordinary  temperature  in  tropical 
countries,  and  while  fresh  is  used  in  cooking. 
By  the  time  the  nuts  reach  this  country  the 
albumen  is  solid,  and  has  frequently  a  rancid 
smell  or  taste.    When  green,  or  first  gathered, 
this  substance  is  easily  separated  by  pressure 
into  what  is  termed  stearine,  which  is  made 
into  candles,  and  a  very  good  oil,  used  for 
burning  in  lamps.    As  an  article  of  food  the 
kernel  is  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  in- 
habitants of  the  tropics.     In  the  Laccadives  it 
forms  the  chief  food,  each  person  consuming 
four  nuts  per  day,  and  the  fluid,  commonly 
called  milk,  affords  them  an  agreeable  be- 
verage.    While  young  they  yield  a  delicious 
substance  resembling  blanc-mange.     As  the 
nut  ripens,  the  milk  is  gradually  absorbed,  or 
hardens  into  the  white,  fleshy  substance  that 
we  find  when  we  receive  them.    The  Cocoa- 
nuts  brought  to  this  market  are  chiefly  from 
Central   America,   where   they  are    gathered 
from  the  interior  by  the  natives,  brought  to 
the  coast,  and  sold  to  dealers  who  make  that 
trade  a  specialty.     Cocos  Weddelliana,   intro- 
duced from  South  America,  is  the  most  orna- 
mental of  this  group,  and  one  of  the  most 
graceful  Palms  in  cultivation.     For  dinner- 
table  decoration  there  is  no  Palm  to  compare 
with  it.     It  is  very  dwarf,  with  finely-divided 
foliage,  which    is    recurved    with    exquisite 
grace.    It  deserves  a  place  in  the  smallest 
collection  of  plants.    The  Cocos  are  all  pro- 
pagated from  seed,  and  require  a  temperature 
of  about  70"  for  the  germination  of  the  seed 
and  the  growth  of  the  plants. 
Codiae'um.     From  Codebo,  the  Malayan  name 
for  one  of  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Euphorbi- 
acecB. 


COF 

By  a  number  of  authorities,  the  greater  part 
of  the  plants  known  and  described  as  Crotons, 
are  placed  under  this  genus.  They  have 
doubtless  all  originated  from  two  or  three 
species,  and  though  popularly  known  as  Cro- 
tons, belonging,  as  they  do,  to  a  different  sec- 
tion of  EuphorbiacecB,  they  should  come  under 
this  genus. 

Codlins  and  Cream.  A  popular  name  of  the 
flowers  of  the  Narcissus  Incomparabilis ;  also 
for  Epilobium  hirsutum. 

CcElia.  From  koilos,  hollow ;  in  allusion  to  the 
pollen  masses.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  genus  of  very  curious  and  pretty  stove- 
house  orchids,  natives  of  the  West  Indies  and 
Guatemala.  C.  Baueriana  has  pretty,  sweet- 
scented  white  flowers,  and  has  been  in  culti- 
vation since  1790. 

CcElo'gyne.  From  koilos,  holloAv,  and  gyne,  a 
female ;  in  reference  to  the  female  organ  or 
pistil.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  very  beautiful  Orchids, 
natives  of  sub-tropical  Asia.  Most  of  the 
species  are  great  favorites  with  Orchid  grow- 
ers, on  account  of  their  remarkable  flowers, 
which  are  produced  in  great  numbers  with  but 
very  little  care  or  trouble.  C.  cristata,  one 
of  the  flnest  of  the  genus,  has  beautiful  ivory- 
white  flowers  with  a  blotch  of  yellow  on  the  lip. 
"This  is  a  magniflcent species,  which  any  one 
having  a  green-house  can  grow.  Of  late  years 
it  has  been  grown  in  great  perfection,  and  it 
is  as  easy  to  have  plants  a  foot  or  more  in 
diameter,  producing  hundreds  of  flowers,  as 
it  is  to  grow  Verbenas.  Give  plenty  of  water 
when  growing,  free  circulation  of  warm  air, 
and  not  too  much  heat." — Rand.  It  may  be 
grown  in  moss  in  pots,  and  is  propagated  by 
division.     Introduced  in  1837. 

Coffe'a.  Coffee  Tree.  From  Coffee,  the  name 
of  a  province  in  Narea,  in  Africa,  where  it 
grows  in  abundance.     Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacem. 

The  coffee  of  commerce  is  the  fruit  of  an 
evergreen  shrub,  or  low-growing  tree,  rarely 
attaining  a  height  of  twenty  feet,  which  it  will 
only  acquire  under  the  most  favorable  con- 
ditions of  soil  and  climate,  the  usual  height 
being  from  ten  to  twelve  feet.  All  of  our 
coffee  is  the  fruit  of  one  species.  Some 
botanists,  however,  claim  thei'e  are  two;  but 
the  opinion  that  the  different  sorts  are  merely 
varieties,  resulting  from  fcoil,  climate,  and 
mode  of  culture,  is  the  one  generally  enter- 
tained. C.  Arabica,  the  parent  of  the  numer- 
ous varieties  in  cultivation,  is  a  native  of 
Arabia  Felix  and  Ethiopia,  and  was  first  intro- 
duced to  the  notice  of  Europeans  by  Ran- 
wolfius  in  1573  ;  but  Alpinus,  in  1591,  was  the 
first  one  who  scientifically  described  it.  The 
Dutch  were  the  first  to  introduce  the  plant 
into  Europe.  Having  procured  some  berries 
at  Mocha,  which  were  carried  to  Batavia,  and 
there  planted,  a  specimen  was  sent  to  Amster- 
dam, in  the  year  1690,  by  Governor  Wilson, 
where  it  bore  fruit,  and  produced  many  young 
plants.  From  these  the  East  Indies,  and  most 
of  the  gardens  of  Europe,  were  furnished.  In 
1714  a  plant  was  presented  by  the  magistrates 
of  Amsterdam  to  the  French  King,  Louis  XIV. 
This  plant  was  placed  at  Marley,  under  the 
care  of  the  celebrated  Jussieu,  who  afterward 
gave  a  plant  to  Desclieux,  a  young  officer  in 
the  French  navy,  who  took  it  to  Martinique, 
from  which  the  extensive  plantations  of  the 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


95 


COF 

French  West  Indies  were  established,  and 
whence  were  also  derived  all  the  coffee  plants 
in  Mexico  and  South  America.  The  use  of 
coffee  was  known  in  Arabia,  where  the  plant 
is  supposed  to  have  been  indigenous,  long 
before  the  periods  mentioned.  All  authorities 
agree  in  ascribing  its  introduction  to  Megal- 
leddin,  a  Turkish  doctor  of  divinity,  of  Aden,  in 
Arabia  Felix,  who  had  become  acquainted 
with  it  in  Persia,  and  had  recourse  to  it 
medicinally  when  he  returned  to  his  own 
country.  The  progress  which  it  made  was  by 
no  means  rapid  at  first,  and  it  was  not  until 
the  year  1554  that  coffee  was  publicly  sold  in 
Constantinople.  Its  use  had,  in  the  mean- 
while, been  much  checked  by  authority  of  the 
Syrian  government,  on  the  ground  of  its 
alleged  intoxicating  qualities ;  but  more  prob- 
ably because  of  its  leading  to  social  and  fes- 
tive meetings  incompatible  with  the  strictness 
of  the  Mahommedan  discipline.  A  similar 
persecution  attended  the  use  of  coffee  soon 
after  its  introduction  into  the  capital  of  Tur- 
key, where  the  ministers  of  religion,  having 
made  it  the  subject  of  solemn  complaint  that 
the  mosques  were  deserted  while  the  coffee- 
houses were  crowded,  these  latter  were  shut 
up  by  order  of  the  mufti,  who  employed  the 
police  of  the  city  to  prevent  any  one  from 
drinking  coffee.  This  provision  it  Avas  found 
impossible  to  establish,  so  that  the  govern- 
ment, with  a  strict  eye  to  business,  laid  a  tax 
upon  the  sale  of  the  beverage,  which  produced 
a  large  revenue.  The  Turks  are  most  invet- 
erate coffee-drinkers,  a  fact  that  may  in  a 
great  measure  be  accounted  for  by  the  strict 
prohibition  which  the  Moslem  religion  lays 
against  the  use  of  wine  and  spirituous  liquors. 
So  necessary  was  coffee  at  one  time  considered 
among  the  Turks,  that  the  refusal  to  supply  it 
in  moderate  quantities  to  a  wife  was  reckoned 
among  the  legal  causes  for  divorce.  Coffee 
cannot  be  cultivated  to  advantage  in  a  cli- 
mate where  the  temperature  at  any  time 
descends  below  fifty-five  degrees  of  Fahren- 
heit. The  trees  thrive  best  in  new  soils  on  a 
gentle  slope,  where  water  will  not  lodge 
about  the  roots.  In  exposed  situations  it  is 
necessary  to  plant  rows  of  tall  trees,  at  proper 
intervals,  to  moderate  the  scorching  heat  of 
the  sun.  From  Ellis'  History  of  Coffee  we 
learn  the  following  facts :  "  It  is  well  known 
that  coffee  raised  in  the  West  Indies  does  not 
equal  in  flavor  that  produced  in  Arabia  and 
other  parts  of  the  East ;  and  it  is  commonly 
imagined  that  this  inferiority  is  principally 
owing  to  local  causes,  and  is,  therefore,  inca- 
pable of  being  remedied.  The  seed  of  the  West 
Indian  coffee,  from  growing  in  a  richer  soil 
and  more  humid  atmosphere,  is  larger  than 
that  of  Arabia;  though  thei'e  is  reason  for 
believing  that  the  superior  quality  of  Turkey 
and  East  Indian  coffee  is  not  altogether  to  be 
referred  to  the  influences  of  soil  and  climate, 
but  depends,  in  part  at  least,  upon  the  age 
to  which  the  seeds  are  kept  before  they  are 
brought  into  consumption.  Trees  planted  in 
a  light  soil,  and  in  a  dry  situation,  produce 
smaller  berries,  which  have  a  better  flavor 
than  those  grown  in  rich,  flat,  and  moist  soils. 
The  weight  of  produce  yielded  by  the  latter  is, 
however,  double  that  obtained  from  the  for- 
mer. The  drier  the  soil  and  the  warmer  the 
situation,  the  better  will  be  the  coffee  pro- 
duced, and  the  sooner  it  will  acquire  a  flavor." 


COL 

He  says  further:  "The  more  common  or 
poorest  quality  of  South  American  coffee  will, 
in  the  course  of  ten  or  fifteen  years,  be  as 
good,  and  have  as  high  a  flavor,  as  the  best 
we  now  have  from  Turkey;  but  due  care 
should  be  taken  to  keep  it  in  a  dry  place,  and 
to  preserve  it  properly.  Small-grained  coffee, 
produced  in  a  dry  soil  and  warm  situation, 
will  be  matured  in  three  years.  The  trees 
begin  bearing  when  they  are  two  years  old ; 
in  their  third  year  they  are  in  their  full  bear- 
ing. The  produce  of  a  good  tree  is  from  one 
and  a  half  to  two  pounds.  The  aspect  of  a 
coffee  plantation  during  the  period  of  flower- 
ing is  very  interesting.  In  one  night  the 
blossoms  expand  so  profusely  as  to  give  the 
trees  the  appearance  of  being  covered  with 
snow.  This  period  lasts  but  one  or  two  days." 
The  amount  of  labor  required  to  secure  a  crop 
of  coffee  is  very  great,  and  is  chiefly  performed 
by  negroes.  When  the  trees  are  in  full  bear- 
ing, an  industrious  man  will  pick  three  bushels 
of  berries  in  a  day,  and  each  bushel  of  ripe 
berries  will  yield  ten  pounds  of  merchantable 
coffee.  Two  systems  are  employed  in  curing 
coffee :  A  common  plan  is  to  expose  the  ber- 
ries to  the  sun  in  layers  of  from  five  to  six 
inches  deep,  which  will  cause  the  pulp  to  fer- 
ment in  a  few  days,  after  which  it  takes  about 
three  weeks  to  dry  sufficiently  for  the  husks 
to  be  separated  from  the  seeds  by  a  mill. 
Other  planters  remove  the  pulp  as  soon  as 
gathered,  by  a  mill  constructed  for  the  pur- 
pose, which  bruises  the  berries  and  separates 
the  pulp  by  washing,  after  which  it  is  dried  in 
the  sun,  and  the  husks  removed,  as  in  the  for- 
mer process. 

Cohering.    Connected. 

Cohosh.     A  popular  name  for  Actcea  spicata. 

Cohosh.  Blue.  A  name  applied  to  Caulophyllum 
thalictroidss. 

Coix.  Job's  Tears.  A  name  applied  by  Theo- 
phrastus  to  a  reed-leaved  plant.  Nat.  Ord. 
Graminacece. 

A  genus  of  perennial  grasses  that  succeed 
well  under  ordinary  cultivation  in  the  garden. 
C.  lachryma,  a  native  of  the  East  Indies,  from 
whence  introduced  in  1596,  will  do  well  treated 
as  an  anntial.  It  is  considerably  grown  for  its 
seeds,  which  are  popularly  known  as  Job's 
Tears.  Mothers,  in  the  last  centurj,  thought 
their  children  could  not  be  safely  carried 
through  teething  without  a  string  of  Job's 
Tears  around  their  necks. 

Cola.  The  native  name.  TH at.  Ord.  SterculiacecB. 
C.  acuminata,  the  only  cultivated  species, 
was  introduced  from  tropical  Africa  in  1868, 
under  the  name  of  Cola,  Kola  or  Goora  nuts. 
The  seeds  of  this  tree  are  universally  used  as 
a  condiment  by  the  natives  of  western  and  cen- 
tral tropical  Africa,  and  likewise  by  the  negroes 
in  the  West  Indies  and  Brazil,  by  whom  the  tree 
has  been  introduced  into  those  countries. 
They  are  also  used  in  medicine,  and  to  render 
putrid  water  wholesome.  At  the  present  writ- 
ing (1889)  much  interest  is  exhibited  in  this  nut 
as  an  ingredient  in  a  new  condensed  form  of 
rations  for  military  purposes,  combining,  it 
is  claimed,  two  special  advantages  of  great 
importance.  First,  its  bulk  and  weight  being 
very  much  less  than  those  of  ordinary  rations, 
it  is  much  more  easy  to  carry  on  a  forced 
march,  thus  lelieviug  the  marching  force  of 


96 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


COL 

the  impediment  of  a  food-supply  train,  and 
secondly,  ttiat  it  greatly  increased  both  the 
muscular  strength  and  wind  of  the  soldier  so 
that  he  could  march  more  rapidly  and  steadily 
and  not  become  so  easily  tired  out  or  dis- 
couraged. It  has  also  been  ascertained  that 
horses  like  it,  which  is  a  very  important 
point,  and  that  its  alimentary  power  is  equal 
to  that  of  twice  its  weight  in  oats,  and  that  it 
plainly  exerts  an  exciting  action  on  the  nerves 
and  muscles  of  the  horses. 

M.  Elisee  Reclus,  in  several  parts  of  his 
"  Nouvelle  Geographic  Universelle,"  mentions 
the  Kola  nut.  He  states  that  the  tree  is  held 
sacred  by  the  natives,  who,  by  using  it,  are 
enabled  "to  stand  hunger  and  thirst  for  a 
long  while,  and  be  shielded  against  fevers." 
There  are  two  kinds  of  the  tree.  One  bears 
white  and  the  other  red  nuts.  If  the  former 
are  sent  by  a  chief  they  mean  peace,  if  the 
latter,  war  and  the  shedding  of  blood.  When 
in  1879,  two  French  explorers,  Moustier  and 
Zerafel,  who  were  trying  to  find  the  head- 
waters of  the  Niger,  arrived  in  sight  of  the 
hills  from  which  this  great  Soudanese  river 
emerges,  and  were  within  four  miles  of  the 
main  source,  they  had  to  come  to  a  halt.  The 
negro  sovereign  of  that  region  forbade  them 
to  advance  any  nearer  and  sent  them  a  red 
Kola  nut,  as  a  token  that  if  they  disregarded 
his  notification  to  stop,  blood  would  flow. 

The  French  Alpine  Club  uses  the  Kola  nut, 
and  recommends  it  to  mountain  climbers. 
No  doubt  it  might  often  be  made  to  serve  a 
good  purpose  in  our  country. 

Colax.  From  Colax,  a  parasite.  Nat.  Ord. 
OrchidacecB. 

A  i-mall  genus  of  very  beautiful  Orchids, 
taken  from  Maxillaria.  They  are  natives  of 
Bi-azil  and  may  be  grown  in  moss  and  in  mod- 
erate heat.  Lycaste  was  formerly  included  in 
this  genus. 

Co'lchicum.  Meadow  Saffron.  Named  after 
Colchis,  its  native  country,  in  Asia  Minor. 
Nat.  Ord.  Melanthaceoe. 

A  hardy  bulbous-rooted  plant,  which  will 
grow  well  in  the  border.  The  flowers  come 
up  through  the  ground  without  the  leaves  in 
autumn,  and  closely  resemble  those  of  the 
Crocus.  The  leaves  do  not  appear  till  the 
following  spring,  and  great  care  should  be 
taken  of  them,  as,  if  they  should  be  injured 
so  as  to  prevent  thera  from  exercising  their 
proper  functions  in  maturing  the  sap,  the  bulb 
will  not  flower  the  next  autumn.  The  genus 
is  universally  poisonous  and  is  valued  for  its 
medicinal  properties. 

Cold  Frame,  This  is  the  term  used  for  the 
low  glass  structure  in  use  for  protecting  such 
plants  as  are  not  sufficiently  hardy  to  with- 
stand the  winter  in  the  Northern  States.  They 
are  used  to  protect  Cabbage,  Cauliflower,  Let- 
tuce, Parsley,  etc.,  among  vegetables,  and 
Violets,  Pansies,  Daisies,  Primroses,  Carna- 
tions, Auriculas,  etc.,  among  flowers.  The 
boxes  or  frames  used  are  simply  two  boards, 
running  parallel  with  each  other,  and  nailed 
to  posts  to  secure  them  in  line,  the  one  at  the 
back  or  north  side  being  ten  to  twelve  inches 
in  height,  and  that  for  the  front,  or  south  side, 
being  seven  or  eight  inches,  which  gives  pitch 
enough  to  cari-y  off  the  rain  and  to  catch  the 
sun's  rays.  The  width  between  these  lines  of 
boards  should  be  enough  to  take  the  length  of 


COL 

a  six-foot  sash,  which  is  the  most  convenient 
size.  All  the  plants  of  the  character  above- 
named  can  be  protected  in  the  district  of  New 
York,  where  the  thermometer  rarely  falls 
lower  than  8*^  below  zero,  with  the  glass  alone ; 
but  in  colder  sections  the  protection  of  light 
shutters  in  addition,  over  the  glass,  will  be 
necessary.  In  the  Southern  States,  in  dis- 
tricts where  the  thermometer  never  falls 
lower  than  15°  above  zero,  many  of  the  har- 
dier green-house  plants,  such  as  Fuchsias, 
Geraniums,  Azaleas,  Camellias,  Verbenas, 
Abutilons,  etc.,  may  be  kept  equally  well  in 
cold  frames,  as  our  so-called  hardy  plants  are 
kept  at  the  north. 
Cold  Grapery.     See    Vitis. 

Cold  Pits.  Are  identical  with  cold  frames, 
except  than  an  excavation  of  from  two  to  four 
feet  is  made  below  the  general  level  of  the 
ground,  so  as  to  admit  of  larger  plants  being 
placed  in  them.  The  sunken  pit,  however,  is 
a  better  protection  than  the  cold  frame  on  the 
surface ;  for,  when  sunk  to  the  depth  of  two 
or  three  feet,  and  covered  with  glass,  it  will 
resist  a  much  heavier  frost  than  the  frames  on 
the  surface.  Care  must  be  taken  that  both  cold 
frames  and  cold  pits  are  well  di'ained,  either 
from  the  nature  of  the  soil,  or  otherwise,  as 
water  standing  in  them  would  be  destructive 
to  the  plants,  whether  planted  in  the  soil  or 
growing  in  pots. 

Co'lea.  Named  after  General  Cole,  Governor  of 
the  Mauritius.      Nat.  Ord.  BignoniacecB. 

There  is  but  one  species  of  this  genus, 
which  is  found  in  Madagascar,  Mauritius,  and 
the  adjacent  islands.  It  is  an  exceedingly 
ornamental  green-house  shrub,  producing 
large  clusters  of  bright  yellow  flowers  in 
August  and  September.  Propagated  by  cut- 
tings.    Introduced  in  1839. 

Coleone'ma.  A  beautiful  genus  of  RutacecB, 
from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  related  to 
Diosma,  and  consisting  of  very  ornamental 
heath-like  shrubs  with  sharp  linear  leaves  and 
white  flowers.  Of  the  four  known  species  C. 
Album  is  the  most  showy  and  best  known. 

Coleus.  From  koleos,  a  sheath ;  referring  to 
the  way  the  bottom  of  the  stamens  or  anther 
threads  are  combined.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 

This  somewhat  extensive  genus  are  natives 
of  Asia  and  Africa.  It  consists  of  annuals, 
sometimes  perennials,  and  rarely  shrubs,  but 
none  of  value  as  flowering  plants  but  of  gen- 
eral use  in  ribbon  gardening,  massing,  or  any 
situation  where  striking  effect  is  wanted. 
From  the  original  species  many  varieties, 
remarkable  for  their  beautiful  foliage,  have 
been  produced  by  florists.  They  are  readily 
propagated  by  cuttings.  The  species  were 
introduced  about  1825. 

Colewort.  A  name  applied  to  varieties  of  the 
Cabbage  before  the  hearts  become  solid. 

CoUc  Root.     See  Aletris. 

CoUseum  Ivy.     See  Linaria. 

Colla'nia.  Derivation  of  name  unknown.  Nat. 
Ord.  Amaryllklacea 

A  beautiful  free-flowering  green-house  per- 
ennial, allied  to  Alatrczmeria,  which  it  resem- 
bles. The  species  are  natives  of  Peru  and 
will  do  well  in  this  climate  with  the  protection 
of  a  frame.  The  flower  stems  are  eiect,  some- 
what rigid,  slightly  curved  at  the  top,  and 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


97 


COL 

terminated  with  an  umbel  of  large,  pendulous 
flowers,  upward  of  two  inches  long;  sepals 
orange  red,  tipped  with  black ;  petals  yellow, 
tipped  with  green.     Propagated  by  offsets. 

Collar.  The  ring  upon  the  stipe  of  an  Agaric. 
Also  applied  to  the  neck  or  line  of  junction 
between  the  root  and  stem  of  a  tree,  etc. 

Collards.  (Brassica  oleracea.)  This  is  a  curled- 
leafed  variety  of  Cabbage  grown  for  "  greens," 
but  mostly  in  the  Southern  States.  It  attains 
a  height  of  from  six  to  eight  feet.  This  stem 
is  an  inch  and  a  half  to  two  inches  in  diameter, 
and  is  used  to  a  considerable  extent  in 
Europe  for  making  light  walking  canes. 

Colle'tia.  Named  after  M.  Collet,  a  French 
botanical  writer.     Nat  Ord.  Rhamnacece. 

A  genus  of  singular  shrubs  inhabiting  Chili, 
Peru  and  Mexico.  They  are  much  branched, 
and  scantily  furnished  with  minute  leaves, 
having  spines  which  stand  at  right  angles 
with  the  stem  in  alternate  pairs.  The  flowers 
are  yellow  or  white,  and  are  produced  in  axill- 
ary clusters.  The  species  are  but  half-hardy 
in  this  latitude. 

Colli'usia.  In  honor  of  Z.  Collins,  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences, 
Philadelphia.     Nat.  Ord.  ScrophulariacecB. 

A  genus  of  free-flowering  Californian  annu- 
als of  great  beauty,  and  deserving  of  culti- 
vation, being  well  adapted  for  massing  and 
for  mixed  borders.  For  massing,  the  seed 
should  be  sown  thick,  so  as  to  thin  out  to  four 
inches  apart,  which  will  give  the  bed  an  ap- 
pearance of  a  solid  mass.  For  this  purpose 
the  dwarf  species  are  to  be  preferred,  the 
taller  ones  being  more  suitable  for  mixed 
borders.  There  is  a  great  variety  of  color, 
white,  purple  and  crimson  predominating. 
First  introduced  in  1826. 

Collinso'nia.  Horse-Balm.  Named  in  honor 
of  Peter  Collinson,  a  well-known  patron  of 
science  and  correspondent  of  Linnaeus,  who 
introduced  it  into  England.  Nat.  Ord.  Labia- 
tce. 

A  genus  of  strong-scented  perennial  herbs, 
common  throughout  the  United  States. 
None  of  the  species  has  any  special  pierit  that 
would  warrant  its  cultivation. 

CoUo'mia.  From  kallo,  glue ;  referring  to  the 
glue  which  surrounds  the  seeds.  Nat.  Ord. 
PolemoniacecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  annuals  from  California. 
They  are  showy  plants,  but  too  coarse  and 
weedy  in  appearance  to  entitle  them  to  a 
place  in  choice  collections.  They  grow 
readily  from  seed,  and  when  once  planted 
need  no  care  except  to  exterminate  the  sur- 
plus quantity. 

Coloca'sia.  Elephant's  Ear.  From  kolokasia, 
the  Greek  for  the  root  of  an  Egyptian  plant. 
Nat.  Ord.  Aroidece. 

An  interesting  genus  closely  allied  to  the 
Caladium,  most  of  the  species  being  known 
under  that  name.  C.  macrorhiza  is  a  beautiful 
green-house  plant,  remarkable  for  the  bold 
and  distinct  markings  of  the  foliage,  consist- 
ing of  light  gi-een  and  pure  white.  C.  odorata 
has  large  cordate  leaves,  with  rounded  lobes, 
and  forms  a  stem-like  root,  and  a  stock  often 
two  feet  or  more  in  height.  It  is  an  excellent 
plant  for  summer  decoration.  C.  esculenta  is  a 
favorite  plant  for  single  specimens  on  the 
lawn,  or  for  borders  of  a  sub-tropical  group,  in 


COL 

a  deep,  rich  soil.  If  freely  watered,  the  leaves 
will  sometimes  grow  four  feet  in  length  by 
three  feet  in  width.  This  species  and  C.  an- 
tiquorum  are  grown  extensively  in  the  Sand- 
wich Islands  for  food,  and  are  called  by  the 
natives  Taro,  the  root  being  eaten  like  Pota- 
toes, and  the  leaves  cooked  like  Spinach.  The 
roots  are  also  eaten  by  the  negroes  in  the 
Southern  States,  and  are  called  by  them  Tan- 
yah.    See  Taro. 

Co'locynth.  Cucumis  (Citrullus)  Colocynthu8. 
This  is  one  of  the  gourd  family  inhabiting 
various  parts  of  Turkey,  although  it  is  not 
well  ascertained  in  what  country  it  is  indigen- 
ous. It  is  an  annual  trailing  and  climbing  plant, 
like  the  garden  cucuml)er.  The  fruit  is  a 
round  goui'd,  about  the  size  of  an  orange, 
divided  into  three  cells,  abounding  with  a 
pulpy  matter,  and  containing  numerous  seeds. 
The  pulp  is  exceedingly  bitter ;  a  decoction  of 
this  pulp  in  water,  and  then  evaporated,  forms 
the  well-known  extract  of  Colocynth. 

Cologa'nia.  In  honor  of  the  family  of  M. 
Cologan,  of  Port  Oratavo,  in  Teneriffe,  from 
whom  the  men  of  science,  visiting  that  island, 
experienced  the  greatest  hospitality.  Nat.  Ord. 
Leguminosce. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen  climbers,  allied 
to  the  Clitoria,  and  requiring  the  same  treat- 
ment. The  flowers  are  of  a  lively  purple, 
generally  in  pairs  at  the  axils  of  the  leaves. 
They  are  natives  of  Mexico.  Introduced  in 
1827. 

Color,  Colored.  Botanically,  this  term  is  used 
to  denote  any  color  except  green.  In  technical 
botany  white  is  regarded  as  a  color,  but  green 
is  not. 

Color  in  Flo-wers,  The  Law  of.  This  matter 
is  referred  to  in  the  hope  that  it  may  be  the 
means  of  saving  some  readers,  not  only  from 
being  duped  and  swindled  by  a  class  of 
itinerant  venders  who  annually  reap  a  rich 
harvest  in  disposing  of  impossibilities  in 
flowers,  but  that  they  may  be  assured  of  the 
utter  improbability  of  their  ever  seeing  such 
wonders  as  these  fellows  oifer,  thereby  saving 
them  from  parting  with  money  for  worthless 
objects,  and  from  the  ridicule  of  their  friends 
who  are  already  better  advised.  This  subject 
cannot  be  too  often  brought  befoi-e  our 
amateur  horticulturists.  "Warnings  are  given 
year  after  year  in  leading  agricultural  and 
other  journals  devoted  to  gardening,  yet  a 
new  crop  of  dupes  is  always  coming  up,  who 
readily  fall  victims  to  the  scoundrels  who  live 
upon  their  credulity.  Not  a  season  passes  but 
some  of  these  swindling  dealers  have  the 
audacity  to  plant  themselves  right  in  the 
business  centres  of  our  large  cities,  and  hun- 
dreds of  our  sharp  business  men  glide 
smoothly  into  their  nets.  The  very  men  who 
will  chuckle  at  the  misfortunes  of  a  poor 
rustic  when  he  falls  into  the  hands  of  a  mock 
auctioneer,  or  pocketbook  dropper,  will  freely 
pay  ten  dollars  for  a  rose  plant  of  which  a 
picture  has  been  shown  them  as  having  a 
blue  flower;  the  chance  of  its  coming  blue 
being  about  equal  to  the  chance  that  the 
watch  of  the  mock  auctioneer  will  be  gold. 
It  has  long  been  known  among  the  best  ob- 
servers of  such  matters,  that  in  certain 
families  of  plants  particular  colors  prevail, 
and  that  in  no  single  instance  can  we  ever  ex- 
pect to  see   blue,  yellow,  and  scarlet  colors  in 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


COL 

varietiea  of  the  same  species.  If  any  one  at  all 
conversant  with  plants  will  bring  any  family 
of  them  to  mind,  it  will  at  once  be  seen  how 
undeviating  is  this  law.  In  the  Dahlia  we 
have  scarlet  and  yellow,  but  no  approach  to 
blue,  and  so  in  the  Rose,  Hollyhock,  etc. 
Again,  in  the  Verbena,  Salvia,  etc.,  we  have 
scarlet  and  blue,  but  no  yellow!  In  the 
Hyacinth  we  have  blue  and  a  fairly  good 
yellow,  but  no  scarlet.  Some  have  contended 
that  in  this  family  we  have  the  combination, 
for  of  course  we  have  crimson ;  but  crimson 
is  not  scarlet  any  more  than  blue  is  purple. 
If  we  reflect  it  will  be  seen  that  there  is 
nothing  out  of  the  order  of  Nature  in  this  ar- 
rangement. We  never  expect  to  see  among 
our  poultry,  with  their  varied  but  sombre 
plumage,  any  assume  the  azure  hues  of  our 
spring  Blue-bird  or  the  dazzling  tints  of  the 
Oriole ;  why,  then,  should  we  expect  Nature 
to  step  out  of  what  seems  her  fixed  laws,  and 
give  us  a  blue  Rose,  a  blue  Dahlia,  or  a  yeUow 
Verbena? 

Colt's  Foot.     See  Tussilago. 
Columbine.     See  Aquilegia. 
Columbo.     American.     See  Frasera. 
Column.     The  combined    stamens  and    styles 
forming  a  solid  central  body,  as  in  Oi'chids,  etc. 

Colu'ninea.  Named  after  Fahiiis  Columna,  an 
Italian  nobleman.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneracece. 

A  small  genus  of  curious  and  beautiful  green- 
house plants,  natives  of  New  Grenada.  The 
species  are  divided  betwe<m  climbers  and 
shrubs.  The  flowers  of  the  climbers  are 
•mostly  yellow  and  orange  ;  of  the  shrubs,  rose 
and  purple.  They  ai-e  propagated  by  cuttings, 
and  should  be  carefully  Avatered.  Thej'  will 
grow  on  blocks  of  Avood,  with  moss,  sus- 
pended in  the  green-liouse.  Introduced  in 
1850. 

Colu'tea.  Bladder-senna.  From  kolmitea,  a 
name  adopted  from  Theophrastus.  Nat.  Ord. 
LegumiiwsoR. 

C.  arborescens,  the  common  bladder-senna, 
is  a  hardy  deciduous  shrub,  with  delicate 
Acacia-like  leaves  of  a  warm  light-green 
color.  Its  flowers  are  small,  butterfly-shaped, 
and  yellow,  produced  in  July  or  August,  and 
^  are  followed  by  large  bladder  like  pods,  of  a 
reddish  tinge  when  ripe,  which  explode  with 
a  slight  pressure.  It  is  a  native  of  the  south 
of  Europe,  and  is  said  to  grow  on  the  crater 
of  Vesuvius,  where  there  is  little  other  vege- 
tation. It  is  increased  by  suckers  or  from 
seed. 

Combreta'ceae,  A  natural  order  of  trees  or 
shrubs,  with  alternate  or  opposite  entire 
leaves  without  stipules.  They  are  natives  of 
the  tropical  parts  of  Asia,  Africa,  and  America. 
Some  of  the  plants  are  cultivated  for  orna- 
ment, and  others  furnish  timber.  They  have 
astringent  qualities,  Terminalia  Belkrica  and 
T.  Chebula  yielding  the  astringent  fruit  called 
Myrobalan.  The  bark  of  Bucida  Buceras  is 
used  for  tanning.  There  are  twenty-three 
known  genera  and  upward  of  200  species. 
Combretum,  Terminalia,  and  Gyrocarpvs  illus- 
trate the  order. 

Combre'tum.  An  ancient  name  adopted  from 
Pliny.     Nat.  Ord.  Combretacece. 

This  genus  contains  several  species,  all  re- 
markable for  the  elegance  and  brilliant  colors 


COM 

of  the  flowers,  which  are  produced  in  large 
panicles.  They  are  desirable  for  covering  the 
roof  or  columns  of  an  extensive  hot-house, 
and  they  grow  well  in  a  mixture  of  leaf  mould 
and  loam,  requiring  to  be  pruned  back  closely 
every  winter,  as  it  is  on  the  young  wood  only 
that  flowers  are  produced.  Most  of  the  species 
are  from  South  America  and  Africa.  Propa- 
gated by  cuttings  of  well-ripened  wood.  The 
plant  known  as  C.  purpureum  is  now  placed 
under  Poivrea,  which  see. 

Comespe'rma.  Prom  kome,  hair,  and  sperma,  a 
seed ;  in  reference  to  tlie  seeds  being  enveloped 
with  hairs.     Nat.  Ord.  PolygalacecR. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
herbs  or  shrubs,  natives  of  Australia.  Their 
handsome  flowers  of  yellow,  white,  or  purple, 
borne  on  terminal  or  axillary  racemes,  make 
them  desirable  plants.  They  are  easily  grown 
in  an  ordinary  green-house.  Propagated  by 
cuttings. 

Comfrey.    See  Symphytum. 

Commeli'na.  Day  Flower.  Named  after  J.  and 
G.  Commelin,  famous  Dutch  botanists.  Nat. 
Ord.  Commelinacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  annuals  and  peren- 
nials, hardy  and  green-house  trailers,  found 
throughout  the  Southern  States  and  in  South 
America.  It  is  only  the  hardier  species  that 
can  now  be  considered  worth  cultivation.  C. 
ccelestis  forms  an  excellent  border  plant.  Its 
flowers  are  blue,  of  a  brighter  sliade  than 
perhaps  is  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  the  whole 
range  of  vegetable  forms.  The  tubers  of  this 
plant  should  be  taken  up  in  Avinter,  and,  in- 
deed, receive  the  treatment  of  Dahlias,  except 
that  they  do  not  require  to  be  placed  in  any 
elevated  temperature  to  induce  them  to  start 
into  growth.  The  annual  species  should  be 
sown  in  March  where  they  are  to  remain. 

Commellna'ceae.  An  extensive,  widely  dis- 
persed order  of  herbaceous  plants,  with  usually 
flat  leaves  sheathing  at  the  base.  Flowers  with 
the  outer  perianth  of  three  segments,  the 
inner  also  of  three  and  colored.  They  are 
natives  of  New  Holland,  the  East  and  "West 
Indies,  and  a  few  are  found  in  North  America, 
but  none  in  northern  Asia  or  Europe.  The 
underground  stems  of  many  yield  starch  and 
are  used  for  food.  The  filaments  of  the 
Tradescantias  have  jointed  hairs,  in  which  a 
granular  movement  is  seen  under  the  micro- 
scope. There  are  sixteen  known  genera,  and 
260  species.  Commelina,  Tradescantia,  and 
Cyanotis  are  examples  of  the  order. 

Common  Petiole.  The  first  and  principal  leaf- 
stalk in  compound  leaves  ;  the  secondary  pet- 
ioles are  called  partial. 

Compare'ttia.  Named  after  Comparetti,  an  Ital- 
ian botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacetz. 

A  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids,  with  small 
rose,  purple,  or  scarlet  flowers,  produced  in 
small  bunches  on  long  stalks.  They  are 
natives  of  Mexico  and  South  America,  and 
succeed  best  when  grown  on  cork,  with  a 
little  moss,  in  a  shaded  house.  The  flowers 
retain  their  beauty  a  long  time.  Introduced 
in  1838. 

Compass  Plant.    See  Silphium. 

Compo'sitaB,  including  Astera'ceae.  This  is 
the  largest  natural  order  of  plants,  the  species 
occurring  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  in  all 


AND   GENEEAL  HOETIOULTURE. 


99 


COM 

places,  and  forming  a  total  of  about  equal  to  a 
tenth  of  the  whole  vegetable  kingdom.  They 
are  recognized  by  their  monopetalous  flowers, 
growing  in  close  heads  {capitula},  and  having 
at  once  an  inferior  one-celled  ovary,  and  sta- 
mens whose  anthers  cohere  in  a  tube  (that  is, 
are  syngenesious).  De  Candolle  states,  as  the 
result  of  his  examination  of  their  natural 
habit,  that  out  of  8,523,  1,229  were  annuals, 
243  biennials,  2,491  perennials,  2,264  under- 
shrubs  from  one  to  three  feet  high,  366  shrubs 
from  four  to  fifteen  feet  high,  72  small  trees, 
4  large  trees  above  twenty-five  feet  high,  81 
woody  plants,  126  twiners  or  climbers,  and 
1,201  about  which  nothing  certain  could  be  as- 
certained. According  to  Mr.  Bentham,  the  spe- 
cies are  nearly  equally  divided  between  the 
New  and  the  Old  World,  there  being  known 
about  430  genera  with  4,700  species  in  the 
former,  and  410  genera  containing  4,400  spe- 
cies in  the  latter.  There  are  about  75  genera 
common  to  the  two  divisions ;  but  the  identi- 
cal species  in  the  two,  and  tliose  chiefly  arc- 
tic or  high  northern,  are  not  more  than  70  out 
of  at  least  9,100. 

The  uses  of  the  order,  real  or  imaginary, 
are  very  numerous  and  conflicting.  Some  are 
tonic  and  aromatic,  like  Wormwood  (Artemisia 
absinthium),  and  others,  or  vermifuges,  like 
those  other  Artemisias,  known  in  foreign 
pharmacy  as  Semencontra,  or  Semencine.  A 
few  are  powerful  irritants,  as  the  Pellitory  of 
Spain  (Anacyclus  Pyrethrum),  and  various  kinds 
of  Spilanthes,  which  excite  salivation.  Arnica 
montana  is  powerfully  narcotic  and  acrid. 
Similar  evil  qualities  belong  to  Crepis  lacera, 
a  most  venomous  species,  said  to  be  no  infre- 
quent cause  of  fatal  consequences  to  those 
who,  in  the  south  of  Europe,  incautiously  use 
it  as  a  salad ;  nor  are  Hieracium  virosum  and 
H.  sabandum  altogether  free  from  suspicion. 
Some  species  of  Pyrethrum  have  the  power  of 
driving  away  fleas,  and  are  largely  used  as 
insecticides,  tlie  Dalmatian  and  Persian  In- 
sect Powders  being  from  this  genus.  Many 
yield  in  abundance  a  bland  oil  when  their 
seeds  are  crushed ;  such  are  the  Sunflower 
(Helianthus  annuus),  the  Til  or  Ehamtil  {Verbe- 
sinia  saliva),  largely  cultivated  in  India,  and 
Madia  saliva.  A  purgative  resin  is  obtained 
from  some  allies  of  the  Thistles ;  others,  as 
Aucklandia  Costus,  now  referred  to  Aplolaxis 
Lappa,  have  aromatic  roots.  Finally,  under 
the  name  of  Artichoke,  Succory,  Scorzonera, 
Endive,  Salsify,  and  Lettuce,  we  have  some 
of  our  most  nutritious  and  useful  esculents. 
Botanists  adopt  various  modes  of  classifying 
this  immense  mass  of  species ;  but  all  are 
subordinate  to  the  four  following  groups,  viz.  : 
Cichoracece,,  florets  all  ligulate  (strap  shaped) ; 
Corymbiferce,  florets  tubular  in  the  disk ; 
C ynaracece,  florets  all  tubular,  with  an  articu- 
lation beneatli  the  stigma ;  and  Labiatiflorce, 
florets  bilabate  (two-lipped). 
Composts.  This  term  is  applied  to  any  mix- 
ture of  soils  and  manures,  either  for  potting 
purposes,  or  for  top  dressing  plants  in  pots, 
or  in  the  open  ground.  It  may  consist  of  dif- 
ferent ingredients  according  to  the  habit,  or 
suitable  to  the  requirement  of  the  plants  for 
which  it  is  intended.  Manures  that  by  their 
strengtli  would  prove  destructive,  if  applied 
directly  to  any  plant,  may  prove  beneficial 
when  mixed  to  form  a  certain  proportion  of 
the  compost.     In  all  gardens  the  accumulating 


CON 

refuse  of  all  kinds  may  be  advantageously 
composted  with  soil  and  a  liberal  admixture 
of  lime,  which,  when  turned  over  several 
times  during  winter,  and  thoroughly  amalga- 
mated, will  prove  a  valuable  top-dressing  in 
spring  for  lawns  or  other  purposes. 

Compound,  Composite.  Formed  of  several 
parts  united  in  one  common  whole ;  as  pin- 
nated leaves,  and  all  kinds  of  inflorescence 
beyond  that  of  the  solitary  flower.  A  com- 
pound umbel  is  formed  of  several  simple 
umbels,  etc. 

Compto'nia.  Sweet  Fern.  Named  after  Bishop 
Compton,  an  ardent  cultivator  of  exotics  and  a 
great  patron  of  botany.  Nat.  Ord.  Myri- 
caceoR. 

C.  asplenifolia  is  a  hardy  deciduous  shrub, 
common  throughout  the  Northern  States  on 
poor  soils.  It  is  popularly  known  as  Sweet 
Fern  from  its  aromatic  scent  and  the  resem- 
blance of  the  leaves  to  the  fronds  of  the  Aspleni- 
ums.  A  decoction  or  tea  made  of  the  leaves 
is  useful,  applied  externally,  in  cases  of 
poisoning  by  the  Poison  Ivy. 

Conandron.  From  konos,  a  cone,  and  aner, 
andron,  a  male,  an  anther ;  the  appendages  to 
the  anthers  are  united  in  a  cone  around  the 
style.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneracece. 

C.  ramondioides,  the  only  described  species, 
is  a  very  pretty  half-hardy  herbaceous  peren- 
nial, introduced  from  Japan  in  1879.  The 
flowers  are  white  or  pink,  with  a  purple  eye, 
and  are  borne  on  leafless  scapes  in  a  forked  or 
corymbose  cyme,  which  is  at  first  drooping. 
It  is  closely  allied  to  Ramondia,  and  may  be 
increased  by  seeds  or  division. 

Cona'nthera.  From  konos,  a  cone,  and  anthera, 
an  anther,  or  pollen  bag ;  in  reference  to  the 
six  anthers  forming  a  cone  in  the  early  stage 
of  the  flower.    Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

This  is  a  small  genus  of  Chilian  bulbs,  but 
little  known  because  of  the  difficulty  of  pre- 
serving them.  They  produce  beautiful  blue 
flowers  in  panicles  on  a  stalk  about  one  foot 
high,  and  require,  like  all  Chilian  bulbs,  a 
light,  dry  soil.  They  will  endure  our  climate 
with  but  little  protection,  if  kept  ueaiiy  dry 
during  winter.  They  are  rapidly  increased  by 
offsets.     Introduced  in  1823. 

Concave.     Hollow. 

Concentric.  Points  or  lines  at  equal  distances 
from  a  common  center. 

Condor-Vine.  A  common  name  for  Gonobolua 
Cundurango. 

Cone.  A  dense  aggregation  of  scale-like  car- 
pels, arranged  symmetrically  I'ound  an  axis, 
as  in  the  Pine  tribe. 

Cone  Flower.    See  Rudbeckia. 

Conferva'ceae.  A  division  of  the  green-spored 
Alga.  Found  in  all  parts  of  the  world, 
but  most  numerous  in  temperate  regions. 
They  are  sometimes  so  abundant  that,  after 
floods,  they  form  a  thick  coat  like  paper  on 
the  ground,  to  which  the  name  meteoric  paper 
has  been  given. 

Confluent.  The  fastening  together  of  homo- 
geneous parts ;  gradually  uniting  organically. 

Congo  Pea.     See  Cajanus. 

Coni'ferae.  A  large  and  important  natural 
order  consisting  of  trees  or  shrubs,  mostly 
with    resinous    secretions.     The    leaves    are 


100 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


CON 

stiff,  sometimes  linear  or  needle-shaped,  some- 
times short  and  scale-like,  or  more  I'arely 
broad,  lobed,  or  divided.  The  flowers  are  uni- 
sexual, either  in  cylindrical  or  short  catkins 
with  closely  packed  scales,  or  the  females  are 
solitary.  There  are  nearly  200  known  species, 
distributed  over  a  great  part  of  tiie  globe, 
several  of  them  forming  large  forests  in  tem- 
perate climates,  or,  niore  rarely,  within  the 
tropics  ;  while  some  of  them  extend  almost  to 
the  limits  of  woody  vegetation  in  high  lati- 
tudes, or  at  great  elevations.  Bentham  and 
Hooker,  divide  this  large  family  into  six 
tribes,  viz. :  Abetinete,  containing  Abies, 
Cedrus,  Larix,  Picea,  Pinus,  Pseudotsuga  and 
•  Tfiuga ;  Araucarife,  containing  Agathis,  Arau- 
caria  and  Cunninghamia ;  Cupressineee,  con- 
taining Arclinoslrobtis,  Callilris,  Cupressus, 
Fitzroya,  Juniperus,  Libocedrus  and  Thujd ; 
Podocarpete,  containing  Microcackrys,  Podo- 
carpus  and  Saxpgothea;  Taxca',  containing 
Dacrydium,  Ginkgo,  PherospluBra,  Phyllocladun, 
Taxus  and  Torreya;  Taxodie(\3,  containing 
Athrotaxiis,  Cephalotaxus,  Cryptomeria,  Sequoia 
and  Taxodium. 

The  ConifersB  are  very  useful  and  important, 
yielding  valuable  timber  and  resin,  oil,  pitch 
and  turpentine.  Some  attain  a  vast  height, 
as  Sequoia  gigantea  in  California,  specimens 
having  been  measured  more  than  450  feet 
high  and  116  feet  in  circumference  at  the 
base.  Taxodium,  sempervirens  also  attains  a 
very  great  size.  The  Pines  have  their  leaves 
in  clusters  of  two,  three,  four,  five  or  six, 
surrounded  by  a  membraneous  sheath  at  the 
base.  Pinus  sylveslris,  the  common  Scotch 
Fir,  abounds  in  cold  climates,  and  supplies 
timber,  turpentine  and  pitch,  as  well  as  a 
hemp-like  fiber  from  its  leaves,  which  is  used 
for  stuffing  pillows  and  cushions  under  the 
name  of  pine  wool.  Pinus  pinaster,  or  the 
Bordeaux  Pine,  thrives  well  on  the  seashore. 
Abies  includes  different  species  of  Fir 
and  Spruce,  in  all  of  which  the  leaves  come 
off  from  the  stem  and  branches  singly.  Abies 
exceUai?,  the  Norway  Spruce,  and  A.balsamea  is 
the  Balm  of  GileadFir;  Picea  peclinata  the 
Silver  Fir ;  Pseudotsiiga  Canadcnnis  Is  the 
Hemlock  Spruce ;  Cedrus  comprises  those 
Cedars  which  have  clustered  persistent  leaves. 
Cedrus  Libani  is  the  Cedar  of  Lebanon,  the 
Eres  of  the  Bible ;  Cedrus  Deodara  is  the 
saered  Cedar  of  India.  Larix  includes  the 
species  of  Larch,  which  have  clustered  de- 
ciduous leaves.  Larix  Europea  is  the  Euro- 
pean Larch ;  L.  Americana  is  the  American 
Larch,  commonly  called  Hackmatack;  L. 
Griffithii  is  the  Himalayan  Larch.  The 
Araucarias  have  single-seeded  scales,  with  ad- 
herent seeds  and  many-celled  anthers.  Arau- 
caria  imbricata  is  a  Chilian  species  ;  A.  Bid- 
willii  is  from  Moreton  Bay ;  both  have  edible 
seeds  ;  A.  exceUa,  which  yields  valuable  wood, 
is  the  Norfolk  Island  Pine.  Cryplomeria 
Japonica  is  the  Japan  Cedar,  of  which  there 
are  several  beautiful  forms.  Cupressiwi  semper- 
virens is  the  common  Cypi-ess.  The  Junipei-s 
have  a  peculiar  succulent  fruit.  Juniperus 
Bermudiana  and  J.  Virginiana  furnish  the 
Cedar  for  lead  pencils.  The  species  of  Thuja 
are  known--by  tlie  name  of  Arbor  VitfB. 
Co'nium.  Poison  Hemlock.  From  konao  to 
whirl  around ;  in  reference  to  the  giddiness 
caused  by  eating  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord.  Um- 
belli/ercB. 


CON 

This  genus  is  almost  identical  with  Cicuta, 
or  Water  Hemlock.  C.  maculatum  is  a  strong- 
growing,  branching  herb,  the  juices  of  which 
are  very  poisonous.  Common  in  marshy 
places.     Naturalized  from  Europe. 

Connate.  When  the  bases  of  two  opposite 
leaves  are  united  together.  Also  when  any 
parts,  originally  distinct,  become  united  in 
after-growth. 

Connivent.  Converging;  having  a  gradually 
inward  direction. 

Conocli'nium.  Mist-Flower.  From  konos,  a 
cone,  and  Mine,  a  bed ;  from  the  conical 
receptacle.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositm. 

C.  cadestinum,  the  only  species  of  much  in- 
terest, is  a  hardy  herbaceous  perennial,  with 
terminal  corymbs  of  violet  purple  or  blue 
flowers,  common  in  the  Southern  and  Western 
States.  It  is  c  >mmonly  called  Eupatorium, 
from  which  it  differs  only  in  the  receptacle, 
and  is  rapidly  increased  by  division  or  from 
seed. 

Cono'pholis.  Squaw  Root,  Cancer  Root.  From 
konos,  a  cone,  and  jyholis,  a  scale  ;  resembling 
a  fir  cone.     Nat.  Ord.  Orobanchacece. 

C.  Americana  is  a  vf  ry  singular  little  plant, 
common  in  oak  woods,  growing  in  clusters 
among  fallen  leaves.  Tlie  plant  is  a  fleshy 
herb,  chestnut-colored  or  j'ellowish  through- 
out, and  as  thick  as  a  man's  thumb.  The  stem 
is  without  leaves,  scaly  and  generally  simple. 
The  flowers  are  in  terminal  spikes,  and  not 
showy.  In  this  country  it  is  poiiularly  known 
as  Cancer  Root,  from  its  supposed  medicinal 
properties. 

Conoste'phium.  Fi-ora  konos,  a  cone,  and 
st-phanos,  a  crown;  referring  to  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  flowers.     Nat.  Or  I.  EpacridaceoB. 

A  genus  of  fruit  bearing  Epacridacem.  val- 
ued for  its  beautiful  flowers  by  gardeners  who 
delight  in  growing  plants  that  can  only  be 
grown  with  the  greatest  difficulty;  to  which 
class  this  plant  belongs.  The  fruit,  though 
wholesome,  is  not  gent»rally  liked.  The  Na- 
tive Currant  of  New  Holland  b<ilongs  to  this 
section.  Propagated  by  cuttings.  Introduced 
from  Swan  River  in  1836. 

Cono'stylis.  From  konos,  a  cone,  and  stylos,  a 
style  ;  the  style,  or  female  organ,  grows  in  the 
shape  of  a  cone  at  the  bottom.  Nat.  Ord. 
HcemodoracecE. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  herbaceous 
perennials  from  New  Holland,  rather  orna- 
mental, but  not  of  sufficient  miM-it  for  general 
cultivation.  Propagated  by  division  of  the 
roots. 

Conservatory.  The  term  usually  applied  to  a 
green-house  structure  when  attached  to  the 
dwelling-house,  or  when  it  is  used  as  a  housti 
wherein  sp(!cimen  plants  are  gi-own  or  dis- 
played; it  is  usually  of  an  ornainental  char- 
acter and  of  various  sizes.  When  d  tached,  a 
convenient  size  is  twenty  feet  wide  by  fifty 
feet  in  length,  with  side  sashes  and  curvili- 
near roofs  sloping  equally  to  east  and  west  at 
an  angle  of  about  35  degrees.  The  hfught 
from  the  floor  to  the  ridge  may  be  from  twelve 
to  fifteen  feet,  according  to  circumstances. 
The  height  of  the  front,  including  three  feet 
of  glass,  from  five  to  six  feet. 

Constricted.  Lightened,  or  contracted  in  some 
particular  place. 


COLOCASIA  (CALADrDM)  ESCULENTA. 


COLCHICUM  ATTTUMNALE. 


COLLINSIA. 


CEBOyEGIA  ELEGAN8. 


COLOCASIA  FRAGBAN8. 


CONVALLABIA  (LILY  OF  THE  VALLEI). 


CO6M0B  HXBBIDCS. 


OOliOMLi  COCCINEA. 


CONVOLVULUS   MAURITANIOUa 


COBMISnTU. 


OOBSTLINK  (CEACANA)  IHSIVIBA. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


101 


CON 

Contiguous.  Where  two  neighboring  parts 
are  in  contact  through  the  whole  length  of 
their  edges  or  surfaces ;  as  the  sepals  of 
Raphanus  and  the  cotyledons  of  many  species 
of  plants. 

Contorted.  Twisted  back  upon  itself ;  arranged 
so  as  t(^  overlap  other  parts. 

ConvaUa'ria.  Lily  of  the  Valley.  From  the 
Latin  convallis,  a  valley,  and  rica,  a  mantle  ; 
in  reference  to  the  dense  covering  formed  by 
the  leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

The  Lily  of  the  Valley,  C  majalis,  is  a  plant 
so  well  known,  and  such  a  universal  favorite, 
that  little  need  be  said  by  way  of  description, 
unless  we  add  that  of  Gerarde  in  1596,  which 
is  as  follows:  "The  Lilly  of  the  Vally  hath 
many  leaves  like  the  smallest  leaves  of  Water 
Plantaine,  among  which  riseth  vp  a  naked 
stalke,  halfe  a  foot  high,  garnished  with  many 
white  floures,  like  bels,  with  blunt  and  turned 
edges,  of  a  strong  savour,  yet  pleasant 
enoughf ,  which  being  past,  there  come  small, 
I'ed  berries,  much  like  the  berries  of  aspara- 
gus, wherein  the  seed  is  contained."  A  mod- 
ern writer  in  the  Treasury  of  Botany  says : 
"  Without  poetical  or  fanciful  conventional- 
ities, the  Lily  of  the  Valley  is  as  perfect  an 
emblem  of  purity,  modesty  and  humility  as 
the  floral  world  can  afford.  It  may  seem  idle 
to  observe  that  a  flower  of  this  description 
cannot  be  that  referred  to  in  the  sermon  on 
the  mount ;  but  as  that  opinion  is  frequently 
broached  in  popular  works,  it  may  simply  be 
observed  that  it  never  grows  in  the  open  field, 
and  that  there  is  nothing  in  its  array  to  which 
the  term  'glory'  is  applicable.  Not  a  little 
unprofitable  commentary  might  have  been 
spared  if  the  same  general  meaning  had  been 
attached  to  the  term  'Lilies  of  the  Field,' 
which  has,  by  common  consent,  been  ascribed 
to  the  parallel  phrase,  'Fowls  of  the  Air,' 
while  the  passage  itself  would  have  gained  in 
force  and  dignity  by  being  kept  clear  from 
botanical  disquisitions."  The  flowers  of  the 
Lily  of  the  Valley  are  used  during  the  winter 
months  in  immense  quantities,  New  York  city 
alone  probably  using  a  million,  the  average 
price  of  which  is  about  five  cents  each,  so  that 
for  this  flower  alone  $50,000  is  annually  paid 
by  the  bouquet  makers  to  the  florist,  the  con- 
sumer paying,  no  doubt,  one-third  more.  The 
Lily  of  the  Valley  is  nearly  all  imported  from 
Germany  and  France,  usually  in  single  crowns 
or  "  pips."  The  method  of  culture  is  to  place 
these  thickly  together  in  shallow  boxes  as 
soon  as  received  in  November,  placing  them 
in  a  cold  frame  or  in  the  open  ground,  cover- 
ing them  up  so  that  they  do  not  get  severely 
frozen.  They  should  remain  in  this  condition 
at  least  four  weeks  before  they  are  brought  in 
to  force,  which  should  be  done  gradually, 
beginning  at  50°  and  running  up  to  65°  or  70°. 
If  taken  every  few  weeks,  a  succession  may 
be  kept  up  from  January  until  May.  In  fact, 
the  flowers  are  now  to  be  had  all  the  year 
round,  as  some  growers  find  it  sufficiently 
profitable  to  keep  the  roots  in  refrigerators, 
and,  thus  retarded,  they  are  forced  to  bloom 
at  will  at  any  time  during  the  summer  or  fall 
months.  This  same  system  might  be  used 
with  many  other  plants,  but  it  is  only  in  very 
valuable  flowers  such  as  this  that  the  expense 
would  be  justified.  The  plant  does  well  in 
the  garden,  and  may  be  put  under  the  shade 


CON 

of  trees ;  but  wherever  placed,  the  roots 
should  not  be  disturbed  for  several  years,  if 
at  all,  as  many  clumps  will  not  otherwise 
bloom.     Propagated  by  division. 

Convex.     Rising  in  a  circular  form. 

Convolute.  When  one  part  is  wholly  rolled  up 
in  another,  as  in  the  petals  of  the  Wallflower, 
or  the  spathe  of  an  Arum. 

Convolvula'ceae.  A  natural  osder  of  herbs  or 
shrubs,  usually  twining,  and  with  a  milky 
juice,  having  alternate  leaves,  without  stip- 
ules, and  regular  flowers,  the  flower  stalks 
(peduncles)  bearing  one  or  many  flowers. 
They  are  abundant  in  tropical  countries  and 
rare  in  cold  climates.  They  twine  around  other 
plants  and  creep  among  weeds,  etc.,  along  the 
seashore.  The  plants  are  characterized  chiefly 
by  their  purgative  qualities,  and  many  of 
them  are  used  medicinally.  Jalap  is  produced 
from  the  root  or  underground  stem  of  Exogo- 
nium  {Ipomma)  purga,  while  the  gum  resin 
called  Scammony  is  produced  by  Convolvulus 
scammonia.  Ipomcea  Bona-nox,  which  pro- 
duces its  pure  white  flowers  at  night,  is  the 
Moon-creeper  of  Ceylon  and  other  warm  coun- 
tries. Ipoinoz.a  {Calonyction)  gra/ndiflora  is  the 
plant  so  widely  known  and  distributed  as  the 
Moon-flower.  Batatas  edulis,  the  Sweet  Po- 
tato, or  Batatas,  is  cultivated  in  the  United 
States,  Japan  and  China,  and  also  in  Spain 
and  Portugal.  In  the  Philippine  Islands  the 
Batatas  or  Camotes  are  used  for  making  soup, 
as  well  as  roasted.  This  order  comprises 
forty-six  known  genera  and  nearly  700  species. 
Convolvulus,  Ipomma,  Calystegia,  Exogonium, 
Batatas  and  Pharbitis  are  illustrative  genera. 

Convolvulus.  From  convolvere,  to  entwine ;  in 
reference  to  their  twining  habit.  Nat.  Ord. 
Convolvulacece. 

Well-known,  splendid  climbing  plants,  hardy 
and  haM-hardy,  annual  and  perennial.  They 
should  be  trained  against  stakes  or  trellis- 
work,  as  their  stems  are  too  feeble  to  support 
themselves.  Most  of  the  tender  kinds  of 
Convolvulus  were  separated  from  it  by  Lin- 
n«eus,  and  formed  into  the  genus  Ipomaa.  All 
the  tender  kinds  may  be  made  to  flower  in  the 
open  air  during  summer,  and  the  more  hardy 
species  only  require  sowing  in  the  open 
ground.  C.  Mauritanicus  is  a  prostrate,  twin- 
ing perennial  species  having  blue  flowers, 
with  a  white  throat  and  yellow  anthers.  It  is 
a  most  useful  plant  for  hanging-baskets,  etc. 
C.  minor  (tricolor),  a  dwarf-growing  species, 
is  a  native  of  Spain  and  Portugal.  The  flowers 
are  often  pure  white,  but  generally  variegated 
with  blue  and  yellow,  or  blue  and  white ;  the 
more  beautiful  kind  is  a  bright  blue,  gradually 
changing  to  a  pure  white  in  the  center.  The 
form  of  this  flower  is  no  less  beautiful  than 
the  color.  The  plant  spreads  with  much  reg- 
ularity in  every  direction  from  the  center,  so 
that  a  bed  of  them,  with  the  plants  two  feet 
apart  each  way,  will  form  a  compact  mass 
resembling  a  single  plant.  It  is  scarcely 
exceeded  in  elegance  by  any  plant  in  the  bor- 
der when  in  full  flower.  The  flowers  continue 
open  all  day  if  pleasant,  but  close  in  case  of 
rain.  Seed  should  be  sown  as  soon  as  the 
ground  can  be  got  in  order  in  spring.  If 
started  in  the  green-house  in  pots  it  makes  a 
charming  plant  for  hanging-baskets,  rustic 
work,  or  the  window.  This  species  has  been 
noticed  for  more  than  250  years  in  Herbals.  • 


102 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS. 


CON 

Cony'za.  A  genus  of  Composite^,  consisting  of 
herbaceous  or  slirubby  plants  of  little  general 
interest.  They  were  formerly  supposed  to 
have  the  power,  when  suspended  in  a  room, 
of  driving  away  fleas,  hence  the  English  name 
Flea-bane,  a  name  given  also  to  an  allied  genus. 

Coope'ria.  Named  after  Mr.  Cooper,  gardener 
for  many  years  at  Wentworth  House,  in  York- 
shire, England.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  bulbous  plants  from  Texas, 
allied  to  the  Zephyranthes.  C.  Drummondi, 
typical  of  the  species,  has  narrow,  twisted 
leaves  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  long,  and  a 
scape  six  to  twelve  inches  high,  bearing  at  the 
end  a  single  flower,  of  which  the  tube  is 
upward  of  four  inches  long,  of  a  greenish 
color,  and  the  limb  upward  of  an  inch  long 
and  pure  white.  The  flower  always  expands 
in  the  evening,  and  is  not  usually  perfect  after 
the  first  night.  The  nocturnal  flowering  of 
this  plant  is  an  anomaly  in  the  order,  and  the 
more  remarkable  because  its  nearest  relatives 
require  full  sunshine  to  make  them  expand. 
The  flower  has  the  fragrance  of  the  Primrose. 
These  bulbs  are  half-hardy,  and  will  endure 
our  winters  with  a  slight  protection  if  grown 
in  a  light,  sandy  soil,  which  is  the  one  best 
suited  to  them.  For  effect  they  should  be 
planted  in  clumps,  and  quite  close  together. 
Propagated  by  offsets.     Introduced  in  1835. 

Cooper's  Wood.     See  Pomadcrris. 

Copaiba  Balsam.  The  name  of  the  balsam  pro- 
duced by  Copaifera  officinalis. 

Copa'ifera.  From  the  Brazilian  name  copaiba, 
and /ero,  to  bear.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  tender  evergreen  tree,  native  of  Brazil, 
valuable  only  for  the  medicinal  properties  of 
the  balsam  it  yields. 

Copro'sma.  From  eopros,  dung,  and  osme,  a 
smell.  The  plants  have  a  fetid  smell.  Nat. 
Ord.  Rubiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
shrubs  of  easy  culture,  and  of  little  interest 
except  in  their  own  country,  where  the  leaves 
are  used  by  the  New  Zealand  priests  to  dis- 
cover the  will  of  the  gods.  "The  leaves  are 
attached  with  a  cord  of  flax  to  sticks,  which 
are  laid  on  the  ground,  each  stick  represent- 
ing a  separate  party.  The  priests  retire  to 
pi-ay,  and  after  a  time  the  chiefs  are  sum- 
moned to  examine  the  sticks,  which  are  found 
to  have  been  moved,  and  some  have  disap- 
peared entii-ely.  This  is  considered  a  certain 
sign  that  one  of  the  party  will  be  destroyed. 
Others  are  found  turned  over.  If  the  leaf  be 
turned  down  the  omen  is  bad ;  but  if  the 
reverse  should  occur,  it  is  a  sign  that  the 
party  represented  by  the  stick  will  prosper  in 
his  undertakings.  C.  Baueriana  variegata  is  a 
strikingly  beautiful  plant  for  the  green-house 
and  conservatory,  or  for  a  place  on  the  lawn 
in  summer.    Propagated  by  cuttings. 

Co'ptis.  Gold-thread.  From  kopto,  to  cut ;  in 
reference  to  the  division  of  the  leaves.  Nat. 
Ord.  Ranunculacece. 

C.  trifolia,  the  only  species,  is  a  beautiful 
little  evergreen  herb,  with  creeping  root- 
stocks,  common  in  boggy  places  from  Mary- 
land northward.  The  long,  bright  yellow 
fibres  of  the  root  have  caused  it  to  receive  the 
common  name  of  Gold-thread.  The  roots  are 
very  bitter,  and  ai-e  used  in  medicine  as  a 
tonic.      It  formerly  held  a  prominent  place 


COR 

among  domestic  remedies,  and  was  considered 
invaluable  for  sore  mouths  in  children. 

Coral  Bead  Plant.    Abrus  precatorius. 

Coral  Bush.     See  Templetonia. 

Coral  Cactus.     A  popular  name  for  Rhipsalis. 

Coral  Honeysuckle.  A  local  name  of  Lonicera 
setnpervirens,  which  is  also  called  Trumpet 
Honeysuckle, 

Corallorhi'za.  Coral  Root.  Said  to  be  from 
korallion,  a  coral,  and  rhiza,  a  root.  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidacece. 

A  genus  of  curious  little  Orchids,  common 
in  wet  or  boggy  places  throughout  the  United 
States.  Their  leaves  are  like  small  scales,  of 
a  yellowish  color,  like  their  stems ;  the  flow- 
ers are  small,  in  a  loose  terminal  spike.  C. 
innata,  one  of  the  more  common  species,  is  a 
slender  plant,  from  six  to  nine  inches  high,  of 
a  pale  color,  and  remarkable  for  its  root-stalk, 
which  is  formed  of  a  number  of  short,  thick, 
whitish  fleshy  flbres,  divided  into  short,  blunt 
branches,  and  densely  interwoven,  resembling 
coral;  hence  the  popular  name.  All  the  spe- 
cies are  incapable  of  cultivation,  or,  at  least, 
they  so  rarely  live  when  removed  that  it  is 
considered  a  useless  task  to  attempt  it. 

Coral  Root.     See  Corallorhiza. 

Coral  Tree.     See  Erythrina. 

Corbula'ria.  From  corbula,  a  little  basket ;  in 
reference  to  the  shape  of  the  nectary.  Nat. 
Ord.  Amaryllidacece. 

A  small  genus,  commonly  called  Hoop  Petti- 
coats, which  has  recently  been  separated  from 
Narcissus.  The  species  are  quite  ornamental 
and  perfectly  hard}',  but,  like  most  of  what 
are  usually  termed  "Dutch  Bulbs,"  they  do 
best  with  a  slight  .protection  of  leaves  or 
coarse  manure.  It  is  a  native  of  Portugal,  and 
is  propagated  by  offsets.    Introduced  in  lb29. 

Co'rchorus.  From  kore,  a  pupil,  and  koreo,  to 
purge  ;  in  allusion  to  the  laxative  qualities  of 
some  of  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Tiliacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  annuals  and  herba- 
ceous plants,  inhabitants  of  both  hemispheres. 
As  ornamental  or  flowering  plants  they  are  of 
little  value.  C.  capsularis  is  much  grown  in 
many  sections  of  India  for  the  exceedingly 
valuable  fibre  it  yields,  which  is  known  under 
the  name  of  Jute,  and  which  forms  an  impor- 
tant article  of  commerce. 

Cordate.  Heart-shaped  in  outline ;  applied  to 
a  plane  or  flat  body  having  two  round  lobes  at 
the  base. 

Cord  Grass.     See  Sparlina. 

Co'rdia.  A  genus  of  Borraginace^,  containing 
nearly  two  hundred  species,  scattered  over 
the  tropical  and  sub-tropical  regions  of  the 
world.  They  are  principally  trees  or  shrubs, 
some  of  them  of  considerable  beauty.  Some 
species  supply  useful  and  ornamental  timber; 
the  wood  of  C.  Rumphi  is  brown,  beautifully 
veined  with  black,  and  smells  of  musk.  The 
wood  of  C.  myxu  is  soft,  and  is  reckoned  one 
of  the  best  kinds  for  kindling  fire  by  friction, 
and  it  is  said  to  be  the  wood  which  was  used 
by  the  Egyptians  in  constructing  their 
mummy  cases. 

Cordyli'ne.  Club  Palm.  From  kordyle,  a  club. 
Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  shrubs, 
allied  to  Draccena.  The  type,  C.  indivisa,  has 
usually  been  sold  in  this  countiy  under  the 


AND   GENERAL   HOllTICULTURE. 


103 


COR 

name  of  Draccma  indivisa.  It  is  an  exceed- 
ingly useful  plant  for  large  specimens  upon 
the  lawn,  or  for  jardinieres,  baskets,  or  vases, 
as  it  will  withstand  some  neglect  and  thrive 
where  many  other  plants  would  perish.  This 
species  was  introduced  from  New  Zealand  in 
185U,  and  is  propagated  from  seed,  which 
should  be  sown  in  boxes  on  bottom  heat,  or  in 
the  green-house.  As  soon  as  the  plants  are 
thi-ee  inches  high,  prick  out  in  small  pots. 
The  young  plants  require  a  high  temperature 
and  liberal  waterings.  Seedlings  of  this 
species  vary  very  much  in  character,  and 
many  desirable  varieties,  such  as  C.  indivisa 
Veitchii,  atropurpurea,  lineata,  etc.,  are  in  culti- 
vation. C  Aiistralis  is  also  a  most  useful 
species,  the  leaves  being  broader  and  more 
drooping  and  graceful  than  the  foregoing.  A 
number  of  the  species  and  varieties  cultivated 
as  Draccenas,  are  placed  under  this  genus  by 
many  botanists,  they  being  nearly  all  varieties 
of  C.  terminalis  (Dracmna).  a  species  cultivated 
everywhere  throughout  the  tropics,  and  pro- 
ducing innumerable  varieties  from  seed. 

Coreo'psis.  From  koris,  a  bug,  and  opsis,  like ; 
referring  to  the  appearance  of  the  seeds.  Nat. 
Ord.  Compositae. 

Most  of  the  showy  annuals  formerly  known 
by  this  name  are  now  called  Calliopsis,  while 
most  of  the  perennial  species  are  still  left  in 
this  genus.  The  perennial  kinds  are  quite 
hardy,  the  taller  sorts  requiring  plenty  of 
room,  but  such  free-flowering,  showy  gems  as 
C.  auriculata,  C.  lanceolata,  and  C.  tenuifolia 
should  have  prominent  positions.  They  are 
valuable  also  for  cutting,  as  the  closer  the 
blooms  are  cut,  the  more  they  flower.  They 
are  propagated  by  division  of  the  roots,  or 
from  seed,  which,  if  sown  where  it  is  to  re- 
main, as  soon  as  ripe,  will  flower  early  the  fol- 
lowing summer.  The  many  species  are 
found  from  South  Carolina  southward  to 
Mexico. 

Coriaceous.     Having  the  consistence  of  leather. 

Coria'ndrum.  Coriander.  From  koris,  a  bug ; 
referring  to  the  smell  of  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord. 
Umbelliferce. 

C.  sativum,  the  only  species,  is  a  hardy 
annual,  and  a  native  of  the  south  of  Europe. 
It  is  a  plant  of  little  beauty,  and  of  the  easiest 
culture  It  is  grown  only  for  its  seeds,  which 
are  quite  aromatic,  and  much  used  in  flavor- 
ing. The  odor  and  taste  depend  upon  a  volatile 
oil. 

Co'ris  Monspeliensis.  The  only  species  of  the 
genus,  a  native  of  the  western  coasts  of  the 
Mediterranean  is  a  lowly-branching  herbaceous 
plant,  bearing  beautiful  bright  lilac  flowers  in 
dense  terminal  spicate  racemes.  It  belongs 
to  the  Primrose  family,  and  is  an  excellent 
plant  for  the  rock-garden.  Increased  by  seed, 
sown  as  soon  as  ripe. 

Cork  Tree.     Common.     Qmrcus  suber. 
E.  Indian.     Adansonia  digUata. 

Cork  Wood.     Hibiscus  tiliaceus. 
West  Indian.     Ockroma  Lagopus,  and  Anona 
palustris,  which  see. 

Cortn.  A  fleshy,  solid  underground  stem,  hav- 
ing the  appearance  of  and  often  called  a  bulb, 
and  from  which  it  is  distinguished  by  its  not 
being  scaly.  The  Gladiolus,  Crocus,  Babiana, 
Sparaxis,  etc.,  are  Corms. 

Com.     See  Zea. 


COR 

Corna'ceae.  A  small  natural  order  of  trees  and 
shrubs,  rarely  herbs,  natives  of  the  temperate 
parts  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  America.  The 
plants  are  used  as  tonics  and  in  agues.  From 
the  wood  of  C.  mascula,  the  Turks  obtain 
the  dye  for  their  red  fez.  Some  species  are 
grown  as  ornamental  plants,  and  the  common 
Dogwood,  which  is  very  heavy  and  solid,  is 
much  too  commonly  used  in  the  United  States 
for  baling  hay,  those  who  buy  the  haj'  very 
properly  esteeming  it  a  fraudulent  practice. 
There  are  nine  known  genera  and  forty  spe- 
cies. Comus,  Aucuba,  and  Benthamia  are 
illustrative  genera. 

Corn  Flag.     Gladiolus  segetum. 
Corn-flower.     Blue.     Centaurea  Cyanus. 

Corn-Lily.      Convolvulus    arvensis    and    C.    Se- 

piiiin. 
Corn-Marigold.     Chrysanthemum  segetum. 
Corn  Pink  and  Corn  Cockle.     Lychnis  Githago. 
Corn  Poppy.     Papaver  RhcBos. 
Com  Salad.     See  Valerianella, 
Corn  Thistle.     Carduus  arvensis. 
Cornel.     Comus  sanguinea. 

Dwarf.     Comus  suecica  and  C.  Canadensis. 

Corniculate.  Terminating  in  a  process  resem- 
bling a  horn,  as  the  fruit  of  Trapa  bicornis. 
If  there  are  two  horns  the  woi'd  bicornis  is 
used ;  if  three  horns,  tricornis,  and  so  on. 

Co'rnus.  Dogwood.  From  comu,  a  horn ;  in 
reference  to  the  hardness  of  the  wood.  Nat. 
Ord.  CornacecB. 

A  genus  consisting  principally  of  trees  and 
shrubs.  Some  of  the  latter  are  very  orna- 
mental, the  bark  of  the  branches  being  of  a 
brilliant,  glossy  red  in  winter,  and  the  leaves 
of  an  intense  purplish  red  in  autumn.  C. 
florida,  or  Flowering  Dogwood,  is  a  tree  grow- 
ing from  twelve  to  thirty  feet  high,  and  is 
common  in  rocky  woods  from  New  York  south- 
ward. It  is  an  interesting  species,  not  only 
for  its  symmetrical  growth,  but  for  its  large 
showy  flowers,  or  rather  the  involucres  which 
surround  the  flowers  (Avhich  are  pure  white 
inside  and  tinged  with  violet  on  the  outside), 
and  the  showy  fruit  which  succeeds  them.  It 
is  an  appropriate  and  popular  tree  for  ceme- 
teries and  a  fine  ornament  for  the  lawn.  C. 
Canadensis,  Bunch  Berry,  or  Dwarf  Cornel,  is 
a  small  herbaceous  species,  growing  aboub  six 
inches  high,  from  a  creeping  subterranean 
root-stock,  the  upper  leaves  crowded  into  an 
apparent  whorl  in  sixes  and  fours,  surround- 
ing the  clear  white  floral  involucres — one  of 
the  neatest  and  most  interesting  plants  for 
the  rock-garden.  It  is  common  in  damp,  cold 
woods  northward. 

Corolla.     That  part  of  a  flower  which  intervenes 
'  between    the    calyx    and    the   stamens.     Its 

parts,    which    are    called   petals,    are  almost 

always  colored. 

Corolliflo'rae.  A  sub-class  of  Dicotyledons  or 
Exogens,  characterized  by  the  petals  being 
united,  so  as  to  form  a  monopetalous  corolla, 
inserted  below  the  ovary,  and  by  the  stamens 
being  usually  attached  to  the  corolla,  but 
sometimes  inserted  separately  below  the 
ovary.  Such  orders  as  the  Heath  family,  the 
Gentians  and  the  Labiates  may  serve  as  illus- 
trations. 


104 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


COR 

Corona.  A  coronet ;  literally  a  crown.  Any 
appendage  that  intervenes  between  the  corolla 
and  stamens,  as  the  cup  of  a  Daffodil  or  the 
rays  of  a  Passion  Flower,  or  the  crown-like 
cup  which  is  found  at  the  orifice  of  the  tube 
of  the  corolla  of  the  Narcissus,  etc.  Corona 
slaminea,  is  a  coronet  formed  from  trans- 
formed stamens. 

Coroni'lla.  From  corona,  a  crown  or  garland ; 
in  reference  to  the  arrangement  of  ttie  flow- 
ers.    Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosx. 

A  genus  of  pretty  annual  and  perennial 
plants  found  in  Europe,  Asia  Minor  and  north 
Africa,  but  in  the  greatest  abundance  in  coun- 
tries bordering  on  the  Mediterranean  Sea. 
Several  of  the  green-house  species  are  very 
pretty  flowering  shrubs  of  easy  culture.  C. 
glauca  produces  its  bright  yellow,  pea-shaped 
flowers  in  abundance  during  the  winter,  and 
with  its  beautiful  variegated  variety  is  invalu- 
able for  winter  green-house  decoration.  Prop- 
agated by  cuttings  or  from  seeds,  which  ripen 
freely. 

Corpse  Plant.  One  of  the  popular  names  of 
the  Monotropa  uniflora,  a  low-growing  para- 
site on  roots,  or  growing  on  decomposing 
vegetable  matter,  like  a  fungus.  It  is  also 
called  Indian  Pipe. 

Co'rrea.  Named  after  Joseph  Correa,  a  Portu- 
guese botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  RutacecB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  shrubs, 
natives  of  New  South  Wales,  New  Holland 
and  Australia,  where  they  are  sometimes 
called  Fuchsias,  from  the  slight  resemblance 
the  flowers  have  to  the  Fuchsia.  Several  of 
the  species  have  long  been  grown  in  green- 
houses for  the  beauty  of  their  flowers,  which 
are  white,  scarlet  or  green  ;  produced  in  June. 
The  leaves  of  C.  alha  are  said  to  be  a  very 
good  substitute  for  tea.  Thej'  are  increased 
by  cuttings.     Introduced  in  1793. 

Corrugated.  When  the  parts  are  crumpled  up 
irregularly,  as  the  petals  of  the  Poppy  or  the 
skin  of  some  seeds. 

Cortex.    The  bark  or  cortical  layer. 

Corticate.  Like  bark ;  harder  externally  than 
internally ;  having  a  rind,  as  the  orange. 

Corya'nthBB.  Helmet  Flower.  From  korys,  a 
helmet,  and  anthos,  a  flower ;  in  reference  to 
the  shape  of  the  lip  or  labellum.  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidacece. 

A  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids  found  in  Mex- 
ico and  South  America.  Among  the  many 
curious  forms  peculiar  to  this  genus,  perhaps 
the  most  singular  is  that  of  C  macrantha, 
which  is  thus  described  in  the  Botanical  Reg- 
ister :  "  Tlie  plant  has  the  habit  of  a  Stanhopea, 
and  pushes  forth  from  the  base  of  its  pseudo- 
bulbs  a  pendulous  scape,  on  which  two  or 
three  flowers  are  developed.  Each  flower  is 
placed  at  the  end  of  a  long,  stiff,  cylindrical- 
furrowed  ovary,  and  when  expanded  measures 
something  more  than  six  inches  from  the  tip 
of  one  sepal  to  that  of  the  opposite  one.  The 
sepals  and  petals  are  nearly  of  the  same  color, 
being  of  an  ochrey  yellow,  spotted  irregularly 
with  dull  purple.  The  lip  is  as  fleshy  and 
solid  in  its  texture  as  the  sepals  and  petals  are 
delicate.  It  is  seated  on  a  deep  purple  stalk, 
nearly  an  inch  long ;  this  stalk  terminates  in  a 
hemispherical,  greenish-purple  cup  or  cap ; 
and  the  latter,  contracting  at  its  front  edge, 
extends  forward  into  a  sort  of  second  stalk  of 


COR 

a  very  vivid  blood-color,  the  sides  of  which 
are  thinner  than  the  center,  turned  back,  and 
marked  with  four  or  five  very  deep,  solid, 
sharp-edged  plaits.  These  edges  again  expand 
and  form  a  second  cup,  less  lobed  than  the 
first,  thinning  away  very  much  to  the  edges, 
of  a  broadly  conical  figure,  with  a  diameter 
of  at  least  two  inches  at  the  orifice ;  this 
second  cup  is  of  an  ochrey  yellow,  streaked 
and  spotted  with  pale  crimson,  and  seems 
intended  to  catch  a  watery  secretion,  which 
drips  into  it  from  the  succulent  horns,  taking 
their  origin  in  the  base  of  the  column,  and 
hanging  over  the  center  of  the  cup."  There 
are  several  species  of  the  genus,  all  of  which 
must  be  grown  in  a  hot  house.  Propagated 
by  division.    They  flower  in  June  and  July. 

Cory'dalis.  From  korydalos,  a  lark;  the  spur 
of  the  flower  resembling  that  of  the  lark.  Nat. 
Ord.  Fmnariaceoi. 

A  handsome  genus  of  hardy  tuberous  root- 
ed, heibaceous  plants.  Their  flowers  are 
showy,  and  of  many  shades  of  color.  They 
need  an  open  exposure.  The  perennial  kinds 
may  be  increased  by  division  of  the  tubers 
about  every  tlu'ce  years.  C.  7tobilis,  a  native 
of  Siberia,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and 
early  flowering  of  light  yellow  colored  hardy 
border  plants.  The  annual  species  require  to 
be  sown  in  March  where  they  are  to  remain. 
Several  of  the  species  are  indigenous,  grow- 
ing in  rocky  places,  and  grow  from  one  to 
three  feet  high,  bearing  flowers  of  various 
colors.  They  are  easily  projjagated  by  seeds, 
and  are  vei-y  pretty  plants  for  rock-work, 

Coryla'ceae.  This  order  founded  by  Lindley, 
of  which  the  principal  genera  are  Carpinus, 
Corytus,  Castanea,  Fagiis,  and  Qiiercus,  is  now 
included  under  CupiUiferm. 

Corylo'psis.  From  korylos,  the  Hazel  tree,  and 
opsis,  like ;  nut-like.  Nat.  Ord.  Hamameli- 
dacecB. 

Very  ornamental  and  interesting,  hardy 
deciduous  shrubs  ;  in  habit,  leaves  and  inflor- 
escence I'esembling  Hazels.  Flowers  appearing 
before  the  leaves  in  pendulous  racemes,  each 
flower  nearly  sessile  with  a  large  sheathing 
yellow  bract.  Natives  of  the  Himalayas  and 
Japan. 

Co'rylus.  Hazel-nut,  Filbert.  From  korys,  a 
hood  or  helmet;  in  reference  to  the  calyx 
covering  the  nut.     Nat.  Ord.  Corylacece. 

This  well-known  deciduous  shrub,  is  com- 
mon throughout  this  country  and  Europe. 
The  species  that  yields  the  Filbert  of  com- 
merce, C.  Avellana,  is  found  growing  in  great 
abundance  near  Avellana,  a  city  of  Naples, 
whence  the  specific  name.  It  is  a  strong  grow- 
ing shrub  from  ten  to  fifteen  fact  high. 
The  Filbert  is  monoecious;  the  male 
catkins  make  their  appearance  in  Sep- 
tember, on  the  previous  year's  growth, 
but  are  not  fully  developed  or  expanded  until 
the  succeeding  season,  when  the  female 
flowers  appear  about  the  first  of  February, 
and  in  April  they  are  in  full  flower.  The 
flowers  are  small  and  of  a  beautiful  red  color. 
The  fruit  of  this 
article  of  export 
native  of  Turkey 

tree,  often  reaching  a  height  of  sixty  feet  The 
nuts  are  larger  than  those  of  the  preceding 
species,  and  are  of  excellent  quality.  This 
countiy    is  represented    by    two  species,  C. 


Ill  ana  oi  a  oeautirui  rea  coior. 
is  species  forms  an  important    ^^^ 
t  from  Naples.     C.  Colurna,  a.t;^  • 
ey  and  Asia,  is  a  tall-growing  ^\^^ 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


105 


COR 

Americana  being  our  common  Hazel-nut.  The 
fruit  is  smaller  and  thicker-shelled  than  the 
European  species. 

Corymb.  A  raceme  whose  pedicels  grow  gi'ad- 
ually  shorter  as  they  approach  the  summit,  so 
that  the  result  is  a  flat-headed  inflorescence  or 
flower  head,  as  in  Candytuft,  etc.  A  Com- 
pound corymb  is  a  branched  corymb,  each  of 
whose  divisions  is  corymbose. 

Corymbi'ferae.  Corymb  -  bearing  composite 
plants,  a  sub-order  of  the  natural  order  Com- 
posit(B,  containing  plants  with  numerous 
flowers  on  a  common  receptacle,  forming  a 
head  surrounded  by  a  set  of  floral  leaves  or 
bracts  called  an  involucre.  Such  plants  as 
Chamomile,  Ox-eye  Daisy,  Dahlia,  Sunflower, 
Cineraria,  Ragwort,  Groundsel,  etc.,  belong 
to  this  sub-Older. 

Coryno'stylis.  From  koryne,  a  club,  and  stylos, 
a  column ;  alluding  to  the  club-shaped  style. 
Nat.  Ord.   ViolacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  handsome  climbing 
shrubs,  inhabiting  tropical  America.  C.  albi- 
Jlora,  is  a  beautiful  green-house  plant 
of  a  trailing  or  climbing  habit,  producing 
white,  trumpet-shaped  flowers,  about  two 
inches  in  length,  suspended  on  long  thread- 
like peduncles.  These  interesting  flowers, 
taken  in  profile,  present  the  appearance  of 
some  long  spurred  Tropeeolum,  while  on  the 
front  view  they  bear  a  resemblance  to  those 
of  a  gigantic  Violet.  Increased  by  cuttings  of 
the  young  wood,  or  by  seeds.  Introduced 
from  Para,  in  1870. 

Co'rypha.  Fan  Palm.  From  koryphe,  the  sum- 
mit ;  in  reference  to  the  leaves  growing  in 
tufts  on  the  top  of  this  Palm.  Nat.  Ord.  Pal- 
macecB. 

A  noble  genus  of  Palms,  growing  from  fif- 
teen to  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high.  They 
are  chiefly  natives  of  tropical  Asia.  The 
Talipot  Palm,  C.  umbraculifera,  is  a  native  of 
Ceylon  and  the  Malabar  coast,  where  it 
usually  grows  sixty  to  seventy  feet  high. 
The  leaves  have  prickly  stalks  six  or  seven 
feet  long,  and  when  fully  expanded  they  form 
a  nearly  complete  circle  of  thirteen  feet  in 
diameter.  Large  fans  are  made  of  these 
leaves,  which  are  carried  before  people  of 
rank  among  the  Cingalese.  They  are  also 
commonly  used  as  umbrellas,  and  tents  are 
made  by  neatly  joining  them  together,  being 
the  only  ones  in  use  for  the  soldiers  of  that 
country.  It  bears  no  fruit  until  the  last  year 
of  its  life,  when  it  throws  out  great  branches 
of  beautiful  yellow  flowers  that  emit  a  most 
disagreeable  odor.  The  fruit  is  borne  in  great 
abundance,  is  very  hard  and  round,  and  about 
the  size  of  a  large  cherry.  From  these  the 
plant  is  propagated,  and  requires  great  heat 
and  a  humid  atmosphere  to  grow  it  success- 
fully. This  species  was  introduced  in  1742. 
C.  australis  is  synonymous  with  Livistona 
australis. 

Corysa'nthus.  From  koryos,  a  helmet,  and 
anthos,  a  flower ;  flowers  helmet-shaped.  Nat. 
Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  genus  of  small  but  pretty  terrestrial 
swamp  orchids,  inhabiting  Australia  and 
Java,  but  little  seen  in  cultivation. 

Cosma'nthus.  A  genus  now  merged  in  Phacelia, 
which  see. 


COT 

Cosme'lia.  From  kosvfico,  to  adorn ;  in  reference 
to  the  beauty  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Epacri- 
dacecB. 

The  only  species,  C.  rubra,  is  a  b<»autiful 
dwarf  green-house  plant,  with  bright  red 
flowers  resembling  those  of  an  Epacris,  but 
larger  and  more  swollen  in  the  middle  of  the 
tube.  It  requires  to  have  plenty  of  air,  and 
is  improved  by  frequent  stopping  while  young. 
Propagated  freely  from  cuttings. 

Cosmidi'um.  A  genus  of  hardy  annuals,  re- 
cently formed  from  Calliopsis,  having  the 
same  general  character,  and  under  which  it 
is  usually  described.     Syn.  Thelesperma. 

Co'smos.  From  kosmos,  beautiful ;  in  reference 
to  the  ornamental  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
posite. 

Mexican  plants,  generally  grown  as  annuals, 
but  which  mostly  have  tuberous  roots  like  the 
Dahlia,  and  may  be  treated  like  that  plant. 
The  flowers  are  very  showy,  and  of  a  reddish 
purple  ;  the  seeds,  when  the  plants  are  grown 
as  annuals,  should  be  sown  in  March  or  April, 
in  a  frame  or  green-house ;  or  in  autumn,  if 
the  young  plants  can  be  protected  during 
winter.  The  plants  will  grow  four  or  five 
feet  high  in  any  garden  soil.  The  beautiful 
annual  species  C.  bipinnatus,  has  very  finely 
cut  featheiiy  foliage,  and  large  single  Dahlia- 
like fiowers,  ranging  in  color  from  white,  to 
deep  rose.  An  excellent  autumn  blooming 
sort,  and  valuable  for  cutting.  If  grown  in 
pots,  and  housed  by  the  end  of  September, 
it  will  give  a  succession  of  flowers  all  winter. 
Introduced  in  1799. 

Cossi'gnia.  Named  after  M.  Cossigny,  a  French 
naturalist.     Nat.  Ord.  Sapindacece. 

There  are  but  two  known  species  in  this 
genus,  both  small  evergreen  trees,  with  pin- 
nate leaves,  with  from  one  to  three  pairs  of 
oblong  leaflets  and  an  odd  one.  The  upper 
surface  of  the  leaves  is  richly  veined  with 
golden  yellow,  the  under  surface  covered  witn 
short  white  down.  The  flowers  are  small, 
white,  and  are  arranged- in  terminal  panicles. 
They  were  introduced  from  the  Mauritius  in 
1824.     Propagated  by  cuttings. 

Costa.  The  midrib  of  a  leaf ;  that  part  which  is 
a  direct  extension  of  the  petiole,  and  whence 
the  veins  arise  ;  a  leaf  may  have  several  costm. 

Costmary,  or  Alecost.     Tanacetum  Balsamita. 

Co'stus.  An  ancient  name  adopted  from  Pliny. 
Nat.  Ord.  Scitaminacete. 

A  genus  of  tropical  herbaceous  perennials, 
having  tuberous  roots,  somewhat  fleshy 
leaves,  and  flowers  in  spikes  with  over- lapping 
bracts.  C.  speciosus  is  a  very  ornamental 
warm  green-house  plant,  with  white  flowers, 
and  leaves  silky  beneath.  Its  roots  are  used 
by  the  natives  in  India  to  make  a  kind  of 
preserve.  They  are  of  easy  culture  and  are 
propagated  by  division  of  the  roots. 

Cotonea'ster.  From  Cotonea.  Pliny's  name  for 
the  quince,  in  reference  to  the  downy  leaves 
of  this  genus  being  similar  to  the  quince. 
Nat.  Ord.  Rosacem. 

A  genus  of  half-hardy,  deciduous  and  ever- 
green trees,  upright  and  trailing  shrubs,  in- 
habiting the  northern  parts  of  Europe  and  the 
mountains  of  India.  The  leaves  are  small 
and  entire  at  the  edge,  downy  beneath ;  the 
llowefs  are  white  or  pinkish,  and  produced  in 
lateral   clusters,  like    those  of    hawthorn,  or 


106 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF   PLANTS 


COT 

singly,  and  are  succeeded  by  scarlet,  and  occa- 
sionally black,  beri-y-like  fruit.  Loudon  says  : 
"  The  species  are  very  desirable  from  the 
beauty  of  their  foliage,  flowers,  and  fruit.  C. 
frigida  and  C.  affinis  in  particular,  producing 
fruit  in  great  abundance,  of  an  intense  scarlet 
color,  which  have  a  splendid  appearance,  and 
remain  on  the  trees  the  greater  part  of  the 
winter."  C  microphylla  is  a  yet  more  valua- 
ble plant.  In  this  species  the  branches  are 
trailing,  the  leaves  small  and  evergreen.  It 
is  perfectly  hardy  and  wherever  it  grows, 
ornamental;  its  deep  glossy  foliage,  which 
no  cold  will  impair,  is,  when  the  plant  is  in 
flower,  covered  with  snow-white  blossoms, 
rendering  it  a  very  desirable  plant  for  rock- 
work,  etc.  This  species  is  a  native  of  Nepaul, 
and  was  introduced  1825. 

Cotton.    See  Goasypium. 

Cotton-Grass.     The  common  name  of  the  genus 

Erio})horum. 
Cotton  Rose.  Filago  Germanica. 
Cotton  Thistle.     See  Onopordon. 
Cotton  Tree,  Silk.     See  Bombax. 
Cotton- Wood.     See  Populus. 

Cotyle'don.  Navelwort.  From  kotyle,  a  cav- 
ity ;  in  allusion  to  the  cup-like  leaves.  Nat. 
Ord.  Crassulacece. 

A  genus  of  succulent  plants,  with  fleshy 
leaves,  nearly  allied  to  the  House-leek,  and 
bearing  red  or  yellow  flowers.  They  are 
plants  of  no  great  beauty,  but  like  all  succu- 
lent plants,  are  -very  interesting.  The  orna- 
mental species  are  all  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  and  were  first  introduced  in  1690. 
They  are  propagated  by  cuttings  and  leaves, 
and  require  an  open,  sandy  soil.  Under  this 
one  genus  several  botanists  now  include 
Echeveria,  Pachvphytutn,  Pistorinia,  and  Utnbil- 
licus.  The  differences  are  at  the  best  merely 
botanical ;  the  culture  of  the  groups  is  iden- 
tical. 

Cotyledons.  The  seed  lobes;  the  primordial 
leaves  in  the  rudimentarj'  plant  or  embryo ; 
the  fleshy  leaves  that  appear  above  ground 
when  a  seedling  plant  begins  to  grow,  com- 
monly called  seed  leaves.  Monocotyledons 
have  only  one  such  leaf,  as  Gi'asses,  Lilies, 
Palms,  etc. ;  Dicotyledons  have  two,  as  the 
Maple,  Elm,  Pea,  Bean,  etc. 

Couch-Grass.  The  popular  name  of  Triticum 
repens. 

Coulte'ria.  In  honor  ot  Thomas  Coulter,  M.D., 
a  botanical  author.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  hot-house  shrubs, 
that  grow  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  high,  and 
produce  an  abundance  of  yellow  and  orange 
flowers.  Their  size  prevents  them  from  be- 
ing grown  except  in  botanical  collections. 
The  wood  ot  some  of  the  species  is  used  in 
dyeing. 

Couta'rea.  From  coutari,  its  name  in  Guiana. 
Nat.  Ord.  RubiacecB. 

This  fine  evergreen  tree  is  allied  to  Cinchona. 
It  requires  the  same  treatment,  and  its  bark 
has  much  the  same  medicinal  properties. 

Cow^a'nia.  In  commemoration  of  the  services 
rendered  to  botany  by  the  late  Mr.  James 
Cowan,  a  merchant,  who  introduced  a  num- 
ber of  plants  from  Mexico  and  Peru.  Nat. 
Ord.  RosaceoE. 


CEA 

C.  plicata,  the  only  species,  is  worth  far 
more  attention  than  it  has  hitherto  received. 
Its  flowers  are  large  and  handsome,  resem- 
bling those  of  a  Eose.  They  are  bright  red, 
and,  in  addition,  the  plant  is  a  shrub  of  ro- 
bust character,  nearly  hardy,  requiring  only 
to  be  protected  from  severe  frosts.  Propa- 
gated by  division.     It  is  a  native  of  Mexico. 

Cowbane.  The  popular  name  given  the  genus 
Archemora,  reputed  to  be  an  active  poison, 
particularly  to  cattle,  if  eaten  by  them.  It  is 
quite  common  in  swampy  grounds,  from  New 
York  to  Illinois  and  southward.  It  is  also 
called  Wild  Parsnip. 

Cowberry.  One  of  the  common  names  of  Vac- 
cinium,  which  see. 

Cow-Herb.     See  Vaccaria. 

Cow-Itch.     See  Mucuna.. 

Cov7-Parsnip.  The  common  name  of  Herajy 
Ipum,  a  coarse  growing,  weedy  plant,  some- 
times used  in  medicine,  but  of  doubtful  repu- 
tation. 

Cowrie  Pine,     Dammara  australis. 

Cowslip.     See  Primula. 

American.     Dodecathcon  Meadia. 

Cow-Tree.     See  Brosimum. 

Cow  Vetch.     Vicia  Cracca. 

Cow  "Wheat.     The  genus  Melampyrum. 

Crab  Apple.    See  Pyrus. 

Crab-Grass.  Called  also  Dog's  Tail,  or  Wire- 
Grass,  popular  names  of  the  genus  Eleusine,  a 
native  of  India,  but  extensively  naturalized 
in  this  country. 

Crab's  Claw  Cactus.     See  Epiphyllum. 

Crab's  Eyes.     The  seeds  of  Abrus  precatorius. 

Cra'mbe.  Sea-Kale.  The  name  crambe  is  de- 
rived from  the  Greek  name  for  Sea-cabbage. 
Nat.  Ord.  Cruciferm. 

A  genus  of  hardy  perennials.  C.  maritima, 
the  best  known  species,  is  a  native  of  the 
west  coast  of  England,  where  it  grows  in 
great  abundance  in  the  clean  sand  and  gravel. 
The  common  people  have  from  time  imme- 
morial, been  in  il;e  practice  of  watching  the 
appearance  of  the  shoots  and  leaf-stalks 
closely,  as  they  appear  in  early  spring,  when 
they  cut  them  off  under  ground  in  the  same 
manner  as  we  do  Asparagus.  These  young 
shoots,  when  cooked,  are  by  many  con- 
sidered superior  to  either  Asparagus  or  Cauli- 
flower. Sea-Kale  is  only  fit  for  use  in  a 
blanched  state,  which  is  easily  done.  In 
early  spring  the  crowns  should  be  covered 
with  sand,  or  some  light  mulching  that  will 
exclude  the  young  shoot  from  light,  the  cover- 
ing being  from  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  in 
depth.  By  the  time  the  young  leaves  are 
through  this  mulching  they  will  be  perfectly 
blanched  and  fit  for  use.  It  is  a  common 
practice  with  gardeners  to  cover  the  crowns 
with  an  inverted  flower-pot,  and  by  others 
the  whole  bed  is  covered  with  manure. 
Either  plan  will  prove  satisfactory.  See 
"  Forcing  Vegetables."  Sea-Kale  is  increased 
by  seed  or  root  cuttings,  the  latter  plan  being 
preferable.  The  roots  should  be  taken  up 
in  the  fall,  cut  in  pieces  two  to  three  inches 
long,  and  these  placed  in  boxes  of  sand  in  a 
dry  cellar  until  the  weather  is  settled  in 
spring,  when  they  may  be  planted  out  in 
rows,  three  feet  apart,  and  about  nine  inches 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


107 


CRA 

between  the  plants.  "With  this  treatment 
many  of  the  crowns,  under  favorable  circum- 
stances, will  be  strong  enough  to  yield  a  crop 
the  next  season. 

Cranberry.     See  Oxycoccus. 

Cranberry -Tree.     See  Viburnum  opulus. 

Crane-fly  Orchis.     See  Tipularia. 

Cranesbill.     See  Geranium. 

Crape  Myrtle.     See  Lagersfro^mia. 

Cra'ssula.  A  diminutive  of  crassus,  thick ;  in 
reference  to  the  fleshy  leaves  and  stems.  Nat. 
Ord.  Crassulaceoe. 

Succulent  green-house  plants,  natives  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  with  heads  of  red  or 
white  flowers.  All  the  Crassulas  should  have 
alternate  seasons  of  stimulus  and  repose. 
"When  they  are  growing,  and  about  to  flower, 
they  should  be  well  watered,  and  when  the 
flowers  begin  to  fade,  the  supply  of  water 
should  be  gradually  lessened,  till  at  last  very 
little  is  given.  The  plants  are  propagated  by 
cuttings,  which  should  be  laid  on  a  shelf  two 
or  three  days  to  dry  before  planting,  or  they 
may  rot.  Most  of  the  species  are  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  have  been  in  cultiva- 
tion more  than  a  century. 

Crassula'oeae.  An  extensive  natural  order 
consisting  generally  of  succulent  herbs  or 
shrubs.  Natives  of  dry  places  in  all  parts  of 
the  world.  They  are  found  on  rocks,  old 
walls  or  hot,  sandy  plains,  exposed  to  the 
heaviest  dews  at  night,  and  the  scorching 
rays  of  the  mid-day  sun.  Some  species  are 
astringent.  Sedum  acre  is  very  acrid,  and  is 
hence  called  Wall  Pepper.  Sempervivum  tec- 
torum,  the  House-leek,  is  so  called  from  being 
grown  in  some  places  on  the  tops  of  houses. 
Bryophyllum  calijcimim  possesses  the  property 
of  producing  leaf-buds  along  the  margins  of  its 
leaves.  There  are  over  fourteen  genera,  in- 
cluding Crassula,  Sedum,  Sempervivum,  Pen- 
thorum,  etc.,  and  over  4(X)  species. 

Cratae'gus.  The  Hawthorn.  From  kratos, 
strength ;  in  reference  to  the  strength  and 
hardness  of  the  wood.     Nat.  Ord.  RosacecB. 

A  well  known  family  of  moderate-sized 
trees,  commonly  called  thorns.  They  are 
found  throughout  the  United  States,  Europe 
and  the  temperate  regions  of  Asia  and  Africa. 
There  is  a  great  resemblance  to  each  other  in 
all  the  species,  both  as  to  the  shape  of  '  he 
leaves  and  color  of  the  flowers.  The  English 
Hawthorn,  C.  oxyacantha,  so  commonly  used 
as  a  hedge  plant,  will  not  stand  the  severity 
of  our  Avinters,  at  least  much  north  of  New 
York,  with  a  certainty  that  would  warrant  its 
use  here.  Single  specimens  are  often  met,  in 
old  gardens,  of  great  age  and  size.  The 
Hawthorns  are  remarkable  not  only  for  their 
fragrant  flowers  and  ornamental  fruit,  but  for 
the  variations  common  in  both.  The  flowers 
are  usually  white,  but  in  the  cultivated  varie- 
ties vary  to  pink  and  ci'imson.  The  fruit  is 
sometimes  globular,  sometimes  oblong,  but 
generally  smooth  and  polished,  and  in  some 
quite  downy ;  while  the  color  is  from  black 
and  dark  red,  to  orange-yellow  and  white. 
The  double-flowering  varieties  are  especially 
beautiful.  Some  of  our  nAtive  species  are 
among  the  most  ornamental  low  trees  we 
have  in  our  gardens,  being,  when  in  bloom, 
corflpletely  covered  with  pure  white  flowers 
of  delicious  fragrance.       From   the   time   of 


CRE 

their  coming  into  flower  they  have  been 
quite  commonly  called  the  May-tree.  From 
the  perfect  hardiness  of  the  species,  their 
ornamental  appearance  both  in  flower  and 
fruit,  which  never  fails,  they  should  be 
cultivated  in  preference  to  the  foreign 
kinds.  Propagated  usually  by  seeds,  which 
not  unfrequently  take  two  years  to  germi- 
nate. A  double-flowering  variety,  sent  from 
France,  is  a  tree  of  great  beauty,  the 
flowers  being  briglit  rosy  pink,  not  unlike  the 
flowering  Almond,  but  of  greater  substance. 
This  variety  is  not  considered  hardy  north  of 
Philadelphia.  The  great  drawback  to  its 
culture  is  its  being  subject  to  the  attacks  of 
the  "  borer."  It  is  propagated  by  cuttings  or 
by  budding  on  tiie  more  common  varieties. 
C  Pyracantha,  the  Evergreen  Thorn,  has 
fruit  of  a  bright  scarlet  color,  about  the  size 
of  a  pea,  remaining  on  the  tree  all  winter. 
There  is  another  variety  with  bright  yellow 
berries.  They  avo  both  valuable  for  lawn 
decoration,  and  make  excellent  hedge  plants. 
The  whole  species  grow  well  in  a  soil  that  is 
naturally  dry ;  wet  or  marshy  situations  are 
wholly  unsuited  to  them. 

Crazy  Weed.     See  Astragalus. 

Crawfu'rdia.  In  honor  of  Sir  John  Crawfurd, 
governor  of  Singapore.  Nat.  Ord.  GentiuncecB. 
This  genus  consists  of  two  species,  both 
herbaceous  climbing  plants,  closely  allied  to, 
and  formerly  included  in,  the  genus  Gentiana. 
C.  Ja^o?iica  (Climbing  Gentian),  a  native  of 
Japan,  is  an  exceedingly  beautiful  plant,  at- 
taining a  height  of  six  feet,  and  producing 
large  axillary  bell-shaped  flowers  of  a  deep 
blue  color.  C.  fasciculata  (fascicle  flowered),  a 
native  of  the  Himalayas,  is  a  similar  species, 
but  not  so  tall.  Propagated  by  division  or 
from  seed.  Both  species  are  of  recent  intro- 
duction into  the  gaiden. 

Creeper.     Properly,  a  plant  that  trails  on  the 

ground. 
Creeping   Charlie.     A  popular  name   of   Lysi- 

machia  nummtdaria. 
Creeping     Forget-Me-Nct.       See    OmphaLodes 

verna. 
Creeping  Jack.     Sedum  acre. 
Creeping  Jenny.     Lysimachia  nummularia. 
Creeping  Myrtle.     See  Vinca. 
Creeping  Sailor.     Sa.xifraga  sarmentosa. 
Creeping  Stem.     In  common  usage,  applied  to 

stems   growing  horizontally,  both  above  and 

under  ground.     An  underground  stem. 

Crenate.  Having  convex  flat  teeth,  or  rounded 
or  scolloped  notches. 

Crenulate.     Having  small  round  notches. 

Creosote  Plant.     See  Larrea. 

Cre'pis.  From  krepis,  a  slipper.  Hawksbeard, 
Nat.  Ord.  Compositm. 

A  genus  of  herbaceous  plants  consisting  of 
about  one  hundred  and  thirty  species,  very 
few  of  which  are  of  much  interest.  Two  of  the 
few  worth  growing  are  C.  aurea  and  C  rubra. 
The  first  is  a  neat  border  perennial,  and  the 
latter  a  very  pretty  annual.  They  are  both 
of  easy  cultivation. 

Crescentia.  Named  after  Pietro  Crescenzi,  an 
Italian  writer  on  agricultui-e.  Nat.  Ord. 
Bignoniacem. 


108 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


ORE 

A  genus  of  large  evergreen  spreading  trees, 
with  large  solitary  flowers,  rising  from  the 
trunk  or  branches.  They  are  all  natives  of 
tropical  America,  and  are  increased  by  cut- 
tings of  the  ripened  wood.  C  Cujete,  is  the 
Calabash  Tree. 

Cress.    Garden.    See  Lepidium. 

American  or  Land.      Barbarea  prcecox.    This 
much  resembles  "Water  Cress  in  flavor ;  the 
leaves  may  be  used  for  the  same  purposes 
as  common  Cress. 
Indian.     TropcEolum  majus. 
Water.     See  Nasturtium  officinale. 

Cre'ssa.  From  crcfisa,  a  native  of  Crete  ;  the  plant 
is  plentiful  there.     Nat.  Ord.  Convolvulacew. 

A  curious  little  annual,  rarely  seen  in  our 
collections.  The  flowers  are  funnel-shaped, 
of  a  lively  purple,  and  freely  produced.  It. 
requires  but  little  care  or  nursing,  if  planted 
in  a  light,  rich  soil.  There  is  but  one  species, 
C.  Crelica,  wiiich  is  a  native, of  the  Levant. 
Introduced  in  1822. 

Crested.  Having  an  elevated,  irregular,  or 
notched  ridge  resembling  the  crest  of  a  hel- 
met ;  a  stamen  is  crested  when  the  filament 
projects  beyond  the  anther  and  becomes 
dilated.  This  term  is  chiefly  applied  to  seeds, 
and  to  the  appendages  of  anthers.  It  also 
belongs  to  bracts  which  form  with  their  edges 
an  appearance  like  that  of  a  crest.  The  term 
is  often  applied  to  the  Moss  Rose. 

Crested  Dog-tail  Grass.    See  Cynosurus. 

Crimson  Flag.     See  Schizostylis. 

Crimson  Trefoil.  Trifolium  incarnafum.  An 
annual  species,  used  largely  in  Italy  and  the 
south  of  France  for  feeding  gi-een.  The  yield 
in  fodder  is  immense,  as,  in  warm  climates, 
four  to  Ave  cuttings  can  be  made  in  a  season. 
The  blossoms  are  long,  pointed,  and  of  a  deep 
red  or  carmine  color. 

Cri'num.  From  krinon,  the  Greek  name  of  the 
Lily.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidacem. 

This  is  a  fine  genus  of  bulbous  plants,  grow- 
ing from  a  foot  and  a  half  to  five  feet  in  height. 
The  flowers  are  large,  produced  freely  in 
umbels,  and  many  of  them  are  richly  scented 
and  of  pleasing  colors.  To  grow-them  well 
they  should  be  potted  in  rich  loam  full  of 
fibrous  matter,  and,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
growing  season,  thej'  should  have  the  benefit 
of  a  moderate  bottom  heat,  with  abundance  of 
water  every  day,  and  an  additional  soaking  of 
liquid  manure  about  once  a  week.  In  winter, 
of  course,  this  must  be  discontinued,  and  the 
plants  placed  where  they  may  receive  all  the 
light  possible,  in  order  to  mature  the  new 
growth  and  induce  them  to  flower  freely  the 
following  season.  C.  amabile  is  a  noble  spe- 
cies, requiring  to  be  grown  in  a  strong  heat. 
The  bulbs  grow  six  to  eight  inches  in  diameter, 
and  two  feet  long,  and  sometimes  produce, 
both  spring  and  fall,  immense  spikes  of  dark 
purple  flowers,  of  delicious  fragrance.  This 
species  is  a  native  of  the  East  Indies,  and  was 
introduced  in  1810.  The  genus  is  very  large, 
and  the  species  ai-e  found  in  nearly  all  tropical 
and  sub-tropical  countries.  Propagated  by 
oifsets. 

Crispate,  Crispus.  "When  the  edge  is  exces- 
sively and  irregularly  divided  and  puckered  ; 
also  when  the  surface  is  much  puckered  and 
crumpled.  Well-known  examples  are  afforded 
by  Curled    Parsley,   Curled    Endive,    Curled 


CRO 

Kale,  etc.    Crispate  is  also  a  diminutive  of 
Bullate,  which  see. 

Crista'ria.  From  crista,  a  crest ;  in  reference  to 
the  form  of  the  seed  vessel.  Nat.  Ord.  Mal- 
vacece. 

A  pretty  hardy  herbaceous  perennial  from 
the  Southwestern  States,  producing  quite 
showy  scarlet  flowers  in  terminal  racemes  or 
clusters.  Propagated  by  division  of  the  roots 
or  f-i-om  seeds,  which  however  require  some 
time  to  produce  flowering  plants. 

Croceus,  Crocatus.     Saffron-colored. 

Croco'smia.  From  crocus,  saffron,  and  o.s«»«, 
smell ;  alluding  to  the  odor  of  saffron  exhaled 
by  the  dried  flowers,  when  immersed  in  warm 
water.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

C.  aurea,  the  only  species,  is  a  beautiful 
Ixia-like  plant,  with  large,  deep  orange-colored 
flowers,  somewhat  resembling  those  of  the 
crocus  in  form.  The  corms  are  fleshy,  like 
those  of  the  Trifonia,  in  which  genus  it  was 
formerly  includi'd ;  it  can  be  grown  in  the 
cold  frame,  and  is  increased  by  offsets. 

Cro'cus.  A  Chaldean  name,  applied  by  Theo- 
phrastus.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacew. 

Of  this  well-known  genus  there  are  many 
species,  mostly  found  in  the  southern  and 
eastern  parts  of  Europe,  and  in  Asia  Minor. 
As  a  garden  flower  the  species  are  almost 
entirely  lost  siglit  of  in  the  large  number  of 
varieties  that  have  been  produced  by  hybrid- 
izing. They  are  divided  into  two  classes :  the 
first,  those  that  flower  in  early  spring,  too 
well  known  to  need  description ;  the  second, 
the  autumnal-flowering  or  naked  Crocus,  so 
called  because  the  flowers  are  produced  in  the 
absen(^e  of  leaves,  which,  with  the  seeds,  are 
produced  in  the  spring.  The  spring-flowering 
Crocus  is  of  the  easiest  culture,  and  we  need 
only  remark  that  it  is  a  mistake  to  put  them 
into  poor  ground,  since  no  plants  in  our  gar- 
dens delight  more  in,  or  make  greater  returns 
for,  rich  soil.  They  require  a  dry  situation, 
and  in  such  a  place  and  soil  they  flower  pro- 
fusely. The  bulbs  orcorms  should  be  planted 
at  least  three  inches  deep ;  for,  as  the  new 
corm  forms  above  the  old  one,  they  will,  in 
three  or  four  years,  push  themselves  out  of 
the  ground  if  planted  too  near  the  surface.  As 
often  as  once  in  three  years  the  corms  should 
be  taken  up,  separated,  and  planted  out  as 
qviickly  as  possible ;  the  longer  they  are  left 
out  of  ground  the  weaker  they  become,  and 
the  later  they  will  come  into  bloom.  In  start- 
ing a  new  bed  the  corms  should  be  planted  as 
soon  as  they  can  be  obtained,  which  is  usually 
about  the  first  of  Septeiuber.  If  left  until 
November,  as  is  the  too  common  practice, 
very  few  will  flower  strongly  the  coming  sea- 
son, and  none  satisfactorily.  When  left  in 
the  ground,  they  commence  new  life  about  the 
first  of ,  September,  and  before  winter  they 
have  their  preparations  for  spring  work  com- 
plete ;  the  flower  buds  will  be  nearly  their 
full  length  above  the  bulb,  ready  for  the  first 
sunny  days  in  March  to  break  forth  into 
bloom.  One  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  Crocus 
is,  that  when  they  are  in  flower,  the  germen, 
or  seed  vessel,  is  still  under  ground,  almost 
close  to  the  bulb ;  and  it  is  not  till  some  weeks 
after  the  flower  has  decayed  that  it  emerges 
on  a  white  peduncle,  and  ripens  its  seeds 
above  the  ground.  The  situation  for  the  Cro- 
cus bed  should  be  a  warm  one,  and  before 


tBFhS   (IPLANIi) 


CRUCIANELLA. 


CUCUKBIXA  (OOUKD). 


CBOTON  ATJEEA  MACULATA. 


CCRCULIGO  EECUEVATA  VAKIEfSATA. 


CEOTON  VAB.  CHAri.ENGEE. 


OUCUBBITA    DEPEESSA. 


cucinyiis  flexugsus. 


CEAMBE   MABITIMA   (SEA  EAJLE). 


CUFBEA  MINIATA. 


CUCUMBER  (EAST  INDIA  aHERKIl*>. 


CUCUMBERS  (VARIETIES   OF). 


■09 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


109 


CRO 

hard  frosts  it  may  be  mulched  two  or  three 
inches  with  leaves  or  coarse  litter,  which  is 
to  be  talcuii  off  as  soon  in  spring  as  the  season 
will  warrant.  The  mulching,  however,  may 
be  omitted  where  it  is  not  convenient  to  apply 
It.  C.  sathutH,  which  is  the  type  of  the 
autumnal-Jlowering  species,  should  be  planted 
in  midsummer,  and  it  will  come  into  flower  in 
September.  All  the  species  and  varieties  are 
increased  by  offsets.  Their  introduction  into 
British  gardens  dates  back  as  far  as  1600. 
The  named  varieties  bear  very  large  flowers, 
and  are,  in  ah  respects,  very  great  improve- 
ments upon  the  older  kinds. 
Crops,  Rotation  of.     See  Rotation. 

Crossa'ndra.  Fnmi  krossos,  a  fringe,  and  aner, 
andros,  an  anther  ;  in  reference  to  the  anthers 
being  fringed.     Nat.  Ord.  Acanthacece. 

Beautiful  evergreen  free-flowering  shrubs, 
with  large  flowers  in  teriuinal,  four-cornered 
spikes.  There  are  five  species,  one  of  which 
is  a  native  of  the  East  Indies  ;  the  others  are 
from  tropical  Africa  and  Madagascar.  All  are 
of  easy  culture  and  may  be  readily  increased 
by  cuttings. 

Cross-Wort.  A  common  name  for  the  genus 
Crucianella. 

Crotala'ria.  From  krotalon,  a  castanet;  the 
seeds  are  inflated  pods,  and  rattle  when 
shaken.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosm. 

..  This  is  an  extensive  genus,  and  a  few  of  its 
species  are  particularly  beautiful.  The  green- 
house kinds  are  to  be  preferred.  All  of  them 
grow  I'eadily  in  loamy  soil,  the  chief  point  in 
their  culture  being  to  observe  that  the  young 
shoots  are  stopped  once  or  twice  in  the  early 
part  of  their  growth,  in  order  to  counteract 
their  natural  tendency  to  grow  upright,  and 
become  what  is  technically  expressed  as  "long- 
legged."  One  of  the  principal  discourage- 
ments in  growing  these  plants  is  the  dilficulty 
of  preserving  them  from  tne  attacks  of  the 
red  spider.  The  annuals  are  grown  from 
seed,  and  the  perennial  kinds  are  increased 
from  cuttings.  The  species  are  pretty  gen- 
erally found  from  the  West  to  the  East  Indies. 
Some  of  the  annuals  are  found  in  the  Southern 
States. 

Cro'ton.  From  kroton,  a  tick  ;  in  reference  to 
the  lesemblance  of  the  seeds.  Nat.  Ord. 
Euphorb  iacece . 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  shrubs  of 
great  beauty,grown  for  their  variegated  foliage, 
they  being  among  the  most  strongly  marked 
plants  in  cultivation  (yellow  and  green,  some- 
times red  with  the  other  colors).  They  are 
readily  propagated  by  cuttings,  with  a  bottom 
heat  of  not  less  than  75°,  and  require  a  high 
temperature  and  full  sunlight  to  develop  their 
markings.  Leaf  mould  is  an  essential  ele- 
ment in  the  compost  for  potting.  Water 
should  be  sparingly  used,  particularly  in 
winter.  They  do  best  in  small  pots,  and  as 
ornamental  plants  for  decoration,  they  have 
no  superior.  Notwithstanding  their  great 
beauty,  they  are  also  classed  with  the  eco- 
nomic or  useful  plants.  C.  Tiglium  furnishes 
the  Croton  oil,  a  most  powerful  purgative.  C. 
tinctorum  is  used  to  dye  both  silk  and  wool  of 
an  elegant  blue  color.  The  substance  for  this 
purpose  is  called  Tumsol,  and  is  made  of  the 
juice  which  is  lodged  between  the  calyx  and 
the  seeds.     C.  Eleuteria  furnishes  the  Casca- 


CRU 

rilla  bark,  which  has  a  pleasant,  spicy  odor, 
and  a  bitter,  warm,  aromatic  taste,  and  it  is 
considered  a  valuable  medicine.  The  species 
are  nearly  all  natives  of  the  East  Indies,  and 
were  first  introduced  in  1748.  Syn.  Codiceum, 
under  which  genus  the  large  number  of  culti- 
vated variegated  sorts  are  now  placed.  See 
Codiceum. 

Crow^-berry.     Empetrum  nigrum. 

Crow'ea.  Name  I  after  J.  Crowe,  a  British  bota- 
nist.      Nat.  Ord.  Rutacece. 

A  genus  of  beautiful  green-house  shrubs, 
consisting  of  but  two  species,  C.  latifolia  and 
C.  saligna,  both  lovely  objects  when  in  flower, 
which  is  nearly  two-thirds  of  the  year.  They 
are  in  the  greatest  perfection  during  the  win- 
ter months.  The  flowers  are  lily-shaped,  of  a 
beautiful  purple,  and  borne  at  the  axil  of  the 
leaves.  They  are  easily  propagated  from  cut- 
tings, and  should  be  grown  in  a  mixture  of 
leaf  mould  and  loam.  Water  should  be  spar- 
ingly given,  or  the  plants  will  have  a  sickly, 
yellow  appearance.  Both  species  are  natives 
of  New  South  Wales,  and  were  introduced  in 
1790. 

Crowfoot.     See  Ranunculvs. 

Crown  Imperial.     See  Fritillaria. 

Cruciane'lla.  Crosswort.  A  diminutive  of 
crux,  a  cross ;  alluding  to  the  leaves  being 
placed  crosswise.    Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacecs. 

A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  and  green- 
house plants  of  but  little  interest.  C.  stylosa, 
a  native  of  Persia  and  the  Caucasus,  is  a  low- 
tufted  herb  with  rose-colored  flowers,  which 
blooms  during  the  greater  part  of  the  summer. 
It  is  a  desirable  plant  for  rockeries.  Propa- 
gated by  cuttings  or  from  seed. 

Cruciate  or  Cruciform.  Shaped  like  a  cross. 
A  flower  is  said  to  be  cruciate,  when  four 
petals  are  placed  opposite  each  other  at  right 
angles,  as  in  any  of  the  Brassica  tribe. 

Cruci'ferae.  A  large  and  important  order  of 
annual,  biennial  or  perennial  herbs,  rarely 
suffruticose.  They  are  very  generally  distri- 
buted, but  abound  most  in  the  cold  and  tem- 
perate regions,  especially  in  Europe.  They 
are  all  nitrogenous  (and  contain  sulphur), 
pungent,  stimulant,  anti-scorbutic,  often 
acrid.  Not  one  of  them  is  poisonous,  but 
many  are  culinary  vegetables.  The  order 
contains  some  well-known  flowering  plants, 
such  as  the  Stock,  Wall-flower,  Rocket, 
etc.  Brassica  oleracea  is  the  origin  of  the 
Cabbage,  Cauliflower,  Broccoli,  Savoy  and 
Curled  Kale.  Brassica  Rapa  is  the  origin  of  the 
Turnip,  but  the  Swedish  Turnip  is  thought  by 
some  to  be  a  variety  of  Brassica  camj^estris, 
while  others  think  it  is  a  hybrid  between  B. 
Rapa  and  B.  Napus,  the  wild  Navew  Eape,  or 
Coleseed.  Crambe  maritima  supplies  Sea- 
Kale,  which  is  blanched  to  fit  it  for  the  table. 
Some  plants  of  the  order  are  pungent,  as  Sin- 
apis  nigra,  Black  Mustard,  from  the  seeds  of 
Avhich  the  best  mustard  is  made ;  S.  alba. 
White  Mustard,  is  less  pungent.  Other  pun- 
gent plants  are  Lepidium  sativum,  common 
Cress;'  JSuslurium  officinale.  Water  Cress; 
Cochlearia  Armoracia,  Horse-Radish  ;  and 
Raphanus  sativus,  the  Radish.  Isatis  tinctoria, 
Woad,  yields  a  blue  dye  ;  and  /.  indigolica  is 
used  as  Indigo  in  China.  Cochlearia  officinalis 
grows  on  the  sea-siiore,  and  has  been  used  by 
ships'   crews  affected  with  scurvy,  and  lias 


110 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OP  PLANTS 


CBY 

hence  been  called  Scurvy  Grass.  The  seeds 
of  many  species  yield  an  oil,  such  as  oil  of 
Mustard,  Eape  oil,  and  Camelina  oil,  and  the 
cake  left  after  pressing  the  oil  from  Rape 
seed  is  used  as  food  for  cattle.  There  are 
about  170  known  genei'a,  and  1,200  species. 
Brassica,  Clieiranthiis,  Erysimum,  Arabis, 
Lunaria,  Draba,  Teesdalia,  Hesperis,  Isatis, 
Capsella,  etc.,  are  illustrative  genera. 
Crypta'nthus.  A  genus  of  Bromeliads,  closely 
allied  to  Billbergia  and  Tillandsia,  and  requir- 
ing the  same  general  treatment. 

Cryptochi'lus.  From  kryptoPi,  hidden,  and  chei- 
los,  a  lip ;  the  lip  or  labellum  being  partly 
hidden  by  the  sepals.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

An  interesting  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids 
from  the  cooler  pai'ts  of  India.  There  are  but 
two  species,  one  producing  brilliant  scarlet 
flowers  on  a  one-sided  spike,  while  the  other 
has  smaller  yellow  flowers  produced  in  the 
same  manner.  They  require  the  same  treat- 
ment as  Stanhopea. 

Cryptoco'ryne.  From  kryptos,  hidden,  and 
koryne,  a  club;  the  club-shaped  spadix  or 
spike  in  the  center  of  the  flower  is  hidden  by 
the  hooded  spathe.  Nat.  Ord.  Aroidece.  Allied 
to  Arum. 

Herbaceous  perennial  marsh  plants  with 
tuberous  creeping  roots.  They  produce  the 
same  peculiar-looking  flowers  as  the  Arums, 
but  are  sweet-scented,  and  require  the  same 
treatment  as  the  tropical  species  of  Arum. 
Propagated  by  division.  Introduced  from  the 
East  Indies  in  1S24. 

Cryptoga'mia.  Ciyptogams.  Many  names 
have  been  applied  to  the  vast  class  of  plants 
comprehended  under  this  name,  such  as 
Asexual,  or  Flowerless  Plants,  Acrogens, 
Agamse,  Anandrse,  Acotyledons,  Cryptogams, 
Crj'ptophyta,  Cellulares,  Exembryonata,  etc. 
Of  these  the  term,  Cryptogamia,  has  been 
adopted  by  Berkeley  and  others  as  being  the 
least  objectionable  in  our  present  state  of 
knowledge.  Under  this  name  are  included  all 
those  plants  called  by  Linnaeus  Cryptogamia, 
because  he  was  unable  to  discover  their  organs 
of  fertilization,  if  they  had  any.  They  compre- 
hend Sea- weeds,  Fungi,  Lichens,  Mosses, 
Ferns  and  their  allies.  It  is  now  known 
that  all  are  multiplied  by  a  sexual  apparatus 
in  structure  wholly  different  from  that  of 
Pheenogamous  plants,  but  in  function  the 
same.  In  the  higher  orders,  that  is  to  say,_ 
in  Ferns,  Lycopods,  and  Horsetails,  the  plant, 
properly  so  called,  does  not  proceed  directly 
from  the  spore  or  seed,  but  from  a  rudiment- 
ary intermediate  organ,  called  prothallium,  on 
which  the  organs  of  fertilization  are  formed, 
these  organs  not  producing  a  spore  or  seed, 
but  the  very  plant  itself. 

Cryptogra'mme.  A  genus  of  hardy  ferns 
syuouymous  yv ith  Alloi^orus,  which  see. 

Cryptome'ria.  Japan  Cedar.  From  kryptos, 
hidden,  and  meris,  a  part ;  the  structure  of 
all  the  parts  of  the  flower  being  hidden,  or  not 
easily  und(;rstood.    Nat.  Ord.  Coniferce. 

C.  Japonica,  of  which  there  are  many  forms, 
is  a  splendid  evergreen  tree,  from  sixty  to 
one  hundred  feet  high,  from  the  north  of 
Japan,  where  it  is  found  in  moist  situations. 
It  is  hardy  in  this  country,  south  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  requires  a  rich  deep  soil,  with 
plenty  of  moisture  and  protection  from  cutting 


cue 

winds  to  fully  develop  its  beauty.  It  was 
introduced  in  1846,  and  is  increased  by  seeds 
or  by  cuttings. 
Cryptoste'gia.  From  kryptos,  hidden,  and 
stego,  to  cover ;  alluding  to  the  corona  being 
concealed  within  the  tube  of  the  corolla.  Nat. 
Ord.  Asclepiadacem. 

A  small  genus  of  pretty  twining  green-house 
shrubs,  consisting  of  two  species  C.  grandiflora 
and  C.  Madagascar iensis,  the  one  from  India, 
the  other  from  Madagascar.  They  are  interest- 
ing plants,  having  opposite  leaves,  and  produce 
large,  reddish-white  flowers  in  terminal  cymes. 
Propagated  by  cuttings.  Introduced  in  lhl8. 

Cryptoste'mma.  From  kryptos,  hidden,  and 
steinma,  a  crown ;  the  crown  of  the  flower 
being  hidden.     Nat.  Ord.   Composilm. 

A  small  genus  of  tender  annuals  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The  flowers  are  bright 
golden  yellow,  borne  on  hairy  stems,  and  are 
very  showy.  They  were  at  one  time  very 
common,  but  have  now  fallen  out  of  cultiva- 
tion. The  seed  should  be  started  in  a  hot-bed, 
and  the  young  plants  pricked  out  the  latter 
part  of  May.  They  require  a  warm  situation, 
and  a  light  and  rather  sandy  soil.  C.  calendvr- 
lacgum  has  flowers  yellow  inside  and  a  very 
dark  purple  outside,  which  gives  it  a  very 
showy  appearance.     Introduced  in  1731. 

Crypto'stylis.  From  kryptos,  hidden,  and  stylos, 
a  style.     Nat.  Ord.  Urchidaceie. 

A  small  genus  of  brown-flowered  terrestrial 
Orchids  from  New  Holland,  Java,  and  Ceylon. 
The  species  are  more  curious  than  beautiful. 
They  should  be  grown  in  turfy  loam  and  sand, 
in  equal  proportioub,  in  an  ordinary  green- 
house temperature.     Introduced  in  1822. 

Cte'nium.  Toothache  Grass.  From  Clenium, 
a  small  comb ;  from  the  pectinate  appearance 
of  the  spike.     Nat.  Ord.  GraminaceoB. 

G.  Americanum,  the  only  species,  is  a  strong- 
growing  grass,  from  three  to  four  feet  in 
height  with  rough  narrow  flat  leaves.  The 
root  has  a  very  pungent  taste,  and  in  domestic 
medicine  was  used  as  a  remedy  for  the  tooth- 
ache, hence  its  popular  name.  It  is  common 
in  wet  pine  barrens  from  Virginia,  southward, 
and  has  no  agricultural  value. 

Cuba  Bast.  The  fibrous  inner  bark  of  Paritium 
(Hibiscus)  elatum. 

Cube'ba.  Unintei-esting  shrubs,  indigenous  to 
tropical  Asia  and  Africa.  C.  officinalis,  a 
native  of  Java,  furnishes  the  cubeb  fruits  of 
commerce,  which  are  like  Black  Pepper,  but 
stalked.     Nat.  Ord.  Piperacece. 

Cubebs.     See  Gubeba. 

Cuckoo-Flower.     See  Gardamine. 

Cuckoo  Pint.     Arum  maculatum,. 

Cucullate.  When  the  apex  or  sides  of  anything 
are  curved  inward,  so  as  to  resemble  the 
point  of  a  slipper  or  a  hood,  as  in  the  lip  of 
Gypripedium.  the  spathe  of  an  Arum,  etc. 

Cucumber.     See  Gucumis. 

Cucumber  Tree.  The  popular  name  of  the 
Magnolia  acuminata,  the  young  fruit  of  which 
resembles  a  small  cucumber. 

Cu'cvmiis.  Cucumber.  From  Gucumis,  the  Latin 
for  Cucumber.     Nat.  Ord.  Gucurbitacece. 

Of  the  several  species  included  in  this  genus, 
G.  sativis,  the  common  Cucumber,  is  the  best 
known  and  of  the  most  importance.     It  is  an 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


Ill 


cue 

annual  plant,  a  native  of  the  East  Indies,  and 
was  first  introduced  into  England  in  1573.  In 
the  East  the  Cucumber  has  been  extensively 
cultivated  from  the  earliest  periods,  as  well 
as  most  of  the  other  species  of  gourds.  "When 
the  Israelites  complained  to  Moses  in  the 
wilderness,  comparing  their  old  Egyptian 
luxuries  with  the  manna  upon  whiciii  they 
were  fed,  they  exclaimed  :  "  We  remember  the 
fish  which  we  did  eat  freely,  the  cucumbers 
and  the  melons."  Isaiah,  in  speaking  of  the 
desolation  of  Judea,  says  :  "  The  daughter 
of  Zion  is  left  as  a  cottage  in  a  vineyard,  as  a 
lodge  in  a  garden  of  cucumbers."  In  Syria 
and  in  India  immense  quantities  are  eaten  by 
the  common  people.  The  probabilities  are, 
however,  that  their  Cucumbers  are  Melons, 
though  mention  is  made  of  the  cultivation  of 
both,  and  late  travelers  mention  large  planta- 
tions over  which  constant  wat.ih  is  kept,  and 
fires  built  at  night  to  keep  ofT  the  wild  dogs 
and  wolves.  The  many  varieties  under  culti- 
vation are  great  improvements  on  the  origi- 
nal species ;  but  where  and  when  improve- 
ment commenced  we  have  no  record  ;  and  in 
loolcmg  over  the  field  during  the  last  thirty 
years,  it  is  about  as  difficult  to  say  when  it 
will  stop.  Where  Cucumbers  are  required 
during  the  winter  and  spring  months  they  are 
generally  grown  in  span-roofed  houses,  ample 
provision  being  made  for  both  bottom  and 
superficial  heat.  They  are  generally  planted 
in  a  row  on  either  side  of  the  house,  and 
trained  up  on  trellises  under  the  glass.  Where 
space  is  limited  they  may  'be  grown  in  large 
pots,  and  trained  up  a  rafter,  top-dressing 
occasionally  with  rich  soil  and  supplying 
liquid  or  artificial  manure.  A  temperature  of 
about  60^  at  night  is  found  the  most  suitable, 
a  higher  temperature  being  apt  to  draw  the 
plants  and  make  them  long  jointed.  Red 
Spider,  Thrips  and  Green  Fly  are  their  worst 
insect  enemies,  and  must  be  kept  down  by 
regular  fumigating  with  tobacco,  and  careful 
syringing.  The  principal  sorts  grown  for 
forcing  are  the  two  English  varieties,  Tele- 
graph and  Blue  Gown,  both  long-fruited  sorts 
and  extremely  prolific  and  long-lived.  White 
Spine  is  also  forced  to  a  considerable  extent, 
a  marked  preference  being  accorded  it  in  the 
New  York  markets,  while  the  long-fruited 
sorts  are  the  favorites  in  Boston  and  Phila- 
delphia. 

Cucu'rbita.  Gourd.  From  curbita,  a  gourd. 
Nat.  Ord.  CucurbitacecB. 

This  is  an  extensive  genus  of  trailing 
annuals,  producing  what  is  commonly  known 
as  Ornamental  Gourds,  some  of  which  are 
exceedingly  curious  and  beautiful.  They  are 
of  easy  culture,  requiring  the  same  treatment 
as  the  Cucumber.  Natives  chiefiy  of  hot 
countries,  they  abound  in  India  and  South 
America,  a  few  are  also  found  in  the  north 
of  Europe,  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  and  in 
Australia. 

Cucurbita'ceae  A  natural  order  of  succulent, 
climbing  plants  with  tendrils  in  place  of  sti- 
pules, alternate  palmately- veined,  rough 
leaves,  and  staminate  and  pistillate  flowers. 
They  are  chiefly  natives  of  hot  countries, 
especially  of  India  and  South  America ;  a  few 
are  found  in  the  north  of  Europe  and  in  North 
America,  and  some  are  also  met  with  at  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope  and  in  Australia.    The 


CUN 

plants  of  this  order  generally  possess  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  acridity.  The  pulp  of  the  fruit 
of  Citrullus  Colocynthis  is  the  Colocynth  of  the 
shops ;  this  is  supposed  to  be  the  wild  gourd 
of  the  Bible.  Echalium  purgans  or  agreste 
(Momordica  elaterium)  is  called  Squirting  Cu- 
cumber, on  account  of  the  elastic  force  with 
which  its  seeds  are  scattered.  Cucumls  sativus 
is  the  common  Cucumber,  C.  melo  is  the  Musk- 
melon,  and  GitniUus  vulgaris  is  the  Water- 
melon. Cucurbita  Pepo,  the  Gourd,  is  a 
scrambling  plant,  to  which  belong  the  Vege- 
table Marrows,  which  are  edible  ;  the  Orange 
Gourds,  which  are  bitter;  the  Egg  Gourds, 
Crooknecks,  Turk's  Caps,  and  Warted  Gourds. 
C.  maxima  is  the  Pumpkin,  and  C.  Mdopepo 
the  Bush  Squash.  The  seeds  of  Hodgnonia 
are  eaten  in  India.  Lagenaria  vulgaris  is  the 
Bottle  or  Dipper  Gourd.  The  fruit  of  Luffa 
aeutangula  is  cut  up  when  dry  and  used  as  a 
flesh  brush  under  the  name  of  Towel  Gourd. 
Sechium  edule  yields  an  edible  fruit  called 
Choco  or  Chaca.  The  species  of  Bryonia  are 
purgative.  There  are  about  seventy  known 
genera  and  over  400  species.  Cucurbita,  Cu- 
CMmis,  Citndlus,  Momordica,  Coccinia,  Trico- 
santhes,  Luffa,  and  Bryonia  are  examples  of 
the  order. 

Culm.  The  straw  of  Wheat,  Rye,  etc. ;  a  kind 
of  hollow  stem.  •• 

Cultivator.  This  is  the  general  name  applied 
to  implements  for  stirring  the  soil,  other  than 
hoes,  whether  used  by  hand  or  by  horse- 
power. There  are  scores  of  kinds  in  use, 
known  under  different  names.  The  one  we 
most  prefer  for  use  in  garden  operations  for 
cultivating  between  rows,  is  what  is  known 
as  the  Planet,  Jr.  This  is  a  combined  drill, 
wheel-hoe,  cultivator  and  plow,  and  is  really 
a  most  excellent  and  valuable  implement, 
combining  in  one,  three  implements,  all 
nearly  as  effective  as  any  of  them  would  be 
separately.  It  is  unquestionably  the  most 
popular  as  it  is  the  most  perfect  machine  of 
its  kind  made,  at  present  writing.  In  small 
gardens,  where  a  horse  is  seldom  used,  it  is 
invaluable  for  working  the  coarser  crops, 
such  as  corn,  potatoes,  cabbage,  celery,  etc. 

Cultrate,  Cultriform.  Shaped  like  a  pruning- 
knife,  as  in  Crassula  cuUrata. 

Culver  s-root,  or  Culver's  Physic.  A  common 
name  for  Veronica  Virginica. 

Cumi'num.  Altered  from  quamoun,  its  Arabic 
name.  A  genus  of  Fennel-like  Umbelliferm,  of 
little  interest  except  C.  Cyminum,  the  seeds  of 
which,  called  Cummin,  are  sometimes  used 
as  Carraways,  but  the  latter  are  more  agree- 
able and  efficacious. 

Cummin.     Cumimim  Cyminum. 
Black.     The  pungent  seeds  of  Nigella  saliva. 

Cummi'ngia.  Named  after  Lady  Gordon  Cum- 
ming,  of  Altyre,  near  Forres,  Scotland. 
Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  small  genus  of  beautiful  little  half-hardy 
bulbs  from  Chili,  which  succeed  in  a  light 
rich  soil,  and  should  have  the  protection  of  a 
frame.  The  flowers  are  bell-shaped,  light 
blue,  and  borne  in  panicles  on  slender  scapes. 
Propagated  by  offsets.    Introduced  in  1823. 

Cundura'ngo.  The  Condor  Vine  of  New 
Grenada,  a  species  of  Gonolobus,  named  O. 
Cundv/rango,  by  M.  Friana.    When  first  intro- 


112 


HENDEKSONS  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


CUN 

duced  this  plant  became  famous,  owing  to 
the  reputed  efficacy  of  the  stems  in  the  cure 
of  cancer ;  a  reputation  its  merits  would  not 
sustain. 
Cuneate.  Wedge-shaped ;  the  broadest  end 
uppermost,  tapering  to  the  base. 

Cuni'la.  Dittany.  The  derivation  of  this 
word  is  doubtful ;  by  some  botanists  it  is  sup- 
posed to  be  from  touos,  a  coue,  and  by  others 
from  Ctmila,  tiie  name  of  a  town.  Nat.  Ord. 
LabiatcB. 

Native  hardy  herbaceous  perennials,  com- 
mon on  dry  hills  from  New  York  to  Illinois 
and  southward.  They  produce  clusters  of 
small  white  or  purplish  flowers  from  July 
to  September.     Propagated  by  root  division. 

Cunningha'mia.  In  honor  of  two  brothers,  J. 
and  A.  Cunningham,  British  botanists  in  Aus- 
tralia.    Nat.  Ord.  Coniferce. 

C.  SineTisis,  the  only  known  species,  is  a 
lofty  evergreen  tree,  native  of  South  China. 
It  bears  a  close  resemblance  to  the  Araucarias, 
the  foliage,  however,  being  of  a  brighter 
green  and  less  rigid.  It  is  too  tender  for  our 
climate,  but  its  elegance  makes  it  welcome  in 
any  conservatory  where  there  is  I'oom  for  its 
development.  Propagated  from  seed.  In- 
troduced in  1804. 

Cuno'nia.  Named  after  John  C.  Cuno,  of 
Amsterdam,  who  described  his  own  garden  in 
verse,  in  1750.     Nat.  Ord.  Saxifragacece. 

C.  Capensm,  the  only  species,  is  a  small 
tree,  a  native  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
where  it  is  called,  "  Rood  Elze,"  by  the  set- 
tlers. The  dense  racemes  of  small  white 
flowers,  are  axillary  and  opposite,  the  leaves 
pinnate  with  oblong  coriaceous  serrated  leaf- 
lets. It  is  quite  an  ornamental  green-house 
plant,  and  is  easily  increased  by  cuttings. 
Introduced  in  1816. 

Cup  Plant.  A  popular  name  for  Silphium  per- 
foliatum. 

Cupa'nia.  Named  after  Francis  Cupani,  an 
Italian  monk,  who  wrote  on  botany.  Nat. 
Ord.  Sapindacece. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  green-house  ever- 
green trees,  chiefly  natives  of  Mexico  and 
the  West  Indies.  The  species  vary  in  height 
from  six  to  twenty  feet,  and  produce  beautiful 
white  flowers.  One  species,  C  pendula,  a 
native  of  tropical  Australia,  is  a  lofty-growing 
tree,  and  furnishes  the  beautiful  wood  known 
as  Tulip  Wood,  so  called  from  its  Tulip-like 
markings.  The  species  are  increased  by 
cuttings. 

Cu'phea.  From  kyphoa,  curved ;  referring  to  the 
form  of  the  seed-pods.  Nat.  Ord.  Lythracem. 
An  extensive  genus  of  green-house  ever- 
greens, and  half-hardy  annuals.  With  a  few 
exceptions,  such  as  G.  platycentra,  commonly 
known  as  "Segar  Plant  "and  "Fire  Cracker 
Plant,"  they  are  of  but  little  merit.  C.  platy- 
centra makes  a  beautiful  border  and  room 
plant.  It  is  propagated  readily  by  cuttings, 
grows  freely,  and  produces  its  scarlet  and 
purple  tubular  flowers  in  great  profusion 
nearly  the  whole  year.  Introduced  from 
Mexico  in  1845. 

Cupre'sstis.  Cypress.  From  kuo,  to  produce 
and  parisos,  equal ;  in  reference  to  the  sym- 
metrical growth  of  some  of  the  species.  Nat. 
Ord.  Coniferm. 


CUR 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  evergreen 
trees,  widely  disseminated.  C.  sempervirem, 
the  common  European  Cypress,  is  a  native  of 
Persia,  but  has  for  so  long  a  time  been  gen- 
erally planted  throughout  the  East,  that  it  is 
impossible  to  ascertain  the  section  where  it 
is  indigenous.  The  timber  of  this  species  is 
highly  esteemed  for  its  durability,  being  con- 
sidered superior  to  cedar.  The  doors  of  St. 
Peter's  Church  at  Rome,  which  had  been 
formed  of  this  wood  in  the  time  of  Constan- 
tine,  showed  no  signs  of  decay  when,  after 
the  lapse  of  a  IIUO  years.  Pope  Eugenius 
IV.  took  them  down  to  replace  them  by 
gates  of  brass.  In  order  to  preserve  the 
remains  of  their  heroes,  the  Athenians  buried 
them  in  coffins  of  Cypress;  and  the  chests 
or  coffins  in  which  the  Egyptian  mummies  are 
found  are  usually  of  the  same  material.  C. 
thyoides  is  the  White  Cedar  or  Cypress  of  our 
Southern  States,  a  graceful  and  beautiful  tree 
in  its  native  home,  but  which  only  thrives  in 
wet  places.  There  are  several  species  found  in 
California  and  Oregon,  some  of  wliich  are 
magnificent  trees ;  others  are  graceful  and 
ornamental  shrubs.  The  beautiful  Relinos- 
poras  of  Japan  are  nearly  related  to  this 
genus.  A  number  of  species,  known  as  Cu- 
pressus,  are  now  placed  under  Chamcecyparis, 
by  some  authors. 

Cupreus.  Of  copper  color,  yellowish-red  with 
considerable  mixture  of  gray. 

Curcu'ligo.  From  curcidio,  a  weevil ;  the  seeds 
having  a  point  resembling  the  beak  of  a 
weevil.     Nat.  Ord.  AmaryllidacecB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  herbaceous  plants  of 
which  the  only  species  worthy  of  culti%'ation 
is  C.  recurvuta,  and  its  variegated  forms. 
They  have  large  palm  like  ribbed  leaves, 
beautifully  recurved ;  most  ornamental  and 
useful  for  green-house  or  conservatory  deco- 
ration. They  are  of  easy  cultivation  gi-owing 
freely  in  a  compost  of  turfy  loam  and  sand, 
and  are  readily  propagated  by  suckers  which 
form  at  the  base  of  the  stem.  Introduced 
from  Bengal  in  1805. 

Curcu'lio.     The  Plum  Weevil.    See  Insects. 

Cu'rcuma.  Turmeric.  From  kurkum,  its  Arabic 
name.     Nat.  Oi'd.  Scitaminece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, natives  of  the  East  Indies,  China  and 
Java.  Most  of  the  species  possess  the  same 
aromatic  stimulating  properties  in  the  roots, 
or  rhizomes,  and  seeds,  as  the  common  ginger, 
and  are  plants  of  considerable  beauty  from  their 
colored  bracts.  C.  longa  is  one  of  the  best 
known  species,  the  powdered  root  of  Avhich  is 
the  Turmeric  of  commerce.  This  powder  is 
used  in  India  as  a  mild  aromatic  and  for  other 
medicinal  purposes.  It  also  enters  into  the 
composition  of  curry  powder,  and  a  sort  of 
arrow-root  is  made  from  the  young  tubers. 
Turmeric  is  a  dye  of  a  very  rich  color,  but  it 
possesses  no  durability,  nor  has  there  been 
any  combination  of  mordants  found  that 
Avould  give  it  this  quality  in  a  sufficient 
degree  to  make  it  useful.  Several  of  the 
species,  with  yellow  or  reddish  flowers,  are 
cultivated  in  the  green-house. 

Curl.  A  disease  of  Potatoes,  referable  to 
Chlorosis.  The  tubers  produce  deformed, 
curled  shoots,  of  a  pallid  tint,  which  are 
never  perfectly  developed,  and  give  rise  to 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


113 


CUR 

minute  tubers.  It  is  a  local  disease,  however, 
and  its  cause  is  not  certainly  known.  It  is 
distinct  from  the  curled  foliage  produced  by 
the  presence  of  Aphides.  This  term  is  also 
applied  to  a  serious  disease  affecting  the  leavos 
of  the  Peach  tree,  in  which  they  are  curled 
and  blistered.  Some  attribute  the  disease  to 
Aphides,  and  others  to  Fungi.  There  is  no 
known  remedy  but  the  destruction  of  the 
tree. 

Curme'ria.  Derivation  of  name  not  given.  Nat. 
Ord.  Aroidece. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  herbaceous 
perennials,  natives  of  Colombia.  C.  WallMi 
is  a  dwarf-growing  species,  and  of  a  very  or- 
namental character.  The  leaves  are  spread- 
ing, and  strongly  marked  with  very  irregular 
dark-green  spots  or  blotches,  intermixed  with 
broad  patches  of  very  pale  yellowish-green. 
C.  picturafa  has  broad  green  leaves,  with  a 
broad  central  band  of  silvery  gray.  They 
were  introduced  to  cultivation  in  1875,  and 
are  highly  esteemed  in  a  collection  of  varie- 
gated-leaved plants.  Propagated  by  offsets 
from  the  roots. 

Currant.     Buffalo  or  Missouri.     Ribes  aureum. 
Common  Red.     Rihes  rubrum. 
New  Zealand.     Aristotelia  fruticosa. 
Red  Flowering.     Ribes  Sanguineum. 

Cuscu'ta.  Dodder.  From  kechout,  its  Arabic 
name.     Nat.  Ord.  Cuscutacem. 

These  plants  are  deserving  of  attention 
from  their  parasitical  character,  as  they  will 
attach  themselves  to,  and  grow  on  any  other 
plant  within  their  reach.  Their  long  twining 
stems  emit  an  abundance  of  small  fragrant 
flowers  towards  the  end  of  summer.  Their 
seeds  germinate  in  the  earth,  but  detach 
themselves  as  soon  as  sufficiently  grown  to 
take  hold  of  a  neighboring  plant.  They  are 
natives  of  South  America,  New  Holland,  other 
tropical  countries,  and  the  United  States.  The 
Cuscuta  is  becoming  troublesome  in  the 
Southern  States  by  overrunning  other  vege- 
tation. It  is  particularly  so  to  Oleanders, 
several  instances  being  reported  where  it  has 
completely  destroyed  these  beautiful  shrubs. 
In  California  there  has  been  much  trouble  in 
fields  of  Alfalfa  from  a  species  of  Cuscuta, 
which,  it  is  stated,  was  introduced  with 
Alfalfa  seed  from  Chili.  The  only  cure,  when 
it  gets  into  a  field,  consists  in  cutting  the 
crop  before  the  Dodder  matures  any  seed,  and 
repeating  the  process  as  long  as  the  Dodder 
makes  its  appearance.  C  Gronovii  is  veiy 
common  in  low  damp  grounds,  especially  in 
shady  places  both  east  and  west,  chiefly  on 
coarser  herbs  and  low  shrubs ;  its  orange- 
colored  stems  render  it  very  conspicuous. 

Cuscuta'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  plants  in- 
cluded by  some  as  a  sub-order  of  Convolvul- 
acecB.  They  are  leafless,  parasitic,  twining 
herbs,  with  flowers  in  dense  clusters.  The 
seeds  germinate  in  the  soil  in  the  usual  way, 
and  afterward  become  true  parasites  by  at- 
taching themselves  to  plants  in  their  vicinity, 
and  growing  at  their  expense.  They  are 
found  in  the  temperate  regions  of  both  hemi- 
spheres and  are  very  destructive  to  some 
kinds  of  plants.  There  are  four  known  genera 
and  upward  of  fifty  species.  Cuscuta,  Lepi- 
danche,  and  Epilinella  are  examples  of  the 
order. 


CYA 

Cushion  Pink,  or  Ladies'  Cushion.  Armeria 
maritima. 

Cuspidate.  Tapering  gradually  into  a  rigid 
point.  A  leaf  is  cuspidate  when  it  suddenly 
tapers  to  a  point. 

Custard  Apple.  A  popular  name  of  Aaimina 
triloba,  or  American  Papaw. 

Cuticle.  The  external  homogeneous  skin  of  a 
plant,  consisting  of  a  tough  membrane  over- 
lying the  epidermis.  The  word  is  also  used 
for  the  skin  of  anything,  including  the  epi- 
dermis. 

Cutting.  A  portion  of  a  young  branch  which, 
when  inserted  into  the  earth  under  suitable 
conditions,  emits  roots,  and  is  developed  as  a 
distinct  individual.  See  Propagation  by  Cut- 
tings. 

Cyana'nthus.  From  kyanos,  blue,  and  antlios,  a 
flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Campanularem. 

C.  lobatus  is  a  delicate  little  hardy  herba- 
ceous plant  from  the  higher  ranges  of  the  Him- 
alayas, with  a  habit  .similar  to  some  species  of 
Campanula.  Its  requirements  are  a  sandy 
soil,  with  plenty  of  moisture  during  the  flow- 
ering season,  but  afterward  it  should  be  kept 
rather  dry  and  allowed  to  rest.  The  flowers 
are  terminal,  and  light  blue.  Propagated  by 
cuttings. 

Cyane'lla.  A  diminutive  of  kyanos  blue.  Nat. 
Ord.  Liliacece. 

Pretty  green-house  bulbs,  with  white,  blue, 
or  yellow  flowers.  They  grow  readily  in 
sandy  loam,  and,  like  all  other  plants  of  the 
same  order,  require  to  have  a  resting  season, 
which,  for  convenience,  is  generally  deferred 
to  the  winter.  The  protection  of  a  cold  frame 
is  all  they  require  to  endure  our  winters. 
They  increase  freely  by  offsets.  Natives  of 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  ;   introduced  in  1768. 

Cyanophy'llum.  From  kyanos,  blue,  and  phyl- 
lon,  a  leaf ;  referring  to  the  color  of  the  under 
surface  of  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord.  Melastom- 
acecB. 

Of  this  exceedingly  interesting  plant  we 
take  the  following  description  from  Lowe's 
"Beautiful  Leaved  Plants  :"  "  Native  country, 
tropical  America.  Introduced  in  1857  by  Mr. 
Linden,  a  Continental  nurseryman.  A  fine 
woody  Melastomaceous  hot-house  shrub, 
which  has  not  yet  flowered  in  this  country 
(England).  The  leaves  are  truly  magnificent, 
growing  two  feet  long  and  nine  inches  wide, 
of  a  long  oval  shape,  tapering  to  a  point. 
Upper  surface  a  distinct  ivory-like  midrib, 
with  a  pair  of  veins  of  the  same  color  running 
from  the  base  near  the  margin  and  meeting 
near  the  point,  joining  near  the  midrib.  Mat- 
gin  irregularly  serrated.  Color  a  deep  vel- 
vety green ;  underneath  the  veins  are  visible, 
and  the  general  color  is  a  rich  purplish  crim- 
son. Habit  strong  growing.  Nothing  can 
possibly  exceed  the  beautiful  foliage  of  this 
truly  handsome  plant."  The  above  descrip- 
tion of  C.  magnificum  will  apply  equally  well 
to  the  other  species.  Propagated  by  cut- 
tings. 

Cyano'tis.  From  kyanos,  blue,  and  ous,  an  ear; 
referring  to  the  shape  of  the  petals.  Nat.  Ord. 
ComnwJynacem. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen  trailing  plants, 
allied  to  Tradescantia,  and  requiring  the  same 
general  treatment.  The  species  are  showy 
plants,   natives  of  trojiical   Asia.     They  are 


114 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


CYA 

propagated  readily  by  cuttings.    Introduced 
in  1770. 

Cya'thea.  From  kyatheion,  a  little  cup ;  in  ref- 
erence to  the  appearance  of  the  spore  or  seed 
cases  on  the  back  of  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord. 
J'olypodiacetB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  arborescent  Ferns, 
abundant  in  South  America  and  in  the  West 
Indies,  in  India,  the  Eastern  Islands,  and  in 
the  Pacific  Islands ;  a  few  are  also  met  with 
in  New  Zealand  and  South  Africa.  In  some 
the  trunk  is  short,  but  in  others  it  reaches  a 
height  of  forty  to  sixty  feet,  and  is 
crowned  with  a  magnificent  head  of  fronds, 
■which  are  in  many  cases  of  gigantic  size,  and 
are  always  large.  C.  viedullaris,  a  native 
of  New  Zealand  and  the  Pacific  Isles,  and 
known  in  gardens  as  a  noble  Tree  Fern  of 
comparatively  hardy  character,  forms  in  its 
native  country  a  common  article  of  food  with 
the  natives.  The  part  eaten  is  the  soft  me- 
dullary substance,  which  occupies  the  center  of 
the  trunk,  and  which  has  some  resemblance  to 
Sago.  C.  dealbata,  another  beautiful  species 
of  New  Zealand,  is  said  to  be  eaten  in  the 
same  way.  This  has  a  trunk  from  ten  to  fif- 
teen feet  high,  crowned  with  a  noble  tuft  of 
fronds,  which  are  white  beneath  with  a  silvery 
powder.  Propagated  by  spores.  First  intro- 
duced in  1793. 

Cyatho'des.  From  hyathos,  a  cup,  and  eido8, 
like ;  because  the  nectary  resembles  that  ves- 
sel.    Nat.  Ord.  Epacridacem. 

An  interesting  and  somewhat  extensive 
genus  of  green-house  evergreens,  natives  of 
Australia,  and  occasionally  met  in  New  Zea- 
land and  the  Pacific  Islands.  They  produce 
small  axillary  white  or  yellow  flowers.  They 
are  propagated  by  cuttings  and  require  the 
same  treatment  as  recommended  for  the 
Epacris. 

Cycadaceae.  A  natural  order  of  small,  palm- 
like trees  or  shrubs,  with  unbranched  stems 
and  pinnate  leaves,  usually  rolled  up  like  a 
crosier  while  in  bud.  They  are  chiefly  natives 
of  the  tropical  and  temperate  regions  of 
America  and  Asia,  but  are  also  found  in 
southern  Africa  and  in  Australia.  The  plants 
are  mucilaginous  and  starchy.  Cycas  revoluta, 
one  of  the  best  known,  is  a  native  of  Japan, 
and  supplies  a  kind  of  starch  which  is  used  as 
Sago ;  and  a  similar  kind  of  false  Sago  is  sup- 
plied by  C.  circinalis  in  the  Moluccas.  Caffre 
bread  is  made  from  the  starch  of  a  Cape  spe- 
cies of  Encephalartos.  In  the  West  Indies  a 
kind  of  Arrow-root  is  obtained  from  some 
species  of  Zamia.  There  are  seven  known 
genera  and  about  fifty  species.  Cycas,  Zamia, 
Encephalartos,  and  I>ion  are  examples  of  the 
order. 

Cy'cas.  The  Greek  name  of  a  Palm  said  to  grow 
in  Ethiopia.     Nat.  Ord.  CycadaceoB. 

A  remarkable  genus  of  ornamental  plants, 
consisting  of  low-growing  trees,  with  cylin- 
drical, usually  unbranched  stems,  terminated 
at  the  top  by  a  crown  of  handsome,  deeply- 
cut,  pinnate  leaves  of  thick  texture.  C.  revo- 
luta, the  finest  of  the  species,  is  grown  exten- 
sively in  China  and  Japan,  its  native  countries, 
for  the  pith  contained  in  its  trunk,  and  which 
is  prepared  by  the  natives  into  an  article  of 
food  similar  to  the  Sago,  upon  which  they  live 
wholly  for  several  months  in  the  year.  They 
are  commonly,  but  erroneously,  called  Sago 


CYC 

Palms,  as  they  furnish  none  of  the  Sago  of 
commerce.  Their  cultivation  in  our  houses  is 
the  same  as  is  required  for  all  the  Palm  tribe; 
plenty  of  pot  room,  and  a  strong,  moist  heat. 
C.  revoluta,  however,  may  be  wintered  in  a  low 
temperature,  and  its  new  growth  retarded  for 
the  lawn.  After  the  leaves  have  perfected 
their  growth  and  are  thoroughly  hardened, 
the  plants  can  be  placed  upon  the  lawn  during 
summer,  where  tliey  are  most  appropriate 
ornaments.  Young  plants  are  usually  obtained 
from  suckers,  but  as  it  takes  many  years  to 
grow  these  to  any  useful  size,  large  numbers 
of  the  trunks,  minus  leaves  and  roots,  vary- 
ing in  height  from  one  to  seven  feet,  are 
annually  imported  from  Cuba  and  the  West 
Indian  Islands,  which  being  placed  in  heat, 
soon  make  good  plants.  Several  large  con- 
signments have  also  been  received  of  late 
years  from  Japan.  This  genus  was  first  intro- 
duced into  England  from  China  in  1737. 

Cy'clamen.  From  kyJclos,  circular ;  referring  to 
the  round  leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  PrimulacecB. 

This  genus  contains  some  of  our  most  pop- 
ular and  desirable  plants  for  fall,  winter,  and 
early  spring  flowering.  They  are  all  neat  and 
dwarf  in  habit ;  all  have  foliage  of  pretty  form 
and  beautiful  markings,  and  tlie  flowers,  in 
every  case,  are  beautiful,  some  exquisitely 
so.  C.  pcrsicum  stands  at  the  head  of  the 
family,  and  is  the  one  in  most  general  culti- 
vation. The  Cyclamen  should  be  grown  from 
seed,  which  should  be  sown  as  soon  as  ripe, 
in  gentle  heat,  in  pans  filled  with  a  compost  of 
well-rotted  manure,  leaf  mould,  and  coarse 
sand  thoroughly  incor])orated.  As  soon  as 
the  plants  have  maile  two  leaves,  prick  out 
into  thumb-pots  filled  with  the  same  compost, 
and  place  upon  the  shelf  in  the  green-house, 
near  the  glass,  and  shade  from  direct  sunlight. 
Carefully  water;  to  dry  them  or  drown  them 
is  equally  fatal.  As  soon  as  the  pots  are  filled 
with  roots,  shift  into  a  three-inch  pot,  observ- 
ing the  same  instructions  in  all  respects.  By 
the  first  of  September  they  will  require  a 
five-inch  pot.  With  proper  care  and  attention, 
they  will  be  in  flower  in  December  and  Janu- 
ary following  planting.  They  requii'e  a  more 
even  temperature  than  is  usually  given  to 
green-house  plants,  not  above  60"  nor  below 
50°;  with  it  bulbs  two  in<-hes  in  diameter  can 
be  grown  in  one  year.  After  flowering,  they 
should  be  gradually  ripened  off,  but  never 
allowed  to  become  thoroughly  dry.  During 
summer  keep  them  in  a  frame,  shaded,  and 
give  occasionally  a  little  water.  They  should 
be  repotted  again  about  the  first  of  September, 
reducing  the  old  ball  considerably  and  giving 
them  similar  treatment  to  that  previously 
advised  for  young  plants,  but  the  flowers  are 
generally  earlier  and  smaller  a  second  year. 
It  is  not  advisable  to  save  plants  after  this 
age,  as  seed  sown  every  j-ear  will  keep  up  a 
stock,  and  young  plants  are  much  to  be  pre- 
ferred. This  species  is  a  native  of  Persia. 
All  the  species  are  famous  for  their  acridity, 
yet  in  Sicily  the  Cyclamen  is  the  principal  food 
of  the  wild  boars ;  hence  the  common  name  of 
Sow-bread. 

Cyclantha'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  perennial 
herbs  or  shrubs,  all  natives  of  tropical 
America.  It  is  very  closely  allied  to  Pandan- 
acecB,  and  embraces  four  genera  and  about 
thirty-five  species.  Carltidovica  palmata,  which 


AND  GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


115 


CYC 

yields  the  much-valued  straw  from  which  the 
Guyaquil  or  Panama  hats  are  manufactured, 
is  the  best  known  representative  of  the  order. 

Cycla'nthera.  A  free-growing  Mexican  climber, 
belonging  to  the  CucurbitacecB.  It  has  hand- 
some foliage,  and  pz'etty  oval-shaped  fruit,  ex- 
ploding when  ripe. 

Cyclan'thus.  From  kyklos,  a  circle,  and  anthos, 
a  flower ;  in  allusion  to  the  spiral  arrange- 
ment of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Cyclantha- 
cece. 

A  remarkable  genus  of  tropical  American, 
perennial,  stemless,  milky  herbs.  C.  discolor 
has  bifld  lanceolate  leaves,  with  a  tapering 
point,  more  or  less  frilled  at  the  edges.  The 
young  leaves  are  streaked,  of  a  tawny  orange 
hue,  which  passes  off  as  they  become  matured. 
Introduced  from  Guiana  in  1882.  Syn.  Cyclo- 
santhes. 

Cyclobo'thra.  From  kyklos,  a  circle,  and 
bothros,  a  pit ;  in  reference  to  a  cavity  at  the 
bottom  of  each  sepal.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliaceoe. 

A  genus  of  very  handsome  bulbous  plants 
from  California  and  Mexico.  They  are  allied 
to  the  Calochortus,  and  I'equire  the  same 
treatment.  The  flowers  are  nodding,  like 
those  of  the  Fritillarias,  and  of  white,  yellow, 
and  purple  colors.  They  are  easily  propagated 
by  the  small  bulbs  that  grow  on  the  upper 
part  of  the  stems. 

Cyclo'gyne.  From  kyklos,  a  circle,  and  gyne,  a 
stigma,  or  female  organ  ;  in  reference  to  the 
disposition  of  the  pistils.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumi- 
nosce. 

A  very  beautiful  green-house  evergreen 
shrub  from  Swan  River.  It  is  remarkable 
for  the  appearance  of  the  pinnate  leaflets, 
which  are  clad  underneath  with  white  hairs ; 
and  this,  with  the  profusion  of  purple  flowers 
it  bears,  renders  it  an  attractive  object. 
Propagated  by  seeds  or  cuttings. 

Cycno'ches.  SAvan  Neck.  From  kyknos,  a 
swan,  and  auchen,  the  neck ;  in  reference  to 
the  long  and  gracefully  curved  column.  Nat. 
Ord.  OrchidaceoB. 

Some  of  the  species  are  considered  indis- 
pensable to  the  Orchid  house,  for  the  beauty 
and  delightful  fragrance  of  the  flowers.  They 
require  strong  heat  and  moisture. 

Cydo'nia.  Quince.  The  name  of  Cydonia  was 
given  to  this  plant  by  the  ancients,  from  its 
growing  abundantly  near  Kydon,  in  the  isle 
of  Crete,  now  Candia.     Nat.  Ord.  RosacecB. 

The  common  Quince,  C.  vidgaris,  has  been 
under  cultivation  from  a  very  early  period. 
Pliny  says  :  "There  are  many  kinds  of  this 
fruit  in  Italy ;  some  growing  wild  in  the 
hedgerows,  others  so  large  that  they  weigh 
the  boughs  down  to  the  ground."  Martial, 
who  died  at  Rome  A.  D.  lOi,  states  that  the 
Romans  had  three  sorts  of  Quinces,  one  of 
which  was  called  Chrysomela,  from  its  yellow 
color.  They  boiled  them  with  honey,  as  the 
Europeans  make  marmalade.  Botanical  re- 
searches show  that  the  Quince  grows  spon- 
taneously on  the  hills  and  in  the  woods  of 
Italy,  in  the  south  of  France,  in  Spain,  Sicily, 
Sardinia,  the  Crimea,  and  in  the  south  of  the 
Caucasus;  it  also  grows  abundantly  on  tho 
banks  of  the  Danube,  and  in  the  north  ol 
Africa.  "The  learned  Goropius  maintains 
that  Quinces  were  the  golden  apples  of  Hes- 
perides,  and  not  Oranges,  as  some  commen- 


CYM 

tators  pretend.  In  support  of  his  argument 
he  states  that  it  was  a  fruit  much  revered  by 
the  ancients,  and  he  assures  us  that  there 
has  been  discovered  at  Rome  a  statue  of 
Hercules  that  held  in  its  hand  three  Quinces. 
This,  he  says,  agrees  with  the  fable  which 
states  that  Hercules  stole  the  golden  apples 
from  the  gardens  of  the  Hesperides."  This 
species  is  unquestionably  the  parent  of  the 
several  varieties  under  cultivation.  There 
seems  to  have  been  but  little  improvement 
in  this  fruit  in  centuries.  The  great  differ- 
ence in  the  quality  of  this  fruit,  as  seen  in  our 
markets,  is  largely  due  to  cultivation.  The 
common  practice  of  planting  the  Quince 
in  some  neglected  corner  results  in  getting 
small,  knotty  fruit,  almost  if  not  altogether 
worthless.  The  Quince  should  have  a  deep, 
rich  soil,  rather  heavy,  and  the  ground  should 
be  kept  clean  and  free  from  grass.  Attention 
should  also  be  paid  to  pruning,  as  apreventive 
against  slugs  and  other  vermin.  The  trunks 
and  branches  should  be  thoroughly  rubbed 
over  with  strong  soft-soap  every  spring. 
With  this  simple  precaution  the  failure  of  a 
crop  of  large,  clean,  healthy  fruit  will  be  very 
rare.  The  propagation  of  the  Quince  is  very 
simple,  the  more  rapid  way  being  to  take  cut- 
tings from  the  young  wood  in  autumn,  heel 
them  in  in  some  protected  place  during  winter, 
and  plant  out  in  spring  in  a  shaded  situation, 
and  they  will  take  root  very  readily.  C.  Japon- 
ica,  Syn.  Pyrics  Japoiiica,  is  a  beautiful  dwarf 
species,  remarkable  for  the  brilliancy  of  its 
blossoms,  which  vary  from  the  richest  scarlet 
to  the  most  delicate  blush  color.  It  is  a  na- 
tive of  Japan,  perfectly  hardy,  and  well 
adapted  for  single  plants  on  the  lawn,  or  for 
planting  ornamental  hedges.  The  fruit  has  a 
delicious  fragrance,  but  is  entirely  worthless 
for  domestic  purposes.  This  species  is  best 
propagated  by  root  cuttings.  C.  Maulei, 
dwarfer  and  more  compact  in  habit  than  C. 
Japonica,  has  bright  red  flowers  and  golden 
yellow  fruit,  produced  in  great  abundance, 
and  which  makes  an  excellent  conserve.  It 
is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  plants  of  com- 
paratively recent  introduction. 

Cylindrical.  Cylinder-shaped ;  approaching 
closely  to  the  form  of  a  cylinder,  as  the  stems 
of  grasses,  etc. 

Cyli'sta.  From  kylitos,  twining;  referring  to 
the  habit  of  the  plants.  Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 
A  genus  of  ornamental  climbing  plants.  C. 
scariosa,  found  in  the  Bombay  districts  of 
India,  is  a  very  ornamental  climber,  requiring 
to  be  grown  in  a  hot-house,  as  do  most  of  the 
genus.  The  flowers  are  very  showy,  bright, 
yellow,  borne  on  erect  bracted  racemes,  and 
are  remarkable  for  their  large  papery  calyx, 
which  is  very  conspicuous.  Propagated  by 
cuttings.    Introduced  in  1776. 

Cymbi'dium.  From  kymbos,  a  hollow  recess ; 
referring  to  a  hollow  recess  in  the  lip  or  label- 
lum.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  genus  containing  both  terrestrial  and 
epiphytal  Orchids,  many  of  them  of  rare 
beauty,  and  all  worthy  of  cultivation.  C. 
Sinense,  a  native  of  China,  is  remarkable  for 
its  delicious  fragrance.  The  epiphytal  spe- 
cies require  the  treatment  of  hot-house 
Orchids ;  the  terrestrial  ones  do  well  in  a 
green-house  temperature. 


116 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


GYM 

Cy'mbiform.  Having  the  figure  of  a  boat  in 
miniature ;  that  is  to  say,  concave,  tapering 
to  each  end,  with  a  keel  externally,  as  the 
glumes  of  Phalaris  Canariensis. 

Cyme.  A  form  of  inflorescence,  resembling  a 
flattened  panicle,  as  in  the  Laurustmus  and  the 
Elder  {Sambv/ms). 

Cy'nara.  Cardoon.  Artichoke.  From  kyon,  a 
dog ;  in  reference  to  the  spines  of  the  involu- 
crum  resembling  dog's  teeth.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positcB. 

C.  cardwneulus,  the  Cardoon  of  the  garden, 
very  much  resembles  the  Artichoke ;  it  is  a 
hardy  perennial,  a  native  of  the  south  of 
Europe  and  the  northern  parts  of  Africa.  The 
stalks  of  the  leaves,  or  ribs,  as  they  are  usu- 
ally termed,  are  blanched,  and  when  properly 
cooked  constitute  a  tender  and  excellent  veg- 
etable, much  used  in  France,  but  not  gener- 
ally cultivated  in  other  countries.  The  flow- 
ers, like  those  of  the  Artichoke,  have  the 
property  of  curdling  milk.    See  Artichoke. 

Cyno'don.  Bermuda  Grass,  Scutch  Grass.  A 
small  genus  of  grasses  but  little  known,  except 
C.  Dactylon,  a  native  of  southern  Europe,  and 
all  tropical  countries.  It  is  a  common  pasture 
grass  in  the  West  Indies,  and  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  and  has  long  been  known  in  the 
United  States,  though  it  is  only  of  late  years 
that  its  value  is  becoming  appreciated.  It  is 
admirably  adapted  for  the  Southern  States,  as 
it  is  fitted  by  nature  to  withstand  drought 
and  the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun  bet- 
ter than  any  other  grass.  In  the  East 
Indies  (where  it  is  called,  Doub  or  Doorba,  by 
the  natives)  and  in  all  tropical  countries,  this 
grass  is  highly  esteemed  for  its  drought- 
resisting  qualities,  and  also  for  the  peculiar 
habit  ol  its  growth  ;  the  wiry  roots  of  grass  in 
running  over  the  surface  of  the  ground  form  a 
strong  fibrous  matting.  It  has  numerous 
joints  from  each  of  which  roots  strike  down 
and  blades  shoot  up.  This  has  caused  it  to  be 
sown  lai-gely  for  the  purpose  of  binding  banks 
of  creeks  and  dams,  etc.  It  makes  a  perfect 
carpet  of  roots,  enabling  it  to  withstand  traffic 
which  M'ould  completely  kill  any  other  grass. 
For  lawns  it  is  also  highly  prized,  as  while  all 
other  grasses  are  burned  up  during  the  hot 
season,  Bermuda  Grass  will  look  compara- 
tively green,  and  if  watered  and  regularly 
mown,  it  will  make  quite  a  velvety  carpet. 
The  only  drawback  is  that  in  winter  it  looks 
a  little  brown.  It  should  be  sown  in  the  spring, 
as  it  will  not  germinate  until  warm  weather 
comes.  As  a  grass  for  hay  or  pasture,  it 
matures  and  gives  its  first  cutting  ordinarily  in 
June.  Persons  having  the  most  experience 
with  Bermuda  Grass,  place  the  average 
yield  of  hay  for  ten  years  at  four  tons  per  acre 
per  annum.  This  is  a  cautious  and  safe  estim- 
ate of  its  productiveness.  It  grows  where- 
ever  corn  and  cotton  grow.  On  poor  land 
Bermuda  Grass  is  stumpy  and  coarse ;  on 
rich  land  its  growth  is  free,  and  its  blades  are 
long,  tender  and  delicate.  Properly  cultivated 
in  southern  latitudes,  animals  prefer  this 
grass  and  the  hay  made  from  it  over  all  other 
varieties.  Like  Japan  Clover,  it  does  not 
succeed  further  north  than  Virginia. 

Cynoglo'ssum.  Hound's  Tongue.  From  kyon, 
a  dog,  and  glosaa,  a  tongue ;  referring  to  the 
shape  of  the  leaves.    Nat.  Ord.  Boraginacece. 


CYP 

Pretty  border  plants,  producing  flowers  of 
almost  all  colors.  They  grow  in  any  soil,  and 
are  not  very  particular  as  to  situation,  and 
are  increased  readily  by  division  of  the  stools 
in  the  spring.  The  annuals  and  biennials  are 
grown  from  seed. 

Cynosu'rus.  Dog's-tail  Grass.  From  kyon,  a 
dog,  and  oura,  a  tail ;  from  its  resemblance  to 
a  dog's  tail,  whence  its  common  name.  Nat. 
Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  small  genus  of  grasses,  but  one  of  which, 
C.  cristatus,  the  Crested  Dog's-tail  Grass,  is  of 
value  to  the  agricidturist.  This  species  is 
common  in  England,  in  dry  pastures,  often 
forming  a  considerable  portion  of  the  turf  on 
gravelly  soils.  For  such  soils  it  is  a  valu- 
able grass,  being  greatly  relished  by  sh<  ep, 
but  is  not  much  liked  by  cattle.  The  slender 
straws  of  this  grass  are  valuable  for  making 
hats,  being  far  superior  even  to  the  fine  wheat 
plant  cultivated  for  the  purpose  in  Italy. 

Cype'lla.  From  kypellon,  a  goblet,  a  cup ;  re- 
feri-ing  to  the  form  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord. 
IridacecB. 

A  genus  of  very  pretty  half-hardy  bulbs, 
worthy  of  a  place  in  the  green-house.  They 
are  multiplied  by  offsets.     Introduced  in  1823. 

Cypera'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  grass-like, 
tufted  plants,  having  solid,  usually  jointed, 
and  frequently  angular  stems ;  leaves  with 
their  sheaths  entire  (not  split,  as  in  Grasses) ; 
and  very  generally  distributed  all  over  the 
world,  abounding  in  moist  places.  Some  of 
the  Sedges  are  demulcent,  others  are  bitter 
and  astringent.  Some,  by  means  of  their 
creeping  underground  stems,  bind  together 
the  loose  sands  of  the  sea-shore.  Their  cell- 
ular tissue  is  sometimes  used  for  paper,  and 
the  underground  stems  of  several  species  of 
Cyperus  are  used  for  food.  The  underground 
stems  of  Carex  arenaria  are  used  for  Sarsa- 
parilla.  The  species  of  Eriophorum,  or  Cotton 
Grass,  have  long,  white,  silky  hairs  surround- 
ing the  fruit.  Papynts  antiquorum  (also  called 
Cyperus)  appears  to  be  one  of  the  plants  called 
Bulrush  in  the  Bible.  It  formerly  grew  abund- 
antly at  the  mouth  of  the  Nile,  which  was 
hence  called  papyriferous  by  Ovid,  but  it  is 
now  gone.  The  cellular  tissue  of  its  stems  was 
used  in  place  of  paper.  Scirpus  lacustis,  the 
Bulrush,  is  used  for  making  mats,  baskets, 
and  the  bottoms  of  chairs.  In  South  America 
it  is  used  for  making  balsas  or  boats,  and  a 
similar  use  is  referred  to  in  Isaiah,  xvii.,  1,  2. 
There  are  120  known  genera  and  upward  of 
2,000  species.  Cyperus,  Pajyyrtis,  Carex,  Scir- 
jnts,  Eriophorum,  and  Cladium  are  examples  of 
the  order. 

Cype'rus.  Supposed  to  be  derived  from  Cypris, 
a  name  of  Veims,  from  their  supposed  medi- 
cinal qualities.     Nat.  Ord.  Cyperacece. 

A  genus  of  sedge  plants,  of  but  little  merit 
for  the  garden  or  green-house.  C.  altemifolius 
is  grown  as  a  basket  plant ;  it  is  of  the  easiest 
culture,  and  will  thrive  in  any  soil  or  situation, 
but  prefers  a  moist  one.  A  variegated  variety 
of  this  species  is  very  beautiful,  but  not  con- 
stant. They  are  natives  of  Madagascar,  first 
introduced  in  1781.  C.  rotundus  (Nut  Grass)  is 
a  common  and  troublesome  weed  in  the 
Southein  States. 

Cy'phia.  From  kyphos,  curved;  referring  to 
the  shape  of  the  style  and  stigma.  Nat.  Ord. 
CampanulaceoB. 


CYCLAMEN  PEESICTTM. 


CTSOBUBVB  (dog's-tail  GBAfiS). 


CTNAKA   (CAEDOON). 


DACTTLIS  (ORCHARD  GRASS) 


AND   GENERAL   HOKTICULTURE. 


117 


CYP 

A  small  genus  of  herbaceous  twiners  from 
South  Africa.  They  produce  small  blue  or  red 
bell-shaped  flowers,  of  but  little  interest.  The 
species  are  rarely  met,  -excepting  in  botanical 
collections. 

Cyphoma'ndra.  From  kyphoma,  a  hump,  and 
aner,  a  man  ;  the  antliers  form  a  hump.  Nat. 
Ord.  Solanacece. 

A  genus  of  shrubby  plants  with  showy 
foliage,  natives  of  South  America.  C.  betacea, 
is  the  Tree  Tomato,  a  handsome  shrub,  a 
native  of  Peru,  the  small,  deep  red,  egg-like 
fruit  of  which  is  used  in  the  same  way  as 
Tomatoes.  Propagated  by  seeds  or  cuttings. 
Introduced  in  1887. 

Cypress.     See  Cupressus. 

Black  or  Deciduous.     Taxodium  distachyum. 
Chinese  Deciduous.     Taxodium  sitiense. 
Funeral.     Ciipressii^funebris. 
Japan.      The  genus    Retinospora ;   especially 

R.  ohtusa. 
Monterey.     Cupressvs  macrocarpa. 
Nootka  Sound.     Cupressus  Nutkcensis. 
Oregon.     Cupressus  Lawsoniana. 

Cypress  Vine.     See  Quamoclit. 

Cypripe'dium.  Ladies'  Slipper,  or  Moccasin 
Flower.  From  Cypris,  one  of  Venus's  names, 
and  podion,  a  slipper.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  somewhat  extensive  genus  of  terrestrial 
Orchids,  producing  flowers  of  the  most  sin- 
gular structure,  combined  with  elegance  and 
beauty.  It  is  remarkable  that  a  family  with 
such  marked  and  distinctive  characteristics 
should  find  congenial  homes  in  such  a 
diversity  of  soil  and  climate.  The  species 
are  pretty  generally  distributed,  from  our 
most  northern  States  to  Mexico,  through 
South  America,  the  Pacific  Islands,  and  India. 
The  State  of  New  York  furnishes  six  species, 
all  beautiful  and  worthy  of  cultivation.  The 
native  species  may  all  be  cultivated  in  the 
garden  by  placing  them  in  a  well  drained 
snady  border;  the  soil  of  which  should  be 
liberally  mixed  with  leaf  mould.  Their  unique 
blossoms  render  them  highly  deserving  of  any 
care.  The  best  time  for  transplanting  them 
from  their  native  localities  is  after  they  have 
done  blooming,  and  they  should  be  removed 
with  a  ball  of  earth  attached  to  the  roots. 
Some  of  the  tropical  species  require  the  tem- 
perature and  humid  atmosphere  of  the  hot- 
house, while  others  do  best  in  the  green-house. 
The  motet  of  them  however  thrive  admirably 
amongst  ordinary  stove-plants,  flower  veiy 
freely,  and  continue  m  perfection  a  long  time. 
One  most  important  point  in  their  culture  is 
drainage.  This  must  be  most  thorough  and 
effective,  for  as  these  plants  have  no  pseudo- 
bulbs  to  sustain  them,  they  must  not  be  dried 
off,  as  many  other  orchids  are,  during  winter, 
and  if  the  drainage  is  defective,  the  roots  are 
sure  to  decay  and  the  leaves  shrivel.  The 
foliage  of  several  of  tlie  species  is  beautifully 
spotted  and  marbled  with  yellow  and  white, 
which  makes  them  atti-active  at  all  times. 
There  are  so  many  species  and  varieties  now 
under  cultivation,  and  they  are  all  so  beautiful 
that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  make  a  selection 
of  only  a  few  kinds.  An  amateur  should  there- 
fore begin  with  a  few  of  the  common  species, 
and  add  to  his  collection  as  his  taste  or  fancy 
dictates.  See  Orchids.  The  flowers  are 
greatly  valued  in  the  winter  months  for 
florists'  work.  Propagated  by  division  of  roots, 


CYR 

and  by  seed,  which,  with  most  of  the  species, 
is  a  rather  delicate  undertaking. 

Cyri'lla.  Named  in  honor  of  D.  Cyrillo,  an  Ital- 
ian botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Cyrillacece. 

A  small  genus  of  half-hardy  and  green- 
house flowering  shrubs,  with  the  habit  of 
some  of  the  larger  Andromedas.  C.  racemi- 
fiora  is  common  in  sandy  banks  of  ponds  and 
streams  from  the  Carolinas  south  and  west. 
It  is  a  low-growing  tree  or  shrub,  with 
racemes  of  small  white  flowers. 

Cyrilla'ceae.  A  small  order  of  evergreen  shrubs 
or  trees,  differing  from  Ericacexe,  in  their  free 
petals  and  in  the  anthers  opening  in  slits. 
Flowers  usually  racemose.  The  three  genera 
are  Cliftonia,  Costcea  and  Cyrilla.  There  are 
about  eight  species,  all  confined  to  the  warmer 
parts  of  America. 

Cyrta'ndra.  From  kyrtos,  curved,  and  aner, 
andros,  a  male ;  alluding  to  the  curved  fila- 
ments of  the  perfect  stamens.  Nat.  Ord. 
Gesneracece. 

A  genus  of  trees  and  shrubs  natives  of  the 
Malayan  Archipelago  and  the  Pacific  Islands. 
Though  embracing  about  sixty  species,  only 
two  have  as  yet  been  introduced  to  cultiva- 
tion, C.  pendula,  from  Java  in  1883,  and  C 
Pritchardii,  from  Fiji,  in  1887.  They  are  both 
interesting  plants,  and  are  increased  by  cut- 
tings. 

Cyrtanthe'ra.  From  kyrtos,  curved  and  anthera, 
an  anther.     Nat.  Ord.  Acanthacece. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome  evergreen  plants 
from  South  America,  which  do  well  in  the 
green-house.  They  are  nearly  related  to 
Justicia;  their  flowers  are  orange,  yellow, 
and  rose  in  color,  borne  in  dense  terminal 
panicles,  and  they  are  propagated  readily 
from  cuttings.    Introduced  in  1827. 

Cyrta'nthus.  From  kyrtos,  curved,  and  anthos,  a 
flower ;  the  flowers  bend  down  from  the  sum- 
mit of  the  scape  or  stalk.  Nat.  Ord.  Amaryl- 
lidacecB. 

Very  handsome  green-house  bulbs  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The  flowers,  which  are 
borne  in  umbels  on  a  slender  scape,  are  red, 
crimson  and  orange,  produced  in  summer, 
when  they  require  very  liberal  watering ;  they 
should  be  grown  in  pots,  and  are  propagated 
by  offsets.     Introduced  in  1774. 

Cyrto'ceras.  From  kyrtos,  curved,  and  keros,  a 
horn;  in  allusion  to  the  curved  horns  of  the 
corona  segments.     Nat.  Ord.  AsdepiadacecB. 

A  stove-house  evergreen  climber  Avith  white 
flowers,  tipped  with  buff.  This  is  now  gener- 
ally regarded  as  a  section  of  the  genus  Hoya. 
C.  multiflorus,  the  only  species,  bears  the  fol- 
lowing synonyms :  Centrostemma  muUiflorum, 
Cyrtoceras  Jloribundum,  C.  Lindleyanum,  C. 
refiexum  and  Hoya  coriacea. 

Cyrtochi'lum.  From  kyrtos,  curved,  or  concave, 
and  cheilos,  a  lip ;  the  form  of  the  labellum  or 
lip.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchMacem. 

A  genus  of  small  flowering  Orchid?  from 
Mexico  and  Guatemala.  The  flowers  are  red, 
yellow,  spotted,  purple  and  green.  They 
require  a  high  temperature,  and  are  usually 
grown  on  blocks  of  wood  or  cork. 

Cyrtodei'ra.  From  kyrtos,  curved,  and  deire, 
neck.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneracece. 

Green-house  herbaceous  perennials,  with 
beautifully-colored  foliage,  and  solitary  flow- 


118 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


CYR 

ers  on  short  axillary  stems.  They  make  very 
pretty  basket  plants  for  the  hot-house,  the 
only  place  in  which  they  thrive  well.  They 
thrive  best  in  sandy  loam  and  leaf  mould,  and 
are  increased  readily  from  cuttings,  and  also 
from  seed.  This  genus  is  included  under 
Episcia,  by  some  authors. 

Cyrto'mium.  From  kyrtos,  curved ;  the  shape 
of  the  spore  cases  or  seed  vessels.  Nat.  Ord. 
Polypodiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  robust  evergreen  Ferns  of 
very  ornamental  character.  They  are  natives 
of  India,  China,  and  Japan,  and  require  the 
hot-house  for  perfection  of  growth.  Syn. 
Aspidium. 

Cyrtope'ra.  From  kyrton,  curved,  and  pera,  a 
small  sack ;  alluding  to  the  sack-like  append- 
age to  the  labellum  or  lip.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchid- 
acecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  beautiful  terrestrial 
Oi'chids,  natives  of  northern  India.  In 
appearance  they  resemble  the  Bletias,  and  are 
usually  given  th(i  same  treatment. 

Cyrtopo'dium.  From  kyrtos,  curved,  and  povs, 
a  foot ;  referring  to  the  form  of  the  labellum 
or  lip.    Nat.  Ord.  Orchidaceoe. 


DAS. 

A  genus  of  beautiful,  strong-growing  Or- 
chids from  Brazil,  valued  alike  for  their  lai-ge 
spikes  of  flowers,  yellow  spotted  with  red,  and 
for  their  beautiful  foliage.  One  species,  with 
yellow  flowers,  has  pseudo-bulbs  nearly  Ave 
feet  high.  The  room  required  to  grow  them 
prevents  their  general  cultivation. 

Cysto'pteris.  FvomkysHs,  a  bladder,  anidpteron, 
a  wing.     Nat.  Ord.  PohipodiacecB. 

A  genus  of  beautiful,  hardy  Ferns,  allied  to 
Microlepia  and  Woodsia.  They  are  admirably 
adapted  for  ferneries  and  rock  work.  C. 
bulbifera,  a  native  species,  produces  large 
fleshy  bulblets  in  the  axils  of  the  upper 
pinnae,  which  fall  to  the  ground  and  become 
new  plants. 

Cy'tisus.  From  Cythmis,  one  of  the  Cyclades, 
where  one  of  the  species  was  first  found.  Nat. 
Ord.  Leguminosm. 

This  is  an  extensive  genus,  consisting  prin- 
cipally of  hardy  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs, 
of  which  C.  Laburnum  (Syn.  Laburmim  vulgare) 
is  a  well-known  species.  They  are  all  very 
ornamental  and  free-flowering,  and  succeed 
well  in  almost  any  soil  or  situation.  They 
are  readily  increased  by  seeds  or  from 
cuttings.    Introduced  in  1596. 


D. 


Dacry'dium.     From  dakru,  a  tear;  referring 
to    the    gummy    exudation.       Nat.    Ord. 
ConifercB. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  trees  inhabiting  the 
East  Indies  and  New  Zealand.  The  flowers 
are  curious,  but  not  showy.  The  young 
branches  afford  a  beverage  of  the  same  quali- 
ties as  root  beer.  D.  Franklinii,  from  Tas- 
mania, furnishes  a  valuable  timber,  very  dur- 
able, which  is  used  for  ship  and  house-build- 
ing. Some  of  the  wood  is  beautifully  marked, 
and  is  used  for  cabinet  work. 

Da'ctylis.  Orchard  Grass.  From  dactylos,  a 
finger ;  the  head  is  divided  so  as  fancifully  to 
resemble  fingers.     Nat.  Ord.  GraminacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  grasses,  the  best-known  of 
which  is  D.  glomerata,  a  native  of  Europe.  It 
is  a  valuable  grass  for  pastures,  as  it  contains 
much  nutriment  when  young,  and  the  plant 
is  not  injured  by  close  feeding.  It  grows  well 
under  trees,  and  is,  therefore,  fitted  for 
orchards,  and  other  shaded  places. 

Daedalaca'nthus.  From  dcE<iato8,  various  colored, 
and  Acanthus,  to  which  it  is  related.  Nat.  Ord. 
AcanthacecR. 

A  genus  of  about  fourteen  species  of  shrubs, 
natives  of  the  East  Indies  and  the  Malayan 
Archipelago.  D.  macrophyllus,  the  best  known 
species,  is  an  erect,  minutely-pubescent,  per- 
ennial herb,  with  handsome  foliage,  and  pale 
violet-blue  fiowers.  It  was  introduced  from 
Burmah  in  1883. 

Daemo'norops.  From  dema,  a  cord,  and  rhops, 
a  twig ;  alluding  to  the  rope-like,  climbing 
stems.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

This  genus  of  Palms,  numbering  more  than 
forty  species,  is  closely  allied  to  Calamus,  to 


which  most  of  the  species  formerly  belonged. 
All  the  species  are  natives  of  the  eastern 
hemisphere,  principally  of  the  Malayan  Pen- 
insula and  Islands.  They  have  long,  thin, 
flexible  stems,  furnished  with  pinnate  leaves, 
the  prickly  stalks  of  which  are  frequently  pro- 
longed into  whip-like  tails.  D.  Draco  (form- 
erly Calamus  Draco)  is  a  native  of  Sumatra 
and  other  islands  of  the  Indian  Archipelago, 
and  is  called  the  Dragon's  Blood  Palm,  in  con- 
sequence of  its  fruits  yielding  a  portion  of  the 
substance  known  in  commerce  as  Dragon's 
Blood.  The  fruits  arc  about  the  size  of  cher- 
ries, and  when  ripe  are  covered  with  a  reddish 
resinous  substance,  which  is  separated  by 
shaking  them  in  a  coarse  canvas  bag.  This 
resin  is  the  best  Dragon's  Blood  that  is 
obtained,  although  there  are  several  other 
plants  that  furnish  a  similar  article.  D.  Palem- 
hanicus  and  a  few  other  species,  natives  of 
Java,  have  lately  been  introduced  into  the 
green-house  as  decorative  plants,  for  which 
purpose  they  are  exceedingly  appropriate. 
The  young  leaves  are  of  a  bright  cinnamon 
brown,  and  the  contrast  between  this  warm 
color  and  the  deep  green  of  the  matured 
leaves  renders  the  plants  very  beautiful  at  the 
time  they  are  in  course  of  development. 
Young  plants  are  obtained  from  seed.  In  a 
growing  state  they  require  considerable  heat. 

Daffodil.       The    common    name    of    Narcissus 

Pseudo-Narcissus.     See  Narcissus. 
Dagger    Plant    and    Bayonet    Plant.       Local 

names  for  a  species  of  Yucca. 

Dahlia.  In  honor  of  Andrew  Dahl,  a  celebrated 
Swedish  botanist  and  pupil  of  Llnneeus.  Nat. 
Ord.  Composite^. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


119 


DAH 

This  interesting  genus,  consisting  of  com- 
paratively few  species,  sliows  more  plainly 
the  skill  of  the  florist  than  almost  any  other 
in  cultivation.  Its  history  is  also  somewhat 
curious,  as,  strange  to  say,  though  it  has 
become  so  great  a  favorite,  and  is  so  univers- 
ally cultivated,  the  history  of  its  introduction 
is  very  obscure.  It  is  generally  said  to  have 
been  introduced  into  England  by  Lady  Hol- 
land in  1804;  but  the  fact  is,  it  had  been 
introduced  many  years  before  that  period, 
and  was  only  brought  from  Madi-id  in  1804  by 
Lady  Holland,  who  apparently  did  not  know 
that  it  was  already  in  that  country.  The  first 
kind  of  Dahlia  known  to  Europeans,  D.  super- 
Jlua,  Cav.,  (D.  variabilm,  Dec,  Georgina  pin- 
nata,  W.,)  was  discovered  in  Mexico  by  Baron 
Humboldt  in  1789,  and  sent  by  him  to  Pro- 
fessor Cavanilles  of  the  Botanical  Garden, 
Madrid,  who  gave  the  genus  the  name  of 
Dahlia,  in  honor  of  the  Swedish  professor 
Dahl.  Cavanilles  sent  a  plant  of  it  the  same 
year  to  the  Murchioness  of  Bute,  who  was 
very  fond  of  flowers,  and  who  kept  it  in  the 
green-house.  From  this  species  nearly  all  the 
varieties  known  in  the  gardens  have  been 
raised,  as  it  seeds  freely,  and  varies  very 
much  when  raised  from  seed.  In  1802,  D. 
frustranea.  Ait.,  {D.  coccinea,  Cav.,)  was  intro- 
duced from  France,  in  which  country  it  had 
been  raised  from  seed.  It  is  rather  remark- 
able that  the  two  species  did  not  hybridize 
together,  and  that  D.  superflua,  or  variabilis, 
should  produce  flowers  of  colors  so  different 
as  crimson,  purple,  white,  yellow,  orange  and 
scarlet  without  hybridization.  Among  all  the 
colors,  however,  displayed  by  th<'se  varieties, 
no  flowers  have  yet  appeared  of  blue,  and  are 
not  likely  ever  to  be,  as  we  find  no  family  of 
plants  in  nature  in  which  there  are  blue,  yel- 
low and  scarlet  in  varieties  of  the  same  spe- 
cies. These  two  species  and  their  varieties 
were  the  only  Dahlias  known  in  English  gar- 
dens for  many  years,  as,  though  a  few  kinds 
were  introduced  from  time  to  time  from 
France  and  Spain,  yet,  as  they  did  not  hybrid- 
ize with  the  others,  and  were  rather  more 
tender,  they  were  not  generally  cultivated, 
and  appear  to  have  been  soon  lost.  Most  of 
these  have,  however,  been  re-introduced  from 
Mexico,  with  several  new  species,  within  the 
last  few  years,  and  there  are  now  ten  or 
twelve  distinct  species,  besides  innumerable 
varieties  of  D.  variabilis.  The  most  remarka- 
ble of  the  new  species  is  the  tree  Dahlia,  D. 
excelsa,  which  is  said  to  grow  in  Mexico  thirty 
feet  high,  with  a  trunk  thick  in  proportion. 
D.  imperialis,  a  distinct  species,  attains  a 
height  of  ten  to  fifteen  feet,  and  is  of  a  fine 
branching  form,  producing,  late  in  the  fall, 
pure  white,  drooping,  lily-like  flowers,  three 
inches  in  diameter.  It  flowers  rather  late  to 
be  seen  in  perfection  in  the  Northern  States, 
but  it  is  a  magnificent  plant  in  any  section  of 
the  country  where  frost  holds  off  until  the 
15th  of  November.  The  very  showy  scarlet 
D.  Juarezii,  commonly  called  the  "Cactus 
Dahlia,"  is  another  distinct  species,  which, 
with  its  many  varieties  of  various  shades  of 
color,  is  very  attractive.  The  single  varieties 
also  of  D.  coccinea,  from  their  grace  and 
beauty,  are  much  used  for  vases  or  epergnes 
of  cut  flowers.  They  also  make  distinct  and 
interesting  bedding  plants,  as  they  flower  in 
great  profusion.     The  colors  so  far  attained 


DAL 

are  scarlet,  yellow,  rose,  crimson,  and 
white,  with  a  great  variety  between  these 
colors,  as  in  the  other  classes,  making 
a  flne  contrast  with  the  yellow  disk.  The 
propagation  of  tlie  Dahlia  is  quite  sim- 
ple. For  amateurs,  division  of  the  root  will 
more  than  supply  their  needs,  as  each  will 
divide,  if  started  in  a  hot-bed  or  any  warm 
and  moist  place,  into  at  least  six  good  plants. 
Young  plants  of  both  the  single  and  double 
sorts  are  propagated  by  cuttings  taken  off  old 
roots,  started  in  heat  in  February  or  March, 
and  grown  on  in  pots  until  time  to  plant  out 
in  the  border,  which  should  be  done  as  soon 
as  danger  from  frost  is  over.  Seeds  of  either 
the  double  or  single  sorts  sown  in  February, 
grown  on,  and  planted  out  in  June,  will  make 
strong  blooming  plants  by  August.  To  suc- 
ceed well  they  should  have  a  strong,  deep  and 
rich  soil ;  as  they  are  rapid  growers,  they  are 
consequently  gross  feeders,  and  are  much 
benefited  by  frequent  applications  of  water 
during  the  summer,  and  by  liquid  manure 
after  the  buds  are  formed.  For  perfection  in 
bloom  the  shoots  and  flower-buds  must  be 
thinned  out  in  the  younger  stages  of  growth, 
but  otherwise  it  will  be  unnecessary  to  do  so. 
Some  of  the  dwarfer  Pompon  varieties  have 
for  the  last  two  seasons  been  flowered  in  pots, 
for  spring  sales,  with  success,  both  pecu- 
niarily and  otherwise,  one  firm  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  New  York  having  disposed  of  over 
10,000  plants  in  flower  in  one  season.  The 
dwarf  white  varietj',  named  Camelliceflora,  is 
the  favorite  for  this  purpose..  The  same  firm 
plants  two  houses  of  this  variety  about  the 
first  of  August,  for  winter  blooming,  putting 
on  the  sashes  just  before  the  first  frost, 
realizing  a  handsome  price  for  them  during 
winter,  or  until  the  houses  are  required  for  a 
spring  crop  of  Geraniums,  Fuchsias,  etc. 

Daisy.     Blue.     See  Agathea  Coeleatis  :  also  Aster 
Tripolium. 
Common.     Bellis,  which  see. 
Marsh  Ox-eye.     Chrysanthemum  lacustre. 
Ox-eye,  or  White.     Leucanthemum  vulgare. 
Paris.     Chrysanthemum  fmtescens. 
Swan  River.     Brachycome  iberidifolia. 
Western.     Bellis  integrifolia. 

Dalbe'rgia.  Named  after  Nicholas  Dalberg,  a 
Swedish  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  lofty-growing,  East  Indian  ever- 
green trees.  Most  of  the  species  are  truly 
magnificent,  of  immense  size,  with  beautiful 
pinnate  foliage,  and  produce  an  abundance  of 
white  flowers  in  axillary  racemes.  The  trees 
are  the  most  remarkable  for  the  valuable 
timber  they  furnish.  D.  latifolia  is  the  Black- 
wood or  East  Indian  Rosewood  tree,  common 
on  the  Malabar  and  Coromandel  coasts,  and 
yields  one  of  the  most  valuable  furniture 
woods.  The  timber  is  furnished  in  planks 
four  feet  wide,  and  is  of  a  dark  purplish  color, 
very  heavy,  close  grained,  and  susceptible  of  a 
high  polish.  It  lacks  the  rich  perfume  of  the 
true  Rosewood,  and  is  not  so  beautifully 
variegated.  In  India  it  is  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of  their  richest  furniture.  The  species 
yield  some  of  the  most  valuable  timber  used 
in  the  mechanic  arts. 

Dalea.  Named  after  Dr.  Samuel  Dale,  an 
English  botanist  of  the  last  centuiy.  Nat. 
Ord.  LeguminoscB. 


120 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


DAL 

A  genus  of  shrubby  or  herbaceous  plants 
■with  purplish,  blue,  whitish  or  rarely  yellow 
flowers,  natives  principally  of  Mexico,  a  few 
being  found  in  Chili  and  the  southern  United 
States  The  genus  contains  more  than  100 
species,  of  which  very  few  are  in  cultivation. 
D.  Mulisii,  introduced  from  South  America  in 
1828,  the  most  showy  and  best  known  species, 
has  beautiful  dark-blue  flowers,  disposed  in 
cylindrical  heads,  flowering  in  October.  It  is 
also  known  as  Psoralea  Mwtisii. 

Dalecha'mpia.  Named  after  James  Dalechamp,  a 
celebrated  French  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Euphor- 
biacecB. 

Evergreen  climbers,  producing  small  yel- 
lowish-green flowers  on  axillary  peduncles. 
The  genus  is  small,  mostly  natives  of  Brazil, 
and  do  best  in  the  hot-house.  Propagated  by 
cuttings. 

Daliba'rda.  Named  after  Denis  Dalibard,  a 
French  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Rosacem. 

D.  repens,  the  only  species,  is  a  rather 
pretty  trailing  plant,  quite  common  in  our 
northern  woods.  The  flowers  are  white, 
and  are  produced  singly  or  in  pairs.  It  is  not 
cultivated  except  in  botanical  collections. 

Dalmatian  Powder.  A  well-known  insecticide 
manufactured  fiom  the  flowers  of  Pyrethrum 
cinerarice/olium. 

Dame's  Violet,  or  Rocket.  A  common  name 
for  Hesperis  Matronalis. 

Da'mmara.  Kauri  Pine.  The  name  of  the 
species  in  Amboyna.     Nat.  Ord.  ConifercB. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  trees,  similar  to  our 
Pines.  D.  Ausiralis,  a  native  of  New  Zealand, 
is  a  tree  from  150  to  200  feet  in  height,  pro- 
ducing a  hard,  brittle,  resin-like  copal,  the 
principal  ingredient  of  Dammar  or  white 
varnish. 

Dampie'ra.  Named  after  the  circumnavigator. 
Captain  William  Dumpier.  Nat.  Ord.  Good- 
eniacece. 

Green-house  herbaceous  perennials  frf»m 
New  Holland,  of  easy  culture.  Flowers  blue, 
both  axillary  and  terminal.  Propagated  by 
cuttings  of  young  shoots  or  by  division. 

Damping  off.  A  term  applied  to  the  premature 
decay  of  the  leaves,  flowers,  or  stems  of  plants. 
Its  effects  are  most  marked  on  young  and 
tender  seedlings  when  crowded  together,  or 
placed  un^ler  unsuitable  atmospheric  con- 
ditions. Damping  off  amongst  cuttings  is 
often  caused  by  allowing  them  to  become  too 
dry,  and  then  suddenly  applying  too  much 
water.  The  water  is  generally  blamed  when 
the  actual  cause  is  drought  and  the  sudden 
change  subsequently  caused  by  the  w^ater. 
When  damping  is  detected  amongs-t  tender 
seedlings  they  should  be  immediately  sep- 
arated and  transplanted  singly  in  fresh  soil. 
This  will  invariably  check  it,  but  the  opera- 
tion is  best  performed  before  damping 
begins. 

Damson.     A  group  of  small  fruited  varieties  of 

the  Plum. 
Dancing  Girls.     Opera  Girls.     See  Mantisia. 
Dandelion.     See  Taraxicum. 
Dane-wort,  or  Dane's  Blood.     Sambucus  Ebu- 

lus. 

Dangle-Berry.  A  common  name  for  Gaylussacia 
frondosa. 


DAS 

Dantho'nia.  Wild  Oats  Grass.  Named  in  honor 
of  M.  Donthoine,  a  French  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
Graminacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  grasses,  having  in 
their  native  habitat  the  widest  geographical 
range.  Some  of  the  species  are  common  on 
poor  soils  in  this  country.  D.  spicata,  one  of 
the  most  common  species,  is  popularly  known 
as  Wild-Oats  Gi-ass. 

Da'phne.  From  daio,  to  burn,  and  phone,  a 
noise;  it  crackles  when  burning.  Nat.  Ord. 
Thymelacem. 

An  extensive  genus  of  small  shrubs,  mostly 
evergreen,  with  very  beautiful,  fragrant  flow- 
ers, natives  chiefly  of  Europe,  but  partly  also 
of  the  cooler  parts  of  Asia,  including  Japan 
and  China.  Some  of  them  are  hardy  shrubs, 
valued  for  their  early  spring  flowers.  D. 
Cneorum,  the  Garland  Flower,  is  a  hardy 
spreading  evergreen  shrub,  growing  about 
a  foot  high,  and  producing  its  beautiful  bright 
pink  or  crimson,  deliciously  sweet-scented 
flowers  in  terminal  clusters  in  April  and  May, 
and  occasionally  again  in  September.  On 
account  of  its  dwarf  habit  it  is  especially  suit- 
able for  planting  on  rock-work,  or  for  edgings 
to  beds  ;  it  is  propagated  by  layers.  D.  odora, 
a  native  of  China,  is  a  green-house  evergreen, 
succeeding  best  when  planted  out  in  a  cool 
house;  this  species  and  D.  Indica  are  grown 
extensively  for  cut  flowers,  which  are  highly 
esteemed  for  their  delicious  fragrance.  They 
r>  grow  freely  from  cuttings.  Introduced  in 
\1771.  ^ 

Da'rea.  Named  after  Dar,  a  botanist.  A  genus 
of  Ferns  allied  to  Asplenium. 

Darlingto'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  Darling- 
ton, one  of  our  most  distinguished  botanists. 
Nat.  Ord.  Sarracpniaceoe. 

This  remarkable  genus  consists  of  but  one 
species,  C.  Californica,  which  is  found  in  the 
marshy  districts  of  California,  and  is  com- 
monly known  as  the  California  Side-Saddle 
Flower,  or  Pitcher  Plant.  It  is  a  perennial 
herb,  and  can  be  grown  in  an  ordinary  cool 
green-house.  The  plants  should  be  potted  in 
sphagnum,  leaf-mould  and  sand.  Propagated 
by  division  and  from  seed.  Dr.  Torrey  gave 
the  first  description  of  this  plant  in  1853. 

Darnel.  A  common  name  for  the  Lolium,  which 
see. 

Dar-wrinia.  Named  after  Dr.  Darwin,  author  of 
the  "Botanic  Garden."  Nat.  Ord.  Myrtacew. 
A  small  genus  of  low-growing,  heath-like, 
evergreen  shrubs,  found  in  the  extra  tropical 
regions  of  Australia.  The  leaves  are  nxarked 
with  transparent  dots.  D.  macroMegia,  much 
better  known  as  GenetylUs.  or  Hedaroma  tidipi- 
fera,  has  numerous  campanulate,  tulip-like 
flowers,  nearly  one  and  a  half  inches  long, 
borne  in  terminal  fascicles.  The  petal-like 
inner  Ijracts  are  pale  yellow,  streaked  with 
red,  the  petals  white.  It  is  a  very  showy  and 
ornamental  plant,  and  is  easily  increased  by 
cuttings  of  the  half-ripened  wood.  Introduced 
in  1854. 

Dasyli'rion.  From  dasys,  thick,  and  leirion,  a 
lily ;  the  plants  are  succulent.  Nat.  Ord. 
LiliacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
plants  from  Mexico.  "The  flowers,  like  most 
of  this  order,  are  quite  interesting.  They 
require  similar  treatment  to  the  tender  species 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


121 


DAT 

of    Yucca,    and    are    increased    by    suckers. 
Introduced  in  1830. 

Date.  Chinese.  A  name  given  by  foreign  resi- 
dents in  tiie  nortiiern  provinces  of  China  to 
the  fruit  of  a  Zizyphus,  allied  to  or  probably 
an  improved  variety  of  Z.  Jujuba. 

Date  Palm.    See  Phaniz. 

Date  Plum.    See  Diospyros. 

Dati'sca.  A  very  graceful  herbaceous  perennial 
of  the  Nat.  Ord.  DatiscacecB,  closely  allied  to 
the  Begonias,  well  suited  for  a  collection  of 
hardy,  fine-leaved  plants,  and  also  as  isolated 
specimens.  Flowers  yellow,  in  long,  loose 
axillary  racemes.  Native  of  Crete  and  west- 
ern Asia. 

Datisca'ceae.  A  small  natural  order  closely 
allied  to  the  Begonias.  The  plants  consist  of 
a  few  species  which  are  scattered  over  North 
America,  northern  India,  Siberia,  the  Indian 
Archipelago  and  southern  Europe.  There  are 
but  three  genera,  Datinca,  Tetrameles  and  Tri- 
cerastes,  and  these  comprise  but  four  species. 

Datu'ra.  Jamestown  "Weed,  Thorn  Apple,  Dev- 
il's Trumpet.  An  alteration  of  the  Arabic 
name  tatorah.     Nat.  Ord.  Solanacew. 

Strong  growing  ornamental  annuals,  shrubs, 
or  trees.  The  flowers  of  some  of  the  annual 
species  are  large,  very  showy,  and  sweet- 
scented,  D.  ceratocaulon,  white,  tinged  with 
purple,  D.  Chlorantha  Jl.  pi.,  double  yellow, 
and  D.  Meteloides  (Syn.  D.  Wrightii),  bluish- 
violet  or  white  are  the  most  generally  culti- 
vated species,  and  are  very  showy  bolder 
annuals.  The  shrubby  species  are  best 
known  as  Brugmansias,  under  which  name 
they  are  here  described.  D.  Stramonium, 
commonly  known  as  Thorn  Apple,  and  in 
some  sections  as  Jimson  Weed,  is  a  coarse- 
growing,  troublesome  weed,  that  seems  to 
delight  in  filthy  door-yards.  The  seeds  and 
stems  of  the  Datura  are  powerful  narcotic 
poisons,  and  many  deaths  have  resulted  from 
eating  the  seeds.  They  are  sparingly  used  in 
medicine,  and  the  dried  root  is  sometimes 
smoked  as  a  remedy  for  asthma. 

Daubento'nia.  Named  after  M.  Daubenton,  a 
celebrated  naturalist.  Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosm. 
A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  shrubs, 
chiefly  remarkable  for  their  curious,  quadran- 
gular seed  pods,  which  are  three  to  four  inches 
long,  stalked,  pointed,  and  furnished  with 
wings  along  the  angles.  Their  red  or  yellow, 
flowers,  resembling  the  Laburnum,  are  borne 
on  short  axillary  racemes.  They  are  natives 
of  Texas  and  Buenos  Ayres.  Propagated  by 
seeds  and  cuttings  of  ripened  young  shoots. 
Introduced  in  1820.     Syn.  Sisbania. 

Daube'nya.  In  honor  of  Dr.  Daubeny,  Pro- 
fessor of  Botany  in  the  University  of  Oxford. 
Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  genus  consisting  of  two  species  of  yellow 
flowering  bulbs  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
They  are  very  dwarf,  the  flower  stalks  being 
from  three  to  six  inches  high,  upon  which  is 
borne  an  umbel  of  small  showy  flowers.  They 
are  of  easy  culture,  in  a  dry,  warm  situation, 
and  with  slight  protection  they  will  endure 
our  winters.  The  safer  way  is  to  treat  them 
the  same  as  Gladiolus.   Propagated  by  offsets. 

Da'ucus.  Carrot.  From  daio,  to  make  hot; 
in  allusion  to  its  supposed  effect  in  medicine. 
Nat.  Ord.  Umhelliferoe. 

For  description  of  this  genus,  see  Carrot. 


DEC 

Dava'llia.  Hare's-foot  Fern.  Named  after 
Edmund  Davall,  a  Swiss  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
PolypodicecB. 

A  fine  and  extensive  genus  of  tropical  Ferns. 
They  have  scaly,  creeping  rhizomes,  which  are 
covered  with  close  brown  hair,  which  feature 
has  given  rise  to  the  name  of  Hare's-foot 
Fern.  The  genus  is  well  marked  by  natural 
features,  and  is  one  of  the  most  elegant  to  be 
found  in  our  green-liouses.  Propagated  by 
division  of  roots  and  by  spores.  Intro- 
duced in  1699.  Acrophorus,  Humata,  Leucos- 
tegia,  Microlepia,  Stenoloma,ete.,  are  included 
in  this  genus  by  some  botanists. 

Davidso'nia.  Queensland  Plum.  Named  after 
the  discoverer  of  the  plant,  who  found  it  in  a 
sugar  plantation.  Nat.  Ord.  Saxifragacece. 
D.pruriens  (Syn.  pungens),  the  only  introduced 
species,  is  a  noble  looking  and  desirable  orna- 
mental plant,  with  leaves  nearly  two  feet  long. 
In  the  young  state  the  leaves  are  of  a  bright 
red  color,  from  which  they  pass  to  a  deep 
green.  It  produces  a  succulent  edible  fruit 
and  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  plants  in 
Queensland.  It  was  introduced  from  Austra- 
lia in  1877. 

Davie'sia.  Named  after  Rev.  Hugh  Davies,  a 
Welsh  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

Handsome  green-house  evergreens  from 
New  Holland.  Like  all  other  plants  from  that 
countiy,  they  require  a  bountiful  supply  of  air 
on  all  favorable  occasions  through  the  winter, 
and  in  summer  they  are  much  better  placed 
in  the  open  air,  so  that  they  are  slightly 
shaded  from  the  mid-day  sun.  Some  of  the 
species  have  a  sub-scandent  habit,  which,  with 
their  densely-filled,  drooping  spikes  of  yellow 
and  red  flowers,  gives  them  a  very  graceful 
appearance.  Propagated  by  cuttings  from 
well-ripened  side  shoots.     Introduced  in  1792. 

Dawn  Plo'wer.  Blue.  A  popular  name  for 
IpomoRa  Learii. 

Day  Flower.     See    Commelyna. 
Day  Lily.     See  Funkia  and  Hemerocallis. 
Deadly    Nightshade.      A    common    name    for 
Atropa  Belladonna. 

Dead  Nettle.  A  common  name  for  the  genus 
Lamium,  a  few  species  of  which  have  become 
naturalized  in  this  country  to  such  an  extent  as 
to  be  troublesome.     Natives  of  Europe. 

Dead-wort.     Sambucus  Ebulus. 

Dealbate.  Covered  with  a  very  opaque  white 
powder. 

Decai'snea.  Named  in  honor  of  Joseph 
Decaisne ,  a  distinguished  French  botanist, 
1807-1882.     Nat.  Ord.  Berberidacem. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  of  Indian  dis- 
coveries. With  the  habit  of  an  Araliaceous 
plant  it  exhibits  the  characters  of  the  Ber- 
beridacese  and  Lardizabalaceee.  D.  insignis,  the 
only  species,  is  an  elegant  tree  with  gi-eenish 
flowers  borne  in  terminal  racemes  It  is  a 
native  of  the  humid  forests  of  Sikkim  and 
Bhotan,  whence  it  was  introduced  in  1883. 

Deciduous.  Falling  off.  Leaves  which  are 
shed  annually  are  said  to  be  deciduous ;  as 
are  also  trees  that  annually  lose  their  leaves. 
So  also  the  calyx  and  corolla  of  OrucifercB. 

Deciduous  Cypress.     Taxodium  diatichum. 

Declinate.     Bent  downwards. 


122 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


DEO 

Decompound,  Decomposite.  Having  vari- 
ous divisions  or  ramifications ;  a  leaf  is  said 
to  be  decompound  wiien  it  is  twice  pinnated  ; 
a  panicle,  when  its  branches  are  also  panicled. 

Decimia'ria.  From  decuma,  a  tent;  referring 
to  the  ten  valvate  divisions  of  the  calj'x,  and 
the  ten  cells  of  the  capsule  or  seed-pod.  Nat. 
Ord.  Saxifragacew. 

A  climbing  shrub  of  the  Southern  States. 
Allied  to  Philadelphus.  The  flowers  are  white, 
sweet-scented,  and  arranged  in  corymbs.  They 
are  well  adapted  for  growing  against  walls, 
thriving  in  almost  any  soil  or  situation.  Prop- 
agated by  cuttings  or  from  seed. 

Decumbent.  Eeclining  upon  the  earth  and 
rising  again  from  it;  applied  to  stems  when 
the}'  recline  upon  the  surface  of  the  earth,  but 
have  a  tendency  to  rise  again  at  the  extrem- 
ities. 

Decurrent.  "Where  the  limb  of  a  leaf  is  pro- 
longed down  the  stem  on  each  side,  below  the 
point  of  insertion,  or  where  the  midrib  quits 
it ;  as  though  the  leaf  were  partially  united  to 
the  stem  by  its  midrib.  Common  in  the 
Thistles. 

Decussate.  Arranged  in  pairs  that  alternately 
cross  each  other ;  when  two  right  lines  cross 
each  other  at  right  angles  they  are  said  to  be 
decussate ;  leaves  are  often  placed  in  this 
position,  as  in  Ixora parviflora,  Phlox  decusscUa, 
etc. 

Deerberry.  One  of  the  popular  names  of  Vac- 
ci7iiu77i  slamineum. 

Deer-Grass.    See  Rhexia. 

Deflexed.  Bending  gradually  downwards 
through  the  whole  length. 

Deformation.  An  alteration  in  the  usual  form 
of  an  organ,  by  accident  or  otherwise. 

Degeneration.  Some  peculiarity  in  the  condi- 
tion of  an  organ,  induced  by  modification  of 
the  circumstances  under  which  its  more  usual 
and  healthy  development  is  effected. 

Deherai'nia.  Named  after  Pierre-Paul  Deherain, 
assistant  naturalist  of  the  Museum  of  the 
Jardin  des  Plantes,  Paris.  Nat.  Ord.  Myrain- 
acecB. 

D.  smaragdina,  the  only  species,  is  an  inter- 
esting warm  green-house  plant,  remarkable 
for  its  large  green  Primrose-like  flowers  dis- 
posed in  clusters  below  the  leaves.  It  was 
introduced  frt>rn  Mexico  in  1876.  Syn.  Theo- 
phrasta  smaragdina. 

Dehiscent.  Opening,  gaping ;  an  expression 
applied  to  the  mode  in  which  the  anthers  or 
the  capsule  burst  open  and  discharge  their 
contents. 

Delphi'nium.  Larkspur.  From  delphin,  a  dol- 
phin ;  in  leference  to  the  supposed  resem- 
blance in  the  nectary  of  the  plant  to  the 
imaginary  figures  of  the  dolphin.  Nat.  Ord. 
Ranunculaceie. 

Well-known  annual,  biennial,  and  perennial 
plants,  with  curiously-cut  leaves  and  splendid 
flowers,  which  are  either  scarlet,  purple,  pink, 
blue,  or  white,  and  never  yellow.  The  Siberian 
Larkspurs  are  remarkable  for  the  metallic 
luster  of  their  flowers,  the  hue  of  which  re- 
sembles that  of  silver  which  has  been  tar- 
nished by  fire;  and  the  Bee  Larkspurs  are 
remarkable  and  interesting  for  the  curious 
manner  in  which  the  petals  are  folded  up  in 
the  center  of  the  flower,  so  as  to  resemble  a 


DEN 

bee,  or  a  large  blue-bottle  fly.  The  Larkspurs 
will  grow  in  any  soil  or  situation,  but  one 
open  to  the  sun  suits  them  best.  They  are 
improved  by  the  addition  of  a  good  deal  of 
thoroughly-rotted  manure  to  the  soil  in  which 
they  grow.  The  seeds  keep  good  a  long  time, 
and  those  of  the  annual  kinds  do  best  sown  in 
autumn,  as  when  sown  in  spring  they  are  a 
long  time  before  they  flower.  The  perennials 
are  propagated  by  division  of  the  root,  or  by 
seed,  which  is  sown  in  March  in  the  green- 
house or  hot-bed,  and  the  plants  pricked  out 
as  soon  as  they  show  their  second  pair  of 
leaves,  are  carefully  grown  on  until  the  first 
of  June,  and  then  turned  out  into  the  flower- 
garden  ;they  will  flower  finely  during  the  au- 
tumn months.     See  "Herbaceous  plants." 

Deltoid.  Of  a  triangular  shape,  like  the  Greek 
capital  /\.  y 

Dendro'bium.  From  dendron,  a  tree,  and  bios, 
life ;  referring  to  the  way  these  air-plants 
fa -ten  on  trees  for  support.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchi- 
daceoB. 

In  this  extensive  genus  we  are  presented 
with  some  truly  magnificent  epiphytes,  which 
regarded  either  for  their  singular  numner  of 
growing,  graceful  or  grotesque  habits,  and 
large,  handsome,  and  richly-scented  flowers, 
are  perhaps  unsurpassed  in  the  entire  range 
of  vegetable  forms.  In  a  cultural  sense  they 
may  be  divided  into  two  sections,  the  pseudo- 
bulbous  class,  and  those  with  tall  bulbous 
stems.  Many  of  the  former  are  extremely 
small  compared  with  the  splendid  flowers 
they  produce,  and  from  this  circumstance, 
are  usually  grown  on  blocks  of  wood  or  cork, 
lest  the  young  shoots  should  receive  injury 
from  excessive  moisture.  Those  belonging 
to  the  other  section  are  again  divisible.  The 
upright  growing  species,  such  as  D.  nohile, 
made  the  best  appearance  when  cultivated  in 
pots,  and  trained  into  suitable  forms  by  the 
aid  of  stakes ;  those  of  pendent  trailing  habits 
should  be  grown  in  baskets  suspended  from 
the  roof  of  the  house  ;  in  either  case  the  soil 
should  be  composed  of  about  equal  parts  of 
fibrous  peat  and  sphagnum,  with  a  libeial  ad- 
dition of  pieces  of  charcoal.  The  mixture 
should  be  thoroughly  incorporated  without 
breaking  it  fine,  and  an  efficient  drainage 
must  be  secured,  or  the  plants  will  not  thrive. 
The  base  of  their  stems  should  be  elevated 
two,  three  or  four  inches,  according  to  the 
size  of  the  plant,  above  the  top  of  the  pot  or 
basket,  as  they  are  liable  to  much  injury  from 
damp  when  waking  their  new  shoots.  The 
temperature  of  the  house  in  which  these 
plants  are  grown  is  a  consideration  of  the 
first  consequence  to  their  successful  culture ; 
it  requires  to  be  assimilated,  as  nearly  as  cir- 
cumstances will  allow,  to  that  of  their  native 
positions,  and  maj'  be  described  as  of  three  dis- 
linct  phases,  a  dry  and  warm  season,  in  which 
the  plants  produce  their  flowers,  to  be  suc- 
ceeded by  one  still  warmer,  and  in  which  an 
abundance  of  moisture  must  be  present,  as  it 
is  at  this  time  that  new  growths  are  effected, 
and  this  active  season  must  be  followed  by  one 
suited  to  produce  a  state  of  repose  in  the 
plants,  by  reducing  the  amount  of  heat  con- 
siderably, and  restricting  the  supply  of 
moisture  to  the  least  possible  quantity.  This 
season  is  that  which  corresponds  with  our 
winters,  and  for  convenience  should  be   re- 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


123 


DEN 

ferred  to  that  time.  Thus,  from  December 
to  about  the  end  of  March,  or  later  for  some 
species,  may  be  regarded  as  the  period  first 
mentioned,  the  growing  season  commencing 
with  each  individual  as  soon  as  its  flowering 
is  over,  and  continuing  until  the  growth  is 
complete,  which  is  usually  about  the  end  of 
August  or  some  part  of  September,  when  they 
require  the  perfect  rest  already  spoken  of.  It 
is  in  the  variation  of  these  seasons,  the  with- 
holding or  appliance  of  heat,  that  the  whole 
art  of  the  management  lies.  If  it  is  done 
correctly,  and  at  the  proper  time,  of  course 
the  plant  progresses  satisfactorily,  but  other- 
wise all  is  confusion ;  the  plant  continues 
growing,  but  does  not  flower,  becoming 
weaker  each  season.  An  average  of  55°,  with 
but  slight  alteration,  should  be  observed  for 
the  dormant  season ;  increasing  it  gradually 
to  65*  or  70°  for  the  flowering  period,  and  after 
this  is  past,  the  tempei-atui-e  may  be  allowed 
to  run  up  to  85°,  90°,  or  even  more  through 
the  summer,  keeping  a  proportionate  amount 
of  moisture  in  the  atmosphere  of  the  house 
by  means  of  frequent  steaming,  syringing, 
etc.  The  genus  consists  of  over  200  species, 
of  which  upward  of  eighty  have  been  intro- 
duced into  the  green-house,  and  some  of  the 
species  are  grown  to  an  extent  that  warrants 
their  use  as  a  cut-flower.  Their  appearance 
in  the  florists'  windows  is  by  no  moans  rare, 
the  more  common  being  D.  nobile,  which 
flowers  freely  in  the  green-house  during  the 
winter,  and  is  one  of  the  very  few  Orchids 
that  will  grow  and  flower  very  well  in  the 
ordinary  sitting-room.  They  are  natives  of 
India,  Australia,  and  the  Pacific  Islands.  See 
Orchids. 

Dendroclii'lum.  From  dendron,  a  tree,  and 
cheilos,  a  lip.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacew. 

A  small  genus  of  East  Indian  Orchids, 
chiefly  of  little  interest.  One  or  two  of  the 
species  are  highly  esteemed  by  those  who 
make  a  specialty  of  Orchids.  D.  glumaceum  is 
a  very  handsome  species,  of  neat  habit, 
producing  graceful  drooping  spikes  of  ivory- 
white  flowers;  the  leaves,  resembling  those  of 
the  Lily  of  the  Valley,  gives  the  plant  an  in- 
teresting appearance  when  out  of  flower.     D. 

■  filiforme  is  another  graceful  little  plant,  with 
yellow  flowers.  This  genus  requires  to  be 
grown  in  heat,  and  the  plants,  when  at  rest, 
should  have  an  occasional  watering,  as  the 
pseudo-bulbs  are  quite  small,  and,  if  allowed 
to  shrivel,  the  plants  would  be  lost.  They 
are  increased  by  division.    Introduced  in  1836. 

Dendrome'con.  Tree  Poppy.  From  dendron, 
a  tree,  and  mekon,  a  poppy  ;  resembling  that 
flower,  with  a  woody  stem.  Nat.  Ord.  Pa- 
paveracece. 

D.  rigidum,  the  only  species,  is  a  hardy  small 
shrubby  plant,  with  yellow  flowers,  a  native 
of  California.  The  common  name  is  very  ap- 
propriate, the  plant  having  the  appearance 
and  character  of  the  Poppy  tribe,  with  a 
woody  stem  and  branches.  Increased  by 
seeds. 

Dendro'pana^.  From  dendron,  a  tree,  and 
Panax,     Tree  Panax.     Nat.  Ord.  AraliacecB. 

Very  handsome  and  effective  warm  green- 
house plants.  There  are  about  twenty 
species,  natives  of  tropical  Asia  and  America, 
as  well  as  China  and  Japan.  D.  argentea,  has 
oblong,  entire  leaves  about  a  foot  in  length. 


DES 

silvery  white  on  the  upper  surface — purplish 
beneath.    It  is  the  only  species  in  general 
cultivation. 
Dennstae'dia.     Derivation  of  name  not  given. 
Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacem. 

A  genus  of  Ferns,  now  merged  in  Dicksonia, 
The  name  is  also  a  synonym  of  Sitolobiuin. 

Denta'ria.  Toothwort.  Pepper-root.  From 
dens,  a  tooth ;  referring  to  the  fanged  roots. 
Nat.  Ord.  CrucifercE. 

A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials, 
several  of  the  species  being  common  in  most 
of  the  States.  The  roots  of  D.  diphylla  have 
a  pungent,  mustard-like  taste,  and  are  con- 
siderably used  as  a  salad,  under  the  name  of 
Pepper-root.  The  plant  is  somewhat  orna- 
mental, of  a  dwarf  habit,  producing  short 
racemes  of  white  or  purplish  flowers.  They 
are  increased  readily  by  division. 

Dentate.  Having  sharp  teeth  with  concave 
edges.  When  these  teeth  are  themselves 
toothed,  the  part  is  dupUcato- dentate;  not 
bidentate,  which  means  two-toothed. 

Depa'ria.  From  depas,  a  cup,  referring  to  the 
form  of  the  involucre.  A  small  genus  of  rare 
stove  ferns,  with  generally  bipinnate  fronds. 
Some  of  the  species  may  be  propagated  from 
the  small  bulblets  they  form  on  their  fronds. 

Depauperate.  When  some  part  is  less  per- 
fectly developed  than  is  usual  in  plants  of  the 
same  family. 

Depressed.  Pressed  downward;  having  the 
appearance  of  being  flattened  vertically,  as 
the  tuber  of  the  Turnip. 

Descending.  Tending  gradually  downward,  as 
some  branches  and  leaves.  Also,  penetrating 
more  or  less  vertically  into  the  earth,  as  with 
the  root,  the  descending  axis  of  vegetation. 

Desfontai'nea.  In  honor  of  M.  Dpsfontaines, 
a  Frenoh  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Loganiacece. 

The  few  species  that  compose  this  genus  are 
very  handsome  green-house  evergreen  shrubs, 
found  in  Peru.  They  have  thick  leaves  with 
spiny  margins,  like  those  of  the  Holly.  This 
is  one  of  the  plants  that  perplexes  the  bota- 
nist, as  there  is  nothing  in  its  external  appear- 
ance that  would  lead  to  a  knowledge  of  its 
affinities.  It  has  been  placed  under  three 
different  classifications  previous  to  the  present 
one.  D.  spinosa,  the  only  described  species, 
has  large  flowers  borne  on  terminal  pedun- 
cles, scarlet,  with  a  yellow  limb.  The  elegance 
of  its  foliage  and  the  brilliancy  of  its  flowers 
make  it  a  very  desirable  green-house  plant.  It 
requires  about  the  same  treatment  as  the 
Fuchsia.     Introduced  in  1850. 

Designs.  According  to  Loudon,  the  art  of 
taking  plans  or  designs  of  objects,  should  be 
considered  to  be  part  of  a  gardener's  general 
education,  since  none  who  aspire  to  any 
degree  of  eminence  in  their  profession  ought 
to  be  ignorant  of  the  first  principles  of  geome- 
try and  drawing.  It  is  just  as  necessary  in 
laying  out  a  flower-garden,  or  planting  an 
intricate  carpet-bed,  to  have  the  dimensions 
carefully  measured  and  a  design  drawn  to  a 
scale,  as  it  is  to  have  a  working  plan  in  building 
a  house.  This  not  only  enables  the  operator 
to  arrange  previously  the  positions  and  space 
to  be  occupied  by  the  various  plants,  but  if 
a  colored  design  is  made,  enables  him  also 
to    see    that    the    proportions    of    color  are 


124 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF   PLANTS 


DES 

properly  inserted.  A  glance  at  the  design, 
when  planting,  will  at  once  indicate  the  posi- 
tions assigned  to  all  the  plants,  and  also  pre- 
vent much  confusion  and  annoyance.  Intri- 
cate carpet-bedding  designs  are  often  worked 
out  by  marking  the  lines  with  white  sand ; 
others  may  be  drawn  out  carefully  on  the  sur- 
face and  planted  at  once.  Designs  for  glass 
structures  vary  according  to  tlieir  position  or 
to  the  requirements  of  the  plants  for  which 
th-ey  are  intended,  but  each  should  show  in 
the  same  proportion  all  the  details  necessary 
for  a  good  working  plan. 

Desma'nthus.  From  desme,  a  bundle,  and  an- 
thos,  a  flower.  The  flowers  are  collected  into 
bundles  or  spikes.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  tropical  and  sub-tropical  Indian 
and  American  herbs,  of  which  there  are  about 
eight  species,  some  of  which  have  been  suc- 
cessfully cultivated.  The  little  brown  pol- 
ished seeds  of  D.  Virgahis  are  in  Jamaica 
strung  like  beads,  and  used  for  making  brace- 
lets, etc. 

Desmo'dium.  Moving  Plant,  Tick-Trefoil. 
Fi-om  desmos,  a  band  ;  alluding  to  tlie  stamens 
being  joined.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous 
perennials  and  green-house  evergreen  shrubs. 
Most  of  the  species  are  unintei  esting  plants, 
but  a  few  are  very  beautil'ul  and  remarkably 
interesting.  There  are  numerous  species 
throughout  the  United  States,  with  purple 
flowers  produced  in  slender  racemes.  Some 
are  herbs,  others  shrubs,  but  none  of  the 
native  species  are  worthy  of  cultivation.  The 
most  interesting  of  the  species,  if  not  the 
most  beautiful,  is  D.  gyrnns,  the  Moving  Plant, 
a  native  of  India,  but  rarely  seen  under  culti- 
vation. The  singular,  spontaneous  rotary 
motion  of  the  leaflets  of  this  plant  renders  it 
an  object  of  great  interest.  The  leaves  are 
composed  of  three  leaflets,  the  terminal  one 
being  very  large,  and  the  laterals  very  small, 
but  these  are  almost  constantly  in  motion. 
They  execute  little  jerks  somewhat  analogous 
to  the  movements  of  the  seconds  of  a  watch. 
One  of  the  leaflets  arises  and  the  other  de- 
scends at  the  same  time,  and  Avith  a  corres- 
ponding force.  When  the  first  begins  to  de- 
scend the  other  begins  to  rise.  The  large 
leaflet  moves  also,  inclining  itself  first  to  the 
right,  then  to  the  left,  but  by  a  continuous 
and  very  slow  movement  when  compared  to 
that  of  the  lateral  leaflets.  This  singular 
mechanism  endures  throughout  the  life  of 
the  plant.  It  exercises  itself  day  and  night, 
through  drought  and  humidity.  The  warmer 
and  more  humid  the  day,  the  more  lively  are 
its  movements.  It  is  not  unusual  for  the 
leaflet  to  make  sixty  jerks  in  the  minute ;  they 
will  not  do  this,  however,  under  artificial  cul- 
tivation, except  when  the  plant  is  subjected 
to  great  heat.  These  movements  occur  spon- 
taneously and  without  any  apparent  cause. 
The  same  external  cause  that  has  such  a  won- 
derful effect  on  the  Catch-fly  and  the  Sensitive 
Plant,  does  not  affect  this  in  the  least.  None 
of  our  native  species  has  this  strong  peculi- 
arity. The  plant  introduced  to  the  United 
States  from  Japan  as  Desmodium pendidiflorum, 
is  now  placed  under  the  allied  genus  Lespe- 
deza,  as  L.  bicolor,  which  see. 
Deu'tzia.  Named  after  J.  Deutz,  a  sheriff  of 
Amsterdam.     Nat.  Ord.  Saxifragacere. 


DIA 

A  genus  of  slender  branched,  graceful 
shrubs,  producing  compound  panicles  of  beau- 
tiful white  flowers.  D.  crenata,  Syn.  D. 
Scabra,  one  of  the  more  common  species, 
takes  its  specific  name  from  the  roughness  of 
its  leaves,  which  in  its  native  country,  Japan, 
are  used  by  the  cabinet  makers  in  polishing 
the  finer  kinds  of  wood.  This  with  its  double 
variety,  are  exceedingly  showy  when  in  blos- 
som, and  are  two  of  the  most  desirable 
shrubs  in  cultivation.  D.  gracilis  in  addition 
to  its  beauty  and  usefulness  as  a  hardy  shrub, 
is  one  of  the  most  valuable  plants  for  forcing 
in  winter  and  spring,  and  is  very  largely  used 
for  that  purpose  for  the  cut  flower  trade.  All 
the  species  are  perfectly  hardy,  and  are  read- 
ily propagated  by  cuttings,  divisions,  or 
layers. 

Development.  That  gradual  extension  of  parts 
by  which  any  organ  or  plant  proceeds  from  its 
nascent  state  to  maturity. 

Devil  in  a  Bush.     See  Nigella. 

Devil's  Apples.     Mandragora  officinalis. 

Devil's  Bit.     A  common  name  for  ChamoBlirivm, 

liiteicm,  also  for  Scabiosa  succisa. 
Devil's  Fig.  Argemone  Mexicana. 
Devil's  Leaf.      Urtica  urentissima. 

Devil's     Milk.       Euphorbia    Helioscopia,     and 

other  species. 
Devr-berry.     See  Rubvs. 

Deyeu'xia.  Named  in  honor  of  Nicholas  Dey- 
eux,  a  French  chemist.  Nat.  Ord.  Gramin- 
acecB. 

A  large  genus  of  grasses  widely  dispersed 
over  the  temperate  and  mountainous  regions 
of  the  globe.  B.  elegans  va/riegata  introduced 
from  New  South  Wales  in  1884,  is  a  very  ele- 
gant green-house  plant,  with  a  thick  root- 
stock  from  which  spring  numerous  leaves, 
about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  breadth  and  a 
foot  or  more  long,  of  a  deep  bright  green 
color,  broadly  edged  with  creamy-yellow. 
Syn.  Lachnagrostis. 

Dhoura,  Doura,  or  Durra.  Guinea  Corn.  See 
Sorghum. 

Diane'lla.  A  diminutive  of  Diana,  the  sylvan 
goddess ;  the  first  discovered  species  being 
found  in  a  grove.     Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecB. 

Lovely  tuberous-rooted  plants,  chiefly  from 
New  Holland.  They  should  be  grown  in  pots 
of  loam  and  peat,  and  if  allowed  a  good  situa- 
tion in  the  green-house,  will  produce  their 
showy  blue  flowers  in  abundance.  Propagated 
by  division  or  from  seed. 

Dianthe'ra.  From  dis,  two,  and  anthera,  an- 
ther ;  in  reference  to  the  cells  being  more  or 
less  separated  from  one  another.  Nat.  Ord. 
AcanthacecB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  or  hardy,  erect,  or 
dwarf  herbs,  with  long  solitary  or  fascicled 
bracteate  flowers  and  entire  leaves.  D.  Amer- 
icana, the  Water-willow  of  the  United  States, 
is  a  perennial  herb  growing  in  the  bays  and 
slow-flowing  waters  of  the  great  rivers,  as 
well  as  in  streams  and  ponds.  It  has  long 
narrow  leaves  and  dense  spikes  of  pale  purple 
flowers  upon  long  peduncles.  -D.  ciliuta  is 
a  pretty  violet-colored,  warm  green-house 
shrub  from  Venezuela.  The  genus  is  closely 
allied  to  Juslicid. 


DICTAMNTJS  FEAXrNT:i,LA. 


DELPHIKTOM  FOBMOSUM. 


DIANTHUS  GAEDNEBIANU8. 


DIANTHUS  8COTICUS. 


DIANTHUS  (sweet  WILLIAM). 


DIANTHU8  PLUMABIUS  FL.  PL. 


DIANTHtrS  (florists'   PINK). 


DICKSONIA  ANTARCTICA. 


DIANTHT7S   (TYPE  OF  DOUBLE  ANNUAL).  laS 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


125 


DIA 

Dia'nthus.  From  dios,  divine,  and  anthos,  a 
flower ;  in  reference  to  the  fragrance  and  the 
unrivaled  neatness  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord. 
Caryophyllacew. 

Most  of  the  species  of  this  genus  are  highly 
valued  for  the  beauty  and  fragrance  of  the 
flowers,  which  present  a  richer  variety  of  tints 
of  scarlet,  crimson,  rose,  orange,  etc.,  than  is 
to  be  found,  perhaps,  in  any  other  genus.  The 
fragrance  of  some  of  them  is  peculiarly  grate- 
ful, and  no  plant  in  this  respect  surpasses  the 
Carnation,  D.  caryophyllus  (Clove  Pink  and 
Carnation).  Seedlings  stand  the  winter  and 
spring  without  difficulty  with  a  light  covering 
of  leaves  and  evergreen  boughs,  and  flower 
very  well.  Very  many  will  not  be  considered 
worth  saving  by  the  florist,  although  they  will 
all  be  interesting  as  single,  semi-double,  or 
irregular  flowers,  and  i"ichly  repay  all  the 
labor.  Carnations  are  arranged  by  florists 
into  three  classes,  viz. :  Flakes,  Bizarres  and 
Picotees.  Flakes  have  two  colors  only ;  their 
stripes  are  large,  going  quite  through  the 
petals.  Bizarres  are  variegated  in  irregular 
spots  and  stripes,  with  not  less  than  three 
colors.  Picotees  have  a  white  ground,  spotted 
at  the  edges  with  scarlet,  red,  purple  or  other 
colors.  The  Clove  Pink  is  rather  more  hardy 
than  the  Carnation,  of  which  it  is  the  parent ; 
the  petals  are  more  fringed  and  the  fragrance 
more  powerful,  resembling  that  of  the  clove. 
In  France  it  is  called  the  Clove  Gilly-flower. 
Some  suppose  this  latter  name  to  have  been 
corrupted  from  July-flower,  July  .being  its 
flowering  time.  The  great  improvement  in 
the  Perpetual  Carnation  (Tree  or  Monthly 
Carnation)  has  added  an  invaluable  feature 
to  this  section  of  winter-blooming  plants 
for  the  sitting-room,  conservatory  or  green- 
house. The  delicately  rich  and  grateful  odor, 
in  connection  with  the  brilliant  color  and 
good  outline  of  the  flowers  now  cultivated, 
secures  for  them  a  prominent  place  in  the 
forcing  department  for  cut  flowers.  D.  plu- 
marius,  the  Garden  Pink,  Florist's  Pink,  or 
Paisley  Pink,  is  in  perfection  about  the  last  of 
June.  The  foliage  is  more  grass-like  and  the 
plant  much  hardier  than  the  Carnation.  The 
double  varieties  are  very  desirable,  and  all 
have  a  clove  fragrance.  D.  Chinenais,  the 
China  Pink,  is  a  biennial  of  dwarf  habit  and 
great  beauty,  but  without  fragrance.  It  flow- 
ers from  seed  the  first  year,  and  being  per- 
fectly hardy,  flowers  much  stronger  the  sec- 
ond year.  The  colors  are  exceedingly  varied 
and  rich ;  crimson,  and  dark  shades  of  that 
color  approaching  to  black,  are  often  com- 
bined in  the  same  flower,  with  edgings  of 
white,  pink  or  other  colors.  In  beds  where 
there  may  be  a  hundred  plants,  scarcely 
two  will  be  found  alike.  Seed  saved  from 
double  flowers  will  produce  a  great  proportion 
of  double  flowers.  D.  G.  Heddewigii  and  D.  C. 
laciniatus  and  their  numerous  varieties  repi'e- 
sent  an  exceedingly  useful  class  of  plants  for 
mixed  borders,  many  of  their  flowers  being 
double  and  beautifully  marked  and  fringed. 
D.  barbatus,  the  Sweet  William,  is  an  old 
inhabitant  of  the  flower-garden,  and  was  much 
esteemed  in  Gerarde's  time  "for  its  beauty  to 
deck  up  the  bosoms  of  the  beautiful,  and  gar- 
lands, and  crowns  for  pleasure."  It  sports 
into  endless  varieties  of  color,  white,  pink, 
purple,  crimson  and  scarlet  self  colors,  and 
many  sorts  variously  edged,  eyed  or  spotted. 


DIG 

There  are  also  many  beautiful  double-flowered 
varieties,  notably  the  double  dark  crimson  or 
blood-colored,  which,  of  course,  can  only  be 
perpetuated  by  division  or  by  cuttings. 

Diape'nsia.  Named  by  Linneeus  from  diapente, 
composed  of  five ;  alluding  to  the  flowers 
being  five-cleft.    Nat.  Ord.  Diapensiacece. 

This  genus  consists  of  two  beautiful  little 
Alpine  plants,  both  evergreen,  which  grow  in 
dense  tufts,  scarcely  rising  more  than  an  inch 
above  the  ground.  The  flowers  are  white, 
bell-shaped,  and  about  half  an  inch  across.  It 
was  first  discovered  in  Lapland,  but  has  since 
been  found  in  the  White  Mountains,  in  New 
Hampshire,  and  in  the  Adirondacks,  in  New 
York.  In  its  native  country  it  is  continually 
covered  with  snow  in  winter,  which  is  the 
best  protection  against  severe  dry  frosts.  It 
can  be  grown  in  small  pots,  and  protected  by 
a  frame  in  winter.  Propagated  by  seeds  or 
division. 

Diapensia'ceae.  A  small  order  of  perennial, 
prostrate,  sometimes  suffruticose,  shrubs, 
inhabiting  the  northern  parts  of  Europe  and 
North  America.  The  order  includes  the  genera 
Diappnsia,  Pyxidanthera,  Galax,  Shortia,  as 
well  as  some  others  not  yet  in  cultivation. 

Dibber.  This  is  the  pointed  implement  used 
for  setting  out  vegetable  plants  that  have 
long  roots,  such  as  Cabbage,  Celery,  etc.,  and 
also  seedling  trees  and  flowering  plants.  It 
is  best  made  in  the  form  of  a  pistol  handle, 
about  ten  inches  long,  one  and  a  half  inches 
in  diameter,  and  shod  with  three  or  four 
inches  of  iron  tapering  to  a  sharp  point. 

Dice'ntra.  From  dis,  twice,  and  TteMron,  a  spur ; 
in  allusion  to  the  double-spurred  flowers.  Nat. 
Ord.  Fumariacece. 

Very  ornamental,  hardy  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, with  generally  tuberous  roots.  They 
are  natives  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  and 
have  mostly  pink  or  yellow  flowers,  in  ter- 
minal racemes.  They  form  excellent  subjects 
for  the  herbaceous  border  or  rock-garden. 
Diclytra  or  Dielytra  spectabilia  is  placed  by 
many  under  this  genus.    See  Dielytra. 

Dichlamy'deous.  Having  both  calyx  and  cor- 
olla. 

Dichopo'gon.  From  dicha,  double,  and  pogon, 
a  beard ;  in  allusion  to  the  two  appendages  of 
the  anthers.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacem. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  perennial 
herbs,  natives  of  Australia  and  Tasmania.  D. 
strictus,  the  only  species  yet  in  cultivation,  is 
a  very  interesting  plant,  with  pale,  sometimes 
dark-blue  flowers,  blooming  in  November.  It 
was  introduced  in  1883,  and  may  be  increased 
by  division  of  the  rhizome,  or  by  the  tubers 
on  the  root-fibres. 

Dicho'riza'ndra.  From  dis,  twice,  chorizo,  to 
part,  and  aner,  an  anther;  referring  to  the 
anthers  being  two-cleft.  Nat.  Ord.  Commeli- 
naceoR. 

A  genus  of  hot-house,  herbaceous  peren- 
nials from  Brazil,  some  of  the  species  being 
exceedingly  ornamental  and  invaluable  for 
late  autumn  or  winter  flowering.  D.  thyrsi- 
flora  ranks  highest,  and  when  well  grown  will 
reach  ten  feet  in  height,  branched  all  round, 
each  branch  terminating  with  a  long  spike  of 
sky-blue  flowers.  "When  the  flowers  begin  to 
expand  it  may  be  removed  to  a  warm  con- 
servatory, where  it  will  last  in    bloom  for 


126 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


DIG 

several  weeks.  D.  musaica  is  a  beautiful 
ornamental-foliaged  species,  with  darli-green 
leaves,  profusely  penciled  and  veined,  with 
zig-zag  lines  of  pure  white ;  under  side  red- 
dish-purple. Propagated  by  division  in  spring, 
when  the  new  growth  commences,  and  by 
seeds. 
Dicho'tomous.  Having  the  divisions  always  in 
pairs ;  a  term  equally  applied  to  branches, 
veins,  or  forks. 

Dickso'nia.  Named  after  James  Dickson,  a 
famous  British  cryptogamic  botanist.  Nat. 
Ord.  Polypodiacem. 

A  genus  of  very  ornamental  Ferns,  mostly 
arborescent,  and  including  some  of  the  most 
valued  Tree  Ferns  to  be  found  in  our  green- 
houses. D.  antartica,  a  nalive  of  Australia, 
introduced  in  1824,  is  the  one  most  commonly 
grown,  and  is  the  most  ornamental  of  the 
genus.  D.  arborescens,  a  native  of  St.  Helena, 
grows  about  twelve  feet  high,  bearing  at  its 
summit  a  number  of  pinnated  fronds,  from  ten 
to  twelve  feet  in  length.  This  species  grows  in 
great  abundance  in  St.  Helena,  and  next  to 
the  tomb  of  Napoleon,  is  the  great  attraction 
of  the  island.  It  is  remarkable  that  this 
species  has  not  been  found  in  any  other  part 
of  the  world.  All  the  Tree  Ferns  should  be 
grown  in  a  mixture  of  loam  and  leaf  mould, 
and  require  a  humid  atmosphere.  Young 
plants  may  be  raised  from  spores,  but  it  takes 
many  years  for  them  to  grow  to  the  size  of 
imported  stems,  to  which  method  we  are 
indebted  for  all  our  large  plants.  One  species, 
D.  punctilobula,  a  hardy  herbaceous  plant,  is  a 
native  of  this  country,  very  common  in  moist, 
rather  shady  places.  It  is  one  of  our  hand- 
somest Ferns,  and  has  an  agreeable  odor. 

Dicli'ptera.  From  diklos,  double-doored,  and 
pteron,  a  wing ;  referring  to  the  two-winged 
capsule  or  seed  vessel.  Nat.  Ord.  AcanthacecB. 
An  extensive  genus  of  annuals  and  peren- 
nials, allied  to  Justicia.  The  species  are  dis- 
persed over  the  tropical  and  sub-tropical 
regions  of  the  New  and  Old  World.  The 
annuals  grow  readily  from  seed,  which  should 
be  started  in  a  hot-bed,  or  the  green-house,  in 
March,  grown  on  until  all  danger  from  frost 
is  past,  and  then  transplanted  in  the  open 
border.  The  perennials  are  increased  by  cut- 
tings. They  all  require  a  very  light,  rich 
fibrous  soil. 

Dicotyle'dons.  Plants  having  two  seed  leaves, 
which  are  called  cotyledons.  This  is  one  of 
tlie  primary  divisions  or  classes  of  the  vege- 
table kingdom,  including  about  7,000  known 
genera,  and  about  70,000  known  species  of 
flowering  plants.  The  class  also  receives  the 
name  of  Exogens,  from  the  structure  of  the 
stems.  The  plants  of  this  great  class  have 
spiral  vessels;  their  stems  are  formed  by 
additions  externally  in  the  form  of  zones  or 
rings ;  stomata  or  pores  exist  in  the  leaves, 
which  have  a  reticulated  or  netted  venation. 
The  plants  have  stamens  and  pistils,  either  in 
the  same  or  in  different  flowers.  The  sym- 
metry of  the  flowers  is  represented  by  five  or 
two,  or  multiples  of  these  numbers.  The 
ovules  are  contained  in  an  ovary,  or  more 
rarely  are  naked ;  and  the  embryo  has  two, 
sometimes  more,  cotyledons. 

Dicta'mnus.  Fraxinella,  Gas  Plant.  An  ancient 
name,  supposed  to  have  been  given  because 


DID 

the  leaves  resemble  those  of  the  ash ;  hence 
the  English  name,  Fraxinella.  Nat.  Ord. 
Rutacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, and  among  the  oldest  inhabitants  of  the 
cottage  garden.  Johnson  says:  "Instances 
are  known  where  D.  Fraxinella  has  outlived 
father,  son,  and  grandson  in  the  same  spot 
without  increase,  all  attempts  at  multiply- 
ing it,  to  give  away  a  rooted  slip  to  a  newly- 
married  member  of  the  family,  having  failed  ; 
yet  the  Fraxinella  is  easily  increased  from 
seeds,  which  should  be  sown  soon  as  ripe  in 
any  common  garden  soil.  They  will  come  up 
the  following  spring."  The  plant  has  to  be 
three  years  old  before  it  will  flower.  It  is  a 
native  of  Germany.  When  rubbed  the  leaves 
emit  a  fine  odor,  like  that  of  lemon  peel ;  it  is 
strongest  in  the  pedicels  of  the  flowers.  The 
whole  plant  emits  a  resinous  or  oily  matter, 
which  may  be  readily  ignited,  especially  in 
warm  weather. 

Dictya'nthus.  From  diktyon,  net  work,  and 
anthos,  a  flower ;  the  flowers  are  netted  with 
veins.     Nat.  Ord.  Asclepiadacece. 

Green-house  climbers  of  considerable 
beauty,  from  Central  America  and  Brazil. 
They  will  do  well,  planted  out  in  summer,  but 
require  green-house  culture  during  winter. 
The  same  treatment  that  is  given  the  Passi- 
flora  will  suit  them.  The  flowers  are  whitish- 
pui-ple  and  greenish-brown,  borne  on  axillary 
peduncles.  D.  campanulatus  somewhat  re- 
sembles the  Stapelia.  Propagated  by  cuttings. 
Introduced  in  1851. 

Dictyogra'mma.  A  genus  of  Ferns  now 
placed  under  Gymnogramma. 

Dictyo'pterls.  From  diktyon,  a  net,  and  pteris, 
a  Fern ;  referring  to  the  fronds.  Nat.  Ord. 
PolypodiacecB. 

A  genus  of  Ferns  from  Australia,  without 
special  merit,  and  rarely  met  in  collections : 
now  placed  under  Polypodium. 

Dictyospe'rma.  From  diktyon,  a  net,  and 
sperma,  a  seed ;  in  allusion  to  the  raphe  of 
the  seed  forming  a  loose  net-work.  Nat.  Ord. 
Palma<x(B. 

A  genus  of  warm-house  Palms,  closely  al- 
lied to  Areca,  from  which  genus  it  is  botanically 
distinct. 

Didi'scus.  Derivation  of  name  not  given.  Nat. 
Ord.   Umbellifcrai. 

The  two  species  that  compose  this  genus 
were  formerly  included  in  Trachymene.  D. 
caruleus  is  a  showy  plant,  a  native  of  Austra- 
lia. It  is  covered  with  hairs ;  its  leaves  are 
three-parted,  each  division  again  sub- 
divided ;  its  flowers  are  blue.  The  fruit, 
when  mature,  is  covered  with  small  tubercles. 
D.  albiflorus  has  no  hairs,  and  its  flowers  are 
white. 

Didymoca'rpus.  From  didymos,  twin,  and 
karpos,  a  fruit ;  in  reference  to  the  twin  cap- 
sules.    Nat.  Ord.  Gesneracece. 

A  genus  of  upwards  of  thirty  species  of 
caulescent  or  stemless  herbs,  or  under- 
shrubs,  natives  of  tropical  Asia.  The 
flowers  are  violet-blue,  rarely  yellow,  leaves 
usually  cordate,  wrinkled,  and  hairy.  Those 
in  cultivation  are  neat,  pretty  plants ;  propa- 
gated by  cuttings  of  the  young  wood. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


127 


DID 

Didymochlae'na.  Fi-om  didymos,  twin,  and 
chlaina,  a  cloak ;  referring  to  tiie  covering  of 
the  spore  cases.     Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  handsome  green-liouse 
Ferns,  natives  of  Africa  and  South  America. 
They  are  allied  to  Aspidium,  and  are  not  often 
met  with,  except  in  choice  collections. 

Dieffenba'chia.  Named  after  Dr.  Dieffenbach, 
a  German  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Aroidece. 

A  genus  of  showy  plants,  all  inhabitants  of 
tropical  America  and  the  West  Indies.  They 
are  grown  for  the  beauty  of  their  foliage, 
which  is  a  very  light  green,  thickly  dotted 
with  irregularly-shaped,  pure  white  blotches, 
which  give  the  plant  a  decidedly  variegated 
appearance.  A  number  of  very  choice  and 
beautiful  species  have  been  introduced  of 
late  years  from  the  United  States  of  Colombia. 
They  require  a  warm  house,  and  should  be 
kept  near  the  glass  to  bring  out  their  full 
colors.  When  at  rest,  if  water  is  thrown  over 
them,  they  are  liable  to  damp  off.  The  juice 
of  these  plants  is  decidedly  poisonous ;  for 
this  reason,  and  their  awkward  appearance 
when  at  rest,  they  have  lost  much  of  the 
favor  that  was  bestowed  upon  them  at  their 
early  introduction.  D.  Seguine  picta  (Syn. 
Caladium  seguinum),  is  called  the  "dumb 
cane"  by  the  natives,  because  it  has  the 
power,  when  chewed,  of  swelling  the  tongue 
and  paralyzing  the  speech.  It  is  said  that 
Humboldt,  when  gathering  the  plant,  un- 
fortunately tasted  it,  and,  in  consequence, 
lost  his  speech  for  several  days.  They  are 
propagated  by  division  and  by  cuttings, 
and  should  be  grown  in  a  light,  rich  loam, 
freely  mixed  with  sand  and  leaf  mould. 

Diely'tra.  After  years  of  learned  discussion 
among  botanists  as  to  the  derivation  of  this 
word,  it  is  now  accepted  that  it  was  errone- 
ously changed  from  Diclytra,  which,  in  the 
first  instance,  was  accidentally  printed  for 
Dicentra.  As,  however,  D.  spectabilis  is  so 
well  know  as  Dielytra,  we  describe  it  under 
that  name.     Nat.  Ord.  Fumariacece. 

D.  spectabilis,  the  "  Bleeding  Heart,"  a  na- 
tive of  Siberia,  was  found  by  Mr.  Fortune  in 
the  gardens  in  the  north  of  China,  and  sent 
it,  in  1846,  to  the  London  Horticultural 
Society.  This  species  is  too  well  known  to 
need  description.  It  is  only  proper,  how- 
ever, to  say  it  is  by  far  the  handsomest  of  its 
tribe,  and  will  grow  in  thick  groves  or  in  the 
most  sunny  situations.  In  the  shade  they  do 
not  flower  so  freely  as  in  sunny  places,  but 
last  longer,  and  more  than  compensate  the 
loss  of  flowers  by  their  luxuriant,  graceful 
foliage.  This  species  is  well  adapted  for  pot 
culture.  It  should  be  potted  in  November, 
left  outside  until  it  has  formed  new  roots, 
and  then  brought  into  a  gentle  heat,  and  it 
will  come  into  flower  early  in  March.  Taking 
it  all  in  all,  it  is  probably  the  finest  hardy 
plant  in  cultivation.  The  plants  are  increased 
by  division  of  roots,  which  should  be  done  as 
soon  as  they  start  in  spring. 

Diervi'lla.  Named  after  M.  Dierville,  a  French 
surgeon.     Nat.  Ord.  Caprifoliacece. 

A  small  genus  of  low-growing  shrubs,  with 
yellow  fiowers,  appearing  in  spring,  by  no 
means  so  showy  as  the  allied  Japanese  genus 
Weigelia,  which  by  some  authors  is  placed 
under  this  genus.  They  are  common  from 
Canada  southward. 


DIL 

Diffuse.  Scattered,  widely  spread,  as  in  Veronica 
saxatilis. 

Digging.  This  is  now  nearly  all  done  by  the 
digging  fork  in  place  of  the  spade,  unless  in 
soils  that  are  being  broken  up  from  sod.  The 
fcu'k  pulverizes  the  soil  much  better  (the  only 
object  to  be  attained  by  digging),  is  much 
lighter  to  handle,  and  the  wonder  is  why,  for 
generations  the  spade  was  used,  when  the 
manure  fork,  at  the  same  time  in  use,  had 
not  suggested  its  value  for  digging  purposes. 

Digita'lis.  Fox-glove.  From  the  Latin  digitate, 
the  finger  of  a  glove;  referring  to  the  shape 
of  the  fiower.     Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacece. 

This  genus  consists  of  several  species,  bi- 
ennials and  perennials,  all  perfectly  hardy 
and  of  the  easiest  culture.  D.  purpurea,  the 
common  Fox-glove,  has  long  been  cultivated 
as  an  ornamental  border  plant,  and  is  the 
most  useful  of  the  class.  There  are  some 
with  white,  rose  and  yellow  flowers  that  are 
very  beautiful,  but  not  so  free  flowering. 
They  prefer  a  rich,  loamy  soil,  and  partial 
shade,  and  are  propagated  by  seeds  or  root 
division.  Natives  of  central  Europe,  northern 
Africa  and  western  Asia.  A  popular  English 
name  of  the  Digitalis  purpurea  is  Witches' 
Fingers.     The  plant  is  used  in  medicine. 

Digitate.  Where  several  distinct  leaflets  radiate 
from  the  point  of  a  leaf-stalk;  applied  to  a 
simple  leaf,  where  the  lobes  are  very  narrow, 
deeply  cut,  and  all  extending  nearly  to  the 
base  of  the  limb,  like  the  extended  fingers  of 
the  human  hand,  as  in  the  Horse-Chestnut, 
Lupins,  Spirxa  palmata,  etc. 

Dill.  Anethum  graveolens.  Dill  is  a  hardy  bi- 
ennial plant,  a  native  of  Spain,  and  has  been 
under  cultivation  in  English  gardens  for 
nearly  three  hundred  years.  The  plant  grows 
upright,  and  resembles  Fennel,  only  it  is 
smaller.  The  fiowers  are  borne  in  an  umbel, 
and  appear  in  July.  The  whole  plant  is 
strongly  aromatic.  The  leaves  are  used  ii^ 
pickles,  and  to  give  fiavor  to  soups  and 
sauces.  It  was  formerly  included  in  domestic 
medicines.  It  is  readily  grown  from  seed  in 
any  good  garden  soil. 

Dille'nia.  A  genus  of  very  beautiful  lofty  ever- 
green trees,  inhabiting  dense  forests  in  India, 
and  the  Malayan  Peninsula  and  Islands,  with 
very  large  and  showy  fiowers,  something  like 
the  Magnolia.  D.  Speciosa  is  one  of  the  hand- 
somest of  Indian  trees,  whether  the  beautiful 
foliage  is  considered  or  the  size  and  structure 
of  the  flowers.  Unfortunately  it  is  only  suited 
to  places  where  plenty  of  room  can  be  af- 
forded. 

Dillenia'ceae.  This  order  consists  of  trees, 
shrubs,  or  under-shrubs,  found  chiefly  in 
India,  Australia,  and  America.  There  are 
about  thirty  known  genera  and  over  200 
species.  Some  are  large  timber  trees 
while  others  are  valued  for  their  flowers  and 
fruits.  Illustrative  genera  are  Dillenia,  Can- 
dollea,  Delima,  etc. 

Dillwy'nia.  In  honor  of  L.  W.  Dillwyn,  a 
British  patron  of  botany.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumi- 
noscB. 

Handsome  green-house  plants,  of  neat  habit 
of  growth,  free  to  flower,  and  of  easy  cultiva- 
tion. An  aii-y  part  of  the  green-house  should 
be  allotted  to  them  in  winter,  and  through 
the  summer  they  will  be  benefited  by  being 


128 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


y 


DIM 

placed  out  of  doors.  It  is  essential,  in  order 
to  produce  handsome  plants,  that  the  young 
shoots  be  frequently  stopped  while  the  plants 
are  young,  or  they  are  liable  to  overgrow 
themselves.  Propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
firm  side  shoots  in  Slarch  or  April.  They  are 
natives  of  New  Holland,  and  were  first  intro- 
duced in  1794. 

Dimidiate.     Divided  into  two  unequal  parts. 

Dimorpha'nthus.  From  dimorphvs,  two  formed. 
Nat.  Ord.  AraliacefB. 

This  genus  is  composed  of  herbs  and  shrubs, 
natives  of  China  and  Japan.  Some  of  the 
species  are  very  ornamental  plants  for  the 
green-house  or  garden.  D.  Mandschuricus  is  a 
deciduous  shrub,  said  to  be  perfectly  hardy. 
Its  handsome  multifid  leaves  are  nearly  three 
feet  long,  and  of  the  same  width,  which  gives 
the  plant  a  magnificent  outline.  The  young 
shoots  of  D.  edulis  are  a  delicate  article  of 
food,  mucti  prized  by  the  Chinese.  They  are 
increased  by  seeds  and  from  cuttings. 

Dimorphism.  A  state  in  which  two  forms  of 
flower  or  leaf  are  produced  by  the  same  spe- 
cies. 

Dimorphothe'ca.  From  dimorphus,  two  formed, 
and  thcca,  a  receptacle ;  disk  florets  of  two 
forms.  A  genus  of  half-shrubby  or  herbaceous 
plants,  principally  natives  of  South  Africa. 
They  are  all  half-hardy  plants,  closely  allied 
to  Calendula.  Suitable  for  border  culture  in 
summer,  and  for  the  cool  green-house  in 
winter.  The  perennial  species  are  readily 
grown  from  cuttings. 

Dicecious.  When  a  plant  bears  female  flowers 
on  one  individual,  and  male  on  another. 

Dio'n.  (Sometimes  spelled  Dioon.)  From  din, 
two,  and  oon,  an  egg ;  referring  to  the  two- 
lobed  scales  which  compose  the  large  cones 
of  the  cycad,  bearing  a  large  nut-like  seed  at 
the  bottom  of  each  scale ;  otherwise  from 
seeds  being  borne  in  twos.  Nat.  Ord.  Cycada- 
cecR. 

D.  edide,  the  only  species,  is  a  beautiful 
Palm-like  plant.  Its  simple  Zainia-like  stem 
bears  deep  green  pinnate  leaves,  whose  leaflets 
are  sword-shaped  and  sharp  pointed.  The  cone 
consists  of  flat  scales  covered  with  wool,  each 
scale  bearing  two  large  seeds  of  the  size  of 
Chestnuts,  that  j-ield  a  large  quantity  of 
starch,  which  is  used  as  arrow-root.  D.  edule 
is  extensively  cultivated  as  an  ornamental 
green-house  plant,  and  is  propagated  by 
suckers  and  seeds,  and  more  commonlj'  from 
imported  stems  or  trunks.  It  is  a  native  of 
Mexico,  and  was  introduced  in  1844.  Syn. 
Platyzamia.  Miquel  observes  that  this  genus 
is  more  closely  allied  to  certain  fossil  Cycada- 
cecB,  than  any  other  living  representative  of 
the  order. 

Dio'naea.  Venus's  Fly-trap.  Dione,  one  of  the 
names  of  Venus.    Nat.  Ord.  DroseracecB. 

D.  mtiscipula,  the  only  species,  is  indigenous 
to  the  swamps  of  North  Carolina  and  other 
Southern  States.  Aside  from  all  the  fables 
about  this  plant,  it  is  one  of  extreme  interest 
to  cultivators,  owing  to  the  irritability  dis- 
played by  the  stipulary  fringes  on  the  winged 
leaves.  The  lamina  of  the  leaf  itself  is  divided 
by  the  midrib  into  two  nearly  semicircular 
halves,  each  of  which  is  fringed  with  stiff 
hairs.  This  leaf  exactly  resembles  a  minature 
rat-trap.   When  the  hairs  are  touched  by  a  fly 


DIO 

or  other  insect,  the  sides  of  the  leaf  are 
brought  together  with  a  sudden  spring,  im- 
prisoning the  intruder.  Mr.  Charles  Darwin 
and  other  writers  claim  that  the  Dioncea 
not  only  catches  and  kills  the  insect,  but 
that  its  tissues  absorb  or  feed  upon  them. 
Our  experiments,  carefully  and  extensively 
made  during  the  summer  of  1878,  were  such  as 
to  cause  strong  doubts  of  the  correctness  of 
this  theory.  The  Dionwa  is  easily  grown 
in  sphagnum  moss,  kept  very  moist  when  the 
plants  are  in  a  growing  state.  They  do  rather 
best  when  grown  in  a  Wardian  case  or 
under  a  bell  glass  and  are  always  interesting 
from  their  singular  insect  catching  peculiarity. 

Dioon.     See  Dion. 

Diosco'rea.  Chinese  Yam.  After  Pedaciua 
Dioacorides,  a  Greek  physician.  Nat.  Ord. 
DioscoreacecB. 

A  genus  of  tuberous-rooted  plants  that  are 
extensively  grown  in  Africa  and  the  East  and 
West  Indies  for  food.  The  roots  grow  to  a  great 
size,  are  mealy,  and  considered  to  be  easy  of 
digestion.  They  are  roasted  and  eaten  instead 
of  bread.  The  introduction  of  the  Dioscorea 
batatas  into  this  country  as  an  article  of  food 
some  years  ago  created  quite  a  sensation ; 
although  we  did  not  get  a  very  valuable  escu- 
lent, we  got  a  beautiful  hardy  climber,  with 
clean,  glossy  foliage  and  sweet-scented  flowers, 
that  are  produced  in  spikes  at  the  base  of  the 
leaves.  This  species  was  introduced  from  the 
West  Indies  in  1733  and  has  been  of  late  years 
advertised  and  disti'ibuted  under  the  name  of 
"Cinnamon  Vine."  D.  villosa,  Wild  Yam,  is 
quite  common  in  the  thickets  of  New  England 
and  to  the  south  and  west. 

Dioscorea'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  twining 
shrubs  or  herbs  with  tubers  either  above  or 
below  ground,  usually  alternate  leaves  with 
reticulated  venation  and  small  staminate  and 
pistillate  flowers  growing  in  spikes.  They 
are  chiefly  natives  of  tropical  countries.  Tamils, 
however,  is  a  native  of  Europe  and  of  the 
temperate  parts  of  Asia.  The  plants  are 
mostly  acrid,  but  contain  also  a  large  amount 
of  starch.  Several  species  of  Dioscorea  pro- 
duce edible  tubers,  wliich  are  known  as  Yams, 
and  are  eaten  like  Potatoes.  Tamos  Com- 
munis, black  Bryony,  has  an  acrid,  purgative, 
and  emetic  tuber,  and  a  berried  fruit  of  a  red 
color.  Testudinaria  elephantipes  has  a  remark- 
able tuberculated  stem,  and  is  called  Ele- 
phant's Foot  or  the  Tortoise  Plant  of  the  Cape. 
The  central  part  of  it  is  eaten  by  the  Hot- 
tentots. There  are  seven  known  genera  and 
160  species.  Dioscorea,  Tamus,  and  Testudinaria 
are  examples  of  the  order. 

Dio'sma.  From  dios,  divine,  and  osme^  odor ; 
referring  to  the  powerful  perfume  which 
characterizes  the  species.  Nat.  Ord.  Riitacem. 
There  is  quite  a  large  number  of  species, 
all  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  D.  ericoides, 
the  species  most  generally  cultivated,  has 
small  white  flowers,  borne  on  slender  heath- 
like branches,  with  deep  green  leaves  which 
emit  a  strong  penetrating  smell  when  bruised. 
It  was  introduced  to  cultivation  in  17.5(5,  and 
is  valued  for  its  bright  glossy  color,  and  neat 
shrubby  habit. 

Diospy'ros.  Date  Plum,  Persimmon.  From 
dios,  divine,  and  pyros,  pear;  literally  ce- 
lestial food.    Nat.  Ord.  Ebenacece. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


129 


DIO 

D.  Virginiana  is  the  Persimmon  of  our 
woods,  common  fi'om  New  York  southward. 
Ebony  wood  is  obtained  from  several  species 
of  this  genus.  Tlie  best  and  most  costly  kind 
with  the  blackest  and  finest  grain,  is  that 
imported  from  the  Mauritius,  which  is  yielded 
by  D.  reticulata.  It  is  only  the  heart  of  the 
tree  that  yields  the  black  ebony ;  the  outer 
portion,  or  sapwood,  being  white  and  soft. 
The  Japanese  Persimmcm  is  the  best  fruit  in 
Japan.  Their  horticulturists  have,  by  selec- 
tion and  cross-fertilization,  developed  this 
fruit  until  it  occupies  the  same  position  with 
them  tliat  the  Apple  does  with  us.  It  is  de- 
scribed as  one  of  the  finest  fruits  in  the  world, 
and  ranges  in  weight  from  eight  to  twenty 
ounces.  Prof.  Asa  Gray  says:  "He  who  has 
not  tasted  Kaki  (the  Japanese  Persimmon) 
has  no  conception  of  the  capabilities  of  the 
Diospyros  genus."  The  trees  are  ornamen- 
tal, especially  when  in  fi'uit,  prolific  bearers, 
and  free  from  worms  and  insects.  It  has 
proved  about  as  hardy  as  our  native  species. 

Dio'tis.  Cotton-weed.  From  dis,  two,  and  ous, 
an  ear,  alluding  to  the  ear-like  lobes  of  the 
corolla.     Nat.  Ord.  Compo»itm. 

D.  maritima  (Syn.  D  candidissima),  a  native 
of  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean  and  the 
Canary  Islands,  is  an  erect,  branching,  hardy 
perennial,  clothed  everywhere  with  dense 
white  or  grayish  cottony-wool.  It  forms  an 
excellent  edging  or  rock-garden  plant,  and  is 
readily  increased  by  cuttings  or  seeds.  This 
name  has  also  been  given  to  a  Siberian  cheno- 
podiaceous  shrub,  which,  however,  is  more 
properly  united  with  Eurotia. 

Dipetalous.     Consisting  of  two  petals. 

Diphyllous.     Two-leaved. 

Dipla'ciis.  From  dis,  two,  and  plakos,  a  pla- 
centa ;  alluding  to  the  splitting  of  the  capsule. 
to  each  valve  of  which  is  attached  a  large  pla- 
centa, and  under  its  edges  are  found  the  slen- 
der subulate  seeds.  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariaceoe. 
This  genus,  consisting  of  three  or  four  spe- 
cies, is  closely  allied  to  Mimuhts,  the  princi- 
pal diffei-ence  being  in  its  shrubby  habit  and 
the  seed  capsule.  D.  gluiinosus,  a  native  of 
Califoi'nia,  was  long  cultivated  under  the 
name  of  Mimulus  glutinosus.  It  is  an  erect, 
branching  plant,  becoming  more  or  less 
branching  at  the  base.  The  flowers  are  rather 
large,  solitary  in  the  upper  axils,  and  vary 
from  a  pale  yellow  to  a  rich  orange  or  scarlet. 
All  the  varieties  are  desirable  plants  for  the 
green-house  or  shady  border.  Propagated  by 
cuttings. 

Diplade'nia.  From  diploos,  double,  and  aden,  a 
gland;  referring  to  the  presence  of  two  gland- 
like processes  on  the  ovary.  Nat.  Ord.  Apo- 
cynacece. 

A  genus  of  beautiful  climbing  green-house 
and  hot-house  shrubs  from  Central  America 
and  Brazil.  The  flowers  are  red,  purple,  rose, 
yellow,  etc.,  and  are  produced  in  terminal 
clusters  in  great  abundance,  and  some  few 
kinds  flower  when  quite  small.  They  delight 
in  a  warm,  moist  atmosphere  during  their 
growing  season,  and  require  to  have  their 
main  growths  well  ripened  for  the  ensuing 
year.  Propagation  is  effected  by  cuttings  of 
the  young  shoots  that  are  produced  when  the 
plants  commence  new  growth  in  spring. 
Many  beautiful  hybrids  have  been  produced 


DIP 

of  late  years,  which  are  very  desirable  for  the 
warm  green-house  or  plant-stove. 

Dipla'zium.  From  diplazo,  to  double ;  refer- 
ring to  the  double  covering  of  the  spore  cases 
or  seed  vessels.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacew. 

An  extensive  genus  of  handsome  evergreen 
Ferns,  closely  allied  to  Asplenium,  and  requir- 
ing the  same  general  treatment.  The  species 
are  pretty  generally  distributed  from  North 
America  to  Brazil. 

Diplopa'ppus.  A  genus  of  Compoaike  of  but 
little  beauty  or  interest. 

Diplothe'mium.  From  diploos,  double,  and 
thema,  a  sheath.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacew. 

A  genus  of  very  noble  Palms,  almost  stem- 
less,  or  developing  a  short  ringed  trunk.  D. 
caudescens,  a  native  of  Brazil,  has  pinnate 
leaves  four  to  eight  feet  in  length,  the  closely 
set  narrow  piniise  being  from  eighteen  to 
twenty-four  inches  long,  and  about  an  inch 
broad.  The  upper  surface  is  of  a  glossy 
green  color,  and  beautiful  silvery-white 
beneath.  It  is  very  graceful  in  habit,  and  is 
an  excellent  plant  for  lawn  or  sub-tropical 
decoration. 

Dipsaca'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbs  or 
undershrubs,  mostly  natives  of  the  south  of 
Europe,  Barbary,  the  Levant,  and  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope.  Some  of  the  species  are  as- 
tringent. Dipsacm  Fullonum  is  the  Fuller's 
Teazel,  the  dried  heads  of  which,  with  their 
hooked,  spiny  bracts,  are  used  in  fulling 
cloth.  The  opposite  leaves  of  the  wild 
Teazel,  D.  sylvesiris,  unite  at  their  bases  so 
as  to  form  a  basin,  in  which  water  collects; 
hence  the  plant  was  called  Dipsacus,  or 
thirsty.  There  are  six  known  genera  and 
about  170  species.  Dipsacus,  Scabiosa,  Marina, 
and  Cephalaria  are  examples  of  the  order. 

Dipsa'cus.  Teazel.  From  dipsao,  to  uhirst; 
referring  to  the  cavity  formed  by  the  leaves 
clasping  the  stem  holding  water.  Nat.  Ord. 
Dipsacacew. 

Hardy  biennials,  of  but  little  beauty  or  use, 
except  D.  Fxdlonum,  the  Fuller's  Teazel,  which 
is  a  leading  farm  crop  in  the  town  of  Skane- 
ateles,  N.  Y.,  the  conditions  there  being  so 
favorable  for  its  growth  that  it  produces 
nearly  all  that  is  used  in  the  United  States. 
It  is  naturalized  in  some  locations,  having 
escaped  from  cultivation,  and  is  quite  com- 
mon on  the  roadsides  near  Clifton,  Staten 
Island.  D.  sylvestris,  a  rather  scarce  species 
is  suspected  to  be  the  origin  of  the  D.  Fullo- 
num, the  principal  difference  being  that  the 
long  flexible  awns  of  the  latter  are  hooked 
while  those  of  D.  sylvestris  are  straight.  The 
flower  heads,  when  dried,  are  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  woolen  cloths,  and  are  an 
article  of  considerable  importance.  Natives 
of  Great  Britain. 

Dipteraoa'nthus.  This  genus  is  now  referred 
to  Ruellia,  which  see. 

Dipteroca'rpeae.  An  order  of  resin-bearing 
trees,  all  the  species  of  which  are  found  in 
the  tropics  of  the  Old  World.  Flowers  often 
sweet  scented,  disposed  in  axillary  panicles. 
Dryabalanops  Camphora  or  aromatica,  a  tree 
from  100  to  130  feet  high,  supplies  the  hard 
Camphor  of  Sumatra,  which  exists  in  a  solid 
state  in  the  interior  of  the  stem,  some- 
times in  pieces  weighing  fi-om  ten  to  twelve 
pounds.     It  also  yields  by  incision  a  resinous, 


130 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


DIP 

oily  fluid  called  the  Liquid  Camphor  or  Cam- 
phor Oil  of  Borneo.  Sometimes  five  gallons 
of  the  fluid  are  found  in  a  cavity  in  the  trunk. 
Several  others  yield  valuable  resins.  There 
are  seven  known  genera  and  forty-seven 
species.  Dipterocarpus,  Valeria,  Dryobalanops, 
and  Shorea  are  examples  of  the  order. 

Dipterous.  Having  two  wing-like  processes, 
as  the  seeds  of  Halesia  diptera. 

Di'pterix.  Tonquin  Bean.  From  di<i,  double, 
and  pterix,  a  wing ;  referring  to  the  two  upper 
segments  of  the  calyx.  Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 
D.  odorata,  the  only  species,  is  an  orna- 
mental evergreen  tree,  a  native  of  Cayenne. 
It  produces  the  Tonquin  or  Tonga  Bean  of 
commerce,  so  much  used  by  perfumers,  and 
in  the  adulteration  of  the  extract  of  Vanilla. 

Di'rca.  Leather-wood,  Moose- wood.  From 
dirke,  a  fountain  ;  the  plant  growing  in  moist 
places.    Nat.  Ord.  Thymelacem. 

D.  palustris,  the  only  species,  is  a  much- 
branched  shrub  growing  about  six  feet  liigh. 
The  flowers  are  small  and  yellow,  and  pro- 
duced in  clusters.  They  are  followed  by 
small  reddish,  poisonous  fruit.  The  fibrous 
bark  of  this  shrub  is  remarkably  tough,  and 
was  used  by  the  Indians  for  thongs,  whence 
the  popular  names.  It  is  common  in  moist 
ground  from  Pennsylvania  and  Kentucky 
northward.  In  some  of  the  New  England 
States  it  is  called  Wicopy. 

Di'sa.  Meaning  unknown,  but  supposed  to  be 
its  native  name.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidaceoe. 

An  extensive  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids 
confined  to  South  Africa  and  Abj'ssinia. 
There  is  a  wide  variation  in  the  habit  of  the 
various  species.  D.  grandiflora  is  perhaps 
the  most  beautiful  of  all  terrestrial  Orchids. 
It  is  spoken  of  as  the  pride  of  Table  Mountain, 
where  it  grows  in  great  profusion  on  the 
borders  of  streams  and  water  pools,  which  are 
dry  in  summer,  producing  its  gorgeous 
flowei'S  in  February  and  March.  The  flowers 
are  large,  the  sepals  of  a  deep  scarlet  crim- 
son ;  petals  tipped  with  white  and  green, 
pale  yellow  inside.  The  species  have  been 
considered  the  most  difficult  to  manage  of 
any  in  cultivation.  Mr.  Eand  differs  with 
most  growers  upon  this  point,  having  been 
quite  successful  in  flowering  them,  with  the 
following  treatment :  "  The  soil  for  this 
plant  should  be  rich,  fibrous  peat  and  loam. 
It  should  have  but  little  heat,  and  never  be 
allowed  to  dry  off.  The  great  trouble  in  its 
culture  appears  to  be  want  of  water.  If  there 
is  good  drainage  it  can  scarcely  have  too 
much.  It  does  not  need  much  heat,  and 
should  be  grown  with  a  good  circulation  of 
air,  and  not  full  sun."  Propagated  by  division. 
Introduced  in  1825. 

Disca'ria.  A  genus  of  RhamnacecB,  nearly  allied 
to  Colletia,  but  differing  in  having  no  petals. 
Natives  of  Australia  and  South  America.  D. 
serratifolia,  with  its  bright  green  spiny 
branches  and  foliage,  makes  an  excellent 
plant  for  pot  culture. 

Dischi'dia.  From  dis,  twice,  and  schizo,  to  split ; 
referring  to  an  obscure  process  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  flower.  Nat.  Ord.  Asclepia- 
dacecB. 

Nearly  related  to  Stephanotis  and  Hoya.  A 
small  genus  of  ornamental  green-house  ever- 
green trailers.     The  flowers  are  white,  and 


DIS 

are  borne  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves, 
of  but  little  merit. 


A  plant 


Discoid.  When,  in  Compositm,  the  ray  florets 
ai-e  suppressed,  the  head  of  the  flowers  is  said 
to  be  discoid. 

Discolor.  Parts  having  one  surface  of  one 
color,  and  the  other  surface  of  another  color. 
Also,  any  green  color  altered  by  a  mixture  of 
purple,  as  in  Cissvs  discolor. 

Dise'mma.  From  dis,  double,  and  stemma,  a 
crown ;  referring  to  the  double  coronet  or 
rays.     Nat.  Ord.  Passifioraceoe,. 

This  genus  is  closely  allied  to  Passiflora, 
requires  the  same  general  treatment,  and  is 
propagated  in  the  same  manner.  Some  of  the 
species  are  very  beautiful,  and  worthy  of  cul- 
tivation. They  are  natives  of  New  Holland ; 
first  introduced  in  1792. 

Dish-rag  Plant.     See  Lniffa. 

Disk.  An  organ  intervening  between  the 
stamens  and  ovary.  The  central  tubular 
flowers  of  Compositm  are  also  called  the  Disk. 

Disoca'ctus.  From  dis,  twice,  isos,  equal,  and 
cactos;  the  divisions  of  the  petals  and  sepals 
equal  and  twice  two,  and  the  habit  of  a  Cac- 
tus.    Nat.  Ord.  CactacecB. 

There  is  but  one  known  species  of  this 
genus,  which  is  a  weak  trailing  shrub  or  bush, 
a  connecting  link  between  two  sections  of  the 
order  the  Epiphyllum  and  Rhipsalis.  The 
flowers  are  produced  singly  from  one  of  the 
notches  at  the  upper  end  of  the  young 
branches,  and  are  characterized  by  having 
only  four  sepals  and  four  petals.  They  are  of 
a  deep  pink  color,  about  two  inches  long,  pro- 
duced in  succession,  last  a  long  time,  and  are 
succeeded  by  beautiful  little  shiny,  deep 
crimson  berries.  The  plant  should  be  grown 
in  soil  composed  of  equal  parts  of  sharp  sand, 
leaf  mould,  and  turfy  loam.  In  a  growing 
state  it  should  have  a  moist  atmosphere,  but 
in  winter  it  should  be  kept  dry,  with  plenty  of 
light;  it  may  be  increased  by  cuttings  or 
seeds.  It  is  a  native  of  Honduras,  and  was 
introduced  in  1839.  By  many  botanists  this 
genus  is  united  with  Phillocactits,  from  which 
it  only  differs  in  its  fewer  sepals  and  petals. 

Dispe'ris.  From  dis,  double,  and  pera,  a  pouch  ; 
in  allusion  to  the  form  of  the  outer  segments 
of  the  perianth.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidace<B. 

A  small  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids  from 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  bearing  scarlet  or 
purple  flowers.  It  requires  the  same  treat- 
ment in  propagation  and  culture  as  Disa. 

Dispermus.     Two-seeded. 

Dispo'nun.  From  dis,  double,  and  poros,  a  pore  ; 
application  not  stated.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  genus  of  half-hardy  herbaceous  plants, 
allied  to  Uvularia.  The  flowers  are  small,  but 
rather  pretty,  of  brown  or  yellow  colors.  They 
succeed  well  in  a  warm  border,  if  slightly  pro- 
tected in  winter,  and  are  propagated  by 
division  of  the  roots.  Natives  of  China  and 
Nepal ;  introduced  in  1801. 

Dissected.     Cut  into  many  deep  lobes. 

Dissemination.  The  manner  in  which  ripe  seeds 
of  plants  are  naturally  dispersed. 

Distichous.  When  parts  are  arranged  in  two 
rows,  the  one  opposite  the  other,  as  the  florets 
of  many  grasses. 


AND   GENEKAL   HOETICULTUEE. 


131 


DIS 

Distinct.  When  any  part  or  organ  is  wholly 
unconnected  with  those  near  it. 

Ditcli  Stone-Crop.  The  common  name  of  Pen- 
thorum  sedoides. 

Dittany.     See  Cunila. 

Diurnal.  Enduring  only  a  day,  as  the  flowers 
of  Tigridia  and  Hemerocallis  (I)ay  Lily). 

Divaricate.  Straggling;  spreading  abruptly; 
branching  off  at  an  acute  angle,  and  spread- 
ing irregularly  in  various  directions,  as  in 
Veronica  pinnata. 

Diversiflorus.  When  a  plant  or  inflorescence 
bears  flowers  of  two  or  more  sorts. 

Divided.  Where  incisions  or  indentations  extend 

nearly  to  the  base. 
Dock.     See  Rumex. 
Dodder.     See  Cuscuta. 

Dodeca'theon.  American  Cowslip.  From  dodeka, 
twelve,  and  theos,  a  divinity ;  twelve  gods  or 
divinities  of  the  Romans ;  a  name  absurdly 
applied  to  a  plant,  native  of  a  world  the 
Romans  did  not  know,  and  resembling  in  no 
particular  any  plant  of  their  writers.  Nat. 
Ord.  Primulacece. 

This  is  a  genus  of  native  herbaceous  peren- 
nials that  deserve  extensive  cultivation.  They 
are  common  in  rich  woods  in  Pennsylvania 
and  westward  to  Wisconsin.  In  the  west 
the  common  name  is  Shooting  Star.  They  are 
exceedingly  handsome  in  cultivation,  thriving 
well  in  a  shady  border.  The  flower-stems  are 
one  foot  or  more  high,  bearing  a  considerable 
number  of  elegant  drooping  flowers  of  rosy 
purple,  light  purple,  or  white  colors,  and  of  an 
interesting  shape,  somewhat  resembling  the 
Cyclamen,  to  which  plant  it  is  allied.  A  very 
large  and  showy  species,  with  deep  purple  and 
yellow  flowers,  has  been  introduced  from  Cali- 
fornia, named  by  Prof.  E.  L.  Greene,  of  the 
State  University,  D.  Clevelandi.  They  are 
propagated  by  seeds,  or  division  of  the  roots. 

Dog-Grass.     Triticiim  repens. 
Dog-Rose.     Rosa  canina. 
Dog-Thistle.     Carduus  arvensis. 
Dog-Violet.     Viola  canina,  and   V.  sylvatica. 
Dog-Wood.     Cornus  sanguinea ;  also  applied  to 

Euonymus  Europceus,  Rhamnus  frangula,  and 

Vihurnum,  Opulus. 
Dog's  Bane.     The  genus  Apocynum. 

Climbing.     Periploca  grceca. 
Dog's  Parsley,     u^thusa  Cynapium. 
Dog's-tail  Grass.     Cynosurus  cristatus. 

Dog's-tooth  Violet.  Erythronium  dens-canis, 
which  see. 

Dolabriform.     Ax-shaped. 

Do'lichos.  From  dolichos,  long ;  referring  to 
the  long,  twining  shoots.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumir 
nosoB. 

Climbing  annual  and  perennial  plants  from 
the  East  and  West  Indies,  generally  with 
purple  or  white  flowers.  The  pods  and  seeds 
are  eatable,  and,  in  some  cases,  also  the  roots. 
D.  Lablab,  the  Egyptian  Bean,  is  a  beautiful 
species  wiith  two  varieties,  one  with  dark 
purple  flowers,  the  other  white.  They  grow 
in  any  situation,  where  an  ornamontal  climber 
is  required,  and  may  be  treated  as  hardy 
annuals.  This  species  was  introduced  from 
Egypt  in  1818. 


DOR 

Dondia.     A  synonym  of  Hacquetia,  which  see. 

Doob,  or  Doorba.  Indian  names  for  Cynodon 
Dactylon,  which  see. 

Doo'dia.  Named  after  Samuel  Doody,  a  London 
apothecary  and  cryptogamic  botanist.  Nat. 
Ord.  Polypodiacece. . 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  Ferns, 
mostly  natives  of  Australia  and  the  Sandwich 
Islands.  The  species  are  small,  stiff,  and 
rough-leaved,  of  no  great  beauty,  and  are 
propagated  by  division  when  at  rest. 

Doom  Palm.     A  name  given  to  Hyphcene  the- 

baica. 

Doora,  or  Doura.     See  Sorghum  vulgare. 

Dore'ma.  From  dorema,  a  gift  or  benefit.  Nat. 
Ord.   Umbelltferce. 

A  hardy  herbaceous  plant,  growing  on  the 
plains  in  the  province  of  Irak,  Persia,  which 
furnishes  the  drug  known  as  Ammoniacum. 
The  plant  abounds  in  a  milky  juice,  which 
exudes  upon  the  slightest  puncture  being  made, 
and  dries  upon  the  stem  in  little  rounded 
lumps,  or  tears,  as  they  are  called.  Propa- 
gated by  seeds. 

Doro'nicum.  Leopard's  Bane.  Altered  from 
Doronogi,  its  Arabic  name.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positce. 

A  genus  of  showy  herbaceous  perennials, 
natives  of  Europe  and  temperate  Asia,  with 
large,  bright  yellow  flowers,  which  are  pro- 
duced early  in  spring.  They  are  of  very  easy 
culture  being  increased  by  division  of  the 
roots,  and  are  showy  plants  for  the  herbaceous 
boi'der.  There  are  several  species  in  cultiv- 
ation of  which  D.  Altaicum,  D.  Pardalianches, 
D.  Austriacum  and  D.  Caucasicum  are  the  best 
known.  Several  seedling  varieties  have  been 
lately  introduced  in  England  and  are  much 
admired.  They  are  often  forced  for  con- 
servatory decoration  or  for  cutting. 

Dorsal.  Attached  to,  or  growing  on  the  back 
of  any  organ. 

Dorste'nia.  Named  for  Theodore  Dorsten,  a 
German  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Urticacece. 

Herbaceous  plants  of  neat  compact  habit, 
natives  of  tropical  America.  Some  of  the 
species  have  elegantly  cut  leaves ;  while 
many  of  the  others  are  decorated  with  silver 
markings.  They  are  very  curious  plants,  and 
are  increased  by  division  or  by  seeds. 

Dorya'nthes.  From  dory,  a  spear,  and  anthos,  a 
flower ;  the  flower-stem  shoots  up  from 
twelve  to  twenty  feet  high,  like  the  handle  of 
a  spear,  bearing  flowers  on  the  top.  Nat.  Ord. 
Amaryllidacece. 

D.  excelsa,  introduced  in  1800,  is  a  magnifi- 
cent Australian  plant,  and  is  what  is  termed 
an  imperfect  bulb.  The  flower  stalk  has 
been  known  to  grow  as  high  as  thirty  feet, 
crowned  with  a  head  of  bright  scarlet  flowers, 
that  emerge  from  crimson  bracts.  It  does 
well  in  a  green-house  temperature.  D.  Palmeri, 
recently  introduced  from  Queensland,  is  de- 
scribed as  being  a  more  beautiful  plant  than 
the  preceding.  The  flowers  form  a  pyramidal 
spike  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  high,  and  ten 
to  twelve  inches  broad,  the  flowers  being  red, 
with  a  center  almost  white.  Propagated  by 
suckers. 

Doryo'pteris.  From  dory,  a  spear,  and  pteris, 
a  fern ;  spear-leaved  Fern.  Nat.  Ord.  Poly- 
podiaceoB. 


132 


HENDERSONS   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


DOT 

A  genus  of  tropical  herbaceous  Ferns,  allied 
to  Pteris.  Some  of  the  species  are  now  includ- 
ed under  the  latter  genus.  They  are  common 
in  South  America  and  the  East  and  West 
Indies.    Propagated  by  spores. 

Dotted.  Furnished  with  transparent  recep- 
tacles of  oil,  looking  like  dots ;  marked  with 
punctures. 

Double.  When  applied  to  the  entire  flower,  it 
signifies  that  monstrous  condition  in  which 
the  parts  of  the  inner  floral  whorls,  the  sta- 
mens or  carpels,  become  converted  into  petals. 
Applied  to  the  calyx  or  corolla  separately,  it 
refers  to  certain  examples  in  wliich  these 
organs  appear  to  consist  of  more  than  the 
usual  normal  number  of  subordinate  parts, 
and  thus  seem  as  if  they  were  double.  Double 
flowers  are  most  common  in  the  natural  order 
Composite^. 

Dougla'sia.  A  very  pretty  genus  of  herba- 
ceous plants  from  the  Eocky  Mountains, 
and  Artie  North  America,  of  the  Nat.  Ord. 
Primulacem. 

The  plants  are  evergreen,  and  like  many 
others  from  high  latitudes,  will  not  bear  sud- 
den changes ;  consequently  they  need  protec- 
tion in  winter.  The  flowers  are  small,  of  a 
beautiful  purple,  borne  in  small  tufts.  This 
genus  was  named  by  Dr.  Lindley  in  compli- 
ment to  David  Douglas,  whose  zeal  in  collect- 
ing seeds  and  plants,  and  whose  untimely  end 
have  richly  earned  for  hmi  a  niche  in  the  long 
gallery  of  departed  mai-tyrs  to  science.  Mr. 
Douglas  was  borne  in  Scone,  Scotland,  in  1798, 
and  killed  in  the  Sandwich  Islands,  July  12th, 
1834.  Having  been  employed  in  the  Glasgow 
Botanic  Garden,  his  intelligence  attracted  the 
notice  of  Sir  William  Hooker,  who  procured 
for  him  an  appointment  as  botanical  collector 
to  the  Horticultural  Society  of  London.  In 
this  capacity  he  traveled  extensively  in 
America.  In  1824  he  explored  the  Columbia 
River  and  California,  and  in  1827  traversed 
the  continent  from  Fort  Vancouver  to  Hud- 
son's Bay,  where  he  met  Sir  John  Franklin, 
and  returned  with  him  to  England.  He  made 
a  second  visit  to  the  Columbia  in  1829,  and  after- 
wards went  to  the  Sandwich  Islands.  His 
death  was  caused  by  falling  into  a  pit  made  to 
entrap  wild  cattle,  where  he  was  killed  and 
mutilated  by  an  animal  previously  entrapped. 
Through  his  agency  217  new  species  of  plants 
were  introduced  into  England.  He  collected 
800  specimens  of  the  California  Flora.  A  gigan- 
tic species  of  Pine  which  he  discovered  in  Cal- 
ifornia is  named  after  him,  Abies  or  Pseudo- 
tsuga  Douglasii. 

Doum  Palm.     See  HyphcBne. 

Dove  Flower.     See  Peristeria  data. 
Waxen.    Peristeria  cerina. 

Down  Thistle.     Omopordon  Acanthium. 

Do^wn  Tree.     Ochroma  Lagopvs. 

Downi'ngia.  Named  in  honor  of -A.  J.  Downing, 
the  father  of  horticulture  in  the  United  States. 
Nat.  Ord.  LobeliacpcB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  annuals  from  California 
and  British  Columbia,  free  flowering,  and  very 
pretty  for  the  border.  If  the  seeds  be  sown  in 
February,  and  the  plants  treated  the  same  as 
Verbenas,  they  will  flower  by  the  first  of 
June  and  continue  until  killed  by  frost.  The 
flowers   are   of   lovely   blue,  not   unlike   the 


DRA 

Lobelias.  Introduced  by  Mr.  Douglas  in  1827. 
These  plants  have  erroneously  been  called 
Clintonia,  which  name  properly  belongs  to  a 
genus  of  LiliaceoB. 

Dra'ba.  Whitlow-Grass.  From  drabe,  acrid; 
referring  to  one  of  the  universal  characters  of 
its  natural  order.     Nat.  Ord.  CrucifercE. 

A  genus  of  hardy  rock  or  alpine  plants,  con- 
sisting of  annuals,  biennials  and  herbaceous 
perennials.  They  are  very  low  plants,  admira- 
bly adapted  for  rock-work,  as  they  are  gen- 
erally found  in  a  wild  state  in  the  fissures 
and  crevices  of  rocks  and  mountains.  They 
have  white  or  yellow  flowers,  and  should  be 
grown  with  good  drainage  and  a  sunny 
exposure.  Propagated  by  root  division,  or 
by  seeds.     First  introduced  in  1731. 

Dracae'na.  From  drakaina,  a  female  dragon ; 
the  thickened  juice  becomes  a  powder,  like 
the  dragon's-blood.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacem. 

Dracaenas  rank  among  the  most  beautiful 
and  useful  of  the  ornamental-foliaged  and 
fine-leaved  plants.  In  a  large  or  small  state 
they  are  alike  elegant  and  attractive.  They 
are  deservedly  popular  for  the  green-house  or 
the  sub-tropical  garden,  and  for  lawn  decora- 
tion, large  plants  of  many  of  the  species  have 
no  equal.  The  species  include  the  celebrated 
Dragon-tree  {D.  Draco)  at  Orotavia,  in  the 
island  of  Teneriff'e,  that  was  first  noticed  by 
Humboldt,  who  estimated  its  age  at  6,000 
years.  This  tree  was  seventy  feet  in  height 
and  seventy-nine  feet  in  circumference  at  the 
base.  The  interior  of  the  trunk,  which  had 
been  hollow  for  centuries,  was  used  as  a 
Roman  Catholic  chapel  after  the  conquest  of 
the  island  by  the  Spaniards.  Unfortunately 
it  was  totally  destroyed  by  a  hurricane  which 
occurred  in  1867.  D.  terminalis  (or  more  cor- 
rectly Cordyline),  a  native  of  both  the  East  and 
West  Indies,  is  the  best  known  of  the  species, 
and  is  extensively  grown  for  baskets,  window 
gardens,  or  the  conservatory,  the  vivid  coloring 
of  its  leaves  rendering  it  at  all  times  attract- 
ive. From  this  species  has  originated  the 
host  of  popular  hot-house  varieties,  many  of 
which  are  most  desirable  and  interesting 
because  of  their  varied  and  rich  tints  of  color, 
and  their  gracefully  recurved  foliage.  Nearly 
all  the  species  are  admirably  adapted  for 
decorative  purposes.  D.  Goldieana  is  a  mag- 
nificent stove-house  species,  introduced  from 
tropical  Africa  in  1872.  Its  broad,  deep  green, 
spreading  leaves  are  marbled  and  irregularly 
banded  with  silvery-gray  in  alternate  straight 
or  furcate  bands,  rendering  it  one  of  the  most 
striking  and  ornamental  of  the  genus.  D. 
umbraculifera,  introduced  from  the  Mauritius 
in  1778,  is  a  very  peculiar  and  distinct  species, 
with  long,  narrow,  dark  green  leaves,  very 
closely  set,  and  horizontal,  with  the  ends 
slightly  recurved,  giving  it  the  appearance  of 
a  table  top  or  umbrella.  For  the  sub-tropical 
garden  or  for  the  lawn,  D.  indivisa  and  D. 
Australis,  Syn.  Cordyline,  are  the  best,  being  of 
graceful  habit,  rapid  growth,  and  not  affected 
by  sunshine,  storm  or  drought.  They  are 
natives  of  New  Zealand,  and  are  readily 
increased  from  seed.  The  other  species  are 
propagated  by  placing  the  stems  on  the  prop- 
agating bench  in  sand,  with  a  bottom  heat  of 
75°,  and  slightly  covering  them  with  sphag- 
num, which  should  be  kept  at  all  times  moist; 
in  a  short  time  an  eye  will  break  forth  from 


DOLICHOB. 


SIOITAUS. 


DIOSCOREA   (CHINESE   TAM). 


DION^A   MUSCIPULA. 


DODECATHEON  CLEVELAKDI  (GIANT  AMEEICAN  COVTSLIP). 


DIELTTEA  SPECXABUJB. 


DrEFFENBACHIA. 


DEOSEiU   DICHOTOaiA. 


DEAC^NA  GOLD E ANA. 


DIOSPYETJS  (JAPAKESE  PEESIilMON). 


»33 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


133 


DRA 

nearly  every  joint.  The  most  forward  of  these 
may  be  removed  from  the  stem  from  time  to 
time,  which  will  soon  strike  root  in  sand  with 
bottom  heat.  The  old  stem  should  not  be 
removed  until  its  reproductive  powei's  are 
exhausted.  The  species  are  pretty  generally 
distributed  throughout  all  tropical  and  sub- 
tropical countries,  and  were  first  brought  to 
notice  about  1820.  See  Cordyline. 
Dracoce'phalum.  Dragon's  Head.  From  dra- 
kon,  a  dragon,  and  kephale,  a  head ;  referring 
to  the  gaping  flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 

This  genus  consists  of  hardy  annuals 
and  perennials,  several  of  -which  are  well 
known  as  garden  flowers,  among  -which  may 
be  found  D.  Moldavicum,  the  Moldavian  Balm, 
a  hardy  annual  -with  blue  flowers.  Several 
hardy  species,  perennials,  natives  of  Siberia, 
have  beautiful  large  blue  flowers.  One  very 
pretty  species,  D.  parvifiorum,  is  sparingly 
met  in  the  Northern  and  Western  States.  All 
are  propagated  by  seed  or  by  root  division. 
Introduced  in  1731. 

Draco'ntium.  A  genus  of  Aroidece,  natives  of 
tropical  America,  comprising  certain  species 
more  remarkable  than  beautiful  or  orna- 
mental ;  useful  only  in  large  collections. 

Dracophy'llum.  A  genus  of  Epacridacece,  con- 
sisting of  about  twenty-five  species,  natives  of 
New  Zealand  and  Australia.  D.  capitatum, 
with  pure  white  flowers  in  terminal  heads, 
and  D.  gradle,  also  white,  but  more  slender  in 
grow^th,  are  both  very  pretty  plants  when  well 
grown. 

Dragon-Arum.     Arum  Dracunculus. 
Green.     AriscB7na  Draconiium. 

Dragon's  Blood.  This  rosin,  used  in  medicine, 
etc.,  is  furnished  by  Calamus  Draco,  and  is 
imported  from  Sumatra,  southern  Borneo, 
etc.  The  name  Dragon's  Blood  is  also  given 
to  resins  yielded  by  Draccena  Draco  in  the 
Canary  Islands,  and  by  Draccena  cinnabarina 
in  Socotra,  and  also  by  Plerocarpas  Draco. 

Dragon's-Blood-Tree.     Draccena  Draco. 

Dragons-head.     The  genus  Dracocephalum. 

Dragon' s-mouth.     Antirrhinum  majus. 

Dragon-tree.     Canary  Islands.   DraccBna  Draco. 

Draining.  This  is  one  of  the  most  important 
operations  in  horticulture.  No  matter  how 
fertile  the  normal  condition  of  the  soil ;  no 
matter  how  abundantly  it  is  fertilized;  no 
matter  how  carefully  and  thoroughly  it  is 
tilled,  if  water  remains  in  it  at  the  depth  to 
which  roots  penetrate,  all  labor  will  be  in  vain  ; 
for  no  satisfactory  result  can  ever  be  attained 
until  the  water  is  drained  off.  The  subject  is 
one  of  such  importance  that  we  cannot  give  it 
full  attention  here,  and  to  such  as  require  to 
operate  on  a  large  scale,  works  specially 
devoted  to  the  subject  should  be  consulted,  or 
a  draining  engineer  employed.  Soils  having  a 
gravelly  or  sandy  sub-soil  ten  or  twenty 
inches  below  the  top  soil  do  not  usually  need 
draining ;  but  in  all  soils  underlaid  by  clay  or 
hard  pan,  draining  is  indispensable,  unless  in 
cases  where  there  is  a  slope  of  two  to  three 
feet  in  a  hundred;  and  even  in  such  cases 
draining  is  beneficial  if  the  suD-soil  is  clay. 

In  soils  having  a  clay  or  hard-pan  sub-soil, 
drains  should  be  made  three  feet  deep  and 
not  more  than  twenty  feet  apart.  If  stones 
are  plenty,  they  may  be  profitably  used  to  fill 


DRI 

up  the  drains,  say  to  a  depth  of  twelve  or  fif- 
teen inches,  either  placed  so  as  to  form  a 
"rubble"  drain,  if  the  stones  are  round,  or 
built  with  an  orifice  at  the  bottom,  if  the 
stones  are  flat.  In  either  case,  care  must  be 
used  to  cover  the  stones  carefully  up  with 
inverted  sods,  or  some  material  that  will  pre- 
vent the  soil  being  washed  through  the  stones 
and  choking  up  the  drain. 

Drain  tiles,  when  they  can  be  obtained  at  a 
reasonable  price,  are  the  best  material  for 
draining.  The  horseshoe  pattern  is  generally 
used.  If  the  drain  has  a  hard  bottom  they 
can  be  placed  directly  on  it  when  leveled  to 
the  proper  grade;  but  if  the  ground  is  soft 
and  spongy,  a  board  must  be  laid  in  the  bot- 
tom, on  which  to  place  the  tiles.  It  is  often  a 
very  troublesome  matter  to  get  the  few  drain 
tiles  necessary  to  drain  a  small  garden,  and  in 
such  cases  an  excellent  and  cheap  substitute 
can  be  had  by  using  one  of  boards.  Take 
ordinary  rough  boards — Pine,  Hemlock  or 
Spruce — and  cut  them  into  widths  of  three  or 
four  inches,  and  nail  them  together  so  as  to 
form  a  triangular  pipe,  taking  care  to  "break 
the  joints  "  in  putting  the  lengths  together. 
Care  must  be  taken  that  the  boards  are  not 
nailed  together  too  closely,  else  they  might 
swell  so  as  to  prevent  the  water  passing  into 
the  di-ain  to  be  carried  off.  These  drains  are 
usually  set  with  a  flat  side  down,  but  they  will 
keep  clear  better  if  put  with  a  point  down, 
though  it  is  more  trouble  to  lay  thorn.  Drains 
made  in  this  way  will  last  twenty  years  or 
more. 

Of  course,  in  draining,  the  greater  the  fall 
that  can  be  got  the  better,  though,  if  the 
grading  is  carefully  done  by  a  competent 
engineer,  a  very  slight  fall  will  suffice.  Some 
of  the  trunk  or  main  sewers  in  our  cities  have 
only  a  grade  of  one  foot  in  a  thousand. 

Drainage  in  flower  pots  is  essent.al  for  most 
plants  whenever  the  pot  is  over  five  inches  in 
diameter.  Charcoal  broken  into  pieces  from 
one-half  to  one  inch  in  diameter  we  prefer  to 
every  other  kind  of  drainage,  which  should 
be  in  depth  from  one  inch  to  thi-ee  inches,  ac- 
cording to  the  size  of  the  pot  to  be  drained, 
an  extra  quantity  being  necessary  if  the  plant 
is  being  shifted  into  a  pot  too  large ;  then 
ample  drainage  is  indispensable  to  admit  of 
the  quick  escape  of  water.  This  drainage,  so 
called,  is  not  alone  of  use  as  a  means  for  the 
rapid  escape  of  water,  but  also  for  the  admis- 
sion of  air  to  the  roots,  which  brings  in 
another  important  matter  in  connection  with 
the  drainage  in  pots,  the  necessity  to  stand 
the  pots  on  some  rough  material,  such  as 
gravel  or  cinders ;  for  if  placed  on  sand,  soil, 
or  anything  that  will  close  up  the  orifice  in 
the  bottom  of  the  pot,  all  the  drainage  placed 
in  it  will  avail  nothing.  It  is  far  better  to  use 
no  drainage  at  all,  and  stand  the  pots  on  a 
rough  surface,  than  to  use  the  drainage  and 
place  the  plants  on  some  material  that  will 
close  the  outlet. 
Dri'mia.  From  drimys,  acrid ;  referring  to  the 
juice  of  the  bulbs.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliaccce. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  bulbs  from 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The  fiowers  are 
white,  purple,  red,  green,  and  Vtariegated,  and 
resemble  the  Ixias,  though  not  as  showy. 
The  juice  of  the  bulb  is  very  acrid,  causing 
blisters  when  applied  to  the  skin.  Propa- 
gated by  offsets.     Introduced  in  1800. 


Ui 


HENDEESON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


DRI 

Dri'mys.  Fine  half  hardy  evergreen  trees  with 
aromatic  bark  and  showy  flowers,  belonging 
to  the  Nat.  Ord.  Magnoliacem. 

D.  Winteri,  the  species  most  generallj'  culti- 
vated, lias  milk-white  flowers  one  inch  o-r 
more  across,   with  a  Jasmine-like   perfume 

-  Leaves  oblong,  obtuse  and  glaucous  beneath. 
Propagated  by  cuttings.  The  fruit  of  D. 
Aromatica  is  sometimes  used  as  pepper.  Syns. 
Winteria  and  Tasmannia. 

Drooping  Sorghum.     Sorghum  cernuum. 

Drop-seed  Grass.  The  common  name  of  the 
genus  Sporobolus,  applied  because  the  seeds 
are  loose,  and  easily  sci^ttered.  The  several 
species  are  common  in  dry  barrens. 

DropvT-ort.     See  Spirceajilipendula. 

Dro'sera.  Sun-dew.  From  droseroa,  dewy.  Nat. 
Ord.  Droscracce. 

American,  British,  and  Australian  plants  of 
insectivorous  notoriety,  with  hairy  leaves 
and  curious  flowers,  which  require  to  be 
grown  in  moss,  mixed  with  leaf  mould,  kept 
moist,  and  during  the  heat  of  the  day  covered 
with  a  bell  glass.  The  leaves  are  studded 
with  reddish  glandular  inflexed  hairs,  dis- 
charging from  their  apices  a  drop  of  viscid, 
acrid  fluid.  The  Italian  liqueur  called  Ros- 
soglia  is  said  to  take  its  name  from  one  of  the 
species  being  used  in  its  composition.  This 
is  one  of  the  plants  experimented  with  by  Mr. 
Darwin,  from  wlilch  he  was  led  to  believe  that 
some  plants  feed  on  insects. 

Drosera'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  perennial  and 
annual  herbs,  whit-h  are  often  covered  with 
glandular  hairs.  They  have  alternate  leaves 
with  fringes  at  their  base,  and  a  fern-like 
growth.  The  plants  inhabit  marshes  in 
Europe,  India,  China,  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
Madagascar,  North  and  South  America,  and 
New  Holland.  Thej-  have  acid  and  slightly 
acrid  properties.  The  si>ecies  of  Drosera  are 
remarkable  for  their  glandular  hairs,  which 
are  covered  with  drops  of  fluid  in  sunshine. 
Dio7icea  muscipula  is  a  still  more  remarkable 
plant,  commonly  called  Venus's  Fly-trap. 
Some  include  Parnassia  in  this  order.  There 
are  seven  known  genera  and  about  100 
species.  Drosera,  Dioncea,  and  Drosophyllum, 
are  examples  of  the  order. 

Drosophy'Uum.  From  drosos,  dew,  and  phyllon, 
a  leaf ;  in  allusion  to  the  leaves  being  beset 
with  stipulary  glands,  appeai'ing  like  dew. 
Nat.  Ord.  DroseraceoB. 

D.  Lusitanicum  (the  only  species),  forming  a 
dwarf,  shrubby  plant  three  to  flve  inches  in 
height,  is  one  of  the  most  singular  plants  of 
European  flora.  The  nature  of  the  glandular 
hairs  is  different  from  that  of  the  Droseras, 
their  rigid  pedicels  not  being  endowed  with 
the  motive  power  of  the  British  and  other 
species  of  the  genus  just  mentioned.  "A  still 
more  anomalous  character  is  to  be  found  in 
the  way  the  leaves  are  developed  in  the  bud, 
being  circinate  and  revolute,  not  involute,  as 
in  our  Droseras,  in  Ferns,  Cycads  and  other 
plants,  and  of  this  mode  of  development  Dro- 
sophylbun  is,  so  far  as  I  know,  the  only  exam- 
ple in  the  Vegetable  Kingdom."  (J.  D.  Hooker 
in  Botanical  Magazine.)  It  is  a  native  of  Spain, 
Portugal  and  Africa,  introduced  in  1869,  and 
is  propagated  by  seeds. 

Drupa'ceae.  Formerly  regarded  as  a  distinct 
natural  order,  but  now  as  a  section  of  RonacecE. 


DUP 

Drupe.  A  kind  of  fruit  consisting  of  a  fleshy,  suc- 
culent rind,  and  containing  a  hard  stone  in  the 
center,  like  the  Olives,  Plums,  Apricots,  etc. 

Drya'ndra.  Named  after  Jonas  Dryander,  a  dis- 
tinguished Swedish  botanist. 

A  genus  of  Proteacece,  allied  to  Banksia, 
containing  in  all  about  fifty  species.  Hand- 
some green-house  plants,  rarely  seen  in  culti- 
vation, notwithstanding  their  great  beauty. 

Dry'as.  From  Dryades,  the  goddesses  of  the 
woods,  to  whom  the  oak  was  sacred.  The 
leaves  of  D.  odopetala,  a  Scotch  plant,  on 
which  the  genus  was  founded  by  Linuteus, 
resembles  small  oak  leaves ;  and  he,  in  play- 
ful mood,  made  Dryas  the  badge  of  Virgil's 
Dryades,  after  the  manner  of  the  Scottish 
clans.     Nat.  Ord.  Rosaceoe. 

A  delicate  genus  of  dwarf,  moderately- 
spreading  plants,  with  neat  evergreen  leaves 
and  strawberry-like  flowers.  All  have  white 
flowers  except  D.  Drummondii,  which  are  of  a 
sulphur  yellow.  They  are  all  of  easy  culture, 
but  require  a  moist,  shaded  situation.  They 
are  natives  of  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States,  and  are  propagated  by  division  and  by 
seeds. 

Drymo'nia.  Fi'ora  drymos,  an  oak  wood ;  their 
habitation.     Nat.  Ord.  GesneracecB. 

A  small  genus  of  South  American  shrubs  of 
climbing  habit,  found  in  moist  or  marshy  sit- 
uations. Flowers  large,  not  unlike  the  Ges- 
ncra.  A  few  species  have  been  introduced 
into  the  green-house,  and  are  quite  orna- 
mental. They  should  be  grown  in  baskets 
filled  with  turf  and  pieces  of  wood,  in  a 
moist,  warm  house,  and  are  propagated  by 
cuttings.     Introduced  in  1806. 

Dryna'ria.  From  dr^)s,  a  tree  ;  dwelling  among 
trees.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  green-house  Ferns 
from  India  and  the  Pacific  Islands,  now 
included  under  Polypodium  by  some  authors. 

Dryoba'lanops.  Camphor  Tree.  From  drys, 
a  tree,  balanos,  an  acorn,  and  ops,  appearance  ; 
in  allusion  to  the  species  being  a  tree,  bearing 
acorn-like  fruits.     Nat.  Ord.  Dipterocarpeoe. 

A  large,  resinous,  camphor-bearing  ever- 
green tree,  native  of  Sumatra.  D.  aromatica 
furnishes  a  liquid  called  Camphor-oil  and  a 
crystalline  solid  known  as  Sumatra  camphor. 
It  is  highly  prized  by  the  Chinese. 

Dry'pis.  From  drypto,  to  lacerate ;  leaves 
armed  with  spines.  Nat.  Ord.  Caryophyllacece. 
D.  spinosa  is  a  beautiful  little  trailing  plant 
well  adapted  for  growing  upon  rock-work ;  its 
pretty  pale  pink  or  white  flowers  being  pro- 
duced so  as  to  completely  cover  the  ground. 
It  is  increased  by  cuttings.  This  plant  is  a 
native  of  Italy,  and  was  introduced  in  1795. 

Duck's-foot.     See  Podophyllum. 

Duck-weed.     Tlie  genus  Lemna. 

Tropical.     PLslia  istralioidis. 
Ducts.     Tubular  vessels  marked  by  transverse 

lines    or    dots;    api)arently,    in   some   cases, 
modifications  of  spiral  vessels. 

Dumb  Cane.     Dieffenbachia  Seguine. 

Duplicate.  Growing  in  pairs.  When  com- 
pounded with  the  words  crenate,  dentate, 
serrate,  it  implies  that  the  incisions  on  the 
margins  of  leaves  bearing  these  names  are 
themselves  crenated,  dentated,  and  serrated. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


135 


DUE 

Duramen.  TJie  heart-wood,  or  that  part  of  tlie 
timber  of  a  tree  which  becomes  hardened  by 
the  matter  deposited  in  it.  It  is  next  tlie 
center  in  Exogens  and  next  the  circumference 
in  Endogens. 

Dura'nta.  Named  in  honor  of  Castor  Durantes,  a 
physician  and  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Verbenacece. 
A  genus  of  free  flowering  evergreen  slirubs, 
natives  of  South  America  and  tlie  West  Indies. 
D.  Pl-umieri,  the  best  known  species,  has 
pretty  blue  flowers  bome  in  racemes  in  great 
profusion.  It  was  introduced  in  1739,  and  is 
increased  readily  by  cuttings. 

Du'rio.  From  Duryon,  the  Malay  name  of  the 
fruit,  and  comes  from  dury,  a  thorn  ;  alluding 
to  the  prickly  fruit.     Nat.    Ord.    SterculiacecB. 

D.  zibethinus,  the  only  species,  a  noble  tree 
attaining  the  height  of  from  sixty  to  eighty 
feet,  with  somewhat  the  general  appearance 
of  an  elm,  produces  the  celebrated  Durian 
fruit  of  the  Indian  Archipelago.  This  fruit 
varies  in  shape,  being  either  globular  or  oval, 
and  measures  as  much  as  ten  inches  in 
length ;  it  has  a  thick,  hard  rind  entirely  cov- 
ered with  very  strong  sharp  prickles,  and  is 
divided  into  Ave  cells,  each  of  which  contains 
from  one  to  four  seeds  rather  larger  than 
pigeons'  eggs,  and  completely  enveloped  in  a 
firm  luscious-looking  cream-colored  pulp, 
which  is  the  eatable  part  of  the  fruit. 

This  tree  is  commonly  cultivated  through- 
out the  Malayan  Peninsula  and  Islands, 
where  its  fruit,  during  the  period  it  is  in 
season,  forms  the  greatest  part  of  the  food  of 
the  natives.  Considerable  difference  of  opin- 
ion exists  among  epicures  as  to  the  relative 
merits  of  several  well-known  tropical  fruits, 
including  the  Durian,  the  Maugosteen,  the 
Cherimoyer,  and  the  Pine-apple,  any  of  which 
is  made  to  occupy  the  foremost  place,  accord- 
ing to  individual  taste.  The  flavor  of  Durian, 
however,  is  said  to  be  perfectly  unique ;  and 
it  is  also  quite  certain  that  no  other  fruit, 
either  of  tropical  or  temperate  climes,  com- 
bines in  itself  such  a  delicious  flavor  with 
such  an  abominably  offensive  odor — an  odor 
liommonly  compared  either  with  putrid 
animal  matter,  or  with  rotten  onions.  It 
might  be  supposed  that  a  fruit  possessing 
such  an  odor  could  never  become  a  favorite ; 
but  it  is  said  that  when  once  the  repugnance 
has  been  overcome,  the  Durian  is  sure  to  find 
favor,  and  that  foreigners  invariably  become 
exti'emely  fond  of  it.  One  traveler  observes 
that  "a  rich  custard,  highly  flavored  with 
almonds,  gives  the  best  general  idea  of  it,  but 
there  are  occasional  wafts  of  flavor  that  call 
to  mind  cream-cheese,  onion  sauce,  sherry 
wine,  and  other  incongruous  dishes.  Then 
there  is  a  rich  glutinous  smoothness  in  the 
pulp  which  nothing  else  possesses,  but  which 
adds  to  its  delicacy.  It  is  neither  acid,  nor 
sweet,  nor  juicy;  yet  it  wants  none  of  these 
qualities,  for  it  is  in  itself  perfect.  It  pro- 
duces no  nausea  or  other  bad  effect,  and  the 
more  you  eat  of  it  the  less  you  feel  inclined 
to  stop.  In  fact,  to  eat  Durians  is  a  new 
sensation,  worth  a  voyage  to  the  East  to  ex- 
perience." 

Durra.     See  Sorghum  vulgare. 

Dusty  Miller.     Cineraria  marilima. 

Dutch-Clover      Trifolium  repens. 

Dutchman's  Breeches.     Dicentra  cucuUaria. 


DYS 

Dutchman's  Pipe.     See  Aristolochia  sipho. 

Duva'lia.  Named  after  H.  A.  Duval,  of  Paris, 
a  botanical  author.  Nat.  Ord.  AsclepediacecB. 
A  genus  of  succulent  Stapelia-like  plants, 
all  natives  of  South  Africa.  D.  polita  has 
purplish  red  flowers  with  a  dull  orange  center, 
somewhat  resembling  a  bird's  head,  when 
viewed  sideways.  They  are  produced  in 
threes  or  fours  and  open  successively.  The 
stems  and  branches  are  two  to  three  inches 
long,  and  about  half  an  inch  thick,  somewhat 
clavate,  and  more  or  less  decumbent  and 
rooting.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  plants  of  the 
genus,  and  was  introduced  in  18'74. 

Duva'ua.  In  honor  of  M.  Duvau,  a  French  bot- 
anist.    Nat.  Ord.  Anacardiacem. 

Singular  half-hardy  shrubs  from  Chili.  The 
leaves  of  the  plants  of  this  genus,  if  thrown 
upon  water,  will  start  and  jump  about  in  a 
very  extraordinary  manner.  They  have  a 
strong  smell  of  turpentine.  The  flowers  are 
white,  produced  in  small  spikes,  and  are  suc- 
ceeded by  dark  purple  berries.  They  require 
green-house  treatment.  Propagated  by  cut- 
tings.    Introduced  in  1830. 

Dwarf.  Of  small  size  compared  with  other 
species  of  the  same  genus,  or  with  other 
varieties  of  the  same  species. 

Dwarf  Dandelion.  Krigia  Virginica,  a  small 
hardy  annual,  with  yellow  flowers  resembling 
a  small  Dandelion,  common  in  New  England 
and  southward. 

Dwarf  Fan  Palm.  A  common  name  for  Cha- 
mcerops  humilis. 

Dy'ckia.  Named  in  honor  of  Prince  Salm-Dyck, 
a  German,  author  of  a  splendid  work  on  suc- 
culents.    Nat.  Ord.  BromelieececB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  plants,  resem- 
bling the  Pine-apple  in  miniature,  or  a  small 
Pitcairnia.  D.  rariflora  is  a  very  showy  plant 
with  orange-colored  flowers.  One  or  two 
other  species  of  the  same  general  character 
have  been  introduced  into  the  green-house. 
Propagated  by  division  or  from  seeds. 

Dyer's  Green-Weed.     See  Genista  tinctoria. 

Dyer's  Rocket,  or  Dyer's  Weed.  A  popular 
name  of  Reseda  luteola,  allied  to  Mignonette. 

Dynamis.  A  power.  A  figurative  term  em- 
ployed by  Linnaeus  to  express  the  degrees  of 
development  of  stamens.  Thus  his  Didynamia 
signified  stamens  of  two  different  lengths,  or 
of  two  different  degrees  of  development. 

Dypsis.  From  dnpto,  to  dip ;  application  not 
given.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  genus  of  five  or  six  species  of  dwarf  stove- 
house  palms,  all  natives  of  Madagascar.  D. 
Madagascar iensis,  D.  Hildebrandtii,  and  D. 
pinnatifrons,  the  only  species  yet  introduced, 
are  choice  sorts,  and  well  worthy  of  a  place  in 
any  collection. 

Dysodia.  From  dusodes,  ill-smelling ;  in  allu- 
sion to  the  unpleasant  odor  of  some  of  the 
species.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositm. 

A  genus  of  about  ten  species  of  erect  or  dif- 
fuse pubescent  plants,  closely  allied  to  Ta- 
getes,  and  natives  of  Mexico,  Central  America, 
and  the  South-western  States.  D.  chrysan- 
themoides,  a  dwarf  annual  with  pinnatisect 
leaves,  grows  in  great  profusion  over  the 
western  prairies  of  Illinois,  and  in  autumn 
exhales  so  unpleasant  an  odor  as  to  sicken 
travelers. 


136 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


E. 


EAG 

Eagle  Wood.  An  odoriferous  wood  containing 
an  abundance  of  resin  and  a  fragrant  essen- 
tial oil.  This  is  supposed  to  be  tlie  Aloes 
wood  of  Scripture.     See  Aquilaria  agallocha. 

Ea'rina.  From  earinos,  the  spring;  the  time 
of  their  flowering.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A.  genus  of  very  rare  Orchids.  The  stems 
are  terminated  by  dense  oblong  spikes  of 
white  flowers,  which  are  delightfully  fragrant. 
They  were  introduced  from  New  Zealand  in 
1843. 

East  Indian  Rose  Bay.     See   TabemcBmontana. 

Earth-nut,  or  Earth  Chestnut.  Bunium  jlex- 
uosum. 

Easter  Flo'wer.  Mexican.  Poinsettia  pulcher- 
rima. 

Easter  Giant.     Polygonum  bistortum. 

Easter  Lily.    Lilium  Harrisii  and  L.  longiflorum. 

Ebena'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  or  shrubs, 
not  milky,  with  alternate  leathery  and  entire 
leaves.  The  flowers  are  hermaphrodite  (per- 
fect), or  pistillate  and  etaminate.  The  fruit 
is  a  round  or  oval  berry  with  albuminous 
seeds.  They  are  chiefly  natives  of  the  East 
Indies,  but  are  also  found  in  tropical  Africa, 
at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in  South  America, 
Brazil,  Australia,  northern  Asia,  and  China. 
The  trees  yield  a  hard  and  durable  timber. 
The  heart-wood  of  different  species  of  Diospy- 
ros  is  the  Ebony  of  commerce,  of  which  there 
are  many  varieties.  The  Keg-fig  of  Japan  is 
edible  fruit  of  Diospyros  Kuki,  and  our  com- 
mon Persimmon  is  the  fruit  of  Diospyros  Vir- 
giniana.  There  are  five  recognized  genera 
and  about  250  species ;  Diospyros,  Royena, 
Eiiclea,  and  Maba  are  examples. 

E'benus.  A  genus  of  LeguminoscB,  numbering 
about  eight  species,  natives  of  the  high  moun- 
tainous regions  of  eastern  Europe  and  Asia 
Minor.  They  are  elegant  little  shrubs,  or 
biennial  plants,  bearing  their  bright  pink  or 
violet  blossoms  on  dense  spikes  or  round 
heads  in  great  profusion.  They  are  easily 
increased  by  seeds  or  division. 

Ebony-tree.     See  Diospyros. 
Jamaica.     Brya  Ehenus. 
Mountain.     Bardtiiiiavariegata. 
Senegal.     Dalbergia  Melanoxylon. 

Eburneiis.     Of  the  color  of  ivory. 

Ecba'llium.  Squirting  Cucumber.  From  efebaZo, 
to  cast  out ;  because  the  seeds  are  violently 
expelled  from  the  ripe  fruit.  Nat.  Ord.  Cucur- 
bitacece. 

The  Squirting  Cucumber  is  so  called  from  the 
remarkable  way  in  which  it  squirts  out  its  seeds 
along  with  the  semi-fluid  contents  of  the  fruit. 
When  the  fruit  is  quite  ripe  a  very  slight  touch 
causes  it  to  separate  from  its  stem,  and  by 
the  violent  elastic  contraction  of  the  pericarp, 
or  rind  of  the  fruit,  the  whole  of  the  contents 
are  ejected  from  the  opening  made  by  its 
separation  from  the  stem.  It  is  a  native  of 
the  south  of  Europe,  where  the  drug  known 
as  Elaterium  (a  powerful  cathartic)  is  procured 
from  it,     Syn.  Momordica  Elaterium. 


ECH 

Eccremoca'rpus.  From  ekkrem^s,  pendant,  and 
karpos,  fruit ;  position  of  seed-pods.  Nat.  Ord. 
BignoniacecB. 

The  best  known  species,  E.  scaber,  is  a  half- 
hardy  climber,  of  exceedingly  vigorous 
growth,  producing  a  great  profusion  of 
orange-scarlet  flowers,  and  ripening  an 
abundance  of  seed.  If  cut  down  to  the  root 
in  autumn,  and  covered  with  dead  leaves, 
straw,  or  anything  to  preserve  it  from  the 
frost  during  winter,  it  will  shoot  up  again  the 
following  spring.  It  may  be  propagated  by 
cuttings,  but  it  ripens  seed  so  freely  that  it  is 
most  easily  raised  from  them.  They  should 
be  sown  in  autumn,  as  soon  as  they  are  ripe, 
on  a  slight  hot-bed;  and  the  plants,  which 
should  be  kept  in  a  frame  or  green-house, 
should  be  shifted  two  or  three  times  till  they 
are  ready  for  planting  out  in  April  or  May. 
The  species  are  natives  of  Peru.  Introduced 
in  1824.     Syn.  Calampelis. 

Echea'ndia.  Named  after  Greg.  Echeandia, 
botanical  professor  at  Saragossa.  Nat.  Ord. 
LiliacecE. 

A  small  genus  of  exceedingly  rare,  tender 
herbaceous  perennials,  discovered  near  the 
Real  del  Monte  Mines,  Mexico,  by  Mr.  John 
Rule,  and  sent  by  him  to  England  in  1837.  It 
is  allied  to  the  Anthericum,  which  in  habit  of 
growth  it  resembles.  The  flower  spike  grows 
nearly  three  feet  high,  branching,  and  during 
July  and  August  it  produces  daily  several 
Asphodel-shaped  flowers,  of  a  bright  orange- 
yellow  color.     It  is  increased  from  seeds. 

Echeve'ria.  In  honor  of  M.  EcJieveri,  author  of 
the  splendid  drawings  of  the  Flora  Mexicani. 
Nat.  Ord.  CrassulacecB. 

The  Echeverias  are  succulent  plants,  all 
more  or  less  ornamental,  particularly  so  when 
in  flower.  Some  are  dwarf  and  herb-like  in 
their  manner  of  growth,  and  others  more  or 
less  shrubby  in  their  habit.  They  are  all 
free-growing  plants,  suitable  for  rockeries, 
edgings,  or  massing;  where  "  carpet  bedding" 
is  done  the  Echeverias  are  indispensable. 
They  require  the  protection  of  the  green- 
house during  winter,  and,  like  most  other 
succulents,  to  be  carefully  watered  ;  in  fact, 
the  soil  must  never  approach  a  soddened  con- 
dition. They  must,  however,  be  freely  sup- 
plied with  water  while  in  a  growing  condition. 
The  Echeverias  are  readily  propagated  by  the 
leaves,  especially  those  produced  along  the 
flower-stem,  and  by  seeds.  They  are  chiefly 
natives  of  Mexico,  and  require  a  very  open  or 
porous  soil,  consisting  of  loam  and  coarse 
sand.  Some  of  the  more  popular  kinds  are  of 
recent  introduction.  A  number  of  the  species 
are  now  classed  with  Cotyledon. 

Echina'cea.  Purple  Cone-Flower.  From  ec/iinos, 
a  hedge-hog ;  referring  to  the  involucre,  or 
scaly  covering  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
posites. 

A  small  genus  of  coarse-growing,  hardy  her- 
baceous perennials,  bearing  large  purple  or 
reddish  flowers,  with  a  dark  centre.  They  ar© 
common  south  and  west. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


137 


ECH 

Echinate.  Furnished  with  numerous  rigid  hairs 
or  straight  prickles  ;  as  the  fruit  of  Castanea 
vesca,  Amomum  subulatum,  etc. 

Eclii'noca'ctus.  From  echinos.  hedge-hog,  and 
cactus;  sl  name  given  by  Theophrastus  to  a 
spiny  plant.     Nat.  OrJ.  CactacecB. 

This  genus  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of 
the  order;  the  grotesque  appearance  of  the 
plants,  crowned  as  they  are  at  titnes  with 
tlieir  large  Howers,  renders  them  objects  of 
much  attention  among  the  admirers  of  this 
class  of  vegetable  forms.  The  soil  we  prefer 
for  their  culture  is  a  mixture  of  rich  loam, 
thoroughly  decomposed  manure,  and  sand,  in 
equal  quantities.  This  must  be  well  drained 
by  mixing  small  lumps  of  charcoal  and  pots- 
herds with  the  earth,  and  by  placing  a  layer 
of  the  same  material  at  the  bottom  of  the 
pots.  Through  the  winter  the  plants  shoula 
be  kept  in  a  reduced  temperatuie.  such  as 
that  of  a  green-house,  and  have  little  or  no 
water,  but  in  summer  they  grow  and  flower 
more  freely  if  allowed  a  stove  tetuperature 
and  a  liberal  supply  of  moisture.  Bright  sun- 
light is  essential  to  their  vigor  at  all  seasons, 
but  most  particularly  so  in  autumn  and  winter. 
The  genus  comprises  manj'-  species;  more 
than  half  of  them  natives  of  Mexico,  the  rest 
being  distributed  throughout  South  America, 
They  are  propagated  by  offsets,  which  should 
be  dried  a  few  days  after  being  taken  off  the 
plant.     First  introduced  in  1796. 

E'chinops.  Globe  Thistle.  From  echinos,  a 
hedge-hog,  and  opts,  like;  referring  to  the 
spiny  scales  of  the  involucre,  or  covering  of 
composite  flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositor. 

A  genus  of  hardy  annual,  biennial,  and  per- 
ennial plants,  generally  with  blue  flowers,  ar- 
ranged in  dense  round  clusters  at  the  ends  of 
the  branches,  so  that  each  cluster  of  flower- 
heads  has  the  appearance  of  a  single  head, 
containing  many  florets.  They  are  all  of 
easy  culture,  and  will  grow  in  almost  any 
situation.  For  moderate-sized  gardens,  they 
are  too  rank  growing  and  coarse  to  bo  useful. 
They  are  natives  of  southern  Europe,  and 
are  propagated  by  seeds  or  division. 

Echino'psis.  A  small  genus  of  Cactaceos,  now 
generally  placed  as  a  section  of  Cereus. 

Echi'tes.  From  echis,  a  viper ;  referring  to  the 
snake-like  coils  of  the  twining  slioots.  Nat. 
Ord.  ApocynacecB. 

A  genus  of  magnificent  green-house  climb- 
ing plants,  with  yellow,  white,  red,  and  crim- 
son flowers,  and  richly-veined  leaves.  They 
closely  resemble  Dipladenia,  which  may  be  re- 
ferred to  for  culture.  It  is  an  extensive 
genus,  pretty  generally  distributed  throughout 
South  America  and  the  Ecist  Indies. 

E'chium.  Viper's  Bugloss.  From  ecTiis,  a  viper ; 
seeds  like  the  viper's  head.  Nat.  Ord.  Bora- 
ginacecB. 

Perennial,  biennial,  and  annual  plants  gener- 
ally with  rich  dark-blue  flowers ;  though 
some  of  the  kinds  that  are  natives  of  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope  and  the  Canaries  have  red, 
white,  or  violet  flowers.  They  are  easily  prop- 
agated by  seeds  or  division  of  the  root. 
First  introduced  in  1683. 

Edelvreiss.     See  Leontopodium. 

Edged.  When  one  color  is  surrounded  by  a 
very  narrow  rim  of  another  color. 


EGY 

Edgeworthia.  Named  for  M.  P.  Edgeworth, 
an  East  Indian  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Thyme- 
lacece. 

Ornamental  evergreen  green-house  shrubs 
with  yellow  flowers,  closely  allied  to  Daphne. 
Natives  of  China  and  Japan. 

Edwa'rdsia.  In  honor  of  Sydenham  Edwards, 
a  celebrated  English  botanical  draughtsman. 
Nat.  Ord.  LegutninoscB. 

Half-hardy  low  trees  and  shrubs,  with  pin- 
nate leaves  and  very  curiously-shaped  seed 
pods  and  flowers,  which  are  of  a  dark  golden 
yellow.  They  are  beautiful  plants  for  lawn 
decoration,  but  must  be  protected  in  winter. 
The  species  ai-e  all  natives  of  New  Zealand, 
and  are  propagated  by  cuttings.  Introduced 
in  1772.     Syn.  Sophora. 

Eel-Grass.     See  Vallismria. 

Effuse.  Applied  to  inflorescence,  and  means 
a  kind  of  panicle  with  a  very  loose  ari'ange- 
ment. 

Egg-Plant.  The  Egg- Plant  of  our  gardens  is 
Solanum  melongena,  var.  orngerum,  a  native  of 
North  Africa.  It  was  first  introduced  into 
England  in  1596,  but  for  a  long  time  was  little 
known  or  used,  owing  much  to  the  climate 
being  unsuitod  to  the  perfect  development  of 
the  fruit.  In  India  and  other  hot  countries 
it  is  a  favorite  article  of  food,  and  for  many 
years  it  has  steadily  grown  in  favor  in  this 
country.  In  India  It  is  served  up  with  sugar 
and  wine,  and  in  Italy  and  France  it  is  used  in 
stews  and  soups.  Of  this  species  there  are 
several  varieties,  the  favorite  being  the  "  Im- 
proved New  York  Purple,"  which  is  a  strong 
grower,  the  plants  yielding  from  five  to  eight 
fruits,  some  of  which  are  of  enormous  size ; 
the  size,  however,  depends  much  on  the  soil 
and  method  of  culture.  For  perfection  of 
growth,  a  very  rich  soil,  plenty  of  moisture, 
and  warm  weather  are  required,  with  the  ad- 
dition of  frequent  hoeings.  Under  such  cir- 
cumstances, fruit  seven  inches  in  diameter 
and  eight  to  nine  inches  long,  and  weighing 
five  to  six  pounds,  is  easily  obtained.  There 
are  several  other  species  occasionally  grown  in 
our  gardens,  one  having  bright  scarlet,  another 
white  fruit,  each  about  the  size  of  a  hen's  egg, 
which  are  chiefly  grown  as  curiosities.  The 
white  variety  is  edible,  however,  and  is  per- 
haps the  most  delicately  flavored.  Seeds 
should  be  sown  about  March  1st,  in  a  tem- 
perature at  no  time  lower  than  70"  Fahr., 
and  from  the  seed  bed  pricked  out  in  shallow 
boxes,  and  from  these,  again,  into  small  flower 
pots,  to  be  planted  out  in  the  open  ground 
when  all  danger  from  frost  is  past,  as  the 
plant,  being  tropical,  is  at  all  times  sensitive 
to  cold. 

Eggs  and  Bacon.  Linaria  vulgaris,  and  Lotus 
corniculatus. 

Eggs  and  Butter.     Linaria  vulgaris. 
Eglantine.     Sweet  Briar.     Rosa  rubiginosa. 
Egyptian  Bean.     See  DoUchos  Lablab. 

Of  Pythagoras.     Nelwmhium  speciosum, 
Egyptian  Lily.     See  Richardia. 
Egyptian  Lotus.     Nymphma  Lotus. 
Egyptian  Pea.     See  Cicer. 

Egyptian  Rose.  Scabiosa  arvensis,  and  8. 
atropurpurea. 

Egyptian  Thorn.     CratoRgus  Pyracantha. 


138 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OP   PLANTS 


EHE 

Ehre'tia.  In  honor  of  D.  G.  Ehret,  a  celebrated 
German  botanical  draughtsman.  Nat.  Ord. 
Boraginacece. 

A  small  genus  of  very  beautiful  tropical 
trees  and  shrubs,  producing  large  corymbs  of 
fragrant,  mostly  white  flowers.  Introduced 
in  1823 ;  propagated  .by  cuttings. 

Ehre'tia'ceae.  A  natural  order,  now  placed  as  a 
tribe  of  Boraginacece. 

Eichho'rnia.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  A.  F.  Eich- 
horn,  an  eminent  Prussian.  Nat.  Ord.  Ponle- 
deriacecB. 

Very  interesting  stove  aquatics,  natives  of 
South  America  and  tropical  Africa.  E.  cras- 
sipes,  Syn.  Pondeteria  azurea,  or  P.  crassipes, 
grows  freely,  floating  on  the  surface  of  tlie 
water,  without  the  roots  being  in  the  soil ;  the 
other  species  are  easily  grown  in  pots  filled 
with  coarse,  rather  rich  soil,  immersed  and 
kept  in  water. 

Elaeagna'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  or 
shrubs,  more  or  less  covered  with  minute 
silvery  or  brown  scurfy  scales,  and  natives 
chiefly  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  Th(>re 
are  four  known  genera  and  about  thirty  spe- 
cies. Shopherdia,  Elceagnus,  and  Hippophae 
are  examples  of  the  order. 

Elasa'gnus.  Oleaster,  or  Wild  Olive.  From 
Elaia,  an  olive,  and  agnos,  a  chaste  tree ; 
resemblance  the  tree  bears.  Nat.  Ord.  Elce- 
agnacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy  and  half-hardy  ornamental 
low-growing  trees  or  shrubs,  natives  of 
southern  Europe  and  Asia.  E.  horten^nui,  is  an 
old  garden  shrub,  noted  for  the  silvery  white- 
ness of  its  foliage,  and,  on  this  account,  is 
often  selected  to  plant  in  a  conspicuous  situa- 
tion, or  to  contrast  with  shrubs  of  darker 
foliage.  Its  flowers  are  produced  in  May,  are 
quite  small,  pale  yellow,  and  fragrant.  E. 
argentea  is  described  by  Gray,  under  the  name 
of  Shepherdia  argentea,  which  see, 

El^'is.  The  Oil  Palm.  From  Elaia,  the 
olive ;  similarity  of  expressing  oil  from  tlio 
fruit.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

This  interesting  genus  of  Palms  consists  of 
but  few  species,  the  minor  ones  being  na- 
tives of  South  America.  E.  Guineensis,  the 
most  important  species,  abounds  on  the  west 
coast  of  Africa,  It  grows  to  the  greatest 
perfection  in  shady  places,  where  the  trees 
attain  a  height  of  twenty  feet.  The  immense 
groves  interspersed  with  the  larger  vegeta- 
tion of  that  country,  gives  the  landscape  an 
indescribable  beauty.  The  fruits  in  this 
species  are  borne  in  immense  dense  heads, 
measuring  from  one  to  two  feet  long,  and 
from  two  to  three  feet  in  circumference,  the 
individual  fruit,  or  nut,  being  about  an  inch 
and  a  half  long  by  an  inch  in  diameter.  These 
fruits  yield  the  Palm  Oil  of  commerce,  the 
collecting  of  which  is  the  principal  industry 
of  the  negroes  in  many  parts  of  Africa,  but 
more  particularly  on  the  west  coast.  The 
oil  is  obtained  by  bruising  the  fruit,  boiling 
in  water,  and  skimming  it  off  as  it  rises  to 
the  surface.  The  Palm  Oil  of  commerce  is 
about  the  consistence  of  butter,  of  a  deep 
orange  yellow,  becoming  lighter  upon  being 
exposed  to  the  air,  and  when  fresh  it  emits  a 
sweet  violet  odor.  In  Africa  this  oil  is  used 
as  butter  under  the  name  of  ghen.  A  soup  is 
also  made   of   it,  that  forms  an  important 


ELI 

article  of  food.  The  vast  productiveness  of 
the  plant  is  evident  from  the  fact,  that  the 
importations  into  Great  Britain  alone,  in  1860, 
amounted  to  more  than  eight  millions  of  dol- 
lars. The  chief  uses  to  which  this  oil  is  ap- 
plied is  in  the  manufacture  of  candles.  Palm 
Oil  soap,  and  for  lubricating  oil  for  machin- 
ery. 

Elaeoca'rpus.  From  Elaia,  the  olive,  and  kar- 
pus,  fruit;  resemblance  of  the  fruits.  Nat. 
Ord.  TiliaceoR. 

A  genus  of  handsome  trees  belonging  to  the 
Linden  family.  They  are  natives  of  South 
America,  Australia,  and  the  East  Indies. 
The  flowers  are  white  or  green,  quite  showy. 
The  rough  bony  fruit,  or  stone,  has  a  sculp- 
tured appearance,  and  is  used  for  necklaces 
and  other  articles  of  ornament.  The  fruit  is 
surrounded  by  an  edible  pulp,  and  is  pickled 
like  olives.  The  bark  of  some  of  the  species 
affords  an  excellent  dye,  varying  from  light 
brown  to  deep  black ;  it  is  highly  valued  for 
its  permanency. 

Elaeode'ndron.  Olive  "Wood.  From  Elaia,  an 
olive,  and  dendron,  a  tree;  alluding  to  the  re- 
semblance.    Nat.  Ord.  CelaMracece. 

A  genus  of  medium-sized  evergreen  trees, 
common  in  Africa,  India,  the  south  of  Europe, 
and  is  also  abundant  in  the  Holy  Land.  The 
trees  grow  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  high, 
much  branched,  with  rough,  scraggy  trunks, 
and  furnish  the  Olive  Wood,  used  so  much 
in  turning  and  various  small  works,  such 
as  boxes,  charms,  trinkets,  and  small  cabi- 
net work.  The  fruit  is  much  esteemed  and 
yields  an  oil  something  like  that  of  the  true 
Olive,  Olsa  Europisa,  though  of  an  inferior 
quality. 

Elder.     American.     Sarribucua   Canadensis,   and 
the  genus  Iva. 
British.     Samhucus  nigra. 
Marsh,  or  Water.     Viburnum  Opulus. 
Poison.     Rhus  venenatum. 
AVild,  of  North  America.     Aralia  luspida. 

Elecampane.     See  Inula  Helenium. 

Elephant's  Apple.     Feronia  EUphanium. 

Elephant's  Ear.     The  genus  Begonia,  and  Colo- 

casia  esculenta. 
Elephant's    Foot.     See    Testudinaria  Elephan- 

tipes. 
Elephant's-trunk  Plant.     Martynia  jjroboscidea, 

and  Adenium  namaquanum. 
Eletta'ria.     A    synonym    of    Amomum,    which 

see. 

Eleusi'ne.  Derived  from  Eleusis,  where  was  a 
celebrated  temple  of  Ceres.  Nat.  Ord. 
Graminac^m. 

A  family  of  curious  grasses,  mostly  inhabi- 
tants of  the  East  Indies.  E.  oligostachya,  one 
of  the  most  ornamental  species,  is  a  dwarf 
grass,  well  adapted  for  the  flower  border,  or 
to  be  used  as  a  "dried  grass"  for  winter- 
bouquets;  it  is  native  of  China,  perfectly 
hardy,  and  of  perennial  duration.  E.  coracana. 
is  growu  in  Japan  as  a  grain  crop  for  its  large 
farinaceous  seeds. 

Eliohry'sum.     See  Helichrysum. 

Elise'na.     Named  in   honor  of  Princess  Elise, 

sister  of  Napoleon.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  strong-growing  bulbs  from 

Peru.    The  flowers  are  borne  in  a  cluster  on  a 


AND   GENERAL  HOETICULTURE. 


139 


ELK 

scape  nearly  three  feet  high,  pure  white  and 
fragrant,    closely  resembling    Ismene.    They 
require    green  house    treatment.      To    bring 
them  into  flower,  water  should  be  withheld 
after  their  season's  growth,  until  the  flower 
spike  appears,   when  they  should  have  the 
warmest  position  in  the  green-house,  with 
plenty  of  air  and  water.     Propagated  by  off- 
sets.    Introduced  in  1837. 
Elk-Bark.     Magnolia  glauca. 
Elk's-horn  Fern.     Platy cerium  alcicome. 
EUoboca'rpus  oleraceus.     Pod  Fern.     A  syn- 
onym of  Ceratopteris  thulictroides,  which  see. 
Elm.    American,  or  White.     Ulmus  Americana. 
American  Cork,  or  Rock.     Ulmus  racemosa. 
Moose,  Red,  or  Slippery.     Ubmis  fulva.. 
"Witch,  or  Wych.     Ulmus  Montana. 
Elo'dea.    Water  Thyme.  From  elodes,  a  marsh  ; 
the    habitation    of    the    plants.      Nat.    Ord. 
HydrocharidacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  aquatic  or  marshy  plants, 
natives  of  this  country  and  western  Asia.  J^ 
Virginica  is  rather  a  handsome  plant,  with 
flesh  or  pink-colored  flowers,  disposed  in  axil- 
lary or  terminal  clusters. 
Elongated.  Lengthened  or  stretched  out ;  when 
any  part  of  an  organ  is  in  any  way  remarkable 
for  its  length  in  comparison  with  its  breadth. 
E'lymus.  Lyme-Grass.  Wild  Rye.  According 
to  Linngeus  it  is  named  from  elyo,  to  cover. 
Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  genus  of  strong-growing  grasses,  inhabi- 
tants of  both  the  new  and  the  old  worlds. 
Some  of  the  species  are  grown  for  economic 
purposes,  others  for  their  ornamental  charac- 
ter. E.  armarium  affords  the  nearest  approach 
to  a  grain  crop  attainable  by  the  Icelanders, 
and  this  only  can  be  cultivated  in  very  favor- 
able localities.  They  highly  appreciate  the 
seeds,  call  them  Melur,  and  eat  them  raw  or 
made  into  cakes.  It  is  also  useful  for  binding 
moveable  sand  hills,  etc.,  by  means  of  its  long 
creeping  rhizomes.  E.  histrix,  is  a  native 
species,  and  is  grown  for  ornamental  pur- 
poses. It  is  popularly  known  as  Bottle-brush 
Grass,  and  is  referred  by  Gray  to  the  genus 
Gymnostichum,. 
Emarginate.     Having  a  small  notch  in  the  end, 

as  if  a  piece  had  been  taken  out. 
Embossed  Cypress.     See  Glyptostrobus. 

Embryo.  The  rudiment  of  a  plant  contained  in 
the  seed.  It  makes  its  first  appearance  soon 
after  the  pollen  has  fertilized  the  ovule. 
Fixed  embryo,  a  leaf  bud. 

Empetra'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  shrubs  with 
heath-like,  evergreen  leaves,  without  stipules, 
and  small  axillary  flowers,  which  are  usually 
imperfect.  They  are  natives  chiefly  of  the 
northern  parts  of  Europe  and  America.  There 
are  four  known  genera  and  five  species. 
Empeirum,  Ceratiola  and  Corema  are  examples 
of  the  order. 

Empe'trum.  Crake-berry,  or  Crow-berry.  From 
en,  upon,  and  petros,  a  rock  ;  in  allusion  to  the 
place  of  growth.     Nat.  Ord.  Empetracece. 

E.   nigrum,   a  native  hardy  species,   is  an 
ornamental  evergreen,  low-spreading,  heath- 
like shrub,  bearing  edible  brownish-black  ber- 
ries ;  well  adapted  for  a  damp  situation  on  a 
.  rockery. 


ENG 

Encephala'rtos.  From  en,  within,  hephalr,  the 
head,  and  artos,  bread ;  the  inner  part  of  the 
top  of  the  trunk  being  farinaceous.  Nat.  Ord. 
CycadacecB. 

This  is  a  small  genus  separated  from  Zamia. 
They  are  in  all  respects  very  similar  plants, 
require  the  same  treatment,  and  are  natives 
principally    of    the     Cape    of    Good    Hope. 
Several  of  the  species  are  valuable  decorative 
plants. 
Enchanter's  Nightshade.     See  Circma. 
Encholi'rion.     A  genus  of  Bromeliace(B,  consist- 
ing of    a  few   Brazilian    herbaceous   plants, 
usually  referred  to  Vriesia,  which  see. 
Endive.     Cichorium  Endivia.  This  hardy  annual 
is  a  native  of  the  East  Indies,  and  is  consid- 
ered a  valuable  salad  at  a  time  when  few  other 
vegetables  are  furnished  for  the  table.     Like 
the  lettuce,  its  leaves  are  used  before  its  flow- 
ering stem  begins  to  appear.    These  leaves 
are  very  hard  and  bitter  when  exposed  to  the 
air ;  they  are  therefore  blanched,  and  if  this 
be  properly  performed  they  become  crisp  and 
tender,  and  retain  only  an  agreeable  bitter- 
ness.     Many    varieties    of    the    Endive    are 
included  in  seedsmen's  lists,  all  of  which  are 
the  results  of  selection  and  cultivation. 
Endive.    Wild.    See  Cichorium. 
Endocarp.    The  lining  of  a  carpel;  the  inner 
surface  or  lining  of  a  fruit,  representing  at 
that  time  the  upper  surface  of  a  carpellaiy 
leaf.     The  stone  of  a  Cherry  is  its  endocarp. 
Endogens.     A  large  class  of  plants  to  which  the 
name  of  Monocotyledons  is  also  given.    "They 
have  a  cellular  and  vascular  system,  the  latter 
exhibiting  spiral  vessels.    Their  stem  is  endo- 
genous, that  is  to  say,  increases  in  diameter 
by  the  addition  of  woody  vessels  towards  its 
interior,  the  outer  part  being  the  oldest  and 
densest,    and    hence    the    name     Endogens, 
inward  ■  growers ;  bundles  of    woody,    spiral, 
and  pitted  vessels  are  scattered  throughout 
the  cellular  tissue;  there  is  no  pith,  no  separ- 
able bark,  no  woody  rings  or  zones,  and  no 
true  medullary  rays.  The  age  of  woody  Endo- 
gens cannot  be  determined  by  counting  con- 
centric rings,  as  in  Exogens.     The  leaves  are 
usually  continuous  with  the  stem,  and  do  not 
fall  off  by  articulations ;  and  when  at  length 
they  separate,    their  bases  leave    marks  or 
scars  at  definite  intervals  on  the  stem,  as  may 
be  seen  in  Palms.    The  stems  of  Endogens 
are  often  subterranean,  in  the  form  of  corms, 
rhizomes,  or  bulbs.    The  leaves  have  stom- 
ates,  and  their  venation  is  usually  parallel, 
though  in  a  few  cases  it  is  slightly  reticulated. 
The  flowers  have  stamens  and  pistils,  and 
three-membered  symmetry.     The  ovules  are 
contained  in  an  ovary,  and  the  embryo  has 
one  cotyledon,  or  seed  lobe,  whence  they  are 
called  monocotyledonous. 
Endosmose.    That  force  which  causes  a  viscid 
fluid  lying  within  a  cavity  to  attract  to  itself 
a  watery  fluid  through  an  organic  membrane. 
Engelma'nnia.  Named  in  honor  of  George  EngeU 
mann,  of  St.  Louis,  a  celebrated  botanist.  Nat. 
Ord.  Compositce. 

E.  pinnatifida,  the  only  species,  is  an  erect, 
hardy  perennial  herb,  with  golden-yellow 
flowers  one  to  two  inches  in  diameter.  It 
grows  one  to  two  feet  in  height,  and  thrives 
in  ordinary  garden  soil.  It  was  introduced  to 
cultivation  from  the  westein  prairies  in  IHSl. 


140 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


ENG 

English  Mercury.  Chenqpodium  Bonus  Hen- 
ricus. 

Enkia'nthus.  From  enkoits,  enlarged,  and 
anthos,  a  flower ;  the  flowers  are  awollen  in  the 
middle.     Nat.  Ord.  Ericacece. 

Highly  beautiful  objects,  which,  from  their 
habit  of  blooming  in  the  winter  and  early 
spring,  are  much  esteemed  for  ornamenting 
the  green-house  and  conservatory.  They 
should  have  a  shaded  situation  out  of  doors 
through  the  summer.  Propagated  by  cut- 
tings, which  require  to  be  of  firm,  young 
wood.  There  are  five  species,  natives  princi- 
pally of  Japan,  China,  and  the  East.  First 
introduced  from  China  in  1812. 

Ensiform.  Quite  straight,  with  the  point  acute, 
like  the  blade  of  a  broadsword  or  the  leaf  of 
an  Iris. 

Enta'da.  The  Malabar  name.  Nat.  Ord.  Legu- 
minosm. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  hot-house  climbers, 
consisting  of  five  species,  with  white  or  yel- 
low flowei's,  produced  either  in  spikes  at  the 
bases  of  the  leaves,  or  in  bunches  at  the  ends 
of  the  branches.  The  most  remarkable  feature 
of  the  genus  is  the  extraordinary  length  of  its 
pods,  which  are  flat  and  woody,  divided  into 
numerous  Joints,  each  containing  one  large, 
flat,  polished  seed.  In  E.  acandens,  a  native  of 
the  tropics  of  both  hemispheres,  the  pods 
often  measure  six  or  eight  feet  in  length.  The 
seeds  are  nearly  two  inches  across  by  half  an 
inch  thick,  and  have  a  hard,  woody,  and 
beautifully-polished  shell,  of  a  dark-brown  or 
purplish  color.  In  the  tropics  the  natives 
convert  these  seeds  into  snuff-boxes,  scent- 
bottles,  and  various  other  trinkets.  In  this 
country  they  are  much  worn  as  charms  on 
watch-guards,  and  are  very  common  in  their 
natural  state  on  the  side-walk  stands  in 
Broadway,  New  York.  They  are  natives  of 
the  West  and  East  Indies  and  the  South  Sea 
Islands.  The  seeds  are  often  picked  up  on 
the  coast  of  Florida,  and  even  as  far  as  the 
coast  of  Finland,  having  been  conveyed  thei-e 
by  the  great  oceanic  currents.  They  are  sold 
under  the  name  of  Sea  Beans  and  Florida 
Beans. 

Eome'con.  A  genus  of  Papaveraceae,  containing 
only  one  species,  described  as  intermediate 
between  Stylophorum  and  Sanguinaria,  from 
both  of  which,  however,  it  differs  widely  in  its 
scapose  habit  and  racemose  flowers.  Unlike 
the  Poppies,  also,  the  Eomecon  holds  its  indi- 
vidual flowers  for  many  days  together,  and 
produces  them  in  such  abundance  from  May 
to  September  as  to  merit  a  first  place  in  all 
good  collections.  It  is  quite  a  novelty,  and 
with  its  yellow-green  cyclamen-like  leaves 
and  showy  flowers  forms  quite  a  picturesque 
group  in  the  herbaceous  border.  It  was  dis- 
covered at  Kwangsi,  China,  in  1884,  by  Dr. 
Henry,  and  is  readily  increased  by  means  of 
its  numerous  runners. 

Eope'pon.  A  genus  of  ornamental  gourds,  con- 
sisting of  two  species,  formerly,  and  still, 
generally  included  in  the  genus  Trichosanthes, 
which  see. 

Epacrida'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  shrubby 
plants,  with  usually  simple  alternate  leaves, 
and  rogulai  and  perfect  flowers  in  spikes  or 
racemes.  Natives  of  the  Indian  Arcliipelago 
and  Australia.     There  are  thirty-two  known 


tPH 

genera  and  over  300  species.  Epacris,  Sty- 
phelia,  and  Dracophyllum  are  examples  of  the 
oi'der. 

Epa'cris.  From  epi,  upon,  and  akros,  the  top ; 
The  Epacris  grows  upon  the  tops  of  hills  and 
on  rising  grounds.     Nat.  Ord.  Epacridacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  ornamental  shrubs 
from  Australia,  the  species  of  which  are  highly 
valued,  both  for  their  graceful  beauty  and  the 
early  period  at  which  they  produce  their 
abundant  flowers.  For  a  proper  method  of 
treatment,  we  quote  from  the  Florist's  Jour- 
nal :  "  The  method  we  are  about  to  recom- 
mend for  the  management  of  these  lovely 
plants  will  be  found  to  differ  considerably 
from  the  ordinary  course  of  treatment,  but  as 
we  have  found  it  so  decidedly  preferable,  there 
can  be  no  hesitation  in  advising  its  adoption. 
To  begin,  we  select  young,  healthy  plants,  and 
in  February  remove  them  from  the  small  pots 
in  which  tliey  have  been  grown  into  others 
three  or  four  sizes  larger,  according  to  the 
apparent  strength  of  the  individual,  using  a 
very  sandy  soil ;  the  rougher  and  more  turfy 
the  soil  is  the  better  the  plants  will  thrive. 
Particular  attention  should  be  paid  to  drain- 
age. The  plants  are  then  cut  back  to  within 
four  or  five  joints  of  their  last  growth  and  are 
placed  in  a  gentle  heat,  where  they  soon 
'  break  '  vigorously.  These  new  growths  are 
stopped  by  pinching  off  their  tops  two  or  three 
times  in  the  course  of  the  summer,  taking 
care,  however,  to  discontinue  it  after  July,  so 
that  the  last  shoots  may  have  time  to  ripen 
before  the  winter,  and,  by  giving  proper  atten- 
tion to  watering,  Uwy  will  attain  a  length  of  a 
foot  or  more,  and  make  nice  little  specimens 
to  bloom  in  the  following  spring.  After  they 
have  then  done  flowering,  they  are  again 
repotted,  and,  instead  of  being  stopped  in 
their  after-growth,  are  at  once  cut  back  to 
very  near  the  base  of  the  preceding  year's 
shoots,  and  are  then  allowed  to  grow  as  far 
as  they  please,  training  them  into  any  desir- 
able form.  Thus,  instead  of  a  few  flowers  on 
several  small  stems,  we  have  long  spikes  full 
of  flowers,  increasing  the  general  beauty  of 
the  plants  to  an  amazing  extent.  Every  year 
they  are  cut  down  in  the  same  manner,  ami 
each  season  more  numerous  spikes  are  pro- 
duced. We  must  observe,  however,  that  after 
the  first  season  the  plants  are  not  subjected  to 
a  high  temperature,  choosing  in  preference  a 
shaded,  airy  place  for  them  to  make  their  new 
wood  through  the  summer,  removing  them 
about  August  to  a  sunny  position,  in  order  to 
ripen  the  recent  shoots ;  in  other  respects 
ordinary  attention  is  all  that  is  required." 
Hardly  as  good  results  can  be  obtained  in  this 
country,  as  they  suffer,  like  the  Heath,  from  our 
long,  dry,  hot  summers.  Propagated  by  cut- 
tings of  the  tips  of  the  shoots  when  from  one 
to  two  inches  in  length,  in  spring  or  early 
summer.  E.  grandiflora,  one  of  the  finest 
species,  was  introduced  in  1803. 

Ephe'dra.  The  Greek  for  the  Hippuris,  or 
Horse-tail,  which  it  resembles.  Nat.  Ord. 
Gnetaceoe. 

This  genus  consists  of  evergreen  trailing 
shrubs  with  numerous  slender-jointed,  green 
branches,  and  small,  scale-like  leaves.  These 
shrubs  inhabit  the  rocky  shores  of  the  Medi- 
terranean and  salt  plains  of  Asia.  Some  of  the 
species  are  very  ornamental,  but  are  not  suf- 


Jk.        -^ 


ENDIVE   (WHITE  CURLED). 


EPIPHYLLUM   TRUNCATUM. 


EBIAITTHUS. 


EKYTHRINA   (COEAL  PLANT.) 


«4' 


AND   GENERAL   HOKTICULTERE. 


141 


EPH 

ficiently  hardy  to  stand  the  winters,  unpro- 
tected, north  of  the  Carolinas.  One  of  the 
species,  E.  antisyphilitica,  is  said  to  contain 
large  quantities  of  tannin. 

Ephemeral.  Existing  for,  or  less  than,  one 
day ;  as  where  a  corolla  expands  for  a  few 
hours  at  most,  and  then  fades. 

Epide'ndrum.  From  epi,  upon,  and  dendron,  a 
tree  ;  the  plants  are  usually  found  growing  on 
the  branches  of  trees.  Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 
This  is  an  extensive  and,  for  the  most  part, 
beautiful  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids.  AH  of 
them  may  be  grown  on  billets  of  wood  or  on 
cork,  or,  where  it  is  preferred,  for  the  stronger 
growing  species,  pots  may  be  used,  and  in 
the  latter  case  it  is  indispensable  that  the 
soil  be  porous  and  well  drained.  It  should 
consist  of  equal  parts  of  sphagnum  moss 
and  fibrous  peat,  filling  the  pots  for  two- 
thirds  their  depths  with  broken  potsherds, 
and  when  the  plants  are  placed  in  them,  the 
base  of  their  pseudo-bulbs  must  be  kept  con- 
siderably above  the  rim,  so  that  water 
may  not  lodge  between  them.  The  same  rela- 
tive variations  of  temperature  should  be 
observed  for  these  as  mentioned  for  Dendro- 
bium,  keeping  it  at  an  average  of  ten  degrees 
lower  than  recommended  for  that  genus ;  and 
as  the  same  principles  govern  the  growth  of 
each,  the  like  changes  of  atmospheric  influence 
are  necessary  in  either  case.  The  genus  con- 
sists of  over  300  species,  distributed  through- 
out the  West  Indies,  Mexico,  and  South 
America.  Propagated  by  division.  The  first 
species  was  introduced  in  1738. 

Epidermis.  The  true  skin  of  a  plant,  immediate- 
ly underlying  the  cuticle. 

Epigae'a.  Trailing  Arbutus.  From  epi,  upon, 
and  gaia,  the  earth ;  referring  to  its  trailing 
habit.     Nat.  Ord.  Ericaceoe. 

E.  repens,  the  only  species,  is  one  of  our 
most  beautiful  native  early  spring-flowering 
plants.  It  is  a  low-growing,  evergreen  shrub, 
producing  axillary  clusters  of  small  rose- 
colored  flowers,  remarkable  for  their  rich, 
spicy  fragrance.  They  are  usually  found  in 
the  shade  of  Pines  or  Scrub  Oaks.  In  warm, 
sheltered  situations  they  show  their  flowers 
early  in  April.  It  is  commonly  known  on 
Long  Island,  where  it  grows  in  great  abun- 
ance,  as  Trailing  Arbutus,  in  New  England  as 
May  Flower,  and  in  many  localities  as  Ground 
Laurel.  It  can  be  easily  grown  in  the  shaded 
border  by  removing  the  plant  from  the  woods 
in  autumn,  being  careful  not  to  disturb  the 
roots.  After  planting  in  a  sandy  soil,  protect 
from  sun  and  winds  by  a  slight  covei'ing  of 
dry  leaves.  Clumps  carefully  taken  up  in 
autumn,  and  put  in  a  cool  green-house  in 
February,  will  come  into  flower  in  March. 

Epigae'us.  Growing  on  land,  in  contradistinc- 
tion to  growing  in  the  water.  Also  when  any 
part  of  a  terrestrial  plant  grows  close  to  the 
earth. 

Epigynous.  Upon  the  ovary;  a  term  applied 
when  the  outer  whorls  of  the  flower  adhere  to 
the  ovary,  so  that  their  upper  portions  alone 
are  free,  and  appear  to  be  seated  on  it,  as  in 
Umhelliferaz,  etc. 

Epilo'bium.  Willow  Herb.  From  epi,  upon, 
and  lobos,  a  pod ;  flowers  superior  or  seated 
on  a  seed-pod.     Nat.  Ord.   Onagraceit. 


EPI 

A  genus  of  tall-growing,  hardy  herbaceous 
plants,  chiefly  natives  of  Europe,  some  of 
which  have  become  naturalized  in  this  coun- 
try. Several  of  our  native  species  are  showy 
plants,  with  large  spikes  of  pink  flowers,  that 
make  them  conspicuous  border  plants.  They 
are  all  of  easy  culture,  taking  care  of  them- 
selves when  once  planted,  and  are  increased 
by  division  in  spring,  or  from  seeds. 

Epime'dium.  Barrenwort.  From  epi,  upon, 
akin  to,  and  Median,  a  plant,  said  to  be  grown 
in  Media ;  a  name  from  Dioscorides.  Nat.  Ord. 
Berheridaceve. 

Ornamental  hardy  herbaceous  perennials, 
with  stalked  compound  leaves,  and  flowers  of 
A'arious  colors.  They  form  admirable,  plants 
for  rockwork  and  grow  best  in  a  compost  of 
loam,  and  leaf  mould.  Propagated  by  division. 
Natives  of  Japan,  Persia,  Algeria,  etc. 

Epipa'ctis.  Very  pretty  hardy  orchids,  natives 
of  Europe,  and  Russian  Asia.  Stem  one  to 
two  feet  high,  leafy,  bearing  a  loose  raceme 
of  purple,  brown,  or  white  flowers.  They  are 
of  easy  culture  in  shady  borders,  and  form 
excellent  subjects  for  naturalizing  in  artificial 
bogs,  or  in  moist,  peaty  spots. 

Epi'phora.  A  pretty  little  terrestrial  Orchid, 
from  South  Africa,  with  yellow  flowers  streak- 
ed with  red.  E.  pubescens,  the  only  species, 
was  taken  from  Polystachya. 

Epiphyllous.  Either  growing  upon  or  inserted 
on  a  leaf. 

Epiphy'Uum.  Crab's  Claw  Cactus,  Lobster- 
leaved  Cactus.  From  epi,  upon,  and  phyllon, 
a  leaf ;  flowers  borne  on  the  ends  of  the  leaf- 
like branches.     Nat.  Ord.  Cactacece. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful  Cactaceous  plants, 
natives  of  Brazil,  where  they  are  generally 
found  upon  the  trunks  of  trees.  The  varieties 
are  numerous  and  are  largely  cultivated  for 
their  showy  flowers.  E.  truncatum  and  its  var- 
ieties are  the  kinds  usually  cultivated  in 
our  green-houses,  and  are  among  the  most 
highly  colored  and  beautiful  of  our  winter- 
flowering  plants.  They  are  often  grafted  on 
Cereus  triangularis,  C.  grandiflorus.  C.  serpenti- 
nus,  and  others,  but  do  best,  perhaps,  on  the 
Pereskia.  A  large  symmetrical  nead  is  easily 
formed,  and  with  proper  attention  will  make 
a  plant  worthy  of  a  situation  in  any  green- 
house. Their  culture  is  of  the  easiest  descrip- 
tion ;  delighting  in  a  rich,  well-drained,  sandy 
soil,  they  should  have  plenty  of  air,  water  and 
sunlight  while  they  are  growing  and  watered 
sparingly  during  the  winter  months  until  re- 
quired to  be  brought  into  bloom.  The  Epiphyl- 
lum  is  one  of  the  best  of  sitting-room  plants, 
and  may  be  had  in  bloom  from  November  to 
March  with  good  management.  _  There  were 
formerly  many  species  included  in  this  genus, 
most  of  which  are  now  found  in  Cactus,  Ceretis, 
and  Phyllocactus. 

Epiphytes.  Plants  which  grow  upon  the 
surface  of  others,  without  deriving  any  nutri- 
ment from  them,  as  many  Mosses  and  Orchids. 

Epigy'nium  leucobotrys.  A  synonym  of  Vac- 
cinium  leucobotrys. 

Epipre'minum.     From  epi,  upon,  and  premnon, 
a  trunk ;    in  allusion  to  the  species  rooting 
upon  the  trunks  of  trees.     Nat.  Ord.  AroidecB. 
A  genus   of  about  eight  species  of  climb- 
ing   evergreen    plants    from    the    Malayan 


142 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


EPI 

Archipelago  and  the  islands  of  the  Pacific.  E. 
Mirabile,  the  Tonga  Plant,  a  native  of  Fiji,  is 
thus  described  by  N.  E.  Brown  :  "  This  is  an 
ornamental  climber,  of  rapid  growth,  with 
bold,  dark  green,  pinnatisect  leaves  in  the 
adult  stage,  and  large  inflorescences,  resem- 
bling those  of  a  Monstera.  It  is  a  very  suitable 
plant  for  training  up  pillars,  trunks  of  palms, 
tree  ferns,  ete.,  or  the  back  wall  of  a  stove  ; 
and  besides  its  ornamental  character,  it  is 
specially  interesting  for  the  manner  in  which 
the  plant  changes  its  appeai'ance  as  it  develops 
from  its  juvenile  stage  with  small  entire 
leaves,  to  its  adult  flowering  stage  with  large 
pinnatisect  leaves;  as  well  as  for  its  medi- 
cinal qualities,  which  appear  to  have  been  long 
known  to  the  natives  of  the  countries  the 
plant  inhabits." 

Epi'scia.  From  episcios,  shaded ;  occurring  in 
their  native  habitats  in  shady  places.  Nat. 
Ord.  Gesneracece. 

Green-house  herbaceous  perennials,  with 
beautifully  colored  foliage,  and  solitary 
flowers  on  short  axillary  stems.  They  make 
very  pretty  basket  plants  for  the  hot-house, 
the  only  place  in  which  they  thrive  well. 
They  grow  best  in  sandy  loam,  and  leaf 
mould,  and  are  readily  increased  by  cuttings 
About  thirty  species  have  been  described,  all 
natives  of  Nicaragua,  New  Grenada,  and  tiie 
West  Indies.  Alsobia,  Centroselenia,  Cyrto- 
d'ira,  PhysocUera  and  Skiophila  are  aow  all 
referred  to  this  genus. 

Equal.  Where  one  part  is  of  the  same  general 
form,  disposition  and  size,  as  some  other 
part  with  which  it  is  compared ;  applied  to 
petals  and  sepals  when  they  are  equal  in  size 
and  shape  with  each  other. 

Equestrian  Star.  One  of  the  popular  names  of 
Hippeastruvi. 

Equinoctial.  Plants  whose  flowers  expand 
and  close  at  particular  hours  of  the  day. 

Equiseta'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  the  higher 
Cryptogams  which  takes  its  name  from  the 
genus  Equit^etum,  the  only  one  the  order  con- 
tains. They  are  remarkable  for  the  external 
resemblance  which  they  bear  in  habit  to 
Casuarina  or  Ephedra,  and  as  regards  the 
heads  of  fructification  to  Zamia.  All  re- 
semblance, however,  ceases  there,  and  the  nat- 
ural aflinities  of  the  plants  are  with  Ferns. 
There  are  about  twenty-five  species  chiefly 
found  in  temperate  northern  regions ;  a  few 
are  sub- tropical.  One  of  the  latter  group,  E. 
Martii,  attains  in  its  native  habitat  (Brazil) 
the  enormous  height  of  thirty  feet.  "  Dutcli 
Rushes,"  used  for  scouring  and  polishing,  are 
the  stems  of  E.  hyemcde. 

Equitant.  A  mode  ox  vernation,  or  of  arrange- 
ment of  leaves  with  respect  to  each  other,  in 
which  the  sides  or  edges  alternately  overlap 
eaclj^^other,  as  in  Morma  iridioides. 

Eragro'stis.  Love-Grass.  From  eros,  love,  and 
agrostis,  grass ;  in  allusion  to  the  beautiful 
dancing  spikclets,  whence  the  popular  name. 
Nat  Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  very  extensive  genus  of  grasses,  found  in 
nearly  every  part  of  the  habitable  globe.  Most 
of  the  species  are  very  handsome ;  but  none 
of  them  are  of  any  value  for  agricultural  pur- 
poses. E.  elegans  is  a  verj^  ornamental  spe- 
cies, somewhat  resembling  the  Brizan  in 
habit  and  gracefulness.  Itis  especially  adapted 


EEI 

for  border  culture,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  for  winter  or  dried  bouquets. 

Era'nthemum.  From  eran,  to  love,  and  anthe- 
mon,  a  flower ;  referring  to  the  beauty  of  the 
flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Acanthacece. 

A  somewhat  extensive  genus  of  winter- 
flowering  green-house  plants,  found  pretty 
generally  distributed  throughout  tropical  and 
sub-tropical  countries.  The  flowers  are  small, 
purple,  white,  blue,  or  rose-colored.  They 
require  the  treatment  of  soft-wooded  plants 
of  the  same  class.  The  two  species  E.  tricolor 
and  E.  atropurpurea,  ai'e  equal  to  Dracaenas 
in  their  beautiful  crimson  and  carmine- 
colored  foliage,  which  fits  them  either  for 
massing  outside  or  as  specimens  in  the  green- 
house. They  are  propagated  by  cuttings, 
and  were  first  introduced  in  1796. 

Era'nthis.  Winter  Aconite.  From  er,  spring, 
and  anthos,  a  flower;  referring  to  its  early 
flowering.     Nat.  Ord.  Rcmunculaccce. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  tuberous-rooted 
plants,  natives  of  Italy  and  Siberia.  E.  hye- 
malis  is  the  well-known  Winter  Aconite.  It  is 
one  of  the  earliest  and  most  hardy  of  spring 
flowers,  throwing  up  its  pretty  yellow  blos- 
soms long  before  the  snow  disappears,  and 
continuing  in  flower  for  several  weeks.  This 
is  the  only  species  under  cultivation,  and  is 
freely  propagated  by  division  of  the  tubers. 
It  has  been  under  cultivation  since  1596. 

Eremostachys.  From  erymos,  deserted,  and 
stachys,  a  spike;  alluding  to  the  flowers  grow- 
ing in  sparse  verticillate  spikes.  Nat.  Ord. 
Labiatoe. 

Very  pretty  hardy  perennials,  natives  of 
western  and  central  Asia.  E.  laciniuta,  the 
only  species  in  cultivation,  bears  yellow  flow- 
ers in  ten  to  twenty-flowered  whorls,  the 
upper  ones  approximate.  Increased  by  divi- 
sion or  seeds. 

Eremu'rus.  From  eremos,  solitary,  and  oura,  a 
tail ;  referring  to  the  flower  spike.  Nat.  Ord. 
Liliacece. 

A  genus  of  very  pretty,  hardy,  herbac(>ous, 
large,  Hyacinth-like  plants,  consisting  of 
about  eighteen  species,  natives  principally  of 
Asiatic  Russia.  The  yellow,  white,  or  rose- 
colored  flowers  are  borne  on  elongated  ra- 
cemes ;  the  leaves  are  radical  and  linear. 
They  are  of  easy  culture,  and  are  increased  by 
division. 

Ergot.  A  disease  of  Corn,  Rye,  etc.,  produced 
by  Fungi. 

E'ria.  From  erion,  wool ;  referring  to  the  down 
on  the  leaves  of  some  of  the  species.  Nat. 
Ord.  Orchidacem. 

A  small  genus  of  pretty  flowering  hot-house 
Orchids,  allied  to  Dendrobium,  mostly  from 
the  East  Indies.  They  require  the  same  treat- 
ment as  Stanhopea,  and  are  propagated  by 
division;  introduced  in  1837. 

Eria'nthus.  Woolly  Beard-Grass.  From  erion, 
wool,  and  anthos,  a  flower.  Nat.  Ord.  Grami- 
nacem. 

A  small  genus  of  tall-growing,  rood-like 
grasses.  E.  Ravenn(B,  a  rival  to  the  Pampas 
Grass,  though  not  so  beautiful,  is  more  valua- 
ble in  this  latitude,  being  perfectly  hardy,  and 
producing  its  graceful  plumes  in  autumn  in 
great  abundance.  It  makes  a  magnificent 
lawn  plant,  and  is  propagated  by  root  division 
and  from  seed.     Introduced  in  1824. 


AND   GENEEAL  HOKTICULTUEE. 


143 


EEI 

Eri'ca.  Heath.  From  eHco,  to  break ;  referring 
to  the  brittle  nature  of  the  wood.  Nat.  Ord. 
Ericacece. 

This  genus  comprehends  a  great  number  of 
species,  the  most  of  which  are  very  beautiful 
and  interesting  plants.  Several  hundred  of 
the  species,  including  all  that  are  desirable 
for  indoor  culture,  are  natives  of  Table 
Mountain  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  They 
all  occupy  elevated  ranges,  enjoying  a  pure 
air,  refreshed  by  copious  dews,  and  exposed 
for  a  long  period  to  a  dry,  arid  atmosphere. 
The  Heath,  however,  can  never  be  cultivated 
so  successfully  here  as  in  England,  as  our  cli- 
mate is  too  dry  and  hot  in  summer.  What  is 
called  the  soft- wooded  section,  such  as  E.  per- 
soluta  and  its  white  variety,  E.  kyemalis,  E. 
Wilmoreana,  etc.,  can  be  grown  here  with 
success,  and  are  exceedingly  valuable,  not 
only  for  winter  green-house  decoration,  but 
for  cut  flowers.  They  are  readily  propagated 
by  cuttings  of  half-ripened  wood,  which  is  in 
proper  condition  when  it  begins  to  turn  brown. 
They  are  easily  grown  from  seed,  an  interest- 
ing way,  on  account  of  the  varieties  produced 
when  a  little  care  has  been  given  in  cross-fer- 
tilization. The  seeds  should  be  sown  in  pots 
of  finely-sifted  peat  and  sand  pressed  tightly 
into  the  pot,  well  watered  before  sowing,  and 
afterward  covered  with  a  bell  glass.  They 
should  then  be  kept  in  a  cool  house  or  pit, 
where  they  can  have  an  even  temperature  and 
moisture.  The  Cape  species  were  first  intro- 
duced into  England  in  1774:. 

Erica'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  shrubs  or  under- 
shrubs,  with  evergreen,  rigid,  entire,  whorled 
or  opposite  leaves  without  stipules.  Arbutus 
Unedo  is  the  Strawberry  Tree.  Rhododendron 
arboreum  sometimes  reaches  in  India  a  height 
of  forty  feet,  and  some  species  grow  at  an 
elevation  of  16,000  to  18,000  feet  in  the  Hima- 
layas. Several  species  of  Azalea,  Rhododen- 
dron and  Kalmia  are  natives  of  the  United 
States.  The  plants  of  this  order  are  highly 
prized  for  the  beauty  of  their  flowers.  There 
are  about  fifty  known  genera  and  900  species. 
Erica,  Rhododendron,  Kalmia,  Glethr a.  Arbutus, 
and  Ledum  are  examples  of  this  order. 

Eri'geron.  From  er,  the  spring,  and  geron,  an 
old  man ;  some  being  hoary  with  a  downy 
covering  early  in  the  season.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positcB. 

A  genus  of  coarse-growing,  unpretending, 
herbaceous  plants,  found  common  in  waste 
places  throughout  the  United  States ;  in  some 
localities  known  as  Fleabane.  Tlie  plants  are 
of  no  economic  value. 

Erino'sma.     A  synonym  of  Leu^qjum,  which  see. 

Eri'nus.  Meaning  unknown.  (The  wild  Fig- 
tree  is  the  Erinos  described  by  Dioscorides. 
It  has,  however,  no  resemblance  to  the  Ennos 
of  the  moderns.)  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacece. 
This  is  a  small  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous 
Alpine  plants,  suitable  for  rock-work  or  other 
rough,  uneven  situations.  They  are  low- 
growing  plants,  generally  forming  close  tufts, 
producing  lively  purple  and  white  flowers  in 
early  spring.  Though  perfectly  hardy,  they 
are  impatient  of  water,  and,  consequently, 
should  have  the  protection  of  a  frame  in  win- 
ter, unless  planted  in  a  very  dry  situation. 
There  are  one  or  two  evergreen  species  from 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  but  they  are  little 


EEI 

known.  The  hardy  species  are  propagated  by 
root  division  or  from  seed.  First  introduced 
into  the  garden  in  1739. 

Erinus.    Prickly,  rough. 

Eriobo'trya.  The  Loquat,  or  Japanese  Medlar, 
E.  {Mespilus)  Japonica,  one  of  the  PomacecB, 
is  a  native  of  Japan  and  the  southern  part  of 
China,  and  is  cultivated  as  an  edible  fruit  in 
many  parts  of  India.  It  is  now  placed  under 
the  genus  Photinia,  which  see. 

Eriocaula'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  marsh 
plants  with  narrow,  spongy  leaves.  There 
are  ten  known  genera  and  220  species.  None 
are  cultivated  except  in  botanic  gardens. 
Eriocaulon  is  the  typical  example  of  the  order. 

Eriocne'ma.  From  erion,  wool,  and  kneme,  a 
knee;  the  joints  are  woolly.  Nat.  Ord.  Melaa- 
tomacexB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  herbaceous 
plants,  allied  to  the  Sonerila,  and  natives  of 
Brazil.  The  flowers  are  white,  produced  spar- 
ingly in  little  umbels  on  the  end  of  a  naked 
stalk.  E.  marmoratum  has  beautifully  varie- 
gated leaves,  green  striped  with  broad  bands 
of  white.  Its  habit  is  not  unlike  some  of  the 
Begonias.  Propagated  by  cuttings.  Intro- 
duced in  1850. 

Eriogo'num.  From  erion,  wool,  and  genu,  a 
joint;  joints  of  the  stems  downy.  Nat.  Ord. 
FolygonacecB. 

A  genus  of  pretty,  summer-flowering  hardy 
annuals  and  herbaceous  or  somewhat  woody 
perennials.  They  are  easily  cultivated,  and 
young  plants  may  be  obtained  by  division  or 
from  seed.  The  genus  contains  about  one  hun- 
dred species,  natives  of  north-west  America. 

Erio'phorum.  Cotton  Grass.  From  erion,  wool, 
and  phoreo,  to  bear ;  in  reference  to  the  silky 
tails  or  coverings  of  the  seeds.  Nat.  Ord. 
CyperaceoB. 

A  very  interesting  genus  of  marsh  or  bog 
plants,  commonly,  but  incorrectly,  termed 
grasses.  They  are  hardy  herbaceous  plants, 
growing  in  dense  clumps  or  masses,  very  con- 
spicuous and  interesting,  on  account  of  .the 
flowers  of  some  of  the  species,  the  heads  of 
which  appear  like  tufts  of  cotton.  One  of  the 
species  is  indigenous  in  this  country,  and 
several  of  them  have  been  naturalized  from 
Europe. 

Erio'psis.  From  eria,  a  well-known  genus  of 
Orchids,  and  opsis,  resemblance ;  wooUiness 
of  flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  Orchids,  having  the  gen- 
eral appearance,  while  growing,  of  the  genus 
Eria,  but  with  gay,  orange-colored  flowers, 
resembling  the  Vandas.  They  are  natives  of 
Mexico  and  New  Grenada,  and  are  but  lit- 
tle cultivated. 

Eriospe'rmum.  From  erion,  wool,  and  spermoa, 
a  seed ;  woolly-seeded.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacem. 

A  considerable  genus  of  bulbs  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  the  flowers  of  which  pre- 
cede the  leaves.  The  flowers  have  no  special 
beauty,  and  the  leaves  always  have  a  deformed 
appearance. 

Erioste'mon.  From  erion,  wool,  and  stemon,  a 
stamen;  referring  to  the  woolly  stamens. 
Nat.  Ord.  Rutacece. 

A  genus  of  handsome  green-house  plants 
from  New  Holland,  of  neat,  compact  habit 
of  growth,  and  free-flowering.  The  flowers  are 


144 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


EKI 

white  or  pinkish,  produced  singly  at  the  axils 
of  the  leaves.  They  require  plenty  of  air  and 
light,  and  are  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
young  shoots  in  April.     Introduced  in  1824. 

Eritri'chium.  From  erion,  wool,  and  thrix, 
trichos,  hair ;  plants  woolly.  Nat.  Ord.  Bora- 
ginacece. 

A  genus  of  handsome  dwarf  annual  or  per- 
ennial herbaceous  plants,  found  throughout 
the  temperate  regions  of  the  northern  hem- 
isphere, South  Africa  and  Australia.  E.  nanum, 
the  one  most  generally  cultivated,  has  flowers 
of  a  brilliant  sky-blue  color,  with  a  yellowish 
eye,  not  unlike  those  of  Myosotis  alpestris, 
but  larger.  It  has  been  enthusiastically 
termed  "The  Glory  of  the  Alpine  Flora." 
£J.  barbigerum,  introduced  to  cultivation  from 
California  in  1886,  is  a  very  prettj'  white-flow- 
ered annual  species,  the  whole  plant  covered 
with  long,  spreading  hairs.  Increased  by 
seeds  or  division. 

Jiro'dium.  Heron's-bill.  From  erodios,  a  heron  ; 
referring  to  the  resemblance  of  the  style  and 
ovaries  to  the  beak  and  head  of  the  heron. 
Nat.  Ord.   Geraniacece. 

The  genus  Erodium  differs  from  the  Gerani- 
um and  Pelargonium  in  the  shape  of  its  seed 
vessel.  In  all  the  three  the  seed-pod  resem- 
bles the  head  and  beak  of  a  bird  ;  in  Geranium 
it  resembles  a  crane's  bill,  in  Pelargonium  it 
is  a  stork's  bill,  and  in  Erodium  a  heron's  bill. 
The  species  are  dwarf  annuals  and  perennials 
producing  mostly  lilac  and  purple  flowers. 
Every  part  of  the  plant,  when  bruised,  emits 
a  strong  peculiar  odor.  They  form  admirable 
plants  for  the  rock-garden,  particularly  in  dry, 
sunny  situations  and  in  sandy  soil.  Increased 
by  division,  or  by  seeds. 

Erose,  Eroded.  Having  the  margin  irregularly 
toothed,  as  if  bitten  by  an  animal ;  a  term 
used  to  express  a  particular  kind  of  denticu- 
lation,  as  in  Salvia  pinnata. 

Erubescent.     Keddish,  blush-colored. 

E'rvum.  Lentil.  From  erw,  tilled  land,  in 
Celtic ;  some  of  the  species  are  pests  in  culti- 
vated ground.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  justly  classed  as  weeds,  the  only 
species  of  interest  being  E.  Lens,  the  common 
Lentil,  a  plant  of  the  greatest  antiquity.  It 
Avas  from  the  seed  of  this  that  the  pottage 
is  supposed  to  have  been  made,  for  which 
Esau  sold  his  birthright.  It  is  held  in  high 
esteem  in  Egypt  and  Syria,  and  is  considered 
an  indispensable  diet  by  the  natives,  who 
undertake  long  journeys.  It  is  largely  sold 
by  druggists  under  the  name  of  Ervalenta. 
This  genus  is  now  merged  by  "  Hooker  and 
Bentham  "  into  Vicia. 

Ery'ngium.  Eryngo.  From  Eryngion,  a  name 
adopted  by  Pliny  from  Dioscorides.  Nat. 
Ord.  Umbelliferce. 

A  verj'  extensive  genus  of  hardy  annuals 
and  herbaceous  perennials,  the  latter  being 
common  throughout  Europe.  E.  maritimum, 
Sea  ErjTigo,  or  Sea  Holly,  is  a  conspicuous 
plant  along  the  English  coast ;  the  flowers  are 
thistle-like,  of  a  bright  blue  color.  E.  ame- 
thystinum,  a  native  of  Dalmatia,  is  one  of  the 
best  of  the  perennial  species ;  the  flowers,  as 
well  as  the  bracts  and  upper  part  of  the  stems, 
have  a  beautiful  blue  tint.  Some  of  the  an- 
nual species  are  very  beautiful  border  plants, 


ERY 

and  if  cut  early,  are  useful  as  dried  flowers  in 
winter  bouquets. 

Eryobo'trya.  Japan  Evergreen  Plum.  From 
erio7i,  wool,  and  botrys,  a  bunch  of  grapes ; 
referring  to  the  downy  flower-racemes.  Nat. 
Ord.  PomaceoR. 

E.  Japonica,  the  only  species,  is  a  half-hardy 
evergreen  shrub  closely  allied  to  Pholinia, 
having  large  wrinkled  leaves,  downy  beneath. 
The  whitish  flowers  are  borne  in  October  and 
November,  consequently  it  will  not  ripen  its 
excellent,  pale  orange-red  fruit  in  our  north- 
ern States,  neither  will  it  endure  the  rigors  of 
our  northern  Avinters.  There  is  a  variegated 
leaved  variety,  which  is  exceedingly  orna- 
mental. 

Ery'simum.  Hedge  Mustard.  From  eryo,  to 
draw ;  it  is  considered  a  powerful  cure  for 
sore  throat ;  it  is  also  said  to  draw  and  pro- 
duce blisters.     Nat.  Ord.   Cruciferce. 

An  extensive  genus,  mostly  biennials.  All 
of  but  little  merit.  One  or  two  cultivated 
species  of  hardy  annuals  make  rather  effective 
clumps  in  the  border.  E.  Arkansanum,  the 
western  Wall-flower,  grows  about  two  feet 
high,  the  stem  being  crowded  with  bright 
orange  yellow  flowers  as  large  as  those  of  the 
"Wall-flower.  Propagated  by  seed. 
Erythe'a.  A  small  genus  of  green-house  palms 
from  southern  California,  with  fan-shaped, 
plicate,  flliferous  leaves  much  resembling 
the  Latania ;  excellent  for  lawn  decoration 
or  for  cool-house  culture.  E.  edidis,  forms  a 
handsome  tree  with  a  slender  trunk  thirty  or 
more  feet  high.  Each  tree  bears  one  to  four 
panicles,  blossoming  late  in  March ;  the  fruit 
clusters  are  said  to  weigh  forty  to  fifty 
pounds.  Syn.  Brahea  edulis. 
Erythree'a.  Centaury.  From  erythros,  red  ;  the 
color  of  the  flowers  ot  some  of  the  species. 
Nat.  Ord.   Gentianacem. 

A  somewhat  extensive  genus  of  biennials 
and  annuals.  The  latter  are  of  easy  culture, 
and  produce  freely  small  pink  flowers.  Seed 
should  be  sown  in  autumn  in  the  open  border. 
The  biennials  require  the  protection  of  the 
frame,  which  their  mei'its  do  not  deserve. 
The  annuals  are  natives  of  Europe,  and  have 
been  long  known  in  the  garden. 
Erythri'na.  Coral-tree.  From  erythros,  red ; 
the  color  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumi- 
noscB. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  flowering  green- 
house shrubs,  commonly  known  as  Coral- 
trees,  found  pretty  generally  distributed 
throughout  the  tropics  of  both  hemispheres. 
They  all  produce  scarlet  or  crimson  pea- 
shaped  flowers  in  pairs  at  the  axils  of  the 
leaves.  E.  Crista^galli  and  laurifolia,  natives  of 
Brazil,  succeed  well  planted  out  in  a  warm  sit- 
uation in  the  open  border,  producing  flowers 
in  the  greatest  abundance ;  being  rank  grow- 
ers, they  require  considerable  room.  As  a 
shrub  for  the  lawn  they  have  few,  if  any, 
superiors,  their  sJiowy  flowers  contrasting 
finely  with  their  bright  glossy  foliage.  E. 
Hendersonii,  a  variety  of  recent  introduction, 
is  one  of  the  very  finest  flowers,  a  bright 
scarlet,  smaller  than  the  other  species,  but 
produced  in  greater  abundance.  As  it  flowers 
earlier  it  seeds  freely,  so  that  it  can  be  grown 
as  an  annual  plant.  The  only  care  requii-ed 
is  to  take  the  plants  up,   after  the  tops  are 


AND   GENERAL   HOETICULTURE. 


145 


ERY 

killed  by  frost,  and  keep  them  through  the 
winter  in  a  warm  dry  room,  or  in  the  cellar, 
covering  tlie  roots  well  with  dry  sand.  In 
spring  cut  well  back  before  planting  out.  They 
are  readily  propagated  by  cuttings  of  tlie 
young  shoots,  or  from  seed  which,  sown  in 
boxes  about  the  first  of  January,  will  make 
flowering  plants  the  coming  summer. 

Erythrolae'na.  Mexican  Thistle.  From  ery- 
throfi,  red,  and  IcBiia,  a  cloak;  referring  to  the 
scarlet  flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Composite^. 

E.  con)<picua,  the  only  species,  is  the  pretti- 
est of  all  the  Thistles.  It  is  a  tall  plant, 
growing  from  eiglit  to  ten  feet  high ;  the 
leaves,  not  unlike  the  common  Thistle,  are  at 
the  base  of  the  plant,  two  feet  long.  The 
flower-heads,  clustered  at  the  ends  of  the 
branches,  are  about  three  inches  long,  and 
very  handsome,  scarlet  and  orange.  Young 
plants  are  readily  obtained  from  seed.  Intro- 
duced in  1825. 

Erythro'nium.  Dog's-Tooth  Violet.  From 
erythros,  red ;  referring  to  the  color  of  the 
leaves  and  flowers  of  tlie  species  first  dis- 
covered.    Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  genus  of  small  growing  bulbous-rooted 
plants.  Most  of  the  species  are  American, 
and  are  common  in  moist  woods  in  most  of 
the  States.  With  but  one  exception  the  na- 
tive varieties  have  large  j-ellow  fiowers,  borne 
singly  on  a  slender  scai)e  six  to  nine  inches 
high.  E.  albidum,  a  rare  species  found  in 
Iowa  antl  soutiiward,  has  nearly  white  flow- 
ers, without  the  spots  on  the  leaves  common 
to  the  species.  E.  dens-canis,  common  in 
Europe,  has  purplish  rose-colored  flowers, 
with  light  rose-color  within.  Propagated  by 
offsets. 

Erythro'xylon.  From  erylhro.<<,  red,  and  xylon, 
wood ;  the  wood  of  the  trees  is  red.  Nat. 
Ord.  Erythroxylacem. 

Bushy  shrubs,  or  low-growing  trees,  chiefly 
natives  of  tropical  South  America,  and  the 
West  Indies.  One  of  the  species  has  a  world- 
wide reputation.  For  the  following  account 
and  description  of  it  we  are  indebted  to  The 
Treasury  of  Bot<any:  "  E.  Coca  is  the  most 
interesting  of  the  species,  on  account  of  its 
being  extensively  cultivated,  and  its  leaves 
largely  employed  as  a  masticatory,  under  the 
name  of  Coca,  by  the  inhabitants  of  countries 
on  the  Pacific  side  of  South  America.  It  is  a 
shrub  of  six  or  eight  feet  high,  somewhat  re- 
sembling a  Blackthorn  bush.  The  Coca  leaves 
are  of  a  thin  texture,  but  opaque,  ova],  taper- 
ing toward  both  extremities,  their  upper  sur- 
face dark  green,  the  lower  paler  and  strongly 
marked  with  veins,  of  which  two,  in  addition 
to  the  midrib,  run  parallel  with  the  margin. 

•  Small  wliite  flowers  are  produced  in  little 
clusters  upon  the  branches,  in  places  where 
the  leaves  have  fallen  away,  and  stand  upon 
little  stalks  about  as  long  as  themselves. 
The  use  of  Coca  in  Peru  is  a  custom  of  very 
great  antiquity,  and  is  said  to  have  originated 
with  the  _  Incas.  At  the  present  day  it  is 
common  t'hroughoutthe  greater  part  of  Peru, 
Quito  and  New  Grenada;  and  also  on  the 
banks  of  the  Rio  Negro,  where  it  is  known  as 
Spadic.  Coca  forms  an  article  of  commerce 
among  the  Indians,  and  wherever  they  go  they 
carry  with  them  a  bag  of  the  carefidly  dried 
leaves,  and  also  a  little  bottle-gourd  filled 
with    finely   powdered    lime,   and    having    a 


EUC 

wooden  or  metal  needle  attached  to  its  stop- 
per. Four  times  a  day,  whatever  the  nature 
of  his  occupation,  whether  employed  in  the 
mines,  the  fields,  as  a  muleteer  or  domestic 
servant,  the  Indian  resigns  himself  to  the 
pleasures  of  Coca  chewing,  mixing  the  leaves 
with  lime,  or  the  ashes  of  Cecropia.  When 
used  in  moderation  Coca  exerts  a  pleasurable 
Influence  upon  the  imagination,  and  induces 
a  forgetfulness  of  all  care.  It  is  also  a  pow- 
erful stimulant  of  the  nervous  system,  and, 
when  under  its  influence,  Indians  are  able  to 
perform  long  and  rapid  journeys,  and  carry 
heavy  loads,  without  requiring  any  other  sus- 
tenance. But  when  taken  in  excess  it  pro- 
duces intoxication,  of  a  character  resembling 
that  of  opium  rather  than  alcohol,  but  not  so 
violent,  although  the  consequence  of  its  pro- 
longed use  are  quite  as  injurious,  and  very 
few  of  those  who  become  slaves  to  the  habit 
attain  an  old  age.  Spruce  says  that  an  In- 
dian with  a  chew  of  Spadic  in  his  cheek  will 
go  two  or  three  days  without  food,  and  with- 
out feeling  any  desire  to  sleep."  A  prepara- 
tion of  Coca,  under  the  name  of  "  Coca  Beef 
Tonic,"  is  now  being  sold ;  but  those  who  use 
it  will  do  well  to  remember  that  it  does  not 
"  make  old  bones." 

Escallo'nia.  Named  after  Escallon,  a  Spanish 
traveler.     Nat.  Ord.  Saxifragacece. 

Ornamental  summer  flowering  shrubs  from 
South  America,  suitable  for  shrubbery  borders 
in  our  Southern  States.  They  flourish  vigor- 
ously near  the  sea,  and  can  be  used  as  hedge 
or  shelter  plants.  The  flowers  vary  from 
white  to  pink  and  deep  red,  and  the  undivided, 
usually  serrated  leaves  are  often  glandular. 

Escallonia'ceae.  This  natural  order  is  now 
placed  by  Bentham  and  Hooker,  as  a  tribe  of 
Saxifragacece. 

Eschalot.     See  Shallot. 

Eschscho'Itzia.  Named  after  Dr.  EschschoUz,  a 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Papaveracem. 

Annual  plants,  with  showy  flowers,  natives 
of  California,  on  which  account  the  first 
species  introduced  was  called  the  California 
Poppy.  The  seeds  should  be  sown  in  the 
open  border  as  soon  as  they  are  ripe,  as,  if 
the  sowing  be  delayed  till  spring,  the  plants 
frequently  do  not  flower  till  the  second  year. 
Many  showy  garden  varieti(>s  are  now  in  cul- 
tivation, including  double  white,  double  yel- 
low, and  several  others. 

Espa'rto.  The  Spanish  name  of  Macrochloa 
tenacissima,  used  for  paper  making,  cordage, 
etc. 

E'stragon.     Tarragon.     See  Artemisia   Dracun- 

CldlLS. 

Etiolated.  Deprived  of  color  by  being  kept  in 
the  dark ;  blanched. 

Euade'nia.  From  eu,  well,  and  aden,  a  gland ;  in 
allusion  to  the  appendix  at  the  base  of  the 
stamens.     Nat.  Ord.  Capparidacem. 

E.  eminens,  the  only  species  yet  in  cultiva- 
tion, is  a  striking  plant  with  "  singularly 
handsome  inflorescence,  which  resembles  a 
candelabrum  in  its  ramification,  the  yellow 
petals  looking  like  pairs  of  gas  jets  on  each 
branch."  Introduced  from  west  tropical 
Africa  in  1880. 

Eucaly'ptus.  Gum  Tree.  From  eu,  well,  and  ka- 
lypto,  to  cover ;  the  limb  of  the  calyx  covers  the 


146 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


EUC 

flower  before  expansion,  and  afterward  falls 
off  in  the  shape  of  a  lid  or  cover.  Nat.  Ord. 
MyrtaceoR. 

An  extensive  genus  of  immense  evergreen 
trees,  of  the  Australian  and  Tasmanian  for- 
ests. E.  globulus,  tiie  Blue  Gum  Tree,  has 
been  extensively  planted  within  the  past  few 
years  in  the  Southern  States  and  California, 
for  the  reputation  it  has  of  absorbing  malaria. 
The  tree  is  very  ornamental,  and  furnishes 
timber  of  a  superior  quality.  Its  rapid  growth 
excites  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  those 
already  accustomed  to  the  extraordinary  de- 
velopment of  the  vegetable  kingdom  on  the 
Pacific  coast.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
Australia  sent  to  the  World's  Fair  at  London, 
in  1863,  a  plank  from  this  tree  250  feet  long. 
Young  plants  are  readily  obtained  from  seed 
or  from  cuttings.  The  species  are  not  hardy 
in  the  United  States  north  of  the  Carolinas. 

Euchari'dium.  From  eucharis,  agreeable ;  in 
allusion  to  the  appearance  of  the  plant.  Nat. 
Ord.  Onagracece. 

A  genus  of  pretty  little  annuals  from  Cali- 
fornia, allied  to  the  Clarkias.  They  come  into 
flower  in  six  weeks  after  germination ;  are 
perfectly  hardy,  and  are  extremely  showy 
when  grown  in  masses.  They  succeed  best  in 
a  rich,  luamy  soil ;  introduced  in  1836. 

Eu'charis.  Lilj' of  the  Amazon.  From,  eucharis, 
agreeable ;  alluding  to  the  fragrant  flowers. 
Nat.  Ord.  AmaryllidacecB. 

Of  this  genus  there  are  five  species  in  culti- 
vation, all  free-growing  bulbous  plants  of  rare 
beauty  and  delicious  fragrance.  They  should 
be  grown  in  the  hot-house  or  a  warm  gi'een- 
house.  The  flowers  are  produced  in  a  truss 
of  from  four  to  eight,  according  to  the 
strength  of  the  bulb  and  manner  of  treatment, 
and  are  borne  on  a  stem  that  lifts  them  well 
above  the  leaves.  They  are  pure  waxy  white 
and  of  great  substance.  If  asked  for  the  plant 
producing  the  best  white  flowers  for  the  hot- 
house, for  the  decoration  of  vases,  or  for  any 
other  purpose  where  white  flowers  are  wanted, 
we  should  unhesitatingly  recommend  the  Eu- 
charis, as  combining  all  the  essentials  of  the 
perfect  flower.  From  a  general  impression 
that  they  are  difficult  to  manage,  they  are 
but  little  grown.  As  the  plants  are  found 
growing  by  the  sides  of  rivers,  moisture 
and  heat  are  of  course  essential  to  the 
development  of  their  flowers.  The  ease 
with  which  they  are  now  cultivated  and 
the  fact  that  a  dozen  or  more  large  pots  of  it 
will  furnish  flowers  nearly  the  whole  year, 
make  it  invaluable  in  all  collections  of  choice 
plants.  The  plants  may  be  repotted  at  any 
time  of  the  year,  taking  care  not  to  damage 
the  bulbs  or  roots,  and  removing  as  much  of 
the  old  soil  as  possible.  The  soil  should  be 
composed  of  loam,  leaf  mould,  sand,  and  well- 
rotted  manure  in  equal  proportions;  and  the 
pots  liberally  drained.  While  they  are  grow- 
ing freely  they  sliould  have  plenty  of  water, 
and  liquid  manure  twice  a  week.  They 
should  be  syringed  twice  a  day.  The  tem- 
perature of  the  house  during  winter  should 
not  fall  below  70°,  and  they  should  have  a 
good  share  of  sunshine.  If  wanted  to  flower 
during  the  winter  months,  water  should  be 
used  sparingly  from  August  to  October.  The 
bulbs  should  be  disturbed  as  little  as  possible, 
repotting  when  necessary,  without  division. 


EUG 

Side  shoots  may  be  taken  off  at  any  time  and 
potted  in  small  pots,  and,  if  well  managed, 
they  will  flower  in  a  year.  Green  fly  and 
thrips  which  are  apt  to  trouble  them,  should 
then  be  sponged  off  or  got  rid  of  by  smoking 
every  alternate  day  for  a  week.  The  three 
species  E.  grandijlora,  the  largest  and  best, 
E.  Amazonica,  and  E.  Candida,  a  small  flower- 
ing species,  are  very  beautiful,  and  all 
require  the  same  general  treatment.  This 
plant  was  first  introduced  in  186-i. 


(Syn.    Reeana.)    See 


Zjuchla'ena    Lusurians. 

Teosinte. 

Eucni'de.  Derivation  of  name  not  given. 
Nat.  Ord.  Loanacece. 

E.  bartonioides,  the  only  species,  is  a  native 
of  Mexico,  a  tender  annual,  growing  about 
one  foot  high,  with  bristly  stems,  and  lobes, 
and  denticulated  leaves,  and  axillary,  very 
large  yellow  flowers.  It  will  thrive  under  the 
same  treatment  given  tender  annuals.  Intro- 
duced 1849.     Syn.     Mentzelia. 

Eucodo'nla.  A  genus  of  Mexican  plants,  now 
included  under  Achimenea.  E.  grandijlora,  the 
species  grown  for  its  flowers,  was  also  called 
Mandirola  lanata. 

Eu'comis.  From  eukomea,  beautiful-haired  ;  re- 
ferring to  the  tufted  crown  of  the  flower-spike. 
Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecB. 

A  genus  of  coarse-growing  bulbs  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  requiring  green-house 
treatment,  as  they  rest  in  summer.  E.  bifolia, 
one  of  the  species,  has  only  two  leaves,  lying 
flat  on  the  ground,  and  a  short  raceme  of  pale 
green  flowers.  The  only  merit  of  the  species 
is  in  the  fragrance  of  the  flowers.  They 
grow  with  the  most  ordinary  treatment,  and 
are  propagated  by  offsets  ;  introduced  in  1774. 

Eucro'ma.     A  synonym  for  Castilleja. 

Eucro'sia.  From  eu,  beautiful,  and  krossos,  a 
fringe;  referring  to  the  cup  above  the  inser- 
tion of  the  stamens.  Nat.  Ord.  AmaryllidacecB. 
A  genus  of  green-house  bulbs  from  South 
America,  mostly  from  the  western  declivity 
of  the  Peruvian  Andes.  E.  bicolor,  the  only 
species,  has  bright  vermilion  flowers,  with  a 
purple  stripe  on  the  outside  of  the  petals. 
They  are  borne  in  a  terminal  cluster  on  a 
scape  about  one  foot  high.  They  should  be 
grown  in  a  warm  green-house ;  in  winter  they 
require  perfect  rest.  Propagated  by  offsets. 
Introduced  in  1816. 

Eucry'phia.  From  eu,  well,  and  kryphios,  cov- 
ered ;  referring  to  the  calyptra  of  the  flower. 
Nat.  Ord.  Hypericacece. 

A  genus  of  three  or  four  species  of  very 
handsome  hardy  or  gi-een-house  evergreen 
shrubs  of  easy  culture.  E.  pinnatifida  has 
large  white  flowers,  usually  borne  in  pairs 
near  the  upper  portion  of  the  branches,  and 
rich  deep-green  pinnate  leaves.  Introduced 
from  Chili  in  1880. 

Euge'nia.  Rose  Apple.  Named  after  Prince 
Eugene  of  Saxony.     Nat.  Ord.  Myrtacece. 

A  genus  of  handsome  shrubs,  grown  as  fruit 
trees  in  the  East  Indies,  but  grown  in  English 
hot-houses  for  their  splendid  white  flowers, 
which  are  produced  freely;  they  are  propa- 
gated by  cuttings  of  the  ripe  wood.  Recent 
botanists  place  here  E.  Pimenta,  which  pro- 
duces the  allspice  of  commerce.     See  Pimenta. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


147 


EUL 

Eula'lia.  From  eu,  well,  and  lalia,  speech ;  in 
reference  to  the  high  reputation  of  the  plants. 
Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  American  Agricul- 
turist for  the  following  history  and  description 
of  this  genus  :  "  One  of  the  most  beautiful  of 
ornamental  grasses  is  the  variegated  Eulalia 
Japonica,  which  was  sent  from  Japan  sevei'al 
years  ago  by  Mr.  Thomas  Hogg.  It  was  illus- 
trated in  '  Hearth  and  Homo '  in  1871,  and  a 
year  or  two  later  was  placed  In  the  trade.  It 
is  a  robust  perennial  grass,  forming,  when 
well  established,  large  clumps,  with  firm,  but 
graceful,  leaves,  which  are  marked  with  alter- 
nate stripes  of  creamy-white  and  green,  much 
after  the  manner  of  the  old  '  Ribbon  or  Sti'iped 
Grass 'of  the  gardens,  and  pre.senting  quite 
as  much  variety  in  the  striping.  This  is  taller 
and  more  erect  than  that,  and  the  leaves  are 
longer  and  more  robust  The  flower  stalks 
appear  in  September,  and  the  plant  at  this 
time  is  from  four  to  six  feet  high.  The  flower 
panicles  are  at  first  brownish,  with  erect 
branches,  and  not  at  all  showy,  but  as  the 
flowers  open,  the  branches  of  the  panicle 
curve  over  gracefully  in  a  one-sided  manner, 
and  bear  a  strong  i-esemblance  in  form  to  what 
is  known  as  a  '  Prince  of  "Wales'  feather ;'  each 
of  the  individual  flowei'S,  which  are  very 
numerous  upon  each  branch  of  the  cluster, 
has  at  its  base  a  tuft  of  long,  silky  haii's,  and 
these  contribute  greatly  to  the  feathery  light- 
ness of  the  whole  When  Mr.  Hogg  sent  this, 
it  was  accompanied  by  another  variety  of  the 
same  gi-ass,  which  did  not  survive  the  effects 
of  the  journey.  Upon  a  second  visit  to  Japan, 
he  procured  other  plants  of  this  last  variety, 
Avhich  i-eached  this  country  in  good  condition. 
This  variety,  whi^h  it  is  proposed  to  call 
Eulalia  Jnpcnica,  var.  Zebrina,  the  '  Zebra- 
striped  Eulalia,'  or  Zebra  Gra.^is,  in  all  that 
relates  to  form,  habit,  and  its  fk-wers,  is  quite 
like  the  other,  but  differs  mo.st  essentially  in 
the  manner  of  its  variegation.  In  the  older 
variety  the  leaves,  according  to  the  usual 
manner  of  variegation  in  grasses,  have  the 
markings  run  lengthwise  of  the  leaf,  while  in 
this  Zebnna  variety  they  run  cnssnuse.  The 
leaves  present  alternate  bands  of  green  and 
creamy  white  of  varying  width,  but  with  the 
colors  quite  well  defined,  and  producing  a 
most  singular  effect.  Japan  is  remarkable  for 
the  great  number  of  plants  with  variegated 
foliage  that  it  has  contril>uled  to  our  collec- 
tions, but  we  have  not  seen  any  variegation 
that  interested  us  so  much  as  this  peculiar 
grass  We  have  seen  but  one  other  plant 
with  its  variegation  so  singularly  disposed, 
and  that  was  also  from  the  same  country.  In 
the  quaint  little  garden  attached  to  the  Jap- 
anese Bazar  at  the  Centennial  Exhibition  was 
a  Bulrush  (Scirp> is),  the  cylindrical  stems  of 
which  were  marked  transversely,  though  the 
markings  were  much  less  positive  than  in  the 
grass  in  question.  Aside  from  the  ornamental 
effect  of  its  peculiar  transverse  markings,  this 
variety  has  great  interest  for  us  in  a  physio- 
logical or  pathological  point  of  view.  It  is 
claimed  by  some  that  all  variegation  of  foli- 
age, or  at  least  that  in  which  the  green  of  tlie 
leaf  is  changed  to  white  or  yellow,  is  an  indi- 
cation of  disease,  and  this  view  is  strongly 
maintained  in  spite  of  the  numerous  instances 
in  which  the  variegated  plants  are  moi'e 
vigorous  and  liardy  than  typical  plain  green 


EUP 

ones  of  the  same  species.  To  those  who  hold 
this  view — that  variegation  is  due  to  disease — 
this  Zebrina  variety  of  Eulalia  presents  a  dif- 
ficult problem.  As  the  circulation  of  the  juices 
of  the  leaf  must  take  place  in  a  lengthwise 
dix-ection,  the  nutriment  for  each  green  por- 
tion of  the  leaf  must  pass  through  one  of  the 
colored  sections,  ana  those  who  regard  these 
Avhite,  or  whitish,  bands  as  marks  of  disease, 
will  be  puzzled  to  account  for  the  occurrence 
of  green  sections  of  the  leaf  which,  though 
placed  directly  between  two  'diseased'  por- 
tions, remain  in  perfect  health  throughout  the 
whole  season  of  growth."  The  Eulalias  are 
perfectly  hardy  in  this  latitude,  and  are  valu- 
able acquisitions  to  the  garden,  not  only  for 
the  grace  and  elegance  of  the  foliage,  but  for 
the  flowers  as  "dried  grasses."  They  keep 
for  years,  presenting  somewhat  the  appear- 
ance of  an  ostrich  feather.  Propagated  by 
division  or  by  seeds,  which,  however,  do  not 
produce  variegated  leaves. 

Eulo'phia.  From  eulophos,  handsome-crested; 
referring  to  the  handsome  lip,  which  is  fur- 
rowed into  elevated  ridges.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchid- 
acece. 

An  extensive  genus,  consisting  of  both  ter- 
restrial and  epiphytal  orchids,  natives  of 
tropical  Asia,  Africa,  and  America,  but  occur- 
ring in  the  greatest  numbers  at  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope.  E.  Dregiana,  a  native  of  the 
Cape,  is  of  free  habit,  producing  spikes  of 
flowers  which  resemble  little  doves  hanging 
by  their  beaks;  the  sepals  and  petals  are 
chocolate  color,  and  the  lip  white.  They 
require  the  same  treatment  as  the  Cypri- 
pedium. 

Euo'nymus.  Burning  Bush.  Spindle-tree. 
From  eu,  well,  and  onoma,  a  name ;  litei'ally, 
of  good  repute.     Nat.  Ord.    CelastracecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  low-growing  trees 
and  shrubs,  mostly  of  an  ornamental  char- 
acter. E.  atropurpureus,  a  native  species,  is  a 
valuable  shrub  for  the  border,  on  account  of 
its  handsome  foliage,  its  abundance  of  purple 
flowers,  and  its  copious  crimson  fruit  in 
autumn.  This  species  is  Avhat  is  commonly 
called  Burning  Bush,  or  Waahoo.  It  grows 
freely  in  almost  any  soil  or  situation,  preferring 
a  moist  one.  Japan  has  furnished  se\eral  spe- 
cies with  ornamental  foliage,  that  are  among 
our  most  useful  plants  for  single  specimens, 
for  Ijaskets,  or  window  gardens.  E.  radicans 
variegata  has  leaves  of  green  and  white,  is  a 
rapid  grower,  and  hardy  south  of  New  York. 
It  is  readily  increased  by  cuttings.  The  Japan 
species  are  evergreen,  and  were  first  inti-o- 
duced  in  1804. 

Eupato'rium.  Named  after  Mithridates  Eupator, 
King  of  Pontus,  who  discovered  one  of  tiie 
species  to  be  an  antidote  against  poison.  Nat. 
Ord.  Compositce. 

An  extensive  genus,  consisting  for  the  most 
part  of  native  hardy  heibaceous  plants.  A 
number  of  species  are  grown  in  the  green- 
house for  their  flowers  and  are  produced 
freely  in  winter ;  of  these  the  species  known 
in  cultivation  as  E.  elegans,  E.  riparium, 
and  E.  Weinmannianum,  all  very  graceful 
plants  with  white  flowers,  are  the  most  use- 
ful, and  are  grown  in  large  quantities  for  early 
winter  use.  They  are  natives  of  South  Amer- 
ica, and  are  increased  by  cuttings.  Of  our 
native  kinds,   E.   ageratoides.    White    Siaake- 


148 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


EUP 

root,  is  the  most  valuable  as  a  flowering  plant. 
Tiie  flowers  aie  pure  white,  borne  in  terminal 
clusters  or  heads.  The  plant  grows  about 
four  feet  high,  is  verj-  branching,  and  prefers 
a  thick  shade.  It  flowers  late  in  August,  and 
is  very  siiowy  for  nearly  a  month.  E.  per/o- 
liatum,  Bone-set,  has,  outside  of  the  "  regular 
practice,"  considerable  reputation  as  a  tonic 
stimulant,  and  is  often  administered  in  the 
form  of  a  tea,  made  from  the  leaves,  in  cases 
of  intermittent  fevers.  They  are  readily 
increased  by  root  division  or  from  seeds. 

Eupho'rbia.  Milk-wort  or  S{)urge.  Named 
after  Euphorbus,  ijhjsician  to  the  King  of 
Mauritania.     Nat.  Ord  Eajthorbiacem. 

This  is  an  extensive  and  variable  genus, 
including  species  with  the  aspect  of  trees  or 
large  shrubs,  and  through  every  giadation, 
downward  to  the  humblest  annual  weeds,  all 
of  them  remarkable  for  an  acrid  milky  juice. 
Notwithstanding  the  extent  and  variety  of 
the  genus,  there  are  comparatively  few  of  its 
members  in  cultivation  ;  the  principal  of  them 
being  E.  npl^ndens,  E.  jacquinijlora  (fulgentt  or 
prunifolia)  and  E.  Bojeri.  Th^'se  do  best  in 
the  hot-house,  and  are  well  deserving  atten- 
tion for  their  rich  red  or  crimson  lk>wers,  and 
amply  repay  the  little  trouble  occasioned. 
These  species  are  all  much  improved  by 
frequent  stox)ping,  as  it  induces  a  more  dense 
habit,  and  consequently  a  greater  display 
of  lloweis.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that 
the  first  flowers  that  expand  in  each 
season  on  E.  splendens  are  in  pairs,  l>iit  those 
which  follow  are  each  time  increased  in 
duplicate  ratio,  so  that  those  which  open  last 
are  commonly  as  many  as  eight  t(;gether. 
The  other  perennial  species  require  to  be 
treated  in  the  manner  of  Cacti,  and  the 
remainder  respectively  as  they  belong  to  the 
hardy  or  tender  classes  of  the  annual,  biennial, 
or  perennial  plants.  E.  corollala,  a  native 
species,  is  a  free-llowering  plant,  and  valuable 
for  florist's  use,  or  for  cut-Mowers.  They  aie 
small,  greenish  white,  in  general  appearance 
like  the  Forget-me-not.  This  species  is  readily 
propagated  by  root  division.  The  French  sub- 
stitute the  seeds  of  E.  lathyrua  for  the  English 
capers,  which,  if  taken  in  quantity,  prove 
highly  deleterious.  For  E.  Poinsettei,  see 
Poiii^'iettia  pulcktrrhna. 

Euphorbia'ceae.  A  very  large  order  of  trees, 
shrubs,  c>r  herbs,  usually  abounding  in  milky 
juice.  The  species  are  found  in  ail,  except 
Arctic  climates.  They  are  generally  acrid  and 
poisonous.  Some  yield  starch,  and  others  oils 
and  Caoutchouc.  Castor  Oil  is  obtained  from 
the  seeds  of  Ricinus  communis  and  Croton  Oil 
from  Croton  Tiylium.  The  seeds  of  Jalropha 
Curca.H,  the  Physic  Nut,  are  purgative.  Stil- 
lingia.  Sebifera,  is  the"  Tallow  Tree  of  China, 
the  fatty  matter  being  procured  from  the 
fruit.  D^es  are  supplied  by  Crozophora  tinc- 
toria  and  Rottlera  tinctoria.  African  Oak  or 
Teak  is  yielded  by  Oldfieldia  Africana.  Caout- 
chouc by  SiphoniaelaHiica,  S.  luten,  S.  brevi- 
folia,  S.  Bruziliensl^,  and  S.  Sjirurecmd  ;  and 
the  poisonous  Manchineel  by  Hippomune  Man- 
cinella.  Janipha  Manihot  or  Man  ilwt  utiliHsima 
furnishes  Cassava  and  Tapioca,  Avhich  consist 
of  starchy  matter  from  its  root.  Colliyuaja 
odorifera  has  peculiar  jumping  seeds,  owing  to 
their  becoming  the  habitation  of  the  larva  of 
an  insect.    Box-wood  is  the  product  of  Buxus 


EUR 

semjitrvirena.  There  are  other  useful  and 
curious  species,  some  of  which  are  cultivated 
for  their  beautiful  flowers.  There  are  230 
known  genera  and  about  2,600  species.  Euphor- 
bia, Phyllanthus,  Croton,  Jatropha,  Siphonia 
Ricinais,  and  PoinseUia  are  examples  of  the 
order. 

Euphra'sia.  Eyebright.  From  euphraino,  to  de- 
light; fabled  to  cure  blindness.  Nat  Ord. 
ScrojyhulariacecB. 

E.  officinalis,  Eyebright,  is  a  little  annual 
common  in  dry  pastures  and  roadsides  in  this 
country  and  Europe.  It  seldom  grows  more 
than  three  or  four  inches  in  height,  and  often 
not  more  than  one  or  two.  From  the  frequent 
mention  of  the  Euphrasia  by  the  poets,  it 
would  appear  to  have  been  formerly  held  in 
high  repute  for  its  medical  virtues,  a  view 
which  is  confirmed  by  all  the  old  herbalists, 
who  recommend  its  use  both  outwardly  and 
inwardly  for  complaints  of  the  eyes.  It  has 
no  value  as  a  flowering  plant. 

Eu'rya.  From  eurys,  large ;  erroneously  applied 
to  the  flowers,  which  are  comparatively  small. 
Nat.  Ord.  TemstromiacecB. 

A  genus  of  very  ornamental  half-hardy  ever- 
green shrubs  or  low-growing  trees,  with  white 
flowers  borne  in  axillary  clusters.  They  are 
natives  of  Japan,  India,  China  and  the  Indian 
Archipelago.  The  variegated  variety  of  E. 
Japonica  latifolia  is  a  most  useful  plant  for 
decorative  purposes,  as  it  stands  the  dry  heat 
of  rooms  or  halls- well,  and  its  glossy  vaiie- 
gated  leaves  contrast  well  with  Palms  or  other 
fine -foliage  plants. 

Eu'ryale.  Euryale,  one  of  the  Gorgons,  repre- 
sented with  fierce,  thorny  locks ;  in  allusion 
to  the  thorny  nature  of  the  plant.  Nat.  Ord. 
NymiJhacecB. 

An  annual  stove  aquatic.  Before  the  intro- 
duction of  the  Victoria  reyia  this  was  the 
noblest  aquatic  plant  in  cultivation.  Its  leaves 
ai'e  circular,  about  two  feet  in  diameter,  with 
prominent  spiny  veins.  Flowers  deep  violet, 
opening  in  Sei)tember.  Introduced  from  the 
East  Indies  in  1809. 

Eury'bia.  From  euribies,  wide-spreading;  re- 
ferring to  the  I'oots.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  trees  and  shrubs  and 
a  few  herbaceous  perennials.  They  are  mostly 
tropical,  natives  of  Tasmania,  and  New  Zea- 
land. E.  argophylla,  syn.  Aster  argophyllns,  a 
Tasmanian  species,  is  called  by  the  natives 
the  silver-leaved  Musk  tree.  It  is  occasion- 
ally seen  in  greenhouses,  where  it  is  culti- 
vated for  the  musky  odor  of  its  leaves.  Most 
of  the  species  are  noted  for  their  ornamental 
foliage ;  they  would  be  valuable  for  lawu 
planting  in  the  Southern  States. 

Eury'cles.  From  eurys,  broad,  and  klas,  a 
branch ;  I'eferring  to  the  broad  leaves  or 
branch-like  foot-stalks.  Nat.  Ord.  Amaryl- 
lidaceoR. 

A  genus  of  strong-growing  V)ulbs,  found  in 
the  Eastern  Archipelago  and  in  New  Holland. 
This  genus  was  formerly  included  in  Pancra- 
tium, from  which  it  is  distinguished  by  its 
broad,  nearly  heai-t-shaped  leaves,  and  its 
flowers  with  a  long  cylindrical  tube,  with 
equal  and  regular  petals.  The  flowers  are 
borne  in  umbels,  and  are  pure  white.  They 
are  generally  grown  in  the  green-house,  and 
must    have    complete     rest    during    winter, 


EULAilA   ZEBKINA   (ZEBBA  GEABS). 


EBYTHKONICM  DENS-CANIS  (DOG'S-TOOTH  VIOLET.) 


EUCHAEI8  AMAZONICA. 


EULAUA  GBACTTiT.TTVIA. 


148 


ECCHABIDIUM. 


EXACUM  AFFINE. 


EUCALYPTUS. 


EUPHORBIA    HETEKOPHYLLA 


FENZLIA  DIANTHUXOaA. 


^•'-v''!it>Nn' 


EUPHORBIA  VARIEGATA. 


EEYNGIUM  GIGANTEUM. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE, 


149 


EUR 

but  if  planted  out  in  May  they  will  flower 
finely.  Propagated  by  suckers,  which  should 
be  taken  off  when  a  new  growth  commences 
in  spring.     First  introduced  in  1821. 

Euryga'nia.  Named  after  Eurygania,  the  wife 
of  iEdipus.     Nat.  Ord.  VaccinacecB. 

A  genus  of  about  a  dozen  species  of  orna- 
mental evergreen  shrubs  with  pendant 
branches  and  bright-colored,  generally  red, 
flowers,  allied  to  Thibaudia.  All  are  natives 
of  the  Andes  of  South  America. 

Eusca'phis.  From  eu,  well,  and  skaphis,  a  bowl : 
in  allusion  to  the  persistent,  bowl-like  calyx. 
Nat.  Ord.  SapindacecB. 

A  genus  of  two  species  of  hardy  glabrous 
shrubs,  natives  of  Japan.  E.  staphyleoides  has 
white  or  yellowish  flowers,  borne  in  terminal 
panicles,  succeeded  by  red,  bladdery  fruit, 
remaining  on  the  bush  until  winter.  This 
plant  is  highly  prized  in  its  native  country  for 
its  medicinal  properties. 

Eu'stoma.  From  eustomos,  of  beautiful  counte- 
nance; referring  to  the  corolla.  Nat.  Ord. 
Gentianacece. 

A  genus  containing  only  two  species,  with 
bright  purple  or  purplish-blue  flowers,  closely 
allied  to  Lisianthus.  They  ai-e  elegant  little 
plants,  found  from  Florida  and  Texas  to  Ne- 
braska, and  are  readily  increased  by  seeds. 

Euta'xia.  From  eutaxia,  modesty ;  referring  to 
the  delicate  aspect  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord. 
LeguminoscB. 

A  genus  of  very  pretty  green-house  shrubs, 
natives  of  Western  Australia.  They  are 
chiefly  low  growing  and  bushy,  with  small 
heath-like  leaves,  and  pure  yellow  pea-shaped 
flowers,  produced  in  small  axillary  clusters. 
E.  myrtifoha  is  a  popular  green-house  plant, 
whose  slender  stems  are  often  seen  thickly 
covered  in  the  spring  and  summer  months 
with  its  bright  yellow  flowers.  The  species 
are  increased  by  cuttings.  Introduced  in  1803. 

Eute'rpe.  After  Euterpe,  one  of  the  nine  Muses. 
Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  genus  of  Palms  of  extremely  graceful 
habit,  natives  of  South  America  and  the  West 
Indies.  With  the  exception  of  E.  montana, 
from  the  latter  country,  all  are  too  tall  grow- 
ing for  the  green-house.  This  species  attains 
a  height  of  about  twenty  feet,  and  has  the 
base  of  the  stem  much  swollen  or  bulged  out. 
The  leaf  bud  and  the  central  portion  of  the 
upper  stem  are  cooked  as  a  vegetable  or 
pickled  by  the  natives,  and  is  highly  esteemed. 
Propagated  by  seed. 

Euto'ca.  From  eutokoa,  fruitful ;  referring  to 
the  abundance  of  seeds.  Nat.  Ord.  Hydro- 
phyllacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy  annuals,  with  blue,  pink, 
or  lilac  flowers,  mostl}-  from  California.  A 
few  species  are  found  in  Virginia,  and  south 
and  west,  but  are  not  of  sufficient  merit  to 
warrant  their  introduction  into  the  garden. 
Those  from  California  are  free-flowering,  and 
of  the  easiest  culture.  The  seed  should  be 
sown  as  early  in  spring  as  possible. 

Evening  Flower.     See  Hesperantha. 

Evening  Glory.     See  IpottKza. 

Evening  Primrose.     See  (Enothera. 

Evergreens.  A  term  applied  to  trees,  shrubs, 
or  other  plants,  that  retain  their  foliage 
during  winter. 


EXO 

Everlasting  Flower.     See  Helichrysum. 

Common  American.   Gnaphaliumpolycephalum, 

and  G.  decurrens. 
Swan  River.     Rhodanthe  Manglefiii. 
Yellow.     Helichrysum  orientate  and   H.  arena- 

rium. 

Everlasting  Pea.     See  Lathyrus  latifolius. 

Evolved.     Unfolded. 

Evo'lvulus.  From  evolvo,  to  roll  out.  the  op- 
posite to  Convolvulus  ;  referring  to  the  plant 
not  twining.     Nat.  Ord.  Convolvulacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  annuals  and  peren- 
nials, mostly  from  the  East  Indies  and  South 
America,  a  few  species  being  found  in  Florida. 
The  flowers  of  these  plants  are  extremely 
beautiful,  mostly  of  a  large  size,  and  of  various 
shades  of  blue  and  white.  The  annuals  should 
be  started  in  a  hot-bed  or  green-house,  and 
planted  out  as  soon  as  the  weather  will  per- 
mit, or  they  may  be  grown  in  pots  and  trained 
on  a  balloon  frame.  The  perennials  should 
be  kept  dry  and  dormant  through  the  winter, 
and  started  in  a  brisk  heat  in  spring.  During 
summer  they  may  be  grown  in  the  green- 
house, or  in  pots,  and  trained  on  a  trellis,  or 
other  suitable  place  for  a  climbing  plant.  The 
perennials  may  be  increased  by  cuttings  of 
young  shoots.     First  introduced  in  1817. 

E'xacum.  This  name  was  used  by  Pliny,  and 
by  him  derived  from  ex,  out,  and  ago,  to 
drive ;  in  allusion  to  its  supposed  expelling 
powers.     Nat.  Ord.  Gentianacece. 

Annual,  or  perennial  herbs,  with  opposite 
sessile  leaves,  and  showy  blue,  yellow  or 
white  flowers.  This  genus  contains  nearly 
twenty  species,  though  they  are  not  yet  all  in 
cultivation.  E.  macranthum  from  Ceylon,  has 
rich  blue-purple  colored  flowers,  about  two 
inches  in  diameter,  with  large  bright  yellow 
stamens.  All  the  species  are  showy  and  de- 
serving of  cultivation.  Propagated  by  seeds 
or  cuttings. 

Excoriate.     Stripped  of  the  bark  or  skin. 

Excretion.  Any  superfluous  matter  thrown 
off  by  the  living  plant  externally ;  the  action 
by  which  a  superabundance  of  secreted  mat- 
ter is  rejected  from  a  secreting  vessel.  Also 
the  matter  itself  thus  excreted ;  gum,  resin, 
etc.,  are  examples. 

Excurrent.  Projecting  or  running  beyond  the 
edge  of  anything  ;  running  out.  When  a 
stem  remains  always  central,  all  the  other 
parts  being  regularly  disposed  round  it,  as  in 
the  stem  of  a  Fir  Tree. 

Exocho'rda.  Pearl  Bush.  From  exo,  out  of, 
and  chorde,  a  cord ;  referring  to  the  cords  by 
which  the  seeds  are  suspended.  Nat.  Ord. 
RosacecB. 

E.  grandiflora,  the  only  species  yet  in  culti- 
vation, is  a  beautiful  hardy  shrub  from  China, 
introduced  a  few  years  since,  and  as  yet  com- 
paratively little  known.  It  is  in  substance 
described  in  the  late  edition  of  the  Treasury 
of  Botany  as  being  remarkable  for  the  struc- 
ture of  its  fruits,  which  consist  of  five  small 
compressed  bony  carpels  adhering  round  a 
central  axis  in  a  star-like  manner.  From  the 
axis  or  growing  point  stand  five  erect  placen- 
tary  cords,  which  enter  the  carpels  on  their 
inner  face  near  the  top,  suspending  from  the 
apex  two  thin  seeds.  These  cords  remain  after 
the  carpels  have  fallen,  and  have  suggested 


150 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


EXO 

the  name  of  the  genus.  It  is  a  smooth  shrub 
or  dwarf  tree,  with  alternate  nearly  lance- 
shaped  entire  leaves,  the  stems  terminated 
by  racemes  of  handsome  white  flowers,  which 
appear  in  May  and  June,  and  are  about  an 
inch  in  diameter.  They  have  a  bell-shaped 
calyx  with  a  five-parted  border,  five  rounded 
petals,  and  fifteen  to  twenty  stamens.  The 
plant  is  also  known  as  Spircea  grandiflora.  It 
is  a  beautiful  tall-growing  shrub,  worthy  of  a 
place  on  the  lawn  and  in  the  shrubbery.  It  is 
still  a  rare  plant  in  the  United  States,  chiefly 
because  it  is  difficult  to  propagate,  and  in 
consequence  is  not  easy  to  get.  It  is  propa- 
gated by  seeds,  layers,  or  suckers. 
Ezogens.  A  name  given  to  one  of  the  great 
classes  of  the  vegetable  kingdom,  correspond- 
ing with  the  Dicotyledons.  The  name  Exogen 
is  from  the  Greek,  and  signifies  outward  and 
to  grow,  meaning  growing  outwardly,  and  has 
reference  to  the  manner  in  which  the  woody 
circles  are  produced,  viz.,  fi-om  the  center 
outwardly  toward  the  circumference.  The 
age  of  an  exogenous  tree,  especially  in  tem- 
perate climates,  may  be  determined  by  count- 
ing the  number  of  zones  or  circles  in  the 
woody  stem,  each  circle  marking  one  year's 
growth,  and  the  last  formed  circle  being  ex- 
ternal. The  characters  of  the  class  are  given 
under  Dicotyledons,  Avhich  see. 

Exogo'nivun.  From  exo,  external ;  referring  to 
the  exserted  stamens.  Nat.  Ord.  Convolvula- 
cecB. 

The  few  species  that  are  included  in  this 
genus  are  closely  allied  to,  and  very  nearly 
resemble  the  tuberous-rooted  Ipomce,as.  They 
are  desirable  climbers,  fiowering  freely  nearly 


FAG 

the  whole  summer.  During  winter  the  tubers 
should  be  kept  dry  and  free  from  frost.  E. 
purga,  a  Mexican  species,  has  beautiful  sal- 
ver-shaped, purplish  flowers,  and  furnishes 
the  true  Jalap  tubers  of  commerce.  These 
are  roundish,  of  variable  size,  the  largest  being 
about  as  large  as  an  orange,  and  of  a  dark 
color.  They  owe  their  well-known  purgative 
properties  to  their  resinous  ingredients.  They 
can  be  rapidly  increased  by  cuttings,  or  by 
division  of  tubers  in  spring,  like  the  Dahlia. 

Exosmose.  That  force  which  causes  a  viscid 
fluid  lying  on  the  outside  of  an  organic  mem- 
brane to  attract  watery  fluid  through  it. 

Exoste'mtna.  From  exo,  external,  and  stemma, 
a  crown  ;  referring  to  the  exserted  stamens. 
Nat.  Ord.  RubiacecB. 

A  genus  of  tropical  trees  or  shrubs,  valued 
more  for  the  menlicinal  properties  they  pos- 
sess, than  for  the  beauty  of  their  foliage  or 
flowers.  They  are  natives  of  the  West  Indies. 
One  of  the  species,  E.  Caribceum,  has  become 
naturalized  in  southern  Florida.  The  bark 
possesses  the  same  active  principle  as  that  of 
the  Cinchona. 

Exotic.  Plants  that  are  brought  from  foreign 
countries.     Not  native. 

Exserted.  Where  one  part  protrudes  beyond 
another  by  which  it  is  surrounded ;  as  the 
stamens  or  styles  beyond  the  mouth  of  some 
tubular  corollas. 

Eye.  A  term  in  gardening  for  a  leaf-bud ;  also 
for  the  center  or  the  central  markings  of  a 
flower. 

Eye-bright.     See  Euphrasia. 


F. 


F 


a'ba.    The    old  Latin  name  for  the  Bean, 
now  included  under  Vicia,  which  see. 

FabaceaB.    A  sub-order  of  Leguminosm. 

Fabia'na.     Namod  after  F.  Fabiano,  a  Spaniard. 
Nat.  Ord.  Sokmacece. 

A  small  genus  of  half-hardy  evergreen, 
heath-like  shrubs.  F.  imbricata,  the  best 
known  species,  is  a  neat  evergreen  shrub  of 
compact  habit,  densely  covered,  during  the 
spring  months,  with  pure  Avhite  tubular 
flowei's.  Propagated  by  seeds  or  from  cuttings. 

Fadye'nia.     Named  after  Dr.  Fadyen,  author  of 
a  Flora  of  Jamaica.     Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiacecE. 

F.  proUfera,  the  only  species,  is  a  curious 
Fern,  a  native  of  the  West  Indies.  It  grows 
but  a  few  inches  in  height ;  the  fronds  have 
netted  veins,  and  are  remarbable  for  the  large 
size  of  the  sori.  It  was  introduced  from 
Jamaica  in  1843,  and  is  occasionally  found  in 
choice  collections.     Propagated  by  spores. 

Faecula.    The  farinaceous  matter  which  forms 
starch,  etc. 

Fage'lia.    Named  after  Fagel,  a  botanist.     Nat. 
Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen,  twining, 
herbaceous  plants,  found  in  South  Africa  and 
Abyssinia.     The   leaves  somewhat   resemVjle 


those  of  Phaseolus,  but  are  smaller.  Their 
flowers  are  pea-shaped,  yellow,  and  borne  on 
long  axillai-y  racemes.  Young  plants  are  ob- 
tained from  seeds. 

Fagopy'rum.  Buckwheat.  From  phago,  to 
eat,  and  pyros,  wheat ;  seeds  edible.  Nat.  Ord. 
Polygonacem. 

F.  esculentum,  the  only  species  worthy  of 
notice,  is  our  common  buckwheat,  which  see. 

Fa'gus.  The  Beech.  From  phago,  to  eat ;  in 
early  ages  the  nuts  of  the  B<'ech-tree  were 
used  as  food.     Nat.  Ord.  CupulifercB. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  deciduous  trees,  re- 
markable for  their  graceful  and  symmetrical 
habit  of  growth,  and  their  great  size  and 
beauty,  which  render  them  objects  of  admira- 
tion, whether  in  their  native  woods,  or  when 
planted  on  the  lawn  for  shade.  F.  ferruginea, 
the  American  Beech,  is  one  of  the  tallest  and 
most  majestic  of  our  forest  trees.  It  grows 
most  abundantly  in  the  Middle  and  Western 
States.though  common  east  of  the  AUeghanies, 
attaining  its  greatest  size  on  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio,  where  the  trees  are  frequently  found 
100  feet  high,  with  a  diameter  from  three  to 
four  feet ;  its  foliage  is  superb,  and  its  general 
appearance  magnificent.  The  sexes  are  borne 
on  different  branches  of  the  same  tree.     The 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


151 


FAI 

male  flowers  are  borne  in  pendulous,  globular 
heads,  the  female  flowers  are  small,  and  of  a 
greenish  color.  It  is  so  abundant  as  often  to 
constitute  extensive  forests,  the  finest  of 
which  grow  on  fertile,  level,  or  gently  sloping 
lands,  with  a  humid  surface.  The  European 
Beech,  F.  sylvatica,  is  almost  identical  with 
our  native  species.  The  Weeping  Beech,  F. 
sylvatica  pendula,  is  one  of  the  most  curious 
and  beautiful  of  lawn  trees.  The  original 
tree  stands  in  the  park  of  Baron  de  Mau,  at 
Beersel,  Belgium.  "The  trunk  is  three  and 
half  to  four  feet  in  diameter,  and  grows  in  a 
twisted  form  to  a  height  of  twelve  feet  to 
fifteen  feet,  with  an  appearance  of  being 
pressed  down  by  an  immense  weight.  The 
branches  cover  an  area  nearly  a  100  feet  in 
diameter.  Its  history  is  curious.  Some  sixty 
years  ago  the  baron's  gardener  was  planting 
an  avenue  of  Beech  trees,  and  the  baron,  ob- 
serving a  very  crooked  specimen,  directed  to 
have  it  thrown  out,  but  the  gardener  planted 
it  in  a  corner  of  the  grounds  little  visited, 
where  it  grew  to  be  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
and  singular  freaks  of  sylvan  nature." — Scott. 
The  Purple -Leaved  Beech,  F.  purpurea,  now 
so  popular  for  lawn  decoration,  is  a  sport  from 
the  common  Beech,  found  in  a  German  forest. 
The  Copper-colored  Beeoh,  F.  cuprea,  is  a  sub- 
variety  of  the  Purple  Beech.  The  Fern  and 
Cut-leaved  Beeches  are  very  ornamental 
varieties,  the  leaves  resembling  the  fronds  of 
a  Fern.  There  are  varieties  with  variegated 
foliage.     They  are  all  varieties  of  F.  sylvatica. 

Fair  Maids  of  France.  Ranunculus  aconitifolius 
fiore-pleno,  Saxifraga  granulata,  and  Achillea 
P tar  mica. 

Fairy  Fingers.     Digitalis  purpurea. 

Fairy  Flax.     Linum  catharticum. 

Fairy  Lily.     See  Zephyranthes. 

Fairy  Rings.  Green  circles  or  parts  of  circles 
seen  in  pastures,  and  produced  by  the  peculiar 
mode  of  growth  of  several  species  of  Agarics 
and  other  Fungi. 

Falcate,  Falciform.  Plane  and  curved  in  any 
degree,  Avith  parallel  edges,  like  the  blade  of 
a  sickle  ;  as  the  pod  of  Medicago  falcata. 

False  Acacia.  The  common  Yellow  Locust, 
Robinia  Pseudacacia. 

False  Asphodel.  A  popular  name  of  the  genus 
Tojieldia,  small  flowering  Liliaceous  plants. 

False  Dragon-head.     Physostegia  virginica. 

False  Fox-Glove.     Gerardia  flava. 

False  Hellebore.     See  Veratrum. 

False  Honeysuckle.     A  popular  name  of  our 

native  Azaleas. 
False  Indigo.     See  Amorpha. 
False  Mistletoe.      American  Mistletoe.     Pho- 

radendron  fla  vescens. 
False  Red  Top.    A  popular  name  of  Poa  serotina, 

because  of  its  resemblance  to  Agrostis  vulgaris, 

the  true  Red  Top  Grass. 
False  Solomon's  Seal.     See  Smilacina. 
False  Spikenard.     See  Smilacina  racemosa. 
Family.     A  synonym  for  "  Order." 
Fan  Palm     See  Corypha. 
Farada'ya.  Named  in  honor  of  Michael  Faraday, 

the  celebrated  chemist.    Nat.  Ord.  Verbe7iace(B. 


FEN 

A  small  genus  of  tall  climbing  glabrous 
plants,  with  showy  white  flowers,  borne  in 
corymbose  panicles,  natives  of  Australia, 
Java,  and  the  Pacific  Islands.  Several  species 
have  been  introduced,  but  have  not  yet 
flowered  in  cultivation. 

Farfu'gium  grande.    See  Ligularia. 

Farinaceous.  Having  the  texture  of  flour,  as 
the  albumen  of  Wheat. 

Farinose.  Covered  with  a  white,  mealy  sub- 
stance, as  the  leaves  of  the  Auricula,  Primula 
farinosa. 

Farkle-berry.  A  local  name  for  one  of  the 
Cranberries,  Vaccinium  arboreum. 

Fasciated.  When  a  stem  becomes  much  flat- 
tened, instead  of  retaining  its  usual  cylin- 
drical figure,  as  in  the  Cockscomb,  the  Lilium 
monstrosum,  etc. 

Fastigiate.  Tapering  to  a  narrow  point,  pyra- 
midal ;  as  where  many  like  parts  are  parallel, 
and  point  upwards,  as  the  branches  of  Populus 
fastigiata. 

Fat  Hen.  A  popular  name  torChenopodium  alburn^ 

Fa'tsia.  Derived  from  the  Japanese  name  of 
one  of  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Araliacece. 

A  genus  consisting  of  a  few  evergreen 
shrubs,  natives  of  Japan,  China,  and  north- 
west America.  It  is  well  represented  by  the 
Aralia  Japonica  or  A.  Sieboldii  of  gardens, 
which  is  now  Fatsia  Japonica,  and  Aralia  papy- 
rifera,  the  Chinese  Rice-paper  plant,  now  F. 
papyrifera,  both  of  which  are  very  ornamental 
and  useful  decorative  plants.  Two  variegated 
varieties  of  F.  Japonica,  one  with  white  and 
the  other  with  rich  yellow  markings,  are 
highly  prized  for  green-house  and  house  deco- 
ration. 

Feathered  Columbine.  Thalictrum  aquilegifo- 
lium. 

Feather  Foil,  or  "Water  Violet.  Hottonia  in- 
flata. 

Feather  Geranium.  Jerusalem  Oak.  Popular 
names  for  Chenopodium  Botrys. 

Feather  Grass.     See  Stipa  pennata. 

Feather-veined.  Where  the  veins  of  a  leaf 
spring  from  the  mid-rib  at  an  acute  angle. 

Fedia  olitoria.  A  synonym  for  Valerianella 
olitoria  (Corn  Salad). 

Fe'ea.  In  honor  of  M.  Fee,  Professor  of  Botany 
at  Strasburg.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  interesting  little  Ferns 
found  in  Guiana  and  the  West  Indies.  They 
require  to  be  grown  in  a  very  warm,  moist 
atmosphere. 

Fennel.     See  Fceniculum. 
Giant.     See  Ferula. 

Fenugreek.     See  Trigonella. 

Fe'nzlia.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  Fenzl,  author 
of  a  monograph  on  Alsinacece.  Nat.  Ord. 
Polemoniacece. 

A  genus  of  beautiful  dwarf  California  hardy 
annuals.  They  bear  a  profusion  of  delicate, 
rosy-tinted  flowers,  with  yellow  throat,  sur- 
rounded with  dark-colored  dots.  F.  dianthi- 
Jlora  is  a  very  dwarf  and  closely  tufted  species, 
keeping  in  flower  the  whole  summer,  making 
it  desirable  for  small  beds  or  edgings.  It  is 
also  Tery  pretty  for  window  gardens.  This 
genus  is  now  by  many  botanists  included 
under  Gilia. 


152 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


FEE 

Fern.     Adder's.     Polypodium  vulgare. 
Adder's  Tongue.     Ophioglossum  vulgalum. 
American  Grape.     Botrichium  lunarioides. 
Australian  Tree.     Dicksonia  antartica. 
Beech.     Polypodium  Phegopteris. 
Bird's-nest.     Thamnopteris  nidus  (Asplenium). 
Brake,  or  Bracken.     Pteris  aquilina. 
Bristle.     The  genus  Trichomanes. 
Buckler.     The  genus  Lofitrea. 
Chain.     The  genus  Woodicardia. 
Chignon.     Cibotmm  regale, 
Christmas  Shield.     Aspidium  acrostichoides. 
Cinnamon.     Osmunda  cinnainomea. 
Climbing  Snake's-tongue.   Lygodium  scandens. 
Deer.     Lomaria  spicant  {Blechnum). 
Elk's  Horn.     Platycerium  alcicome. 
Filmy.     A  name  applied  to  those  kinds  which 

have  pellucid  or  transparent  fronds,  as  Hy- 

menophyllum,  Todea  and  Trichomanes. 
Haresfoot.     The  genus  Davallia. 
Hartford.     Lygodium  pahnatum. 
Hart's-tongue.     The  genus  Scolopendrium. 
Japan  Climbing.     Lygodium,  scandens. 
Japan  Haresfoot.     Davallia  Mariesii. 
Killarney.     Trichomanes  radicans. 
Lady.     Afhyrium  Filix-fa^mina. 
Maiden  Hair.     Many  of  the  genus  Adiantum. 
Maiden  Hair.     American.    Adiantum  pedatum. 
Moon.     Bolrychium  Lunaria. 
Oak.     Polypodium  Dryopttris. 
Oregon  Cliff-Brake.     Pellaa  densa. 
Oregon  Kock-Brake.  Allosonis  achrostichoides. 
Parsley.     AUosorus  or  Cryptogramma  crispus. 
Pod.     Ceratopteris  thalictroides. 
Sensitive.     Onoclea  sei^sibilis. 
Shield.     The  genus  Aspidium. 
Stag's  Horn.      Platycerium  grande  and  other 

species. 
Sweet.   Myrrhis  odoraia  and  Comptonia  asplen,- 

ifolia. 
Tree.   Various  species  of  Dicksonia,  Alsophila, 

Cyathea,  etc. 
Virginian  Rattlesnake.  Botrychium  Virginicum. 
Walking-leaf.  Camplosorus  rhizophyllus. 
Water.  Osmunda  regalis. 
Fernery.  See  Wardian  Case. 
Ferna  From  their  extreme  beauty  and  diver- 
sity as  well  as  from  their  general  adaptability 
in  arrangements  witii  flowering  and  orna- 
mental-foliaged  plants,  Ferns,  when  well- 
grown  are  indispensable  and  possess  peculiar 
attractions.  As  their  management  gets  better 
understood,  their  popularity  increases,  and 
the  now  almost  universal  use  of  plants,  and 
especially  of  cut  fronds,  intermixed  in  floral 
decorations,  has  led  to  the  production  of  a 
few  of  the  most  suitable  species  in  immense 
quantities.  The  earlier  modern  botanists 
knew  little  about  ferns,  and  Linnasus,  who  is 
regarded  as  the  father  of  modern  botany, 
seems  to  have  supposed  that  in  one  sense 
they  had  flowers  as  other  plants  had,  the 
little  brown  dots  on  the  back  of  the  fronds 
being  supposed  to  be  seeds  of  the  same  char- 
acter as  ordinary  flowering  plants.  During 
the  last  fifty  or  more  years,  many  discoveries 
have  been  made  about  Ferns,  most  notably 
that  these  little  dusty  brown  dots  are  not 
really  seeds  but  little  bud  ferns.  When  they 
fall  or  are  sown  in  damp  places  they  open  and 
form  little  flat  green  membranes,  and  in  this 
membrane  the  real  flowers  appear,  and  all  the 
processes  common  to  flowering  plants  are  car- 
ried out. 


FEE 

In  scientific  treatises  on  ferns,  all  these  pro- 
cesses of  fern-growth  and  their  functions,  are 
given  diiTerent  names  from  what  they  would 
have  in  other  plants ;  thus  the  germinating 
green  blade  is  called  a  prothallium,  and  the 
mass  that  would  be  the  stamens  in  a  flowering 
plant  is  the  anthevidia,  while  the  pistil  is  the 
archegonium.  There  is  this  difference,  how- 
ever, that  while  flovrering  plants  after  fertili- 
zation retain  the  germ,  in  what  we  call  a  seed, 
for  some  time  before  it  grows,  in  tlie  fei"n  the 
germ  commences  at  once  to  grow  and  make 
a  little  plant.  This  has  some  bearing  on  the 
raising  of  hybrid  ferns.  New  varieties  are 
obtained  by  sowing  the  spores  of  different 
forms  of  the  same  species  together,  for  as  in 
flowering  plants  it  is  only  in  case  of  very 
close  relationship  that  intermixture  is  possi- 
ble. Those  who  have  experimented  and  ob- 
served closely,  tell  us  that  the  chances  of  in- 
termixture is  not  great,  still  this  is  the  only 
way  to  get  new  varieties.  By  taking  the 
spores  from  the  crested  portion  of  "Crested 
Ferns "  the  certainty  of  getting  crested 
seedlings  is  much  inci-eased. 

Raising  Fe'"ns  from  spores  is  a  very  inter- 
esting operation  requiring  considerable  care 
and  attention  to  accomplish  successfully. 
They  are  best  so^vn  in  pots  or  shallow  pans 
that  have  been  half  filled  with  broken  rubble, 
the  remainder  being  filled  to  within  half  an  inch 
of  the  top  with  a  finely  sifted  compost  of 
loam,  peat  and  sand.  As  the  fern  spores  are 
extremely  minute  the  soil  should  be  watered 
and  allowed  to  drain  before  sowing  as  by 
watering  afterwards  the  spores  might  be 
washed  away.  Scatter  thinly  over  the  sur- 
face, pieces  of  glass  being  placed  over  the 
tops  of  the  pots  which  should  then  be  stood 
in  saucers  of  water  thus  obviating  the 
necessity  of  watering  overhead.  They  should 
be  kept  well  shaded  at  all  times,  and  when 
the  spores  are  sufficiently  grown  to  be  visible 
as  very  minute  plants,  they  should  be  taken 
up  in  small  patches,  and  pricked  off  carefully, 
these  in  turn  when  they  get  established  and 
fit  to  handle  should  be  divided  and  potted  off 
singly.  The  most  popular  species  Adiantums, 
Pteris,  etc.,  are  raised  from  spores  in  immense 
quantities.  Many  others  as  Nephrolepis, 
Davallia,  etc.,  that  form  several  crowns  or 
have  creeping  rhizomes  are  easily  increased 
by  division.  A  few  species  produce  small 
bulbils  along,  or  at  the  end  of  the  frond,  and 
these,  if  removed  and  placed  on  the  soil 
eventually  form  plants. 

Trunks  of  Tree  Ferns  are  imported  in  large 
numbers,  both  from  the  West  Indies  and 
Australia^  and  a  large  proportion  generally 
succeed.  Young  plants  may  be  raised  from 
spores,  and  such  quick-giowing  species  as 
Dicksonia,  Alsophila,  etc.,  soon  make  elegant 
plants  for  decorative  purposes.  Hardy  Ferns 
succeed  best  when  planted  on  rock-work  or  in 
a  shady  situation  sheltered  fi-om  high  winds ; 
as  there  is  so  much  diversity  both  in  their 
size  and  habit,  particular  attention  should  be 
directed  to  their  arrangement,  placing  the 
evergreen  and  deciduous  species  at  irregular 
intervals,  so  that  the  whdle  may  be  more  or 
less  furnished  at  all  seasons. 

Fero'nia.  The  Wood-apple  or  Elephant-apple 
of  India,  closely  allied  to  the  Orange.  F.  ele- 
phantum,  the  only  species  of  this  genus  of 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


153 


FEE 

RutacecB,  is  common  throughout  India,  Bur- 
mah,  Ceylon  and  Java,  and  forms  a  large  tree, 
yielding  a  hard  heavy  wood,  of  great  strength, 
but  not  durable.  The  leaves  have  the  odor  of 
Anise,  and  the  fruit  is  edible.  Increased  by 
cuttings  of  the  ripe  young  wood.  Introduced 
from  Coromandel,  in  1804. 

Perra'ria.  Named  after  Ferrari,  an  Italian  bot- 
anist.    Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

A  genus  of  dwarf  bulbs  from  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  producing  very  curious,  oddly- 
colored  flowers,  perhaps  more  singular  than 
beautiful.  They  are  of  easy  culture,  requir- 
ing to  be  kept  dry  during  winter.  They 
should  be  started  in  the  green-house  in  Feb- 
ruary, in  small  pots  and  as  soon  as  they  com- 
mence growth,  given  plenty  of  air,  sunlight, 
and  water,  and  they  will  come  into  flower  in 
April.  They  will  grow  finely  in  a  cold  frame 
if  carefully  protected  from  frost  during  win- 
ter, and  are  increased  freely  by  offsets.  In- 
troduced in  1800. 

Ferruginous.  Iron-colored ;  rusty  light  brown, 
with  a  little  mixture  of  red. 

Fertile.  Producing  fruit.  Also,  capable  of  ef- 
fecting the  process  of  fertilization;  or  of  pro- 
ducing perfect  seeds,  as  the  anthers  when 
filled  with  pollen ;  fertilized. 

Fertilization.  The  reproductive  function  by 
which  the  action  of  the  pollen  renders  the 
ovule  fertile. 

Fertilizers.  This  word  is  generally  used  only 
in  connection  with  commercial  fertilizers, 
or  concentrated  fertilizers,  though,  of  course, 
in  its  full  significance  it  refers  to  any  sub- 
stance suitable  for  the  food  of  plants.  The 
best  known  fertilizers  of  commerce  are  Pe- 
ruvian Guano  and  Bone  Dust,  though  there 
are  numbers  of  others,  such  as  Fish  Guano, 
Dry  Blood  Fertilizer,  Blood  and  Bone  Fertil- 
izer, with  the  various  brands  of  Superphos- 
phates, all  of  more  or  less  value  for  fertilizing 
purposes.  It  is  useless  to  go  over  the  list, 
and  we  will  confine  ourselves  to  the  relative 
merits  of  pure  Peruvian  Guano  and  pure 
Bone  Dust.  Guano  at  $65  per  ton  we  consider 
relatively  equal  in  value  to  Bone  Dust  at  $40 
per  ton,  for  in  the  lower  priced  article  we  find 
we  have  to  increase  the  quantity  to  produce 
the  same  result.  Whatever  kind  of  concen- 
trated fertilizer  is  used,  we  find  it  well  repays 
the  labor  to  prepare  it  in  the  following  man- 
ner before  it  is  used  on  the  land :  to  every 
bushel  of  Guano  or  Bone  Dust  add  three 
bushels  of  either  leaf  mould  (from  the  woods), 
well  pulverized  dry  muck,  sweepings  from  a 
paved  street,  stable  manure  so  rotted  as  to  be 
like  pulverized  muck,  or,  if  neither  of  these 
can  be  obtained,  any  loamy  soil  will  do ;  but 
in  every  case  the  material  to  mix  the  fertili- 
zers with  must  be  fairly  dry  and  never  in  a 
condition  of  mud ;  the  meaning  of  the  opera- 
tion being,  that  the  material  used  is  to  act  as 
a  temporary  absorbent  for  the  fertilizer.  The 
compost  must  be  thoroughly  mixed,  and  if 
Guano  is  used,  it  being  sometimes  lumpy,  it 
must  be  broken  up  to  dust  before  being  mixed 
with  the  absorbent.  The  main  object  of  this 
operation  is  for  the  better  separation  and  di- 
vision of  the  fertilizer,  so  that,  when  applied 
to  the  soil,  it  can  be  more  readily  distributed. 
Our  experiments  have  repeatedly  shown  that 


FER 

this  method  of  using  concentrated  fertilizers 
materially  increases  their  value  probably 
twenty  per  cent.  The  mixing  should  be  done 
a  few  months  previous  to  spring,  and  it 
should,  after  being  mixed,  be  packed  away  in 
barrels,  and  kept  in  some  dry  shed  or  cellar 
until  wanted  for  use.  Thus  mixed,  it  is  par- 
ticularly beneficial  on  lawns  or  other  grass 
lands.  The  quantity  of  concentrated  fertil- 
izer to  be  used  is  often  perplexing  to  begin- 
ners. We  give  the  following  as  the  best  rules 
we  know,  all  derived  from  our  own  practice  in 
growing  fruits,  flowers,  and  vegetables  :  Tak- 
ing Guano  as  a  basis,  we  would  recommend 
for  all  vegetables  or  fruit  crops,  if  earliness 
and  good  quality  are  desired,  the  use  of  not 
less  than  1,200  pounds  per  acre  (an  acre  con- 
tains 4,840  square  yards,  and  cultivators  for 
private  use  can  easily  estimate  from  this  the 
quantity  they  require  for  any  area),  mixed  with 
two  tons  of  either  of  the  materials  recom- 
mended. If  Bone  Dust  is  used,  about  one 
ton  per  acre  should  be  used,  mixed  with  three 
tons  of  soil  or  the  other  materials  named. 
When  used  alone  without  being  mixed  with 
the  absorbent,  it  should  be  sown  on  the  soil 
after  plowing  or  digging,  about  thick  enough 
to  just  color  the  surface,  or  about  as  thick  as 
sand  or  sawdust  is  sown  on  a  floor,  and  then 
thoroughly  harrowed  in  if  plowed,  or,  if  dug, 
chopped  in  with  a  rake.  This  quantity  is  used 
broadcast  "  by  sowing  on  the  ground  after 
plowing  and  deeply  and  thoroughly  harrowing 
in,  or,  if  in  small  gardens,  forked  in  lightly 
with  the  prongs  of  a  garden  fork  or  long- 
toothed  steel  rake.  When  applied  in  hills  or 
drills,  from  100  to  300  pounds  should  be  used 
to  the  acre,  according  to  the  distance  of  these 
apart,  mixing  with  soil,  etc.,  as  already  di- 
rected. 

When  well-rotted  stable  manure  is  procur- 
able at  a  cost  not  to  exceed  $2  or  $3  per  ton, 
whether  from  horses  or  cows,  it  is  preferable 
to  any  concentrated  fertilizer.  Rotted  stable 
manure,  to  produce  full  crops,  should  be 
spi'ead  on  the  ground  not  less  than  three 
inches  thick,  and  should  be  thoroughly 
mixed  with  the  soil  by  plowing  or  spading. 
The  refuse  hops  from  breweries  form  an  ex- 
cellent fertilizer,  at  least  one-half  more  valu- 
able, bulk  for  bulk,  than  stable  manure. 
Other  excellent  fertilizers  are  obtained  from 
the  scrapings  or  shavings  from  horn  or  whale- 
bone manufactories.  The  best  way  to  make 
these  quickly  available  is  to  compost  them 
with  hot  manure  in  the  proportion  of  one  ton 
of  refuse  horn  or  whalebone  with  fifteen  tons 
of  manure.  The  heated  manure  extracts  the 
oil,  which  is  intermingled  with  the  whole. 

The  manure  from  the  chicken  or  pigeon 
house  Is  very  valuable,  and  when  composted 
as  directed  for  Bone  Dust  and  Guano,  has  at 
least  one-third  their  value.  Castor  oil  pom- 
ace is  also  valuable. 

Ashes.  The  ashes  of  vegetable  matter  con- 
sist of  such  elements  as  are  always  required 
for  their  perfect  maturity,  and  it  is  evident 
they  must  furnish  one  of  the  best  saline 
manures  which  can  be  supplied  for  their 
growth  ;  they  contain  in  fact  every  element, 
and  generally  in  the  right  proportions,  for 
insuring  a  full  and  rapid  growth.  The  annual 
exhaustion  of  salts  from  a  large  crop  of  grain, 
roots,  or  grass,  is  from  180  to  250  pounds  per 
acre,  and  the  aggregate  of  a  few  years  will  so 


154 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


FEE 

far  impoverish  the  soil  in  one  or  more  of  the 
principles  necessary  to  sustain  a  luxuriant 
vegetation  that  it  will  cease  to  yield  remuner- 
ating returns.  Ashes  are  among  the  best  of 
fertilizers  for  Onions;  a  handful  to  the  hill 
before  corn  is  hoed  will  give  good  returns. 
They  are  also  excellent  for  top  dressing  grass- 
land, and  as  there  is  no  danger  of  their  con- 
taining weed-seeds  they  are  valuable  for  top 
dressing  lawns.  The  quantity  used  should 
be  about  the  same  as  bone  dust,  which  see. 

Nitrate  op  Soda,  and  Sulphate  of  Am- 
monia, are  both  powerful  fertilizers,  are  used 
to  a  considerable  extent,  and  are  deemed  es- 
pecially valuable  to  grain  crops.  Nitrate  of 
Soda  cannot  be  kept  too  dry  as  it  attracts  mois- 
ture the  same  as  common  Salt  does  and  may  be 
applied  at  the  rate  of  about  two  and  one-half 
hundred  weight  to  the  acre  as  a  top  dressing 
in  moist  weather  or  just  before  rain.  Owing 
to  its  nature  it  is  more  suited  to  hot  dry  soils 
than  Sulphate  of  Ammonia,  which,  though 
not  so  quick  in  its  action,  is  more  lasting  in 
its  effects,  and  is  often  used  as  a  supplement- 
ary top  dressing  to  the  former. 

PouDKETTE  is  the  name  given  to  a  commer- 
cial fertilizer,  the  composition  of  which  is  night 
soil  and  dried  swamp  muck  or  charcoal  dust 
as  an  absorbent.  It  is  sold  at  about  $12  to 
$15  per  ton,  and  at  that  price  may  be  equal  in 
value,  if  too  much  of  the  absorbing  material 
is  not  used,  to  Bone  Dust  at  $40  per  ton. 

Salt  has  little  or  no  value  as  a  f(a-tiliz«r,  ex- 
cept as  a  medium  of  absorbing  moisture.  For 
experience  shows  that  soils  impregnated  by  a 
saline  are  no  more  fertile  than  those  inland 
out  of  the  reach  of  such  an  atmosphere.  See 
Manures. 

Fe'rula.  Giant  Fennel.  From /erto,  to  strike, 
the  stems  are  used  as  rods.  Nat.  Ord.  Um- 
belliferce. 

A  genus  of  very  showy,  hardy  herbaceous 
plants,  relatives  of  southern  Europe,  north- 
ern Africa,  and  central  and  western  Asia. 
They  are  admirable  plants  for  growing  near 
water,  or  on  banks,  or  margins  of  lawns, 
where  their  deep  green  elegant  foliage  is 
shown  to  the  best  advantage.  The  two  most 
showy  species  are  F.  communis,  and  F.  Tingi- 
tana.  They  are  propagated  by  seeds,  or  by 
divisions  of  the  root. 

Fescue  Grass.    See  Festuca. 

Festu'ca.  A  genus  containing  some  of  the  best 
pasture  grasses.  F.  glauca  is  a  very  hand- 
some ornamental  grass,  which,  though  hardy, 
is  very  suitable  for  the  green-house  and  the 
sitting-room. 

Fetid  Horehound.    See  Ballota 

Fetticus.     See  Valerianella. 

Fever  Bush.  A  local  name  of  the  Lindera; 
given  for  the  supposed  medicinal  properties 
of  the  shrub. 

Feverfew.    See  Pyrethrum  Parthenium. 

Fever  Tree,  or  Fever  Gum-Tree.     Eucalyptus 

globulus. 
Fever  Weed.     Gerardia  pedicularia. 

Fibre,  Elementary.  That  thread  which  is 
turned  round  the  interior  of  the  tubes  that 
are  called  spiral  vessels,  or  of  any  similar 
kind  of  tissue. 


FIL 

Fibrous.  Containing  a  great  proportion  of 
woody  fibre,  as  the  rind  of  a  Cocoanut ;  com- 
posed of  fibres. 

Fica'ria.  Fig-wort.  From  Jicus,  a  fig ;  in  refer- 
ence to  the  fig-shaped  little  tubers  of  the  root. 
Nat.  Ord.  Ranunculacece. 

A  hardy  herbaceous  perennial  with  bright 
yellow  fiowers,  closely  resembling  the  Ranun- 
culus, to  which  it  is  allied,  the  only  difference 
being  in  the  shape  of  the  petals.  It  is  one  of 
the  earliest  spring  flowers  in  the  English 
woods  or  waste  places. 

Ficoi'deaae.  A  large  natural  order  of  small 
shrubs,  under-shrubs,  or  herbs,  containing 
over  400  species,  natives  chiefly  of  tropical 
and  sub-tropical  regions.  Teiragonia  (the  New 
Zealand  Spinach)  and  Mesembryantliemum  are 
the  best  known  genera ;  indeed,  the  order  is 
called  MesembryanthemacefB  by  some  botanists. 

Fi'cus.  Fig-tree.  The  Fig-tree  has  nearly  the 
same  name  in  all  the  European  languages,  and 
is  supposed  to  be  derived  from  the  Hebrew 
name/ey.     Nat.  Ord.  Urticaceoe. 

A  genus  of  trees,  some  of  which  require  to 
be  grown  in  the  hot-house.  It  contains  sev- 
eral valuable  species,  especially  the  India 
Eubber  tree  (F.  elastica),  and  the  Banyan  tree 
(F.  Indica) ;  the  foliage  of  all  of  them  is  very 
imposing,  and  their  culture  is  of  the  easiest 
descripUon,  i-equiringheat  and  plenty  of  water 
in  their  growing  season.  F.  elanlica,  if  culti- 
vated in  a  humid  atmosphere,  such  as  that  of 
an  Orchid-house,  willemitioots  from  its  stem 
and  branches,  and  attach  itself  to  any  contig- 
uous object,  such  as  a  wall,  in  the  manner  of 
an  epiphyte.  This  is  tlie  India  Eubber  tree 
of  commerce.  It  is  much  valued  as  a  decora- 
tive plant  for  rooms.  A  very  effective  variety 
with  golden-edged  leaves  has  been  lately 
introduced,  the  golden  band  about  an  inch 
wide,  contrasting  beautifully  with  the  glossy 
green  of  the  center  of  the  leaf.  F.  Parcelli 
has  bright-green  serrated  leaves,  irregularly 
blotched  with  dark  green  and  ivory  white.  It 
forms  a  very  neat  and  ornamental  decorative 
plant.  F.  Carica,  the  cultivated  Fig,  is  sup- 
posed to  be  a  native  of  Caria,  in  Asia.  It  has, 
however,  been  so  long  under  cultivation 
throughout  southern  Europe  that  its  nativity 
is  lost  sight  of.  The  fruit  can  be  grown  here 
without  artificial  heat,  an  ordinary  pit  alone 
being  sufficient  protection  in  winter;  or  the 
plants  can  be  laid  down  and  covered  up  with 
six  inches  of  soil  in  November  and  uncovered 
in  April,  and  will  thus  withstand  our  severest 
northern  winters.  The  Fig  is  generally  hardy 
south  of  Washington.  Propagated  by  cuttings 
or  layers. 

Fiddle-Wood.     See  Citharexylum. 

Fig  Marigold.     See  AIesembryanthem.um. 

Fig-Tree.     The  genus  Ficus,  which  see. 

Adam's.     3Iu8a  puradisiaca. 

Balsam,  of  the  West  Indies.     Several  species 
of  Clusia. 

Creeping.     Ficus  stipulata. 

Devil's,  or  Infernal.     Argemone  Mexicana. 

Mangrove.     Rhizophora  Mangle. 

Sacred.     Ficus  religiosa. 
Fig-TRrort.  The  genus  Scrophularia ;  also  Ficaria, 
which  see. 

Cape.     Phygelius  capensia. 
Filamentose.    Thready. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


155 


FIL 

Filices.  One  of  the  principal  groups  of  Crypto- 
gams, coiumonlj'  called  Ferns,  consisting  of 
herbaceous  or  arborescent  perennial,  very 
rarely  annual,  plants,  with  fibrous  roots,  or 
creeping  root-stalks.  Those  of  an  arborescent 
or  tree  habit  have  trunks  varying  from  two  or 
three  to  sixty  or  eigiity  feet  in  height, 
and  formed  of  the  consolidated  bases  of 
the  fronds,  surrounding  a  soft  central  mass 
of  tissue.  Many  sclienies  have  been  proposed 
for  the  classification  of  Ferns,  but  that  seems 
to  be  preferable  which  is  based  on  the  modi- 
fications of  the  vascular  system  in  conjunc- 
tion witli  the  fructification.  All  Ferns  may  be 
referred  to  one  of  tlie  groups  OphioglossacecB, 
Marattiacem,  or  Polypodiacece,  of  which  the  first 
two,  sometimes  called  pseudo-Ferns,  are  very 
limited,  while  the  latter,  containing  the  true 
Ferns,  includes  the  greater  portion  of  all  the 
known  species.  There  are  about  seventy-five 
genera,  and  about  2,500  species.  The  follow- 
ing are  some  of  the  principal  and  most  exten- 
sive genera :  Adiantum,  Asplenium,  Aspi- 
dium,  Polypodium,  and  Pteris. 

Filiform.       Cylindrical    and    slender,     like    a 

thread. 
Filipendulous.      Where  tuberous  swellings  are 

developed  in  the  middle  or  at  the  extremities 

of  filiform  rootlets  as  in  Spirceafilipendula. 
Fimbriate.     Fringed. 
Fiorin  or  Fiorin-Grass.  (Butter  Grass.)  Agrostis 

stolonifera. 
Fir.     A    general  name   for  various  species  of 
Abies,  Picea,  and  Pinus. 

Balm  of  Gilead,  or  Balsam.      Abies  balsamea. 

Black  Spruce.     Abies  nigra. 

Douglas  Spruce.  Abies  {Pseudo-tsiiga)Dougla8ii. 

Hemlock  Spruce.     Tsuga  Canadensis. 

Japan  Silver.     Picea firma. 

Norway'  Spruce.      Abies  excelsa. 

Parasol,  or  Umbrella.    The  genus  Sciadopitys. 

Pitch,  or  Siberian  Silver.     Picea  Pichta. 

Sacred  Silver.     Pinus  religiosa. 

Scotch.     Pinus  sylvestris. 

Silver.     Picea  pectinata. 
Fire  Cracker  Plant.    See  Cuphea. 
Fire  Pink.     A  local  name  of  Silene  Virginica. 
Fire  Tree.     See  Niiytsia. 

Of  Queensland.     See  Slenocarpus. 
Fire-Weed.     A  name  given  to  Erechites  hieraci- 

folia,    because    of    its    appearance    on    new 

grounds,  when  brush  has  been  burned.     It  is 

a  coarse  worthless  weed,  though  not  apt  to 

be  troublesome. 
Firming   the  Soil.     See   Sowing  and  Planting, 

Use  of  the  Feet  in. 
Fish  Bone  Thistle.     Chamaipeuce  Casabonoe. 
Fish  Guano.     See  Fertilizer. 
Fish-Tail  Palm.     See  Caryota. 

Fissus.  Divided  half  way  usually  into  a  deter- 
minate number  of  segments.  We  say,  bijidus, 
split  in  two,  trifidus,  in  three,  and  so  on ;  or 
muUifidus,  when  the  segments  are  very 
numerous. 

Fistular,  Fistulous.  This  is  said  of  a  cylin- 
drical or  terete  body  which  is  hollow,  but 
closed  at  each  end,  as  the  leaves  and  stem  of 
the  Onion. 

Fitto'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  E.  and  8.  M.  Fit- 
ton,  authors  of  "Conversations  on  Botany," 
Nat.  Ord.  Acanthaceoe. 


FLO 

A  genus  of  trailing  perennials  with  bril- 
liantly marked  leaves,  natives  of  Peru  and 
requiring  Stove-house  treatment.  They  are 
excellent  plants  for  the  Wardian  case  and  use- 
ful also  for  planting  on  the  surface  of  pots  or 
tubs  in  which  large  plants  or  other  decorative 
plants  are  grown,  and  also  for  forming  narrow 
borders  to  the  walks  in  heated  structures.  F. 
argyroneura,  has  oval  leaves  of  a  vivid  green, 
traversed  by  a  net-work  of  pure  white  veins; 
other  species  have  the  midrib  and  veins  deep 
red  or  carmine.  They  are  easily  increased 
by  cuttings.    Syn.  Gymnostachyum. 

Five  Fingers.    See  Potentilla. 

Flabelliform.     Fan-shaped. 

Flacourtia.  Named  after  Elienne  de  Flacourt, 
a  botanist  and  director  of  the  French  East 
India  Company  in  1648.  The  typical  genus  of 
Flacourtiacece,  comprising  a  few  species  of 
fruit-bearing,  thorny  trees  or  shrubs,  natives 
of  tropical  Asia,  Africa,  and  America.  The 
fruits  of  several  of  the  species  are  used  in 
India,  and  have  a  pleasant  sub-acid  flavor, 
when  perfectly  ripe,  but  the  unripe  fruit  is 
exceedingly  astringent.  The  young  shoots 
and  leaves  of  F.  cataphracta  are  used  medici- 
nally by  the  native  Indian  doctors  as  a  cure 
for  diarrhoea.  The  species  are  I'arely  seen 
in  cultivation. 

Flacourtiaceae.  (Bixacese.)  A  natural  order 
of  shrubs  or  small  trees,  with  alternate  leaves, 
often  marked  with  transparent  dots.  They  are 
natives,  principally,  of  the  East  and  West 
Indies ;  a  few  species  are  found  at  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  and  one  or  two  in  New  Zealand. 
Some  of  the  plants  yield  edible  fruits,  others 
are  bitter  and  astringent.  The  order  includes 
about  twenty-five  genera  and  150  species. 

Flag.     A  general  name  for  the  genus  Iris. 
Yellow,  or  Water.     Iris  Pseudo-acorus. 

Flagelliform.  Flexible,  narrow,  and  tapering, 
like  the  thong  of  a  whip,  as  the  runners  of 
many  plants. 

Flame  Flower.  One  of  the  popular  names  of 
Tritoma. 

Flame  Lily.     See  Pyrolirion. 

Flame  Tree,  or  Tree  of  Fire.     See  Nuytsia. 

Flamingo  Plant.  Popular  name  of  Anthurium 
Scherzerianum. 

Flavescent.     A  pure  pale  yellow. 

Flax.     See  Linum. 

New  Zealand,  or  Flax  Lily.     Phormium  tenax. 

Fleabane.     See  Erigeron. 

Fleur-de-Luce.     See  Iris. 

Flexuose.  Zig-zag;  having  a  wavy  direction, 
gently  bending  alternately  inward  and  out- 
ward. 

Floating  Heart.     See  Limnanthemum. 

Floocose.  Covered  with  little  tufts  of  hair,  like 
wool. 

Flora.  (The  goddess  of  flowers.)  The  aggre- 
gate of  all  the  species  of  plants  inhabiting  a 
particular  country. 

Floral.    Of  or  belonging  to  the  flower. 

Floral  Envelopes.  The  calyx  and  corolla,  one 
or  both. 

Florets.  When  many  small  flowers  are  collected 
in  clusters  or  heads,  each  flower  is  called  a 
floret.  The  florets  of  the  dt^are  those  which 


156 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


FLO 

occupy  the  center  of  the  head  of  a  Composite ; 
while  florets  of  the  ray  occupy  the  circumfer- 
ence. 
Florida  Bean.  See  Entada. 
Florida  Moss.  See  Tillandsia. 
Florists'  Flowers.  These  are  defined  as, 
"Flowers  which,  by  their  beauty,  or  fra- 
grance, power  to  produce  permanent  varieties, 
and  facility  of  cultivation,  are  so  largely  in  de- 
mand as  to  render  them  especially  worthy  of 
cultivation  as  an  article  of  commerce."  The 
term  is  most  generally  applied  to  that  large 
section  of  green-house  and  hardy  plants, 
which  have  originally  descended  from  a 
limited  number  of  species,  but  which,  either 
by  cultivation,  careful  selection,  or  systematic 
hybridization  the  "Florist,"  has  caused  to 
"break"  from  the  original  species  into 
varieties  much  superior  to  the  original,  it 
may  be  in  the  habit  of  the  plant  or  variety  of 
color  and  form  of  the  flower.  The  variety  of 
plants  included  among  Florists'  flowers,  is 
annually  extending,  as  genera  that  have 
hitherto  been  neglected  are  being  brought 
under  the  same  influences  with  a  view  of  ob- 
taining similar  results.  Perfection  in  habit 
of  plant,  and  in  form  of  flower,  with  distinct 
coloring,  are  points  always  aimed  at  and  only 
those  flowers  which  are  most  desirable  in 
these  respects,  should  be  used  for  hybridizing 
or  seeding  purposes.  Seeds  having  a  ten- 
dency to  produce  varieties  of  an  inferior 
quality,  it  is  necessary  to  perpetuate  those 
good  sorts  already  secured,  by  cuttings  or 
offsets,  as  the  case  may  be ;  the  advantages  of 
the  improvements  effected  are  thus  available 
for  all,  in  the  select  varieties  now  in  general 
cultivation,  as  well  as  those  now  annually 
distributed.  Among  the  best  known  examples 
of  the  Florist's  success  are  the  Auricula, 
Chrysanthemum,  Carnation,  Dahlia,  Fuchsia, 
Gladiolus,  Pelargonium,  both  show  and  Zonal, 
Tulip,  Hyacinth,  Verbena,  Rose,  etc. 

Flower.  That  assemblage  of  organs  in  a  plant, 
of  which  the  stamens  or  pistils,  or  both,  form 
part. 

Flow^er  Border.    See  Border. 

Flow^er-de-Luce.    See  Iris. 

Flow^er  Fence.     See  Poinciana. 

Flower  of  the  Holy  Spirit.     See  Peristeria. 

Flowering  Ash.     See  Ornvs. 

Flov^ering  Fern.     See  Osmunda. 

Flov^ering  Grass.     Anomatheca  cruenta. 

Flow^ering  Rush.     See  Butomus. 

Flues.     Single  and  double.     See  Heating. 

Fluitans.     Floating  on  the  surface  of  water. 

Fluvial,  Fluviatile.  Of  or  belonging  to  the 
water. 

Fly  Honeysuckle.     Lonicera  Xylosteum. 

Fly  Orchis.     Ophrys  muscifera. 

Fly  Poison.     Amianthium  musccetoxicum. 

Fly-Trap.      American.      Apocynum  androscBmi- 
folium. 
Venus's.    Dioncea  muscipida. 

Foeni'culum.  Fennel.  The  old  Latin  name. 
Nat.  Ord.  Umbelliferce. 

F.  vulgare.  the  common  Fennel,  is  a  native 
of  southern  Europe  and  western  Asia,  and  is 
usually    found    on    dry    soils    near  the  sea. 


FOR 

It  is  an  aromatic  plant  of  perennial  duration, 
and  is  propagated  both  by  offsets,  division 
of  the  root,  and  by  seed.  F.  dulce,  the  Sweet 
Fennel,  is  generally  considered  a  variety  of  the 
preceding ;  but  it  differs  in  being  a  smaller 
plant,  producing  larger  seeds,  and  in  its  flow- 
ering earlier.  The  leaves  are  used  in  sauces 
and  for  garnishing,  and  the  seeds  are  em- 
ployed in  confectionary  and  for  flavoring 
liquors. 

FoUaceous.     Having  the  form  of  leaves. 

Foliage  Plants.  A  popular  term,  though  an 
incorrect  one,  given  to  distinguish  such  plants 
as  are  used  for  decorative  purposes  for  the 
beauty  of  their  foliage  rather  than  for  the 
beauty  of  their  flowers.  It  is  more  particu- 
larly used  for  such  plants  as  are  used  for 
massing  in  color ;  for  example,  the  Achyran- 
thes,  Centaureas  (Dusty  Millers),  Pyrethrum 
aureum  (Golden  Feather),  Coleus,  and  plants 
of  that  class  used  in  "ribbon  line"  bedding, 
are  called  "foliage"  plants;  though,  among 
plants  for  inside  decoration,  the  Crotons, 
Draccenas,  Pandanads,  Fancy  Caladiums,  etc., 
are  sometimes  so  named;  but  the  proper 
designation  for  all  such  plants,  whether  used 
for  outside  or  inside  decoration,  is  "Orna- 
mental-leaved Plants,"  or  "Ornamental-foli- 
age d  Plants." 

Foliate.     Clothed  with  leaves. 

Foliole.  A  leaflet ;  the  secondary  divisions  of 
a  compound  leaf. 

Foliose.     Covered  closely  with  leaves. 

Follicle.  An  inflated  seed-vessel;  as  that  of 
the  Colutea. 

Fool's  Parsley.     See  u^thvsa. 

Fontane'sia.  A  Syrian  shrub  of  the  Olive  fam- 
ily, named  in  honor  of  M.  Desfontaines,  an 
eminent  French  botanist.  It  is  an  orna- 
mental, hardy  sub-evergreen  shrub,  resem- 
bling the  common  Privet,  but  with  rough 
bark  and  graceful,  slender  drooping  branches. 
Flowers  creamy-yellow  in  axillary  racemes. 
Introduced  in  1787. 

Forbidden  Fruit.     Citrus  Paradisi. 

Of    London.      A    variety  of    the    Shaddock. 

Citrus  decumana. 
Of    Paris.      The    sweet    skinned  Orange ;    a 
variety  of  Citrus  Aurantium. 

Forcing  Fruits,  Flowers  and  Vegetables.  As 
this  operation  has  to  be  conducted  through- 
out the  winter  and  early  spring  months  the 
greatest  care  is  necessary  in  practice  to  ob- 
tain satisfactory  results,  more  especially  as 
they  have  to  be  procured  under  conditions 
that  are  unnatural  to  the  plants  at  the  time, 
in  consequence  of  their  having  had  an  insuffi- 
cient season  of  rest.  The  preparation  of 
plants  for  forcing  is  one  of  the  most  important 
points,  and  only  those  that  have  the  wood 
thoroughly  ripened,  should  be  chosen.  In  the 
early  stages  of  the  operation,  heat  should  be 
applied  very  gradually,  beginning  with  a  little 
closer,  warmer  atmosphere  than  that  allowed 
during  the  resting  period.  A  temperature 
not  exceeding  50"  to  55°  will  suit  a  large  num- 
ber of  plants  to  start  with,  but  even  this  is 
too  high  for  some  subjects.  Most  plants  will 
bear  more  heat  after  the  buds  swell  and  have 
commenced  growing,  than  they  will  pre- 
viously. In  very  early  forcing  all  the  sun- 
shine and  light  possible  should  be  admitted. 


FBSTUCA    DUKIUSCUIiA  (HARD  FESCITE). 


FESTTJOA    EUBHA    (RED   FESCUE). 


FESTUCA  FRATENSIS   (MEADOW  FESCUE) 


«S6 


FUNKIA  OVATA. 


FRITILLARIA  IMPEBIALIS  (CKOWN  IMPEBIAi). 


FBEEBIA  REFBACTA  ALBA. 


AND  TJENERAL   horticulture. 


157 


FOE 

as  during  the  winter  months  the  sun  will  sel- 
dom be  strong  enough  to  injure  the  tenderest 
foliage.  As  many  flowers  and  vegetables  are 
of  no  further  use  after  having  been  forced,  it 
is  necessary  to  raise  an  annual  supply  of 
strong  healthy  roots  for  this  purpose.  Al- 
most any  position  in  a  heated  structure  may 
be  utilized  for  such,  a  succession  crop  being 
planted  every  two  or  three  weeks  as  necessity 
may  require,  the  old  roots  being  destroyed  as 
soon  as  the  crop  is  over,  and  replaced  by  a  new 
batch.  In  many  establishments,  small  span 
roofed  houses  are  used  for  forcing  Cucumbers, 
Tomatoes,  etc.,  a  row  of  plants  being  planted 
on  either  side  and  trained  upon  trellises  undor 
the  glass.  Similar  structures  are  also  used 
for  forwarding  Cauliflower,  Beets,  Bush  Beans, 
Dwarf  Peas,  Radishes,  and  other  salading. 
The  new  Bush  Lima  Bean  can  also  be  suc- 
cessfully forced  in  this  manner.  The  method 
of  forcing  the  principal  Fruits,  Vegetables, 
etc.,  is  described  under  their  respective 
names.  If  raised  benches  are  used,  a  succes- 
sion of  Asparagus,  Sea-Kale,  Rhubarb,Chicory, 
etc.,  may  be  profitably  grown  underneath 
them ;  the  stems  of  those  vegetables  being 
'  much  more  tender  and  succulent  when 
blanched,  than  when  exposed  to  the  light. 

Forget-Me-Not.     See  Myosotis. 

Forked.  Separating  into  distinct  branches 
more  or  less  apart. 

Forsy'thia,  In  honor  of  William  Forsyth,  royal 
gardener  at  Kensington,  Eng.  Author  of 
"Observations  on  the  Diseases  of  Trees." 
London,  1791.     Nat.  Ord.  Oleacecp.. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental  deciduous, 
hardy  shrubs,  introduced  from  the  north  of 
China  in  1845.  F.  viridissima  is  one  of  the 
earliest  of  spring  flowering  shrubs,  being 
completely  covered  in  early  spring  with  tufts 
of  rather  large,  pendulous,  bright  yellow 
flowers,  which  grow  two  or  three  together 
from  all  parts  of  the  rod-like  branches.  It  is 
easily  increased  by  cuttings  or  layers.  F. 
8U8pe7isa  is  also  a  very  graceful  and  free- 
flowering  shrub  with  deep  green  foliage  and 
brigiit  yellow  flowers,  somewhat  more  droop- 
ing in  its  growth  than  the  foregoing.  It  is 
frequently  cultivated  under  the  names  of  F. 
Fortunei,  and  F.  Sieboldi. 

Fothergi'lla.  A  genus  of  the  Witch-hazels 
HamamelidacecB,  named  in  honor  of  Dr.  John 
Fothergill,  of  London,  an  eminent  physician 
and  botanist,  1712-1780.  F.  alnifolia,  the 
only  species,  is  a  low  shrub  with  oval  or  obo- 
vate  leaves  toothed  at  the  summit.  The 
flowers  are  white  and  sweet  scented,  borne  in 
spicate  terminal  racemes,  and  appearing  in 
April  and  May,  rather  before  the  leaves.  It 
is  found  in  low  grounds  from  Virginia  south- 
ward, and  is  increased  by  seeds  or  layers. 

Fountain  Plant.  A  popular  name  for  Amaran- 
thus  salicifolius. 

Fountains.  These  are  often  introduced  in 
garden  or  conservatory  decoration,  and  ai'e 
represented  in  various  forms  and  sizes,  varj'- 
ing  from  specimens  of  the  smallest  descrip- 
tion to  an  enormous  display  of  water  works, 
as  shown  in  extensive  public  gardens  and 
parks.  The  selection  of  an  appropriate  site 
for  the  Fountain,  and  one  that  is  in  keeping 
with  surrounding  objects,  is  one  of  the  most 
important  points  in  its  introduction.      The 


FRA 

center  of  an  inclosed  formal  or  geometrically 
arranged  flower  garden  could  not  be  better 
occupied  than  with  a  fountain  and  circular 
basin,  having  a  walk  i-ound  it  in  connection 
with  the  other  cross-walks.  Intersecting 
points  are  the  best  in  any  case,  on  account  of 
the  means  thereby  supplied  of  utilizing  the 
water  from  the  basin.  Either  a  single  jet  or 
an  indefinite  number,  if  desired,  must  be  in 
connection  with  an  elevated  reservoir,  or 
other  source  of  supply,  from  which  a  force  can 
be  obtained,  and  they  may  be  fixed  so  as  to 
conduct  the  water  in  various  directions,  and 
cause  it  to  disperse  and  descend  in  minute 
particles.  The  Jets  are  best  arranged  amongst 
a  pile  of  rockwork  or  large  stones,  that  help 
to  conceal  them  from  view  when  the  water  is 
stopped.  A  Fountain  has  a  cooling  effect  in 
a  conservatory  in  summer;  and  wlien  con- 
structed in  a  prominent  position,  as  in  the 
center,  it  is  invariably  a  source  of  attraction. 
In  some  of  the  most  extensive  and  beautiful 
floral  decorations,  a  small  Fountain,  with  the 
flowers  and  leaves  of  various  Nymphseas,  etc., 
dropped  in  the  basin  underneath,  forms  an 
interesting  and  novel  feature,  and  one  that  is 
generally  admired. 

Fountain  Tree.  A  popular  name  for  Cedrus 
Deodara. 

Fourcro'ya.  Named  after  M.  Fourcroy,  a  cele- 
brated chemist.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidacece. 

A  genus  closely  allied  to  Agave.  Fifteen 
species  are  described,  all  nati^"es  of  Mexico. 
F.  longcBva  (long  lived)  throws  up  a  magnificent 
flower  stem  forty  feet  high.  It  is  branching 
and  pyramidal,  like  the  Yucca,  though  more 
graceful.  The  lower  branches  of  the  terminal 
pyramid  are  from  ten  to  twelve  feet  long,  and 
are  covered  with  innumerable  white  flowers. 
From  their  great  size  thoy  are  rarely  met  in 
collections.    Syn.  FurcrcBa. 

Four  o'Clocks.  A  popular  name  for  Marvel  of 
Peru.     See  Mirabilis. 

Fo-cvl  Meadow  Grass.     See  Poa  serotina. 

Fox-Glove.     See  Digitalis. 

Fox's  Brush.     Centranthus  ruber. 

Fox-Tail.     Lycopodium  clavatum. 

Fox-Tail  Grass.    Alopecurus  pratensis. 

Fraga'ria.  The  Strawberry.  From  frayraris, 
fragrant ;  in  reference  to  the  perfumed  fi'uit. 
Nat.  Ord.  Rosacem. 

According  to  Sir  Joseph  Banks  and  others, 
the  common  name  of  StrawbeiTy  was  given 
on  account  of  straw  having  bee  a  laid  between 
the  plants  to  prevent  the  fruit  from  getting 
soiled  in  wet  weather.  There  are  se\eral 
species  of  Strawberries,  the  principal  of  which 
are,  F.  Virginiana,  the  Virginian  or  Scarlet, 
the  well-known  native  species ;  F.  grandiflora, 
the  Pine  ;  F.  Chiliensis,  the  Chilian  ;  F.  vesca, 
the  Wood  and  Alpine ;  F.  elatior,  the  Hautbois ; 
F.  viridis,  the  green ;  F.  Indica,  tlie  Indian, 
not  edible,  but  a  pretty  plant  for  hanging  pots 
and  baskets,  its  berries  being  veiy  attractive. 
Like  all  the  others,  it  is  propagated  by  run- 
ners as  well  as  seed.  Previous  to  1629,  the 
date  assigned  to  the  introduction  of  the 
Scarlet  Strawberry  from  Virginia,  the  Wood 
Strawberry  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  kind 
generally  gathered  for  sale  in  England.  The 
varieties  now  gi'own  are  almost  innumerable, 
especially  in  the  United  States,  and  they  are 


158 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


FEA 

increasing  every  year.  The  improvements 
effected  among  them,  in  quality,  size,  and  pro- 
ductiveness, are  very  remarkable  indeed. 
Berries  have  been  exhibited  in  New  York  that 
measured  fully  twelve  inches  in  circumfer- 
ence. For  cultivation,  forcing,  etc.,  see 
Strawberry. 

Frames,  Garden.     See  Cold  Frames. 

Franci'scea.  Named  in  honor  of  Francis, 
Emperor  of  Austria.  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophularia- 
cece. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  shrubs, 
natives  of  Brazil.  There  are  several  in  culti- 
vation, most  of  thorn  having  very  showy, 
salver-shaped,  purple  flowers.  The  roots, 
and,  to  some  extent,  the  leaves,  are  employed 
in  medicine.  The  tincture  is  bitter,  purgative, 
and  emetic,  and  is  poisonous  in  large  doses. 
From  its  peculiar  properties  it  is  called  by  the 
Portuguese,  "Vegetable  Mercury." 

Franco'a.  Named  after  F.  Franco,  a  Spanish 
physician  and  botanist  of  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury.    Nat.  Ord.  Saxifragacem. 

A  small  genus  of  tender  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, natives  of  Chili.  They  are  found  to 
succeed  best  when  treated  as  tender  annuals, 
as  they  can  only  be  increased  by  seeds,  which, 
if  sown  early  in  a  hot-bed.  make  good  flower- 
ing plants  for  autumn.  The  white  or  purple 
flowers  are  produced  on  long  spikes,  and  are 
quite  showy. 

Francoa'ceae.  A  natural  order  now  placed  as  a 
tribe  of  Saxifragacem. 

Frangipani-Shrub.  Plumieria  alba,  and  P. 
rubra. 

Fra'ngula.     A  synonym  of  Rhamnus. 

Franke'nia.  See  Heath.  Named  after  John 
Frankenius,  Professor  of  Botany  at  Upsal,  who 
first  enumerated  the  plants  of  Sweden,  1638. 
Nat.  Ord.  Frankeniacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  and  half-hardy  ever- 
green trailers,  growing  in  marshy  places 
throughout  Europe  and  the  Canary  Islands. 
Though  very  pretty,  they  have  received  but 
little  attention  from  florists.  The  very 
small  pink  flowers  are  produced  in  axillary 
clusters.    Propagated  by  division. 

Frankenia'ceae.  A  small  order  of  herbs  or  sub- 
shrubs,  chiefly  natives  of  north  Africa  and 
the  south  of  Europe.  They  possess  no  prop- 
erties of  importance. 

Frankincense,  or  Olibanum  Tree.  Boswellia 
Carteri,  and  other  species. 

Fra'sera.  Named  after  John  Fraser,  an  inde- 
fatigable collector  in  this  country  toward  the 
close  of  the  last  century.  Nat.  Ord.  Gentian- 
aceoe. 

F.  Carolinensis,  the  best  known  species,  is  a 
tall-growing,  showy  herbaceous  plant.  The 
flowers  are  about  one  inch  in  diameter,  of 
light  greenish-yellow  color,  marked  with  small 
brown-purple  dots.  It  is  commonly  known 
as  American  Columbo,  and  is  common  from 
southwest  New  York  to  Wisconsin  and  south- 
ward.    Syn.  J^.  Walteri. 

Fraxine'Ila.    See  Dictamnus. 

Fra  xinus.  The  Ash.  From  phraxis,  a  separa- 
tion ;  in  reference  to  the  facility  with  which 
the  wood  splits.     Nat.  Ord.  Oleacece. 

This  genus  includes  some  of  the  most  com- 
mon forest  trees  throughout  the  United  States. 


FEE 

They  are  also  common  in  Europe,  Asia,  and  in 
the  north  of  Africa.  The  more  common  and 
important  of  the  native  species  are  the  follow- 
ing: The  White  Ash,  F.  Americana,  is  a 
beautiful  tree,  with  trunk  perfectly  straiglit, 
and  usually  undivided  to  the  height  of  thirty 
to  forty  feet.  Solitary  trees  are  often  very 
beautiful,  being  symmetrical  and  globular, 
with  dense  foliage  of  a  dull  bluish-green  color. 
This  species  delights  in  a  warm,  rich  soil,  and 
is  rarely  found  in  its  natural  state  in  any 
other.  The  timber  of  this  species  is  valuable 
in  the  mechanic  arts,  where  strength  and 
durability  are  required.  The  Black  Ash,  F. 
sambucifolia,  is  a  tree  of  medium  size,  usually 
found  in  wet  or  swampy  situations.  It  is  of 
but  little  value  as  an  ornamental  tree,  and  the 
timber  has  little  value  except  to  split  into 
rails  for  fencing.  The  other  native  species 
are  of  no  special  interest.  The  English  Ash, 
F.  excelsior,  is  almost  identical  with  our  White 
Ash.  Fi'om  it  several  varieties  have  origin- 
ated ;  one  of  weeping  habit,  F.  excelsior  pen- 
dula,  a  very  beautiful  and  desirable  tree  for 
the  lawn.  Some  of  the  varieties  with  golden, 
and  some  with  variegated  foliage,  are  being 
extensively  planted,  and  are  strongly  recom- 
mended for  suburban  grounds. 

Free.      Not    adhering    to    anything   else ;    not 
adnate  to  any  other  body. 

Free'oia.     Derivation  of  name  not  given.     Nat. 
Ord.  Iridacece. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome  bulbous  plants 
from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  introduced 
previously  to  1815,  at  which  time  they  were 
grown  in  English  gardens,  and  included 
in  the  genus  Gladiolus.  The  Garden  says : 
"According  to  Mr.  Baker,  whose  labors  on 
the  Iris  have  rendered  their  study  compar- 
atively easy,  the  genus  Freesia  has  been 
included  in  Gladiolus  and  Tritonia,  as  well  as 
having  a  goodly  number  of  specific  names. 
These  are  all  now  reduced  to  two  species,  viz., 
Freesia  refracta  and  F.  Leichtlinii.  The  for- 
mer varies  considerably,  judging  from  the 
earlier  illustrations  of  it,  which,  if  correct, 
would  seem  to  include  F.  Leichtlinii.  F. 
refracta  has  pale  yellow  flowers,  sometimes 
with  a  greenish,  sometimes  a  purplish 
tint,  while  its  variety,  F.  r.  alba,  has  flowers 
of  the  purest  white,  with  two  orange-yel- 
low flowers  on  the  lower  segments.  Some- 
times these  blotches  are  absent."  F.  refracta 
alba  is  the  only  species  much  cultivated ;  this, 
from  its  pure  white  flowers,  that  are  produced 
in  the  greatest  abundance  during  the  winter 
season,  is  a  valuable  plant  to  grow  for  cut 
flowers.  The  flowers  are  produced  on  slender 
stalks,  just  overtopping  the  foliage,  and  num- 
ber from  three  to  six  in  a  loose  cluster.  They 
are  tubular,  thimble-shaped,  about  one  and  a 
half  inches  in  length ;  their  perfume  is  deli- 
cious, sufficiently  powerful  to  be  perceptible  at 
a  distance  from  the  plant.  They  are  extremely 
useful  as  cut  flowers,  for  which  the  elegant 
manner  in  which  they  are  borne  on  the  stalks 
admirably  adapts  them.  They  can  be  easily 
grown  in  the  ordinary  green-house,  the  only 
care  required  being  to  have  the  bulbs  well 
ripened  before  drying  off,  after  flowering.  It 
is  best  to  put  several  bulbs  in  a  pot  or  pan. 
If  the  latter  is  used,  put  eight  or  ten  in  an 
eight-inch  pan.  They  like  a  fibrous  soil, 
moderately  rich,  and  need  considerable  rest. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


159 


FRE 

Bulbs  that  have  flowered  in  January  should 
go  to  rest  in  April,  and  remain  dry  until 
November.  They  increase  rapidly  by  offsets, 
and  can  be  grown  freely  from  seed,  which 
should  be  sown  soon  as  ripe ;  bulbs  from  seed 
will  flower  the  second  year. 

Fremo'ntia.  Named  in  honor  of  Major-General 
John  C.  Fremont,  who  discovered  it  in  the 
northern  part  of  tlie  Sierra  Nevada.  Nat.  Ord. 
Sterculiacem. 

F.  Californica,  the  only  species,  is  a  decidu- 
ous shrub  from  four  to  ten  feet  high,  some- 
what resembling  the  ordinary  Fig-tree.  The 
flowers  are  very  handsome,  bright  yellow, 
bell-shaped,  and  are  produced  on  short,  spur- 
like branches.  Propagated  by  cuttings  or 
from  seed.     Introduced  in  1851. 

French  Bean.     See  Bean. 

French  Honeysuckle.     See  Hedysarum. 

French  Marigold.     See  Tagetes. 

French  Mulberry.     Callicarpa  Americana. 

French  Willo'w.     EpUobium  angustifolium. 

Fresh-water  Soldier.     Stratioides  aloides. 

Preycine'tia.  Named  after  Admiral  Freycinet, 
a  French  circumnavigator.  A  genus  of  Pan- 
danacecB,  consisting  of  climbing  trees,  natives 
of  the  Indian  Archipelago,  Norfolk  Island, 
New  Zealand,  etc.  The  species  have  the  habit 
of  Pandanus,  and  require  the  same  general 
treatment.     Increased  by  offsets. 

Fringed.     The  same  as  fimbriate. 

Fringe-Flovyer.     Schizanthus  retusus. 

Fringe-Tree.     See  Chionanthus. 

Fritilla'ria.  Fritillary,  Guinea-hen  Flower. 
Fvom.fritillus,  a  chess-board  ;  referring  to  the 
checkered  flowers  of  some  species.  Nat.  Ord. 
Liliacem. 

Showy  bulbs  for  the  border,  mostly  attain- 
ing a  height  of  from  two  to  three  feet,  though 
F.  meleagris  and  its  variations  are  dwarf. 
This  species,  and  one  or  two  others  like  it, 
have  had  much  attention  paid  them  by  the 
continental  florists,  who  have  succeeded  in 
obtaining  many  beautiful  varieties  by  seed, 
and  now  these  flowers  occupy  a  prominent 
place  in  their  catalogues.  Tliey  delight  in 
very  rich  soil,  frequently  dug  and  well  pul- 
verized previous  to  planting.  The  bulbs 
should  be  planted  early  in  the  autumn,  cover- 
ing them  with  about  three  inches  of  earth.  In 
the  blooming  season,  should  the  weather 
prove  dry,  the  ground  must  be  frequently 
well  soaked  with  water,  that  the  growth  may 
be  sufficiently  vigorous,  or  the  flowers  of  the 
following  season  will  be  deficient.  When  the 
stems  begin  to  decay  the  bulbs  should  be 
taken  up,  but  not  dried  to  any  extent,  it  being 
far  preferable  to  preserve  them  till  the  follow- 
ing planting  season  in  sand  or  light  and  par- 
tially dried  earth.  F.  imperialis  is  the  well- 
known  Crown  Imperial,  a  native  of  Persia,  of 
which  there  are  several  varieties.  They  will 
be  greatly  benefitted  by  mulching  with  leaves 
to  the  depth  of  six  inches,  just  before  the 
ground  freezes  vip.  They  can  remain  a  num- 
ber of  years  without  taking  up,  and  are  prop- 
agated by  division  of  the  bulbs  or  by  seeds, 
which,  however,  require  from  four  to  six 
years  to  become  flowering  bulbs. 

Frog-bit.  Hydrocharis  morsus-rancB  and  Limno- 
bium  Spongia. 


FUC 

Frondose.  Covered  with  leaves;  bearing  a 
great  number  of  leaves. 

Fronds.  The  leaves  of  Palms  and  Ferns  are 
improperly  called  fronds.  A  true  frond  is  a 
combination  of  leaf  and  stem,  as  in  many  sea- 
weeds and  liverworts. 

Frosted.  Covered  with  glittering  particles,  as 
if  fine  dew  liad  been  congealed  upon  it. 

Frost-Weed.  Erigeron  Philadelphicus  and  Heli- 
anthemum  Canadense. 

Frozen  Plants,  Treatment  of.  "When  by  any 
mishap  the  plants,  whether  in  parlor  or  green- 
house, become  frozen,  either  at  once  remove 
them  (taking  care  not  to  touch  the  leaves)  to 
some  place  warm  enough  to  be  just  above  the 
point  of  freezing ;  or,  if  there  are  too  many  to 
do  that,  get  up  the  fire  as  rapidly  as  possible, 
and  raise  the  temperature.  The  usual  advice 
is  to  sprinkle  the  leaves  and  shade  the  plants 
from  the  sun.  We  have  never  found  either 
remedy  of  any  avail  with  frozen  plants,  and 
the  sprinkling  is  often  a  serious  injury  if  done 
before  the  temperat\ire  is  above  the  freezing 
point.  In  our  experience  witli  thousands  of 
frozen  plants,  we  have  tried  all  manner  of 
expedients,  and  found  no  better  method  than 
to  get  them  out  of  the  freezing  atmosphere  as 
quickly  as  possible ;  and  we  have  also  found 
that  the  damage  is  in  proportion  to  the  suc- 
culent condition  of  the  plant  and  the  intensity 
of  the  freezing.  Just  what  degree  of  cold 
plants  in  any  given  condition  can  endure 
without  injury,  we  are^  unable  to  state. 
Plants  are  often  frozen  'so  that  the  leaves 
hang  down,  but  when  thawed  out  aj'e  found 
to  be  not  at  all  injured.  At  another  time  the 
same  low  temperature  acting  on  the  same 
kind  of  plants  may  kill  them  outright  if  they 
happen  to  be  growing  more  thriftily  and  are 
full  of  sap.  Much  depends  upon  the  temper- 
ature at  which  plants  have  been  growing ;  for 
example,  we  find,  if  we  have  had  a  warm  spell 
in  fall  when,  for  a  week  or  so,  the  tempera- 
ture has  been  at  sixty-five  or  seventy  degrees 
at  night,  with  ten  or  fifteen  degrees  more  in 
the  open  air,  that  a  slight  frost  will  kill  or 
greatly  injure  such  half-hardy  plants  as  Car- 
nations, Geraniums  or  monthly  Roses ;  but 
should  the  weather  be  such  as  to  gradually 
get  colder,  so  that  the  temperature  has  been 
lowered  twenty  to  twenty-five  degrees,  a 
slight  frost  then  coming  will  do  little  or  no 
injury  to  such  plants.  When  the  frost  is  pen- 
etrating into  a  green-house  or  room  in  which 
plants  are  kept,  and  the  heating  arrangements 
are  inadequate  to  keep  it  out,  the  best  thing 
to  do  is  to  cover  the  plants  with  paper  (news- 
papers) or  sheeting.  Thus  protected,  most 
plants  will  be  enabled  to  resist  four  or  five 
degrees  of  frost.  Paper  is  rather  better  than 
sheeting  for  this  purpose. 

Fructification.  The  parts  of  the  flower,  or, 
more  properly,  tlie  fruit  and  its  parts ;  the 
phenomena  which  attend  the  development  of 
the  fruit  from  its  first  appearance  to  maturity. 
The  distribution  or  arrangement  of  the  fruit 
itself  on  any  plant. 

Fruit.  That  part  of  a  plant  which  consists  of 
the  ripened  carpels  and  the  parts  adhering  to 
them  ;  the  seed  vessel  with  its  ripe  contents. 

Pruticose,  Frutescent.     Shrubby. 

Pu'chsia.  Named  after  Leonard  Fuchs,  a  cele- 
brated German  botanist.  Nat.  Oi"d.  OnagracPCB. 


lf)0 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


FUG 

The  best  history  we  have  of  this  interesting 
genus  is  from  the  pen  of  the  Eev.  C.  A.  Johns, 
in  the  "Treasury  of  Botany."  He  says:  "A 
plausible  story  has  often  been  i:)rinted,  which 
attributes  the  introduction  of  the  Fuchsia  into 
England  to  a  sailor,  whose  wife  or  mother  was 
induced  to  sell  it  to  Mr.  Lee,  a  nurseryman, 
who,  in  the  course  of  the  following  summer, 
made  a  profit  of  300  guineas  by  the  transac- 
tion. This  is  said  to  liave  happened  about  the 
close  of  the  last  century.  It  was,  however,  a 
hundred  years  befoz-e  this  time  that  a  monk 
named  Father  Plumier  discovered  the  first 
specimen  of  the  family,  which  he  afterward 
dedicated  to  the  memory  of  Leonard  Fuehs. 
This  first  species  was  named  Fuchsia  triphylla 
flore  coccinea,  and  a  description  of  it  is  to  be 
found  in  the  works  of  Plumier,  published  in 
17u3.  With  the  exception  of  F.  excorlicaia  and 
F.  procumbens,  whicii  are  natives  of  New  Zea- 
land, all  the  species  belong  to  the  central  and 
southern  regions  of  America,  in  shady,  moist 
places,  in  forests,  or  on  lofty  mountains  of 
Mexico,  Peru  and  Chili.  The  number  of  dis- 
tinct species  at  present  known  is  more  than 
fifty,  which  have  been  introduced  from  time 
to  time  since  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century ;  but  the  varieties  most  prized  by  flor- 
ists date  only  from  the  year  1837,  when  F. 

fulgens  was  introduced.  The  introduction  of 
this  species,  and  soon  afterward  of  F.  corymbi- 

Jlora,  F.  cordifolia  and  F.  serratifolia,  gave  to 
horticulturists  the  opportunity  of  hybridizing 
these  long-flowered  species  with  the  globose 
kinds,  and  the  result  has  been  the  annual 
appearance  of  varieties  which,  from  a  garden 
point  of  view  have  surpassed  their  predeces- 
sors, to  be  themselves  eclipsed  in  their  turn." 
The  cultivation  of  the  Fuchsia  is  quite  simple. 
Stock  plants  should  be  started  in  the  green- 
house in  November  or  December,  and  cuttings 
taken  off  as  soon  as  large  enough,  which  will 
be  in  ten  days  or  two  weeks.  In  an  ordinary 
propagating  house  they  will  be  sufficiently 
rooted  in  two  weeks  to  pot  off;  after  which 
the  growth  is  rapid,  if  given  the  four  essential 
elements,  viz.,  light,  air,  heat  and  water. 
They  require  to  be  re-potted  often,  never 
alk)wing  them  to  get  pot-bound  if  large  showy 
plants  are  desired.  By  training  up  the  lead- 
ing shoot,  and  keeping  it  tied  to  a  straight 
stick,  the  plant  will  throw  out  side  Shoots  in 
the  perfect  order  required  for  a  graceful,  sym- 
metrical outline.  Plants  carefidly  grown  in 
this  manner  will,  by  the  first  of  July,  fill  a 
twelve-inch  pot,  which,  if  placed  in  a  shady 
situation  and  liberally  watered  with  liquid 
manure,  will  make  a  plant  fully  six  feet  high 
by  autumn,  and  all  the  summer  be  completely 
covered  with  fiowers. 

Fugacious.  Soon  falling  off,  or  perishing  very 
rapidly. 

Fuliginous.     Dirty  brown,  verging  upon  black. 

Fuller's  Teazel      See  Dipsacus  Fullonum. 

Fulvous.     Tawny  yellow  or  fox-colored. 

Fuma'ria.  Fumitory.  From  fumos,  smoke ; 
referring  to  the  disagret^able  smell  of  the 
plant.     Nat.  Ord.  Fumariacem. 

A  genus  of  hardy  annuals,  mostly  mere 
weeds.  One  or  two,  however,  are  very  pretty 
climbers,  ornamental  when  grown  along 
hedge-rows,  for  their  delicate  foliage,  and 
small,  pinkish  white  flowers. 


FUS 

Fumaria'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbs  with 
brittle  stems,  watery  juice,  alternate,  cut, 
exstipulate  leaves,  and  irregular,  unsymme- 
trical  flowers.  They  are  chiefly  natives  of  the 
temperate  regions  of  the  northern  hemi- 
sphere, a  few  occur  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  They  possess  a  slight  bitterness  and 
acridity.  There  are  eighteen  known  genera 
and  about  160  species ;  Fumaria,  Dicentra  and 
Corydalis  are  examples  of  the  order,  which  is 
now  included  by  Bentham  and  Hooker,  as  a 
tribe  of  PapaveracetB. 

Fumigating.     See  Insects. 

Fumitory.    See  Fumaria. 
Climbing.     Adlumia  cirrhosa. 

Function.  The  peculiar  action  induced  hj  the 
agfuiey  of  vitality  upon  anj'  part  of  a  living 
l^lant,  when  placed  under  certain  influences. 

Fundamental.  Constituting  the  essential  part 
of  anything ;  in  a  plant,  the  axis  and  its  ap- 
pendages. Fundamental  organs,  the  nutri- 
tive organs  essential  to  the  existence  of  the 
individual. 

Funeral  Cypress.  A  common  name  of  Cupres- 
sus  funebris. 

Fungi.  Extensive  groups  of  singular  plants, 
known  as  blights,  blasts,  mildews  and  mush- 
rooms. 

Funnel-shaped.  A  calyx  or  corolla,  or  other 
organ,  in  which  the  tube  is  obconical,  gradu- 
ally enlarging  upward  into  the  limb,  so  that 
the  whole  resembles  a  funnel,  as  in  the  Con- 
volvulus or  Morning  Glory. 

Fu'nkia.  Day  Lily.  Plantain  Lily.  Named  in 
honor  of  Henry  Funk,  a  German  cryptogamist. 
Nat.  Ord.  Liliacew. 

A  handsome  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous 
plants,  with  bundled  fibrous  I'oots,  from 
Japan.  It  is  nearly  allied  to  Hfrnerocallis, 
and  some  of  the  species  first  introduced  were 
included  in  that  genus,  which  has  caused 
considerable  confusion  in  names.  The^'  are 
remarkable  for  their  neat  habit,  the  fine 
character  of  their  foliage,  and  the  delicious 
fragrance  of  the  fiowers  of  some  of  the  species. 
F.  albo-marginata  and  F.  Sieboldiana  have 
beautifully  variegated  foliage,  green  and 
white.  As  border  plants  they  are  very  showy 
and  attractive,  and  to  mix  with  cut  flowers 
for  vases  the  foliage  is  invaluable.  F.  sub- 
cordata,  or  Japonica,  the  well-kno\vn  white 
Day  Lily,  is  the  largest  growing  of  the  specips. 
In  rich  soils  they  will,  in  a  short  time,  make 
immense  clumps,  that  flower  freely  in  August. 
This  species  does  best  in  partial  shade.  They 
are  readily  increased  by  division  of  the  roots, 
which  should  be  done  in  early  spring.  First 
introduced  in  1790. 

Furcate.  Having  long  terminal  lobes,  like  the 
prongs  of  a  fork. 

Furcrae'a.     See  Fourcroya. 

Furfuraceous.  Scurfy;  covered  with  soft 
scales,  which  are  easily  displaced. 

Furro-wed.  Marked  by  longitudinal  channels, 
as  the  stem  of  the  Parsnip. 

Fuscous.  Brown,  with  a  grayish  or  blackish 
tinge. 

Furze.     See  tle-T. 

Fusiform.  Spindle-shaped;  thick,  tapering  to 
each  end,  like  the  root  of  a  long  Radish. 
Sometimes  conical  roots  are  called  fusiform. 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


161 


G. 


GAG 

Ga'gea.  Named  after  Sir  Thomas  Gage,  a 
botanical  amateur.  Nat.  Orel.  Liliacece. 
A  genus  of  hardy  little  yellow-flowering 
bulbs,  allied  to  ihe  Tulip.  The  species  are 
natives  of  Europe,  temperate  Asia  and 
northern  Africa.  The  flowers,  which  are 
large  for  the  size  of  the  plant,  are  produced 
in  umbels  on  stems  not  more  than  four  inches 
high.  They  flower  about  the  same  time  as 
tlie  Crocus,  should  occupy  similar  places  in 
the  garden,  and  are  propagated  by  offsets. 
Introduced  in  1759. 

Ga'hnia.  Named  after  H.  Gahn,  a  Swedish  bot- 
anist.    Nat.  Ord.  Cyperacece. 

A  genus  of  about  twenty  species  of  green- 
house perennial  herbs,  natives  of  Australia, 
New  Zealand,  China,  and  the  South  Pacific 
Islands.  G.  aspera,  is  a  very  ornamental  plant 
of  Arundo-like  habit,  with  bright  green, 
channelled,  wavy,  lanceolate  leaves.  Intro- 
duced from  Fiji  in  1887. 

Gailla'rdia.  Named  after  ilf.  Gaillard  de  Maren- 
tuniieau,  a  French  patron  of  botany.  Nat. 
Ord.  CompositcB. 

A  genus  of  beautiful  half-hardy  annuals, 
natives  of  South  Carolina  and  southward. 
They  are  exceedingly  showy,  and  well 
adapted  for  garden  decoration.  The  seed 
germinates  slowly,  and  in  order  to  get  plants 
to  flower  the  whole  summer  it  should  be 
sown  in  the  green-house  in  February.  The 
plants  may  be  put  out  in  the  open  border 
Avhen  all  danger  from  frost  is  over.  Cuttings 
may  be  made  in  the  fall  and  grown  on  in  the 
green-house  during  the  winter.  G.  Richard- 
soni,  a  species  of  late  introduction,  is  a  hardy 
perennial,  propagated  by  root  division. 

G-alactode'ndron.  Cow- tree.  A  synonym  for 
Brosimum  Galactodendron,  which  see. 

Gala'nthus.  Snow-drop.  From  gala,  milk,  and 
anthos,  flower ;  referring  to  the  color  of  the 
flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidacece. 

C.  nivalis,  the  common  Snow-drop,  for  its 
poetical  associations  as  the  ever-weicome 
harbinger  of  spring,  is  universally  cultivated, 
and  by  potting  and  very  gentle  forcing  maybe 
made  an  interesting  ornament  to  the  green- 
house in  mid-winter.  Snow-drops  are  well 
known  and  general  favorites  on  account  of  the 
modest  beauty  displayed  by  their  flowers  at 
the  early  season  in  which  they  appear.  G. 
Elwesii  from  Asia  Minor,  and  G.  plicatus  from 
the  Crimea  are  larger  flowered  species  though 
still  rai'e  in  gardens.  A  very  distinct  and 
much  admired  double  form  of  G.  nivalis,  is 
also  largely  cultivated.  When  once  planted  it 
is  best  to  let  them  take  care  of  themselves, 
as  if  planted  where  the  soil  is  suitable  and 
left  alone,  they  increase  rapidly  and  annually 
appear  in  flower  suddenly  with  the  earliest 
approach  of  spring. 

Galax.  From  gala,  milk ;  referring  to  the  milk- 
white  flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Diapensiacece. 

G.  aphylla,  is  a  beautiful  little  native  plant, 
with  pure  white  flowers,  particularly  suitable 


GAL 

for  growing  on  a  rockwork.      It  will  succeed 
best  in  a  cool  damp  place. 

Gala'xia.  From  galaktos,  milk;  referring  to 
the  juice.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacem. 

A  genus  of  dwarf,  tender  bulbs  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The  flower  stems  are 
short,  with  a  terminal  cluster  of  narrow  leaves 
and  handsome  funnel-shaped  yellow  or  purple 
flowers.  The  bulbs  may  be  planted  out  in 
early  spring,  like  the  Gladiolus,  and  given  the 
same  treatment  during  summer.  They 
are  increased  by  offsets  and  may  be  left  in 
the  ground  during  winter,  if  protected  from 
frost.     Introduced  in  1799. 

Galba'nuni.  The  name  of  an  aromatic  gum- 
resin  issuing  from  the  stems  of  Ferula  gal- 
banijlua,  F.  rubricaulis,  etc. 

Galea'ndra.  From  galea,  a  helmet,  and  aner, 
a  stamen  ;  referring  to  the  crested  male  organ 
on  the  top  of  the  column.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchid- 
acem. 

A  small  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids,  with 
pink,  purple,  or  yellow  flowers.  They  are 
from  Central  and  South  America,  and  require 
the  same  treatment  as  is  recommended  for 
the  Bletia.     Introduced  in  1840. 

Gale'ga.  Goat's  Rue.  From  gala,  milk  ;  refer- 
ring to  an  old  idea  that  the  herbage  was  said 
to  increase  the  milk  of  such  animals  as  eat  it. 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  small  genus  of  strong,  robust,  erect 
growing  herbaceous  perennials,  with  small 
pea-like  flowers,  mostly  natives  of  the  Med- 
iterranean region,  extending  eastwai-d  into 
Persia.  G.  orientalis,  one  of  the  most  showy 
species,  has  handsome  light  green  leaves,  and 
blue  flowers,  which  are  produced  in  June.  It 
grows  from  three  to  four  feet  high ;  and  is 
increased  by  seeds  sown  in  spring.  Introduced 
from  the  Levant  in  1801. 

Galeo'psis.  Hemp-nettle.  From  gale,  a  weasel, 
and  opsis,  like ;  in  allusion  to  the  likeness 
of  the  flower  to  a  weasel's  snout.  Nat.  Ord. 
LabiatcB. 

A  genus  of  weedy  plants,  whose  flowers  are 
supposed  to  resemble  the  head  of  a  weasel, 
and  could  with  the  same  propriety  be  sup- 
posed to  resemble  that  of  most  any  other 
animal.  They  are  common  in  most  parts  of 
this  country ;  naturalized  from  Europe. 

Gale  S-weet.    See  Myrica  Gale. 

Ga'Iium.  Bedstraw,  Cleavers.  From  galo,  milk ; 
referring  to  the  flowers  of  G.  verum  haying 
been  used  to  curdle  milk.  Nat.  Ord.  RubiacecB. 
A  genus  of  interesting  herbs,  natives  of 
Europe,  but  extensively  naturalized  in  the 
United  States.  G.  aparine,  vulgarly  known 
as  Goose  Grass,  has  a  great  reputation  in 
the  eclectic  practice  of  medicine  as  a  cure  for 
gravel  in  the  bladder,  and  is  considered  by 
them  invaluable  as  a  diuretic. 

Galls.  Excrescences  of  various  kinds  and 
forms  produced  in  plants  by  the  presence  of 
the  larva3  of  different  insects. 


162 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


GAL 

Galto'nia.  Named  in  memory  of  Francis  Gallon, 
author  of  "  A  Narrative  of  an  Explorer  in 
South  Africa."    Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy  bulbs,  natives  of  south 
Africa.  They  are  well  adapted  for  growing  in 
clumps  for  lawn  decoration.  G.  candicans,  is 
best  known  in  cultivation  as  Hyacinthus  can- 
dicans, which  see. 

Gatna  Grass.    See  Tripsacum. 

Gambler.     See   Uncaria  Gambier. 

Gamboge.  A  gum  resin  that  is  furnished  by  a 
number  of  trees  in  the  East  Indies.  It  was  at 
one  time  chiefly  obtained  from  Xanthochymus, 
a  native  of  Ceylon. 

Gamboge-tree.  Garcinia  Morella,  var.  pedi- 
cillata. 

Gamole'pis.  From  gamos,  joined,  and  lepis,  a 
scale.  Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

G.  tagetes,  the  only  described  species,  is  a 
tender  annual,  with  small  yellow  flowers,  a 
native  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The 
flowers  somewhat  resemble  those  of  the 
Othonna,  to  which  it  is  allied. 

Garci'nia.  Mangosteen.  Named  after  Dr.  L. 
Garcin,  a  French  botanist  and  traveler  in  the 
East.     Nat.  Ord.  Guttiferce. 

A  genus  of  tropical  trees  of  medium  size, 
highly  esteemed  for  their  delicious  fruit,  and 
for  the  valuable  gums  they  furnish.  The  fruit 
of  G.  Mangostana  is  one  of  the  most  delicious 
that  grows,  and  the  tree  upon  which  it  is  pro- 
duced is  one  of  the  most  graceful  and  beauti- 
ful anywhere  to  be  met  with.  It  is  a  native 
of  Sumatra  and  the  islands  of  the  Eastern 
Archipelago.  The  stem  rises  to  the  height  of 
about  twenty  feet ;  the  branches  come  out  in 
regular  order,  and  give  the  head  of  the  tree 
the  form  of  a  parabola ;  the  leaves  are  about 
eight  inches  long,  and  four  broad  at  the 
middle,  of  a  beautiful  green  on  the  upper  side, 
and  a  fine  olive  on  the  under.  The  flowers 
resemble  that  of  a  single  rose,  with  some 
dark  red  petals.  The  fruit  is  round,  about 
the  size  of  an  ordinary  orange.  The  shell  of 
the  fruit,  which  is  at  first  gieen,  but  changes 
to  brown,  marked  with  yellow  spots,  has  some 
resemblance  to  that  of  the  Pomegranate, 
but  is  thicker  and  softer,  and  the  contents  are 
more  juicy.  The  flavor  of  the  pulp  is  said  to 
be  that  of  the  finest  Grape  and  Strawberry 
united ;  but  those  who  have  tasted  the  fruit  in 
perfection,  and  attempted  to  convey  to  others 
some  idea  of  the  impression  that  it  had  made 
on  them,  are  not  agreed  as  to  what  it  resembles. 
Abel  says  that  ' '  he  and  his  companions  were 
anxious  to  carry  with  them  some  precise 
expression  of  its  flavor ;  but  after  satisfying 
themselves  that  it  partook  of  the  Pine-apple 
and  the  Peach,  they  were  obliged  to  confess 
that  it  had  many  other  equally  good,  but 
utterly  inexpressible  flavors."  The  species  may 
be  grown  and  ripen  fruit  in  the  hot- house. 
They  will  bear  fruit  in  two  years  from  seed. 
Some  of  the  species  yield  a  gum  resin,  known 
as  Gamboge,  though  not  the  true  sort,  but  it 
is  said  to  be  nearly  as  good. 

Garden  Cress.     See  Lepidium  sativvm,. 

Gardener's  Garters.  A  common  name  for 
Phalaris  arundinacea  variegata;  applied  also 
to  Arundo  Donax  variegata. 

Garde'nia.  Named  in  compliment  of  Alexander 
Garden,  M.  D.,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 


GAR 

a  correspondent  of  Ellis  and  Linnseus.    Nat. 
Ord.  CinchonacecB. 

A  genus  of  splendid  green-house  shrubs, 
remarkable  for  the  size,  number  and  fragrance 
of  their  flowers,  and  the  noble  character  of 
the  plant.  G.  jlorida  and  G.  Fortunei  are 
natives  of  China.  The  former  was  introduced 
into  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in  1754,  whence  it 
received  its  common  name.  Cape  Jessamine. 
They  are  usually  treated  as  green-house 
plants,  but  if  kept  moderately  cool  during 
winter,  their  season  of  rest,  and  planted  out  in 
spring  they  will  flower  freely  during  the  early 
part  of  the  summer.  They  may  be  taken  up  in 
autumn,  potted,  and  kept  under  the  table  in  the 
green-house  during  winter.  They  are  readily 
increased  by  cuttings  made  from  half  ripened 
wood.  The  species,  often  cultivated  under 
the  name  of  G.  citriodora,  is  now  named 
Mitriostigma  axillare,  which  see. 

Garden  Pink.  The  common  name  for  Dianthus 
plumarius. 

Garden  "Walks.     See  Asphalt  and  Gas  Lime. 

Gardo'quia.  Named  after  Gardoqui  a  Spaniard, 
who  greatly  promoted  the  publication  of 
the  "  Flora  Peruviana."  Nat.  Ord.  Lahiatm. 
A  genus  of  green-house,  low  growing  shrubs, 
producing  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves  bright 
scarlet  or  pink  flowers.  They  thrive  well 
with  ordinary  green-house  culture.  In  order 
to  make  neat  and  compact  plants  they  should 
be  kept  cut  well  back,  or  the  plants  will  become 
straggling;  they  are  readily  increased  by 
cuttings.     Introduced  in  1S12  from  Peru. 

Garland  Flo^^rer.  A  common  name  for  Hedy- 
chium,  the  name  is  also  applied  to  Daphne 
cneorum. 

Garlic.  Allium  sativum.  This  plant  belongs  to 
the  same  genus  as  the  Onion  and  the  Leek. 
It  is  a  perennial,  found  growing  wild  in  the 
southern  parts  of  Europe.  It  is  commonly 
cultivated  in  almost  every  country,  and  has 
been  highly  esteemed  from  a  very  early  period, 
not  as  an  article  of  food,  but  as  a  medi- 
cine. It  was  introduced  into  the  English 
gardens  in  1548.  Every  part  of  the  plant,  but 
especially  the  root  has  a  pungent,  acrimonious 
taste,  and  a  peculiar  offensive  odor,  that  is 
far  more  penetrating  and  diffusive  than  that 
of  the  Onion.  So  powerful  is  this  principle, 
that  when  Garlic  is  applied  externally,  as  to 
the  feet,  the  smell  is  said  to  be  observed  in 
the  breath  and  pferspiration.  The  common 
field  Garlic,  Allium  vineale,  was  supposed  to 
have  been  brought  into  this  country  by  the 
Welsh,  it  is  now  completely  naturalized,  and 
in  many  parts  of  the  country  is  quite  a  nuis- 
ance. A.  Canadense,  or  Wild  Garlic,  is  indi- 
genous, and  common  in  moist  meadows.  This 
differs  from  the  field  Garlic  in  having  flat 
leaves,  but  is  equally  to  be  dreaded. 

Ga'rrya.  Named  after  Mr.  Garry,  of  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company,  who  facilitated  Mr. 
Douglass,  its  discoverer,  in  his  botanical  re- 
searches.    Nat.  Ord.  CornaceoB. 

A  genus  of  handsome  evergreen  shrubs, 
very  similar  in  appearance  to  the  Viburnum. 
They  were  discovered  by  Mr.  Douglass  in 
north-western  California,  in  1828,  and  were 
considered  by  him  as  among  his  most  valuable 
discoveries.  The  species  are  common  from 
California  to  Texas  and  southward,  with  a 
single  one  in  the  West  Indies.     G.  elliptica  is 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


163 


GAR 

a  handsome  shrub,  with  dark  green  leathery 
leaves,  and  catkins  of  yellowish  green  flow- 
ers in  clusters  near  the  tips  of  the  bi'anches, 
produced  from  November  till  February.  It 
grows  from  five  to  ten  feet  high,  and  is  very 
ornamental  in  winter. 

Garrya'ceae.    A  tribe  of  CornacecB. 

Gas  Lime.  This  is  the  refuse  lime  thrown  out 
from  the  gas  houses,  to  which  has  been  as- 
cribed great  qualities,  not  only  as  a  fertilizer 
but,  at  the  same  time,  as  an  insect  destroyer. 
We  much  doubt  the  last  quality  ascribed  to 
it,  and  know  that  it  is  not  only  worthless  as  a 
fertilizer,  but  that  its  use,  particularly  when 
it  has  been  used  fresh,  is  most  injurious  to 
vegetation,  and  would  therefore  advise 
strongly  against  its  use  on  land  for  any  pur- 
pose. It  is,  however,  an  excellent  material 
for  garden  walks.  Mixed  with  its  own  bulk 
or  even  double  its  bulk  of  sifted  ashes,  cov- 
ered with  a  slight  sprinkling  of  brown  sand  or 
gravel,  to  deaden  the  color,  well  watered,  and 
heavily  rolled  until  it  is  quite  solid,  it  makes 
a  walk  that  if  properly  drained,  will  not  be 
injured  by  frost,  will  last  for  years,  and  is 
doubly  valuable,  inasmuch  that  no  weeds  will 
grow  on  it. 

Gas  Plant.    Dictamnua  Fraxinella. 

Gas  Tar  or  Coal  Tar.  This  has  been  used  to  a 
considerable  extent  as  a  preservative,  on 
wood-work  such  as  benches,  gutters,  posts, 
and  other  parts  of  green-house  structures. 
We  are  inclined  to  believe  it  is  of  very  little 
value  for  that  purpose,  unless  for  gutters  or 
other  outside  wood-work,  and  then  only  if  it 
is  put  on  annually,  bo  as  to  form  a  skin  or 
coating  to  prevent  the  penetration  of  moist- 
ure. Its  use  inside  is  often  fraught  with  dan- 
ger, particularly  whenever  exposed  to  a  high 
temperature,  say  100  degrees,  as  a  gas  is 
evolved  that  is  quickly  destructive  to  plants. 
A  not  unusual  blunder  in  putting  hot-water 
pipes  in  the  green-house  or  grapery  is  to  paint 
them  witli  coal  tar;  and  many  fall  into  this 
error  every  season,  in  spite  of  all  the  warn- 
ings given.  When  the  hot-water  pipes  have 
been  painted  with  coal  tar,  just  as  soon  as  the 
pipes  are  heated  up  by  firing,  gas  is  emitted 
most  destructive  to  plants,  which  is  seen  in 
the  showers  of  falling  leaves  and  flowers, 
after  a  few  hours  of  firing.  When  anyone 
has  been  unfortunate  enough  to  fall  into  this 
blunder,  th«re  is  no  remedy  but  to  take  down 
the  pipes  and  build  strong  fires  under  them 
sufficient  to  drive  out  every  particle  of  the 
gas  tar.  We  have  seen  every  imaginable 
remedy  tried,  but  all  was  of  no  avail ;  for  the 
tar  penetrates  through  the  pores  of  the  metal, 
and  though  the  surface  is  scraped  entirely 
clean,  the  gas  is  given  out  on  the  application 
of  heat  just  as  bad  as  if  the  surface  had  not 
been  scraped.  So  that,  as  we  have  before 
said,  there  is  no  known  remedy  except  the 
troublesome  and  expensive  one  of  taking  the 
pipes  down,  and  burning  the  tar  out  of  them, 
which  is  always  effectual  if  properly  done. 

Gaste'ria.  From  gaster,  a  belly;  alluding  to 
the  swollen  base  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord. 
LiliacecB. 

A  somewhat  extensive  genus  of  succulent 
green-house  plants,  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  allied  to  the  Aloe,  which  they  closely 
resemble,  and  requiring  the  same  treatment. 


GAZ 

The  flowers  of  most  of  the  species  are  bright 
scarlet  or  red,  and  very  showy. 
Gastrolo'bium.     From  gaster,  belly,  and  lobos, 
a  pod ;  inflated  seed-pod.     Nat.  Ord.  Legumi- 
nosoe. 

Handsome  New  Holland  shrubs  with  bright 
yellow  and  orange-colored  blossoms,  requir- 
ing to  have  an  airy  situation  in  the  green- 
house through  the  winter,  and  a  shaded  one 
out  of  doors  in  summer.  Propagated  by 
seeds  or  from  cuttings.  Introduced  in  1840. 
Gastrone'ma.  From  gaster,  belly,  and  nema,  a 
filament;  in  reference  to  the  filaments  seen 
below  the  poiucs  of  insertion.  Nat.  Ord. 
AmaryllidacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  pretty,  but  exceed- 
ingly rare  bulbs,  from  south  Africa,  closely 
allied  to  Cyrtanthm.  There  are  but  two  spe- 
cies, one  with  white  and  the  other  with  rose- 
colored  flowers.  They  are  increased  by  off- 
sets and  will  flower  freely  in  the  open  ground 
in  summer,  if  planted  in  early  spring.  When 
the  foliage  shows  signs  of  ripening,  take  up 
the  bulbs,  and  keep  in  a  dry  place,  free  from 
frost,  during  winter.  Introduced  in  1816. 
Gaulthe'ria.  Named  after  Dr.  Gaulthier,  of 
Quebec,  Canada.     Nat.  Ord.  Ericaceae. 

Of  the  several  species  of  this  genus  of  low 
evergreens,  two  are  natives  of  this  country, 
and  perfectly  hardy.  O.  procumbeiis  is  found 
throughout  the  Northern  States,  and  univers- 
ally known  as  Wintergreen.  In  some  sec- 
tions the  berries  are  called  Partridge  Ber- 
ries, in  others  Checker-berry,  Deer-berry, 
Tea-berry,  etc.  Wintergreen  oil  is  distilled 
from  this  plant.  G.  nummular ioides,  is  an  or- 
namental hardy  evergreen,  with  flowers  re- 
sembling those  of  Lily  of  the  Valley,  but  fre- 
quently tinged  with  rosy  pink,  succeeded  by 
bright  scarlet  fruit.  It  is  an  excellent  basket 
plant,  and  was  introduced  from  the  Himalayas 
in  1884. 
Gau'ra.  From  gauros,  superb ;  in  reference  to 
the  beautiful  flowers  of  some  of  the  species. 
Nat.  Ord.  OnagracetB. 

A  genus  of  tender  and  half-hardy  annuals, 
biennials  and  perennials,  common  in  the 
Southern  States,  Mexico  and  South  America. 
G.  Lindheimeri,  the  only  species  in  general 
cultivation,  is  a  slender,  branching,  herba- 
ceous plant,  bearing  its  long  spikes  of  white  or 
pink  flowers  in  great  abundance  throughout  the 
summer.  The  profusion  of  its  spikes  of 
graceful  flowers,  makes  it  a  valuable  plant  for 
garden  decoration ;  and  the  flowers  are  very 
useful  for  bouquets  or  vases.  It  is  a  native 
of  Texas,  is  propagated  by  cuttings  or  from 
seeds. 
Gaza'nia.  From  gaza,  richness ;  in  reference  to 
the  large,  gaudy  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Com^ 
positcB. 

A  genus  of  very  showy,  low-growing, 
tender  herbaceous  plants,  from  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope.  The  flowers  are  large,  yellow, 
or  deep  orange  color,  with  almost  black 
centers,  and  open  only  in  clear  sunshiny 
weather.  They  are  very  ornamental  for  the 
green-house,  are  well  adapted  for  out-of- 
door  culture,  and  are  propagated  readily  from 
cuttings.  Introduced  in  1»12. 
Gazaiiio'psis.  From  Gazania,  and  opsis,  like; 
in  allusion  to  the  resemblance  to  Gazania. 
Nat.  Ord.  Composite. 


164 


HENDEESON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


GAY 

G.  stenophylla,  the  only  species,  a  native  of 
soutii  Africa,  lias  large  Hower-lieads  three 
inches  across,  bronzy-green  outside,  and  the 
richest  golden  yellow  inside.  The  leaves  are 
deep  green  above  and  snowy- white  underneath. 
The  flowers  have  the  same  habit  of  closing  in 
the  after  part  of  the  day,  as  those  of  the 
Gazania. 

Gaylussa'cia.  Named  in  honor  of  N.  F.  Gay- 
lussac,  a  celebrated  French  chemist.  Nat. 
Ord.  Ericacece. 

Branching  shrubs  two  to  five  feet  high, 
common  on  woodlands  and  swamps.  The 
Huckleberry  is  the  fruit  of  several  of  the 
species ;  see  Huckleberry. 

Geisso'is.  From  geisson,  house-tiling ;  the  seeds 
are  imbricated  like  the  tiles  of  a  house.  Nat. 
Ord.  SaxifragacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen  trees,  natives 
of  New  Caledonia,  the  Fiji  Islands  and  Aus- 
tralia. G.  racemosa  is  an  interesting  plant  of 
moderate  growth,  with  very  distinct  leafage 
that  may  be  likened  to  that  of  a  Pavia.  The 
midribs  and  leaf-stalks  are  of  a  fine  red 
color,  and  the  blade  of  the  leaves  full  deep 
green.  Introduced  from  New  Caledonia  in  1851. 

Geissome'ria.  From  geisson,  a  tile,  and  meris, 
a  part ;  the  imbricated  bracts  fall  over  each 
other,  like  tiles  on  a  roof.  Nat.  Ord.  Acantha- 
cem. 

Evergreen  pubescent  or  glabrous  shrubs, 
mostly  natives  of  Brazil.  G.  longlflora  the 
the  best  known  species,  has  oval  or  oblong 
entire  leaves,  and  terminal  spikes  of  long, 
scarlet,  tubular,  velvety  flowers.  It  is  a 
splendid  free-llowering  plant,  growing  in  any 
good  compost,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings. 

Geissorhi'za.  Tile  Koot.  From  geisson,  a  tile, 
and  rhiza,  a  root ;  referring  to  the  dry  coats 
which  cover  the  fleshy  roots,  like  tiles  on  a 
roof.     Nat.  Ord.  IridacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  south  African  bulbs,  one 
species  of  which  has  been  found  in  Abyssinia. 
They  are  all  remarkable  for  having  bulbs,  or, 
more  correctly,  bulbo-tubers,  covered  with 
several  crustaceous  or  scarious  skins  or 
tunics,  which  lie  over  each  other  like 
scales,  or  the  tiles  of  a  house,  beginning 
from  below.  It  is  from  this  peculiarity  that 
the  plants  take  their  English  name  of  Tile 
Root.  They  have  but  four  leaves,  all  of 
which  spring  from  the  root,  and  are  narrow 
and  bristly.  The  stems  are  simple  or 
branched,  producing  one  or  two  flowers  each, 
resembling  the  Ixia,  very  showy,  of  various 
colors,  white,  yellow  and  blue  predominating. 
They  are  properly  green-house  bulbs,  but  will 
succeed  finely  in  a  cold  frame,  and  are  in- 
creased by  offsets.     Introduced  in  1795. 

Gelasi'ne.  From  gelasinos,  a  smiling  dimple ; 
referring  to  the  flowers  of  these  pretty  bulbs. 
Nat.  Ord.  Iridacem. 

G.  azurea,  the  only  species,  is  a  small  bulb 
from  the  Eio  Grande,  producing  two  to  four 
beautiful  blue  tulip-shaped  flowers  on  a 
slender  stalk,  about  one  and  a  half  feet  high. 
Propagated  by  offsets,  or  from  seed.  Seedlings 
flower  the  second  year.     Introduced  in  1838. 

Gelse'mium.  From  gelsemius,  an  Italian  name 
of  the  Jasmine  ;  alluding  to  the  simplicity  of 
the  flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Loganiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  climbing  shrubs,  with  op- 
posite    lance-shaped,     shining     leaves,    and 


GEN 

producing  axillary  clusters  of  showy  yellow 
flowers,  very  fragrant.  It  is  indigenous  to 
North  Carolina  and  southward,  and  is  popu- 
larly known  as  Carolina  Jessamine.  It  is  in- 
creased by  cuttings. 

Geminate.     Growing  in  pairs. 

Genety'llis.  A  small  genus  of  Myrtaceop ;  now 
united  with  Darwiiiia,  which  see. 

Geniculate.  Where  any  part  is  bent  abruptly, 
so  as  to  form  a  decided  angle,  as  the  stems  of 
many  grasses. 

Geni'pa.  Genip-tree.  A  genus  of  tropical 
American  trees  of  the  Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacece. 

Nearly  allied  to  the  Gardenia.  The  flowers 
are  small,  and  produce  a  fruit  about  the  size 
of  an  orange,  greenish-white  in  color,  and 
full  of  dark  purple  rather  acrid  juice.  It  is 
edible,  and  is  called  in  the  West  India  Islands 
"  Genipap  Fruit." 

Geni'sta.  From  the  Celtic  gen,  a  small  bush. 
Nat.  Oi'd.  LeguminoscB. 

This  genus  consists  of  upward  of  seventy 
species,  inhabiting  Europe,  north  Africa,  and 
western  Asia.  Many  of  the  species  are  per- 
fectly hardy.  G.  tinctoria,  or  Dyer's  Green- 
weed,  an  escape  from  Europe,  has  taken  pos- 

.  session  of  the  dry  waste  places  of  southern 
New  York  and  New  England,  with  the  per- 
sistency of  a  native.  This  species,  of  which 
there  is  a  very  pretty  double-flowered  form, 
yields  a  yellow  dye.  They  aie  all  very  hand- 
some, from  the  profusion  of  their  bright  yel- 
low pea-flowers,  and  are  of  the  easiest  culture, 
The  green-house  kinds  are  propagated  by 
cuttings  or  seeds. 

Gentian.     The  genus  Gentiana. 

Closed  Flowered.     Gentiana  Andrewsii. 
Fringed.     Gentiana  crinita. 
Soap-wort.     Gentiana  Saponaria. 

Gentia'na.  Gentian.  Named  after  Gentius, 
King  of  Illyria,  who  first  experienced  the 
virtues  of  the  plant.  Nat.  Ord.  GentianacetB. 
A  large  genus  of  herbaceous  perennials,  in- 
habiting all  parts  of  the  world,  from  the 
regions  of  perpetual  snow  upon  the  summits 
of  the  mountains  of  Europe,  to  the  hottest 
sands  of  South  America.  They  are  very  com- 
mon in  many  parts  of  this  country,  some 
growing  on  dry  hill-sides,  others  in  moist  and 
swampy  grounds.  All  the  plants  of  this 
genus  are  pretty,  and  many  are  extremely 
beautiful ;  the  flowers  take  in  the  extremes 
of  color  :  pink,  blue,  yellow  and  white,  are  all 
exhibited,  the  predominating  color,  however, 
being  a  beautiful  blue.  G.  Andrewsii  is  com- 
mon in  moist,  rich  places  in  the  Northern 
States,  and  is  a  very  beautiful  species ;  the 
flowers  are  of  a  deep,  purplish  blue,  striped 
inside,  the  folds  whitish.  G.  crinita.  Fringed 
Gentian,  is  another  quite  common  species  in 
New  England  and  westward.  The  four  lobes 
of  the  corolla  are  fringed  at  the  margin,  an  ex- 
ceptional point  of  beauty  of  this  species. 
The  Alpine  species  are  mostly  low-growing, 
well  adapted  for  rock-work  or  pot  culture. 
The  species  are  increased  by  seed,  which 
should  be  sown  as  soon  as  ripe.  The  Fringed 
Gentian  is  partial  to  its  native  home.  It 
rarely  lives  if  transplanted,  and  coming  into 
flower  so  late  in  the  season,  it  is  vei'y  seldom 
that  it  ripens  seed.  Were  it  readily  increased 
it  would  be  a  very  popular  plant. 


GAEOINIA  (MANGOSTEEN). 


GAILLAKDIA  ARISTATA. 


164  GALANTHUS  NIVALIS   (SNOWDROP). 


aAlLLAKDIA    LORENZIANA   (DOUBLE  FL'g). 


GEONOMA  GRACILIS. 


OILIA  CAPITATA  MAJOB. 


i6s 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTCRE. 


165 


GEN 

Gentiana'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbs,  rarely 
shrubs,  with  opposite,  entire,  exstipulate, 
usually  ribbed  leaves,  and  showy  flowers. 
They  are  found  in  almost  all  parts  of  the 
world,  some  at  high  elevations,  and  others  in 
hot  tropical  plains.  They  are  generally  bitter ; 
some  are  narcotic.  There  are  about  seventy 
known  genera  and  upward  of  500  species. 
Gentiana,  Lisianthiis,  Menyanthes,  Villarsia, 
Erythrcea,  and  Chlora  are  examples  of  the 
order. 

Gentianella.     Gentiana  acaulis. 

Genus.  A  family  of  plants  agreeing  in  their 
flower  and  fruit ;  an  assemblage  of  species 
possessing  certain  cliaracters  in  common,  by 
which  they  are  distinguished  from  all  others. 

Geo'noma.  From  geonomos,  skilled  in  agricul- 
ture ;  it  was  supposed  that  only  a  skillful 
gardener  could  increase  these  palms.  Nat. 
Ord.  PalmacecB. 

This  genus  includes  something  about  forty 
species  of  Palms,  the  most  of  them  without 
special  interest.  G.  gracilis  is  a  dwarf  species 
of  pendant  habit,  resembling  somewhat  some 
of  the  Cocos,  and  is  very  popular  for  decorative 
purposes.  The  species  are  of  but  little  value 
in  the  useful  arts,  and  are  increased  from 
seeds. 

Geraiiia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbs  or 
shrubs  with  swollen  joints,  and  opposite  or 
alternate  leaves,  which  are  usually  palmately 
veined  and  lobed,  often  stipulate.  The  plants 
are  distributed  over  various  parts  of  the 
world.  The  species  of  Pelargonium  arc 
abundant  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  It  is 
this  genus  that  has  furnished  the  beautiful 
varieties  that  ornament  the  green-house  in 
winter  and  the  garden  in  summer,  one  class 
of  which  is  commonly  known  as  Scarlet 
Geraniums.  The  species  of  Geranium  and 
.EJrodmrn  are  mostly  natives  of  Europe,  North 
America,  and  northern  Asia.  There  are 
about  twenty  genera  and  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  species  in  the  order,  the  principal  part  of 
which  are  natives  of  south  Africa.  Geranium, 
Pelargonium,  Erodium,  and  Tropceolum,  are 
examples  of  the  order. 

Gera'nium.  Crane's  bill.  From  geranos,  a 
crane ;  referring  to  the  beak-like  torus,  or 
projection  beyond  the  seeds.  Nat.  Ord. 
GeraniacecB. 

A  somewhat  extensive  genus  of  herbaceous 
plants,  most  of  which  are  hardy.  Two  species 
are  common  to  this  country,  and  several  of 
the  species  are  classed  with  our  native  plants, 
having  been  naturalized  from  Europe.  A  few 
of  the  species  produce  handsome  flowers, 
while  most  of  them  are  mere  weeds.  The 
well-known  Scarlet  or  Fish  Geraniums  of  our 
gardens  are  properly  Pelargoniums,  and  will 
be  found  under  that  head. 

Gera'rdia.  False  Fox  Glove.  Named  in  honor 
of  John  Gerard,  author  of  the  famous 
"Herbal,"  1597.     Nat. Ord.  Scrophulariacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy  annuals  and  perennials, 
common  in  many  of  the  States,  particularly 
along  the  seacoast.  The  flowers  are  yellow 
and  purple,  and  are  produced  in  great  abund- 
ance. The  species  being  more  or  less  root 
parasitic,  are  extremely  difficult  of  cultivation, 
but  spread  rapidly  where  once  introduced. 

Germander.     See  Teucrium. 

German  Greens.     See  Borecole. 


GES 

German  Ivy.  A  popular  name  of  Senecio 
Scandens. 

Germination.  The  first  act  of  vegetation  in  a 
seed,  commonly  called  "sprouting." 

Geropo'gon.  Old  Man's  Beard.  From  geron, 
old  man,  and  j)ogon,  a  beard  ;  referring  to  the 
hair-like  pappus  which  crowns  the  calyx  in 
this  order.     Nat.  Ord.  Composites. 

The  only  species  of  this  genus  is  a  very 
curious  annual  plant.  G.  glaber,  a  native  of 
Italy,  having  a  smooth  stem  and  leaves,  and 
growing  about  a  foot  high.  The  flowers  are 
flesh-colored,  and  expand  in  the  form  of  a  star 
only  when  the  sun  shines  upon  them.  The 
seeds  are  very  curious,  and  it  is  from  them 
that  the  plant  takes  its  English  name.  They 
should  be  sown  in  the  open  border  in  March 
or  April,  and  the  plants  will  flower  in  July 
and  August.  This  genus  is  now  included  by 
some  botanists  with  Tragopogon. 

Gerrada'nthus.     Named  after  W.  T.  Gerrard,  a 

collector  at  Natal.     Nat.  Ord.  CucurbitacecB. 

A  genus  of  tall  glabrous  climbers,  natives 
of  western  and  eastern  tropical  Africa.  G. 
tomentosus,  the  only  species  known  to  cultiva- 
tion is  a  stove  perennial  of  great  botanical 
interest.  Mr.  Wood,  superintendent  of  the 
Natal  Botanic  Gardens,  is  recorded  to  have 
found  on  the  top  of  and  between  large  stones, 
tubers,  one  of  which  "measured  six  feet  in 
circumference,  and  was  nearly  two  feet  thick, 
its  surface  was  scarred,  and  from  the  centre 
arose  a  stem  not  more  than  three  quarters  of . 
an  inch  in  diameter,  thickly  covered  with 
small,  round  tubercles,  which  ascended  with- 
out a  leaf  to  the  top  of  trees  fifty  feet  high. 
On  turning  over  one  of  the  tubers,  it  was 
found  to  have  but  one  fibrous  root  aboiit  half 
an  inch  thick.  *  *  *  The  natives  do  not 
appear  to  put  the  plant  to  any  use." — 
"Botanical  Magazine."  It  may  be  increased 
by  seeds. 

Gesne'ra.  Named  after  Conrad  Gesner,  a  cele- 
brated botanist  in  Zurich.  Nat.  Ord.  Gesner - 
acece. 

A  beautiful  and  extensive  genus  of  tuber- 
ous-rooted green-house  plants  from  Mexico 
and  South  America.  They  are  remarkable 
for  the  beauty  of  their  foliage,  which  is  sin- 
gularly marked,  and  soft  as  velvet,  and  for 
their  long  spikes  of  brilliant-colored  flowers, 
mostly  scarlet  and  yellow.  Some  of  them  are 
singularly  marked  or  spotted.  One  species, 
G.  Suttoni  alba,  from  Brazil,  has  pure  white 
flowers.  With  a  little  care  in  regulating  their 
season  of  rest,  they  can  be  brought  into  flower 
at  any  desired  time.  They  require  a  light 
rich  soil,  a  warm  situation,  but  little  sun,  and 
plenty  of  water,  which  should  not  touch  the 
foliage.  They  are  easily  propagated  by  cut- 
tings of  young  shoots,  or  by  cuttings  of 
leaves  with  a  bud  at  the  base,  division  of  the 
tubers,  or  from  seeds.  The  latter  is  a  very 
interesting  and  simple  plan.  The  certainty 
that  all  your  plants  will  be  as  good  as  the 
parents,  and  the  uncertainty  as  to  how  good, 
or  how  strange  they  may  be,  furnish  an  addi- 
tional stimulant  to  grow  them  in  this  way. 
The  seed  should  be  sown  in  March,  in  pans  or 
boxes,  in  fine  light  compost,  largely  composed 
of  sand,  and  placed  in  a  warm,  moist  at- 
mosphei-e.  As  soon  as  the  seedlings  are  up, 
and  show  the  second  leaf,  plant  separ- 
ately, an  inch  or  so  apart,  in  shallow  boxes, 


166 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


GES 

and  from  these  put  in  small  pots  as  they 
grow,  and  let  them  grow  there  for  the  sum- 
mer. Allow  them  to  go  to  rest  in  the  autumn, 
and  let  them  remain  in  the  same  pots  during 
winter.  As  soon  as  they  show  signs  of  life  in 
spring,  repot  in  fresh  soil,  and  many  of  them 
will  come  into  flower  during  the  summer. 
The  first  species  were  introduced  in  1814. 

Gesnera'ceaB.  A  natural  order  of  herbs  or 
shrubs,  often  growing  from  scaly  tubers,  with 
wrinkled,  usually  opposite  leaves  and  showy 
flowers.  They  are  natives  of  various  parts 
of  the  world,  but  chiefly  the  warmer  regions 
of  America.  The  succulent  roots  aj:e  occa- 
sionally edible,  and  some  of  the  species  yield 
a  dye.  The  leaves  of  some  of  them  produce 
buds  when  laid  on  the  soil,  similar  to  Begonias 
of  the  K.ex  type.  Tlxere  are  upward  of  eighty 
genera  and  nearly  300  species.  Gesnera, 
Gloxinia,  Achimenes,  Streptocarpus,  and  Oyr- 
tandra  are  examples. 

Gethy'llis.  From  getheo,  to  rejoice ;  referring 
to  the  sweetness  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord. 
Amaryllidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  the  most  diminutive  of 
this  noble  family  of  plants.  They  are  green- 
house bulbs  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
producing  small  white,  fragrant  flowers  in 
July,  singly  on  a  scape  not  more  than  six 
inches  high,  and  are  propagated  by  offsets. 
Introduced  in  1780. 

Ge'um.  Avens.  From  geyo,  to  stimulate  ;  the 
roots  of  some  of  them,  and  of  allied  species, 
have  the  same  properties  as  Peruvian  Bark. 
Nat.  Ord.  Rosaom. 

A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials, 
containing  some  species  of  an  ornamental 
character,  well  adapted  for  the  shrubbery 
border.  G.  monfanum,  bright  golden  yellow, 
and  G.  coccineum,  scarlet,  are  very  showy. 
Propagated  by  seeds  or  by  root  division. 

Gherkin.     A  small  fruited  variety  of   Cucumia 

saliva. 
West  Indian.     The  unripe  fruits  of   Cucumis 

Anguria. 
Giaut  FenneL     See  Ferula. 

Gibbous,  Gibboss.  More  convex  or  swollen  in 
one  place  than  another. 

Gi'lia.  Named  in  honor  of  P.  8.  Gil,  a  Spanish 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Polemoniacece. 

Handsome  hardy  annuals  from  California, 
w'itli  white,  lilac,  and  rose-colored  flowers. 
They  are  low-growing,  and  profuse  bloomers, 

■  suitable  for  borders  or  rock-work.  Seed 
should  be  sown  in  the  fall,  and  the  beds 
lightly  covered  with  leaves.  Fenzlia,  Ipo- 
mopsis,  and  Leplofiiphon  are  by  some  botanists 
included  in  this  genus. 

Gille'nia.  Named  after  A.  Gillenius,  a  German 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  RosacecB. 

A  genus  of  two  species,  natives  of  the  United 
States.  G.  trifoliata  or  Bowman's  Eoot,  is  a 
hardy  perennial  with  white  or  rose-colored 
flowers ;  it  is  often  cultivated  under  the  name 
of  Spiraea  trijoliata. 

Gilliflo-wer  or  Gillyflo-wer.  Dianthus  Caryo- 
phyllus,  also  the  genus  Matthiola. 

Gilliflower-Stock.     See  Matthiola. 

Gills.  The  lamellse  or  plates  growing  perpen- 
dicularly from  the  cap  or  pileus  of  an  Agaric 
or  Mushroom. 


GLA 

Ginger.     See  Zingiber. 
Wild.     See  Asarum  Canadense. 

Gingerbread  Tree.     See  Hyphmne. 

Gi'nkgo.  Maiden-hair  Tree.  The  Japanese 
name.     Nat.  Ord.  Coniferoe. 

This  singular  tree  is  better  known  in  culti- 
vation under  the  name  of  Salishuria,  which 
see. 

Ginseng.     See  Panax. 

Gipsies'  Rose.     Scabiosa  arvensis. 

Gipsy-Flo'wrer.     Cynoglossum  officinale. 

Githa'go.    A  genus  now  included  under  Lychnis. 

Glabrous.  Smooth ;  without  hair  or  other 
covering,  as  the  Camellia  leaf, 

Gla'diolus.  Sword  Lily.  The  diminutive  of 
gladius,  a  sword ;  referring  to  the  sword- 
shaped  leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

This  extensive  and  well-known  genus  con- 
tains about  ninety  species,  many  of  which  are 
amongst  the  most  popular  of  out-door  sum- 
mer and  autumn-flowering  so-called  "  bulb- 
ous" plants.  They  are  found  in  central 
Europe,  the  Mediterranean  region,  western 
Asia,  and  Africa,  but  the  most  of  the  species 
are  natives  of  southern  Africa.  They  are 
remarkable  for  their  ease  of  culture,  grace  of 
habit,  and  for  the  beauty  and  intense  coloring 
of  the  flowers,  varying  from  the  most  bril- 
liant scarlet  to  pure  white,  from  clear  rose  to 
pure  yellow  and  bright  purple.  The  habits  of 
the  species  are  as  varied  as  their  colors ; 
some  delicate  and  light,  others  strong  and 
robust,  with  constitutions  adapted  to  any 
climate  excepting  the  most  frigid.  From 
these  species  some  of  the  most  remarkable 
hybrids  have  been  produced.  In  no  branch 
of  floriculture  has  the  skill,  the  zeal,  and  the 
perseverance  of  the  hybridizer  been  so  liber- 
ally rewarded.  A  class  with  almost  unlimited 
numbers  of  varieties  has  been  produced,  that, 
for  the  size  of  flower,  beauty  in  form,  size  and 
strength  of  plant,  together  with  the  enormous 
length  of  flower  spike,  are  entirely  unknown 
to  the  species.  So  popular  have  these  hybrids 
become  that  the  species  are  only  to  be  found 
in  botanical  collections.  It  is  a  common 
mistake  to  call  our  many  varieties  hybrids, 
when  in  reality  they  are  all,  or  nearly  all, 
cross-breeds ;  and  this  is  one  of  the  most 
interesting  features  in  Gladioli  culture,  that 
every  cross  between  well-known  varieties 
tends,  in  almost  evety  case,  to  impro\e,  not 
only  the  beauty  of  the  flower,  but  the  vigor  of 
the  plant.  We  wish  now  to  remove,  as  far  as 
possible,  the  prevalent  erroneous  idea,  that  it 
is  a  difficult  task  to  raise  new  and  choice 
varieties  from  seed.  The  only  secret,  the  only 
mystery  is,  that  one  can,  with  so  little  trouble 
and  expense,  produce  flowers  that  will  give 
such  i  itense  satisfaction  and  pleasure.  It  is 
no  more  trouble  to  raise  Gladioli  fx-om  seed 
than  it  is  to  raise  the  most  common  vegetable. 
With  the  simplest  garden  culture,  there  is  an 
almost  absolute  certainty  of  success.  Prepare 
your  bed  in  spring  as  for  any  hardy  annual, 
sow  your  seed,  and  cover  to  the  depth  of  one 
inch.  Hoe  as  often  as  needed  for  other  crops ; 
keep  them  well  weeded;  take  up  the  bulbs 
after  a  frost,  or  before,  if  they  show  signs  of 
ripening;  store  them  in  a  dry  cellar,  free 
from  frost;  plant  them  out  again  the  next 
spring,  and  the  ensuing  summer  very  many  of 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


167 


GLA 

them  will  flower.  If  the  precaution  is  taken 
to  sow  the  seed  in  a  hot-bed,  close  the  same 
upon  the  approach  of  a  heavy  rain,  which  they 
dislike  exceedingly.  Very  nearly  all  the  bulbs 
will  be  large  enough  to  give  their  most  perfect 
flowers  the  second  year.  The  fact  that  the 
best  rarely  flower  first,  will  tend  to  create  in 
the  amateur  a  warm  and  lively  interest.  A  perti- 
nent question  is,  hosv  to  obtain  the  best  seed. 
Commence  by  making  a  careful  selection  of 
the  best  varieties  in  cultivation,  keeping  in 
view  those  of  the  best  form,  largest  size,  and 
of  the  most  intense  and  positive  colors ; 
wherever  they  are  marked  or  variegated,  have 
the  markings  bold  and  distinct.  Plant  all  in 
a  bed  so  that  they  will  not  be  more  than  one 
foot  apart  each  way.  Without  fui-ther  care 
you  will  get  some  good  seed ;  but  a  better 
quality  and  much  laiger  quantity  will  be 
obtained  by  crossing  them  in  all  sorts  of 
ways,  which  is  the  most  effectually  done  on 
a  dry  day,  when  there  is  but  little  air  stirring. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  cross-fertilize  for  good 
varieties,  though  it  is  a  more  certain  way;  yet 
A'ery  many  of  our  best  seedlings  were  acci- 
dentals. The  Gladioli  dislikes  a  stiff,  clayey 
soil,  but  will  thrive  well  in  almost  any  other, 
its  preference  being  for  one  of  a  moist,  sandy 
nature,  or  light  loam.  They  do  best  on  what 
is  termed  sod-ground,  with  but  little  manure, 
and  that  well  I'otted.  Successive  plantings  in 
the  same  ground  should  be  avoided.  Change 
the  locality  of  the  bed  every  yeai-,  so  as  not 
to  return  to  the  same  spot  for  at  least  three 
years.  It  is  much  the. best  plan  to  make  the 
ground  very  rich  this  year,  and  put  on  some 
light  crop ;  then  it  will  be  in  perfect  order  for 
the  Gladioli  next.  Increase  of  desirable  sorts 
is  effected  by  the  small  bulbs  or  bulblets  that 
form  at  the  base  of  the  new  bulb,  which  are 
produced  in  greater  or  less  quantities.  Some 
varieties  will  have  on  an  average  a  hundred 
in  a  year;  others  will  produce  scarcely  any. 
This  will,  in.  a  great  measure,  account  for  the 
marked  difference  in  prices  of  the  named 
sorts ;  it  will  also  account  for  the  rapid  in- 
crease in  the  more  common  soits,  and  the 
sudden  disappearance  of  those  greatly  prized. 
Choice  sorts  are  but  short-lived,  unless  they 
^re  increased  by  bulblets.  In  many  of  our 
^lamei  sorts,  old  bulbs  will  not  produce  good 
flowers,  if,  inde' d,  they  produce  any;  conse- 
quently the  bulblets  from  all  favorite  sorts 
should  be  planted  every  spring,  or  at  least  a 
sufficient  number  of  then:^  for  a  required  stock. 
The  bulblets  should  be  planted  in  spring  in 
any  convenient  out-of-the-way  place  in  the 
garden,  and  given  the  same  treatment  as  is 
recommended  for  the  seed.  If  in  rich,  light 
soil,  veiy  nearly  all  will  flower  the  second 
year.  They  require  but  little  room  the  first 
year.  Prepare  the  rows  about  the  width  of 
the  common  garden  hoe,  and  sow  the  bulblets 
(or  seeds)  so  clo-e  that  they  will  nearly  touch 
each  other,  and  they  will  do  much  better  than 
if  more  scattered.  During  winter  the  bulbs, 
without  regard  to  size  or  age,  are  best  kept 
in  a  dry,  cool  cellar.  Plantings  should  be 
made  as  early  in  spring  as  the  ground  can  be 
got  in  order,  no  matter  if  there  should  be  hard 
frosts  after ;  it  will  not  penetrate  the  ground 
sufficiently  to  injure  them.  For  late  flowei'ing 
some  of  the  stronger  bulbs  may  be  kept  until 
the  first  of  July,  which  will  keep  them  back 
until  about  the  first  of  October.    It  is  now 


GLA 

also  a  common  practice  with  fiorists  to  reserve 
Gladiolus  bulbs  until  August,  which  are  then 
planted  in  boxes,  four  or  five  inches  deep,  in 
rich  soil.  The  boxes  are  kept  out  of  doors 
until  frost,  when  they  are  placed  in  a  cool 
green-house,  where  they  flower  from  Novem- 
ber to  December,  at  a  time  when  they  com- 
mand good  prices.  A  number  of  the  early 
flowering  sorts,  such  as  John  Bull,  white; 
LaCandeur,  white,  striped  with  violet ;  Shakes- 
peare, white,  suffused  with  carmine ;  Isaac 
Buchanan,  yellow  ;  Martha  Washington,  light 
yellow ;  Eugene  Scribe,  rose,  marked  with 
red,  Brenchleyensis,  scarlet,  etc.,  are  also 
forced,  during  the  spring  months,  for  their 
flowers,  many  florists  finding  them  a  paying 
crop  between  the  rows  of  young  roses,  etc.,  as 
they  take  up  but  little  room,  and  are  removed 
before  the  roses  require  the  space.  Notwith- 
standing that  most  of  the  original  species  have 
long  since  been  superseded  by  the  numerous 
and  beautiful  hybrids  now  in  cultivation, 
many  of  them  are  worthy  of  being  retained 
for  the  mixed  flower  border,  G.  nafalensis, 
G.  cardinalis,  G.  Jloribundus,  G.  trUitis,  etc., 
the  parents  of  the  early  hybrids  G.  Ganda- 
vensis,  G.  Colvillci,  etc.,  are  still  largely  culti- 
vated. The  latter  species,  with  its  beautiful 
pure  white  variety,  G.  C.  Alba,  better  known 
in  cultivation  as  "The  Bride,"  are  amongst 
the  most  beautiful  for  pot  culture.  They  suc- 
ceed admirably,  and  maybe  had  in  full  beauty 
by  January,  if  gently  forced.  The  two  latter 
are,  more<.)ver,  perfectly  hardy,  and,  blooming 
naturally  about  the  first  of  June,  are  welcome 
additions  to  our  hardy  border  plants.  It 
is  advisable,  however,  to  protect  them  during 
winter  with  a  mulching  of  leaves  or  some 
such  material,  all  bulbs  succeeding  better 
when  not  exposed  to  too  much  frost.  G. 
purpureo-auralus,  another  hardy  species,  the 
perianth  limb  of  which  is  golden-yellow,  with 
a  large  purple  blotch  on  tlie  two  lower  seg- 
ments, is  th6  parent  of  an  entirely  new  section, 
happily  called  the  "Butterfiy  Gladioli."  They 
are  of  all  shades  of  color,  beautifully  marked 
and  shaded  with  large,  distinct  blotches  of 
purple,  maroon,  or  rosj'-purple,  on  the  lower 
petals,  similar  to  the  markings  on  the  Fancy 
Pelargoniums.  G.  Saundersoni,  introduced 
about  the  same  time  as  the  foregoing  (1872), 
has  very  showy  crimson  fiowers,  spotted  with 
white,  and  is  likely  to  prove  valuable  for 
hybridizing  purposes. 

Gladwyn,  or  Gladden.  The  common  name  for 
Iris  fcztidissima. 

Glands,  Wart-like  swellings  found  on  the  sur- 
face-of  plants,  or  at  one  end  of  their  hairs, 
serving  the  purpose  of  secreting  organs.  They 
are  extremely  various  in  form. 

Glandular.  Covered  with  hairs,  bearing  glands 
upon  their  tips. 

Glass  and  Glazing.  If  for  winter  forcing  of 
either  fruit  or  flowers,  the  glass  should  be  not 
less  than  ten  by  twelve  inches  in  size,  laid  in 
the  twelve  way,  and  if  twelve  by  twentj'  all  the 
better.  Even  with  the  greatest  care,  some 
flaws  in  the  glass  will  escape  detection,  and 
more  or  less  burn  the  leaves  after  the  sun 
becomes  strong,  to  counteract  which  a  slight 
shading  had  better  be  used  on  the  glass  from 
April  to  September.  We  use  naphtha,  with 
just  enough  white  lead  mixed  in  it  to  give  it 
the  appearance  of  thin  milk.     This  we  put  on 


168 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


GLA 

with  a  syringe,  which  sufficiently  covers  up 
all  flaws  in  the  glass  to  prevent  burning,  and 
at  the  same  time  tends  to  cool  the  house  from 
the  violence  of  the  sun's  i-ays.  This  is  by  far 
the  cheapest  and  best  shading  we  have  ever 
used.  It  can  be  graded  to  any  degree  of 
thickness,  and  costs  ouly  about  twenty-five 
cents  per  thousand  square  feet  of  glass,  for 
material  and  labor. 

In  glazing,  the  method  now  almost  univer- 
sally adopted  is  to  bed  the  glass  in  putty,  and 
tack  it  on  top  with  glazier's  points,  using  no 
putty  on  the  top.  The  glazier's  points  are 
triangular,  one  corner  of  which  is  turned 
down,  so  that,  when  it  is  driven  in,  it  fits  the 
lower  edge  of  each  pane  and  prevents  it  from 
slipping  down.  A  gi-eat  mistake  is  often  made 
in  giving  the  glass  too  much  lap.  It  should 
only  be  given  just  enough  to  cover  the  edge 
of  the  pane  (from  one-eighth  to  one-fourth  of 
an  inch).  If  given  too  much,  the  water  gets 
In,  and  when  it  freezes  it  cracks  the  glass. 

All  who  have  had  experience  with  green- 
houses know  that,  no  matter  how  well  the 
glazing  has  been  done  by  bedding  the  glass  in 
putty,  the  water  gets  in  at  the  crevices  sooner 
or  later,  rotting  the  putty,  and,  conse- 
quently, loosening  the  glass.  A  simple  plan  to 
obviate  this  (which  h-as  recently  been  intro- 
duced) is  to  pour  along  the  junction  of  the 
bar  with  the  glass  a  thin  line  of  white  lead  in 
oil  from  the  slender  spout  of  a  machine  oil 
can,  over  which  is  shaken  dry  sand.  This  at 
once  hardens,  and  makes  a  cement  which 
effectually  checks  all  leakage.  This,  carefully 
done,  Avill  make  such  a  tight  job  that  no 
repairs  will  be  necessary  for  many  years. 

Glassv^ort.     See  Salicomia. 

Glastonbiiry  Thorn.     CratcBgus  oxyacantha  prcB- 
cox.     A  very  early   flowering   variety  of  th^ 
Hawthorn. 

Glaucescent.  Having  a  bluish-green  or  sea- 
green  appearance. 

Gla'ucium.  Horned  Poppy.  From  glaukos, 
grayish  green;  referring  to  the  color  of  the 
leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Papaveracem.  \ 

A  genus  of  hardy  annuals  and  perennials, 
natives  of  Europe.  They  are  remarkable  for 
their  bright  yellow  flowers,  that  are  produced 
in  great  abundance  all  the  summer,  and  for 
their  deeply  cut  leaves,  that  have  a  decided 
glaucous  hue.  G.  luteum,  one  of  the  most 
showy  and  desirable  species,  is  very  common 
at  Montauk  Point,  Long  Island,  and  on  the 
islands  along  the  coast,  having  become  natu- 
ralized from  Europe.  This  species  grows 
readily  from  seed,  and  makes  a  valuable  plant 
for  the  ribbon  border. 

Glaucous.  Covered  with  a  fine  bloom,  like  that 
of  the  Plum  or  Echeveria  secunda  glauca, 

Gla'ux.  Sea  Milkwort.  A  pretty  little  native 
herbaceous  perennial  belonging  to  PrimulaceoR. 
O.  Maritiina,  the  only  species,  grows  abun- 
dantly on  most  parts  of  the  sea-coast,  just 
above  high-water  mark,  and  in  salt  marshes. 
The  stems  are  clothed  with  oblong,  fleshy, 
smooth,  entire  leaves,  which  are  pale  under- 
neath, and  salt  to  the  taste.  The  flesh-colored 
flowers  are  solitary,  nearly  sessile,  and  axil- 
lary. 

Glazing.    See  Glass. 

Glecho'ma.  Now  included  under  Nepeta,  which 
see. 


GLO 

Gledi'tschia.  Honey  Locust.  In  honor  of 
Gottlieb  Glediisch,  once  a  professor  at  Berlin; 
a  defender  of  LinnsBus  against  Siegesbeck, 
and  author  of  many  botanical  works.  Nat. 
Ord.  LeffuminoscB. 

A  genus  of  handsome  hardy  deciduous 
trees,  several  of  the  species  being  common  in 
the  Middle,  Southern  and  Western  States.  G. 
triacanthos,  the  Three-thorned  Acacia  or  com- 
mon Honey  Locust,  is  a  common  and  very 
ornamental  shade  tree  with  elegant  foliage. 
Its  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong  and  compact, 
capable  of  a  high  polish,  and  very  durable  in 
contact  with  the  soil.  From  its  strong  and 
abundant  thorns  it  is  very  valuable,  and  is 
much  cultivated  as  a  hedge  plant. 

Gleiche'nia.  Named  after  Gleichen,  a  German 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiaceoR. 

An  extensive  genus  of  Ferns  found  widely 
scattered  in  the  tropics,  both  of  the  Old  and 
New  World,  and  extending  to  Chili  and  the 
Australasian  i-egions.  A  few  only  have  found 
their  way  into  the  hot-house,  some  of  which 
are  among  the  most  elegant  and  graceful  of 
the  cultivated  Ferns.  They  are  propagated 
by  division  or  from  spores.  Introduced  in 
1823. 

Gleichenia'ceae.   A  group  or  sub-order  of  Filices. 

Glo'bba.  Native  Molucca  name.  Nat.  Ord. 
ZingiberacecB. 

A  genus  of  about  twenty-four  species  of 
pretty  plant-stove,  herbaceous  perennials, 
natives  of  India  and  the  Malayan  Archipelago. 
Flowers  yellow  or  pinkish,  very  curious  look- 
ing. Of  easy  culture  in  a  warm  green-house ; 
increased  by  division. 

Globe  Amaranth.     See  Gomphrena  globosa. 

Globe-Daisy.     Globularia  vulgaris. 

Globe-Flovrer.  The  genus  Trollius,  which  see. 
Swamp.     Ccphalanthus  occiaentalis. 

Globe-Thistle.   The  genus  Echinops,  which  see. 

Globose,  Globular.     Hound  or  spherical. 

Globula'ria.  From  globulos,  a  small  round 
head  ;  in  allusion  to  the  form  of  the  capitate 
flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Selaginacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy  or  green-house  perennial 
herbs  or  shrubs  inhabiting  the  Mediterranean 
region,  etc.  Flowers  collected  upon  a  com- 
mon receptacle  surrounded  by  a  many-leaved 
involucre.  Pretty  plants  for  the  rock  garden 
or  herbaceous  border;  propagated  by  seeds 
or  by  division. 

Globule'a.  From  globulos,  a  small  globe;  re- 
ferring to  the  glands  on  the  petals.  Nat. 
Ord.  C7~cissi'l(ic£(B. 

A  genus  of  succulent  plants,  natives  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  with  flat,  sickle-shaped 
leaves,  arranged  in  a  rosette.  The  flowers 
are  small,  arranged  in  dense  clusters,  and 
have  five  petals  bent  inward,  each  of  them 
tipped  with  a  little  globule  of  waxy  matter, 
whence  the  name  of  the  genus,  which  is 
closely  allied  to  Crassula.  The  several  species 
are  propagated  by  cuttings  of  firmish  young 
shoots,  that  should  be  dried  a  day  or  two  be- 
fore being  put  into  the  propagating  bed.  In- 
troduced in  1732. 

Glomerate.  Collected  into  close  heads  or 
parcels. 

Glone'ria  Jasminiflora.  See  Psychotria  jas- 
minijlora. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


169 


GLO 

Glorio'sa.  From  gloriosus,  glorious ;  because 
of  the  magnificent  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 
A  very  handsome  genus  of  green-house 
bulbs,  of  limited  climbing  habit,  the  flowers 
curiously  shaped,  bright  yellow  or  orange  in 
color.  They  should  be  grown  in  pots  of  very 
sandy  loam,  and  treated  in  the  manner  recom- 
mended for  Gesnera,  except  that,  being  climb- 
ing plants,  they  will  require  to  be  supported 
with  sticks  or  a  trellis.  Natives  of  south  Africa, 
introduced  in  1825.     Syn.  Methonica. 

Glory-Flower.     Cliilian.    Eccremocarpus  scaber. 

Glory  of  the  Snow     See  Chionodoxa. 

Glory-Pea.     Dampier's.     CUanthtin  Dampieri. 
New  Zealand.     Clianthvspuniceus. 

Glory-Tree.  Clerodendron  fragrans,  and  other 
species. 

Glossoco'mia.  From  glossocomos,  a  money-bag  ; 
referring  to  the  shape  of  the  flower.  Nat. 
Ord.  Campanidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  plants, 
with  white  or  purple  bell-shaped  flowers,  from 
northern  India.  They  are  increased  by  seeds 
or  division.  Introduced  in  1839.  Syn.  Codon- 
opsis. 

Gloxi'nia  Named  after  P.  B.  Gloxin,  a  botanist 
of  Colmar.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneracece. 

The  species  that  compose  this  splendid 
genus  are,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  natives 
of  South  America,  and  are  usually  foimd  in 
deep  ravines,  on  rather  high  mountain  eleva- 
tions, and  in  damp,  much-shaded  situations. 
The  species  are  among  the  greatest  ornaments 
of  our  green-houses,  and  the  richness  of  their 
foliage,  and  their  ample,  graceful,  and  deli- 
cately-tinted flowers,  have  gained  for  them  a 
prominent  place  among  the  more  choice 
flowering  plants.  Here,  as  in  many  other 
instances,  the  process  of  hybridizing  has  been 
largely  resorted  to,  and  the  results  are  most 
satisfactory.  The  older  kinds,  with  drooping 
flowers,  have  mostly  given  place  to  forms 
with  the  corolla  almost  regular  and  nearly 
erect,  the  latter  peculiarity  having  this 
recommendation,  that  the  border  and  throat 
of  the  corolla^  to  which  parts  much  of  the 
beauty  of  the  flower  is  owing,  are  presented 
to  the  eye.  The  hybrids  are  greatly  improved 
in  color  as  well  as  form,  and  the  flowers  are 
produced  in  greater  abundance  than  with  the 
species.  The  main  art  in  growing  Gloxinias 
well,  is  to  give  them  a  porous  and  well-enriched 
soil,  to  grow  them  in  a  warm,  moist  atmos- 
phere, and  as  soon  as  they  begin  to  flower  to 
remove  them  to  a  cooler  house,  and  afterward 
dry  them  off  gradually,  and  keep  them  free 
from  moisture  till  they  again  begin  to  grow. 
To  produce  the  richest  colors  the  glass  should 
be  shaded,  or  they  should  be  grown  where 
there  is  only  a  northern  exposure.  Gloxinias 
are  readily  propagated  by  their  leaves;  all 
that  is  required  is  to  insert  the  leaf,  about 
one-half  its  length,  in  an  ordinary  propagating 
bed,  keep  the  sand  moderately  wet  until  the 
leaf  is  completely  dried  up,  then  withhold 
water  entirely,  and  leave  the  newly-formed 
tubers  until  the  following  February,  at  which 
time  they  will  commence  to  grow,  when  they 
should  be  taken  out  and  potted.  They  will 
flower  in  one  year  after  the  cuttings  are  put 
in.  They  are  also  produced  easily  from  seed, 
which  they  ripen  abundantly.  On  account  of 
its  very  small  size  it  should  be  sown  on  a 


GLY 

smooth  surface  of  soil,  and  merely  covered 
with  a  slight  covering  of  moss  laid  lightly 
over,  and  kept  on  until  germination  has  taken 
place.  As  soon  as  they  are  fit  to  handle  the 
plants  are  pricked  out  into  small  pots  or 
shallow  boxes,  and  with  careful  attention 
they  will  make  flowering  plants  the  first 
season.  In  all  the  stages  of  growth,  whether 
the  plants  are  large  or  small,  care  should  be 
taken,  in  watculng,  to  avoid  wetting  the 
leaves,  or  to  have  ihe  earth  sodden  around 
them ;  either  will  cause  them  to  damp  olf  and 
rot.  They  require  a  warm  temperature  when 
growing,  and  are  exceedingly  useful  if  planted 
in  a  warm  frame  and  shaded  from  bright  sun, 
for  growing  for  cut  flowers  during  the  sum- 
mer months.  This  plant  was  flrst  introduced 
in  1739. 

Glumaceous.  Plants  are  said  to  be  glumaceous 
when  their  flowers  are  like  those  of  grasses. 

Glume.  The  exterior  series  of  the  scales  which 
constitute  the  flower  of  a  grass. 

Glutinose.    Covered  with  a  sticky  exudation. 

Glyce'ria.  From  glykeros,  sweet;  alluding  to 
the  herbage.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  grasses,  mostly 
aquatic.  They  are  of  but  very  little  beauty 
or  interest.  A  few  of  the  species  that  grow 
in  moist  meadows,  near  the  sea-coast,  furnish 
a  pasture  that  is  relished  by  stock  of  all 
kinds.  The  species  are  common  throughout 
the  Northern,  Eastern,  and  Western  States. 

Gly'cine.  From  glykys,  sweet ;  referring  to  the 
taste  of  the  roots  of  some  of  the  species.  Nat. 
Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  small  genus,  nearly  all  of  which  are 
tender  climbing  plants,  producing  axillary 
flowers,  singly  or  in  racemes,  white,  yellow, 
or  rose ;  tiiey  are  only  adapted  for  green- 
house culture.  There  is  one  species,  G.  soga, 
that  is  a  hardy  annual,  a  native  of  Japan,  that 
produces  seeds  like  small  kidney  beans,  which 
the  Japanese  use  in  large  quantities,  either  ia 
soup,  or  in  making  a  sauce  called  sooja  or  soy, 
this,  sauce  being  used  in  many  of  their  dishes. 
Th^  Wistaria  was  formerly  incorrectly  called 
Glycine. 

Glycyrrhi'za.  Liquorice.  From  glykys,  sweet, 
and  rhiza,  a  root ;  i-ef erring  to  the  sweet  juice 
of  the  roots  of  the  liquorice.  Nat.  Ord. 
Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials, 
the  one  of  principal  interest  being  G.  glabra,  a 
native  of  Italy,  the  roots  of  which  produce  the 
Liquorice  of  commerce.  None  of  the  species 
are  cultivated  as  ornamental  plants. 

Glypto'strobus.  Embossed  Cypress.  From 
the  Greek  words  glyptos,  carved  or  engraved, 
and  strobos,  a  cone ;  from  the  embossing  on 
the  scales.     Nat.  Ord.  Coniferce. 

G.  sinensis  pendula,  the  best  known  species, 
popularly  known  as  the  Chinese  Weeping 
Deciduous  Cypress,  was  formerly  included  in 
the  genus  Taxodium.  Mr.  Scott  says  of  this 
tree:  "Though  this  belongs  to  a  section  of 
the  Conifers,  which  are  deciduous,  they  are  in 
all  other  respects  so  allied  in  appearance 
with  the  evi'rgreens  as  usually  to  be  classed 
with  them.  This  variety  in  the  neighborhood 
of  New  York  is  certainly  the  most  beautiful 
and  hardy  of  all  the  deciduous  Cypresses. 
The  tree  in  its  whole  appearance  is  so  dis- 
tinct from  all  other  trees  generally  cultivated 


170 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


GNA 

in  this  country  that  it  is  certainly  one  of  the 
most  desirable  novelties  among  trees.  We 
have  seen  it  only  in  autumn,  at  which  time 
the  weeping  character  of  the  foliage  is  not 
marked,  and  the  outline  is  distinctly  formal. 
The  pendulousness  is  only  in  the  curl  and 
droop  of  the  young  foliage,  the  branches  radi- 
ating quite  rigidly.  It  is  known  in  China  as 
the  water  pine,  and  found  principally  in  the 
maritime  districts.  The  tree  grows  from 
twenty  to  thirty  feet  high,  and  casts  its  lower 
limbs  as  it  rises ;  so  that  at  maturity  its  form 
is  like  that  of  the  common  pear  tree,  or  some- 
what more  slender."  Like  all  others  of  the 
tribe,  tins  will  thrive  in  almost  any  soil,  pre- 
ferring a  moist  situation.     Syn.  Tuxodium. 

Gnapha'lium.  Cudweed.  From  gnaphalon,  soft 
down  ;  in  refenmce  to  the  woolly  covering  of 
the  leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Composit(£. 

A  genus  known  as  Everlastings.  Many  of 
the  species  formeily  included  in  it  are  now 
classed  with  Helichrysum.  There  are  sev- 
ei'al  species,  hardy  perennials,  very  com- 
mon in  the  Middle  and  Southern  States,which 
are  the  only  ones  worth  cultivating. 

Gneta'ceae.  A  small  order  of  shrubs,  natives 
principally  of  the  tropics.  The  seeds  of  some 
of  the  species  are  edible.  Welioitschia  and 
Ephedra  are  the  best  known  genera. 

Gni'dia.  The  ancient  name  of  the  Laurel.  Nat. 
Ord.   ThymelacecB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreens,  pro- 
ducing pale  yellow  flowers.  In  habit  they 
resemble  the  Heath.  They  are  quite  pretty, 
but  difficult  of  cultivation,  and  ai-e  propagated 
by  cuttings.  They  are  natives  of  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope ;  introduced  in  1768. 

Goat's  Beard.  A  popular  name  of  Spircea  arun- 
ciis  and  Tragopogon  pratensis. 

Goat's-eye.     See  ^gilops. 

Goat's  Rue.     See  Galega. 

Goat's  Wheat.     The  genus  Tragopyrum. 

Gode'tia.  Named  by  Spach,  a  German  botanist, 
resident  of  Paris ;  it  is  probably  a  Latinized 
proper  name.   Nat.  Ord.  Onagracem. 

A  genus  of  exceedingly  handsome  and  showy 
hardy  annuals  from  California,  growing  about 
a  foot  and  a  half  high,  and  producing  number- 
less rosy-lilac  flowers.  The  seeds  should  be 
started  in  the  hot-bed  in  March,  and  trans- 
jjlanted  into  poor  soil  when  danger  from  frost 
is  over.  They  require  plenty  of  room  ;  close 
planting  will  draw  tliem  up,  and  weaken  them, 
and  rich  soil  will  produce  more  leaves  than 
flowers.  Included  by  some  authors  under 
(Enothera. 

God'wi'nia.  Derivation  of  name  not  given. 
G.  gigas,  the  only  species  under  cultivation, 
is  a  native  of  Nicaragua,  and  belongs  to  the 
Nat.  Ord.  Aroidece. 

From  a  laige  tuberous  root-stock  it  throws 
up  a  single  leaf,  with  a  mottled  stalk  ten  feet 
high,  the  blade  being  very  largely  and  deeply 
pedateiy  cut.  The  inflorescence  appears  at  a 
different  time  from  the  leaf,  and  consists  of  a 
stalk  about  ten  inches  high,  supporting  an 
oblong  purple  hood-like  spathe  sometimes  two 
feet  in  length,  which  spreads  open  a  little  at 
the  top,  but  elsewhere  closely  envelops  the 
short  spadix,  which  latter  is  completely  cover- 
ed with  hermaphrodite  flowers.  The  stamens 
are  twelve  in  number  in  two  rows,  and  by  this 


GOM 

circumstance  Godwinia  may  be  distinguished 
from  the  nearly  allied  genus  Dracontium.  It 
was  supposed  to  be  the  largest  Arad,  both  as 
to  leaf  and  flower  known,  until  the  discovery  of 
Amorphallus  titanum  by  Dr.  Beccari  in  western 
Sumatra.  "The  tuber  dug  up  by  the  doctor 
measured  five  feet  in  circumference  and  was 
so  heavy  that  ten  men  could  scarcely  carry  it. 
From  this  tuber  only  one  leaf  is  produced,  but 
what  a  leaf,  to  cover  an  area  of  forty-five  feet 
in  circumference."  The  leaf-stalk  is  ten  feet 
high,  divided  at  the  top  into  three  branches, 
each  as  large  as  a  man's  thigh.  It  flowered 
for  the  flrst  time  under  cultivation  at  Kew,  in 
June  of  this  year  (1889),  the  spadix  and  flower 
stem  together  reaching  to  the  height  of  seven 
feet. 

Goe'thea.  Named  in  honor  of  Goethe,  the  cele- 
brated German  poet.  Nat.  Ord.  MalvacecB. 

A  genus  comprising  four  species  of  ever- 
green shrubs,  natives  of  Brazil.  The  well 
known  Pavonia  Makoyana  and  P.  Wyoti,  are 
now  included  in  this  genus,  the  latter  as  O. 
mult  (flora . 

Gold-Cups.     Ranunculus  bulbosvs. 

Gold-Dust.      A  popular  name  for  Alyssum  saxa- 

tile. 

Golden  Chain.     Cytisus  Laburnum. 

Golden  Club.     See  Orontium. 

Golden  Cro^^rn.     The  genus  Chrysostemma. 

Golden  Feather.     See  Pyrethrum. 

Golden  Rod.     See  Solidago. 

Golden  Thistle.     See  Scolymus. 

Golden  Vine.     See  Stigmaphyllum  ciliatum. 

Gold  Fern.     Various  Gymnogram7nas. 

Gold  Leaf  Plant.     Aucuba  Japonica. 

Goldfu'ssia.  Named  after  Dr.  Goldfvss,  Pro- 
fessor of  Natural  History  in  the  University  of 
Bonn.     Nat.  Ord.  AcanlhacecB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  shrubs, 
from  Silhet.  The  flowers  have  two  deciduous 
bracts,  and  are  arranged  in  a  head  or  spike, 
which,  after  the  fall  of  the  bracts,  becomes 
vei-y  loose  and  straggling.  The  flowers  ai-e 
funnel-shaped,  blue  or  purple.  The  plants 
require  to  be  cut  well  back  after  flowering, 
and  arc  propagated  by  cuttings.  G.  ani' 
sophylla,  is  well  known  in  cultivation  under 
the  name  of  RueUia.  Introduced  in  1838.  Syn. 
Strobilanthus. 

Gold  Thread.     See  Coptis. 

Goldylocks  or  Goldilocks,  a  common  name  for 
Chrysocoma  Linosyris. 

Gombo  or  Okra.     See  Hibiscus. 

Go'mphia.  Button  Flower.  From  gomphos,  a 
club  ;  alluding  to  the  shape  of  the  fruit.  Nat. 
Ord.  Ochnacece. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful  tender  shrubs 
from  the  West  Indies  and  South  America  The 
flowers  are  pure  bright  yellow,  borne  in  dense 
panicles.  They  require  the  warmest  place  in 
the  green-house  ;  propagated  by  cuttings. 

Gompholo'bium.  From  gomphos,  a  club,  and 
lobos,  a  pod ;  shape  of  seed  vessel.  Nat.  Ord. 
Leguminosce. 

A  small  genus  of  elegant  green-house  twin- 
ing shrubs,  found  in  south  and  west  Australia. 
Several  of  the  species  have  been  introduced 
into  the  green-house,  where  they  produce 
their  blossoms  in  the  spring    and    summer 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


171 


GOM 

months.  The  flowers  are  large,  pea-shaped, 
yellow  and  crimson,  and  rose-purple.  G. 
polymorphiun  splendent  is  a  profuse  bloomer, 
opening  in  succession  its  intense  crimson  and 
yellow  flowers  in  May.  The  largest  flowered 
species  is  G.  barbigerum,  so  named  because  of 
the  keel  petal  being  fringed,  its  pale  yellow 
flowers  are  axillary,  and  are  produced  singly. 

Gomphre'na.  Globe  Amaranth.  From  gom- 
phos,  a  club;  alluding  to  the  shape  of  the 
flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaranthacece. 

This  is  supposed  to  be  the  Aniai-anth  of  the 
poets,  which,  from  the  durability  of  its  flow- 
ers, was  considered  to  be  the  emblem  of  im- 
mortality. It  seems  to  have  been  used  at 
funerals  in  the  time  of  Homer,  as  he  describes 
it  as  worn  by  the  Thessalians  at  the  funeral 
of  Aciiilles.  Tlie  Gomphrenas  are  tender  an- 
nuals. The  seeds  are  slow  to  germinate,  and 
should  be  sown  m  March  in  a  hot-bed  or  in 
seed  pans  in  the  green-house.  The  plants 
will  be  greatly  benefitted  by  pricking  out,  or 
re-potting  before  planting  in  the  open  border. 
With  this  treatme-nt  single  plants  can  be 
made  to  produce  several  hundred  flowers. 
The  flowers  of  the  garden  varieties  are  white, 
purple,  and  striped.  If  cut  before  fully  ripe 
and  tied  in  bunches,  and  allowed  to  dry  in  a 
rather  dark  and  airy  room,  they  will  retain 
their  colors  the  whole  season,  making  them 
desirable  for  bouquets  of  dried  flowers.  G. 
globosa,  the  best  known  species,  is  a  native  of 
India ;  introduced  in  1714. 

Gomuti  or  Gomuto.     See  Saguerus. 

Gongo'ra.  Named  after  a  Spanish  viceroy  of 
New  Grenada.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  singular  genus  of  Orchids  from  tropical 
America.  They  are  compact  growing  and 
evergreen,  producing  long  pendulous  racemes 
of  flowers  rich  in  color  and  often  grotesque  in 
appearance.  They  can  be  successfully  grown 
in  what  is  termed  a  "  cool  Orchid  house,"  or 
a  green-house. 

Goiiiophle'bium.  From  gonia,  an  angle,  and 
phlebia,  a  vein ;  alluding  to  the  veins  of  the 
fronds.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

Hot-house  Ferns,  found  in  nearly  all  tropi- 
cal countries.  A  few  are  simple-fronded  spec- 
ies, with  a  creeping,  ivy-like  habit,  and  con- 
tracted fertile  fronds ;  but  they  have  mostly 
stoutish,  slow-creeping  rhizomes,  and  large 
fronds,  often  of  a  pendulous  habit,  and  some- 
times several  feet  in  length.  Some  of  the 
species  are  exceedingly  handsome,  and  valued 
in  collections,  G.  subauriculatum  with  long 
drooping  pinnate  fronds  often  four  feet  in 
length,  being  one  of  the  most  beautiful  ferns 
for  large  hanging  baskets  in  the  warm  green- 
house or  plant  stove.  They  are  all  propa- 
gated by  spores  or  by  division  in  sjjring. 
This  genus  is  now  placed  by  some  botanists 
under  Polypodium. 

Gonio'pteris.  From  gonia,  an  angle,  and  pteris, 
a  fern ;  referring  to  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord. 
PohjpodiaceoR. 

A  genus  of  tropical  ferns  abounding  in  the 
West  Indies,  South  America,  tropical  Africa 
and  Madagascar,  in  India,  the  Pacific  islands, 
Australia  and  New  Zealand.  In  most  respects 
this  genus  is  similar  to  Polypodium,  and  is 
now  placed  under  that  genus  by  many  botan- 
ists. 


GOR 

Gono'calyx.  A  very  beautiful  plant  of  the 
Nat.  Ord.  Ericacece,  discovered  by  Schlim  in 
New  Grenada,  at  an  elevation  of  7,000  feet. 
It  forms  a  shrub  of  an  erect,  bushy  habit, 
tiiickly  clothed  with  small,  nearly  orbicular 
leaves,  and  bearing  fine  bright  red  tubular 
flowers.  The  young  leaves  and  shoots  are  of 
a  purplish-rose  color.  G.  pulcher,  the  only 
species,  is  easily  increased  by  cuttings. 

Gono'lobus.  A  large  genus  of  AsrhpiadaceoR, 
natives  of  tropical  and  North  Amciica,  con- 
sisting of  twining,  herbaceous  or  slirubby 
plants,  with  greenish  or  dingy  purple  flowers, 
borne  in  racemes  or  corymbs.  tFpwards  of 
sixty  species  have  been  described. 

Goode'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  Samuel 
Goodenough,  author  of  a  monogiaph  of  the 
genus  Carex.     Nat.  Ord.  Goodenoviem. 

A  genus  of  herbaceous  plants  and  a  few 
shrubs,  with  usually  yellow,  rarely  blue,  flow- 
ers. They  are  natives  of  Australia,  Tasmania 
and  New  Zealand.  Propagated  by  cuttings  in 
spring. 

Goodeno'vieae.  A  natural  order  of  herbs,  or 
sub-shrubs;  the  juice  not  milky,  with  scat- 
tered exstipulate  leaves  and  distinct  flowers. 
Natives  chiefly  of  Australia  and  the  islands  of 
the  Southern  Ocean.  There  are  about  twelve 
genera  and  nearly  two  hundred  species. 
Dampiera,  Goodenia  and  LeschenauUia  are 
good  examples. 

Go'odia.  Named  after  P.  Good,  a  collector  of 
plants  in  Australia  for  the  Kew  Gardens. 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

Handsome  evergreen  shrubs  from  New  Hol- 
land. They  are  all  erect,  symmetrical  plants, 
with  beautiful  foliage.  The  flowers  are  pure 
yellow,  produced  in  racemes  like  those  of  the 
Laburnum,  but  smaller.  They  require  green- 
house treatment,  and  are  propagated  by  seeds 
or  cuttings. 

Good  King  Henry.  Common  name  for  Cheno- 
j>odium  Bonus  Henricus. 

Goo'dyera.  Named  after  J.  Goodyer,  an  early 
British  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids,  with  small 
white  flowers  like  those  of  Spiranthes,  but  the 
spike  is  not  spiral.  It  consists  of  very  few 
species,  all  from  the  northern  hemisphere, 
and  mostly  from  high  latitudes  or  mountain 
ranges.  G.  discolor  has  dark  green  velvety 
leaves  with  a  silver  stripe  down  the  middle, 
and  is  a  very  handsome  plant ;  it  requires  a 
warm  green-house.  G.  pubescens  and  G.  repens, 
with  green  leaves,  beautifully  veined  with  sil- 
ver, and  pure  white  and  greenish-white  flow- 
ers, are  common  to  our  woods  from  New 
York  to  Wisconsin,  and  are  choice  and  beau- 
tiful plants  for  the  rock-work  or  rock-garden. 

Gooseberry.     See  Ribes. 

Cape.     Physalis  Peruviana  and  P.  pubescens. 

Goo.seberry  Shrub.     See  Pereskia. 

Goose-foot.     See  Chenopodium. 

Goose-grass.     See  Galium. 

Gordo'nia.  Named  by  Dr.  Garden  in  honor  of 
his  old  master,  Dr.  James  Gordon,  of  Aber- 
deen.    Nat.  Ord.  TernstromiacexB. 

A  genus  of  half-hardy  deciduous  shrubs  or 
low  trees,  common  in  the  Southern  States. 
G.  lasianthus,  popularly  known  as  Loblolly 
Bay,  has  large  white,  showy  flowers,  and  is 
common  in  swamps  near  the  coast  from  Vir- 
ginia southward. 


17'2 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


GOR 

Grorse  or  Goss.  Names  given  to  the  "Whin,  Ulex 
Europoeus. 

Gossy'pium.  Cotton  Plant.  From  goz,  or 
gothro,  an  Arabic  word  signifying  a  soft  sub- 
stance.    Nat.  Ord.  Malracece. 

There  are  several  distinct  species  of  cotton 
plants,  and  a  great  manj'  varieties.  Some  are 
herbaceous  annuals,  others  shrubs  three  or 
four  feet  in  height,  and  others  attain  a  height 
of  from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet.  The  stems  are 
smooth  or  hairy,  leaves  either  three  or  five 
lobed,  fine  shaped,  cordate,  blunt,  or  lanceo- 
late. The  flowers  are  large,  with  yellow  or 
white  petals,  and  a  purplish  center,  and  are 
succeeded  by  pointed  pods,  which,  on  coming 
to  maturity,  burst,  and  display  a  profusion  of 
"White  or  yellowish  down  that  forms  the  cot- 
ton of  commerce.  In  the  center  of  this  down 
are  contained  the  seeds,  varying  in  number 
from  ten  to  thirty,  according  to  the  species, 
of  a  dark  brown  color,  and  of  a  very  oily 
nature.  The  early  history  of  the  Cotton  plant 
is  involved  in  obscurity,  nor  can  it  be  ascer- 
tained in  what  region  of  the  globe  it  was  first 
cultivated  and  applied  to  purposes  of  domes- 
tic use.  Herodotus,  who  wrote  about  450 
B.  C,  and  who  had  traveled  into  'Egypt,  and 
was  familiar  with  its  productions,  does  not 
describe  the  Cotton  plant  as  existing  there, 
but  gives  some  obscure  hints  of  such  a  plant 
being  in  use  in  India.  The  inhabitants  of 
India,  he  says,  possess  a  kind  of  plant  which, 
instead  of  fruit,  produces  wool  of  a  finer  and 
better  quality  than  that  of  sheep ;  of  this  the 
natives  make  their  clothes.  When  describing 
the  corselet  of  Amasis,  he  accordingly  desig- 
nated Cotton  under  the  name  of  tree-wool,  a 
combination  of  terms  which  the  Germans  use 
for  the  same  substance  at  the  present  day. 
His  particularly  detailing  the  linen  garments 
of  the  Egyptians,  and  their  mode  of  Aveaving 
linen  cloth,  as  differing  from  that  of  the 
Greeks,  while  he  omits  all  mention  of  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  garments,  would  lead 
us  to  suppose  that  the  Cotton  plant  was 
unknown  to  the  Egyptians ;  and  that,  if  they 
possessed  Cotton  cloth  at  all,  it  was  imported 
from  India.  Pliny,  however,  in  his  work  on 
Natural  History,  describes  the  Cotton  plant  as 
a  small  shrub  growing  in  Upper  Egypt,  called 
by  some  Xylon,  and  by  others  Gossypium,  the 
seeds  of  which  are  surrounded  by  a  soft 
downy  substance  of  a  dtxzzling  whiteness,  and 
which  is  maniifactured  into  cloth  much 
esteemed  by  the  Egyptian  priests.  This  was 
five  centuries  after  the  time  in  which  Herodo- 
tus wrote,  and  during  this  period  the  plant 
may  have  become  more  common.  From  Pli- 
ny's account,  it  would  not  appear  that  Cotton 
was  much  used  at  Rome,  even  in  the  first  cen- 
tury of  the  Christian  era,  nor  for  many  centu- 
ries afterward  was  its  use  introduced  into 
Europe.  But  in  the  ninth  century  the  Ara- 
bians, who  were  then  in  possession  of  Egypt, 
appear  to  have  used  Cotton  cloth  for  their 
ordinary  garments ;  for  one  of  the  first 
remarks  of  two  Arabian  travelers,  who  went 
to  China  at  that  period,  Avas,  that  the  Chinese, 
instead  of  weaving  Cotton,  as  they  and  their 
countrj-men  did,  chiefly  used  silk  stuffs.  It  is 
probable,  then,  that  the  Cotton  plant  first 
came  from  Persia  to  Egypt,  whence  it  spread 
into  Asia  Minor,  and  latterly  to  the  islands  of 
the  Archipelago.  In  the  time  of  Tournefort, 
who  visited  these  islands,  Milo  was  celebrated 


GOU 

for  its  Cotton.  The  Cotton  now  raised  in 
small  quantities  in  the  Cyclades  possesses 
that  dazzling  whiteness  which  Pliny  describes 
as  the  property  of  the  Egyptian  Cotton.  The 
Cotton  plant  has  been  grown  from  an  early 
period,  in  the  West  Indies,  in  the  Southern 
States,  and  in  South  America.  Whether  any 
of  the  species  are  natives  of  this  Continent,  it 
is  difficult  to  say ;  the  probability  is,  however, 
that  it  was  introduced,  soon  after  the  dis- 
covery of  the  West  Indies,  into  these  settle- 
ments, from  Smj-rna.  It  should  be  stated, 
however,  that  Cotton  cloth  has  been  found  in 
the  tombs  of  the  Incas  of  Peru.  The  exten- 
sive cultivation  of  Cotton  in  this  country  is  of 
a  recent  date.  In  178-i,  eight  bags  were  sent 
from  this  country  to  England,  which  were 
seized,  on  the  ground  that  so  much  Cotton 
could  not  be  produced  in  the  United  States. 
Since  the  Revolution,  the  increase  of  produc- 
tion has  been  steady  and  rapid.  Of  the  spe- 
cies under  cultivation,  G.  Barbadense  is  the 
one  grown  in  the  United  States,  and  of  this 
there  are  two  varieties,  the  Upland  Cotton,  or 
short  staple,  and  the  Sea  Island  Cotton,  or 
long  staple.  This  species  is  a  native  of  India, 
Avhence  it  was  transplanted  into  the  West 
Indies,  and  from  there  into  the  United  States. 
G.  herbaceum,  the  herbaceous  Cotton  plant,  is 
the  species  cultivated  throughout  Europe  and 
Asia.  It  is  an  annual  plant,  growing  to  the 
height  of  about  twenty  inches.  The  Tree 
Cotton,  G.  arboreum,  is  a  perennial  species, 
growing  from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  high,  and 
is  considerably  growm  in  the  African  Colonies, 
but  does  not  yield  a  very  fine  staple.  A  great 
impetus  has  been  given  of  late  years  to  the 
cultivation  of  Cotton  in  India,  and  its  devel- 
opment has  been  largely  increased  by  the 
opening  up  of  railroads,  etc.,  and  by  the  intro- 
duction of  American  varieties,  and  of  new 
forms  adapted  for  special  purposes.  Among 
these  latter  may  be  mentioned  the  crossed 
seedlings  produced  by  Major  Trevor  Clarke,  a 
collection  of  which  exhibited  in  the  London 
International  Exhibition  in  1872  caused  con- 
siderable excitement  at  the  time.  G^Bahma, 
Bahma,  is  a  variety  that  originated  in  Egypt 
several  years  ago,  and  is  said  to  be  a  hybrid 
between  the  Egyptian  Cotton  and  Hibiscus 
esculentus.  It  differs  from  other  Cottons  in  its 
larger  size  and  its  erect,  almost  unbranehed 
habit.  It  also  produces  more  Cotton.  Avery 
coarse  growing  species,  G.  honibyx-ceita,  is 
common  in  the  West  Indies,  said  to  be  indig- 
enous there.  The  trunk  of  this  species  is 
suflQciently  large  to  hollow  out  for  canoes, 
and  yields  a  valuable  lumber;  the  Cotton  is  of 
a  coarse,  inferior  quality.  The  general  uses 
of  this  staple  are  too  important  and  well 
known  to  require  comment.  The  seed  has, 
however,  a  value  but  little  known.  Near  the 
City  of  New  Yoi-k  there  is  an  oil  mill  that 
makes  daily  several  thousand  gallons  of  oil 
from  Cotton  seed,  which  is  sent  to  Italy,  there 
bottled,  and  sent  all  over  the  world,  and  sold 
as  a  very  superior  quality  of  Olive  Oil,  for  table 
use.     The  seed  is  also  valuable  as  a  manure. 

Go-to-bed-at-noon.    See  Tragopogon. 

Goua'nia.  Chaw  Stick.  Named  after  A.  Gouan, 
once  Pfofessor  of  Botany  at  Montpelier.  Nat. 
Ord.  Rhamnacece. 

A  genus  of  climbing  tropical  shrubs,  con- 
taining upward  of  twenty  species.     The  most 


ADIOLUS  SAUNDEl'.SONI. 


GLADIOLUS  COLVILI.I   ALBA. 


GTNEKIUM  ABCJENTEUM   (PAMPAS  GRASS).  lya 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


173 


GOU 

interesting,  O.  Domingensis,  is  a  common 
creeper  in  tlie  We&t  Indies  and  Brazil.  In 
Jamaica  it  is  called  Cliaw  Stick,  on  account  of 
its  thin,  flexible  stems  being  chewed  as  an 
agreeable  stomachic,  and  tooth  brushes  are 
also  made  by  cutting  pieces  of  Chaw  Stick  to 
a  convenient  length  and  fraying  out  the  ends ; 
and  a  tooth  powder  is  prepared  by  pulveriz- 
ing the  dried  stems.  It  is  said  to  possess 
febrifugal  properties;  and  on  account  of  its 
pleasant  bitter  taste  is  commonly  used  for 
flavoring  different  cooling  beverages. 
Gout-'wreed.  Common  name  for  ^gopodium 
podograria. 

Gourd.     The  genus  of  Cucurbita. 
Bitter.     CitruUas  Culocynthis. 
Bottle.     Lagenaria  vulgaris. 
Dish-Rag,  or  Waslung.    Luffa  cylindrica,  and 

L.  acutungula. 
Oiange.     Cacurbita  aurantia. 
Scarlet-fruited.     Coccinea  indica. 
Snake.     Trichosanthes  anguina. 
Wax  or  White.       Benincasa  (Cucurbita)  ceri- 
fera. 

Gove'nia.  Named  after  J.  R.  Qowen,  a  distin- 
guished horticulturist  and  hybridizer  of 
plants.     Nut.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  interesting  terrestrial 
Orchids  trom  Mexico.  The  flowers  are  borne 
on  spikes  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  feet 
high,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Bletia.  The 
colors  are  mostly  shades  of  yellow,  beautifully 
marked  with  crimson.      Propagation  and  cul- 

.  ture  the  same  as  for  Bletia. 

Gowan,     Bellis  perennia  or  Daisy. 

Gracilis.  Slender,  applied  to  the  parts  which 
are  long  and  narrow. 

Graft  Hybrids.  This  is  the  term  used  by 
Mr.  Chas.  Darwin,  in  his  work,  "Plants  and 
Animals  under  Domestication,"  to  describe 
what  he  believes  to  be  an  amalgamation  of 
the  stock  and  the  graft,  so  that  there  is  a 
seeming  blending  of  the  individualities  in 
some  few  cases  Avhich  he  cites.  This  theory 
of  Mr.  Darwin's  is  by  no  means  universally 
accepted,  and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  it 
should  have  been  propounded  with  such  a 
sparse  array  of  examples  in  illustrating  such 
a  novel  theory. 

Grafting.  This  differs  only  from  budding 
(which  see),  inasmuch  as  the  operation  is 
usually  performed  on  deciduous  plants  when 
in  a  partially  dormant  condition,  and  that 
larger  portions  of  the  shoots  are  taken.  The 
different  forms  of  grafting  are  known  as 
"wedge,"  "whip,"  'side"  grafting,  etc. 
Wedge  grafting  consists  in  sawing  off  the 
stock  to  be  grafted,  and  shaping  the  "cion  " 
or  "  graft"  like  a  wedge,  splitting  the  sawed 
off  stock  an  inch  or  two,  and  inserting  the 
wedge-shaped  graft,  being  careful  to  let  the 
bark  of  the  gi-aft  join  the  bark  of  the  stock. 
If  the  stock  is  more  than  an  inch  in  diameter 
a  graft  should  be  placed  on  each  side.  The 
whip  graft  is  used  for  small  stocks,  which  are 
of  the  thickness  of  the  cions  to  be  grafted. 
The  stock  and  cion  are  cut  with  a  similar 
slope,  an  inch  or  more  in  length ;  to  best  keep 
them  in  place  before  being  covered  with  wax 
or  wax  cloth,  it  is  well  to  cut  what  is  called  a 
"tongue"  in  the  center  of  each,  so  that, 
when  placed  together,  the  cion  will  keep  in 
place,   the  tongues  being  interlocked.     The 


GRA 

whip  system  is  that  mostly  used  in  root  graft- 
ing Roses,  Apples,  Clematis,  etc.  After  the 
cion  has  been  attached  to  the  stock  by  any  of 
the  methods  of  grafting,  it  is  covered  over 
either  with  a  mixture  of  adhesive  clay  and 
cow  dung  or  grafting  wax,  so  as  to  keep  it  in 
position  until  it  starts  to  grow. 

Grafting  wax  can  be  purchased  in  most 
seed  stores,  but  when  wanted  in  quantity  it  is 
made  according  to  the  following  formula: 
four  pounds  resin,  three  pounds  bees-wax, 
and  two  pounds  of  tallow.  This,  heated  and 
mixed,  will  give  the  grafting  wax  of  the  shops. 
A  convenient  way  to  use  the  grafting  wax  is 
to  dip  in  it  thin  calico  or  muslin  cloth,  which 
can  be  torn  into  strips  readily,  and  wrapped 
around  the  graft  so  as  to  exclude  the  air. 

Grains  of  Paradise.    See  Amomum^ 

Gram  or  Chick  Pea.    See  Cicer. 

Gramina'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  annual  or 
perennial  herbaceous  plants,  with  round, 
usually  hollow-jointed  stems;  narrow  alter- 
nate leaves,  having  a  split  sheath,  and  often 
a  ligule  at  the  summit,  and  flowers  arranged 
in  spikes  or  panicles,  perfect  or  imperfect. 
The  flowers  are  composed  of  a  series  of  leaves 
or  bracts,  the  outer  called  glumes,  enclosing 
one  or  moi'e  flowers.  Grasses  are  widely  dis- 
tributed over  the  world,  forming  about  one- 
twenty-second  of  all  known  plants.  "  They 
contain  in  their  herbage,  and  especially  in 
their  seeds,  nutritious  prmciples,  which 
entitle  them  to  the  flrst  rank  among  plants 
useful  to  man,  and  whi.  h  are  of  the  greatest 
importance  in  an  economic  and  political  point 
of  view.  The  Cerealia  are  :  Wheat,  TrUicum 
sativum ;  Eye,  Secale  cereale ;  Barley,  Hordeunt 
vulgare,  H.  distichum,  etc. ;  Oats,  Avena  saliva, 
all  cultivated  by  the  Caucasian  race  in  the 
northern  and  temperate  regions.  Rice,  Oryza 
saliva,  and  Millet,  Panicum  miliaceum,  origin- 
ated among  the  Asiatic  races.  The  Sugar- 
cane, Saccharumqfficinarum  is  in  all  probability 
a  native  of  tropical  Asia ;  it  has  been  culti- 
vated from  very  ancient  times  in  the  East 
Indies.  A  considerable  number  of  Graminaceos 
are  medicinal,  viz.,  TriiUcum  rej^ens,  T.  glau- 
cum,  T  junceum,  Cynodon  Dactylon,  Andro- 
pogon  bicornii',  Arundo  Donax,  Calamagrostis," 
etc.  (Decaisne  and  Le  Maout). 

The  grain's  of  Coix  LachrymcB  are  used  as 
beads  under  the  name  of  Job's  Tears.  The 
Tussack  grass  of  the  Falkland  Islands,  is 
Daclylis  ccespitosa.  Some  grasses,  as  Calama- 
grostis (Ammophila)  arenaria,  and  others,  are 
useful  in  binding  the  loose  sand  on  the  sea- 
shore. Darnel  grass,  Lolium  teinulentum,  has 
reputed  poisonous  qualities,  and  some  think 
that  it  is  the  Tares  of  Scripture.  This  order 
also  furnishes  numerous  ornamental  garden 
plants,  some  of  the  most  striking  of  wliich 
are  Arundinariafalcata,  and  A.  m£tahe,  Arundo 
Donax  (the  Provence  Cane),  Bambusa  Arundi- 
nacece,  Panicum  plicatum  variegatum,  Zea 
Japonica  variegata,  etc.  There  are  about  300 
genera  of  grasses,  and  4,000  species. 

Gramma'nthes.  From  gramma,  writing,  and 
anthos,  a  flower ;  marks  like  V  being  on  the 
corolla.     Nat.  Ord.  Crassulacece. 

Succulent  herbaceous  plants,  natives  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  Seeds  sown  in  the 
green-house  in  January  will  make  very  showy 
and  interesting  plants  for  rock-work  during 
summer.    The  flowers  closely  resemble  those 


174 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


GRA 

of  Crassula,  to  which  it  is  allied.' 
in  1774. 


Introduced 


Grammatoca'rpus.  A  synonym  of  Scyphanthus, 
which  see. 

Granunatophy'llum.  From  grammata,  letters, 
and  phyllon,  a  leaf ;  referring  to  the  markings 
on  the  leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

The  species  of  this  genus  are  but  few  in 
number,  and  are  rarely  seen  in  collections  of 
Orchids,  because  of  the  difficulty  in  manage- 
ment. Those  who  have  had  the  good  fortune 
to  flower  them  say  that  it  is  at  the  expense  of 
years  of  patience  and  labor  that  their  rare  and 
curious  flowers  are  produced.  They  are 
natives  of  Manilla ;  introduced  in  1837. 

Granadi'Ua.     A  name  given  in  the  West  Indies 

to  the  fruits  of  different  species  of  the  genus 

Passiflora. 
Granular.     Divided  into  little  knobs  and  knots, 

as  the  roots  of  Saxifraga  granulata ;  covered 

as  if  with  small  grains. 

Grape.  Vitis  vinifera.  Like  many  extensively 
cultivated  plants,  the  native  country  of  the 
Grape  is  unknown,  or  at  least  doubtful.  It  is 
among  the  plants  spoken  of  in  the  Books  of 
Moses,  and  it  appears  to  have  been  cultivated 
and  the  fruit  used  then  as  at  the  present  day. 
Noah  planted  a  vineyard,  and  wine  is  men- 
tioned as  a  beverage  among  the  earliest 
nations  of  the  world.  The  oldest  profane 
writers  ascribe  its  introduction  to  their  gods. 
According  to  the  tradition  of  the  Egyptians, 
Osiris  first  paid  attention  to  the  Vine,  and 
instructed  other  men  in  the  manner  of  plant- 
ing and  using  it.  The  inhabitants  of  Africa 
ascribe  the  same  gift  to  the  ancient  Bacchus. 
Wine  was  among  the  first  oblations  to  the 
Divinity.  "  Melchisedek,  King  of  Salem, 
brought  forth  bn?ad  and  wine,  and  he  was  the 
priest  of  the  Most  High  God."  Humboldt 
says  the  Vine  does  not  belong  to  Europe,  but 
is  indigenous  in  Asia  between  the  Bla  k  Sea 
and  the  Caspian,  on  Mount  Ararat  and  on  the 
Taurus.  In  the  forests  on  Mongrelia  it  flour- 
ishes in  great  magnificence,  climbing  to  the 
tops  of  the  highest  trees,  bearing  bunches  of 
fruit  of  delicious  flavor.  We  have  no  authentic 
account  of  the  introduction  of  the  Vine  into 
the  present  grape-growing  countries,  or  of 
the  origin  of  the  many  varieties  now  under 
cultivation.  More  than  one  hundred  varieties 
have  been  introduced  into  our  graperies,  and 
into  the  Southern  States  and  California,  where 
the  climate  will  permit  of  their  being  grown 
in  the  open  air.  The  Grapes  grown  through- 
out the  United  States  have  their  origin  in  the 
species  indigenous  to  North  America.  V.  lab- 
rfts'ca,  the  Fox  Grape,  common  in  swampy 
grounds  from  Maine  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  is 
the  parent  of  our  best  garden  varieties, 
among  others  the  Isabella,  which  originated 
in  South  Carolina,  and  the  Concord,  which 
originated  in  Massachusetts.  The  Catawba 
had  its  parentage  in  V.  riparia,  the  common 
Frost  Grape,  or  at  least  it  is  so  accredited. 
The  Diana,  a  seedling  of  the  Catawba,  was 
raised  by  Mrs.  Diana  Crehore  of  Boston.  The 
introduction  of  new  varieties,  from  seed,  of 
various  crossings,  is  being  rapidly  carried  on 
by  our  enterprismg  horticulturists.  See  Viiis. 

Grape  Hyacinth.     See  Muscari. 

Graptophy'Uum.       Caricature    Plant.       From 
grapho,  to  write,  and  phyllon,    a  leaf ;    refer- 


GRA 

ring  to  the  markings  on  the  leaves.    Nat.  Ord. 
Acanthaceoe. 

A  genus  of  tropical  shrubs,  inhabiting  both 
hemispheres.  A  few  of  the  species  have  been 
introduced  into  the  hot-house  for  the  beauty 
of  their  variegated  foliage  and  their  racemes 
of  white  flowers.  G.  horlense,  syn.  G.  pictum, 
is  properly  called  the  Caricature  Plant,  from 
the  fact  that,  when  its  leaf  is  held  up  to  the 
light,  it  often  presents  nearly  an  exact  profile 
of  the  human  face.  G.  h.  lurido-sanguinea,  a 
more  recent  introduction,  is  a  very  distinct 
and  beautiful  species,  with  rich  rose-colored 
spots  or  markings.  Propagated  bj'  cuttings ; 
first  introduced  in  1780. 

Grass.     A  general  name  for  all  graminaceous 

plants. 
Arrow.     Triglochin. 
Artificial.     A  name  given   by  agriculturists 

to  various  fodder  plants,  as  Clover,  Lucerne, 

Sainfoin,  Sorghum,  etc. 
Awned  Hair.     Muhlenbergia  capillaris. 
■  Barnyard.     Panicum  Cms  Galli. 
Bear.     Yucca  filamentosa. 
Beard.     The  genus  Andropogon  and  Polypogon 

Monfipeliensis. 
Bermuda.     Cynodon  Dactylon. 
Black.     Aloj)ecuru^  agrestis. 
Black  Oat.     Slipa  avenacea. 
Blue.     Poa  compressa. 
Blue  Eyed.     Sisyrinchiuin  Bermudianum. 
Bottle.     Setaria  glauca. 
Brome.     The  genus  Bromus. 
Canary.     Phalaris    Canariensis,   the   grain  of 

which  is  the  Canary  seed  of  commerce 
Cat's-Tail.     Phleum  pratense. 
China.    The    fibre    of    the  Ramie,  Bcehmeria 

nivea. 
Cock's-Comb.     Cynosurus  echinatus. 
Cock's-Foot.     Dactylis  glomerata. 
Cord.     Sparlinia  stricta. 
Cotton.    The  genus  Eriophorum. 
Couch.     Triticum  repens. 
Crab.    Panicum  sanguinale,  it  is  also  applied  to 

Eleusine,  and  Salicornia  herbacea. 
Crested  Hair.     KoRleria  cristata. 
Cuckoo.     Luzula  campestris. 
Darnel.     Lolium  temulentum. 
Deer.     Rhexia  Virginica. 
Dog.     Triticum  caninum. 
Dog's  Tail.     Cynosurus  cristatus. 
Dog's  Tooth.     Triticum  caninum. 
Drop-Seed.     Sporobolus  and  Muhlenbergia. 
Eel.     Zostera  and  Vallisneria  spiralis. 
Elephant's.     Typha  elephantina. 
False  Red-Top.     Poa  serotina. 
Feather.     Stipa  pennata. 
Fescue.    The  genus  Festuca. 
Finger.    The  genus  Digitaria. 
Florin.     Agrostis  vulgaris,  and  commonly  ap- 
plied to  A.  alba  and  A.  stolonifora. 
Flote  or  Float.     Glyceria  fiuitans. 
Four-leaved.     Paris  quadrifolia. 
Foxtail.     Alopecurus  pratensis. 
Frog.     Salicornia  herbacea. 
Gama.     Tripsacum  ductyloides. 
Ginger.     Andropogon  Nardus. 
Goat's  beard.     Galium  aparine,  also  Potentilla 

anserina,  and  Polygonum  aviculare. 
Great  Goose.     Asperugo  jyrocumbens. 
Grip.     Galium  aparine. 
Guinea.     Panicum  jumentorum. 
Hair.     Aira;  also    Trichochloa,   and  Agrostia 
scabra. 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


175 


GRA 

Grass.       Hard.      Sclerochloa;     also,    u^gilops, 
and  Dadylis  glomerata. 
Hare's-Tail.     Lagurus  ovatus. 
Heath.     Triodia  decumbens. 
Hedgehog.    Echinochloa ;  also  applied  to  Cen- 

chrus. 
Herd's,  of  New  England.     Phleum  pratense. 
»  Herd's,  of  Pennsylvania.     Agrostis  vulgaris. 

Holy.     Hierochloa  borealis. 
Horn.     The  genus  Ceratochloa. 
Horn  of  Plenty.     Cornucopice  cucullatum. 
Indian.     A  local  name  for  Sorghum  nutans. 
Indian  Doob.     Cynodon  Dactylon. 
Knot.     Triticum  repens;  also,  Illecebrum,  and 

Polygonum  aviculare. 
Knot  of  Shakespeare.    Agrostis  stolonifera. 
Lemon.     Andropogon  Schae,nanthus. 
Lob,  or  Lop.     Bromus  mollis. 
Love.     Eragrostis  zlegans. 
Lyme.    Elymus  arenarius. 
Maiden-hair.     Briza  media. 
Manna.     Glycerin  fiuitans. 
Marsh.     The  genus  Spartina. 
Mat.    Nardus  stricta;  also,  Ammophila  aren- 

aria. 
Meadow.     Poa  pratensis,  and  P.  trivialis. 
Millet.      Milium;  also,  Sorghum  vulgare,  Pani- 

cum  miliaceum,  Setaria  Italica,  etc. 
Monkey.     A  commercial  name  for  the  whale- 
bone-like fibre  of  Attaleafunifera. 
Moor.     Sesleria  ccerulea. 
Mountain,  of  Jamaica.     Andropogon  bicomis. 
Mouse-ear  Scorpion.     Myosotis  palxistris. 
Mousetail.      Festuca  Myurus,  also  Alopecurus 

agrestis. 
Myrtle.    Acorus  Calamus. 
Nut.     Cyperus  rotundus  var.  Hydra. 
Oat.      Arrhenatherum  avenaceum ;  also  various 
species  of  Avena. 

Of  Parnassus.     Parnassia  palustris. 

Orange.     Hypericum  Sarothra. 

Orchard.     Dadylis  glomerata. 

Pampas.     Gynerium  argenteum. 

Panic.     Panicum ;  also  Ehrharta  panicea. 

Para.      A  commercial  name  of  the    Piassiba 
fibre  of  Attaleafunifera. 

Pepper.       Pilularia  globulifera;  also  a  local 
name  for  Lepidium. 

Poverty.     Aristida  dichotoma. 

Quake  or  Quaking.     The  genus  Briza. 

Quick  or  Quitch.     Triticum  repens. 

Rattlesnake.     Glyceria  canadensis. 

Red-top.     Agrostis  vulgarm. 

Reed.      Arundo ;  also  Calamagrostis  and  Pha- 
laris. 

Reed  Bent.    The  genus  Calamagrostis. 

Rib.     Plantago  lanceolala. 

Ribbon.     Phalaris  arundinacea  variegata. 

Rice  Cut.     Leersia  oryzoides. 

Rope.     The  genus  Restio. 

Rush.    The  genus  Vilfa. 

Rye.     Lolium  perenne. 

Salt.     Spartina  juncea. 

Scorpion.     Myosotis  arvensvi. 

Scurvy.     Cochlearia  officinalis. 

Sea.     Ruppia  maritima. 

Sea  Mat.     Ammophila  arenaria. 

Sea  Oat.     Uniola  paniculata. 

Sea  Spur.     Glyceria  distans. 

Seneca.     Hierochloa  borealis. 

Shave.     Equisetum  hyemale. 

Shore.     Littorella  lacustris. 

Silk.     Eriocoma  cuspidata. 

Slender.     Leptochloa  mucronata. 

Soft.     Holcus  mollis. 


GRA 

Grass.      Sour.      Panicum    leucopha&um,   also  a 

local  name  for  Rumex  acetosa. 
Spear.     Poa  annua,  etc. 
Spike.     Uniola  latifolia. 
Spiked  Quaking.     Brizopyrum  spicatum. 
Squirrel-Tail.     Hordeum  jubatum. 
Star.     Callitriche;    also,   the  local  name  for 

Hypo.tis  and  Aletris. 
Striped.     Phalaris  arundinacea  variegata. 
Sweet.     The  genus  Glyceria. 
Sword.     Arenaria  segelalis,  and  Melilotis  sege- 

talis. 
Thin.     Agrostis  elata  and  perennans. 
Timothy.     Phleum  pratense. 
Toad.     Juncus  bufonius. 
Tussack  or  Tussock.     Dadylis  ccBspitosa. 
Vanilla.     Hierochloa  borealis. 
Velvet.     Holcus  lanatus. 
Vernal.     Sweet.     Anthoxanthum  odoratum. 
Viper's.     The  genus  Scorzonera. 
Water  Scorpion.     Myosotis  palustris. 
Water  Star.     Leptanthus  gramineus. 
Wheat.     Triticum. 
White.     Leersia  Virginica. 
Whitlow.    Draba  Verna  and  Saxifraga  tridac- 

tylites. 
Wild  Oat.     Danthonia  spicata. 
Wind.     Apera  Spica-venti. 
Wire.     Eleusine  indica,  and  Poa  compressa. 
Wire  Bent.     Nardus  strida. 
Wood.     Sorghum  (Andropogon)  Nutans;    also 

Luzula  sylvatica. 
Wood  Reed.     Cinna  arundinacea. 
Woolly.     Lasiagrostis. 
Woolly  Beard.    The  genus  Erianthus. 
Worm.     Spigelia;  also  Sedum  album. 
Yard.     Eleusine  Indica. 
Yellow-eyed.    The  genus  Xyris. 
Grass  Cloth  Plant.     Bcehmeria  nivea. 
Grasses.     Ornamental.    A  number  of  hardy  and 
half-hardy  perennial  grasses,  as  well  as  num- 
erous annual  species  are  cultivated  for  the 
double  purpose  of  rendering  the  mixed  llower- 
border  or  shrubbery  attractive    during  the 
summer  and  for  the  use  of  the  spikes  or  pani- 
cles in  a  dried  state  for  winter  bouquets.  The 
perennial    sorts,    such    as  Arundo  conspicua 
Eulalia  Japonica,   E.    Japonica   variegata,  E. 
zebrina,  Arundo  donax,    and  A.  d.  versicolor, 
Gynerium  argenteum,   Gymnothrix  {Pennisetum) 
latifolium,  Pennisetum  longistyhnn,   Stipa  pen- 
nata,  and  others,   make  splendid  groups  for 
lawn  decoration,  either  singly    or   in   large 
masses.    Of  the  annual  species  a  good  selec- 
tion is  Agrostis  elegans,  A.  jndchella,   and  A. 
iiebulosa,  Briza  maxima  and  B.  minor,  Bromus 
brizceformis,  Hordeum  jubatum,  Eragrostis  ele- 
gans, Coix  lachrynuB  and  Lagurus  ovatus.     If 
the  hardier  sorts  are  sown  in  the  fall  and 
wintered  over,  they  will  make  finer  plants, 
and  produce  larger  spikes  the  following  sea- 
son. 
Grass  Tree.     Australian.    The  genus  Xanthor- 

rhoca. 
Gra'tiola.  Hedge  Hyssop.  A  genus  of  Scro- 
phulariacecB,  consisting  of  pretty,  free-flower- 
ing, hardy  herbaceous  plants,  found  in  central 
Europe  North  Anierica,  and  Australia.  G. 
officinalis,  the  Hedge  Hyssop  of  the  herbalists, 
was  in  former  times  called  Gratia  Dei,  on 
account  of  its  active  medicinal  properties. 
Haller  says  that  the  abundance  of  this  plant 
in  some  of  the  Swiss  meadows  renders  it 
dangerous  to  allow  cattle  to  feed  in  them. 


176 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


GRA 

Gravel  Root.  A  common  name  for  Eupatorium 
purpureum. 

Graveolens.  Strong-scented ;  having  a  smell 
which  is  unpleasant  because  of  its  intensity. 

Grave'sia.  Named  in  honor  of  C.  L.  Graves,  a 
botanical  collector  of  Madagascar.  Nat.  Ord. 
Melastomacem. 

A  genus  of  dwarf,  showy  herbs,  natives  of 
Madagascar.  The  leaves  of  G.  guttata  are  of 
a  rich  dark-green  color,  profusely  dotted  with 
rose-colored  spots,  arranged  in  lines  It  was 
introduced  in  1864.  There  are  several  very 
beautiful  varieties  of  this  species.  Propagated 
by  cuttings  in  heat.     Syn.  Berlolonia. 

Grease  Wood.     The  genus  Sarcobatus. 

Great  Celandine.  Tlie  common  name  for 
Chelidonium  majiis. 

Great  Laurel.  A  name  given  to  Magnolia  grandi- 
Jlora 

Greek  Valerian.  The  common  name  of  Pole- 
vionlum  cmruleum. 

Green  Brier.     See  Smilax. 

Green  Dragon.  A  popular  name  for  AriscBma 
Dracontium. 

Green  Fly.     See  Insects. 

Green-house.  Tlie  name  generally  given  to  all 
kinds  of  glass  structures.  For  private  pur- 
poses the  styles  are  so  varied  that  it  would  be 
useless,  in  tliis  work  to  give  examples,  as  in 
such  cases  it  is  always  economy  to  employ  a 
competent  green-house  architect;  but  for 
commercial  purposes,  in  our  own  establish- 
ment, we  use  exclusively  the  ridge  and  fur- 
row style ;  that  is,  the  houses  are  joined  to 
each  otiier  by  a  ten  or  twelve-inch  gutter. 
Each  house  is  twenty  feet  wide  at  base,  four 
feet  high  at  the  gutter,  and  eleven  feet  high 
at  the  apex,  giving  an  angle  to  the  glass  roof 
of  about  thirty-five  degrees,  which  slopes 
equally  to  east  and  west.  When  green-houses 
are  wanted  for  forcing  Koses  or  other  flowers 
in  winter,  it  is  better  not  to  connect  them 
together,  but  to  make  them  say  twenty  feet 
wide  at  base,  the  root  forming  what  is 
known  as  a  three-quarter  span ;  that  is,  the 
long  slope  of  the  roof,  which  must  face  south, 
is  about  eighteen  or  nineteen  feet  long,  while 
the  short  slope  to  the  north  is  six  or  seven 
feet,  both  at  an  angle  of  about  thirty  degrees. 
The  front  or  south  wall  shoidd  be  four  or  five 
feet  higli,  and  the  rear  or  north  wall  seven  or 
eight  feet  high,  making  the  apex  from  the 
ground  level  about  ten  feet.  Our  space  will 
not  admit  of  details  of  construction,  for  which 
see  our  work.  Practical  Floriculture,  pages  76 
to  105. 

Greens.  The  common  name  for  Spinach,  Cab- 
bage, Kale,  and  other  leafy  esculents. 

Green  Violet.     See  Solea. 

Gre'ggia.  A  genus  of  Cruciferce  from  New  Mex- 
ico, discovered  by  Dr.  Gregg,  who  died  in 
California  through  over-exertion  in  scientific 
pursuits.  G.  camporum,  the  only  species,  so 
named  from  its  growing  on  the  campos,  or 
plains,  has  the  habit  of  a  wall-flower,  and  all 
its  parts  clothed  with  a  hoary  pubescence.  Its 
pink-and-white  flowers  are  something  like  a 
stock  (Mattkiola),  and  are  borne  in  loose  ter- 
minal racemes. 

Grevi'Uea.  Named  after  C.  F.  Greville,  a  patron 
of  botany.     Nat.  Ord.  ProteacecB. 


GUI 

An  extensive  genus  of  green-house  shrubs 
and  evergreen  trees,  natives  of  New  Holland. 
The  species  include  lofty  trees  more  than  100 
feet  high,  and  low-growing  shrubs.  G.  rohusta, 
the  Silk  Oak,  is  a  magnificent  tree,  with 
orange-colored  flowers.  G.  Forsterii  is  a 
similar  species  with  bright  scarlet  flowers, 
that  are  produced  when  the  tree  is  young. 
The  foliage  of  the  species  is  as  varied  as  tne 
size  of  the  plants ;  on  some  of  the  trees  it  is 
needle-shaped;  others  have  leaves  closely 
resembling  those  of  the  Acanthus.  Several  of 
the  species  are  under  cultivation  in  the  green- 
house, and  are  considered  acquisitions.  Young 
plants  are  obtained  by  cuttings  or  from  seed. 

Gre'wia.  Named  in  honor  of  Nehemiah  Grew, 
M.D.,  famous  for  his  work  on  the  "  Anatomy 
of  Vegetables."  This  is  an  extensive  genus  of 
LiliacecB,  consisting  of  shrubs  or  small  trees, 
confined  mostly  to  the  warmer  regions  of  the 
Old  World.  Flowers  yellow  or  I'arely  purple. 
The  wood  of  the  Dhamnoo,  G.  elastica,  is  very 
strong  and  elastic,  and  is  much  prized  by  the 
natives  for  making  their  bows.  Most  of  the 
species  have  a  fibrous  inner  bark,  which  is 
commonly  employed  for  making  fishing  nets, 
ropes,  etc. 

Gre'yia.  Named  in  honor  of  Sir  George  Grey, 
who  was  Governor-General  of  Cape  Colony 
when  the  species  was  discovered.  Nat.  Ord. 
Sapindacece. 

G.  Sutherlandi,  the  only  species,  is  a  beautiful 
and  distinct  moderate-sized  tree,  found  in  the 
mountains  about  Port  Natal.  Its  foliage  is 
similar  to  a  Pelargonium.  The  flowers  are 
borne  in  dense  axillary  racemes,  and  are  of  a 
brilliant  crimson  color,  giving  to  the  plant  a 
very  handsome  appearance.  Flowering  as  it 
does  from  the  old  wood,  lull  exposure  to  the 
sun  is  required  to  ripen  the  wood  thoroughly, 
after  which  a  season  of  rest  is  necessary,  dur- 
ing which  wat(>r  may  be  withheld,  giving  only 
enough  to  keep  the  wood  plump.  When 
started  into  growth,  it  will  flower  freely.  It 
was  introduced  in  1859,  and  is  propagated  by 
seeds,  or  cuttings  of  the  half-i'ipened  wood. 

Gri'as.  Anchovj'  Pear.  From  grao,  to  eat ;  the 
fruit  being  eatable.     Nat.  Ord.  Mijrtarece. 

G.  caulijlora  is  a  tall,  unbranched  tree,  with 
leaves  two  or  three  feet  long,  and  bearing 
large  whitish  flowers,  which  proceed  from  the 
stem.  The  fruit  has  much  the  taste  of  the 
Mango,  and  is  highly  esteemed  in  the  West 
Indies,  where  it  is  indigenous.  The  tree  is 
largely  cultivated,  not  only  for  its  fruit,  but 
for  its  highly  ornamental  character. 

Griffi'nia.  Named  after  W.  Griffin,  a  patron  of 
botany.     Nat.  Ord.  Amanjllklacfce. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome  bulbous  plants 
from  South  America,  producing  large  umbels 
of  beautiful  bright  purple  flowers.  They 
require  green-house  treatment,  and  should 
have  complete  rest  during  winter.  In  March 
r<^pot  them,  and  they  will  immediately  com- 
mence growth,  and  will  require  plenty  of  heat, 
light,  air,  and  water.  They  are  increased  by 
offsets  ;  introduced  in  1822. 

Grinde'lia.  In  honor  of  David  H.  Grindel,  a 
German  botanist.  A  gi-nus  of  Compositce, 
containing  nearly  twenty  species,  found,  most 
generally,  in  Texas  and  Mexico.  They  are 
biennial,  or  perennial,  suffruticose  plants, 
with  branching  stems,  and  yellow  flower 
heads,  solitary,  at  the  ends  of  the  branches. 


AND  GENERAL  HOKTICULTUEE. 


177 


GRI 

and  from  one  to  two  inches  in  diameter.  Tliey 
are  easily  cultivated,  and  are  increased  by 
seeds  or  cuttings. 

Griseli'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Frank  Griselini, 
an  Italian  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  CornacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs,  nearly 
allied  to  Aucuba  which  they  resemble  in  habit. 
They  have  shining  coriaceous  leaves,  and 
small  inconspicuous  flowers,  produced  in  ter- 
minal panicles.  They  are  natives  of  New 
Zealand,  Chili,  and  Brazil,  and  are  of  com- 
paratively recent  introduction.  Their  hardi- 
ness has  not  been  tested  in  this  country,  but 
it  is  not  likely  they  would  endure  the  rigors 
of  our  winters,  north  of  Virginia. 

Gromwell.     See  lAthospermum. 

Grono'via.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  Gronovius, 
a  botanist  at  Leyden,  and  a  friend  of  Linneeus. 
Nat.  Ord.  LoasacecB. 

G.  scandens,  the  only  known  species,  is  a 
scandent  herb  resembling  the  Bryony.  It  is 
found  from  Texas  to  Venezuela,  and  was  in- 
troduced in  1751,  but  is  little  cultivated. 

G-rosaularia'ceae.  A  natural  order,  now  in- 
cluded by  Bentham  and  Hooker  with  Saxifra- 
gacecB. 

Ground  Cherry.     See  Physalis. 

Ground  Hemlock.     See  Taxus. 

Ground  Ivy.     See  Nepeta  Glechoma. 

Ground  Laurel.     See  EpigcBa  repens. 

Ground  Nut.     See  Apixis  tuberosa. 

Ground  Pine.  A  popular  name  of  Lycopodium 
dendroideum. 

Ground  Pink.     See  Phlox. 

Ground  Plum.  A  popular  name  of  the  fruit  of 
Astragalus  caryocurpus. 

Groundsel.     See  Senecio  vulgaris. 

Groundsel  Tree.     See  Baccharis  halimifolia: 

Gua'iacum.  Lignum  VitsB.  The  original  name 
in  South  America.     Nat.  Ord.  Zygophyllacece. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  trees  with  pretty 
blue  flowers.  G.  officinale  furnishes  the  well- 
known  wood  Lignum  Vitoe,  and  also  the  drug 
known  as  Gum  Guaiacum,  which  is  procured 
by  notching  the  trunk,  and  allowing  the 
exuding  juice  to  harden.  It  is  a  native  of  the 
West  Indies. 

Guava.     See  Psidium. 

Guelder  Rose.     Viburnum  opulus. 

Guernsey  Lily.     Nerine  Sarniensis. 

Guevi'na.  The  native  name.  Nat.  Ord.  ProteacecB. 
G.  Avellana,  the  only  species,  is  a  tree  of 
medium  size,  a  native  of  Chili  and  Peru.  The 
flowers  are  in  simple,  erect  racemes  two  to 
four  inches  long,  and  these  are  succeeded  by 
round  edible  drupes,  inclosing  almond-like 
seeds,  known  as  Chilian  nuts.  The  latter 
have  an  agreeable,  somewhat  oily  taste,  while 
the  fleshy  part  is  made  a  substitute  for  the 
Pomegranate.  Syn.  Quadria.  This  tree  is 
hardy  in  the  Southern  States. 

Guilie'lma.  Named  in  honor  of  Queen  Wilhelmine 
Carolina  of  Bavaria.     Nat.  Ord.  PabnacecB. 

A  genus  of  palms  confined  to  the  tropical 
regions  of  South  America,  and  containing  three 
species  which  have  tall,  slender  trunks  armed 
with  exceedingly  sharp  black  spines.  The  large 
pinnate  leaves  have  spiny  leaflets  and  foot- 
stalks.     G.  spedosa,  the  Peach  Palm,  is  cul- 


GUZ 

tivated  on  the  banks  of  the  Amazon  and  Rio 
Negro.  Its  edible  fruits,  which  are  about  the 
size  of  Apricots,  and  brigiit-scariet  in  color, 
are  borne  in  large  drooping  bunches,  and  form 
a  large  portion  of  the  food  of  the  natives.  The 
young  plants  make  very  handsome  specimens 
for  the  green-house. 

Guinea  Corn.     See  Sorghum  vulgare. 

Guinea  Grass.     See  Sorghum  hulapense. 

Guinea  Hen  Flower.  A  name  given  to  FritiU 
laria  Meleagris. 

Gum.  A  vegetable  secretion  which  may  be 
detected  in  the  sap  of  most  plants,  and  which 
is  excreted  by  many,  and  hardens  on  their 
surface. 

Gum  Cistus.     Cistus  ladaniferus. 

Gum  Guaiacum.     See  Guaiacum. 

Gum  Tragacauth.     Slerculia  Tragacantha. 

Gum  Tree.      Various    species    of    Eucalyptus, 
which  see. 
Sour.     Nyssa  multiflora 
Sweet.     Liquidambar  styracijlua. 

Gu'nnera.  In  honor  of  J.  E.  Gunner,  a  Swedish 
bishop  and  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  HaloragacecB. 
A  small  genus  of  half-hardy  herbaceous 
plants,  natives  of  South  America  and  the 
Sandwich  Islands.  G.  scabra,  has  been  intro- 
duced into  the  English  gardens,  and  is  X'e- 
markable  for  its  ragged,  rhubarb-like  leaves, 
which  are  fully  three  feet  across,  borne  on 
stout,  thorny  stems.  The  plant  is  also  notable 
for  its  remarkable  size ;  a  good  specimen 
being  from  four  to  five  feet  high,  and 
eight  to  ten  feet  in  diameter,  and  forming 
an  excellent  subject  for  the  sub-tropical 
garden.  It  is  propagated  by  seeds,  or  careful 
division. 

Gusta'via.  Named  after  Gu^tavus  III.  of 
Sweden.     Nat.  Ord.  Barringtoniaceoe. 

A  genus  of  fine  evergreen  trees  and  shrubs, 
with  large,  handsome,  glossy  leaves  and 
showy  white  flowers,  tinged  with  pink,  some- 
times five  or  six  inches  across,  and  not  unlike 
those  of  some  Magnolias,  disposed  in  race- 
mes or  umbels  at  the  ends  of  the  twigs.  The 
fruits  are  somewhat  fleshy  and  apple-like. 
G.  graciliima,  has  a  smooth,  slender,  woody 
stem,  and  is  a  magnificent  ornamental  plant, 
introduced  from  the  United  States  of  Colum- 
bia by  M.  Roezl.  The  flowers  grow  from  the 
axils  of  the  leaves  of  the  young  plants,  and 
from  the  leafless  parts  of  the  trunk  in  the 
older  ones.  They  are  solitary  or  in  pairs, 
four  inches  in  diameter,  of  a  beautiful  rose 
color,  consisting  of  eight  petals,  with  the 
yellow  incurved  staminal  tube  bearing  numer- 
ous purple  anthers  in  a  ring  of  an  inch  or 
more  across.  This  species  was  introduced  in 
1874,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  of  well- 
ripened  wood. 

Gutta  Percha.     See  Isonandra. 

Guttatus.     Spotted. 

Guzma'nnia.  Named  after  A.  Guzman,  a  Span- 
ish naturalist.  Nat.  Ord.  Bromeliacece. 
Green-house  perennials,  natives  of  South 
»  America.  G.  tricolor  is  a  very  handsome 
species,  with  flowers  on  a  spike,  concealed  by 
the  bracts,  the  lowermost  of  which  are  green, 
while  the  others  are  scarlet.  It  requires  or- 
dinary green-house  treatment,  and  is  propa- 
gated by  suckers. 


178 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK    OF   PLANTS 


GYM 

Gymne'ma.  From  gymnos,  naked,  and  nema,  a 
filament ;  in  reference  to  the  stamens.  Nat. 
Ord.  Asclepiadacem. 

G.  lactiferum  is  the  Cow  Plant  of  Ceylon, 
the  milk  of  which  is  used '  as  food  by  the 
natives.  The  species  are  green-house  ever- 
green twiners,  producing  clusters  of  yellow 
flowers  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves.  They 
are  allied  to  the  Stephanotis,  and  require  the 
same  treatment. 

Gymnocla'dus.  Kentucky  Coffee  Tree.  From 
gymnos,  naked,  and  klados,  a  branch  ;  in  refer- 
ence to  the  soft  young  wood,  devoid  of  buds. 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

G.  Caruxdensis,  the  only  species,  is  an  orna- 
mental, hardy,  deciduous  tree,  growing  fifty 
to  sixty  feet  high.  It  is  one  of  our  most 
beautiful  shade  trees,  and  is  planted  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  on  the  streets  in  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  it  is  also  valuable  for  its  hard  tough 
timber.  The  fresh  leaves,  macerated  and 
sweetened,  are  occasionally  used  as  a  poison 
for  house-flies ;  the  seeds  were  used  formerly 
as  a  domestic  substitute  for  coifee.  Common 
from  New  York,  south  and  west. 

Gymnogra'mma.  From  gymnos,  naked,  and 
gramma,  writing ;  in  reference  to  the  spore 
cases.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful  Ferns,  requiring 
the  warm  green-house  to  grow  them.  In 
some  of  the  species  the  under  surface  of  the 
fronds  is  profusely  covered  with  a  rich  yellow 
or  white  farinose  powder,  which  gives  them 
the  name  of  Gold  or  Silver  Ferns ;  they  are  fre- 
quently seen  in  cultivation  on  account  of  the 
beauty  of  their  fronds.  This  genus  contains 
two  of  the  very  few  known  annual  Ferns,  G. 
chcBrophylla,  a  West  Indian  plant,  and  G.  lep- 
tophylla,  which  is  found  scattered  over  nearly 
the  whole  of  the  temperate  regions  of  the 
globe. 

Gymnosperm.     Bearing  naked  seeds. 

Gymnostd'chyum.  From  gymnos,  naked,  and 
stachys,  a  spike ;  probably  on  account  of  the 
absence  of  the  bracteoles.  Nat.  Ord.  Acan- 
ihacexB. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  evergreen  erect 
herbs,  natives  of  the  East  Indies,  and  the 
Malayan  Archipelago.  The  leaves  of  some  of 
the  species  are  beautifully  marked.  G. 
venusta  is  in  cultivation  under  the  name  of 
Justicia  venusta.  Fittonia  has  been  placed 
under  this  genus  by  some  authors. 

Gymnothe'ca.  Derivation  of  name  not  given. 
Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  noble  green-house  ferns, 
formerly  included  in  tiie  genus  Marratia.  G. 
Raddiana,  a  native  of  Brazil,  is  a  very  orna- 
mental fern,  requiring  a  warm  house  and 
moist  atmosphere  for  its  development. 

Gy'ninothrix.  A  genus  of  grasses,  now  united 
with  Pennisetum. 

Gyne'rium.  Pampas  Grass.  From  gyne,  female, 
and  erion,  wool ;  the  stigmas  being  wooly. 
Nat.  Ord.  GrammacecB. 

A  genus  of  three  species  of  hardy  or  nearly 
hardy  ornamental  grasses,  natives  of  tropical 
and  sub-tropical  America.  G.  argenteum,  the 
Pampas  Grass,  so  called  from  its  being  found 
covering  the  vast  plains  or  pampas  of  South 
America,  is  the  best  known  species  and  forms 
a  most  noble  and  beautiful  plant,  growing  from 
four  to  fourteen  feet  high  according  to  the 


GYR 

strength  of  the  plant,  the  soil  or  location.  There 
is  reason  to  believe  that  some  varieties  are 
better  in  habit  than  others  and  flower  earlier. 
In  such  cases  it  would  be  better  to  divide  them 
than  to  trust  to  seedlings.  There  are  a  num- 
ber of  varieties,  some  of  a  delicate  rosy  color, 
one  variegated,  and  several  dwarf  and  neat  in 
habit.  If  convenient,  they  should  have  a 
sheltered  position  on  the  lawn  or  in  the  flower 
garden  so  as  to  prevent  as  much  as  possible 
the  constant  searing  away  of  the  foliage  which 
occurs  whenever  the  p. ant  is  much  exposed. 
Its  bright  silvery  plumes  also  show  off  much 
better  when  backed  up  with  shrubs  or  some 
of  the  finer  evergreens.  It  should  be  planted 
about  the  beginning  of  April  and  mulched 
with  rotted  manure,  watered  copiously  in  hot 
dry  weather.  This  splendid  Grass  is  not 
sulficiently  hardy  at  the  north  without  a 
mulching  of  dry  leaves  or  litter  around  the 
roots.  The  clumps  can  be  taken  up  in  the 
fall,  and  kept  in  any  convenient  place  away 
from  frost  during  winter.  With  the  best  pos- 
sible care  and  culture  there  cannot  be  pro- 
duced such  magnificent  plumes  either  north 
or  south,  as  are  grown  in  southern  California, 
where  the  plumes  are  grown  largely  for  the 
northern  and  European  markets.  This 
species  was  first  introduced  in  1848.  G. 
jubatum  is  very  well  spcjken  of,  but  as  yet 
has  not  been  tried  much  except  in  certain 
favored  spots.  The  leaves  resembles  those 
of  G.  argenteum,  but  are  of  a  deeper  green,  and 
droop  elegantly  at  their  extremities.  From 
the  center  of  the  tuft  and  exceeding  it  by  two 
or  three  feet,  arise  numerous  stems,  each 
bearing  an  immense  loose  panicle  of  long 
filamentous  silvery  flowers  of  a  rosy  tint  with 
silvery  sheen.  It  is  a  native  of  the  republic  of 
Ecuador  and  blooms  earlier  than  G.  argenteum. 

Gynu'ra.  From  gyne,  female,  and  oura,  a  tail ; 
the  stigma  being  elongated  and  hispid.  Nat. 
Ord.  ComposilcE. 

A  genus  of  green-house  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, numbering  about  twenty  species,  the 
most  of  which  are  worthless,  wefedy  plants, 
natives  of  the  East  Indies.  G.  aurantiaca,  has 
brilliant  orange-colored  fiower-heads,  and  the 
leaves  and  stems  covered,  over  their  entire 
surface,  with  small  hairs  of  a  rich  plum- 
color,  more  especially  the  young  leaves  sur- 
rounding the  flower-heads.  It  was  thought 
to  be  a  rival  for  the  Coleus  for  bedding  pur- 
poses, but  rusts  badly  in  our  dry  atmosphere 
and  hot  sun;  it  is  easily  increased  by  cut- 
tings. 

Gypso'phila.  Trom  gypsos,  chalk,  and  phileo,  to 
love ;  in  reference  to  the  soil  most  suitable 
for  them.     Nat.  Ord.  CaryophyllacecE, 

The  species  of  this  genus,  natives  of  various 
parts  of  Europe  and  Asia,  are  chai'acterized 
more  by  the  grace  than  by  the  striking  beauty 
of  their  flowei's.  The  flowers  are  small,  but 
are  produced  in  great  numbers  in  loose, 
graceful  panicles.  They  are  plants  that  are 
easily  cultivated,  and  are  propagated  by 
division  and  seeds,  the  latter  in  the  open 
ground  in  spring.  The  flowers  of  the  species 
are  useful  in  making  up  in  dried  bouquets,  as 
they  retain  their  color  perfectly  during  winter. 
They  are  also  well  adapted  for  rock-work. 

Gyrate.  The  same  as  Circinate  (which  see) ; 
curled  inward  like  a  crozier. 

Gyrose.     Turned  round  like  a  crook. 


AND   GENEEAL   HORTICULTUKE. 


179 


H. 


HAB 

Habena'ria.      Eein  Orchis.      From  habena,  a 
rein  or  thong;  referring  to  the  long,  strap- 
shaped  spur.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  weil-lcnown  and  somewhat  extensive 
genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids,  pretty  generally- 
distributed.  Our  native  species  have  very 
curiously-shaped  flowers,  which  are  generally 
yellow,  but  sometimes  purple,  and  occasion- 
ally Avhite.  They  grow  well  in  moist,  shady 
situations.  Several  of  the  species  are  to  be 
found  in  marshy  places  on  the  south  side  of 
Long  Island. 

Habe'rlea.  Named  after  Karl  Haberle,  Professor 
of  Botany  at  Pesth.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneracece. 

H.  rhodopensis,  the  only  species,  is  an 
elegant  little  hardy  herbaceous  perennial,  not 
unlike  a  miniature  Gloxinia.  Flowers  pale 
lilac,  drooping.  Admirably  adapted  for  pot 
or  cold-frame  culture.  Introduced  from  Rou- 
melia  in  1880. 

Habit.  The  general  appearance  of  a  plant ;  its 
manner  of  growth,  without  reference  to  details 
of  structure. 

Habitat.  The  situation  in  which  a  plant  grows 
in  a  wild  state. 

Habra'nthus.  From  habros,  delicate,  and  anthos, 
a  flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidacece. 

Very  handsome  South  American  bulbs, 
which  like  the  rest  of  the  order,  should  have 
a  decided  season  of  rest.  They  grow  best  in 
a  rich  soil  composed  of  loam,  rotted  manure, 
and  sand,  should  be  well-drained  and  have 
plenty  of  water  when  growing  or  flowering. 
These  plants  are  found  growing  in  dry,  grav- 
elly places,  and  are  half  hardy.  They  will  win- 
ter in  a  cold  frame  with  slight  protection ;  in- 
troduced in  1821.  A  number  of  the  plants, 
formerly  included  in  this  genus,  are  now 
referred  by  the  authors  of  the  "  Genera  Plan- 
tarum"  to  Hippeastrum  and  Zephyrantnes. 

Habrotha'mnus.  From  habros,  gay,  and  tham- 
nos,  a  shrub.     Nat.  Ord.  Solanacece. 

A  genus  of  Mexican  shrubs,  closely  allied  to 
Oestrum,  and  one  of  the  gayest  productions  of 
that  country.  The  panicles  of  red  or  purple 
flowers  are  borne  in  abundance,  and  justify 
the  name  applied  to  them.  They  are  propa- 
gated by  cuttings  and  were  first  introduced  in 
1844:.     Syn,  Oestrum. 

Hackberry.    See  Oeltis. 

Hackmatack.  A  local  name  for  Larix  Ameri- 
cana, the  American  or  Black  Larch. 

Hacque'tea.  In  honor  of  B.  Hacqvst,  a  German 
botanist.    Nat.  Ord.  Umbelliferce. 

H.  Epipactis,  the  only  species,  is  a  hardy 
herbaceous  perennial  plant,  of  very  dwarf 
habit,  having  digitate  three-lobed  leaves,  and 
a  single  umbel  of  small  yellow  flowers.  It  is 
a  native  of  the  Alps,  and,  like  most  Alpine' 
plants,  difficult  to  manage  here.   Syn.  Dondia. 

Haema'nthus.  From  haima,  blood,  and  anthos, 
a  flower ;  referring  to  the  color  of  the  spathe 
and  filaments  of  some  species.  Nat.  Ord. 
Amaryllidacece. 

A  genus  of  South  American  bulbous  plants, 
producing  large  scarlet,  orange,   and  yellow 


HAL 

flowers  of  very  singular  appearance.  H. 
coccinea,  a  beautiful  species,  does  well  in  the 
green-house  and  should  be  grown  in  sandy 
loam  and  leaf  mould.  It  is  a  strong  grower, 
requiring  considerable  room.  After  making 
its  growth  it  requires  a  season  of  perfect  rest, 
after  which  it  tlirows  up  its  flower  stalk,  and 
should  have  plenty  of  water.  They  grow  in 
fall  and  winter,  and  rest  during  spring  and 
summer.  They  are  propagated  by  offsets,  and 
were  introduced  in  1629. 

Haemato'xylon.  Logwood.  From  haima,  blood 
and  xylon,  wood ;  Logwood  is  well-known  for 
its  red  color.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

H.  Campechianum,  the  well-known  Logwood 
of  commerce,  is  the  only  representative  of  this 
genus.  It  is  a  handsome  evergreen  tree,  grow- 
ing about  forty  feet  high,  with  a  trunk  about 
a  foot  and  a  half  in  diameter.  It  was  first 
found  on  the  Bay  of  Campeachy,  in  Yucatan, 
whence  its  specific  name.  It  is  also  found  in 
other  parts  of  Central  America,  and  has  been 
introduced  into  and  become  naturalized  in 
many  of  the  West  Indian  Islands.  Its  impor- 
tance consist  in  its  value  as  a  dye-wood,  for 
which  purpose  it  forms  an  important  article 
of  commerce. 

Haemodora'cece.  A  natural  order  of  perennial 
herbs  with  fibrous  roots,  sword  shaped  equit- 
ant  leaves,  and  bearing  wooly  hairs  or  scurf 
on  their  stems,  and  flowers.  Natives  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  America  and  New  Hol- 
land. The  roots  of-some  of  them  yield  a  red 
color,  hence  the  name  of  the  order.  Anigosan- 
thus,  Aletris,  Barbacenia  and  Hoemodorum,  are 
well  known  genera. 

Haemodo'riim.  Blood-root.  From  haima,  blood, 
and  doron,  a  gift ;  probably  in  reference  to  the 
roots  serving  as  food  for  the  natives  of  Aus- 
tralia.    Nat.  Ord.  Hcemodoracece. 

A  genus  of  pretty  green-house  perennials, 
all  natives  of  Australia,  with  fascicled  tubers, 
and  black,  red,  livid-green,  or  orange-colored 
flowers.  Increased  by  division;  first  intro- 
duced in  1810. 

Hairbell    See  Oampanula. 

Hair  Grass.     See  Air  a. 

Ha'kea.  Named  after  Baron  Hake,  a  German 
patron  of  botany.     Nat.  Ord.  Proteacece. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  shrubs, 
containing  more  than  a  hundred  species,  all 
natives  of  New  Holland.  The  fiowers  of 
nearly  all  are  white,  produced  in  axillary 
clusters.  None  of  the  species  has  sufficient 
beauty,  either  in  fiower  or  foliage,  to  give  it  a 
place  in  ordinary  collections. 

Hale'sia.  Silver  Bell,  or  Snowdrop  Tree.  Named 
after  Dr.  Hales,  author  of  "Vegetable  Statics." 
Nat.  Ord.  Styracacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  deciduous  shrubs  or 
low-growing  trees.  One  of  the  species,  H. 
tetraptera,  is  found  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio, 
from  Virginia  westward,  usually  in  very  poor, 
rocky  soil.  It  is  a  free  flowering  shrub,  or 
small  tree  with  beautiful  pure  white,  showy, 
drooping  flowers,  on  long  slender  pedicels, 
much  resembling  the  Snow-drop,  whence  Its 


180 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


HAL 

name ;  tho  seeds  are  curiously  winged.  This 
species  improves  by  cultivation,  and  thrives 
vrell  in  a  poor  soil,  prefei-ring  one  near  water. 
It  is  readily  increased  by  layering,  or  from 
seed. 

Halimode'ndron.  Salt-tree.  From  halimos, 
sea-coast,  and  dendron,  a  tree;  referring  to  its 
native  habitat.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

H.  argenteum,  the  only  species,  is  a  very 
hardy  shrub  with  silvery  hairy  leaves  and 
pinkish  papilionaceous  flowers  produced  in 
axillary  peduncles  in  May  or  June.  It  is  a 
native  of  Siberia,  in  dry  salt  fields.  It  is  a 
very  elegant  shrub  for  a  bleak  seacoast,  and 
will  thrive  better  if  a  little  salt  is  mixed  with 
the  soil  where  it  grows.  This  species  is  sent 
out  by  nurserymen  under  its  former  name, 
Caragana  argentea. 

Halle'ria.  Named  after  Albert  Holler,  author  of 
several  botanical  works.  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophu- 
lariacecB. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  green-house  ever- 
green glabrous  shrubs,  mostly  natives  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  H.  lucida,  the  African 
Honeysuckle,  has  large  reddish  drooping 
flowers,  and  is  tlie  species  generally  seen  in 
cultivation.  It  was  introduced  in  1752,  and  is 
easily  inci'eased  by  cuttings. 

Haloraga'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbs  or 
under-shrubs,  often  aquatic,  with  alternate 
opposite  or  whorled  leaves,  and  small,  fre- 
quently incomplete  flowers.  They  are  found 
in  damp  places  and  slow  streams,  sometimes 
submerged,  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  The 
order  contains  nine  genera,  and  about  eighty 
species.  Gunnera,  Myriophyllum,  and  Hippuris, 
are  examples. 

Hamamelida'ceaB.  A  small,  natural  order  of 
shrubs  or  trees,  with  alternate,  feather-veined 
leaves,  and  deciduous  stipules,  natives  of  sub- 
tropical Asia,  south  Africa,  and  Nortli 
America.  There  are  seventeen  known  genera, 
including  Hamamelis,  Bucklandia,  and  Liquid- 
ambar. 

Hamame'lis.  The  Witch  Hazol.  From  hama, 
together  with,  and  mela,  fruit ;  referring  to  the 
flowers  and  fruit  being  on  this  tree  at  the 
same  time.     Nat.  Ord.  HamamelidacecB. 

H.  Virginica  is  a  native  shrub,  which  will 
grow  freely  in  any  soil  that  is  not  too  rich, 
though  it  prefers  a  dry  stony  gravel.  It  has 
the  peculiarity  of  flowering  during  winter, 
beginning  to  expand  its  rich,  deep  yellow 
flowers  just  as  its  leaves  are  falling  off,  and 
dropping  its  flowers  when  its  branches  begin 
to  be  reclothed  with  leaves  in  spring.  The 
shrub  is  celebrated  for  the  extract  distilled 
from  its' bark  and  roots.  Its  seeds  contain 
a  quantity  of  oil,  and  are  edible,  and  a  strong 
decoction  of  its  leaves  is  said  to  be  a  cure  for 
mad-dog  bites. 

Hamilto'nia.  Named  after  William  Hamilton, 
an  eminent  American  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
RubiacecB. 

A  genus  comprising  three  or  four  species  of 
ornamental,  evergreen  shrubs,  natives  of 
India,  China,  and  the  Indian  Archipelago. 
Flowers  white  or  blue,  fascicled  or  umbellate ; 
corolla,  funnel-shaped.  H.  suaveolens,  and  H. 
scabra,  are  cultivated  for  the  sake  of  their 
white  fragrant  flowers.  Propagated  by  cut- 
tings of  the  half-ripened  wood. 


HAN 

Hand  Glass.  This  is  used  to  protect  Melons, 
Cucumbers,  Tomatoes,  or  other  tenfler  plants, 
on  being  set  out  early  in  the  open  ground. 
They  are  usually  about  twenty  inches  square, 
with  a  flat  or  conical  top.  A  cheaper  con- 
trivance for  the  same  purpose  is  a  wooden 
frame  of  about  the  same  size,  having  a  small 
sash  to  fit  tlie  top.  Thousands  of  those  are 
used  by  the  London  and  Paris  gardeners  to 
forward  Cucumbers  and  Melons,  but  they  are 
less  used  here  than  formerly,  as  the  growing 
of  vegetables  in  the  Southern  States  for 
northern  markets  renders  their  use  no  longer 
profitable. 

Hanging  Baskets.  These  are  made  in  a  great 
variety  of  styles.  Tiiose  known  as  "rustic" 
baskets  are  made  with  a  wooden  bowl  to  hold 
the  soil,  covered  with  roots  of  grotesque 
shapes.  They  are  mostly  made  of  Laurel 
(Kalmia)  roots,  which  are  well  fitted  to  give  the 
basket  the  necessary  rough-looking  outer 
covering.  The  bowls  to  hold  the  soil  are  from 
six  to  fifteen  inches  in  diameter,  and  of  a  pro- 
portionate depth ;  the  three  handles  form  a 
triangle,  meeting  at  the  top,  in  which  an  eye 
is  fixed  by  which  to  suspend  it.  Another  form 
is  made  of  wire,  and  these,  when  lined  with 
moss  to  prevent  the  soil  from  being  washed 
out,  are  far  the  best  for  the  well-being  of  the 
plants.  Many  other  beautiful  forms  are  made 
from  pottery  ware  to  represent  stumps,  logs, 
rocks,  and  other  natural  objects.  The  plants 
used  for  filling  hanging  baskets  of  course 
vary  in  accordance  with  tlie  purpose  for 
which  tliey  are  wanted.  If  for  shady 
rooms,  shady  verandas,  or  shady  places 
out  doors,  where  there  is  not  exposure  to 
drying  winds.  Mosses  (Selaginellas)  and  Ferns 
are  sometimes  used  exclusively ;  or,  for  the 
same  places.  Ivies  of  all  sorts,  Tradescantias, 
Moneywort  (Lysimachia),  Vincas,  Ivy-leaved 
Geraniums,  Smilax,  Climbing  Fern,  Fittonias, 
etc.,  are  plants  suited  to  droop  over  the  sides, 
while,  for  the  centre,  upright  plants  such  as 
Dracajnas  and  Crotons  of  sorts,  Caladiums, 
Marantas,  Centaureas,  Echeverias,  Ferns, 
Sanchezia  nobilis,  or  any  other  plants  of 
striking  form  or  foliage  may  be  used. 

For  baskets  to  be  placed  in  the  sunlight,  or 
partial  sunlight,  Coleus,  Begonias,  or  bright 
Geraniums  should  be  used  as  center  plants, 
with  Lobelias,  Tropaeolums,  Petunias,  To- 
renias,  Peristrophe,  Sedums,  etc.,  to  droop. 
It  will  be  found  of  great  benefit,  after  setting 
out  the  plants  in  baskets,  to  cover  the  soil 
with  an  inch  or  two  of  (Sphagnum)  Moss,  to 
prevent  it  drying  up  too  quickly ;  for  when 
the  basket  is  hung  in  the  air,  of  course  it 
dries  up  much  quicker  than  when  placed  on  a 
shelf  in  the  green-house  or  on  the  ground; 
and  one  of  the  main  reasons  for  success  with 
hanging  baskets  is  the  careful  attention  to 
watering,  which  is  quickest  and  most  thor- 
oughly done  by  taking  the  basket  down  and 
immersing  it  in  a  tub  of  water,  so  that  the 
soil  is  thoroughly  soaked  through.  This  will 
be  necessary  once,  twice,  or  thrice  a  Aveek, 
according  to  the  position  the  basket  is  placed 
in,  the  condition  of  the  atmosphere,  or  the 
state  of  the  plants ;  for,  if  in  a  shaded  posi- 
tion, it  will  require  less  water;  if  the  atmos- 
phere is  damp,  less ;  or  if  the  plants  have  not 
attained  vigor  of  growth,  less  ;  the  opposite 
of  these  conditions,  more.    The  soil  used  in 


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GBEENHOUSK  OB  GRAPERY  (DETACHED),    END  VIEW  AND  PLAN.  l8l 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


181 


HAP 

hanging  baskets  need  in  no  way  differ  from 
thiat  used  in  the  general  culture  of  plants. 

Haploca'rpa  Leitchlini.  A  beautiful  little 
south  African  composite  plant  in  the  way  of 
Gazania.  The  plants  are  stemless,  and  form 
rosettes  of  Dandelion-shaped  leaves,  seven  to 
nine  inches  long,  glossy  above,  and  thickly 
covered  with  white  closely-pressed  silky 
down,  beneath.  The  flowers  are  two  to  three 
inches  across,  of  a  rich  golden  yellow  color, 
backed  with  purplish  brown.  Seeds  sown  in 
spring,  bloom  from  mid-summer  until  frost. 

Hardenbe'rgla.  Named  after  the  Countess  of 
Hardenberg,  in  Germany,  sister  to  Baron 
Hugel.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
climbers  found  in  southern  and  western  Aus- 
tralia. They  are  closely  allied  to  Kennedya, 
and  are  desirable  green-house  plants  from  the 
profusion  of  their  flowers,  which  are  mostly 
purple,  arranged  in  stalked  racemes,  and 
nearly  as  large  as  those  of  the  pea.  The 
plants  are  of  easy  culture  and  are  readily  in- 
creased by  cuttings ;    introduced  about  1800. 

Hardback.  A  common  name  for  SpircBa  tomen- 
tosa. 

Hardy  Annuals.  This  term  applies  to  those 
plants  that  perfect  their  growth  and  ripen 
seed  the  same  year  they  are  sown  in  the  open 
ground.     See  Annuals. 

Hardy  Herbaceous  Plants.  See  Herbaceous 
Plants. 

Hare-Bell.     See  Scilla  nutans. 

Hare's-Ear.     Bupleurum  rotundifolium. 

Hare's-Foot.     Ochroma  Lagopus. 

Hare's-Foot  Fern.     Davallia  Canariensis. 

Hare's-Tail  Grass.     Lagurus  ovatus. 

Haricot.     The  French  name  for  Kidney  Beans. 

Harlequin  Flower.  African.  The  genus  Spar- 
axis. 

Harpa'lium.  From  Harpalyce,  daughter  of 
Lycurgus.     Nat.  Ord.  CompositcB. 

H.  rigidus,  the  only  species,  is  Helianthus  rigi- 
dus  of  Gray,  a  coarse-growing  perennial,  with 
yellow  flowers,  common  in  the  Western 
States. 

Harpa'lyce.  Named  after  Harpalyce,  daughter 
of  Lycurgus.     Nat.  Ord.  Legaminosoe. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome,  erect,  pinnate- 
leaved  bushes  from  Mexico  and  Brazil.  H. 
Braziliana  bears  handsome,  scarlet  pea-shaped 
flowers  in  a  panicle  toward  the  ends  of  the 
shoots.  The  Mexican  species  are  smooth, 
and  bear  purple  flowers.  Propagated  by 
cuttings. 

Hart-Berries.     Vaccinium  Myrtillus. 

Hartford  Fern.     See  Lygodium. 

Hart's-tongue  Fern.     See  Scolopendrium. 

Harvest-bells.     Gentiana  Pneurnonanthe. 

Hartwe'gia.  Named  after  M.  Hartweg,  court 
gardener  to  the  Emperor  of  Austria,  and  once 
a  collector  for  the  Royal  Horticultural  Soci- 
ety.    Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids,  of  but 
little  interest,  except  in  large  collections.  H. 
purpurea  is  a  very  pretty  little  plant,  with 
spotted  foliage,  and  long,  slender  spikes  of 
purplish  pink  flowers.  It  is  an  almost  con- 
stant bloomer,  growing  freely  on  blocks  or 
cork  in   an   ordinary'    green-liouse.      It  is  a 


HEA 

native  of  Mexico,  introduced  in  1837,  and  is 
increased  by  division  of  plants  in  the  spring. 

Hastate.  Shaped  like  the  head  of  a  halbert ; 
enlarged  at  the  base  into  two  lobes  directed 
nearly  horizontally,  as  in  the  leaf  of  Sheep's 
Sorrel. 

Hautbois.  Fragaria  elatior.  A  species  of  Straw- 
berry. 

Havsrkweed.     See  Hieracium. 

Hawo'rthia.  Named  in  honor  oi  A.  H.  Haworth, 
a  distinguished  English  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
Liliacece. 

A  pretty  and  curious  genus  of  succulents, 
that  offer  many  inducements  to  the  admirers 
of  that  class  of  plants.  They  are  natives  of 
south  Africa,  and  are  commonly  known  as 
Aloes,  from  which  they  were  separated.  The 
plants  are  mostly  small,  but  particularly 
interesting  on  account  of  their  upright  flow- 
ers, which  are  always  gay,  and  the  translu- 
cent leaves  of  some  of  the  species.  They 
were  first  introduced  in  1727,  require  the 
same  treatment  as  the  Aloe,  and  are  readily 
increased  from  suckers  or  from  seed. 

Hawthorn.    See  Crataegus. 

Haylo'ckia.  Named  after  Mr.  Haylock,  gar- 
dener to  Dr.  Herbert.  Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllida- 
cecB. 

A  small  bulb  from  Buenos  Ayres,  allied  to 
Zephyranthes  ;  flowers  straw-colored,  solitary. 
It  is  nearly  hardy,  the  protection  of  a  cold 
frame  only  being  needed  in  this  climate. 
Propagated  by  offsets.     Introduced  in  1829. 

Hazel  Nut.     See  Corylus. 

Head.     A  close  terminal  collection  of  flowers, 

surrounded  by  an  involucre,  as  in  composite 

flowers. 
Heal-all.     ColUnsonia  Canadensis  and  Rhodiola 

rosea. 
Heal-all,  or  All-heal.     Prunella  vulgaris,  which 

see. 
Heart  of  the  Earth.     Prunella  vulgaris. 
Heart' s-ease.     See  Viola  tricolor. 
Heath,  or  Heather.     A  general  name  for  the 
genera  Erica  and  Calluna 

American  False.     Hudsonia  ericoides. 

Irish.     Dabeocia  (Menziesia)  polifolia. 

Mediterranean.       Erica     Mediterranea.     {E. 
camea.) 

Sea.    Frankenia  loevis. 

Tree.     Erica  arborea. 

Cypress.     Lycopodium  alpinum. 

Heather.  Scotch.  Erica  cinerea  and  Calluna 
vulgaris. 

Heating  by  Flues.  This  is  now  but  little  done, 
except  by  beginners  whose  means  are  limited, 
or  where  a  temporary  green-house  is  erected. 
The  objection  to  heating  by  flues  is,  that 
unless  carefully  constructed,  there  is  danger 
from  fire,  or  escape  of  gas  injurious  to  the 
plants ;  still,  many  large  green-house  estab- 
lishments are  yet  heated  by  flues,  in  which 
plants  are  grown  quite  as  well  as  by  hot- water 
heating.  In  constructing  the  furnace  for  flue 
heating,  the  size  of  the  furnace  doors  should 
be  from  ten  to  sixteen  inches  square,  according 
to  the  size  of  space  to  be  heated ;  the  length 
of  the  furnace  bars  from  eighteen  to  forty 
inches;  the  furnace  should  be  arched  over, 
the  top  of  the  inside  of  the  arch  from  sixteen 


182 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


HEA 

to  twenty-four  inches  from  the  bars.     The  flue 
will  always  "draw"  better  if  slightly  on  the 
ascent  throughout  its  entire  length  ;  it  should 
be  elevated  in  all  cases  from  the  ground,  on 
flags  or  bricks,  so  that  its  heat  may  be  given 
out  on  all  sides.      The  inside  measure  of  the 
bricli  flue  should  not  be  less  than  8x14  inches; 
if  tiles  can  be  conveniently  procured,  they  are 
best  to  cover  with  ;  but,  if  not,  the  top  of  the 
flue  may  be    contracted  to   six  inches,   and 
covered  with  briclis      After  the  flue  has  been 
built  of  brick  to  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet  from 
the  furnace,   cement  or  vitrified  drain-pipe, 
seven,   eight,   or    nine    inches    in    diameter, 
should_be  used,  as  they  are  not  only  cheaper, 
but  radiate  the  heat  quicker  than  the  bricks  ; 
they  are  also  much  easier   constructed    and 
cleaned.    Care  should  be  taken  that  no  wood- 
work is  in  contact  with  the  flue  at  any  place. 
We  have  known  cases  where  wood-work  has 
caught  fire  after  the  house  had  been  in  opera- 
tion for  years  ;  but  an  unusually  strong  draft 
intensified  the  heat,  and  the  charred  timber 
ignited  and  totally  destroyed  the  green-house 
and  its  contents.     It  should  be  taken  as  a  safe 
rule,  that    wood-work    should  in  no  case  be 
nearer  the  flue  or  furnace  than  eight  inches. 
In  constructing  do  not  be  influenced  by  what 
the  mechanics  will  tell  you,  as  few  of  them 
have  any  experience  in  such  matters,  and  are 
not  able  to  judge  of  tlie  dangers  resulting 
from  wood-wurk  being  in  close  contact  with 
heated  bricks.     The  position  in  which  the  flue 
is  placed  in  the  green-house  depends  upon  its 
size.      Presuming  that  the  green-house  to  be 
heated  is  an  equal  span  of  twenty  feet  wide  by 
fifty  feet  long,  the  best  way  is  to  start  the 
furnace  at  the  north  end,  so  that  the  fines  will 
run  under  the   center  or  middle  bench,   the 
top  of  the  furnace  being  inside  the  green- 
house, the  fire,  of  course,  being  applied  in  the 
shed  outside.      A  comparatively  new  plan  of 
constructing  flues  is  to  have  the  flue  run  to 
the  end  of  the  green-house,  and,  returning, 
connect  with  the  chimney,  which  is  placed  on 
the  top  of  the  arch  of  the  furnace.      By  this 
method,  as  soon  as  a  fire  is  lighted  in  the 
furnace,  the  brick-work  forming  the  arch  gets 
heated,  and  at  once  starts  an  upward  draft, 
which  puts  the  smoke  flue  into  immediate 
action  and  maintains  it ;  hence  there  is  never 
any  trouble  about  the  draft,  as  in  ordinary 
flues,  having  the  chimney  at  the  most  distant 
point  from  the  furnace.     It  will  be  seen  that 
by  this  plan  we  not  only  get  rid  of  the  violent 
heat  given  out  by  the  furnace,  but  at  the  same 
time  it  insures  a  complete    draft,   and    the 
heated  air  from  the  furnace  is    so    i-apidly 
carried  through  the  entire  length  of  the  flue, 
that  it  is  nearly  as  hot  when  it  enters  the 
chimney  as  when  it  left  the  furnace.      This 
perfect  draft  also  does  away  with  all  danger 
of  the  escape  of  gas  from  the  flues  into  the 
green-house,  w^hich  often  happens  when  the 
draft  is  not  active.     Formerly  the  flues  used 
to  be  run  along  one  side  or  end  of  the  green- 
house, emptying  into  a  chimney  placed  there; 
but  this  method  is  rarely  satisfactory,  as  the 
cold  outside  air,  rushing  down  the  chimney, 
throws  back  the  heated  air,  particularly  in 
high  winds,  so  as  to  nearly  destroy  the  heat ; 
but  by  the  method  of  constructing  the  chim- 
ney on  the  top  of  the  arch  of  the  furnace,  and 
returning  the  flue  back  into  it,  no  such  diffi- 
culty can  occur. 


HEA 

Heating  by  Hot-Beds.     The  preparation  of  the 
heating  material  for  the  hot-bed  is  a  matter 
of  importance.      It  should  be  manure  fresh 
from  the  horse-stable,  and  when  they  can  be 
procured,  it  is  better  to  mix  it  with  about  an 
equal  bulk  of  leaves  from  the  woods,  or  refuse 
hops.     If  the  weather  is  very  cold,  the  bulk 
of  manure  must  be  of  good  size,  from  five  to 
six  wagon  loads,  thrown  into  a  compact  round 
heap,  else  the  mass  may  be  so  chilled  that 
heat  will  not  generate.     If  a   shed  is  con- 
venient, the  manure  may  be  placed  there, 
especially  if  the  quantity  is  small,  to  be  pro- 
tected from  cold  until  the  heat  begins  to  rise. 
The  heap  should  be  turned  and  well  broken 
up  before  being  used  for  the  hot-beds,  so  that 
the  rank  steam  may  escape,  and  the  manure 
become  of  the  proper  "sweetened"  condition. 
It  is  economy  of  the  heating  material  to  use 
a  pit  for  the  hot-bed.    This  should  be  made 
from  two  to  three  feet  deep,  six  feet  wide, 
and  of  any  required  length.     After  the  heat- 
ing material  has  been  packed  in  the  pit  to  the 
depth  of  from  twenty  to  twenty-four  inches, 
according    to    the    purpose  for  which  it  is 
wanted,  or  the  season  of  the  year  (the  earlier 
in  the  season  the  deeper  it  is  needed),  the 
sashes  should  be  placed  on  the  frame,  and 
kept  close  until  the  heat  generates  in  the 
hot-bed,  which  will  usually  take  twenty-four 
hours.     Now  plunge  a  thermometer  into  the 
manure,  and  if  all  is  right  it  will  indicate 
100°  or  more  ;  but  this  is  yet  too  hot  as  bot- 
tom heat  for  the  growth  of  seeds  or  plants, 
and  a  few  days  of  delay  must  be  allowed  until 
the  thermometer  indicates  a  falling  of  eight 
or  ten  degrees,  when  the  soil  may  be  placed 
upon  the  manure,   and  the  seeds   sown   or 
plants  set  out  in  the  hot-bed.     Amateurs  are 
apt  to  be  impatient  in  the  matter  of  hot-beds, 
and  often  lose  their  first  crop  by  sowing  or 
planting  before  the  first  violent  heat  has  sub- 
sided.    Another  very  common  mistake   is  in 
beginning  too  early  in  the  season.     In  the 
latitude  of  New  York  nothing  is  gained  by 
beginning  before  the  first  week  in  March,  and 
the  result  will  be  very  nearly  as  good  if  not 
begun  until  a  month  later.     There  are  two  or 
three  important  matters  to  bear  in  mind  in 
the  use  of  hot-beds.    It  is  indispensable  for 
safety  to  cover  the  glass  at  night  with  shut- 
ters or  mats  until  all  danger  of  frost  is  over ; 
for  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  contents 
of  a  hot-bed  are  always  tender,  from  being^ 
forced  so  rapidly  by  the  heat  below,  and  that 
the   slightest  frost  will  kill    them.      Again, 
there  is  danger  of  overheating  in  the  daytime 
by  a  neglect  to  ventilate  when  the  sun  is 
shining.     As  a  general  rule,  it  will  be  safe  in 
all  the  average  days  of  March,  April  and  May, 
to  have  the  sash  of  the  hot-bed  tilted  up 
from  an  inch  to  three    inches  at  the    back 
fi-om  9  A.  M.  to  4  P.  M.     Much  will,  of  course, 
depend  upon  the  activity  of  the  heating  ma- 
terial   in    the    hot-bed,   the  warmth  of    the 
weather,  and  the  character  of  the  plants  in 
the  bed,  so  that  we  can  only  give  a  loose  gen- 
eral rule.    Numbers  of  inexperienced  amateur 
cultivators  often  lose  the  entire  contents  of 
the  hot-bed  by  having  omitted  to  ventilate 
their  hot-bed,  and  on  their  return  home  from 
business    at    night    find    all    the    contents 
scorched  up.     Or  the  danger  of  the  other  ex- 
treme is,  that  the  plants  are  frozen  through, 
neglect  to  cover  them  at  night.    A  hot-bed 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


183 


HEA 

requires  a  certain  amount  of  attention,  which 
must  be  given  at  the  right  time,  or  no  satis- 
factory results  can  be  expected. 

Heating  by  Hot  Water.  This  is  now  the 
method  in  use  in  nearly  all  well-appointed 
green-house  structures.  But  little  detail  need 
be  given,  as  this  branch  of  heating  is  done 
almost  exclusively  by  firms  who  make  a  special 
business  of  it,  and  who  generally  understand 
the  construction  and  requirements  necessary 
in  heating,  better  than  those  who  employ 
them  usually  do ;  but  there  are  some  points 
which  it  is  perhaps  as  well  to  state.  In  any 
section  of  the  country  where  the  thermometer 
falls  below  zero,  if  a  green-house,  ten  feet 
high,  twenty  feet  wide,  and  100  long,  is  to  be 
heated  by  hot  water,  and  a  night-temperature 
of  sixty  degrees  is  required,  there  should  be 
not  less  than  eight  "  runs"  of  four-inch  pipes 
running  the  length  of  the  house ;  if  fifty  de- 
grees are  required,  six  "runs  "  of  pipe  ;  if  forty 
degrees,  four  "  runs  "  of  pipe.  The  styles  of 
boilers  in  use  are  so  varied  that  we  forbear  to 
give  any  one  in  particular  a  preference  here. 
If  estimated  by  the  glass  surface,  one  foot  in 
length  of  four  inch  pipe  is  necessaiy  for  every 
three  and  one  half  square  feet  of  glass  surface, 
when  the  temperature  is  at  ten  degrees  below 
zero,  to  keep  a  temperature  of  fifty  degrees  in 
the  green-house.  For  small  green-houses,  or 
such  as  are  attached  to  dwellings,  a  simple 
contrivance  known  as  the  Base-burning  Water 
Heater  is  very  convenient.  The  boiler  takes 
up  no  more  room  than  an  ordinary  stove,  and 
the  fire  requires  no  more  skill  or  attention 
than  any  oi'dinary  base-burning  stove,  being 
fed  by  coal  from  the  top.  It  can  be  left  with 
safety  ten  or  twelve  hours  without  any  atten- 
tion. At  present  prices,  a  Base-burning  Water 
Heater  with  pipes  sufficient  to  heat  a  green- 
house 10x50  feet,  will  cost  about  $200,  or 
for  twice  that  size  about  $350. 

Heating  by  Steam.  Few  green-houses  are  as 
yet  heated  by  steam,  though  the  cost  of  con- 
struction is  much  less,  and  it  is  also  claimed 
that  there  is  greater  economy  in  fuel ;  but 
though  we  have  had  green-houses  heated  for 
the  past  forty  years,  both  in  Eui-ope  and 
America,  by  hot  water,  steam  heating  for 
glass  structures  has  made  little  progress.  It 
has  been  successfully  done,  however,  both  in 
Philadelphia,  Chicago,  and  the  vicinity  of  New 
York,  and  experiments  with  it  on  a  large 
scale  are  now  being  tried  in  several  parts  of  the 
country.  We  have  but  little  doubt  that  in 
erecting  green-houses  on  an  extensive  scale 
at  one  time  it  is  economy  to  use  steam  heat- 
ing ;  but  nearly  all  such  structures  are  progres- 
sive, a  few  being  added  each  year,  and  the 
heating  by  the  ordinary  hot-water  pipes  is  as 
yet  believed  by  the  uninitiated  to  be  the  safer 
mode.  It  must  be  some  such  reason  as  this, 
whether  right  or  wrong,  that  has  so  long 
caused  green-houses  to  be  heated  by  hot  water 
in  this  age  of  steam. 

Hebecla'dus.  From  hebe,  pubescence,  and 
klados,  a  branch,  in  reference  to  the  hairiness 
of  the  young  shoots.    Nat.  Ord.  SolanacecB. 

A  genus  of  perennial  herbs  or  sub-shrubs, 
natives  of  western  tropical  America.  H. 
bijlorus  is  an  interesting  green-house  shrub 
with  handsome  drooping  purple  flowers.  It  was 
.introduced  from  the  Andes  of  Peru  in  1884, 


HED 

and   is  propagated  by   cuttings   of  the   half- 
ripened  wood. 
Hebecli'nimn.      A   genus   now   included    with 
Eupatorium. 

He'ctea.  Named  after  J.  H.  G.  Hecht,  a  Prus- 
sian counsellor,  who  died  in  1837.  Nat.  Ord. 
Bromeliacem. 

A  genus  of  pretty  green-house  plants,  closely 
allied  to  Dyckia.  The  leaves  are  long,  spiny, 
recurved,  and  crowded.  They  are  all  natives 
of  Mexico.  H.  Ghiesbrechtii  is  the  most  orna- 
mental and  desirable  species. 

Hedeo'ma.  Mock  Pennyroyal.  From  hedeoma, 
the  Greek  name  of  Mint.  Nat.  Ord.  Labialm. 
The  only  species  of  interest  in  this  genus  is 
H.  pulegioides,  the  American  Pennyroyal,  com- 
mon in  open,  barren  woods  and  fields.  It  has 
the  taste  and  odor  nearly  of  the  true  Penny- 
royal {Mentha  Pulegium)  of  Europe. 

He'dera.  The  Ivy.  The  name  appears  to  be 
derived  from  hedra,  a  Celtic  word,  signifying 
a  cord ;  and  the  English  name.  Ivy,  is  derived 
from  iw,  a  word  in  the  same  language,  signi- 
fying green,  from  its  being  always  green. 
Nat.  Ord.  AraliacecB. 

This  well-known  plant  is  what  botanists 
call  a  rooting  climber ;  that  is  to  say,  its 
stems  climb  up  trees,  walls,  sides  of  dwell- 
ings, or  any  other  suitable  object  which  pre- 
sents a  sufficiently  rough  surface  for  their 
roots  to  take  hold  of ;  as,  unless  this  is  the 
case,  the  Ivy,  whenever  it  is  rendered  heavy 
by  rain  or  snow,  falls  down.  Whenever, 
therefore,  Ivy  is  wanted  to  cover  smooth, 
newly-plastered  walls,  the  Ivy  should  be 
nailed  against  them,  or  secured  with  copper 
wire.  The  Ivy  is  remarkable  for  undergoing 
a  complete  change  in  its  leaves  when  it  flow- 
ers. The  barren,  or  creeping  Ivy,  which  trails 
along  the  ground,  and  roots  into  it,  rarely 
flowers,  and  its  leaf  is  deeply  cut ;  but  the 
tree  Ivy,  or  flowering  part,  rears  itself  on 
high,  so  as  to  be  fully  exposed  to  the  light 
and  air,  and  the  leaves  become  of  an  oval  shape. 
H.  Canariensm,  the  giant,  or  Irish  Ivy,  as  it  is 
sometimes  called,  though  it  is  a  native  of  the 
Canaries,  is  hardier  and  grows  much  faster 
than  the  common  kind ;  but  the  variegated 
kinds  are  tender,  and  grow  much  slower.  Ivy 
requires  a  deep  and  somewhat  light  soil,  into 
which  its  roots  can  penetrate  easily;  and 
when  grown  for  any  purpose  in  pots  or  boxes 
it  should  be  abundantly  supplied  with  water. 
Ivy  is  useful  in  all  cases  where  a  naked  space 
is  to  be  covered  with  green  in  a  short  space 
of  time ;  and  it  is  particularly  valuable  in 
town  gardens,  as  it  will  bear  the  smoke  and 
want  of  pure  air  in  cities  better  than  most 
other  plants.  It  should,  however,  in  all  close 
and  crowded  situations,  be  abundantly  sup- 
plied with  water,  and  occasionally  syringed 
over  the  leaves.  The  gold  and  silver  varie- 
ties are  very  beautiful,  especially  the  former, 
when  grown  against  the  chimney  of  a  dwell- 
ing-house or  green-house ;  but  they,  like 
nearly  all  variegated-leaved  plants,  are  more 
tender,  and  require  a  higher  temperature 
than  the  plain  green-leaved  kinds.  Increased 
freely  by  cuttings. 

Hedera'ceae.  A  name  given  to  the  Nat.  Ord. 
AraliacecB. 

Hedge  Bind'weed.     Calystegia  aepiwrn. 

Hedge-hog.     Ranuncidus  arvensis. 


184 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


HED 

Hedge-hog  Grass.     See  Cenchrus. 

Hedge  Mustard.     Sisymbrium  officinale. 

Hedge  Nettle.    Stachys  sylvatica. 

Hedges.  Many  shrubs  and  plants  are  available 
for  utilizing  for  hedges,  which  are  often 
extensively  planted  in  connection  with  gar- 
dens, either  for  boundary  fences,  screens,  or 
wind  breaks.  These  are  generally  selected  to 
suit  the  special  requirements  for  which  the 
hedge  is  intended,  or,  perhaps,  different  soils 
or  locations  may  have  effect  on  the  selection. 
The  principal  plants  now  used  are  (deciduous) 
Osage  Orange,  European  and  Californian 
Privet,  Althaeas,  Lilacs  and  Japan  Quince ; 
Beech,  Thorns  of  various  sorts.  Hornbeam, 
etc.,  are  also  excellent  hedge  plants,  though 
of  rather  slow  growth.  Of  evergreens,  Amer- 
ican and  Siberian  Arborvitaes,  Eetinosporas, 
and  Hemlock  make  excellent  hedges  that 
stand  cutting  well,  and  can  be  kept  to  any 
desired  height;  Norway  Spruce  also,  for  a 
dividing  fence  or  wind  break,  is  unsurpassed. 

Hedge  Violet.     Viola  sylvatica. 

Hedy'chium.  Garland  Flower.  From  hedys, 
sweet,  and  chion,  snow;  in  reference  to  the 
sweet-scented,  snow-Avliite  flowers  of  some  of 
the  species.     Nut.  Ord.  Zinyiberacem. 

A  beautiful  genus,  deserving  a  place  wher- 
ever space  can  be  afforded  them  in  the  hot- 
house. They  will  attain  a  height  of  from  three 
to  five  feet,  and  flower  profusely,  fully  prov- 
ing the  fitness  of  the  term,  "Garland  Flower," 
applied  to  them.  There  are  a  large  number 
of  species,  mostly  from  the  East  Indies.  H. 
Gardneriaum,  one  of  the  most  useful  of  these, 
grows  from  three  to  five  feet  high,  bearing 
huge  spikes  of  bright  lemon-colored  flowers, 
with  long  scarlet  stamens  and  elegant  Canna- 
like  foliage.  It  is  an  admirable  plant  for  out- 
door decoration  in  summer,  and  the  crowns 
may  be  lifted  and  stored  in  winter  similar  to 
those  of  the  Canna  or  Dahlia.  They  are 
propagated  by  divisions  of  the  plants  before 
repotting  in  the  spring. 

Hedy'sarum.  The  French  Honeysuckle.  From 
hedysaron,  the  name  of  a  papilionaceous  plant 
described  by  Theophrastus.  Nat.  Ord.  Legum- 
inosce. 

This  genus  includes  many  species  of  hand- 
some hardy  annual  and  perennial  plants, 
natives  of  Europe,  north  Africa,  the  moun- 
tainous parts  of  Asia,  and  North  America. 
Their  flowers  are  purple,  white,  and  rarely 
yellow,  borne  in  prominent  racemose  spikes. 
H.  coronarium,  the  French  Honeysuckle,  the 
species  most  usually  cultivated,  is  a  perennial 
herb,  with  spikes  of  deep  red  flowers.  There 
is  also  a  white-flowered  variety.  H.  Jlexuosum, 
a  closely  allied  species  from  southern  Spain, 
has  red  flowers,  tinged  with  blue.  They  are 
all  of  easy  culture  in  open,  sunny  gardens, 
and  are  readily  increased  by  seeds. 

Hedy'scepe  Canterburyana.  A  name  given  to 
Kentia  Canterburyana. 

Hee'ria   rosea.      A  synonym    of  Heterocentron 

roseum. 

Hei'nsia.  A  genus  of  Rubiacecs,  including  a 
few  species  of  evergreen  shrubs,  natives  of 
tropical  Africa.  H.  jasminiflora,  the  only 
species  yet  introduced,  is  a  beautiful,  much 
branched,  unarmed,   glabrous     shrub,    with 


HEL 

pure    white    Jasmine-like    flowers.      Propa- 
gated by  cuttings;  introduced  in  1824. 

He'lcia.  From  helcium,  a  horse-collar;  in 
reference  to  the  curious  formation  of  the 
flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

H.  sanguinolenta,  the  only  species,  is  a 
beautiful  terrestrial  Orchid  from  the  Peruvian 
Andes.  Its  flowers  are  produced  in  great 
profusion  on  single  stalks  from  the  base  of 
the  bulbs ;  the  sepals  and  petals  yellowish, 
beautifully  marked  with  reddish  brown;  lip 
large,  white,  maiked  with  purplish  crimson. 
It  requires  to  bo  grown  in  a  cold  house,  and 
is  increased  by  division.     Syn.  Tricopilia. 

Hele'nium.  Sneeze  Weed.  Named  after  the 
b(3autiful  Hflen,  the  cause  of  the  Trojan  war. 
Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  small  genus  of  showy,  hardy  herbaceous 
plants,  with  a  few  hardy  annuals.  The  flowers 
are  mostly  large  and  yellow,  somewhat  re- 
sembling those  of  Rudbeckia,  which  similarity 
prevents  their  introduction  to  the  flower 
garden.  H.  auiumnale,  the  only  native  species, 
popularly  known  as  Sneeze  Weed,  is  a  sliowy 
plaht,  growing  from  two  to  three  feet  high. 
It  is  common  southward. 

Helia'nthemum.  Sun  Eose.  From  helios,  the 
sun,  and  atithemon,  a  flower.  Nat.  Ord. 
Cistacece. 

Low  shrubs,  generally  used  for  planting  on 
rock-work,  and  strongly  resembling  theCistus 
or  Rock  Rose.  As  most  of  the  species  are 
rather  tender,  they  require  protection  during 
winter.  For  this  reason  they  are  either  grown 
in  pots,  which  are  placed  on  the  rock-work 
among  the  stones,  or  taken  up  and  repotted 
in  winter,  to  be  planted  out  again  in  spring. 
They  are  generally  increased  by  seeds,  which 
ripen  in  abundance. 

Helia'nthus.  The  Sun  Flower.  From  helios, 
the  sun,  and  anthos,  a  flower;  in  reference  to 
the  common  but  erroneous  opinion,  that  the 
flowers  always  turn  their  faces  toward  the 
sun.     Nat.  Ord.  Composite. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  annuals  and 
herbaceous  perennials.  The  annual  of  this 
name,  H.  annuus,  though  a  native  of  Peru,  is 
of  the  hardiest  of  its  kind,  as  it  only  requires 
sowing  in  the  open  border.  The  flowers  are 
immense  in  size,  averaging  a  foot  in  diameter ; 
color  yellow  with  a  dark  disk.  It  is  not, 
however,  suitable  for  any  situation,  unless 
there  be  abundance  of  room,  on  account  of 
the  large  size  of  its  stalks  and  leaves.  It 
is,  however,  much  grown  in  marshy  dis- 
tricts, because  of  its  supposed  virtue  of 
absorbing  malaria.  Of  the  many  varieties  of 
this  species,  perhaps  the  finest  are  H.  globosus 
fistulosus,  and  H.  Californicus,  both  of  which 
have  very  large,  extremely  double,  globular 
flowers  when  fully  developed.  H.  tuberosus, 
the  well-known  Jerusalem  Artichoke  is  some- 
times cultivated  for  its  tubers,  which  are  in 
considerable  demand  especially  in  Europe, 
for  soups,  etc.  The  name  of  Jerusalem 
Artichoke  is  considered  to  be  a  corruption 
of  the  Italian  Girasole  Articocca  or  Sun-flower 
Artichoke,  under  which  name  it  is  said  to 
have  been  originally  distributed  from  the 
Farnese  garden  at  Rome  soon  after  its  intro- 
duction to  Europe  in  1617.  The  perennial 
kinds  are  quite  hardy  and  many  of  them  are 
very  ornamental.  H.  orgyalis,  a  species  from 
Texas,  forms  a  bush  from  six  to  ten  feet  ia 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


185 


HEL 

height,  with  numerous  narrow  recurved 
leaves  surmounted  by  large  loose  panicles  of 
comparatively  small  bright  yellow  flower 
heads,  forming  when  in  bloom  a  veritable 
fountain  of  gold.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
striking  and  useful  of  autumnal  flowering 
plants.  H.  multiflorus  plenus,  a  variety  of 
H.  decapetalus,  produces  large,  very  double 
flowers,  three  to  five  inches  in  diameter,  ex- 
ceedingly showy  and  desirable.  H.  rigidus 
and  several  other  species  are  well  worthy  of 
a  space  in  a  collection  of  hardy  herbaceous 
plants. 

Helichry'sum.  Everlasting  Flower.  From 
helios,  the  sun,  and  chrysos,  gold  ;  in  allusion 
to  the  brilliant  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 
Syn.  Elich7-ysum. 

The  genus  consists  of  annuals,  hardj'  herba- 
ceous perennials,  and  evergreen  shrubs,  the 
two  latter  rarely  seen  except  in  botanical 
collections.  The  common  yellow  Everlasting, 
H.  bracteatum,  is  a  hardy  annual  that  only 
requires  sowing  in  the  open  border.  H.  bicolor 
is  a  very  slight  variety  of  it,  merely  differing  in 
having  the  outer  petals  tipped  with  copper 
color;  but  H.  macranthum  has  white  flowers 
tipped  with  pink,  and  is  very  handsome.  This 
species  is  a  native  of  the  Swan  River  colony. 
It  may  either  be  sown  in  the  open  ground  in 
April,  to  flower  in  autumn,  or  in  a  hot-bed  in 
February  to  plant  out  in  May.  H.  orientate, 
the  Immortelle  of  commerce,  a  native  of  the 
Island  of  Crete,  altliough  known  in  Europe 
since  1629,  was  not  generally  cultivated  before 
1815.  At  present  it  is  chiefly  grown  in  the 
south  of  France,  where  the  laud  gradually 
slopes  to  the  Mediterranean.  It  comes  to 
the  greatest  perfection  in  positions  well 
exposed  to  the  sun,  and  surrounded  by  dry 
stone  walls,  where  it  commences  to  bloom  in 
June.  It  is  propagated  by  division  of  the 
larger  tufts,  and  thrives  best  in  a  light,  stony 
or  porous  soil.  The  flowering  stems  are 
gathered  before  the  flowers  are  fully  expanded, 
by  women,  who  make  them  up  into  small 
bundles  which  are  usually  placed  to  dry  on 
the  stone  walls  of  the  enclosure  in  which  they 
grow.  When  properly  dried,  they  are  taken 
away  by  young  girls  who  are  employed  to 
remove  the  downy  covering  from  the  stems. 
A  pound  weight  of  the  dried  plants  contains 
about  two  hundred  stems,  each  bearing  on  an 
average  twenty  flowers.  Each  tuft  of  the 
growing  plants  produces  from  sixty  to  seventy 
stems.  An  acre  of  ground  contains  about 
16,000  tufts,  which  will  annually  yield  from 
two  to  three  tons  weight  of  dried  Immortelles, 
and  a  well-established  and  well-managed  plan- 
tation will  continue  productive  from  eight  to 
ten  years.  The  flowers  are  sold  either  by  the 
bundle  or  weight,  the  bundles  ranging  fi'om 
three  to  six  cents  each,  according  to  size, 
while,  if  sold  by  weight,  the  price  varies  from 
three  to  five  dollars  a  hundred  weight, 
according  to  the  state  of  the  market. 
The  natural  color  of  the  flowers  is  a 
deep  yellow,  but  the  manufacturers  of 
garlands,  bouquets,  wreaths,  etc.,  dye  largo 
quantities  of  them  in  other  colors  also 
chiefly  black,  green,  and  orange-red.  This 
last  named  color,  said  to  be  obtained  from  a 
preparation  of  borax,  is  very  handsome,  and 
is  the  favorite  tint  of  the  people  of  the  south 
of  Europe.  Large  quantities  are  also  bleached 


HEL 

white,  with  a  preparation  of  chloride  of  lime, 
and  with  the  natural  yellow  flowers  and  those 
that  are  dyed  black  are  used  to  form  the  wreaths 
and  other  devices  devoted  to  the  dead.  Those 
which  are  dyed  of  brighter  colors  are  used, 
either  alone,  or  mixed  with  natural  flowers,  for 
bouquets,  or  room  decoration  ;  in  these,  how- 
ever, the  Immoi'telle  takes  no  prominent  place 
among  other  flowers.  Its  great  distinction 
from  them  seems  to  consist  in  its  possession 
of  those  peculiarities  of  structure  which  have 
induced  a  nation  of  sentiment  and  refined 
taste  to  select  it  as  the  most  fitting  of  all  to 
fill  the  office  and  bear  the  title  of  "  The 
Flower  of  the  Grave."  The  manufacture  of 
Immortelle  wreaths  in  Paris  for  funeral 
decorations  engages  upwards  of  1,500  persons. 
The  Immortelles  are  gathered  in  August  on 
the  arid  hills  of  central  and  southern  France. 
They  are  brought  to  the  market  in  their 
natural  condition,  and  the  yellow  blossoms 
are  dyed  or  bleached  white,  green  or  red,  in 
readiness  for  All-Saints  and  All-Souls  days, 
November  1st  and  2d,  when  all  good  Parisians 
visit  their  relatives'  graves.  On  these  fetes- 
des-morts,  the  gates  of  the  cemeteries  are  beset 
with  dealers  in  wreaths,  crosses,  and  head- 
crowns.  At  Pere  la  Chaise  alone  it  is  esti- 
mated that  more  than  200,000  persons  visit 
the  cemeteries,  and  the  sale  of  Immortelle 
wreaths  reaches  about  25,000.  The  silvery- 
white  "Cape  Flower"  of  the  florists  is 
Helichrysum  vestitum  (syn.  Leucostemma)  intro- 
duced to  cultivation  from  South  Africa  in 
1774.  Large  quantities  are  imported  every 
year  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  the  lovely 
silvery  sheen  of  the  flowers  superseding  in  a 
great  measure  the  French  or  German  white 
Immortelles. 

Helico'nia.  From  Helicon,  a  hill  consecrated  to 
the  Muses ;  from  its  affinity  to  the  genus 
Musa.     Nat.  Ord.  ScitaminecB. 

A  genus  of  interesting  plants  from  the  "West 
Indies  and  South  America.  Their  fruit  is 
eaten  by  the  natives,  though  inferior  to  the 
Banana.  It  requires  the  same  general  treat- 
ment as  the  Maranta,  but  is  too  large  for  gen- 
eral green-house  cultivation.  Propagated  by 
division  of  plant. 

Helio'phila.  From  helios,  the  sun,  and  phileo, 
to  love  ;  referring  to  the  sunny  aspect  where 
they  delight  to  grow.     Nat.  Ord.  Cruciferm. 

Beautiful  little  annual  plants,  natives  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  generally  with  blue 
flowers,  and  very  long,  slender  stems.  The 
seeds  should  be  sown  on  a  hot-bed  in  Febru- 
ary, and  the  plants  planted  out  in  a  warm, 
ojjen  situation  in  May. 

Helio'psis.  Ox-eye.  From  helios,  the  sun,  and 
opsis,  like ;  in  allusion  to  the  appearance  of 
the  flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  genus  comprising  about  six  species  of 
hardy  perennials,  with  rather  large,  golden- 
yellow  flowers.  The  native  species,  H.  Icevis, 
is  very  showy  and  deserving  of  cultivation. 

Heliotrope.    See  Heliotropium, 

Heliotro'pium.  Heliotrope.  From  helios,  the 
sun,  and  trope,  twining ;  in  reference  to  the 
curled  or  twining  flower  branch.  Nat.  Ord. 
Boraginacem. 

This  genus  of  interesting  plaiits  consists  of 
hardy  and  tender  annuals  and  green-house 
shrubs.     Of  the  latter  H.  Peruvianum  is  the 


186 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


HEL 

well-known  Heliotrope,  a  general  favorite 
from  its  delicious  fragrance.  It  grows  freely 
in  the  open  border.  After  the  first  of  Septem- 
ber, and  until  killed  by  frost,  the  plant  is  a 
complete  mass  of  bloom.  It  and  its  many 
varieties  are  also  largely  grown  in  the  green- 
house for  cut  flowers  in  winter,  and  is  easily 
increased  by  cuttings  or  from  seed.  Intro- 
duced from  Peru  in  1757. 

Heli'pterum.  From  helios,  the  sun,  and  pteron, 
a  wing.     Nat.  Ord.  Coinpositce. 

An  extensive  genus,  separated  from  Helichry- 
sum,  with  which  it  was  formerly  classed.  The 
species,  commonly  known  as  Ever  asting 
Flowers,  ai'e  tender  annuals  from  South  Africa, 
Australia,  and  Tasmania.  The  name  "Ever- 
lasting Flower  "  is  promiscuously  applied  to 
the  plants  of  this  genus  and  their  allies.  The 
arrangenient  of  them  in  bouquets  and  floral 
designs  is  an  extensive  business  in  France  and 
Germany.  They  grow  freely  from  seed,  and 
thrive  best  in  a  light,  dry  soil,  made  tolerably 
rich.  Introduced  from  Swan  Eiver  in  1863. 
Khodantheand  Astelma  are  placed  under  this 
genus  by  some  botanists. 

Hellebore.     See  Hellehorufi. 

\\'hite  or  Swamp.      Veratrum  nigrum. 

Helle'borus.  Hellebore.  From  helein,  to  cause 
death,  and  bora,  food ;  in  reference  to  its 
poisonous  quality.     Nat.  Ord.  Ranunctdacece. 

This  genus  consists  of  hardy  herbaceous 
perennials,  growing  best  under  the  shade  of 
trees.  The  "Christmas  Rose,"  H.  niger.  is 
one  of  the  most  interesting  plants  belonging 
to  this  genus,  on  account  of  its  flowering  in 
winter  or  very  early  in  spring,  before  almost 
every  otlier  flower.  If  grown  in  a  frame,  it 
will  be  true  to  its  name,  and  flower  freely 
during  the  Christmas  holidays.  It  is  increased 
by  division  of  the  roots ;  introduced  from 
Austria  in  1596. 

Helmet.  The  hooded  upper  part  of  some  flow- 
ers, as  in  the  Monkshood. 

Helmet  Flo^wer.  A  common  name  applied  to 
Aconitum,  Coryanthes,  and  Scutellaria. 

He'lmia.  In  honor  of  Dr.  C.  Helm,  a  German 
ecclesiastic.     Nat.  Ord,  DioscoreacecB. 

A  genus  of  handsome  climbers,  allied  to  the 
Dioscorea  or  Yam,  and  requiring  the  same 
treatment. 

Helo'nias.  From  helos,  a  marsh  ;  habitat  of  the 
species.  A  genus  of  Liliacem,  the  only  species, 
of  which  H.  bullata  is  a  pretty  herbaceous 
perennial,  flowering  early  in  spring,  found 
sparingly  in  boggy  places  from  New  Jersey  to 
Virginia. 

Hemero'calli'deae.  A  sub-division  of  the  nat- 
ural order  lAliacew. 

Hemeroca'llis.  Day  Lily.  From  hemera,  a  day, 
and  hallos,  beauty ;  alluding  to  the  beauty  and 
duration  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

Strong  perennial  plants,  with  yellow  or  cop- 
per-colored flowers.  They  are  perfectly  hardy, 
and  thrive  best  in  a  moist,  shady  situation. 
The  more  common  sorts  are  unworthy  of  culti- 
vation. H.  flara,  found  from  the  south  of 
Europe  to  Siberia  and  Japan,  has  beautiful 
clear  yellow,  very  fragrant  flowers,  borne  in 
clusters  on  tall  scapes.  If  in  a  shady 
border  they  remain  some  time  in  flower. 
Propagated  by  division  of  the  root. 


HEE 

Hemioni'tes.  From  hemionos,  a  mule  ;  supposed 
to  be  barren.     Nat.  Ord.  Poli/jwdiace.ce. 

A  small  genus  of  Ferns,  with  simple  palmate 
fronds,  natives  of  tlie  tropics  of  both  the  New 
and  Old  Worlds.  They  are  exceedingly  inter- 
esting plants  for  the  hot-house,  where  they 
must  be  grown.  They  are  increased  by  divi- 
sion ;  inti'oduced  in  1798. 
Hemite'lia.  From  hemi,  half,  and  telia,  a  lid  ;  in 
reference  to  the  shape  of  tiie  indusium.  A 
genus  of  about  thirty  species  of  tree  ferns, 
belonging  to  the  Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

Natives  of  South   America,   and  the  West 
Indies.'     They  are  all  strong  growers  making 
beautiful  specimens,  but  require  a  large  green- 
house or  conservatory  to  give  room  for  their 
proper  development. 
Hemlock.     See  Conium  maculatum. 
Water.     Ciciita  viro-sa,  and  C.  maculata. 
Spruce.     See  Tsuga  Canadensis. 
Hemp.      The  common  name  of  Cannabis  saliva, 
also   applied     to    various    valuable    fibres 
employed  for  manufacturing  purposes. 
Bow-String  of    India.     Sanseviera  Zeylanica, 

and  Calotropis  gigantea. 
Canada  or  Indiaji.     Apocynnm  cannabinwn. 
East  Indian.     Cannabis  saliva,   and   Hibiscus 

cannabimis. 
Manilla.     The  fibre  of  Musa  textilis. 
Water.       Eupaiorium    cannabinum,       Acnida 
cannabina,  and  Bidens  tripartita. 
Hemp  Nettle.     Galeopsis    Tetrahit. 
Hemp  Weed.     Climbing.    Mikania  scandens. 
Hen  and  Chicken  Daisy.     See  Bellis  perennis. 
Hen  and  Chickens.      A  popular  name  for  one 

of  the  Houseleeks,  Sempervivum  soboliferum. 
Henbane.     See  Hyoscyamus. 
Henna  Plant.     Lawsonia  alba. 
Hep,  or  Hip.   The  fruit  of  the  Dog  Eose,   Rosa 

canina,  and  other  species  of  Rosa. 
Hepa'tica.      From    hepaticos,    relating    to   the 
liver ;  referring  to  the  lobed  leaves.    Nat.  Ord. 
Ranunculacew. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, one  of  our  earliest  "wild  flowers,"  and 
very  common  in  the  woods  throughout  the 
Eastern  and  Northern  States.  It  succeeds 
Avell  in  a  shady  border. 
Herac'leum.  Cow  Parsnip.  Fi'om  heracles,  a 
plant  consecrated  to  Hercules.  Nat.  Ord. 
Umbelliferce. 

A  genus  of  large,  coarse-growing,  hardy 
perennials  and  biennials,  bearing  large  umbels 
of  white  fiowers.  They  are  all  too  weedy  in 
appearance  for  the  flower  garden,  being  suit- 
able only  for  large  masses  in  rocky  places 
difficult  to  cultivate. 
Herb.     A  plant  that  does  not  possess  a  woody 

stem. 
Herbaceous.  Merely  green,  or  thin  green  and 
cellular,  as  the  tissue  of  membraneous  leaves. 
Also  producing  an  annual  stem  from  a  peren- 
nial root. 
Harbaceous  Plants,  Hardy.  W.  Eobinson  in 
"  Hardy  Flowers,"  London.  1888,  says  :  "  The 
culture  of  the  finest  hardy  perennials  need 
not  interfere  in  the  slightest  degree  with  that 
of  bedding  plants,  or  anything  else— indeed  it 
would  enhance  the  beauty  of  all,  and  in 
almost  every  garden  there  is,  goodness 
tnows,  an  abundance  of  room  for  improve- 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


187 


HER 

ment  of  this  kind.  To  discuss  the  subject 
from  the  basis  of  the  "mixed  border,"  is 
completely  to  beg  the  question,  and  in  most 
cases  when  people  discuss  this  question,  the 
old  mixed  border  seems  to  represent  their 
ideal  of  the  highest  beauty  to  be  attained  by 
the  use  of  the  hardy  herbaceous  and  alpine 
flora  of  our  gardens.  To  me  it  has  a  very 
different  and  a  very  much  wider  and  nobler 
aspect.  I  have  been  somewhat  surprised 
that  people  have  spoken  so  encouragingly  of 
the  matter,  considering  their  point  of  view. 
During  the  past  eight  or  nine  j-ears  I  have 
sought  after  hardy  plants  of  all  kinds  unre- 
mittingly, and  previous  to  that  I  had  seen  a 
few  good  old-fashioned  mixed  borders ;  but  at 
no  time  have  I  ever  seen  anything  in  this  way 
that  displayed  a  tithe  of  the  beautiful  plants 
which  it  might  have  had,  or  that  was  in  any 
way  worthy  of  a  beautiful  garden.  Assuredly 
a  well  arranged  mixed  border  would  be  one  of 
the  most  interesting  things  ever  seen  in  any 
garden.  But  it  is  not  alone  in  that  way  that 
the  plants  under  discussion  may  be  made 
available.  Many  combinations  of  the  utmost 
beauty  and  which  have  not  yet  been  attempted 
in  gardens,  are  quite  possible  with  them,  and 
"very  few  have  any  idea  of  the  many  divers 
waj'S  in  which  they  may  be  cultivated,  so  as  to 
attain  the  happiest  results."  A  collection  of 
hardy  plants  is  most  interesting,  and  should 
form  a  feature  in  every  garden.  Their  treat- 
ment is  of  the  easiest  description,  provided 
due  preparation  is  made  for  their  reception, 
and  ordinary  attention  bestowed  afterwards 
in  keeping  the  borders  cleaned,  and  the  plants 
tied  up  to  protect  them  from  rough  winds. 
Some  sorts  are  well  adapted  for  massing  in 
large  or  small  beds,  the  majority  however, 
most  suitable  for  cultivation  in  private  gar- 
dens may  be  better  arranged  in  mixed 
borders,  reserving  the  dwarf  and  more  deli- 
cate sorts  for  special  culture  in  the  rock- 
garden.  A  general  display  at  any  particular 
season  is  not  usually  the  rule  with  a  varied 
collection  of  herbaceous  plants,  yet  their 
flowering  period  extends  with  one  or  another 
genus  nearly  throughout  the  year;  spring 
and  autunm  being  the  seasons  when  most 
are  represented,  their  requirements  being 
more  fully  met  by  a  cooler  temperature  and 
moister  atmosphere  than  those  experienced 
in  summer.  Mixed  borders,  groups  and  beds 
of  the  finer  perennials  maybe  much  improved 
by  being  varied  with  tufts  of  the  finer  orna- 
mental grasses,  which  see.  Various  select- 
perennials,  grown  in  quantity,  afford  an  in- 
valuable supply  of  cut  flowers  especially  in 
early  autumn ;  a  largo  number  also  of  the 
bulbous  section,  flower  very  early  in  spring, 
and  are  additionally  attractive  and  useful  on 
that  account.  The  majority  of  hardy  plants 
maybe  readily  raised  from  seed,  sown  outside 
after  the  first  of  April,  when  germination  is 
tolerably  certain  ;  a  large  proportion  however 
may  be  readily  propagated  by  division  on  the 
commencement  of  the  new  growth  in  spring. 
The  following  selection  embraces  many  of 
the  most  desirable  species  and  varieties;  as  a 
guide  in  planting  we  give  the  color  and  the 
average  height  in  feet : 
Achillea  Eupatorium,  bright  yellow,  4  ft. 
Millefolium  roseum,  rose,  2  ft. 
Ptarmiea  fl.  pi.,  double  white,  1  ft. 
tomentosa,  iiright  yellow,  1  ft. 


HER 

Aconitum  Californicum,  blue,  2  to  3  ft. 

Japonicum,  flesh  color,  6  ft. 

Napellus,  blue,  3  to  4  ft. 

variegatum,  blue,  3  to  4  ft. 
Acorus  Japonicus  variegata,  l'^  ft. 
Adonis  vernalis,  yellow,  ^^  to  1  ft. 
iEgopodium  podograria  variegata,  white,  1  ft. 
iEthionema  grandiflora,  rose,  Ij^  ft. 
Ajuga  reptans,  blue,  %  ft. 

reptans  variegata,  blue,  %  ft. 
Allium  Moly,  yellow,  1  ft. 
Alyssurasaxatile,  yellow,  1  ft. 
Amsonia  salicifolia,  blue,  2  ft. 
Anchusa  Italica,  bright  blue,  3  ft. 
Anemone  Japonica,  rosy  carmine,  2  ft. 

Japonica  alba,  white,  2  ft. 
Anthemis  tinctoria,  yellow,  Ij^  ft. 
Anthericum  Liliastrum,  white,  IJ^  ft. 
Aquilegia  coerulea,  blue  and  white,  1  ft. 

chrysantha,  yellow,  2  ft. 

The  various  varieties  of  A.   vulgaris,    both 
double  and  single,  height  2  to  3  ft. 
Arabis  albida,  white,  }>■£  to  ^a  ft. 

albida  variegata,  white,  ^4  ft. 
Armeria  vulgaris,  or  maritima,  the  variety  called 

"  Crim.son  Gem,"  bright  rose,  1  ft. 
Asclepias  tuberosa,  orange,  2  ft. 

verticillata,  white,  1^^  ft. 
Asperula  odorata,  white,  1  ft. 
Aster  prenanthoides,  light  blue,  3  ft.,  and  many 

others  of  our  native  species. 
Astilbe  Japonica  (Spiraea),  white,  1  ft. 
Aubretia,   several  species,  light    purple,    very 

dwarf. 
Baptisia  Australis,  blue,  2  to  3  ft. 
Betonica  grandiflora,  purple,  2  ft. 
Bocconia  cordata,  buff-color,  5  to  6  ft. 
Boltonia  latsesquaraa,  light  blue,  3  ft. 
Campanula.     The  species  of  this  genus  are  all 

well  worthy  of  cultivation. 
Centaurea  montana,  purple,  1  ft. 
Centranthus  ruber,  and  its  white  variety,  2  ft. 
Cerastium  tomentosum,  white  foliage  and  flow- 
ers, very  dwarf. 
Chrysopsis  Mariana,  yellow,  1  ft. 
Clematis  crispa,  lilac,  4  to  6  ft. 

erecta,  white,  3  ft. 
Colchicum  autumnale,  pink,  1  ft. 
Commelina  coelestis,  blue,  I  ft. 
Convallaria  majalis  (Lily-of-the-Valley). 
Coreopsis  auriculata,  yellow,  2  to  3  ft. 

lanceolata,  yellow,  2  ft. 

tenuifolia,  yellow,  li'g  ft. 
Coronilla  varia,  rose  and  white,  2  to  3  ft. 
Corydalis  nobilis,  yellow,  1  ft. 
Cypripedium  spectabile,  and  other  species. 
Delphinium  coelestinum,  light  blue,  4  ft. 

formosum,  blue  and  white,  3  ft. 

nudicaule,  scarlet,  2  ft. 

Wheelerii,  blue  and  purple.  4  ft. 
Dianthus  plumarius,  light  purple,  1  ft. 
Dicentra  eximia,  pink,  1},4  ft. 

spectabilis  (Dielytra),  pink,  2  ft. 
Dictamnus  Fraxinella,  pink,  1\^  ft. 

Fraxinella  alba,  white,  Ij^  ft. 
Dodecatheon  Meadia,  etc.,  pink  and  yellow,  1  ft. 
Doronicura  Caucasicum  and  other  sorts,  yel- 
low, 2  ft. 
Dracocephalum,  several  species,  blue,  1  to  2  ft. 
Echinacea  purpurea,  red,  3  to  4  ft. 
Echinops  sphserocephalus,  light  blue,  3  ft. 
Eomecon  chionantha,  white,  1  ft. 
Epilobium  augustifolium,  crimson,  3  to  6  ft. 
Epimediura  alpin\ira,  red,  1  ft. 

violaceum,  white  and  violet,  1  ft. 


18» 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OP  PLANTS 


HER 

Eranthis  hyemalis,  yellow,  i^  ft. 
Eryngium  amethystinum,  light  blue,  3  ft. 
Euphorbia  eorollata,  white,  1%  ft. 
Punkia  lanceolata,  lilac,  1%  ft. 

ovata  marginata,  blue,  ly^  ft. 

subcordata,  white,  2  ft. 
Galium  moUugo,  white.  3  ft. 
Geranium  pratense,  light  purple,  2  ft. 
Geum  coccineum  plenum,,  scarlet,  2  ft. 
Gillenia  trifoliata,  light  red,  1  to  2  ft. 
Glaucium  corniculatum,  yellow,  2  ft. 
Gypsophila  paniculata,  white,  3  ft. 
Harpalium  rigidum,  yellow,  3  ft. 
Helianthus  multiforus,  yellow,  4  ft. 

orgyalis,  yt^llow,  6  ft. 
Helleborus  niger,  white,  \4  ft- 
Hemerocallis  flava,  yellow,  2  ft. 

rutilans,  orange-red,  2  ft. 

Kwanso  fl.  pL,  orange-red,  2  ft. 
Hesperis  raatronalis,  purple  and  white,  1)^  ft. 
Hibiscus  grandiflora,  white  and  rose,  4  to  5  ft. 
Hyacinthus  candicans,  white,  4  ft. 
Iberis  correefolia,  white,  1  ft. 

Gibraltarica,  rosy-white,  1  ft. 

sempervirens,  white,  %  ft. 
Iris  fcBtidissiraa  variegata,  bluish,  \}^  ft. 

Germanica,  many  sorts,  Ij^  ft. 

Keempferii,  many  sorts,  2  ft. 

pumila,  purple  and  white,  }4  ft. 
Lamium  maculatura,  purple,  ^  ft. 
Lathyrus  platyphyllus  (varieties),  6  ft. 
Liatris  pycnostachys,  purple,  3  ft. 

spicata,  purple,  2  to  3  ft. 
Libertia  ixioides,  white,  1%  ft. 
Lilium,  many  sorts,  1  to  5  ft. 
Lobelia  cardinalis,  scarlet,  2  ft. 
Lotus  corniculatus,  yellow,  very  dwarf. 
Lupinus  polyphyllus,  blue,  1  ft. 
Lychnis  Chalcedonica  fl.  pi.,  scarlet. 

Chalcedonica  alba,  white,  3  ft. 
Lysimachia  clethroides,  white,  2  feet. 

nummularia,  yellow,  very  dwarf. 

vulgaris,  yellow,  2  ft. 
Lythrum  salicaria,  reddish-purple,  2  to  5  ft. 
Mertensia  virginica,  blue  and  red,  1}^  ft. 
Monarda  didyma,  scarlet,  2  ft. 

Bradburiana,  purple,'  2  ft. 
Myosotis  palustris,  light  blue,  ^  ft. 
Narcissus,  many  sorts,  1  ft. 
(Enothera  Fraseri,  yellow,  2  ft. 

riparia,  yellow,  1  ft. 

Missouriensis,  yellow,  ^^  ft. 
Omphalodes  verna,  blue,  3^  ft. 
Papaver  orientale,  scarlet,  4  ft. 
Phlox  subulata,  purple ;  reptans,  reddish-pur- 
ple, and  other  dwarf  sorts. 

Garden  hybrids  of  P.  decussata,  etc. 
Platycodon  grandiflorum,  blue,  1%  ft. 

grandiflorum  album,  white,  l)^  ft. 
PcEonia  officinalis,  many  varieties  and  colors, 
2  ft. 

tenuifolia  fl.  pi.,  crimson,  1  ft. 
Polemonium  coeruleum  and  reptans,  blue,  1  ft. 
Polygonum  cuspidatum,  syn.  P.  Sieboldii,white, 

4  ft. 
Pyrethrum  roseum  and  other  species,  1%  ft. 
Ramondia  Pyrenaica,  light  purple,  dwarf. 
Ranunculus  aconitifolius  fl.  pi.,  white,  2  ft 

acris  fl.  pi.,  yellow,  2  ft. 
Romneya  Coulteri,  white,  5  ft. 
Rudbeckia  triloba,  and  other  species,  yellow,  2 

to  3  ft. 
Salvia  pratensis,  blue,  1%  ft. 
Sanguinaria  Canadensis,  white,  %  ft. 
Saponaria  ocymoides,  pink,  dwarf. 


HER 

Saxifraga  crassifolia,  red,  1  ft. 
Sedum,  many  sorts,  principally  dwarf. 
Sempervivum,  many  sorts. 
Silene  alpestris,  rose,  3^  ft. 

viscosa  fl.  pi.,  deep  pink,  1  ft. 
Spiraea  Aruncus,  white,  4  ft. 

Filipendula  fl.  pi.,  white,  1  ft. 

lobata,  red,  2  ft. 

palmata,  red,  2  ft. 

Ulmaria,  white,  1  ft. 

variegata,  white,  1  ft, 
Stachys  lanata,  purple,  1  ft. 
Symphytum  asperrimum,  bluish-purple,  2  ft. 

officinale  variegata,  white,  2  ft. 
Tradescantia  Virginica,  blue   and  white  varie- 
ties, 2  ft. 
Tricyrtis  grandiflora,  white  and  purple,  1%  ft. 
Trifoliura  incarnatum,  rose  colored,  1  ft. 

rubens,  purplish  red,  1  ft. 
Trillium  grandiflorum,  white,  )^  ft. 
Tunica  saxifraga,  red,  dwarf. 
Valeriana  officinalis,  white,  3  ft. 
Veronica  spicata,  blue  and  other  sorts. 
Vinca  minor,  white  and  blue  varieties,  dwarf. 
Viola,  many  sorts  and  colors,  }-^  ft. 
Yucca  filamentosa,  white,  5  ft. 

Herbarium.  The  Herbarium  or  Hortus  Siccus, 
is  a  collection  of  dried  specimens  of  plants, 
named  and  systematically  arranged.  It  is  in- 
dispensable to  the  student,  as  well  as  to  the 
working  botanist.  Beginners  in  the  study 
should  possess,  or  have  access  to  an  her- 
barium, which  should  contain  specimens  rep- 
resenting all  the  natural  orders,  and  as  many 
of  the  genera  and  species  of  the  plants  of  his 
immediate  vicinity  or  district  as  possible.  An 
herbarium,  however,  may  be  restricted  to  a 
particular  family  of  plants,  made  the  object 
of  special  study. 

There  has  been  considerable  difference  of 
opinion  as  to  the  proper  size  of  the  sheets  for 
the  Herbarium.  The  principal  British  her- 
baria adopt  the  size  of  16}/^  x  10)^  inches, 
which  is  thought  rather  narrow,  rarely  per- 
mitting two  specimens  of  the  same  species  to 
be  placed  side  by  side.  In  the  United  States 
163^  X  11%  has  been  adopted,  and  which  is, 
perhaps,  the  best  to  follow,  though  we  think 
a  size  of  20  x  16  inches  is  not  too  large  to 
handle  for  the  genus  covers,  the  species 
paper  being  one-quarter  of  an  inch  narrower. 

Specimens  intended  to  be  dried  should  be 
gathered  on  a  fine  day ;  if  wet  with  rain  they 
are  liable  to  lose  their  color,  the  great  enemy 
to  the  preservation  of  which  is  damp.  In 
readiness  there  should  be  six  or  eight  pieces 
of  stout  book  or  millboard,  say  twenty  inches 
long  by  fifteen  broad,  a  good  supply  of  old 
newspapers  folded  to  about  the  same  average 
dimensions ;  also  a  few  quires  of  blotting 
paper,  a  few  pieces  of  tissue  paper  cut  to  the 
size  of  one's  hand,  and  half  a  dozen  squares  of 
cotton  wadding  cut  to  the  same  size  as  the 
boards.  Using  a  board  as  a  foundation,  place 
upon  it  a  couple  of  the  folded  newspapers, 
and  then  dispose  the  plant  in  the  middle,  let- 
ting it  fall  naturally,  but  keeping  the  leaves 
and  other  parts  as  little  crumpled  as  possible; 
cover  in  turn  with  blotting  paper,  then  news- 
papers, and  so  on  till  all  are  safely  deposited. 
The  extra  boards  are  to  interfere,  if  needful, 
the  tissue  paper  is  to  lay,  when  necessary, 
over  flowers  of  particular  delicacy ;  the  cot- 
ton wadding  is  to  employ  when  the  stem  of 


HELIANTHUS  MnLTIFLOKUS, 


HEIXEBOKUS  NIGEB  (CHRISTMAS  B06E). 


HIBISCUS  BINENBIS. 


HIBISCUij  SYKIACUS. 


HESPEEIS  (SWEET  EOCKET). 


HELIPTEKUM. 


HEMEBOCALLIS  FLiATA. 


HIBISCUS  CALIFORNICUS. 


HEPATICA  TEILOBA.  |8« 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


189 


HER 

the  specimen  is  inordinately  thick,  so  that  a 
vacuum  would  be  caused  if  the  wadding  were 
not  there.  A  stout  board  at  the  top  completes 
the  preparations.  A  weight  of  several  pounds 
more  or  less,  according  to  the  height  of  the 
pile,  should  be  placed  on  top  for  twenty-four 
hours,  when  on  examination  the  specimens 
will  be  found  to  be  quite  flat  but  limp  and  full 
of  moisture.  Now  shift  them  into  blotting 
paper,  with  tissue  paper  where  very  tender, 
and  newspapers  between  each  as  before.  In 
a  day  or  two  the  specimens  should  have  a 
second  shift,  all  the  papers  used  being  perfectly 
dry  and  warm.  A  third  and  fourth  shift  into 
dry  and  warm  papers,  will  ordinarily  suffice 
to  dry  the  specimens  thoroughly,  and  fix  the 
colors.  It  is  no  advantage  to  use  warm 
papers  for  the  commencing  process,  which  is 
merely  one  of  compression.  Drying  rarely 
commences  for  at  least  two  days,  and  the 
more  rapidly  this  is  accomplished  the  better 
the  success  in  retaining  the  colors. 

When  perfectly  dry,  the  specimens  should 
be  laid  out  upon  half  sheets  of  tolerably  stiff 
paper,  and  the  half  sheets  be  placed  within  a 
whole  sheet.     If  the  specimens  are  likely  to 
be  often  handled  and  examined,  it  is  desirable 
they  should  be  mounted.     This  is  best  accom- 
plished by  glueing  bodily  on  the   sheet  with 
white  glue,  or  by  transverse  strips  of  gummed 
paper.     Sometimes  it  is  preferable  to  keep  the 
specimens  loose.     Inferior  ones  can  then  be 
superseded  by  better;    the  venation  of  the 
leaves'can  be  scrutinized  when  there  is  need, 
and  a  vast  amount  of  labor  saved.     When 
mounted,  the  name,  date,  and  locality  where 
gathered,  should  be  written  on  the  contain- 
ing paper;  if  kept  loose,  the  same  particulars 
should  be  stated  on  a  ticket  and  the  ticket 
attached  to  the  specimen.     As  soon  as  a  num- 
ber are  got  together,  they  should  be  sorted, 
according    to  their  natural  orders,   a  sheet 
being  devoted  to  every  order,  with  its  name 
in  bold  writing  on  the  outside.     When  the 
orders  themselves  become  well  illustrated, 
the   genera   should   be   isolated  in   a  similar 
manner,  and  when  a  genus  becomes  well  illus- 
trated the  particular  species  should  have  sep- 
arate sheets.     By  this  means  continual  ex- 
pansion is  provided  for.    "There  is  a  place 
for  everything,  and  everything  in  its  place." 
The  nomenclature  and  arrangement  should  be 
according  to  some   published   catalogue,   the 
newer  the  better.     Finally  the  sheets  of  spec- 
imens should  be  deposited  in  a  suitable  cabi- 
net, or  they  may  be  wrapped  in  brown  paper, 
marked  outside  as  to  the  contents.    This  pre- 
serves them  fi-om  dust,  which  is  often  a  sad 
blemish  to  an  Herbarium,  where  cleanliness 
ranks  next  to  order  and  accuracy. 

Everything  that  is  interesting  in  economic 
botany,  useful  in  medicine,  employed  in  art 
or  science,  curious  in  structure,  or  in  any 
way  identified  with  floriculture,  is  worthy  of 
preservation.  The  object  of  the  Herbarium 
is  to  illustrate  the  plant  in  the  most  perfect 
manner  possible.  Such  plants  accordingly  as 
grasses  and  ferns,  should  be  procured  at  dif- 
ferent stages.  Cotyledons,  root  leaves, 
sprays  showing  plumules,  others  showing 
stipules;  autumnal  foliage,  leaves  bearing 
parasitic  fungi,  should  all  be  treated  as  though 
they  were  flowers.  Seed-pods  likewise  should 
be  introduced  and  packets  of  ripe  seed  should 
be  kept  in  envelopes.     Tendril-bearing  plants, 


HER 

such  as  the  Vetch,  and  twiners  like  the  Hop, 
should  be  got  while  clinging  to  their  prop, 
and  the  two  be  dried  together.  Thus  we  see 
the  mode  of  life  as  well  as  the  organs.  Pro- 
ducts also  should  be  introduced,  such  as  lace 
bark,  and  the  bark  of  the  paper  Birch,  rice 
paper,  Brousonettia  cloth,  or  anything  that 
lies  flat,  and  helps  to  interpret  the  plants. 
Never  be  content,  except  where  unavoidable, 
with  a  fragment.  Every  specimen  should  be 
large  and  handsome,  coextensive  with  the 
room  given  by  the  paper.  Fragments,  of 
course,  are  better  than  nothing,  but  they 
should  be  regarded  as  only  specimens  jJro  tern. 
An  Herbarium,  therefore,  is  a  life-long  ex- 
ercise in  everything  implied,  in  oider  and 
neatness,  accuracy  of  scientific  observation 
and  discrimination,  and  in  exact  and  logical 
mental  work.  It  is  an  unfailing  amusemeni:; 
it  is  profoundly  educational  alike  to  one's 
self,  and  to  others ;  it  is  a  connnentary  on 
one's  tastes,  and  a  history  of  experience. 
Herbe'rtia.  Named  after  Dr.  Herbert,  Dean  of 
Manchester,  a  distinguished  investigator  of 
bulbous  plants.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridaceas.. 

Very  pretty  species  from  South  America, 
nearly  hardy,  requiring  only  the  protection  of 
the  frame.  It  does  well  grown  in  pots.  The 
fiowers  resemble  the  Iris,  and  are  of  various 
colors,  blue  and  white  predominating.  Prop- 
agated by  offsets.  Introduced  in  1830. 
Herb  Christopher.  Actcea  spicata,  and  Osmunda 

regalis. 
Herb  of  Grace,  or  Herb  of  Repentance.  R^da 

graveolens. 
Herb  Robert.  Geranium  Robertianum. 
Herbs.  In  every  garden  a  piece  of  ground 
should  be  specially  devoted  to  Herbs,  more 
especially  to  those  of  which  only  a  few  plants 
need  be  kept.  Part  of  the  space  should  also 
be  devoted  to  the  annual  sorts  in  preference 
to  growing  them  in  various  parts  of  the  gar- 
den. It  is  also  just  the  place  for  the  orderly 
and  systematic  culture  of  all  small  salading, 
such  as  Mustard  and  Cress,  a  constant  success- 
ion of  young  Onions,  a  row  of  Chives,  and  the 
cultivation  of  Radishes,  etc.,  throughout  the 
season.  Parsley  requires  special  attention,  as 
it  is  always  of  great  importance  for  garnishing. 
The  following  are  among  the  most  useful 
Herbs  in  cultivation  for  flavoring  purposes : 
Angelica,  Sweet  Basil,  Borage,  Burnet,  Car- 
away, Anise,  Chervil,  Chives,  Coriander,  Dill, 
Fennel,  Horehound,  Lavender,  Rosemary, 
Sweet  Marjoram,  Mint,  Parsley,  Pennyroyal, 
Rue,  Sage,  Summer  and  Winter  Savory,  Tar- 
ragon, Thyme,  and  Wormwood. 
Hercules  Club.     Aralia  spinosa,    and   Xantho- 

xylum  Clava- Hercules. 
Herd's  Grass.      The  New    England    name    of 
Phleum  pratense. 

In  Pennsylvania  Agrostis  vulgaris  is  com- 
monly called  Herd's  Grass. 
Herma'nnia.  Named  for  Paul  Hermann,  at 
one  time  Professor  of  Botany  at  Leyden.  An 
extensive  genus  of  SterculiacecB,  including 
about  eighty  species  of  twiggy  undershrubs, 
having  the  stems  and  leaves  more  or  less 
clothed  with  starry  hairs.  The  pretty  nodding, 
sometimes  sweet  scented,  flowers,  are  pale 
yellow,  orange,  or  reddish-colored,  disposed 
in  dense  clusters,  or  loose  racemes  or  panicles 
at  the  ends  of  the  twigs.   Three  of  the  species 


190 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


HER 

are  natives  of  Mexico  and  Texas,  the  rest  are 
all  African.    Propagated  by  cuttings. 

Hermaphrodite.  Having  both  stamens  and 
pistils  in  one  bloom,  as  in  most  common 
plants. 

Heron's  Bill.     See  Erodium. 

Herpe'atis.  From  herpestes,  a  creeping  thing; 
in  reference  to  the  creeping  stems.  Nat.  Ord. 
ScrophulariacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, chiefly  aquatics,  common  throughout 
all  tropical  countries.  There  are  also  several 
species  found  in  marshy  places  in  the  South- 
ern and  Western  States.  The  species  are 
mostly  uninteresting.  H.  reflexn,  a  species  of 
recent  introduction,  is  a  valuable  plant  for  the 
aquarium. 

Herra'nia.  Named  after  Gen.  Herran,  a  Presi- 
dent of  the  Republic  of  New  Grenada.  Nat. 
Ord.  Sterculiacaje. 

This  genus  consist  of  three  or  four  species 
of  evergreen  trees,  natives  of  South  America, 
and  one  from  Australia.  They  have  palm- 
like heads,  composed  of  large  digitate  leaves. 
They  are  very  showy,  but  too  large  for  general 
green-house  cultivation. 

Hesperalo'e.  From  hesperos,  western,  and 
Aloe,  alluding  to  the  aspect  of  the  plant,  and 
its  native  liabitat.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

H.  Zuccifolia  is  a  very  striking  and  interest- 
ing green-house  plant,  having  a  leafy  stem,  on 
a  very  short  caudex.  The  pale  rose-colored 
flowers  are  borne  in  loose  racemes  on  a  leafless 
scape,  three  to  four  feet  high.  It  was  intro- 
duced to  cultivation  from  Texas  in  1882.  Syn. 
H.  Engtlrnanni. 

Hespera'ntha.  Evening  Flower.  From  hesperos, 
the  evening,  and  cmthos,  a  flower.  Nat.  Oi"d. 
IridacecB. 

A  genus  of  Cape  bulbs  closely  allied  to  the 
Ixia.  The  species  are  remarkable  for  expand- 
ing their  sweet-scented  flowers  in  the  even- 
ing ;  hence  their  name.  The  flowers  are 
mostly  white,  sometimes  stained  on  the  out- 
side with  purple  or  brown.  Culture  same  as 
Ixia;  introduced  in  1825. 

He'speris.  Rocket.  From  Ti&speros,  the  evening; 
the  Rockets  being  sweeter  toward  evening. 
Nat.  Ord.  CnicifercB. 

These  flowers,  though  very  common,  are 
rarely  well  grown,  as  they  require  a  great  deal 
of  care  to  bring  them  to  perfection.  They  are 
all  perennials  ;  and  as  soon  as  they  have  done 
flowering  they  should  be  taken  up  and  trans- 
planted into  fresh  and  very  rich  soil,  which 
must  be  of  a  light  and  friable  nature.  Thus 
treated,  the  double  white  and  double  purple 
varieties  of  Hesperis  matronalis  will  attain 
extraordinary  size,  and  will  flower  splendidly  ; 
they  are  propagated  by  seeds  or  division  of 
roots. 

Hesperosoo'rdum.  Literally,  the  Onion  of  the 
West ;  from  hesperos,  the  west,  and  skordon, 
garlic.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacem. 

A  small  genus  of  California  bulbs,  allied  to 
the  Allium,  with  large  and  showj'  flowers,  blue 
and  white.  They  have  a  strong  smell  of  gar- 
lic, which  is  a  barrier  to  their  introduction  to 
the  flower  garden.     Syn.  Brodicea. 

Hetera'nthera.  From  heteros,  variable,  and 
anther;  the  Anthers  are  variable.  Nat.  Ord. 
Iridacem. 


HIB 

A  genus  containing  about  eight  species  of 
ornamental  aquatic  perennial  herbs,  of  which 
one  is  African  and  all  the  rest  American. 
Flowers  blue  or  white,  produced  from  a  spathe 
in  the  axil  of  a  sheathing  leaf  stalk.  H.  reni- 
formis,  the  Mud  Plantain,  with  roundish  kid- 
ney-shaped leaves  and  white  flowers,  is  not 
unfrequent  by  the  muddy  banks  of  streams  in 
the  Southern  States.  H.  limosum,  with  blue 
flowers,  is  found  from  western  Virginia  to 
Illinois  and  southward. 

Heteroce'ntron.  From  heteros,  variable,  and 
kentron,  a  sharp  point.  Nat.  Ord.  MelastomacecB. 
A  genus  of  free-flowering  under-shrubs  from 
Mexico.  There  are  but  two  species,  one  H. 
album,  with  white,  the  other,  H.  roseum,  with 
crimson-purple  flowers,  produced  in  axillary 
or  terminal  clusters.  They  make  very  desir- 
able plants  for  winter  blooming,  and  are  pro- 
pagated by  cuttings.     Syn.  Heeria. 

Heuche'ra.  Alum  root.  Named  after  Professor 
Heucher,  a  German  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Saxi- 
fragacecB. 

A  genus  of  very  handsome  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, natives  of  this  country  and  Siberia.  The 
leaves  are  entire,  from  the  center  of  which  the 
flower  scape  arises  from  one  to  three  feet 
high,  with  terminal  panicles  of  greenish  or 
purplish  flowers.  The  root  of  H.  Americana 
is  so  astringent  that  it  is  called  Alum-root ; 
propagated  by  division  of  the  roots  in  spring. 

Hexace'ntris.  From  hex,  six,  and  centron,  a 
spur ;  alluding  to  two  of  its  stamens  having 
one  spur  each,  and  two  of  them  two  spurs 
each.     Nat.  Ord.  AcanthacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
shrubs,  of  climbing  habit,  with  dentate  leaves. 
The  flowers  are  purple  or  yellow,  produced  in 
many  flowered  terminal  or  axillary  racemes  in 
June.  They  are  natives  of  India,  and  are  pro- 
pagated by  cuttings.  This  genus  is  now  in- 
cluded by  Bentham  and  Hooker  under  Thun- 
bergia. 

Hibbe'rtia.  In  honor  of  George  Hibbert,  a  dls- 
tinguished  promotor  of  botany.  Nat.  Ord. 
DilleniacecB. 

Green-house  evergreen  shrubs,  from  New 
Holland  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  There 
are  more  than  fifty  species  included  in  this 
genus.  Most  of  them  are  small,  heath-like, 
tufted  shrubs,  or  of  a  slender  trailing  habit ;  a 
few  are  climbing  shrubs.  Their  flowers  are 
yellow,  borne  at  the  ends  of  the  branches,  and 
generally  give  out  a  very  unpleasant  odor. 
H.  dentata,  a  climbing  species,  is  one  of  the 
most  showy,  and  grows  six  or  eight  feet  high. 
H.  volubUis,  the  largest  species  of  the  genus, 
has  a  stiff  clinibing  stem  and  pale  yellow 
flowers  two  inches  across,  but  most  disagree- 
ably scented.  Propagated  from  cuttings  of 
half-ripened  shoots  in  spring;  introduced  in 
1823. 

Hibi'scus.  Virgil's  name  for  the  Marsh-mallow. 
Nat.  Ord.  MalvacecB. 

An  extensive  genus,  consisting  of  annuals, 
perennials,  and  hardy  and  green-house  shruba. 
AH  the  kinds  bear  very  showy  flowers,  and 
deserve  to  be  extensively  cultivated.  H.  rosa- 
sinensis  pleno  produces  large  double  flowers, 
scarlet,  and  yellow,  or  buff,  requiring  simple 
green-house  treatment.  A  singular  freak  of 
this  species  is,  that  orange  and  crimson  flow- 
ers are  occasionally  seen  on  the  same  plant. 


AND  GENEKAL  HORTICULTUKE. 


191 


HIC 

Quite  a  number  of  varieties  of  H.  rosa-sinensis 
have  been  introduced  of  late  years  that  are 
much  superior  to  tlie  typical  species.  H. 
Syriacus  (Althaea),  one  of  our  most  beautiful 
hardy  shrubs,  tlie  mure  valuable  as  it  is  a  free 
flowerer,  will  grow  almost  anywhere,  and 
propagates  freely  by  seeds,  layers  and  cut- 
tings. There  is  a  pretty  variegated-leaved 
variety  of  H.  Syriacus,  quite  hardy,  introduced 
by  the  late  Robert  Buist,  of  Philadelphia, 
Penn.  The  varieties  of  this  species  are  used 
for  hedges  in  many  places  along  our  coast, 
where  the  soil  is  too  poor  for  any  other  shrub 
to  thrive.  H.  3Ioscheutos  is  abundant  in  marshy 
places  along  our  coasts.  The  flowers  are 
a  light  rosy-pink  color,  sometimes  nearly 
white,  Ave  to  six  inches  in  diameter,  borne  in 
great  numbers  on  a  scape  three  to  four  feet 
high.  This  species  improves  in  size  of  plant 
and  color  of  flower  by  removing  it  from  its 
habitat  to  a  dry  situation  in  the  border.  H. 
Callfornica  is  a  strong-growing  species,  bear- 
ing immense  pure  white  flowers,  and  is  one  of 
the  most  va'uable  plants  of  recent  introduc- 
tion. The  perennials  are  propagated  by  seeds 
or  division  of  roots.  The  annuals  are  showy 
and  gi'ow  readily  from  seed.  H.  esculentvs, 
or  Abelmoschvs  esculentus  of  modern  botanists, 
is  the  Okra  ot  the  gardens,  a  tender  annual 
from  Central  America  and  the  West  Indies.  In 
the  latter  it  is  known  as  Gombo,  and  is  exten- 
sively grown  for  the  seed  pods,  which  are  used 
as  a  vegetable.  The  unripe  pode  are  added  to 
soups  to  render  them  more  mucilaginous. 
Tliey  are  also  pickled  like  capers,  and  make 
an  excellent  salad.  Okra  may  be  raised  by 
sowing  the  seed  in  spring  as  soon  as  the 
ground  is  warm.  The  dwarf  varieties  are 
preferable,  being  more  productive,  and  requir- 
ing less  space  for  their  development.  The 
soil  should  be  rich  to  make  tender  pods. 
Hickory.     See  Carya. 

Hiera'cium.  Hawk  weed.  From  hierax,  a 
hawk;  being  supposed  to  sharpen  the  sight 
of  birds  of  prey.     Nat.  Ord.  Comjwsitce. 

A  large  genus  of  free-flowering,  handsome 
herbaceous  perennials,  quite  hardy  and  well 
adapted  for  planting  among  rock-work,  or 
near  the  front  of  large  groups  of  mixed  plants ; 
the  genus  also  contains  a  very  beautiful  an- 
nual suited  for  growing  in  masses ;  this  is 
perhaps  better  known  by  the  English  name 
of  the  genus,  Hawkweed.  The  flowers  of 
nearly  all  the  species  are  yellow,  several 
of  them  are  indigenous  and  common,  but  not- 
withstanding are  well  deserving  the  little  at- 
tention necessary  to  keep  them  in  the  neat 
order  requisite  in  the  flower  garden.  Most 
species  are  from  Central  Europe,  and  have 
long  Deen  cultivated  as  garden  flowers. 

Hiero'chloa.  Holy  Grass,  Vanilla  Grass, 
Seneca  Grass.  From  hieros,  holy,  and  chloa, 
grass.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  small  genus  of  grasses  inhabiting  high 
altitudes,  both  in  this  country  and  in  Europe. 
The  species  have  no  agricultural  value,  as  they 
produce  but  little  herbage,  and  have  very  pow- 
erful creeping  roots,  which  are  very  difficult 
to  extirpate,  making  it  troublesome  in  cul- 
tivated fields.  H.  horealis,  having  been  dedi- 
cated to  the  Virgin  Mary,  is  much  used  in 
Catholic  countries  for  strewing  before  their 
churches.  In  Sweden  it  is  hung  over  beds  in 
the  belief  that  it  induces  sleep,  because  of  its 


HIP 

sacred  influence.  In  Iceland  it  is  used  to 
scent  the  clotlies  and  apartments  of  the  in- 
habitants. The  scent  emitted  is  very  similar 
to  that  of  the  Sweet-scented  Vernal  Grass. 

Hill.  This  is  a  term  used  to  designate  the 
place  where  Tomatoes,  Corn,  Potatoes,  Mel- 
ons, etc.,  are  planted ;  and  the  use  of  the 
term  often  loads  the  novice  to  serious  errors 
in  planting,  as  it  gives  the  impression  that 
a  hill  or  mound  must  be  made  to  sow  and 
plant  on,  and  which  is  often  done  to  the  detri- 
ment of  the  crop,  as  in  our  hot  and  dry  cli- 
mate, if  a  mound  of  four  or  five  inches  is 
raised  above  the  general  level,  the  plants  suf- 
fer often  severely  in  drj^ weather.  If  a  "hill  " 
is  formed  at  all,  it  should  only  be  by  drawing 
the  soil  up  to  the  plant  to  support  it  after  it 
has  well  started  to  grow ;  such  a  mound  will 
then  do  less  harm,  as  the  foliage  shades  the 
ground.  In  planting  then,  particularly  on 
light,  dry  soils,  the  "hills"  for  sowing  or 
planting  should  be  made  nearly  on  the  level 
surface. 

Hilum.  The  scar  pi-oduced  by  the  separation 
of  a  seed  from  its  placenta. 

Hi'ndsia.  Named  after  R.  B.  Hinds,  a  zealous 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacem. 

Green-house  evergreen  shrubs  from  Brazil. 
Some  of  the  species  are  plants  of  great  beauty. 
H.  violacea  bears  clusters  of  ultra-marine 
flowers  two  inches  long,  very  showy.  They 
are  propagated  by  cuttings ;  introduced  in 
1844. 

Hippea'strum.  Knight's  Star  Lily.  From 
hippeus,  a  knight,  and  astron,  a  star ;  referring 
to  one  of  the  species.  Nat.  Ord.  Amarylli- 
dacecB. 

This  may,  with  justice,  be  termed  the  most 
noble  and  showy  section  of  the  family  to 
which  it  belongs.  The  flowers  are  variously 
colored ;  some  species  have  them  entirely 
crimson,  while  others  are  white,  abundantly 
streaked  with  red  or  crimson.  The  plants 
require  the  same  treatment  as  Amaryllis. 
This  genus  was  formerly  classed  with  the 
Amaryllis,  but  was  separated  from  it  some 
years  ago  by  the  Rev.  W.  Herbert,  who,  in 
fact,  reconstructed  the  whole  family.  They 
are,  however,  still  classed  by  many  under 
Amaryllis  (which  see),  and  are  remarkable  for 
the  number  of  goi'geous  and  attractive  hy- 
brids and  crosses  tliat  have  been  obtained  by 
the  skill  and  perseverance  of  the  hybridist. 
Propagated  bj'  offsets.  First  introduced 
from  Lima  in  1836. 

Hippo'mane.  Manchineel  or  Manzanillo  tree. 
From  hippoi^,  a  horse,  and  mane,  madness; 
alluding  to  tlie  effects  of  the  original  plant. 
Nat.  Old.  EiiphorbiacecE. 

H.  Mancinella,  the  only  species  is  an  ever- 
green one  that  grows  to  an  immense  size, 
and  is  very  common  in  many  of  the  West 
Indian  Islands  and  in  Venezuela  and  Panama, 
usually  growing  on  sandy  sea  shores.  The 
violent  nature  of  the  juice  of  the  Man- 
chineel tree  has  given  rise,  in  the  western 
hemisphere,  to  nearly  as  wonderful  stories  as 
those  associated  with  the  Upas  tree  in  the 
eastern. 

The  fruit  is  beautifulj^sembling  an  apple, 
but  is  a  virulent  poisSn.  The  whole  tree 
abounds  with  a  white  milky  juice,  which  is 
also  of  an  acrid  noxious  quality.  If  a  single 
drop  of  this  juice  drops  on  the  skin,  it  causes 


192 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


HIP 

a  sensation  like  the  toucli  of  a  hot  iron,  and 
raises  a  blister  on  the  part.  Tlie  wood  is 
beautifully  variegated  witli  brown  and  white, 
and  is  highly  prized  for  furniture  and  orna- 
ments. The  wth'kmen  who  fell  the  trees  first 
kindle  a  fire  around  the  stem,  by  which 
means  the  juice  becomes  so  much  thickened, 
as  not  to  flow  out  when  wounds  are  made 
with  their  axes.  Whole  Avoods  on  the  sea 
coast  of  Martinique  have  been  burnt  in  order 
to  clear  the  country  ot  such  a  dangerous 
plant.  One  of  the  most  dangerous  properties 
of  this  tree,  is  that  of  causing  blindness,  if  by 
chance  the  least  drop  of  the  milk,  or  the 
smoke  of  the  burning  wood,  comes  in  contact 
with  the  eyes.  Dr.  Seaman  states  that  at 
Veraquas  some  of  the  ship's  carpenters  were 
blinded  for  several  days  from  the  juice  getting 
into  their  eyes  whilst  cutting  down  the  Man- 
chiueel  trees,  while  he  himself  suffered  tem- 
porary loss  of  sight  from  merely  gathering 
specimens. 
Hippo'phae.  Sea  Buckthorn.  From  hippos,  a 
hox'se,  and  pho,  to  kill ;  in  reference  to  the 
supposed  poisonous  qualities  of  the  seeds. 
Nat.  Ord.  Elaagnacem. 

H.  rhamnoides,  is  a  strong-growing  decidu- 
ous shrub  or  low-growing  tree,  with  small 
foliage  of  a  curious  gi-ey-green  color,  and 
yellow,  minute  flowers,  succeeded  by  bright 
orange-colored  berries.  It  is  a  native  of  the 
east  coast  of  Great  Britain,  and  very  suitable 
for  planting  near  the  sea  as  a  slielter.  It 
grows  satisfactorily  even  in  positions  that 
are  occasionally  drenched  by  the  sea-spray. 
"When  in  fruit,  it  is  a  Aery  ornamental  shrub. 

Hippu'rus.  Mare's  Tail.  From  hippus,  a  mare, 
and  aura,  a  tail ;  the  stem  resembles  a  mare's 
tail,  from  the  crowded  whorls  of  very  narrow, 
hair-like  leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Haloragacece. 

A  very  curious  aquatic  plant,  found  sparingly 
in  ponds  and  springs  from  New  York  to  Ken- 
tucky and  northward.  Scientists  say  the 
plant  absorbs  a  large  quantity  of  inflammable 
air,  which  assists  in  purifying  the  putrid  air 
of  marshes.  It  is  a  favorite  food  of  wild 
ducks. 

Hirsute.  Hairy;  covered  with  somewhat  soft 
hairs. 

Hispid.     Covered  with  long,  stiff  hairs. 

Hoary.     Covered  with  white  down. 

Hoary  Pea.     See  Tcphrosia. 

Hobble-bush.  A  common  name  for  Vibumu7n 
lalanoides.  \ 

Hoe.  This  consists  of  the  "draw"  and  the  i 
"  push''  or  "scuffle  "  hoe.  There  are  a  great 
many  modifications  of  these.  For  deep  hoe- 
ing the  steel-pronged  draw  hoe  is  the  best 
implement,  being  much  preferable  to  the 
blade  draw  hoe,  as  it  not  only  pulverizes  the 
soil  better,  but  its  points  penetrate  the  soil 
easier,  and  the  work  is  thus  made  much 
lighter  for  the  operator.  The  blade  draw  hoe 
should  never  be  used,  except  when  the  ground 
is  overgreen  with  weeds  (a  condition  of 
things  which,  if  possible,  should  never  be 
allowed),  or  to  draw  earth  up  to  plants,  such 
as  Celery  or  Cabbages.  After  the  ground  is 
new  planted,  before  it  is  allowed  to  get  hard, 
the  'scuffle"  or  "push  hoe'  is  far  more 
effective  than  the  draw  hoe,  particularly  be- 
tween rows ;  nearly  twice  the  amount  of  work 
can  be  done  than  with  the  draw  hoe,  but  of 


HOP 

course  that  is  simply  stirring  the  surface ;  for 
deep  cultivation,  the  steel-pronged  hoe  is  the 
best  implement. 

Hoffma'nnia.  A  synonym  of  Campylobotrys, 
which  see. 

Hog  Plum.     See  Spondias. 

Hog-Tweed.  A  common  name  for  Ambrosia 
artemb^iEfoUa. 

Hoi'tzia.     A  synonym  of  Loeselia,  which  see. 

Ho'Ious.  From  helko,  to  extract ;  the  original 
plant  was  supposed  to  possess  the  power  of 
extracting  thorns.     Nat.  Ord.  GraminacecB. 

A  genus  of  grasses  that  have  soft  woolly 
herbage,  mostly  natives  of  Great  Britain,  and 
of  but  little  value.  H.  lanatus  is  common  in 
our  moist  meadows,  having  become  natural- 
ized from  Europe ;  it  is  popularly  known  as 
Velvet  Grass. 

Holly.     See  Ilex. 

Hollyhock.     See  Althcea  rosea. 

Holly,  Sea..    See  Erygnium. 

Holy  Ghost  Plant.     See  Peristeria  elata. 

Holy  Grass.  A  name  applied  to  Hierocloa,  a 
genus  of  sweet-scented  grasses,that  are  strewn 
before  the  church  doors  on  saints'  days,  in 
the  north  of  Europe.     See  Hierocloa. 

Holy  Rose.  A  name  given  to  the  Rose  of 
Jericho,  Anastatica. 

Holy  Thistle.     See  Carduus. 

Holy  Tree.  A  popular  name  for  Melia  Aze- 
darach. 

Homalome'na.  From  homalos,  flat,  and  inene, 
moon ;  a  translation  of  the  ^-native  name  of 
some  of  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Aroidece. 

A  small  genus  of  herbaceous  plants,  with 
heart  or  arrow-shaped  leaves,  and  flowers 
resembling  the  Richardia.  They  ai'e  natives  of 
China.  H.  cordata  is  occasionally  grown  in 
green-houses,  and  requires  the  same  treat- 
ment as  the  Richardia.  H.  aromatica  has  an 
agreeable  aromatic  odor,  and  its  root  is  sup- 
posed by  the  natives  to  possess  medicinal 
properties. 

Home'ria.  From  hovierio,  to  meet;  the  fila- 
ments are  connected  in  a  tube  around  the 
style.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

A  small  genus  of  pretty  flowering  bulbs 
from  the  Cape  of  Good  H'>pe,  and  formerly 
included  in  the  genus  ^forea,  They  succeed 
well  in  the  open  border,  but  require  tlie  pro- 
tection of  a  frame  during  winter.  Propagated 
by  offsets,  that  should  be  taken  off  in  Septem- 
ber. 

Honesty.     See  Lunaria. 

Honey  Bean.     See  Robinia. 

Honey  Flower.     See  Melianthus. 

Honey  Garlic.     See  Nectar oscordum. 

Honey  Locust.     See  Gleditschia. 

Honey  Plant.     The  genus  Hoya. 

Honeysuckle.  The  common  name  for  the  genus 
Loniccra. 

Honey-Awort      See  Cerinthe. 

Hoop  Petticoat.  A  common  name  given  to  the 
genus  Corbularia;  also  to  Narcissus  bulboco- 
dium. 

Hop.     See  Humulus  Lupulus. 
Japan.     A  popular  name  for  Humulus  Japoni- 

CU8. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


193 


HOP 

Hop  Hornbeam.     See  Ostrya. 

Hop  Tree.  The  popular  name  of  Plelia  trifo- 
liata. 

Ho'rdeuni.  Barlej*.  According  to  Bodteus,  the 
name  is  derived  from  hordus,  heavy ;  because 
the  bread  made  from  Barley  is  very  heavy. 
Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  genus  of  valuable,  erect  annual,  rarely 
perennial  grasses,  natives  of  Europe,  temper- 
ate Asia,  northern  Africa,  and  extra-tropical 
America.  Tlie  most  useful  of  the  species  is 
the  common  Barley,  H.  vulgare,  a  grain  which 
has  been  the  longest  in  cultivation,  and  is 
more  generally  used  than  any  other.  The 
Egj'ptians  have  a  tradition  that  Barley  was  the 
fii'st  grain  made  use  of  by  man,  and  trace  its 
introduction  to  their  goddess  Isls.  Pliny,  in 
his  Natural  History,  speaks  of  its  great 
antiquity,  but  gives  no  account  of  its  origin, 
which  is  as  Jittle  known  as  that  of  Wheat.  Of 
the  kinds  under  cultivation,  H.  vulgare  is  the 
common  four-rowed,  H.  dislichon,  the  two- 
rowed,  and  H.  hexastichon  the  Winter  Barley, 
which  has  six  rows  of  grain,  each  row  termi- 
nating in  a  long  beard.  This  is  the  species 
most  generally  cultivated  in  this  country.  H. 
jubatum.  Squirrel-tail  Grass,  is  a  native  species, 
and  is  common  on  the  shores  of  the  great 
lakes.  It  is  often  cultivated  in  collections  of 
ornamental  grasses. 

Horehound.     See  Marrubium  vulgare. 

Horke'lia.  Named  after  J.  Horkei,  a  German 
botanist.     Nut.  Ord.  Rosacece. 

Hardy  herbaceous  perennials,  found  in  Cali- 
fornia in  1826.  They  are  desirable  plants  for 
the  garden,  bearing  white  flowers,  and  having 
finely  cut  foliage,  like  the  Potentilla,  to  which 
it  is  allied.      Propagated  by  seeds  or  division. 

Hormi'num.  From  horminon,  the  Greek  name. 
Nat.  Ord.  LabiatcB. 

H.  pyrenaicum,  the  only  species  is  an  ele- 
gant hardy,  herbaceous  perennial,  with 
bluish-purple  flowers.  It  is  of  easy  culture, 
and  is  increased  by  seeds  or  divisions. 

Horn.  Any  appendage  which  is  shaped  some- 
what like  the  horn  of  an  animal,  as  the  spur 
of  the  petals  in  Linaria. 

Horn-beam.    See  Carpinus. 

Horned  Poppy.     See  Glaucium. 

Horn  of  Plenty.  The  common  name  of  Fedia 
CornucopicE. 

Horse  Balm.     See  Collinsonia. 

Horse  Chestnut.     See  -Msculus. 

Horse  Mint.  A  common  name  for  Monarda 
punctata. 

Horse  Nettle.  A  loc;d  name  of  Solanum  Caro- 
linense. 

Horseradish.  Cochlearia  armoracea.  This 
plant  is  a  native  of  the  marshy  districts  of 
Great  Britain,  whence  it  was  introduced  into 
our  gardens  at  an  early  day,  and  from  the 
gardens  it  has  escaped  into  moist,  waste 
places,  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  The 
generic  name  is  derived  from  cochlear,  a 
spoon  ;  from  the  spoon-like,  or  concave  leaves 
of  ^ome  of  the  species.  As  a  condiment,  the 
Horseradish  is  in  general  use,  and  is  con- 
sidered .:^timulating  to  the  digestive  organs. 

This  root  is  an  important  crop,  upwards  of 
five  hundred  acres  of  it  being  grown  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  York  alone,  and  for  the  last 


HOR 

twenty  years  there  has  been  nothing  grown 
from  which  more  profit  as  a  second  crop  has 
been  i-ealized.  It  is  always  grown  as  a  second 
crop  in  the  following  manner : 

In  preparing  the  roots  for  market  during 
winter,  all  tlie  small  rootlets  are  broken  off 
and  reserved  for  planting,  leaving  nothing 
but  the  main  root,  which  is  usually  from 
twelve  to  fifteen  inches  long,  and  weighing 
about  three-quarters  of  a  pound.  The  root- 
lets, or  sets,  are  cut  into  pieces  of  from  four 
to  six  inches  in  length,  and  from  one-quarter 
to  one-half  an  inch  in  diameter ;  these  are  tied 
in  bundles  of  from  fifty  to  sixty,  the  top  end 
being  cut  square  and  the  bottom  end  slant- 
ing, so  that  in  planting  there  will  be  no  danger 
of  setting  the  root  upside  down  ;  for,  although 
it  would  grow  if  planted  thus,  it  would  not 
make  a  handsome  root. 

The  sets,  when  prepared,  are  stowed  away 
in  boxes  of  sand,  care  being  taken  that  a 
sufficiency  of  sand  is  put  between  each  layer 
of  bundles  to  prevent  their  heating.  They 
may  either  be  kept  in  the  boxes  in  a  cool 
cellar,  or  pitted  in  the  open  ground,  as  may  be 
most  convenient. 

Horseradish  is  always  cultivated  as  a  second 
crop,  and  usually  succeeds  Early  Cabbage, 
Cauliflower  or  Beets.  Thus  we  plant  Early 
Cabbage,  lining  out  the  ground  with  the  one- 
foot  marker;  on  every  alternate  line  are  first 
planted  the  Cabbages,  which  stand,  when 
planted,  at  two  feet  between  the  rows,  and 
sixteen  or  eighteen  inches  between  the  plants. 
We  always  finish  our  entire  planting  before 
we  put  in  the  Horseradish,  which  delaj's.  it 
generally  to  about  1st  of  May.  It  is  then 
planted  between  the  rows  of  Cabbage,  and  at 
about  the  same  distance  as  the  Cabbage  is  in 
the  rows,  giving  about  12,000  or  13,000  plants 
per  acre. 

The  planting  is  performed  by  making  a  hole 
about  eight  or  ten  inches  deep  with  a  long 
planting  stick  or  light  crowbar,  into  which  is 
dropped  the  Horseradish  set,  so  that  its  top 
will  be  two  or  three  inches  under  the  surface  ; 
if  the  sets  should  be  longer  the  hole  should  be 
made  proportionally  deep,  so  that  the  top  of 
the  set  is  not  nearer  the  surface  than  two  or 
three  inches  ;  the  earth  Is  pressed  in  alongside 
the  set,  so  as  to  fill  ui)  the  hole,  as  in  ordinary 
planting. 

The  main  reason  for  planting  the  set  so  far 
under  the  surface  is  to  delay  its  coming  up 
until  the  crop  of  cabbage  be  cleared  off.  The 
Horseradish  makes  its  main  growth  in  the 
fall,  so  that  it  is  no  Injury  to  it  to  keep  it 
from  growing  until  July;  in  fact,  it  often 
happens  that  by  being  planted  too  near  the 
surface,  or  too  early,  it  starts  to  grow  so  as 
to  interfere  with  the  Cabbage  crop ;  in  such 
cases,  we  have  often  to  cut  the  tops  off  twice 
with  the  hoe  bei'cn-e  the  cabbage  is  ready,  but 
this  does  not  injure  it  in  the  least. 

It  is  a  crop  with  which  there  is  very  little 
labor  during  summer ;  after  the  Cabbage  has 
been  cut  off,  the  Hoi'seradish  Is  allowed  to 
grow  at  win,  and  as  it  quickly  covers  the 
ground,  one  good  deep  stirring  by  hoe  or  culti- 
vator is  all  that  is  required  after  digging  out 
the  Cabbage  stumps. 

When  grown  between  Early  Beets  the  cul- 
ture is,  in  all  respects,  the  same,  only  it  is 
more  profitable  to  have  the  rows  of  Beets  only 
eighteen  inches  apart ;  this,  of  course,  throws 


194 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK  OP   PLANTS 


HOR 

the  Horseradish  nearer,  so  that  when  grown 
between  Beets  it  should  be  planted  at  the  dis- 
tance of  two  feet  between  the  plants  in  the 
rows,  making  about  the  same  number  of  plants 
per  acre  as  when  planted  between  Early 
Cabbages. 

This  manner  of  growing  Horseradish  we 
claim  to  be  a  great  advance  on  the  methods 
generally  practised.  All  American  writers  on 
the  subject,  that  we  have  seen,  follow  in  the 
same  track,  and  i-ecommend  planting  the 
crowns.  This  not  only  destroys  the  most  sale- 
able part  of  the  root,  but  when  planted  thus, 
the  crowns  produce  only  a  sprawling  lot  of 
rootlets  which  are  utterly  unsaleable  in  the 
market. 

Horseradish  Tree.     See  Moringa. 

Horse-tail.     The  genus  Equisetum. 

Horteusis.     Of  or  belonging  to  a  garden ;  the 

word  is  often  contracted  thus  :  hort. 
Hotei'a   Japonioa.       A    synonym     of     Spiraea 

or  Astilbe  Japonica. 
Hottentot  Bread.     A  South  African  name  for 

Testudinaria  Elephantijyes. 
Hottentot  Fig.     Mesembryanthemum  edule. 

Hotto'nia.  Water  Violet.  Named  after  P. 
Hotton,  a  Dutch  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Primv^ 
lacece. 

Hardy  aquatic  or  marsh  plants.  H.  inflata 
is  common  in  pools  and  ditches  from  New 
England  southward.  H.  palustris,  the  Water 
Violet,  is  a  singular  and  beautiful  plant,  com- 
mon in  pools  in  many  parts  of  England.  The 
leaves  grow  wholly  under  water;  from  them 
there  arises  a  long  flower  stalk  bearing  a 
pyramid  of  blue  or  white  flowers,  which  are 
disposed  in  whorls.  It  is  a  very  interesting 
plant  for  the  aquarium. 

Houlle'tia.  Named  after  M.  Houllet,  a  French 
gardener.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  very  handsome  epiphytal 
Orchids,  natives  of  Brazil.  The  genus  is  re- 
lated to  Stanhopea,  and  requires  the  same 
treatment. 

Hound's  Tongue.     See  Cynoglossum. 

Houseleek.     See  Sempervivum. 

Housto'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  W.  Houston, 
an  English  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Rubiucew. 

This  elegant  genus  of  small  flowering  plants 
is  found  throughout  the  Northern  and 
Western  States.  They  are  well  adapted  for 
flower  borders,  rock-work,  or  shaded  beds, 
and  thrive  best  in  a  moist  situation.  The 
colors  of  the  flowers  are  white,  blue  and  pur- 
ple. Herbaceous  perennials,  popularly  known 
as  Bluets,  and  propagated  by  division  of 
the  roots. 

Ho'vea.  Named  after  A.  P.  Hove,  a  Polish 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  handsome,  blue-flowered  ever- 
green shrubs  from  New  Holland.  "  H.  Celsii 
(Syn.  H.  elliptica),  one  of  the  best  known,  is  a 
beautiful  green-house  plant,  flowering  like 
most  of  the  species,  in  the  spring.  This  plant 
exhibits  the  peculiarity  of  the  flower  buds  of 
the  preceding  year  appearing  at  tlie  base  of 
those  expanded  during  the  present;  a  common 
condition  of  leaf  buds,  which  are  always  visi- 
ble the  season  preceding  their  expansion,  but 
not  frequently  so  with  flower  buds,  which, 
though  they  may  be  formed  several  years 


HUG 

before  their  development  externally,  gener- 
ally remain  concealed  till  the  period  of  their 
unfolding."  The  flowers  are  pea-shaped,  ax- 
illary, on  short  peduncles.  Propagated  by 
seeds ;  introduced  in  1818. 
Hove'nia.  In  honor  of  David  Hoven,  a  Senator 
of  Amsterdam,  who  contributed  to  the  success 
of  the  travels  of  Thunberg.  Nat.  Ord. 
RhamnacecB. 

These  are  small  fruit-bearing  trees,  growing 
to  the  height  of  eight  or  ten  feet,  and  pro- 
ducing a  fruit  which  is  said  to  taste  like  the 
Bergamot  pear.  H.  dulcis,  a  native  of  Japan, 
has  been  introduced  into  this  country,  and 
grown  as  an  ornamental  fruit-bearing  tree. 
None  of  the  other  species  are  hardy. 

Ho'-wea.  From  Lord  Howe's  Island  where 
only  the  genus  is  found.  Nat.  Ord.  PalmaceoB. 
This  name  is  now  generally  adopted  for  the 
two  palms  introduced  and  cultivated  under 
the  names  of  Kentia  Belmoreana,  and  K. 
Fosleriana. 

Ho'ya.  Wax  Flower.  In  honor  of  Thomas  Hoy, 
F.  L.  S.,  gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Northumber- 
land at  Sion  House,  England.  Nat.  Oi'd. 
Asclepiadaceoe. 

The  most  common  species,  H.  Carnosa,  has 
curious,  wax-like  flowers,  from  which  drops 
a  sweet,  honey-like  juice.  It  is  a  hot-house 
climber,  which  requires  a  light  rich  soil,  and 
is  propagated  by  cuttings,  which  require  an 
average  temperature  of  not  less  than  75^  to 
root  freely.  It  is  sometimes  grown  in  green- 
houses, in  a  warm  situation,  exposed  to  the 
sun.  It  ma'ives  an  excellent  plant  for  a  warm 
sitting-room,  as  it  grows  freely  without  direct 
light.  Introduced  from  Asia  in  1802.  The 
variegated-leaved  variety  is  a  very  orna- 
mental plant ;  H.  hella,  with  beautiful  waxy 
white  flowers  and  dwarf  shrubby  slender 
habit,  forms  an  excellent  subject  for  a  hang- 
ing basket  in  a  warm  green-house.  There  are 
many  other  species  of  much  beauty,  all  requir- 
ing a  warm  plant-stove  to  bring  them  to  per- 
fection. 

Huckleberry.  Whortleberry.  The  popular 
names  of  the  genus  Gaylussacia,  of  which 
there  are  several  species.  G.  dumosa,  the 
Dwarf  Huckleberry,  G.  frondosa,  tiie  Blue 
Huckleberry,  and  G.  resinosa,  the  Black 
Huckleberry,  are  common  throughout  the 
United  States,  the  latter  being  the  Huckle- 
berry of  the  Northern  States. 

Hudso'nia.  False  Heath.  Named  after  William 
Hudson,  author  of  "Flora  Anglica."  Nat. 
Ord.  Cv^tacecE. 

A  genus  of  bushy  little  heath-like  shrubs, 
seldom  a  foot  high,  covered  all  over  with 
small  awl-shaped  or  scale-like  persistent 
downy  leaves,  and  bearing  numerous  small, 
but  showy  yellow  flowers  in  May,  crowded 
along  the  upper  part  of  the  branches.  Found 
in  dry  sandy  soil  near  the  coast.  <'rom  1\Tain3 
to  "Virginia.  From  its  resemblance  when  not 
in  bloom  to  Heather  {Calluna  vulgaris),  it  is 
often  taken  for  that  plant. 

Huge'lia.  Named  after  Baron  Hugel,  of  Vienna, 
Nat.  Ord.  PolemoniacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  annuals  from  Cali- 
fornia with  blue  and  yellow  flowers, 
propagated  by  seeds.  First  discovered  in 
1833.  This  genus  is  now  included  under 
Gilia. 


AND   GENERAL  HOETICULTUEE. 


195 


HUM 

Huma'ta.  Meaning  unknown.  Nat.  Ord.  Poly- 
podiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  dwarf  evergreen  ferns, 
allied  to  Davallia.under  which  genus  they  are 
now  included  by  some  authors. 

Humble  Plant.  A  name  given  to  Mimosa  pu- 
dica. 

Hu'm=;a.  Named  after  Lady  Hume.  Nat.  Ord. 
Composit(£. 

H.  elegans,  the  only  species,  is  an  elegant 
biennial  plant,  which  should  be  sown  on  a 
slight  hot- bed  in  spring,  then  potted  off  and 
kept  in  the  open  air  during  summer,  and  in 
the  green-house  during  winter,  to  be  finally 
planted  in  the  open  border  in  May  the  second 
year.  If  the  plants  are  repotted  once  or 
twice  during  the  course  of  the  first  summer, 
always  into  only  a  little  larger  pots,  they  will 
become  so  much  stronger  before  they  are 
finally  planted  out  as  amply  to  repay  the  ad- 
ditional trouble.  It  is  a  very  ornamental  plant 

-  for  the  lawn  or  sub-tropical  garden.  It  grows 
from  four  to  six  feet  high,  its  brownish-red, 
pink,  or  crimson  minute  flower-heads  being 
disposed  in  a  large,  loosely-branched  terminal 
fountain-like  panicle,  which  has  a  peculiar  but 
delightful  odor.  It  was  introduced  from  New 
South  Wales  in  1800.     Syn.  Agathomeris. 

Humming  Bird  Bush,  ^schynomene  Montevi- 
densis. 

Humming  Bird's  Trumpet.    See  Zauschneria. 

Hu'mulus.  The  Hop.  From  humus,  the  ground  ; 
creeping  on  the  ground  if  not  supported.  Nat. 
Ord.  Urticdcece. 

H.  lupulus,  the  common  garden  Hop,  has 
been  under  cultivation  in  Europe  from  a  very 
early  period.  It  was  well  known  by  the 
Romans,  and  is  mentioned  by  Pliny  under  the 
name  of  Lupus  salictarius.  It  was  introduced 
from  Flanders  into  England  in  1524.  Its  culti- 
vation, however,  met  with  violent  opposition  ; 
petitions  to  Parliament  were  presented  against 
it,  in  wliich  it  was  stigmatized  as  "a  wicked 
weed  that  would  spoil  the  drink  and  endanger 
the  people."  The  Hop,  like  all  the  dioecious 
family,  bears  its  flowers  on  separate  plants ; 
the  female  plant,  therefore,  is  alone  culti- 
vated. The  Hop  is  increased  by  cuttings 
from  the  most  healthy  of  the  old  shoots ;  two 
buds  are  required,  one  beneath  the  ground, 
from  which  will  spring  the  roots,  and  from  the 
other  the  stalk.  H.  Japonicus,  the  Japan  Hop, 
is  a  rapid-growing  climber,  similar  in  appear- 
ance to  the  common  Hop.  Neither  heat, 
drought,  nor  insects  seem  to  trouble  it,  render- 
ing it  a  valuable  plant  for  covering  trellises, 
verandas,  etc.  Introduced  from  Japan  in  1886. 

Hungarian  Millet,  or  Hungarian  Grass.  Pani- 
ciim  Germanicum.  This  is  a  very  valuable 
grass  for  light  soils,  and  is  very  early,  with 
abundant  foliage,  two  to  three  feet  in  height. 
It  stands  drought  well,  and  is  very  popular 
with  those  who  are  clearing  timber  lands. 

Hunnema'nnia.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  Hunne- 
mann,  a  zealous  botanist  and  botanical  collec- 
tor.    Nat.  Ord.  PapaveracecB. 

An  erect-growing  herbaceous,  tender  peren- 
nial, allied  to  Eschscholtzia.  H.  fumaricBfolia, 
the  only  species,  is  a  native  of  Mexico;  it 
grows  to  the  height  of  two  or  three  feet,  with 
glaucous  leaves,  resembling  those  of  the 
Fumatories.  and  bears  large,  solitary  terminal 
flowers,     like     those    of     the     Eschscholtzia.  ' 


HYA 

Although  a  perennial,  it  can  be  successfully 
grown  as  an  annual  by  starting  the  seeds 
early  in  spring,  in  the  green-house  or  hot-bed. 

Huntley'a.  Named  after  the  Rev.  Mr.  Huntley, 
a  zealous  collecter  of  plants.  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidacem. 

A  small  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids,  natives 
of  South  America.  The  genus  is  closely 
related  to  Zygoj)etalum.  H.  violncea,  from 
Demerara,  is  a  very  handsome  species,  its 
flowers  being  large  and  of  an  intense  violet 
color,  which  is  quite  uncommon  among 
Orchids.  This  species  is  also  known  as 
Bollea  violacea  and  Pescatoria  violacca.  It  is 
evergreen,  and  requires  but  a  short  season  of 
rest,  and  should  be  grown  in  the  shade  and 
never  allowed  to  become  wholly  dry.  It 
is  increased  by  division  ;  introduced  in  1831. 

Huntsman's  Cup.  One  of  the  popular  names 
of  Sarracenia  purpurea,  from  a  fancied  resem- 
blance. 

Hu'ra.  Sand-box  Tree.  The  name  of  the  tree 
in  South  America.     Nat.  Ord.  Euphorbiacem. 

A  small  genus  of  tropical  evergreen  trees, 
with  whitish-yellow  flowers.  H.  crepitans,  the 
only  species,  is  the  sand-box  tree  of  tropical 
America.  It  is  a  branching  tree  of  thiri  y  to 
forty  feet  high,  often  planted  for  the  sake  of 
its  shade,  for  which  it  is  well  adapted,  having 
a  great  abundance  of  glossy,  poplar-like 
leaves.  The  flowers  are  inconspicuous,  and  are 
succeeded  by  curious  rounded,  hard-shelled 
fruit  about  the  size  of  an  orange,  which  is 
divided  into  deep  furrows,  in  each  of  which  is 
a  cell  containing  a  single  flattened  seed. 
"When  the  fruit  is  ripe  and  exposed  to  the 
action  of  a  dry  atmosphere,  it  bursts  with 
great  force,  accompanied  by  a  loud,  sharp 
crack,  like  the  report  of  a  pistol,  for  which 
reason  it  has  often  been  called  the  Monkey's 
Dinner-bell.  The  seeds  are  much  used  in 
medicine,  and  the  timber  in  the  mechanic 
arts. 

Hyacinth  Bean.     A  common  name  for  Dolichos 

lablab. 

Hyaci'nthus.  The  Hyacinth.  The  name  of  this 
geims  originated  with  the  fabulists  of  an- 
tiquity. It  was  pretended  that  Hyacinthus, 
a  beautiful  boy,  was  the  son  of  a  Spartan 
king,  and  the  favorite  of  Apollo.  Zephyrus, 
being  envious  of  the  attachment  of  Apollo 
and  Hyacinthus,  so  turned  the  direction  of  a 
quoit  which  Apollo  had  pitched  while  at  play, 
that  it  struck  the  head  of  Hyacinthus  and 
slew  him.  The  fable  concludes  by  making 
Apollo  transform  the  body  of  his  favorite  into 
the  flower  that  bears  his  name.  Nat.  Ord. 
LiliaceoB. 

This  genus  comprises  about  thirty  species 
of  bulbous  plants,  the  majority  of  which  are 
natives  of  the  Mediterranean  region,  and  the 
East.  H.  orientalis,  from  which  species  the 
numerous  cultivated  varieties  have  originated, 
is  a  native  of  the  Levant,  and  was  first  intro- 
duced into  England  in  1596,  but  it  was  known 
to  Dioscorides,  who  wrote  about  the  time 
of  Vespasian.  Gerarde,  in  his  Herbal,  pub- 
lished at  the  close  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
enumerates  four  varieties,  the  single  and 
double  blue,  the  purple  and  the  violet.  In 
that  valuable  old  book  on  gardening,  "  Para- 
duHi  in  Sole  Paradisiis  terrestris,"  published 
by  John   Parkinson  in   1629,  there  are  men- 


196 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


HYA 

tioned  and  described  eight  different  varieties. 
He  tells  us  "  some  are  pure  white ;  another  is 
almost  white,  but  having  a  show  of  blueness, 
especially  at  the  brims  and  bottoms  of  the 
flowers ;  others  again  are  of  a  very  faint 
blush  ;  some  are  of  as  deep  a  purple  as  a  vio- 
let; others  of  a  purple  tending  to  redness, 
and  some  of  a  paler  purple ;  some  again 
are  of  a  fair  blue ;  and  some  so  pale 
a  blue  as  if  it  were  more  white  than  blue. 
After  the  flowers  are  past,  there  rise 
up  great  three-square  heads,  bearing  round 
black  seed,  great  and  shining."  During  the 
two  hundi'ed  and  fifty  years  that  have  passed 
since  the  above  was  penned,  there  has  been  a 
steady  improvement  in  the  size,  form  and 
color  of  the  flowers  of  this  plant.  From  the 
eight  varieties  of  1629,  more  than  four  thous- 
and varieties  have  been  produced  and  cata- 
logued, from  which  number  upward  of  two 
hundred  varieties  are  subjects  of  extensive 
commerce.  The  Hyacinth  is  a  universal 
favorite  in  the  most  extended  application  of 
the  word.  The  number  of  its  varieties  is  now 
fully  equal  to  tiiat  of  any  other  florist's 
flower.  They  are  usually  grown  for  forcing 
into  flower  in  the  dull,  cheerless  montlis  of 
winter  and  early  spring,  when  their  delicately- 
colored  flowers  and  rich  fi-agrance  lend  a 
charm  not  otherwise  to  be  found.  They  are 
equally  desirable  for  planting  in  beds,  or  in 
the  garden  border.  For  forcing,  the  bulbs 
should  be  potted  about  the  middle  of  Septem- 
ber in  five  inch  pots  in  rich,  light  earth,  and 
placed  in  a  cold  frame  or  under  a  wall,  where 
they  can  be  covered  with  wooden  shuttei's, 
or  some  similar  contrivance,  to  keep  ofT  heavy 
rains ;  in  either  case  they  should  be  covered 
a  foot  thick  with  newly-fallen  leaves,  and 
being  once  well  watered  after  potting,  they 
may  be  left  for  a  month  to  form  their  roots, 
when  the  most  forward  should  be  brought 
out,  and  placed  in  a  gentle  heat.  Some  care 
is  necessary  in  the  application  and  increase  of 
this,  or  the  flowers  will  be  abortive  ;  it  should 
not  exceed  50°  for  tiie  first  three  weeks,  but 
afterward  may  be  increased  gradually  to  60° 
or  65°,  and  if  the  pots  are  plunged  into  bottom 
heat  the  same  careful  increase  should  be  ob- 
served, or  the  points  of  the  roots  will  infal- 
libly be  killed.  One-third  the  depth  of  the 
pot  is  fully  sufficient  at  first,  and  if  the  heat 
is  brisk  they  should  not  be  plunged  more  than 
half  way  at  any  time.  When  the  flower  stems 
have  risen  to  nearly  their  full  height,  and  the 
lower  flowers  of  the  s])ike  are  beginning  to 
expand,  the  plants  should  be  i-emoved  to  a 
lower  temperature,  usually  afforded  by  the 
green-house,  and  when  the  flowers  are  fully 
expanded,  the  plants  can  be  taken  to  the  sit- 
ting-room or  wherever  their  presence  is  de- 
sired, observing  to  protect  them  from  sudden 
changes  or  cold  draughts  of  air,  and  the 
water  given  to  them  should  be  moderately 
warm.  Hyacinths  in  glasses  are  an  elegant 
and  appropriate  ornament  to  the  drawing- 
room,  and  for  this  purpose  occasion  little 
trouble.  The  bulbs  should  be  procured  and 
placed  in  the  glasses  as  early  in  the  season  as 
possible,  keeping  them  in  the  dark  until  their 
roots  are  well  started,  after  which  the  lightest 
position  that  can  be  afforded  is  the  best;  the 
water  in  which  they  grow  should  be  changed 
twice  or  thrice  a  week,  and  in  severe  weather 
the  plants  must  be  removed  from  the  window. 


HYB 

so  as  to  be  seciu-e  from  frost.  For  decorating 
the  flower  garden,  the  bulbs  should  be 
planted  in  October  or  the  early  part  of  No- 
vember, in  light,  rich  soil,  at  a  depth  of  four 
inches  from  the  crown  of  the  bulb  to  the  surface 
of  the  earth.  It  may  be  necessary  to  place  sticks 
to  them  when  in  bloom,  to  prevent  them  from 
being  broken  by  the  wind,  and  this  is  all  the 
attention  they  require  till  the  foliage  is  with- 
ered, and  the  season  has  arrived  for  taking 
them  up,  when,  instead  of  the  usual  practice 
of  drying  them  at  once  in  the  sun,  we  would 
advise  the  Dutch  method  to  be  adopted, 
namely,  to  place  them  side  by  side  on  a  sunny 
spot  of  ground,  and  cover  them  wit  h  about  an 
inch  of  loose  earth,  to  thon)ughly  rip(>n  by  the 
subdued  heat  imparted  to  the  earth  which 
surrounds  them.  Left  in  this  position  for  a 
fortnight,  they  will  become  dry  and  firm,  and 
an  hour  or  two  of  sunshine  will  finish  them 
properly  for  storing.  The  multiplication  and 
growth  of  Hyacinths  for  sale  is  principally 
carried  on  out  of  doors  in  the  vicinity  of 
Haarlem,  in  Holland.  The  sandy  soil,  and 
moisture  of  both  soil  and  climate  in  that 
country,  are  peculiarly  favorable  to  the  growth 
of  the  Hyacinth.  Hundreds  of  acres  are  there 
devoted  to  the  culture  of  rliese  and  kindred 
plants,  and  the  Haarlem  gardens  are  a  gay 
sight  from  the  early  season  of  the  year  till  far 
on  in  the  summer.  The  process  of  multipli- 
cation is  carried  on  by  sowing  the  seeds,  or 
by  taking  offs<'ts  from  the  parent  bulb.  By 
seeds  new  varieties  only  are  obtained ;  it  is 
by  offsets  the  already  known  and  valued 
kinds  are  increased.  The  bulbs  are  cut  cross- 
wise and  sprinkled  with  sand  to  absorb  any 
superfluous  moisture  that  may  exude  from  the 
incisions.  After  a  time  they  are  planted  in 
the  earth,  when  numerous  small  bulbs  are 
formed  on  the  edges  of  these  incisions.  At 
the  expiration  of  one  season  they  are  again 
lifted  from  the  ground,  and  the  numerous 
small  bulbs,  still  only  partially  developed, 
are  separated  from  the  parent  root,  and 
planted  out  agnin  and  again,  year  after  year, 
for  three  or  four  years,  before  they  become 
flowering  bulbs  of  fine  market  quality.  The 
white  Koman  Hyacijith  is  larg(>ly  us(»d  for 
forcing  for  winter  flowers  by  the  florists  of 
New  York  and  all  large  cities.  In  New  York 
alone  upward  of  one  million  bulbs  are 
used  during  the  winter,  and  the  number 
is  rapidly  increasing  each  year.  The  flower 
spikes  average  four  cents  each  at  wholesale. 
By  a  succession  of  plantings,  beginning  in  Sep- 
tember, they  are  had  in  flower  from  November 
till  May,  and  even  later.  The  method  pur- 
sued is  similarto  that  for  the  Lily  of  the  Valley 
(See  Convallaria,  where  the  method  is  de- 
scribed). H.  Candicnns,  Syn.  Gallonia,  is  a 
very  showy  species,  forming  a  scape  four  to 
five  feet  high,  including  a  raceme  of  from 
fifteen  to  thirty  pure  white,  large,  fragi-ant, 
drooping  flowers,  admirably  adapted  for  grow- 
ing in  clumps,  in  borders,  or  on  lawns.  Al- 
though a  native  of  south  Africa,  it  is  quite 
hardy,  more  especially  if  slightly  protected 
with  leaves,  etc. 

Hybrid.  Hybrids  are  plants  obtained  by  ap- 
plying the  pollen  of  one  species  to  the  stigma 
of  another;  the  common  offspring  of  two 
distinct  species. 


X96  HTACINTU  (WHITE  EOMAN). 


HYACINTH   (FEATHERED). 


1BEBIS  (WHTTB  ROCKET  OANDYTtTFT). 


HTDRAMGEA  PANTCITLATA   OBANDIFLOBA. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


197 


HYB 

Hybridization.  It  is  to  the  careful,  system- 
atic, and  pains-taking  efforts  of  the  hybridizer 
that  most  of  our  "Florist's  Flowers"  have  been 
brought  to  their  present  standard  of  excel- 
lence. The  operation  consists  in  removing 
the  pollen  by  means  of  a  camel's  hair  brush 
or  otherwise,  from  the  male  parent  and  placing 
it  on  the  stigma  of  the  female  or  seed  bearer. 
Of  course  unless  the  latter  is  receptive  this 
proceeding  would  be  ineffective.  As  a  rule 
Avhen  the  stigma  is  fit  to  be  acted  upon  by  the 
pollen,  it  becomes  more  or  less  glutinous. 
This  condition  occurs  in  some  plants  before 
their  own  anthers  are  ready  to  discharge  the 
pollen,  and  in  others  after  the  pollen  has  been 
shed.  In  both  these  cases,  the  arrangement 
is  evidently  to  prevent  self-fertilization.  In 
most  plants  however  the  stigma  and  anthers 
are  developed  at  the  same  time,  and  with 
them  it  is  necessary  to  remove  the  anthers 
before  they  burst,  and  at  the  same  time  by 
means  of  fine  gauze  or  otherwise  to  prevent 
the  visits  of  insects  which  might  convey  pollen 
from  another  flower  and  thus  effect  an  undesir- 
able cross.  Insects  doubtless  perform  an 
important  part  in  the  fertilization  of  flowers, 
for  upon  examination  a  number  of  plants  will 
be  found  to  bear  flowers  manifestly  adapted 
for  insect  visitation.  Not  to  mention  the 
Orchid  family  which  Darwin  observed  so 
closely  and  has  described  so  minutely,  the 
curious  genus  of  Stapelia  is  fertilized  solely 
by  the  larvae  of  a  fly,  generally  the  common 
"Blue  Bottle."  This  fly,  attracted  by  the 
offensive  odor  of  the  flower,  lays  its  eggs 
as  far  as  it  can  in  the  tube  of  the  corolla. 
These  eggs  hatching,  the  larvse  they  produce 
come  in  contact  with  the  pollen-granules 
which  adhere  to  them  and  which  they  carry  to 
the  pistils  and  thus  fertilize  them.  A  similar 
office  is  performed  for  Ceropegia  by  a  small 
fly  in  the  perfect  state.  As  a  rule,  flowers 
possessing  much  fragrance,  and  secreting 
nectar,  and  those  of  gay  colors,  are  more  or 
less  dependent  on  insect  agency.  Herma- 
phrodite flowers,  being  provided  with  both 
stamens  and  pistils,  pollen  and  ovary,  one 
would  suppose  to  be  amply  furnished  with  the 
powers  of  reproduction,  yet  it  has  been  abun- 
dantly shown  that  flower^  fertilized  by 
themselves  do  not  produce  such  vigorous  and 
healthy  seeds  and  offspring  as  those  fertilized 
by  another  flower  of  the  same  species ;  hence 
the  disadvantage  of  breeding  in  and  in,  the 
nearer  the  degree  of  consanguinity,  the  less 
prospect  is  there  of  healthy  and  vigorous  off- 
spring. The  hybridizer  therefore  finds  a 
flower  of  good  shape  but  defective  in  color, 
crosses  it  with  another,  defective  perhaps  in 
shape  but  of  a  novel  and  desirable  color,  a 
weakly  growing  variety  of  good  habit,  is  cross- 
'ed  with  a  more  robust  variety,  lacking  the 
peculiar  qualities  of  the  former  and  so  on. 
With  regard  to  Double  Flowers,  if  the  finest 
colored  and  best  shaped  flowers  of  the  single 
sorts  are  selected  as  in  the  Petunia,  the 
anthers  carefully  removed  before  they  burst, 
#  '  and  then  fertilized  with  pollen  from  the  best 
double  or  even  semi-double  flowers  attainable, 
fifty  to  seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  progeny 
may  be  relied  upon  to  produce  flowers  equal 
to,  and  often  superior,  to  the  parent.  In  a 
lecture  before  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural 
Society,  the  Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  a  most 
successful  hybridizer,  said,    "In  my  experi- 


HYD 

ments,  I  have  discovered  that  for  the  pro- 
duction of  double  flowers,  it  is  important  that 
the  pollen  used  for  impregnation  should  be 
borne  on  a  petaloid  anther — that  is,  an  anther 
bearing  a  small  petal — and  that  this  is  still 
better  if  from  a  double  flower.  I  also  observed 
that  the  larger  and  better  developed  this 
petaloid  anther,  the  better  chance  for  a  flne 
double  offspring;  for  as  might  have  been 
expected,  the  anthers  being  connected  with 
the  corolla,  the  number  of  petals  would  be 
increased  by  such  an  operation.  I  found  also 
that  for  the  most  perfect  and  symmetrical 
flowers,  it  was  better  to  select  single  flowers, 
which  were  the  most  perfect  in  their  petals 
for  seed  bearers ;  and  that  single  or  semi- 
double  sorts  with  perfect  corollas,  when 
impregnated  with  petaloid  pollen,  will  pro- 
duce double  flowers  of  a  regular  symmetrical 
formation.  Of  this  I  have  the  most  conclu- 
sive evidence  in  the  Camellia  Wilderii,  and 
many  other  fine  double  varieties  in  my  col- 
lection which  were  produced  from  a  single 
red  and  single  white  Camellia,  fertilized  by 
pollen  from  a  petaloid  anther  of  double 
varieties."  Mr.  Wilder  for  many  years  made 
the  hybridization  of  Camellias  a  speciality  and 
to  his  efforts  we  owe  some  of  the  best  vari- 
eties in  cultivation. 

Hydra'ngea.  From  hydor,  water,  and  aggeion, 
a  vessel ;  referring  to  the  cup  form  of  the  cap- 
sule or  seed-vessel.  Nat.  Ord.  SaxifragacecB. 
A  genus  of  showy  shrubs,  first  introduced 
into  England  in  1790  by  Sir  Joseph  Banks, 
who  sent  H.  hortensis  from  China,  and  since 
then  a  number  of  species  have  been  sent  to 
this  country  from  Japan,  among  which  is  a 
climbing  variety,  H.  voluhilis,  or  scandens, 
that  will  adapt  itself  to  almost  any  situation. 
It  is  slow  growing  and  a  little  tender  while 
young,  and  is  still  scarce.  What  has  been 
known  as  the  climbing  Hydrangea,  will  be 
foimd  described  under  Schizophragma.  The 
flowers,  or  rather  bracts,  of  H.  hortensis  are 
pink,  but  in  some  soils  they  become  of  a  deep 
blue.  This  change  is  effected  artiflcially  by 
using  iron  fllings,  incorporating  them  in  the 
soil.  A  distinct  white  variety  of  H.  hortensis, 
known  as  "Thos.  Hogg,"  is  now  very  popu- 
lar. To  cultivate  these  plants  in  perfection, 
cuttings  should  be  taken  every  season  from 
the  strongest  shoots  of  the  old  plants  in  July 
or  August ;  and  after  being  struck,  should  be 
potted  in  rich  earth,  and  encouraged  to  grow 
vigorously.  A  cold  pit  or  frame,  with  fre- 
quent applications  both  of  manure  and  plain 
water,  will  usually  effect  this,  and  cause  them 
to  become  thoroughly  established  and  strong 
before  the  winter.  In  this  state  they  may 
either  be  forced  in  a  gentle,  moist  heat 
through  December  and  the  spring  months  to 
bloom  early,  or  kept  cool  for  the  production 
of  summer  flowers ;  in  either  case,  it  must  be 
borne  in  mind  that  they  require  abundance  of 
moisture  when  in  an  active  state.  H.  pani- 
culata  grandiflora,  introduced  a  few  years 
since  from  Japan,  is  among  the  finest  of  all 
hardy  shrubs  for  the  lawn  or  the  border.  The 
flowers  are  white,  and  are  pi-oduced  in  the 
greatest  abundance  in  August,  and  remain 
till  mid-winter  in  a  dried  condition.  H. 
Otaksa,  also  recently  introduced  from  Japan, 
is  of  the  habit  of  H.  hortensis,  but  a  stronger 
grower,  and  more  profuse  bloomer,  forming  a 


198 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


HYD 

very  superior  sort  for  pot  culture  for  decora- 
tive purposes.  H.  h.  rosea  is  another  variety 
with  large  deep  rose-j)ink-colored  globular 
trusses,  very  free  flowering  and  desirable.  H. 
stellata  proUfera  introduced  from  Japan  in 
1868,  is  a  most  beautiful  free  flowering  double 
pink  variety,  with  large  trusses  of  flowers 
often  nine  inches  in  diameter. 

Hydra'stis.  Yellow  Eoot.  Yellow  Puccoon. 
Fioni  hydor,  water;  referring  to  the  marshy 
places  where  it  grows.  Nat.  Ord.  Ranuncu- 
lacecB. 

H.  Canadensis,  the  only  species,  is  a  hardy 
herbaceous  perennial,  common  in  moist 
woods  in  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States, 
where  it  was  foi-mei'ly  esteemed  in  domestic 
medicine.  It  has  a  thick  knotty  yellow  un- 
derground stem  or  root,  which  in  early  spring 
sends  up  a  simple  stem,  about  a  foot  high, 
bearing  near  the  top  two  (or  rarely  three) 
hand-shaped  leaves,  the  upper  leaf  growing 
close  upon  the  stem,  while  the  lower  one  has 
a  longish  stalk.  The  flower  is  solitary,  incon- 
spicuous, and  produced  at  the  top  of  the 
stem.  The  fruit  greatly  resembles  a  red 
raspberry.  The  yellow  root  of  this  plant  was 
formerly  employed  by  the  Indians  for  dyeing 
a  bright  yellow  color,  and  it  is  occasionally 
used  for  the  same  purpose  at  the  present  day. 
The  root  is  also  used  in  medicine  as  a  nar- 
cotic. 

Hydriaste'le.  From  hydria,  a  water  vessel  or 
fountain,  and  stele,  a  column ;  in  allusion  to 
the  tall  stems  growing  near  springs.  Nat. 
Ord.  Palmacem. 

H.  Wendlundiana  is  the  name  now  given  to 
the  beautiful  Australian  Palm,  known  in  cul- 
tivation as  Kentia  Wendlandiana. 

Hydro'charis.  From  hydor,  water,  and  charis, 
grace ;  a  pretty  water  plant.  Nat.  Ord. 
HydrochariducecB. 

A  small  floating  aquatic  giving  name  to  the 
small  order  whicii  contains  the  Stratioides  or 
Water  Soldier,  and  the  curious  Vallisneria  or 
Eel  Grass.  H.  morsus  ranee,  or  Frog-bit  is  an 
elegant  little  plant  inhabiting  ditches,  ponds, 
and  the  still  back  waters  of  rivers.  It  is  one 
of  the  most  desirable  plants  for  the  fresh 
water  aquarium. 

Hydroco'tyle.  From  hydor,  water,  and  cotyle, 
a  cavity  ;  in  reference  to  the  plants  growing 
in  moist  situations,  and  the  leaves  being  hol- 
lowed like  cups.     Nat.  Ord.  Umbelliferm. 

A  genus  of  uninteresting,  marshy  plants, 
common  throughout  the  United  States,  and 
popularly  known  as  Water  Pennywort.  There 
are  about  a  dozen  species. 

Hydrophylla'ceae.  A  small  natural  order  of 
annual  or  perennial  herbs  or  small  trees, 
natives  chiefly  of  north-west  America.  A  few 
ai'e  found  in  the  East  Indies  and  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope.  They  have  usually  alternate  and 
lobed,  hispid  leaves,  with  chiefly  white  or 
blue  flowers,  in  one-sided  cymes  or  racemes, 
which  are  mostly  bractles'^,  and  coiled  from 
the  apex  when. young,  as  in  the  Borage  family. 
Well  known  genera  are  Nemophila,  Eutoca, 
Phacelia  and  Wliitlavia. 

Hydrophy'llum.  Water  Leaf.  From  hydor, 
water,  and  phyllon,  a  leaf;  leaves  loaded  with 
water  in  spring-time.  Nat.  Ord.  Hydrophyl- 
lacecB. 


HYO 

A  genus  of  herbaceous  perennials,  natives 
chiefly  of  the  Western  States.  The  flowers 
are  pale  white  or  blue,  bell-shaped,  in  cymose 
clusters,  and  the  species  grow  generally 
among  moist  shady  rocks. 

Hydropy'rum.  Canada,  or  Indian  Eice.  A 
synonym  for  Zizania,  which  see. 

Hyema'lis.  Of  or  belonging  to  winter ;  gener- 
ally applied  to  plants  that  bloom  in  winter. 

Hynaenoca'lUs.  From  hymen,  a  membrane, 
and  kalos,  beautiful;  referring  to  the  mem- 
branous cup  inside  of  the  flower.  Nat.  Ord. 
AmaryllidacecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  and  green-house  bulbs, 
producing  large  white  flowers  similar  to  the 
Pancratium,  to  which  class  they  are  closely 
allied,  and  under  which  name  they  are 
described  in  "Chapman's  Flora  of  the  South- 
ern States."  H.  rotatum,  H.  occidentale  and 
other  species  are  found  in  great  abundance  in 
the  swamps  of  Virginia  and  southward,  and 
are  sent  to  market  in  large  quantities,  and 
sold  on  the  streets  of  all  our  large  cities 
as  '^Spanish  Lilies."  They  are  considered 
poor  tenants  for  the  green-house,  as  they  do 
not  pay  in  beauty  for  the  required  room  and 
care.  The  genus  Ismene  is  included  under 
Hymenocallis  by  some  authors.  See  Ismene 
and  Pancratium. 

Hymeno'dium.     A  synonym  of  Acrostichum. 

Hymenophy'Uum.  Filmy-leaf  Fern.  From 
hymen,  a  membrane,  and  phyllon,  a  leaf.  Nat. 
Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful  Ferns,  mostly 
natives  of  Chili  and  New  Zealand,  where  they 
grow  in  moist  ravines.  The  fronds  are  varia- 
ble, some  being  very  minute,  and  others  of 
large  size;  some  single,  others  compound. 
Several  of  the  species  are  highly  esteemed  for 
cultivation  in  the  green-house. 

Hymenospo'rum.  From  hymen,  a  membrane, 
and  sporos,  seed;  the  seeds  are  girded  by 
membranous  wings.  Nat.  Ord.  Pittosporacem. 
H.  flavum,  the  only  species,  is  a  handsome 
evergreen  plant  from  eastern  Australia.  It  is 
of  bi-anching  habit,  with  broadly  obovate- 
lanceolate,  glaucous  leaves.  The  flowers 
form  a  compound  terminal  corymb,  and  are 
yellow,  marked  with  orange-red  at  the  mouth 
of  the  tube-like  portion,  and  clothed  outside 
with  silky  hairs.     Syn.  Pittosporum  Jlavum. 

Hyopho'rbe.  From  hyos,  a  hog,  and  phorbus, 
pasturage.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmaceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  Palms,inhabiting  the  island 
of  Boui'bon  and  Mauritius,  and  having  tall 
cylindrical  stems,  marked  with  circular  scars, 
and  a  crown  of  graceful  pinnate  leaves.  The 
male  and  female  flowers  grow  on  distinct 
trees,  or  a  few  males  are  occasionally  inter- 
spersed among  the  females,  the  flower-spikes 
being  simply  branched  and  growing  out  from 
beneath  the  leaves,  with  a  single  spathe  at 
their  base.  The  fruit  has  a  flbrous,  fleshy 
rind,  and  contains  a  single  seed.  H.  Versch- 
affeltii,  formerly  known  as  Areca  Verschaffeltii, 
is  one  of  the  most  ornamental  species.  Young 
plants  are  produced  from  seed. 

Hyoscy'amus.  Henbane.  From  hyos,  a  hog, 
and  kyamos,  a  bean  ;  the  fruit  is  eaten  by  hogs. 
Nat.  Ord.  Solanacece. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


199 


HYP 

H.  niger  is  the  common  Henbane  "vvhose 
virtue  consists  in  the  supposed  power  it  has 
of  absorbing  malaria  tiiat  is  generated 
around  filtliy  habitations.  It  is  also  culti- 
vated for  its  medicinal  properties. 

Hyperica'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  h^rbs,  shrubs, 
or  trees,  with  a  resinous  juice,  opposite, 
rarely  whorled,  entire,  exstipulate  leaves, 
usually  with  transparent  dots,  and  blackish 
glands,  and  regular  flowers.  The  plants  of 
this  order  are  generally  distributed  over  the 
world,  both  in  temperate  and  warm  climates. 
Many  species  yield  a  yellow  juice  and  an 
essential  oil.  There  are  ten  genera,  and  nearly 
three  hundred  species.  Illustrative  genera 
are   Hypericum,  Elodea,  and  Ascyrum. 

Hype'ricum.  St.  John's  "Wort.  The  name  is 
said  to  be  derived  from  yper,  over,  and  eicon, 
an  image ;  the  superior  part  of  the  flower 
represents  a  figure.     Nat.  Ord.  Hypericacece. 

The  pretty,  yellow-flowered  shrubs  And 
herbaceous  perennials  known  by  this  name  at 
the  present  day,  were  formerly,  in  ignorant 
communities,  in  high  repute  for  driving  away 
evil  spirits ;  and  on  this  account  were  gen- 
erally planted  near  dwelling-houses.  They 
were  also  highly  valued  for  their  medicinal 
properties,  being  believed  to  have  a  powerful 
effect  in  stopping  blood  and  healing  wounds. 
All  the  kinds  will  thrive  under  the  drip  of 
trees ;  and  they  will  grow  almost  anywhere, 
though  they  prefer  moisture  and  a  moderate 
shade.  They  are  found  in  almost  all  the 
temperate  climates  of  the  world ;  and  are 
propagated  by  seeds  and  by  division  of  the 
roots. 

Hyphae'ne.  From  hyphaino,  to  entwine ;  re- 
ferring to  the  fibres  of  the  fruit.  Nat.  Ord. 
Palmaceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  African  palms  confined  to, 
and  widely  distributed  throughout  that  con- 
tinent, more  particularly  upon  the  eastern 
side,  extending  from  Egypt  as  far  south  as 
Natal.  The  genus  is  i-emarkable  for  having 
the  stems  branched,  a  peculiarity  not  frequent 
among  palms,  each  branch  terminating  in  a 
tuft  of  large  fan-shaped  leaves,  from  amongst 
which  the  branching  catkin-like  spikes  of 
flowers  are  produced,  the  different  sexes 
being  borne  on  different  trees.  H.  thebaica 
is  the  Doum  Palm,  or  Gingerbread  tree  of 
Egypt.  It  seldom  exceeds  twenty-five  or 
thirty  feet  in  height,  audits  stem  is  frequently 
three  or  four  times  branched  or  forked  in  old 
trees,  though  when  young  it  is  always  simple. 
The  fruits  which  are  produced  in  long  clusters, 
each  containingbetween  one  and  two  hundred, 
are  beautifully  polished,  of  a  rich  yellowish, 
brown  color,  and  of  irregular  form.  In  Upper 
Egypt  they  form  part  of  the  food  of  the  poorer 
classes  of  inhabitants,  the  part  eaten  being 
the  fibrous  mealy  husk,  which  tastes  almost 
exactly  like  gingerbread,  but  its  dry  liusky 
nature  renders  it  unpalatable.  The  hard  tough 
wood  is  used  for  making  various  domestic 
utensils ;  and  rosaries  are  cut  out  of  the  horny 
seed. 

Hypocaly'mma.  From  hypo,  under,  and 
kalymma,  a  veil ;  the  calyx,  falling  off  like  a 
veil,  or  hood.     Nat.  Ord.  Myrtacem. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  evergreen  shrubs, 
containing  about  twelve  species,  natives  of 
Australia.     H.  robustum  is  a  charming  little 


HYS 

green-house  plant,  bearing  a  profusion  of 
small  bright  rose-colored  flowers,  and  having 
an  odor  resembling  lemons.  It  is  of  easy 
culture,  and  is  increased  readily  by  cuttings. 
Introduced  in  1842. 

Hypocalyptus.  From  hypo,  under,  and  kalypto, 
to  hide ;  named  from  a  covering  to  the  un- 
opened flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosm. 

H.  obcordatus,  the  only  specic^s  is  an  orna- 
mental green-house  evergreen  shrub  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  It  has  neat  trifoliate 
leaves  and  purple  flowers,  appearing  in  June 
and  July.  It  was  introduced  in  1823,  and  is 
propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  side  shoots. 
Syn.  Crotolaria  purpurea. 

Hypocrateriform.  Salver-shaped;  having  a  long 
slendertube  andaflatlimb,  as  in  the  Primrose. 

Hypocy'rta.  A  genus  of  Gesneracem,  contain- 
ing a  few  species,  natives  of  South  America. 
They  are  procumbent  under-shrubs,  throwing 
out  roots  from  below  the  origin  of  their 
opposite  and  fleshy  leaves.  The  flowers  are 
axillary  and  solitary,  or  several  together, 
generally  bright  scarlet  in  color.  They  were 
introduced  in  1846,  and  are  increased  by  cut- 
tings, or  seeds. 

Hypoe'stes.  A  considerable  genus  of  Acan- 
thacecB,  dispersed  over  Africa,  tropical  Asia, 
and  Australia,  and  remarkably  abundant  in 
Madagascar.  They  are  shrubs  or  small  trees, 
with  entire  or  dentate  leaves,  and  large  purple 
or  rose-colored  flowers  in  axillary  clusters  or 
short  spikes,  often  numerous  and  forming  a 
tei'minal  leafy  thyrse.  Nearly  forty  species 
have  been  described ;  increased  by  cuttings. 

Hypogaeous.    Growing  under  the  earth. 

Hypogynous.  Growing  from  below  the  base 
of  the  ovary. 

Hypo'lepis.  From  hipo,  under,  and  lepis,  a 
scale.     Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome  free-growing 
ferns,  natives  of  tropical  America,  south 
Africa,  New  Zealand,  etc.,  nearly  allied  to 
Cheilanthes.  The  fronds  are  evergreen,  bi- or 
quadripinnate,  with  free  veins.  These  are 
plants  of  easy  culture,  thriving  best  in  a 
rough,  coarse  soil;  they  should  have  good 
drainage  and  plenty  of  water. 

Hypo'xis.  Star  Grass.  From  hypo,  beneath, 
and  oxys,  sharp ;  referring  to  the  seed  pod. 
Nat.  Ord.     Amaryllidacece. 

H.  erecta,  a  vexy  pretty  bulb,  found  in 
meadows  and  Avaste  places  in  New  England, 
and  southward.  The  flowers  are  bright  yel- 
low inside,  brownish  outside,  and  borne  on 
umbels  on  a  scape  about  a  foot  high. 

Hyssop.     See  Hysnopus. 

Hysso'pus.  From  Hyssopos,  the  old  Greek 
name,  used  by  Hippocrates.  Nat.  Ord.  Labi- 
atcB. 

The  garden  Hyssop  is  a  native  of  Siberia, 
and  the  mountainous  parts  of  Austria.  It 
was  early  introduced  into  the  garden  in  this 
country,  and  has  escaped  in  many  places  to 
the  roadsides.  It  is  considerably  grown  as  a 
medicinal  herb,  but  is  not,  however,  much 
esteemed  except  in  domestic  practice.  This 
is  not  supposed  to  be  the  Hyssop  mentioned 
in  the  Old  Testament,  and  it  has  not  been 
ascertained  what  plant  is  referred  to.  As  it 
was  one  of  the  smallest  plants,  and  "grew 
out  of  the  wall,"  some  have  conjectured  it  to 
be  one  of  the  Mosses. 


200 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


I. 


IBE 

Ibe'ris.     Candytuft.     From  Iberia,  the  ancient 
name  of  Spain,   where  the  original  species 
abounds.     Nat.  Ord.  CrucifercB. 

The  genus  consists  of  annuals,  biennials 
and  perennials,  all  perfectly  hardy  and  of  the 
easiest  culture.  The  common  name  Candy- 
tuft was  given  because  they  flower  in  tufts. 
and  the  first  inti'oduced  species,  /.  umhMata, 
was  brought  from  Candia.  For  the  early  flower- 
ing of  the  annual  varieties,  the  seed  should 
be  sown  in  the  fall,  and  slightly  protected 
from  the  sun,  during  winter,  bj^  leaves  or  any 
convenient  dry  mulching;  they  will  come 
into  flower  in  May.  The  plants  of  /.  coronaria, 
Rocket  Candytuft,  should  be  thinned  out  to 
one  or  two  feet  apart  each  way ;  then,  if  in 
rich  soil,  they  will  completely  cover  the 
ground.  The  sub-shrubby  species,  /.  cor- 
recefolia,  I.  Gibraltarica,  I.  sempervirens  and 
others,  are  most  handsome,  compact-growing 
plants,  admirably  adapted  for  the  front  rows 
of  shrubbery  or  herbaceous  borders.  If 
grown  in  cold  frames,  and  kept  a  little  close 
towards  spring,  thej^  will  bloom  at  least  thi-ee 
weeks  before  those  out-of-doors,  and  are  val- 
uable for  early  decorations,  or  for  cut  flowers. 

Iceland  Moss.     See  Lichen. 

Ice  Plant.     See  Mesemhryunthemum. 

Ide'sia.     Named  after  Y.  Ides,  a  Dutch  traveler 
in  China.     Nat.  Ord.  Flacourtiacece. 

I.  polycarpa,  the  representative  species  of 
this  genus,  is  a  beautiful  tree,  found  in  Japan, 
and  said  to  be  perfectly  hardy  around  New 
York.  The  leaf  stem  is  from  six  to  twelve 
inches  long  and  bright  red,  with  leaves  nearly 
round  and  from  six  to  eight  inches  broad. 
The  flowers  are  yellowish-green,  in  long 
drooping  racemes,  and  very  fragrant.  The 
fruit  is  about  the  size  of  a  cherry,  of  an 
orange  color,  and  edible.    Syn.  Flacourtia. 

I'lex.  The  Holly.  Name  originally  from  the 
Celtic,  oc  or  ac,  signifying  a  point ;  on  account 
of  the  prickly  leaves.  Nat.  Ord.  Aquifoliacem. 
An  extensive  genus  of  evergreen  trees  and 
shrubs,  remarkable  for  their  glossy,  prickly 
foliage  and  scarlet  fruit,  that  remains  on  the 
shrub  during  the  winter.  They  are  well 
adapted  for  the  lawn  or  for  hedges,  and  grow 
best  in  a  dry  loam.  /.  aquifolium  is  the  Holly 
of  the  English  gardens,  and  I.  opaca  is  the 
American  Holly,  which  grows  plentifully  from 
New  York  southward.  It  is  to  be  regretted 
that  the  English  Holly,  the  most  beautiful  of  all 
evergreens,  is  unsuited  to  our  climate,  being  in 
the  Northern  States  too  tender  to  withstand 
our  winters,  while  the  hot,  dry  summers  of 
the  Southern  States  are  equally  injurious  to 
it.  /.  Paraguariensis,  a  native  of  Paraguay 
and  Brazil,  furnishes  the  Paraguay  tea,  or 
Yerba  de  Mate,  which  occupies  the  same  im- 
portant position  in  the  domestic  economy  of 
South  America  as  the  Chinese  tea  does  in  this 
country,  and  it  is  calculated  that  it  is  con- 
sumed in  that  country  to  the  extent  of  about 
8,000,000  pounds  annually.  It  has  been  in  use 
for  about  a  century  and  a  half,  the  practice 
having  been  adopted  from  the  aboriginal  peo- 


IMP 

pie.  The  leaves  are  prepared  by  drying  and 
roasting,  when  they  are  reduced  to  a  powder, 
wliieh  is  prepared  for  drinking  by  putting  a 
small  quantity  into  a  gourd  or  cup,  with  a  lit- 
tle sugar.  The  drinking  tube  is  then  inserted 
and  boiling  water  poured  on  the  Mate ;  when 
sufficiently  cool  the  infusion  is  sucked  up 
through  the  tube.  It  has  an  agreeable, 
slightly  aromatic  odor,  is  rather  bitter  to  the 
taste,  and  very  refreshing  and  restorative  to 
the  human  frame  after  enduring  great  fatigue. 
It  contains  the  same  active  principles  as  tea 
and  coffee,  called  theine,  but  not  their  volatile 
and  empyreumatic  oils. 

Illici'neae.  A  small  natural  order,  generally 
placed  as  a  sub-order  of  Aquifoliacem. 

Illi'cium.  Aniseed  Tree.  From  ilUcio,  to 
allure ;  referring  to  the  perfume.  Nat.  Ord. 
Magnoliaceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs  or  low- 
growing  trees,  with  smooth  entire  leaves, 
exhaling  when  bruised,  a  strong  odor  of  Ani- 
seed. They  are  natives  of  the  extreme 
Southern  States,  Japan,  southern  China,  and 
Asia.  /.  religiosum,  a  Japanc-ic  species,  is  a 
small  tree  about  the  size  of  a  cherry,  and  is 
held  sacred  by  the  Japanese.  The  leaves  of 
this  species,  like  those  of  I.  floridanum,  are 
said  to  possess  poisonous  properties.  In  Ala- 
bama the  plant  has  acquired  the  name  of 
Poison-Bay. 

Ima'ntophy'Ilum.  From  imas,  imantos,  a  leather 
thong,  and  phyllon,  a  leaf ;  alluding  to  the 
shape  and  substance  of  the  foliage.  Nat.  Ord. 
Amaryllidacew. 

Those  with  authority  to  speak  of  plants 
seem  determined  that  the  only  species  of  this 
genus  shall  have  neither  name  nor  home. 
Some  insist  upon  calling  it  Clivia  nobilis; 
others  want  to  reverse  it,  and  have  C.  nobilis 
called  /.  Aitoni.  Then,  again,  for  variety's 
sake,  some  prefer  the  orthography  Imatopkyl- 
lum.  Most  writers  call  Imantophyllum  and 
Clivia  synonymous.  That  they  are  closely 
allied  we  do  not  doubt.  Having  flowered  them 
frequently,  we  find  the  flowers  of  I.  mini- 
atum  (the  only  species)  to  be  erect,  and  much 
larger  than  Clivia  nobilis,  the  flowers  of  which 
are  drooping  and  of  a  darker  color.  This  spe- 
cies, introduced  from  Natal  in  1854,  is  propa- 
gated by  division,  and  requires  the  same 
culture  as  the  Clivia.  Many  beautiful  hybrids, 
having  larger  and  more  highly-colored  flowers 
than  the  type,  have  of  late  years  been  put  in 
commerce  in  Britain  and  on  the  Continent,  and 
are  most  attractive  and  valuable  acquisitions 
to  this  genus. 

Imbricated.  When  bodies  overlap  each  other, 
like  the  tiles  or  shingles  on  a  roof. 

Immarginate.     Having  no  rim  or  edge. 

Immersed.     Growing  entirely  under  water. 

Immortelle.  The  popular  name  for  Helichry- 
sum  orientale,  which  see. 

Impa'tiens.  Balsam,  Silver  Weed,  Jewel  Weed. 
From  impatiens,  impatient ;   referring   to  the 


AND   GENEEAL   HOETICULTURE. 


201 


IMP 

elasticity  of  the  valves  of  the  seed-pod,  which 
discharge  the  seeds  when  ripe.  A  genus  of 
Geraniacece,  chiefly  found  in  India,  though  a 
few  species  occur  in  Europe  and  North  Amer- 
ica. Tliey  are  generally  glabrous  herbs,  with 
thick  succulent  stems,  enlarged  at  the  joints, 
where  the  undivided  leaves  are  given  off.  The 
flowers  are  axillary,  often  handsome,  and  so 
very  irregular  that  considerable  difference  of 
opinion  exists  as  to  which  parts  belong  to  the 
calyx,  and  which  to  the  corolla.  The  green- 
house species  may  be  propagated  from  cut- 
tings or  from  seeds,  when  tJiese  are  to  be 
obtained.  /.  Sultani,  introduced  from  Zanzi- 
bar, is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  useful 
flowering  plants  of  late  introduction,  produc- 
ing its  bright  rose-scarlet  flowers  almost  con- 
tinually. It  succeeds  well  in  a  green-house  in 
spring  and  summer,  but  requires  a  warm 
house  for  winter.  /.  Hawkerii,  introduced 
from  the  South  Sea  Islands,  has  very  large 
flatly  expanded  flowers  of  the  most  brilliant, 
rich  deep  carmine  color,  relieved  by  a  lustrous 
bluish  tinge  round  the  small  white  eye,  the 
spur  being  red  and  about  two  inches  long.  It 
is  of  free  growth  and  produces  its  flowers  in 
great  profusion  from  March  until  October.  /. 
Jerdonice,  a  dwarf  species,  is  best  grown  as  a 
basket  plant,  started  into  growth  in  April,  and 
rested  during  winter. 

Our  native  species  of  this  genus  are  gener- 
ally known  asTouch-Me-Nots,  from  the  sudden 
bursting  of  the  pods  when  touched.  They  are 
interesting  annuals,  common  in  damp  ground 
throughout  the  United  States.  The  Balsam 
of  our  gardens  is  I.  Balsamina,  and  is  de- 
scribed under  Balsam,  which  see. 

Imphee.     See  Sorghum. 

Incised.     Regularly  divided  by  deep  incisions. 

Incurved,  Incurvate.  Bending  inwards;  as 
where  the  stamens  curve  towai'ds  the  pistil. 

Indian  Bean.     See  Catalpa. 

Indian  Corn.     See  Zea. 

Indian  Cress.     The  genus  Tropczolum. 

Indian  Crocus.     The  genus  Pleione. 

Indian  Cucumber  Root.     See  Medeola. 

Indian  Currant.      The  common  name  of   the 

fruit  of  the  Symphoricarpus  vulgaris, 
Indian  Fig.     See  Opuntia. 
Indian  Ha'wthorn.     See  Raphiolepis. 
Indian  Hemp.     See  Apocynum. 
Indian  Hill-Guava.     See  Rhodomyrtus. 

Indian  Mallow.  A  common  name  of  Abutilon 
Avieennce,  a  troublesome  weed  in  flelds  and 
waste  places.  It  is  a  native  of  India,  and  was 
introduced  into  our  gardens  as  an  ornamental 
plant,  but  is  now  naturalized,  and  is  spoken  of 
as  valuable  for  its  fibre. 

Indian  Millet.  One  of  the  popular  names  of 
Sorghum  vulgare,  to  which  species  belong 
Broom  Corn,  Sweet  Sorghum,  and  other  cul- 
tivated varieties. 

Indian  Pink.  One  of  the  popular  names  for 
Dianthus  Chinensis. 

Indian  Pipe.  A  common  name  of  the  Monotropa 
uniflora.     See  Corpse  Plant. 

Indian  Plantain.  The  popular  name  of  the 
genus  Cacalia,  common  in  rich,  damp  woods 
in  most  of  the  States. 


INS 

Indian  Poke.  Veratrum  viride,  or  White  Helle- 
bore. 

Indian  Rice  or  Water  Rice.     See  Zizania. 

Indian  Shot.     See  Canna. 

Indian  Strawberry.     Fragaria  indica. 

Indian  Tobacco.     See  Lobelia  inflata. 

Indian  Turnip.     Qee  Arismna. 

India  Rubber  Tree.    See  Ficus  elastica. 

Indigenous.  A  plant  which  is  the  natural  pro- 
duction of  any  country ;  not  exotic. 

Indigo.     See  Indigofera  tinctoria. 
Wild.     Baptisia  tinctoria. 

Indigo'fera.  From  indigo,  a  blue  dyestuff;  a 
corruption  of  Indicum,  Indian,  and  fero,  to 
bear ;  most  of  the  species  produce  the  well- 
known  dye  called  Indigo.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumi- 
nosce. 

An  extensive  genus  of  rather  ornamental 
herbaceous  perennials,  tender  annuals,  and 
evergreen  shrubs,  grown  almost  wholly  for 
the  commercial  value  of  the  dyes  they  pro- 
duce. /.  tinctoria,  the  species  most  commonly 
cultivated,  is  a  native  of  the  East  Indies  and 
other  parts  of  Asia,  but  it  has  been  intro- 
duced into,  and  become  naturalized  in,  the 
Southern  States,  and  was  formerly  extensively 
cultivated,  as  was  /.  anil,  the  West  India  In- 
digo, a  stronger  growing  species,  from  both 
of  which  large  quantities  of  Indigo  were 
made.  They  are  tender  shrubs,  growing  from 
four  to  six  feet  high,  with  vei-y  pinnate  leaves, 
and  axillary  racemes  of  pink  and  purple  flow- 
ers. The  shrubby  species  are  propagated  by 
cuttings,  and  the  annuals  from  seeds. 

Indusium.  The  membraneous  covering  of  the 
spore-cases  of  many  Ferns. 

Inferior.  When  one  organ  is  placed  below  an- 
other; thus  an  inferior  calyx  grows  below 
the  ovary,  while  an  inferior  ovary  grows,  or 
seems  to  grow,  below  a  calyx. 

Inflated.  Thin,  membraneous,  slightly  trans- 
parent, swelling  equally,  as  if  inflated  with 
air. 

I'nga.  The  South  American  name  of  I.  vera, 
adopted  by  Marcgraff.  Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosoe. 
A  very  extensive  genus  of  ornamental 
shrubs  and  trees,  numbering  upward  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  species,  natives  of  the 
warmer  parts  of  South  America,  principally  of 
Brazil  and  Guiana.  The  flowers  are  white, 
pink,  crimson,  etc.,  and  are  borne  in  vari- 
ously-shaped spikes,  or  in  nearly  globular 
heads,  growing  singly  or  in  clusters  from  the 
angles  of  the  leaves.  /.  pulcherrima.  a  native 
of  Mexico,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the 
genus.  The  foliage  is  smaller  than  most  of 
the  species,  and  is  very  ornamental.  The 
tassel  like  flowers  ai'e  of  a  bright  crimson, 
and  very  showy.  The  shape  of  the  flower- 
heads  has  given  it  the  name  of  Bottle  Brush. 
All  the  species  are  propagated  from  cuttings 
of  young  wood  in  summer.  Introduced  in 
1822. 

Ink-Berry.  The  fruit  of  Bex  (Prinos)  glabra,  an 
evergreen  shrub,  common  on  the  Atlantic 
coast. 

Insecticides.  The  enormous  damage  done  by 
insects  to  our  fruits,  vegetables,  grains,  etc., 
is  almost  beyond  belief,  amounting,  it  is 
claimed,  to  over  two  hundred  millions  of  dol- 
lars yearly  in  the  United  States  alone ;  their 


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INS 

prompt  destruction,  therefore,  immediately 
any  are  detected,  is  most  important  and  essen- 
tial. Fortunately  the  extensive  experiments  in 
insecticides  and  the  improvements  in  imple- 
ments for  applj'ing  them,  enable  us  to  fight 
them  so  well  tliat  the  damage  done  is  scarcely 
felt  when  the  most  is  made  of  the  opportuni- 
ties within  i-each.  In  applying  insecticides  it 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  "enough  is  as 
good  as  a  feast."  It  is  not  necessary  to 
drown  the  insects  with  solutions,  or  to  bury 
them  in  powder,  to  iiill  them ;  tlie  least  parti- 
cle of  poison  is  sufficient  to  do  its  deadly 
work,  but  it  is  necessary  that  "the  least  par- 
ticle "  and  the  insect  come  in  contact.  It  is 
much  better  to  reach  every  poition  of  the 
plant  or  tree,  underneath  as  well  as  above, 
with  a  fine  spray  of  fluid,  or  a  slight  dusting 
of  powder,  tlian  to  apply  liberally  in  some 
parts  and  carelessly  overlook  others,  as  is 
the  too  general  custom.  To  fight  insects 
effectually  it  must  be  done  thoroughly,  and 
every  inch  must  be  covered.  Besides,  tlieie 
is  much  less  danger  of  burningor  injuring  the 
leaves  and  fruit  by  light  applications.  The 
improved  implements  now  offered  for  apply- 
ing powders  or  fluids  are  great  economizers, 
covering  large  surfaces,  with  less  material, 
doing  it  with  greater  speed,  and  reducing  the 
danger  of  injury  to  the  plants  to  a  minimum. 
Of  the  many  insecticides  recommended  for 
general  use  in  the  garden  or  orchard  the  most 
serviceable  are  London  Purple,  Pans  Green 
and  Kerosene  Emulsion. 

London  PuRPLP  is  rapidly  taking  the  lead. 
It  is  largely  used  in  the  public  parks  and  on 
government  experimental  farms,  and  is  consid- 
ered superior  to  Paris  Green  on  account  of 
being  more  soluble,  there  being  less  danger  of 
burning  the  foliage  with  it.  It  is  said  to  go 
furtlaer,  and  is  certainly  much  cheaper,  which 
is  accounted  for  by  its  being  a  by-product. 
When  used  as  a  powder  it  has  also  the  advan- 
tage of  being  more  readily  seen  on  the  plants. 
The  adulterants  usually  mixed  with  it  are 
either  land-plaster,  road-dust,  plaster-of-Paris 
or  cheap  flour,  and  it  is  advisable  to  mix 
thoroughly  at  least  twenty-four  hours  before 
use,  which  allows  the  adulterant  to  absorb 
the  poison,  making  it  more  effectual.  When 
mixed  with  flour  one  pound  of  London  Purple, 
to  twenty  to  thirty  pounds  of  Hour,  is  the 
pi'oper  proportion,  according  to  the  tender- 
ness of  the  plants  ;  mixed  with  land-plaster  or 
plaster-of-Paris,  one  pound  of  the  poison  to  a 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  the  adulterant; 
with  dry  road-dust,  one  pound  of  the  poison 
to  a  bushel  and  a  halt  of  the  dust.  In  making 
liquid  solutions  mix  one  pound  of  London 
Purple  with  two  hundred  gallons  of  water, 
but  first  wet  the  powder  and  form  a  thin 
paste  to  prevent  it  from  forming  lumps.  It 
should  be  put  in  the  water  twelve  hours  at 
least  before  use,  for  the  best  results.  Paris 
Green  can  be  mixed  in  the  same  proportions, 
and  in  the  same  manner.  Kerosene  in  its 
natural,  undiluted  state  is  fatal  to  all  insect 
and  vegetable  life,  but  prepared  (emulsified) 
as  recommended  by  the  Entomological  Divis- 
ion of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  at 
Washington,  may  be  used  safely  and  with 
much  benefit. 

Kerosene  Emulsion.  Add  two  gallons  of 
Kerosene  to  a  hot  solution  of  one-half  a  f)ound 
of  soap  in  a  gallon  of  water,  and  churn  the 


INS 

mixture  through  the  nozzle  of  a  force-pump 
until  it  forms  a  cream-like  mass.  This  may 
be  kept  unchanged  until  needed  for  use.  For 
general  use  reduce  the  emulsion  thus  made 
with  nine  parts  of  water,  and  apply  through  a 
force-pump  or  syringe,  three  gallons  of 
the  emulsion  making  thirty  gallons  of  the 
spraying  liquid.  Besides  its  use  as  an  emul- 
sion, Kerosene,  when  used  with  discretion,  is 
a  most  valuable  insecticide  for  the  destruction 
of  Mealy-bug,  Scale,  etc.,  in  the  green-house. 
A  wine-glassful  to  a  gallon  of  water  is  suffi- 
cient, only  when  applying  the  solution  the 
water  must  be  kept  thoroughly  churned  by 
forcing  every  other  syringeful  back  into  the 
bucket  so  as  to  keep  it  thoroughly  mixed. 
Small  plants,  such  as  Camellias,  Azaleas, 
Ardisias,  Palms,  etc.,  may  be  safely  dipped  in 
the  solution  if  at  the  same  time  it  is  kept 
thoroughly  mixed  as  above.  Hellebore,  Per- 
sian and  DiUmatian  powders,  Buhach,  etc., 
are  valuable  for  destroying  the  Cabbage- 
worm,  etc.     See  Insects. 

Insects  In  the  green-house  or  grapery,  or  any 
place  where  plants  are  grown  under  cover,  in- 
sects, with  few  exceptions,  are  under  control; 
but  when  in  the  open  field  or  garden  we  are 
often  powtu'less  against  their  ravages,  par- 
ticularly when  they  attack  the  roots  of  plants. 
We  can  manage  many  of  them,  even  outside, 
when  they  attack  Nranches  or  leaves;  but 
with  others  we  are  as  powerless  as  with  those 
attacking  the  roots.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
the  encouragement  of  birds  on  farms  and  in 
gardens,  by  feeding  and  sheltering  them,  well 
repays  in  the  return  for  the  insects  they 
destroy.  In  nearly  all  the  large  cities  in  this 
country,  since  tiie  introduction  of  the  Euro- 
pean Sparrow,  though  in  part  a  seed-eater, 
there  lias  been  a  marked  absence  of  the 
"  Measuring  Worm,"  "  Hose  Slug,"  and  other 
caterpillar-like  insects. 

The  Rose  Slug  {Selandria  rosea)  is  a  light- 
green  insect,  which,  when  fully  developed  is 
about  an  inch  in  length.  There  are  appar- 
ently two  kinds,  one  of  which  eats  only 
the  outer  skin  of  the  leaf  on  the  under 
side,  the  other  eats  it  entire.  The  first 
is  by  far  the  most  destructive.  In  a  few  daj  s 
after  the  j)lants  are  attacked,  they  appear  as 
if  they  had  been  burned.  An  excellent  appli- 
cation for  tlie  prevention  of  the  Rose  Slug  is 
whale  oil  soap  dissolved  in  the  proportion  of 
one  pound  to  eight  gallons  of  water;  this,  if 
steadily  applied  daily  for  a  week  with  a 
syringe  on  Rose  jilaats,  in  early  spring,  before  ' 
the  buds  begin  to  develop,  will  never  fail  to 
prevent  the  attacks  of  this  insect.  If  this 
precaution  has  been  omitted,  and  the  insects 
are  seen  on  the  leaves,  white  Hellebore  pow- 
der dusted  on  the  plants  wdl  quickly  destroy 
them,  without  injury  to  the  plants.  The  Rose 
Beetle  {Aramigus  Fulleri)  or  Bug,  as  it  is  com- 
monly called,  however,  is  a  much  more  diflfl- 
cult  insect  to  deal  with.  The  Rose  or  Grape 
Vine  Beetle  (Melolontha  subspinosa)  is  another 
pest,  usually  destroying  the  fiowers  on  the 
Rose,  and  both  flowers  and  young  fruit  on  the 
vine.  The  only  certain  remedy  is  to  destroy 
them  by  hand. 

The  Gkeen  Fly,  or  Aphis,  is  one  of  the 
most  common,  but  most  easily  destroyed,  of 
almost  any  insect  that  infests  plants,  either 
indoors  or  out.  In  our  green-houses,  we  fumi- 


AND  GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


203 


INS 

gate  twice  a  week,  by  burning  about  half  a 
pound  of  refuse  tobacco  stems  (made  damp) 
to  every  500  square  feet  of  glass  surface,  but 
in  private  green-houses  or  on  plants  in  rooms, 
fumigating  is  often  impracticable.  But  To- 
bacco in  any  form  is  quickly  fatal  to  the 
Green  Fly ;  so  in  private  green-houses  or  in 
rooms,  where  the  fumes  of  Tobacco  would  be 
objectionable.  Tobacco  stems  can  be  used  by 
steeping  one  pound  in  five  gallons  of  water, 
until  the  water  gets  to  be  the  color  of  strong 
coffee.  This  is  applied  over  and  under  the 
leaves  with  a  syringe,  and  destroys  tiie  insect 
quite  as  well  as  by  fumigating,  only  in  either 
case  the  application  should  be  made  before 
the  insects  are  seen,  to  prevent  their  coming 
rather  than  to  destroy  them  when  established ; 
for  often  by  neglect  they  get  a  foothold  in 
such  legions  that  all  remedies  become  inef- 
fectual to  dislodge  them,  unless  by  brushing 
them  off  the  leaves  with  a  light  brush. 
Another  means  of  preventing  the  Green  Fly  is 
to  apply  Tobacco  in  the  shape  of  dust  or  snuff. 
The  sweepings  of  Tobacco  warehouses  can  be 
bought  in  most  places  at  a  cost  of  five  or  ten 
cents  per  pound.  This,  applied  once  or  twice 
a  week  to  an  ordinary-sized  private  green- 
house, would  effectually  prevent  any  injury 
from  the  Green  Fly.  No  special  quantity  of 
this  need  be  prescribed,  as  it  is  in  no  way 
hurtful  to  the  plant ;  all  that  is  necessary  is 
to  see  that  it  is  so  dusted  on  that  it  reaches 
all  parts  of  the  plant,  and  on  both  sides  of  the 
leaves.  It  is  best  to  slightly  moisten  the 
leaves  beforehand,  so  that  the  dust  will 
adhere  to  them.  When  applied  to  plants  out- 
doors, it  should  be  done  in  the  morning  when 
the  dew  is  on,  or  after  a  rain.  Fruit  ti-ees  of 
many  kinds,  shrubs,  and  Roses  of  all  kinds, 
out  of  doors,  are  particularly  liable  to  injury 
from  some  species  of  Aphis,  but  the  applica- 
tion of  Tobacco  in  any  of  the  forms  alluded  to, 
if  made  in  time,  will  be  found  a  cheap  and 
effectual  remedy. 

Ground  ob  Blue  Aphis  is  another  species 
of  Aphis  that  gets  its  living  from  the  roots 
down  in  the  soil,  which  may  have  the  effect 
of  changing  its  color,  while  the  Green  Aphis 
feeds  in  the  air  on  the  leaves.  The  Blue 
Aphis  attacks  a  great  many  varieties  of 
plants,  both  flower  and  vegetable,  particu- 
larly in  hot,  dry  weather,  and  whenever  As- 
ters, Verbenas,  Petunias,  Centaureas,  Beets, 
Radishes,  Lettuce,  etc.,  begin  to  droop,  it 
will  be  found  on  examination,  in  three  cases 
out  of  four,  that  the  farthest  extremities  of 
their  root  are  completely  surrounded  by  the 
Blue  Aphis.  The  only  remedy  we  have  ever 
found  for  this  pest  is  strong  decoction  of 
Tobacco  stems,  made  by  being  boiled  until  it 
gets  to  the  color  of  strong  coffee,  and  poured 
on,  when  cold,  in  quantity  enough  to  reach 
the  extremity  of  the  roots.  There  is  no  fear 
of  injuring  the  plants  by  this  application,  as 
it  acts  as  a  fertilizer  to  some  extent. 

The  Verbena  Mite,  the  minute  cause  of 
the  "black  rust"  so  disastrous  in  its  ravages 
on  the  Verbena,  Heliotrope,  Petunia,  Pelar- 
gonium, and  various  other  plants,  is  so  small 
that  it  cannot  be  seen  b)'  the  naked  eye ;  but 
its  ravages  under  certain  conditions  are  so 
disastrous  as  to  render  the  cultivation  of  the 
Verbena  and  some  similar  plants  next  to 
impossible. 


INS 

When  this  little  pest  has  once  got  a  foothold, 
all  direct  remedies  to  dislodge  it  seem  to 
be  powerless ;  the  fumes  of  tobacco,  so  dis- 
tructive  to  the  aphis,  or  of  sulphur,  which  is 
death  to  the  spider,  fall  harmlessly  on  this 
microscopic  insect. 

There  is  hardly  a  doubt  but  that  the  fumes 
of  sulphur  and  tobacco  would  destroy  it,  if  it 
had  not  the  power  of  imbedding  itself  in  the 
leaf.  This  is  evidently  the  case,  as  on  subject- 
ing affected  plants  to  a  severe  fumigation 
with  tobacco  for  thirty  minutes  no  insects 
could  be  discerned  on  the  leaves ;  but  after  a 
short  time  they  again  appeared  on  the  field  of 
the  microscope,  apparently  unscathed.  We 
also  find  that  an  excellent  preventive  against 
this  insect  is  to  syringe  the  plants  twice  a 
week  with  a  weak  solution  of  fir-tree  oil ;  one- 
half  pint  to  five  gallons  of  water.  This  seems 
like  tobacco  smoke  to  check  it  somewhat,  yet 
it  is  not  a  complete  remedy  and  if  plants  are 
severely  attacked,  there  is  nothing  for  it  but 
to  throw  those  affected  out — as  there  is  but 
little  doubt  that  it  quickly  spreads.  Now, 
although  we  have  no  direct  i-emedy  against 
this  insect,  which  produces  the  black  rust,  we 
have,  I  think,  a  preventive,  by  keeping  the 
plants  in  that  healthy,  vigorous  condition 
which  seems  to  be  repellant  to  its  attack. 

The  Mealy  Bug,  as  it  is  familiarly  known, 
from  its  white,  mealy-like  appearance,  be- 
longs to  the  same  family  as  the  Cochineal 
insect  {Coccus  Cacti),  from  which  the  Cochi- 
neal dye  is  obtained.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
troublesome  of  all  insects  to  dislodge.  The 
only  certain  remedy  we  have  ever  been  able 
to  get  to  kill  Mealy  Bug  without  injury  to  the 
leaves,  is  a  mixture  known  as  "  Cole's  Insect 
Destroyer,"  the  ingredients  of  which  we  do 
not  know,  as  the  inventor  so  far  has  been 
able  to  keep  his  secret.  This,  put  on  with  an 
atomizer,  never  fails  to  destroy  them.  The 
great  objection  to  this  remedy  is  its  price, 
which  is  entirely  too  high  to  admit  of  its 
being  used  on  a  large  scale.  The  common 
method  to  get  I'id  of  Mealy  Bug  is  to 
brush  it  off  the  leaves  with  a  brush,  made 
soft  enough  not  to  scratch  the  leaves  or 
stems,  or  by  using  the  Kerosene  Emulsion. 
See  Insecticides. 

Thrips  (Tettigonia)  vary  in  color,  being 
light  green,  brown,  and  black.  It  is  much 
more  active  in  its  movements  than  the  Gi-een 
Fly,  and  more  difficult  to  destroy,  and  when 
it  once  gets  a  foothold  is  one  of  the  most 
destructive  enemies  to  the  grapery  or  green- 
house. Tobacco  smoke  that  will  destroy  the 
Aphis,  has  but  little  effect  on  Thrips ;  but  in 
our  experiments  in  destroying  insects  in  the 
winter  of  1S81  in  our  green-houses,  we  found 
that  Tobacco  stems  boiled  so  that  the  liquid 
from  them  was  as  dark  as  strong  coffee  or 
porter,  was  certain  death  to  the  Thrips.  We  had 
a  large  house  of  Dracaenas  and  other  tropical 
plants  badly  affected  by  Thrips ;  we  syringed 
the  plants  freely  with  the  Tobacco  water  for 
ten  or  twelve  days  with  the  most  satisfactory 
results,  as  at  the  end  of  that  time  not  an  insect 
was  to  be  seen,  and  the  plants  at  once  began 
to  grow  with  unwonted  vigor. 

The  Red  Spider  {Acarus  tellariics)  is  an- 
other well-known  pest  to  the  green-house, 
and,  like  the  Thrips,  seems  perfectly  indiffer- 
ent to  the  fumes  of  Tobacco.  It  is  one  of  the 
most  insidious  of  all  our  insect  enemies,  as  it 


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INS 

works  nearly  always  on  the  under  part  of  the 
leaves,  and  often  has  got  a  firm  foothold  be- 
fore its  presence  has  been  discovered.  The 
experienced  gardener  knows  that  the  main 
cause  of  Red  Spider  is  a  dry,  hot  atmosphere, 
as  it  is  never  present  to  injure  in  a  moist  at- 
mosphere and  low  temperature.  So  the  pre- 
ventive is  at  all  times  an  atmosphere  in  the 
green-house  that  will  prevent  the  attacks  of 
the  Red  Spider,  which  at  the  same  time  is 
most  congenial  to  the  health  of  the  plants,  for 
it  is  certain  that  if  the  Red  Spider  is  present 
in  force,  then  the  atmosphere  has  been  too 
dry  for  the  well-being  of  the  plants.  To 
avoid  this  in  private  green-houses,  where  the 
walks  cannot  be  splashed  with  water,  evap- 
orating pans  should  be  placed  on  the  pipes, 
or  any  other  method  that  may  suggest  itself 
to  increase  the  moisture  of  the  atmosphere. 
Last  season  we  filled  the  space  between  the 
rows  of  pipe  with  Sphagnum  Moss,  from 
which,  when  wet,  a  steady  moisture  was 
given  out.  When  the  Red  Spider  is  present, 
the  best  way  to  destroy  it  is  repeated  forcible 
syringings  of  the  leaves,  with  applications  of 
a  sulphur  wash  to  the  pipes,  as  recommended 
for  Mildew,  which  see. 

"  Carnation  Twitter  "  is  an  insect  but 
little  known,  and  in  this  district  only  by  its 
local  name  of  "  Carnation  Twitter,"  given 
from  its  rapid  and  nervous  motion.  As  seen 
by  the  naked  eye,  it  is  about  the  twentieth 
part  of  an  inch  in  length,  and  of  a  thickness 
not  more  than  that  of  a  needle  point.  It  is  of 
various  shades  of  color,  from  green  to  black. 
It  is  never  very  numerous  on  the  plants,  but 
most  destructive,  and  evidently  poisonous  in 
its  attacks  on  all  varieties  of  the  Carnation  or 
Dianthus  family.  Its  effects  on  plants  some- 
what resemble  those  of  the  Red  Spider,  ex- 
cept tliat,  when  attacked  by  the  "Twitter," 
the  leaves  have  a  cankered  and  twisted  ap- 
pearance, easily  distinguishable  from  the 
browning  effects  of  the  Spider;  and  it  is  far 
more  destructive.  We  have  often  seen  thous- 
ands of  Carnation  plants  destroyed  by  it  in  a 
season.  We  regret  to  say  that,  so  far,  we 
have  found  nothing  that  will  destroy  this 
insect  that  does  not  at  the  same  time  injure 
the  plant.  We  have  tried  Tobacco  in  all 
forms,  lime,  soot.  Hellebore,  Paris  Green, 
Quassia,  Aloes,  and  all  the  nostrums  usually 
baneful  to  insect  life,  without  seeming  in  the 
slightest  to  disturb  the  "  Twitter."  We  have 
found,  however,  that  its  ravages  are  worst  on 
light  soils ;  on  heavy,  stiff  clay  land  we  have 
never  known  it  to  do  much  injury. 

Brown  and  White  Scale  Insects  are 
often  troublesome  on  old  plants  of  Oleanders, 
Orange  trees,  and  some  hot-house  plants. 
They  are  best  destroyed  by  being  washed  or 
rubbed  off,  or  by  using  the  Kerosene  Emul- 
sion.   See  Insecticides. 

Slugs  or  Snails.  These  are  troublesome 
both  in  the  open  ground  and  in  the  green- 
house. Salt  is  certain  death  to  them,  even  in 
smallest  quantities,  and  when  in  the  open 
garden,  a  slight  sprinkling  of  salt  over  the 
ground  is  effectual;  but  the  sprinkling,  it 
must  be  remembered,  must  be  very  slight,  as 
salt,  if  put  on  (even  as  thick  as  sand  is  usually 
strewn  on  a  floor)  will  kill  almost  any  kind  of 
vegetation.  In  our  green-houses  the  snails 
usually  feed  at  night,  getting  under  the 
benches  during  the  day.     We  have  found  a 


INS 

most  effectual  remedy  in  strewing  a  thin  line 
of  salt  on  edge  of  each  bench ; — this  makes  a 
complete  '•  dead  line  "  for  the  Slugs  or  Snails, 
for  they  cannot  cross  it  and  live.  Another 
plan  is  to  slice  up  potatoes,  carrots,  cabbage, 
or  lettuce  leaves,  to  feed  on,  for  which  they 
will  leave  all  other  plants.  Examine  these 
traps  daily,  and  destroy  the  captives. 

Ants. — These  are  sometimes  very  de- 
structive to  vegetation,  particularly  in  dry, 
sandy  soils.  We  have  repeatedly  suffered 
serious  losses  from  them,  both  in  our  green- 
houses and  out  of  doors.  The  most  effica- 
cious remedy  we  have  tried  is  to  saturate 
pieces  of  sponge  with  sugar,  or  to  place  fresh 
bones  around  their  haunts ;  they  will  leave 
everything  else  to  feed  on  these,  and  when 
they  are  thus  trapped,  can  be  destroyed  by 
dipping  in  hot  water  or  burning.  Another 
method  is  to  blow  Pyrethrum  or  Persian  Insect 
Powder  over  them  with  a  bellows.  They  are 
killed  at  once  if  the  powder  strikes  them  in  a 
dry  state ;  but  it  has  no  effect  if  damp,  for, 
when  strewed  in  their  haunts,  they  run  over 
it  with  impunity. 

The  Angle  Worm,  or  the  common  red 
worm,  seen  in  nearly  evei-y  soil,  in  pots  or  in 
the  open  ground,  is  harmless  as  far  as  feeding 
on  the  plant  goes,  for  it  does  not  feed  on  the 
plants,  but  bores  and  crawls  around  in  a  way 
which  seriously  disturbs  the  roots  of  plants, 
particularly  when  growing  in  pots.  Some 
savant  has  recently  given  it  as  his  opinion 
that  the  Angle  Worm  is  highly  beneficial  in 
pulverizing  the  soil,  and  that  Nature  has 
placed  it  there  for  that  purpose.  We  are 
afraid  that  there  are  few  cultivators  that  feel 
grateful  to  the  Angle  Worm  for  such  service, 
and  that  most  of  us  would  rather  be  allowed 
to  do  our  own  pulverizing  without  this 
"natural"  assistance.  The  Angle  Worm  is 
easily  destroyed  with  the  following  solution  : 
one  peck  of  shell  lime  in  forty  gallons  of 
water,  allowing  the  residue  to  settle  at  the 
bottom,  and  watering  the  plants  with  the  clear 
lime  water.  The  caustic  of  the  lime  acts  on 
the  cuticule  of  the  worms,  and  is  quickly  fatal 
to  them. 

There  are  many  insects  that  attack  the 
Cabbage  tribe,  among  the  best  known  of  which 
is  that  which  causes  the  disease  known  as 
"Club  Root"  (which  see).  Another  enemy  of 
the  Cabbage  plant,  and  one  that  is  sometimes 
even  more  destructive  than  the  Club  Root, 
is  the 

Cabbage  Caterpillar  or  Cabbage  Worm. 
This  insect  is  comparatively  a  new  comer  in 
the  vicinity  of  New  York,  having  been,  it  is 
believed,  imported  from  Europe.  It  is  pro- 
duced by  a  small  white  butterfly  that  is  seen 
hovering  over  the  Cabbage  patches  in  spring. 
It  attacks  the  leaves  of  the  plant,  and  is  such 
a  voracious  feeder  that  it  will  quickly  destroy 
a  whole  plantation.  We  find  an  excellent 
remedy  for  this  pest  to  be  White  Hellebore 
powder,  which  must,  however,  be  put  on  in 
the  early  stage  of  the  plant's  existence,  as 
when  heading  up,  of  course,  it  would  not  be 
safe  to  apply  it.  The  past  fall  and  winter  our 
cold-frame  Cabbage  and  Cauliflower  plants 
were  attacked  by  the  Cabbage  Worm,  both  in 
the  seed  bed  in  the  open  field,  and  also  after 
being  transplanted  into  the  frames.  One 
good  dusting  of  White  Hellebore  powder 
destroyed  them  completely  on  both  oocasions. 


IPOMOPSIS. 


rPOMCEA  COCCINEA. 


IPOMCEA  SUEFUEEA. 


rXIA  VIKIDIFLOEA. 


rpOMCEA  (CALONYCTION)  GBASSIFLOBA  (MOON  FLOWEE  OB  EVENING  GLOBT). 


IBIS  GEBMAXICA. 


IBIS  HI8PANICA. 


IBIS  StJSIANA. 


IBIS  ANGLICA. 


IRIS  KJEMPFERI. 


aoS 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


205 


INS 

For  application  when  the  plants  are  heading 
up  nothing  is  more  efficacious,  or  more  easy 
of  application,  than  Persian  or  Dalmatian 
insect  powder.  As  it  is  practically  harmless 
to  man,  and  the  higher  animals,  it  can  be 
applied  by  a  bellows,  at  any  stage  of  the 
plant's  growth,  and,  if  of  a  good  grade,  it  is 
certain  death  to  all  insects  which  it  strikes. 
Many  southern  growers  say  it  is  the  only 
effectual,  and  at  the  same  time,  perfectly  safe 
cure  for  the  Cabbage  Worm. 

There  are  three  kinds  of  insects  which 
attack  the  roots  of  Cabbages  after  being 
planted  out  in  the  field  to  head.  One  is  a 
species  of  Wire  Worm,  that  imbeds  itself  in 
the  stem,  for  which,  we  regret  to  say,  we  can 
suggest  no  remedy  that  will  not  at  the  same 
time  kill  the  plant.  Another,  of  a  dull  gray 
color,  resembling  a  caterpillar  in  shape,  is 
known  by  the  popular  and  expressive  name 
of  Cut-worm,  based  upon  their  practice  of 
eating  off  the  young  plants  at  the  level  of  the 
ground.  They  are  the  larvee  of  several  species 
of  NoctuidcB,  and  are  nocturnal  in  their  habits, 
lying  just  under  the  surface  of  the  ground 
during  the  day,  and  feeding  at  night.  They 
hatch  out  early  in  spring,  and  feed  on  grass, 
weeds,  etc.,  and  when  tlie  ground  is  cleared 
and  the  plants  set  out,  their  enforced  fast 
makes  them  doubly  dangerous.  The  following 
extract  from  a  communication  to  Garden  and 
Forest  may  be  of  service  to  many : 

"Various  means  have  been  tried  to  keep 
them  from  the  plants — lime,  salt,  gas-tar  and 
a  variety  of  other  repeliants  have  been  em- 
ployed, all  with  a  variable,  usually  small, 
degree  of  success.  Later,  as  the  habits  of 
the  worms  became  better  known,  traps  were 
prepared  for  them.  Holes  were  driven  with 
a  dibble,  around  the  newly-set  plants,  and  the 
Cut-worms  wandering  about  fell  into  them, 
and,  being  unable  to  climb  up  the  smooth 
sides,  perished  there.  Traps  were  set  in  the 
form  of  chips  and  short  pieces  of  board,  which 
proved  convenient  hiding  places  for  the  larvte, 
and  there  they  could  be  readily  found  during 
the  day  and  destroyed.  Still  later,  balls  of 
grass  and  succulent  leaves  were  scattered 
about  the  fields,  and  there  the  worms  congre- 
gated, and  were  easily  destroyed  during  the 
day.  More  recently,  the  grass  balls  were 
poisoned,  by  being  soaked  in  a  pail  of  water 
into  which  a  teaspoonful  of  London  Purple 
had  been  stirred,  and  the  Cut-worms  were 
thus  killed  without  the  labor  attendant  upon 
a  daily  visitation  of  the  lures.  The  trapping 
system  with  the  aid  of  poisoned  lures  has,  on 
the  whole,  proved  most  satisfactory ;  but,  as 
in  the  case  of  all  applications  of  insecticides, 
the  element  of  time  is  a  most  important 
factor,  and  in  many  cases  really  determines 
success  or  failure. 

"There  is  comparatively  little  success  from 
lures  placed  after  a  field  has  been  set  out 
and  where  vegetation  has  started,  since  the 
worms  will  prefer  young,  growing  plants,  to 
the  lures,  and  after  the  larvee  become  full 
grown  and  ready  for  pupation,  lures,  of 
course,  fail  in  attracting  more  than  a  very 
few  belated  specimens.  The  proper  time  for 
a  Cut-worm  campaign  is  just  after  the  ground 
has  been  prepared  for  the  crop  to  go  in  it,  and 
while  it  is  clear  and  free  from  vegetation — if 
possible  only  a  day  or  two  before  planting — 
the  poisoned  lures  should  be  spread  about 


INS 

liberally,  and  the  vast  majority  of  all  the  Cut- 
worms in  the  prepared  ground  will  be  attracted 
and  destroyed.  It  is,  of  course,  not  likely 
that  the  destruction  will  be  complete,  but  the 
percentage  of  plants  lost  will  be  very  much 
lessened,  and  will  be  insignificant  in  compari- 
son to  the  damage  that  would  have  been 
otherwise  caused."    The  other  is  the 

Cabbage  Maggot.  One  of  the  most  destruc- 
tive insects  we  have  to  contend  with  in  growing 
Cabbage  or  Cauliflower  is  the  Cabbage  Mag- 
got. The  only  remedy  is  prevention — which 
requires  close  observation.  Just  as  soon  as 
the  Cabbage  or  Cauliflower  becomes  well 
rooted  in  the  open  field  after  planting  out  (in  the 
latitude  of  New  York  usually  about  middle 
of  May),  close  attention  will  show  a  small 
black  fly  hovering  around  the  plants  that 
deposits  usually  about  twenty  eggs,  of  a 
whitish  color  and  about  the  size  of  a  pin's  head. 
Before  the  eggs  hatch  out  each  plant  must  be 
fingered  around  so  as  to  displace  them  from 
the  stem.  This  is  quickly  done,  and  it  is,  we 
believe,  the  only  known  remedy  to  save  the 
crop. 

The  CuKcuiiio  or  Plum  Weevil.  This  little 
beetle  is  one  of  the  greatest  orchard  pests, 
attacking  not  only  the  Plum,  Cherry,  Peach  and 
other  stone  fruits,  but  also  doing  serious  dam- 
age to  the  Apple.  Its  attacks  are  followed  by 
great  deformity  in  the  fruit.  The  Apples  are 
often  stung  many  times  and  become  so  gnarled, 
distorted,  and  scarred  as  to  be  wholly  worth- 
less. An  almost  certain  remedy  is  to  use  a 
tablespoon! ul  of  London  Purple  or  Paris  Green 
to  six  gallons  of  water,  syringed  on  the  trees 
every  other  day  for  fifteen  days,  beginning 
the  operation  as  the  flower  begins  to  drop,  as 
it  is  just  when  the  fruit  is  forming  that  the 
insect  deposits  its  egg.  No  danger  need  be 
apprehended  from  the  small  quantity  of  the 
poison  used,  as  it  will  be  all  washed  from  the 
fruit  long  before  it  ripens.  Another  remedy, 
which  will  effectually  save  a  crop  in  the  dis- 
tricts infested  by  this  insect,  is  to  jar  the 
tree  in  the  morning  or  in  cool  days,  first 
spreading  sheets  under  the  trees  to  catch  the 
weevils,  after  which  they  may  be  burned.  If 
this  is  begun  as  soon  as  the  Plums  are  formed, 
and  persisted  in  every  few  days  until  they  are 
ripe,  a  large  share  of  the  crop  may  be  saved. 
This  may  be  thought  to  be  paying  rather  dear 
for  a  crop  of  Plums,  but  it  is  really  the  only 
way  it  can  be  secured.  Many  years  ago  the 
crop  of  a  Plum  orchard  under  my  charge, 
numbering  over  a  hundred  large  trees,  was 
saved  by  this  process,  while  all  other  Plums 
in  the  district,  where  the  jarring  of  the  trees 
was  not  resorted  to,  were  completely  des- 
troyed. This  plan  was  recommended  nearly 
half  a  centuiy  ago,  and  no  other  practicable 
method  has  been  presented  until  the  recent 
use  of  London  Purple  or  Paris  Green,  applied 
as  already  described. 

The  PHYiiiiOXERA,  which  has  been  so  des- 
tructive to  the  Grape  vine  in  Europe,  is,  fortu- 
nately, mostly  localized  with  us  thus  far,  and 
its  ravages  have  been  far  from  alarming, 
though  many  feel  apprehensive  of  the  future. 
Its  depredations,  which  are  of  a  deadly  nature, 
are  confined  chiefly  to  the  roots,  and  thus  far 
no  certain  means  for  its  destruction  have 
been  discovered.  The  Phylloxera  has,  in  a 
few  places,  been  found  quite  destructive  to 


206 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


INS 

the  foreign  vine  grown  under  glass,  especially 
in  parts  of  Ehode  Island,  making  it  necessary, 
in  some  cases,  to  renew  both  the  vines  and 
the  borders. 

CoLORAUo  Bug,  or  Potato  Beetle,  so 
destructive  T  some  years  ago,  has  now  bee  a 
well-nigh  driven  off  by  the  persistent  use  of 
Paris  Green  by  farmers  and  gardeners. 

Insertion.  The  manner  in  which  one  part  is 
inserted  into,  or  adheres  to,  or  originates  from 
another ;  as  the  leaf  on  the  branch,  the  branch 
on  tlie  stem,  etc. 

Inula.  A  word  of  doubtful  origin,  but  said  to 
be  a  corruption  of  Helenium.     Nat.  Ord.   Com- 


A  genus  of  coarse-growing  annuals  and  her- 
baceous perennials,  not  worth  growing  as 
flowering  plants.  /.  Helenium  is  the  Elecam- 
pane, common  in  the  roadsides  tl\roughout  the 
States. 

Involucre.  A  ring  or  rings  of  bracts  sur- 
rounding several  flowers,  such  as  the  whorled 
bracts  at  the  base  of  an  umbel,  a  head,  or  a 
single  hower. 

Involute.  Rolled  inward ;  when  edges  are  rolled 
inward  on  each  side. 

lochro'ina.  From  ion,  violet,  and  chroma,  color ; 
color  of  the  flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Solanacem. 

A  genus  of  green-house  trees  or  shrubs, 
natives  of  western  tropical  America.  It  con- 
tains about  fifteen  species,  bearing  blue, 
violet,  white,  yellowish,  or  scarlet  flowers. 
The  fruit  is  succulent,  tAVo-celled,  and  many 
seeded,  inclosed  in  a  bladdery  calyx.  /.  lan- 
ceolata  and  /.  tubulosa  have  very  showy,  rich, 
deep  purplish-blue  flowers,  and  they  would 
doubtless  prove  hardy  in  the  Southern  States. 

lonopsi'dium.  From  ionopsis,  Aiolet-faxjed,  and 
eidos,  resemblance;  alluding  to  the  resem- 
blance to  some  of  the  tufted  Violets.  Nat. 
Ord.  CrucifercR. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  annual:^,  natives  of 
Portugal  and  Algeria.  I.  acaule,  the  only 
cultivated  species,  makes  a  beautiful  little 
plant  for  rockeries  or  shaded  situations ;  its 
flowers  are  of  a  clear  lilac,  and  the  foliage  of 
a  delicate  green.  It  is  increased  by  seeds  and 
also  by  runners,  which  root  freely  in  the  damp 
soil.     Introduced  1815. 

lono'psis.  From  ion,  violet,  and  opsis,  like. 
Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  free-flowering,  low-grow- 
ing, beautiful  little  Orchids.  They  are  difficult 
to  manage,  and  are,  therefore,  seldom  seen  in 
collections. 

Ipecacua'nha.  The  root  of  Cephcelis  Ipecacw- 
anha.  A  Brazilian  plant,  the  cultivation  of 
which  has  been  introduced  into  India,  The 
roots  afford  the  important  emetic,  and  the 
only  known  specific  for  dysentery. 

Ipomoe'a.  Morning  Glory.  From  ips,  bind- 
weed, and  homoios,  similar;  alluding  to  the 
twining  habit  of  the  plants.  Nat.  Ord.  Con- 
volvulacece. 

A  very  extensive  genus  of  twining  plants, 
consisting  of  hardy  and  tender  annuals,  hard}' 
tuberous-rooted  perennials,  and  green-house 
perennials.  They  are  remarkable  for  their 
showy  flowers  of  white,  pink,  blue  and  purple 

'  colors.  I.  purpurea,  with  its  varieties,  is  the 
common  Morning  Glory  of  the  garden.  It  is  a 
native  of  South  America,   but  has  escaped 


IPS 

from  cultivation  and  become  thoroughly  nat- 
uralized. /.  pandurala,  Man-of-the-Earth,  a 
native  species,  having  very  large  tuberous 
roots,  when  well  established  will  cover  a  very 
large  space,  and  produce  an  immense  number 
of  very  large,  pure  white  flowers.  Thej'  re- 
main open  much  longer  than  the  annual 
varieties.  The  tuberous-rooted  species  are 
increased  by  division,  by  cuttings,  or  from 
seeds.  The  beautiful  Moon  Flosver,  Ipomcea 
(Calonyction)  grandijlora,  known  also  in  com- 
merce as  /.  noctiphiton,  etc.,  is  a  tropical  per- 
ennial species,  with  immense  pure  white, 
sweet-scented  flowers,  which,  contrary  to  the 
habits  of  this  splendid  family,  open  at  night 
instead  of  the  morning.  Being  a  free 
bloomer,  the  effect,  especially,  on  a  moon- 
light night,  is  charming,  particularly  when  it 
is  growing  on  a  tree.  This  species  requires 
protection  during  winter,  and  is  increased 
by  cuttings  or  seeds.  I.  Mexicana  and  I. 
Bona  Nox,  natives  of  Florida  and  New 
Mexico,  etc.,  are  also  white-flowered,  night- 
blooming  species,  but  neither  of  them  is  so 
large  or  floriferous  as  the  foregoing.  /.  Learii, 
the  blue  Dawn  flower,  a  tender  perennial 
species,  is  perhaps  the  most  beautiful  and 
useful  of  all  the  Ipomoeas.  It  is  useful  in  the 
open  air  for  rapidly  covering  an  outbuilding, 
a  wall,  or  a  trellis,  and  will  flower  abundantly 
from  midsummer  till  fall.  In  the  green-house 
it  will  bloom  the  whole  year,  but  it  is  well  to 
cut  it  in  rather  severely  in  September  to  keep 
it  within  bounds.  The  flowers,  whit-h  are 
large,  and  of  that  pure  sky-blue  so  rare  among 
flowers,  are  produced  in  the  greatest  profu- 
sion. It  is  propagated  by  cuttings.  We 
have  tried  many  times  to  raise  it  from,  im- 
ported seed,  but  have  never  found  it  to  come 
true.  /.  Icptophylla  is  a  hardy  perennial 
species  of  half-climbing  habit,  with  an  im- 
mense tuberous  root,  and  is  a  desirable  plant. 
It  is  found  from  Nebraska  to  New  Mexico, 
and  is  propagated  by  division  and  from  seed. 
I.  coccinea,  or  Star  Ipomoea,  a  native  of  the 
West  Indies,  bears  a  profusion  of  scarlet 
flowers,  and  is  a  very  desirable  plant.  Nearly- 
all  the  Ipoma?as  are  popular  plants,  especi- 
ally with  those  who  have  an  eye  for  grace  and 
beauty  combined. 

Ipomo'psis.  Standing  Cypress.  From  ipo,  to 
strike  forcibly,  and  opsis,  sight;  alluding  to 
the  dazzling  color  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord. 
Polemoniacece. 

I.  elegans  and  I.  picta  are  the  only  species. 
They  are  beautiful  hardy  biennials,  natives  of 
South  Carolina  and  southward.  They  grow 
from  four  to  six  feet  high,  and  are  covered 
nearly  their  whole  length  with  brilliant  sear- 
let  flowers.  Seed  should  be  sown  in  early 
summer,  in  a  dry,  sandy  soil,  where  the  water 
will  not  stand  in  winter ;  they  will  be  greatly 
benefited  with  a  slight  mulching  of  leaves, 
not  as  a  protection  against  cold,  but  against 
wet  and  sudden  changes.  This  genus  is  now 
included  under  Gilia,  by  some  authorities. 

I'psea.  Derivation  of  name  unknown.  Nat. 
Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

This  genus  of  Orchids  is  represented  by  /. 
speciosa,  a  beautiful  and  rare  species  from 
Ceylon.  The  flowers  are  clear  yellow  with  a 
carmine  stripe  on  the  lip.  It  requires  the 
same  treatment  as  the  Bletia,  which  it  re- 
sembles in  habit;  introduced  in  1840. 


AND   GENEKAL  HORTICULTURE. 


207 


IRE 

Iresi'ne.  From  eiroa,  wool ;  referring  to  the 
wooly  aspect  of  the  branches  of  some  of  the 
species.    Nat.  Or  J.  Amaranthacem. 

A  genus  of  erect  herbs  or  sub-shrubs,  na- 
tives of  Australia  and  tropical  and  sub-tropi- 
cal America,  a  single  species  reaching  as  far 
north  as  Ohio.  Those  best  known  in  cultiva- 
tion are  very  ornamental  plants,  and  are  in- 
dispensable in  all  bedding-out  arrangements 
on  account  of  their  beautifully-colored  foliage. 
The  genus  is  very  closely  allied  to  Achyran- 
thes. 

Iria'rtea.  Named  in  honor  of  Juan  Iriarte,  a 
Spanish  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacem. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental,  tall-growing 
palms,  inhabiting  tropical  America.  Natur- 
ally, they  sometimes  produce  aerial  roots, 
which  raise  the  trees  from  the  ground  as  if 
on  stilts.  They  require  the  same  treatment 
as  otlier  stove-palms. 

Iriarte'Ua  setigera.  A  small  South  American 
palm  formerly  included  in  Iriartea.  It 
rarely  grows  more  than  fifteen  feet  high,  and 
has  a  perfectly  straight  cylindrical  trunk, 
scarcely  more  than  an  inch  thick.  The  In- 
dians on  the  Amazon  and  Rio  Negro,  where 
this  palm  grows,  in  the  underwood  of  the 
forests,  use  its  slender  stems  for  making 
their  blow-pipes,  the  weapon  commonly  em- 
ployed by  them  in  the  pursuit  of  game,  and 
through  which  they  blow  small  poisoned 
arrows  with  unerring  accuracy,  and  to  a  con- 
siderable distance.  These  blow-pipes  are 
usually  from  eight  to  twelve  feet  long,  and 
have  a  bore  of  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in 
diameter. 

Irida'ceae  (The  Iris  Family).  A  natural  order  of 
herbs  with  eorms,  rhizomes,  or  fibrous  roots, 
and  mostly  with  equitant  leaves,  and  flowers 
in  sheaths.  They  are  found  in  warm  and 
temperate  regions,  and  abound  at  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope.  There  are  about  fifty  genera 
and  upward  of  five  hundred  species.  Iris, 
Gladiolus,  Crocus,  and  Ixia  are  examples. 

I'ris.  Fleur-de-Luce,  or  FIower-de-Luce.  Iris, 
the  rainbow  deified  ;  an<3iently  applied  to  this 
genus  on  account  of  the  bright  and  varied 
colors  of  the  blossoms.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacem. 

There  are  two  large  and  distinct  sections 
into  which  the  Iris  is  usually  divided,  one 
with  creeping  fleshy  root-stocks  or  rhizomes, 
including  such  species  as/.  Germanica,  I.  Flor- 
entina,  I  flavescens,  I.  squalens,  etc.,  and  num- 
berless varieties  having  large  and  iiandsome 
flowers,  and  as  they  are  the  easiest  to  cul- 
tivate, they  are  most  largely  grown,  the  other 
section  includes  the  bulbous  kinds  or  Xiphions, 
principally  represented  in  cultivation  by 
what  are  known  as  the  English  and  Spanish 
Iris.  Both  are  of  Spanish  origin,  and  vary 
chiefly  in  the  size  of  the  bulbs  and  flowers, 
and  in  the  more  curious  combination  of  colors 
as  exhibited  in  the  flowers  of  the  former. 
They  should  be  taken  up  and  replanted  every 
second  or  third  year,  as  the  new  bulbs,  which 
are  formed  every  season,  are  always  directly 
under  the  old  bulb  ;  and  thus  in  the  course  of 
a  few  years  the  bulbs  descend  so  low  as  to  be 
out  of  the  reach  of  the  air,  and  consequently 
incapable    of    vegetation.      Thus    it    will  be 

.  generally  found  that  persons  in  the  habit  of 
growing  Irises,   are   always  complaining    of 


ISM 

losing  their  plants,  while  the  real  fault  rests 
with  themselves  for  not  taking  up  their  bulbs 
at  the  proper  time.  The  bulbous  and  tuber- 
ous-rooted Irises  succeed  in  any  light  and 
dry  soil.  The  splendid  Chalcedbnian  Iris  is 
one  of  the  tuberous-rooted  kinds ;  and  it  not 
only  requires  a  dry  soil  during  winter,  but  to 
be  allowed  plenty  of  pure  air  during  the  whole 
period  of  its  growth,  or  it  will  be  very  apt  to 
damp  off.  Among  the  species  of  late  intro- 
duction is  /.  KcBmpferii  (Syn.  IcBvigata),  from 
Japan.  The  plants  are  perfectly  hardy,  and 
are  very  free-flowering.  The  flowers  are 
double  and  single,  the  colors  pure  white, 
purple,  maroon,  blue,  and  many  with  the 
various  colors  marbled  with  white.  They 
grow  readily  in  almost  any  situation,  in  full 
exposure  to  sun,  or  in  partial  shade.  They 
are  increased  by  division,  or  may  be  grown 
readily  from  seed,  which  if  sown  in  the  open 
border,  will  make  plants  that  will  flower  the 
second  year.  These  are  really  grand  plants. 
Scarcely  any  plants  in  the  flower-garden  can 
compare  with  them  for  gorgeous  beauty,  and 
they  command  a  prominent  place  in  all 
gardens.  That  they  do  not  flower  until  near 
midsummer,  when  the  season  of  the  common 
Iris  is  past,  is  an  additional  recommendation 
to  most  lovers  of  plants. 
Irish  Heath.     Dab(£Cia  polifolia. 

Iron  Tree.  The  common  name  of  Parrotia 
Persica. 

Iron-weed.  The  popular  name  of  Vernonia 
Noveboracensis,  a  common  plant  in  moist 
grounds  and  along  fence  rows,  growing  from 
two  to  seven  feet  high,  and  bearing  bright 
pui-ple  flowers. 

Iron-wood.  The  popular  name  of  two  trees 
that  furnish  a  hard,  useful  timber,  the  one 
Ostrya,  which  is  also  known  as  Hop  Horn- 
beam, and  tl)e  other  Carpinus,  the  common 
Hornbeam,  or  Iron-wood.  Both  are  common 
in  inost  of  the  States. 

Iron-wood  of  Morocco.     See  Argania  siderox- 

■  ylon. 

I'satis.  A  genus  of  CrucifercB,  consisting  of 
erect  annual  or  biennial  plants,  natives  of 
southern  Europe  and  western  Asia,  one  being 
found  in  China.  They  have  undivided  leaves, 
with  a  bluish  bloom,  and  generally  yellow 
flowers,  borne  in  long,  loose,  erect,  terminal 
panicles.  I.  tinctoria,  the  Dyer's  wood,  is  the 
only  species  of  importance,  being  cultivated, 
especially  in  the  north  of  China,  for  the  blue 
dye,  similar  to  indigo,  obtained  from  it. 

Isme'ne.  Peruvian  Daffodil.  After  Ismene,  the 
daughter  of  ffidipus  and  Jocasta.  Nat.  Ord. 
Ainaryllidacem. 

A  small  genus  of  very  handsome  bulbs  from 
Peru,  which  req.uire  to  be  kept  perfectly  dry 
during  winter,  and  free  from  frost.  Planted 
out  in  spring  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  warm 
and  dry,  they  come  into  fiower  in  June  and 
July.  /.  calathina,  with  pure  white,  very  fra- 
grant flowers,  and  I.  amanccBS,  yellow,  are  ex- 
cellent for  this  purpose.  As  the  flowers  last 
well,  they  are  also  valuable  for  winter  forcing, 
and  can  be  brought  into  bloom  in  six  weeks 
from  the  time  of  planting,  and  may  be  had  in 
succession  all  winter.  The  flowers  are  pro- 
duced in  an  umbel  on  a  spathe  about  tvro  feet 
high .  This  genus  is  included  by  some  botanists 


2U8 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


ISO 

under  Hymenocallis,  and  by  others  under  Pan- 
cratium. They  are  propagated  by  ofifsets,  and 
■were  introduced  in  1800. 
Iso'lepis.  From  isos,  equal,  and  lepis,  a  scale ; 
alluding  to  the  regularity  of  the  scales.  Nat. 
Ord.  Cyperacece. 

I.  gracilis  is  a  very  pretty,  low-growing, 
fine,  rush-like  grass,  cultivated  for  a  basket 
plant,  a  purpose  for  which  it  is  admirably 
adapted.  Propagated  by  division.  Sjm.  Scirptia 
riparius. 

Isolo'ma.  From  isos,  equal,  and  loma,  a  bor- 
der; lobes  of  corolla  equal.  Nat.  Ord.  Ges- 
neracecB. 

A  genus  comprising  about  sixty  species  of 
ornamental  green-house  and  stove  plants, 
often  confused  with  Achimenes  and  Gesnera, 
natives  of  Mexico,  Bolivia,  Peru,  etc.  Flowers 
often  scarlet,  golden,  or  spotted ;  leaves  oppo- 
site, often  slightly  villous.  Culture  similar 
to  Gesnera  or  Tydea,  which  see. 

Isolo'ma  (of  J.  Smith).  A  name  given  to  a 
genus  of  Ferns  now  included  under  hindsma. 

Isona'ndra.  Gutta  Percha  Tree.  From  isos, 
equal,  and  ander,  the  male  organ,  or  stamen ; 
referring  to  an  equal  number  of  fertile  and 
barren  stamens.     Nat.  Ord.  Sapotaeece. 

I.  gutta,  the  species  which  yields  Gutta 
Percha,  is  a  large  forest-tree,  growing  sixty  to 
seventy  feet  high,  with  a  trunk  two  or  three 
feet  in  diameter.  It  is  a  native  of  Borneo, 
Ceylon  and  Malaya,  where  there  are  immense 
forests  of  this  and  kindred  species.  They  are 
quite  ornamental  trees,  but,  from  their  size, 
only  valuable  for  the  Gutta  Percha  they  pro- 
duce. 

Isopy'rum.  From  isos,  equal,  and  pyros,  wheat. 
The  Greeks  gave  this  name  to  a  plant  resem- 
bling Nigella,  the  seeds  of  which  have  the 
same  taste.     Nat.  Ord.  Ranunculacece. 

A  genus  of  dwarf,  slender,  hardy  perennial 
herbs,  natives  of  Europe  and  temperate  Asia. 
I.  thalictroides  is  a  very  graceful  border  plant, 
with  feathery,  white  flowers,  and  foliage  re- 
sembling a  Maiden-hair  Fern.  It  is  of  easy 
cultivation,  and  is  increased  by  seeds  or  divis- 
ion of  the  roots. 

Iso'toma.  From  isos,  equal,  and  toma,  a  sec- 
tion; the  flowers  are  equal.  Nat.  Ord.  Lobel- 
iacece. 

A  small  genus  of  annuals  and  herbaceous 
perennials,  formerly  included  in  the  genus 
Lobelia.  I.  petrcea  is  a  very  showy  half-hardy 
annual,  with  cream-colored  flowers.  I.  longi- 
flora,  a  native  of  the  West  Indies,  is  a  most 
venomous  plant,  producing  dangerous  cathar- 
tic symptoms.  It  proves  fatal  to  horses  that 
eat  it. 

Isotro'pis.  From  isos,  equal,  and  tropos, 
turned ;  referring  probably  to  the  distinctly 
formed  veins  in  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord. 
LeguminoscB. 

I.  striaia,  from  Swan  Eiver,  constitutes  this 
genus.  It  is  a  beautiful  little  green-house 
shrub,  with  a  soft  and  slightly  downy  stem. 
The  flowers  are  much  like  those  of  the  Choro- 
zema,  clear  orange  yellow,  with  rich,  deep 
crimson,  forked  veins.  It  was  introduced  in 
1838,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
young  wood. 

Italian  Rye  Grass.     Lolium  Italicw.n. 

I'tea.     The  Greek  name  for  the  "Willow,  applied 


IXO 

to  this  genus  on  account  of  its  rapid  growth  in 
damp  soil.     Nat.  Ord.  Saxifragacece. 

I.  Virginica,  the  only  cultivated  species,  Is 
a  dwarf  shrub  resembling  a  willow  in  habit 
and  foliage  ;  flowers  white,  produced  in  great 
profusion  towards  the  end  of  summer.  In- 
digenous in  wet  places,  from  New  Jersey 
southward,  near  the  coast. 

Ivory.  Vegetable.  The  hard  albumen  of  the 
nuts  of  Phytelephas  macrocarpa. 

Ivy.    See  Hedera  helix. 

American.     Ampelopsis  quinquefolia. 

German  or  Parlor.     A  garden  name  for  Sen- 

ecio  Mikanioides. 
Ground.     Nepeta  Glechoma. 
Japan,   or  Boston.     See  Ampelopsis  tricuapi- 

data  (Syn.  A.  Veitchii). 
Kenilworth,   or    Coliseum.      Linaria    cymba- 

laria. 
Mexican.     Cobma  scandens. 
Poison.     Rhus  toxicodendron. 

I'xia.  From  ixia,  bird-lime ;  in  reference  to 
the  clammy  juice.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

A  genus  of  beautiful  Cape  bulbs,  with  nar- 
row ensate  leaves,  and  slender,  simple,  or 
slightly  branched  stems,  bearing  spikes  of 
large  showy  flowers,  various  in  color,  and  ex- 
ceedingly attractive  when  fully  expanded  by 
sunshine.  These  flowers  have  a  salver- 
shaped  perianth,  with  a  slender  tube,  and 
six-parted,  spreading,  equal  limb,  three  sta- 
mens inserted  in  the  throat,  with  flliform  fil- 
aments and  versatile  anthers,  and  a  three- 
celled  ovary  with  numerous  ovules,  termi- 
nating in  a  filiform  style,  and  three  narrow 
linear  con-duplicate  recurved  stigmas.  I. 
mridiflora,  which  has  large  sea-green  flowers 
with  black  markings  at  the  base  of  the  seg- 
ments, is  a  very  singular-looking,  as  well  as 
very  beautiful  plant.  There  are  many  species 
and  some  varieties,  and  the  greater  part  of 
them  are  worthy  of  cultivation.  They  are 
half  hardy,  but  with  us  should  be  grown  in 
pots  in  the  green-house;  about  mid-winter 
they  will  begin  to  show  their  handsome  flow- 
ers freely.  When  done  flowering  they  should 
be  dried  off  till  September  or  October,  which 
is  the  proper  time  to  start  them  again.  They 
grow  well  in  a  light  loam  with  the  addition  of 
leaf  mould  and  sand,  and  are  propagated  by 
offsets.     First  introduced  in  1757. 

Ixia'nthes  retzioides.  A  rare  and  beautiful 
plant  of  the  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacem,  native 
of  western  South  Africa.  It  is  an  erect  shrub, 
with  lanceolate  leaves,  densely  crowded  into 
ternary  whorls.  The  flowers  are  not  unlike 
those  of  a  Pentstemon,  but  bright  yellow.  It 
grows  naturally  almost  in  the  water,  and  in 
drier  places  becomes  stunted  and  depauper- 
ated.    Introduced  in  1882. 

Ixioli'rion.  From  ixia,  and  leirion,  a  lily ;  lit- 
erally, Ixia-like  Lily.  Nat.  Ord.  Amarylli- 
dacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  rare  and  beautiful  little 
hardy  bulbs  from  Asia  Minor.  They  have 
simple  erect  stems,  with  terminal  clusters  or 
racemes  of  sky-blue  flowers,  and  are  propa- 
gated by  seeds  or  offsets.  Introduced  in 
1844. 

Ixo'ra.  Named  after  Iswara,  a  Malabar  deity, 
to  whom  the  flowers  of  some  of  the  species 
are  offered.     Nat.  Ord.  Rubiac^ce. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


209 


JAB 

A  genus  of  Indian  and  tropical  African 
shrubs,  with  corymbs  of  handsome  flowers  of 
a  scarlet,  pinli,  or  white  color,  and  frequently 
having  an  agreeable  fragrance.  The  history 
of  Ixora  coccinea,  the  best  known  species,  is 
rather  curious.  It  is  a  native  of  China  and 
some  of  the  East  India  Islands,  where  it  is 
worshipped  as  a  sacred  plant,  and  where  it  is 
said  to  form  a  small  tree  about  six  feet  high, 
rising  with  a  single  stem,  and  having  its  head 
formed  entirely  of  clusters  of  bright  scarlet 
and  yellow  flowers,  whence  it  has  received 
the  name  of  Flamma  Sylvarum,  or  the  3^ree  of 
Fire.  This  plant  was  first  introduced  in  1690; 
but  it  was  soon  lost  and  its  existence  was 
even  doubted  until  it  was  r^-introduced  about" 
a  hundred  years  afterward  by  the  celebrated 
Dr.  Fothergill.  The  Ixoras  are  really  mag- 
nificent plants,  and  should  be  grown  in  a 
warm  temperature.  They  are  propagated 
from  cuttings,  and  should  be  grown  in  a  sandy 
loam  and  leaf  mould.  When  repotted,  which 
should  be  done  immediately  after  flowering, 
the  plants  will  be  benefited  by  being  plunged 
into  a  moderate  bottom  heat,  which  induces 


JAP 

them  to  root  freely,  and  to  form  the  growth 
quickly  and  with  vigor,  thus  enabling  them 
to  become  properly  ripened  before  winter.  In 
the  spring,  when  the  fiower  heads  begin  to 
appear,  a  liberal  regimen  should  be  adopted, 
and  liquid  manure  occasionally  applied.  At 
this  time,  and,  indeed,  throughout  the  sum- 
mer, the  foliage  should  be  frequently  syr- 
inged, in  order  to  keep  it  clear  of  insects,  and 
to  preserve  its  rich  green  and  glossiness.  As 
soon  as  the  flowers  are  expanded,  and  onward 
till  the  growth  is  complete,  the  plants  should 
be  shaded  from  powerful  light,  and  through 
the  summer  a  moderately  moist  atmosphere 
of  about  75°  should  be  kept  about  them.  In 
winter  the  ordinary  attention  required  by  hot- 
house plants  will  suffice.  The  taste  for  hard- 
wooded  plants  is  on  the  increase.  Among  the 
best  is  the  Ixora,  which  should  be  more  gen- 
erally grown ;  over  twenty  species  varying  in 
color,  from  pure  white  to  deep  orange-scarlet, 
are  now  in  cultivation.  I.  coccinea  superba, 
I.  eminens,  I.  illvstris,  I.  decora,  I.  omata,  I. 
Williamsii  and  others,  are  free  flowering  and 
easily  grown  species. 


J. 


Jaboro'sa.     From  Jaborose,  the  Arabic  for  the 
Mandrake,  an  allied  plant.     Nat.  Ord.  So- 
lanacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  South  American  herbaceous 
perennials.  The  flowers  are  funnel-shaped, 
white  or  green.  None  of  the  species  has  any 
special  attractions. 

Jack-in-the-Pulpit.     See  AriscBtna. 

Jaca,  or  Jack-Tree.  The  native  name  of  Arto- 
carpus  integrifolia,  the  Bread  Fruit  of  the  East 
Indies. 

Jacara'nda.  Its  Brazilian  name.  Nat.  Ord. 
Bignoniarece. 

A  genus  of  very  handsome,  lofty  evergreen 
trees,  with  the  elegant  habit  of  the  fine- 
leaved  Acacias.  They  have  bluish  flowers  in 
terminal  panicles,  but  their  size  prevents  their 
cultivation  in  the  green-house. 

Jacobae'a.     A  synonym  of  Senecio. 

Jacobaean  Lily.    See  Sprekelia. 

Jacobi'nia.  A  genus  of  AcanthacecB,  proposed  to 
include  Cyrtanthera,  Pachystachys  and  Serico- 
gr  aphis. 

Jacob's  Ladder.     See  Polemonium. 

Jacquemo'ntia.  Named  after  Victor  Jacque- 
mont,  a  traveler  in  the  East  Indies.  Nat.  Ord. 
ConvolvulaceoB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
.twiners,  intermediate  between  IpomoRa  and 
Convolvulus.  They  are  natives  of  Mexico  and 
the  East  Indies,  and  are  propagated  by  cut- 
tings.    Introduced  in  1808. 

Jacqui'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  N.  J.  de  Jacquin, 
once  Professor  of  Botany  at  Leyden.  A  genus 
of  handsome  evergreen  bushes  of  the  Nat. 
Ord.  Convoltulaceoi,  peculiar  to  America,  where 
they  range  from  Florida  to  Brazil,  and  are 
usually  found  near  the  coast.  J.  armillaris  is 
known  by  the  West  Indian  settlers  as  Brace- 


let Wood ;  the  shiny  brown  and  yellow  seeds 
being  made  into  bracelets.  Introduced  to- 
cultivation  in  1768. 

Jalap.     See  Exogonium. 

Jamaica  Dogwood.     See  Piscidia. 

Jamaica  Mignonette.  (Henna  Plant.)  See 
Lawsonia. 

Jamaica  Pepper.  A  name  given  to  Allspice, 
Pimento  vulgaris,  which  see. 

Jame'sia.  Named  after  Dr.  Edion  James,  who 
first  discovered  the  plant.  Nat.  Ord.  Saxi- 
fragacece.  r- 

J.  Americana,  the  only  species,  is  a  medium- 
sized  hardy  shrub,  with  opposite  serrated 
leaves  and  white  flowers,  like  a  Deutzia, 
blooming  nearly  all  summer.  It  is  a  native  of 
Mexico  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  is  in- 
creased by  seeds  or  cuttings  of  the  ripened 
wood.     Introduced  in  1865. 

Jamestown  "Weed.     See  Datura. 

Janipha.     See  Manihot. 

Japan  Allspice.     See  C himonanthus. 

Japan  Cedar.     See  Crytomeria. 

Japan  Clover.     See  Lespedeza. 

Japan  Cypress.     See  Retinospora. 

Japanese  Toad  Lily.     See  Tricyrtis. 

Japan  or  Climbing  Fern.     See  Lygodium. 

Japan  Lacquer  Tree.     Rhus  vernicifera. 

Japan  or  Boston  Ivy.  See  Ampelopsia  ( Veitchii) 
tricuspidata. 

Japan  Maple.     Acer  Japonicum. 

Japan  Medlar,  or  Japan  Persimmon.  See 
Diospyros. 

Japan  Pepper.     See  Xardhoxylum, 

Japan  Plum.     See  Eryobotrya.  ^ 

Japan  Quince.     See  Cydonia.  j 


210 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


JAP 

Japan  Varnish  Tree.     Ailantus  glandulosus. 

Japan  Yew.     See  Podocarpus. 

Jasio'ne.  An  ancient  name  used  by  Theophras- 
tus.     Nat.  Ord.  CampanulacecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials 
and  annuals,  mostly  natives  of  Europe  and 
North  Africa.  All  of  the  species  have  very 
pretty  blue  flowers,  though  not  of  sufficient 
importance  to  warrant  their  introduction  in  the 
garden.  J.  montana  is  a  pretty  annual,  com- 
mon in  the  healthy  and  moorland  districts  of 
Great  Britain.  It  is  commonly  known  as 
Sheep's  Scabious,  from  its  resemblance  to  the 
Scabious,  and  from  its  abundance  in  sheep- 
walks. 

Jasmine  or  Jessamine.     See  Jasminum. 
Cape.     See  Gardenia  Jlorida. 
Carolina.     Gelsemium  nitidum. 

Jasmineae.     A  tribe  of  the  Nat.  Ord.  Oleacem. 

Jasmi'num.  Jasmine.  From  Tsmym,  the  Ara- 
bic name.     Nat.  Ord.  Oleacece. 

The  delicacy  and  fragrance  of  the  flowers  of 
the  Jasmine  have  often  afforded  metaphor  and 
theme  to  the  poet.  Among  the  species  are 
found  equally  desirable  subjects  for  deco- 
rating the  hot-house,  the  green-house,  arbors, 
or  other  objects  in  the  open  air,  and  combin- 
ing in  every  instance  freedom  and  elegance 
in  the  gtmeral  habit  of  the  plants,  with  all 
that  is  desirable  in  floral  embellishments. 
The  hot-house  and  green-house  species  should 
be  frequently  fumigated  through  the  summer, 
as  they  are  extremely  liable  to  attacks  from 
aphis  and  other  insects.  The  hardy  kinds 
grow  freely  in  almost  any  situation,  and 
only  require  to  be  kept  trained  in  the  desired 
form,  without,  however,  reducing  them  to  a 
rigidly  formal  outline,  to  make  them  most 
ornamental  objects  in  almost  any  position. 
Most  of  the  species  are  from  the  East  Indies. 
J.  grandiflorum  is  one  of  our  best  known 
winter-flowering  plants,  and  is  largely  used  for 
cut  flowers.  It  is  propagated  by  cuttings, 
which  root  freely,  and  when  well  grown  form 
good  plants  the  first  season.  Introduced  in 
1629. 

Ja'tropha.  From  iatros,  physician,  and  trophe, 
food;  referring  to  its  medicinal  qualities. 
Nat.  Ord.  EuphorbiacecB. 

A  widely-distributed  genus  of  herbs  and 
evergreen  shrubs,  principally  of  economic 
value,  found  chiefly  in  South  America.  None 
of  the  species  are  valuable  as  flowering  or 
ornamental  plants,  though  J.  podoqraria  is 
sometimes  grown  for  its  curious  gouty  stems, 
J.  nrens,  common  on  the  coast  from  Virginia, 
southwards,  from  its  stinging  properties,  is 
generally  known  by  its  popular  names,  Tread- 
Softly,  and  Spurge-Nettle. 

Jefferso'nia.  Twin-leaf.  Named  in  honor  of 
Thomas  Jefferson.      Nat.  Ord.  Berberidacece. 

J.  diphylla,  the  only  species,  is  a  pretty  little 
plant,  common  in  woods  from  New  York  to 
Wisconsin  and  southward.  It  is  sometimes 
called  Rheumatism  Root,  from  its  supposed 
medicinal  properties. 

Jerusalem  Artichoke.     See  Helianthus. 
Jerusalem  Cherry.    See  Solanum  capsicastrum. 
Jerusalem  Sage.    See  Phlomis. 
Jerusalem  Thorn.     See  Parkinsonia. 
Jessamine.      A  popular  corruption  of  Jasmine. 


JUD 

Jewel  "Weed.     See  Impatiens. 

Jimson  Weed.     See  Datura. 

Job's  Tears.     See  Coix  lachryma. 

Joe-Pye  "Weed.  Trumpet  Weed.  Popular 
names  of  Eupatorium  purpureum. 

Johnson  Grass.  Sorghum  halepense.  The  name 
Johnson  Grass,  which  is  the  one  most  gener- 
ally adopted  in  this  country,  originated  from 
William  Johnson  of  Alabama,  who  introduced 
the  grass  into  that  state  from  South  Carolina 
about  1840.  Its  chief  value  is  for  hay  in 
regions  where  other  grasses  fail  on  account 
of  drought.  If  cut  early,  the  hay  is  of  good 
quality,  and  several  cuttings  may  be  made 
in  a  season.  The  late  Mr.  Howard,  of 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  a  careful  and  practical  farmer 
and  investigator,  said  of  it,  after  an  experience 
of  forty  years,  that  this  grass  was  preferable 
to  all  others  that  could  be  grown  in  the  South. 
Its  analysis  shows  it  to  be  more  nutritious 
than  even  sweet  corn  fodder.  Its  seeds  are 
as  large  as  those  of  broom  corn,  and  its 
leaves  are  long  and  tender.  The  stem 
reaches  a  height  of  six  feet.  Its  perennial 
growth,  and  the  firm  hold  it  takes  of  the  soil,  in 
which  it  spreads  with  great  rapidity,  give  it 
a  high  value  for  a  fodder  grass  in  the  South. 

John's,  St.,  Bread.     Ceratonia  siliqvM. 

John's,  St.,  "Wort.     The  genus  Hypericum. 

Jointed  Charlock.  A  name  frequently  given 
to  the  Wild  Radish,  Raphanus  raphaniatrum. 

Joint  Grass.  A  common  name  of  one  of  our 
native  grasses,  Paspalum  distichum. 

Joint  Weed.  A  popular  name  for  Polygonum 
articulatum. 

Jo'nesia.  Named  after  Sir.  W.  Jones,  Nat.  Ord. 
LeguminoscB. 

A  small  genus  of  shrubs  or  low-growing 
trees  inhabiting  the  East  Indies.  They  have 
bright  glossy  leaves,  about  a  foot  long,  made 
up  of  three  to  six  pairs  of  leaflets.  The  flow- 
ers are  bright  scarlet,  in  terminal  round  clus- 
ters, resembling  the  Ixora.  Some  of  the  Jap- 
anese species  have  clusters  six  to  eight 
inches  across,  and  succeed  best  when  grown 
in  heat.  They  are  propagated  by  cuttings, 
and  were  introduced  in  1820.  Syn.  Saraca. 

Jonqixil.     See  Narcissus. 

Joseph's  Coat.     See  Amaranthus  tricolor. 

Jubaea.  After  Juba,  ancient  King  of  Numidia. 
Nat.  Ord.  Palmace<B. 

J.  spectabilis,  the  only  species,  is  the  Co- 
quito  Palm  of  Chili.  It  has  a  tall,  straight 
trunk,  bearing  a  crown  of  large  pinnate 
leaves,  and  branching  spikes  of  dark  yellow, 
distinct  male  and  female  flowers,  inclosed  in 
a  double  spathe.  In  Chili,  a  sweet  syrup,  or 
Palm-honey,  is  prepared  by  boiling  the  sap  of 
this  tree  to  the  consistency  of  molasses,  and 
it  forms  a  considerable  article  of  trade,  being  as 
much  esteemed  for  domestic  use  as  sugar. 
The  sap  is  obtained  by  felling  the  trees  and 
cutting  off  the  crown  of  leaves,  when  it  im- 
mediately begins  to  flow,  and  continues  for 
several  months,  until  the  tree  is  exhausted, 
provided  a  thin  slice  is  shaved  off  the  top 
every  morning.  Each  tree  yields  about 
ninety  gallons.  The  nuts,  trunks,  and  leaves 
art  used  for  various  economic  purposes.  Young 
plants  are  obtained  from  seeds,  and  require  to 
be  grown  in  a  plant-stove. 

Judas  Tree.     See  Cercis. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


211 


JUG 

Juglanda'ceae,  A  natural  order  of  trees  with 
alternate,  pinnate,  stipulate  leaves  and  uni- 
sexual flowers.  They  are  chiefly  natives  of 
North  America  and  the  Indies.  Juglans  regia 
is  the  English  Walnut  or  Madeira  Nut  of  the 
fruit  stores.  Carya  alba  is  the  American 
Hickory  Nut.  Juglans  nigra  is  the  Black 
Walnut.  There  are  five  genera  and  about 
thirty  species,- all  valuable  timber  trees,  much 
prized  by  cabinet  makers.  Juglans  and  Carya 
are  examples  of  the  order. 

Ju'glans.  Walnut.  From  Jovis,  the  heathen 
god,  and  glans,  a  nut.  Nat.  Ord.  Juglan- 
daceoe. 

A  well-known  genus  of  hardy  deciduous 
trees.  J.  regia,  the  common  English  Walnut 
or  Madeira-nut  tree,  is  a  native  of  Persia,  and 
was  introduced  into  English  gardens  in  1562. 
This  species  makes  a  beautiful  tree  for  the 
lawn  as  far  north  as  New  York,  but  it  rarely 
ripens  fruit.  There  are  several  specimens  of 
this  tree  on  the  grounds  of  Mr.  Manice, 
Queens,  Long  Island,  having  favorable  situa- 
tions, and  they  seldom  fail  of  ripening  a  fair 
crop  of  nuts.  There  is  also  a  long  avenue  of 
old  trees  of  this  Walnut  in  Westchester 
County,  N.Y.,  and  the  crop  seldom  fails.  J. 
cinerea  is  our  common  Butter-nut,  and  J.  nigra 
the  well-known  Black  Walnut. 

Jujube.     See  Zizyphus  Jujube. 

Ju'ncus.  Rush.  Bog-Rush.  LinnsBus  derived 
the  name  from  jungo,  to  join;  in  allusion  to 
the  first  ropes  having  been  made  from  rushes. 
Nat.  Ord.  Juncacece. 

The  Rush  is  a  very  extensive,  and  almost 
universally  distributed  genus  of  marshy  plants. 
Some  of  the  species  are  very  troublesome  to 
the  farmer,  when  once  started  in  moist 
meadows.  The  destruction  of  the  grass  is 
certain,  unless  a  constant  warfare  is  kept  up. 
Some  of  the  species,  in  their  native  countries, 
are  of  the  greatest  value.  In  Holland,  the 
Rush  is  planted  with  great  care  on  their  sea 
embankments,  to  prevent,  by.  its  roots,  the 
action  of  the  tides  from  washing  away  the 
earth.  When  these  Rushes  have  attained 
their  full  height,  which  is  in  summer,  they 
are  cut  down,  tied  into  bunches,  dried,  and 
taken  into  market,  where  they  are  wrought 
into  baskets  and  other  useful  articles.  In 
Japan  the  manufacture  of  Rush  matting  is 
carried  to  a  great  extent.  For  this  purpose, 
J.  conglomeratvs,  or  hard  Rush,  is  used ;  and 
for  their  best  floor-mats,  J.  effusis,  or  soft 
Rush,  is  employed.  These  mats,  which  are 
at  once  carpets  and  the  only  beds  used  by  the 
Japanese,  are  soft,  elastic,  and  often  three  or 
four  inches  thick.  They  are  very  closely 
plaited,  and  the  interstices  afterward  filled 
with  rice  paper.  Some  law  appears  to  regu- 
late the  size  of  these  mats,  for,  according  to 
Thunberg,  they  are  of  precisely  the  same 
dimensions  throughout  all  parts  of  the  king- 
dom, with  the  exception  of  those  in  the 
imperial  palace  of  Jeddo.  The  regulation  size 
is  six  feet  by  three,  with  a  narrow  blue  or 
black  border.  They  make  a  lighter  sort  of 
matting  of  the  same  matei-ial,  which  is  used 
as  window  blinds,  and  to  protect  the  trans- 
parent paper  which  forms  a  substitute  for 
glass.  Of  some  harder  species  they  even 
make  shoes  for  their  horses,  which  come  up 
to  the  pastern  joint,  and  cover  the  hoof. 
Bags  made  of  Rushes  are  extensively  used  in 


JUT 

the  Eastern  countries.  Sugar  sent  from  the 
Mauritius  is  always  in  bags  made  of  Rushes, 
which  are  very  strong  and  durable.  A  very 
handsome  plant  of  the  Bulrush  family  has 
been  lately  introduced  from  Japan,  with 
foliage  as  strikingly  variegated  as  Eulalia 
Japonica  zebrina.  Like  that  plant,  the  varie- 
gation runs  horizontally  around  the  hollow 
leaves.  The  bands  of  bright  yellow  are  about 
two  inches  apart,  delicately  shaded  into  the 
green,  and  the  whole  appearance  of  the  plant 
is  one  of  unique  beauty.  It  may  prove  to  be 
hardy.  It  was  introduced  here  from  Japan  by 
Thomas  Hogg,  but  sent  to  England  for  distri- 
bution. See  Scirpus. 
June  Berry,  See  Amelanchier. 
Juniper.     See  Juniperus. 

Irish.     Juniper uH  communis,  vnr.  hybernica. 
Swedish.     Juniperus  communis,  var.  suecica. 
Juni'perus.      Juniper.      From  the  Celtic  Juni- 
perus, rough.     Nat  Ord.   Coniferce. 

An  extensive  genus  of  evergreen  trees  and 
shrubs,  the  more  conspicuous  of  which  are  J. 
communis,  the  common  Juniper,  indigenous 
in  dry,  rocky  places  in  New  Jersey  and  north- 
ward. The  berries  of  this  species  are  much 
used  in  the  manufacture  of  gin.  J.  Virginiana, 
the  well-known  Red  Cedar,  is  found  in  all 
parts  of  the  country,  but  more  particularly 
from  Virginia  southward.  J.  Bermudiana, 
Bermuda  Cedar,  is  used  for  lead  pencils  as 
well  as  the  Red  Cedar,  the  latter  being  used 
for  the  best. 
Jupiter's  Beard.  See  Anthyllis. 
Jiuinea.  Derivation  not  explained.  Nat.  Ord. 
Compositce. 

A  genus  of  about  forty  species  of  hardy 
herbaceous   perennials,   natives  of  southern 
Europe  and  western  and  central  Asia.    Th(jugh 
occasionally  seen  in  cultivation,  none  of  the 
species  is  of  much  horticultural  value.    They 
are  increased  by  seeds  or  by  division  of  the 
roots  in  spring. 
Jussi^'a.     Named   in  honor  of  the  celebrated 
family  of  Jussieu.       An  extensive  genus    of 
OnagraceoB,    consisting     of    herbs,    or,    more 
rarely,  shrubs,  growing  in  marshes  or  ponds 
throughout  the  tropics,    a   few   reaching  to 
sub-tropical  regions.     They  have   white,   or 
yellow  flowers,  and  alternate,  very  frequently, 
membraneous  and  entire  leaves.     Some  of  the 
species  are  astringent,    as    J.   villosa,   from 
India,  and  J.  Caparossa,  and  J.  villosa,  from 
Brazil,  where,  also,  occurs,  J.  pilosa,  which 
yields  a  yellow    dye.    J.   decurrens,   reaches 
north  as  far  as  Virginia. 
Justi'cia.      Named  after  J.  Justice,  a  celebrated 
Scotch  hoi'ticulturist.      Nat.  Ord.  Acanthacece. 
An  extensive  genus  of  tender  annuals  and 
biennials,  green-house  herbaceous  perennials, 
and  green-house  shrubs.      They  are  natives 
of   the  East    Indies,   with  a  few   in    South 
America  and  the  West  Indies.      Many  of  the 
species  are  mere  weeds.      Some  of  the  green- 
house shrubs  are  ornamental  and  desirable, 
their  long  spikes  of  red  and  purple  flowers 
being   very    showy.       The   beautiful    bright 
yellow  species  known  best  as  J.  calotricha,  and 
J.  jlavicoma,  are  now  placed  under  Schaueria, 
which  see.     They    are  easy  of  cultivation, 
and  are  propagated  by  cuttings. 
Jute.    The  fibre  of  CUorchorua  capaularia  and 
C.  olitorius. 


212 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


K. 


KAD 

Kadsu'ra.    The  Japanese  name.    Nat.   Ord. 
Magnoliacem. 
A  small  genus  of  half-hardy  evergreen  trail- 
ing plants,  with  white  or  yellow  flowers.    Na- 
tives of  Japan.    Some  of  the  species  are  under 
cultivation,  but  are  not  of  special  interest. 

Kaempfe'ria.     Named  after  Kcempfer,  a  German 
naturalist.     Nat.  Ord.  ZingiberacecB. 

A  genus  of  East  Indian  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, with  singular  tubular-shaped  flowers, 
that  appear  before  the  leaves,  from  very  short 
stems.  K.  Gilbertii  has  tufted,  oblong-lance- 
olate, dark  green  leaves,  slightly  undulated, 
and  bordered  by  a  bi'oad  and  very  conspicuous 
band  of  white.  A  very  attractive  and  desira- 
ble variegated  plant,  introduced  from  Moul- 
mein  in  1882.  The  roots  of  some  of  the  spe- 
cies have  an  aromatic  fragrance,  and  are  used 
medicinally  and  for  perfumes. 

KafBr  Bean  Tree.    See  Scholia. 

KaiSr  Lily.     See  Schizostilis. 

Kaki.     The  Japanese  Persimmon.    See  Dioapy- 

ros. 
Kale.    See  Borecole. 

Eala'nchoe.     The  Chinese  name  of  one  of  the 
species.    Nat.  Ord.  Crassulacem. 

A  very  pretty  genus  of  succulent  plants, 
natives  of  tropical  Africa,  but  also  found  in 
tropical  Asia,  at  the  Cape,  and  in  Brazil.  They 
do  well  in  a  light  sandy  loam,  and  produce 
rather  large  flowers,  usually  in  many-flowered 
paniculate  cymes,  the  color  being  yellow, 
purple,  or  scarlet.  The  leaves  are  fleshy, 
opposite,  sessile  or  petiolate,  entire,  crenate, 
or  pinnatifid.  They  are  very  interesting 
plants,  and  worthy  of  a  place  in  the  green- 
house. K.  acutifolia  has  divided,  bronzy 
leaves,  and  altogether  is  a  beautiful  plant,  and 
is  propagated  readily  from  cuttings  placed  in 
sand.  First  introduced  in  1781.  K.  carnea,  a 
recent  introduction  from  south  Africa,  with 
delicate  pink  flowers,  blooming  during  the 
winter  months,  is  of  easy  culture,  is  very 
floriferous,  and  succeeds  well  in  ordinary 
green-house  temperature.  The  flowers  are 
borne  in  large  clusters,  are  of  a  wax-like  con- 
sistency, and  last  a  long  time  in  perfection. 

Ka'lmia.    Named  after  Peter  Kalm,  a  Swedish 
botanist.     Nat.  Old.  Ericacece. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs,  growing  from 
four  to  ten  feet  high,  common  from  Maine  to 
Georgia,  usually  found  on  mountain  sides  or 
dry  waste  places,  but  sometimes  also  along 
brook  sides.  K.  latifolia.  Calico  Bush,  is  the 
common  Laurel  of  the  United  States,  and  is 
certainly  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  ever- 
greens, whether  we  regard  the  deep  verdure 
of  its  foliage  or  the  abundance  of  its  exquis- 
itely elegant,  delicate  pink,  rose,  or  nearly 
white  flowers,  produced  from  May  to  July.  It 
is  generally  supposed  that  this  shrub  cannot 
be  transplanted  from  the  woods  with  any  cer- 
tainty of  success,  but  this  is  a  mistake.  Take 
the  precaution  to  prepare  a  bed  or  border, 
with  a  soil  as  nearly  like  the  one  you  flnd 
them  in  as  possible,   and  which  is  usually 


KEN 

composed,  in  a  great  measure,  of  leaf-mould ; 
take  up  plants  of  a  small  size,  being  cai'ef  ul  not 
to  cut  the  roots,  and  not  to  let  them  get  dry, 
and  get  them  into  the  border  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible after  taking  them  up ;  then  cut  well 
back,  and  very  few  will  faU  to  make  elegant 
plants,  which  will  flower  freely  the  second 
year.  After  one  removal  they  may  be  taken 
up  and  shifted  as  often  as  desirable,  with  as 
little  difliculty  or  danger  as  any  of  our  border 
shrubs.  K.  angustifolia.  Sheep  Laurel,  or 
Lambkill,  is  a  dwarf-growing,  narrow-leaved 
species,  with  smaller  flowers,  but  of  a  bright 
crimson  color.  The  leaves  are  generally  sup- 
posed to  be  poisonous  to  sheep  and  lambs ; 
hence  the  two  common  names. 

Kalosa'nthes.     A  synonym  of  Rochea,   which 

see. 
Kansas  Gay  Feather.    See  Ldatris pycnostachya. 

Kara'tas.  A  genus  of  BroTneliacem,  comprising 
about  a  dozen  species  of  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, natives  of  the  West  Indies,  tropical 
South  America,  and  Brazil.  They  are  gener- 
ally rather  coarse,  long-leaved,  spinous  plants, 
though  K.  Innocentii  and  K.  speclabilis  are 
very  sho^\'7  species.  They  are  of  easy  cul- 
ture.    Syns.  Nidularium,  Bromelia,  etc. 

Katherine's,  St.,  Flower.     Nigella  Damascena. 

Kaulfu'ssia.  In  honor  of  Frederic  Kaulfus8, 
M.D.,  Professor  of  Botany  at  Halle.  Nat.  Ord. 
CompositCB. 

A  small  genus  of  beautiful  little  hardy  an- 
nuals from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The 
flowers  are  of  various  colors,  blue,  rose,  white 
and  violet,  somewhat  resembling  an  Aster. 
This  genus  is  now  called  Ckarieis,  K.  amel' 
loides  being  known  as  C.  heterophylla ;  the 
name  going  by  priority  to  the  following  genus 
of  Ferns. 

Kaulfu'ssia.  A  very  distinct  genus  of  Ferns, 
found  in  India  and  Java,  with  thick  rhizomes 
and  coarse  terminal  fronds.  The  fronds  of 
K.  cBSCulifolia,  the  only  described  species,  are 
like  a  Horse-chestnut  leaf,  and  the  under 
surface  is  dotted  over  with  copious  stomata- 
like  pores.      Closely  allied  to  Marattia. 

Kauri,  or  Kawrie  Pine.  See  Damarr a  Australia. 

Keel.  When  the  mid-rib  of  a  leaf  or  petal  is 
sharp  and  elevated  externally  it  is  called  a 
keel. 

Keferste'nia.     A  synonym  of  Zygopetalum. 

Kenil-wrorth  Ivy.    See  lAnaria. 

Kenne'dya.  Named  in  honor  of  Mr.  Kennedy, 
of  the  firm  of  Lee  and  Kennedy,  celebrated 
English  nurserymen.  Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 
A  genus  of  free-flowering,  evergreen  green- 
house climbers,  remarkable  for  their  beautiful 
racemes  of  pea-shaped  flowers,  which  are  of 
various  colors,  scarlet,  blue,  purple,  pink  and 
variegated.  They  are  highly  ornamental,  and 
useful  in  the  green-house  for  cut  flowers ;  and 
are  increased  readily  by  cuttings  of  short  side 
shoots,  well  hardened.  Introduced  in  1824 
from  New  Holland. 


JJLCOBMJi.  (DOUBLE). 


KAULFUSSIA. 


KOHL  BABI  (EAKLT  WHITE  VIENNA). 


JONQUILS   (DOUBLE). 


812  JASMINUM  HIE8UTUM. 


EENTIA  CANTERBUBTANAi 


IiAO£SSTB(£MIA. 


LACHENALIA  PENDUI-A.  at3 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


213 


KEN 

Ke'ntia.  In  honor  of  Lieut.-Colonel  Kent.  Nat. 
Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  small  genus  of  Palms,  separated  from 
Areca,  chiefly  on  account  of  the  shape  and 
substance  of  the  seed ;  in  all  other  respects 
they  are  identical.  K.  sapida  is  the  most 
southern  known  Palm,  being  found  in  New 
Zealand,  two  or  three  degrees  further  south 
than  any  representative  of  the  order  in  either 
hemisphere.  The  natives  use  the  young 
flower  spikes  as  an  article  of  food.  K.  (Syn. 
Hedyscepe)  Canterburyana  is  an  exceedingly 
ornamental  plant,  useful  for  decorative  pur- 
poses. It  is  called  in  its  native  country  the 
"  Umbrella  Palm."  A  number  of  the  species 
are  now  under  cultivation.  Young  plants  are 
obtained  from  seed. 

Kentio'psis.  From  Kentia,  and  opsis,  a  resem- 
blance ;  on  account  of  its  likeness  to  Kentia. 
Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  genus  of  very  pretty  Palms,  closely  allied 
to  Kentia.  The  leaves  of  K.  divaricata  when 
young  are  of  a  fine  red  color.  Natives  of  New 
Caledonia.     Introduced  in  1876. 

Kentucky  Blue  Grass.     See  Poa  pratensis. 

Kentucky  Coffee  Tree.     See  Gymnocladus. 

Ke'rria  Japonica.  An  old  favorite  in  the  gar- 
den, with  both  single  and  double  flowers,  to 
which  has  lately  been  added  a  very  pretty 
variety  with  variegated  leaves.  These  have 
been  transferred  to  the  genus  Corchorus, 
which  see. 

Kidney  Bean.     See  Phaseolios  vulgaris. 

Kidney  Vetch.     See  Anthyllis. 

King  Plant.     Ancectochilv^  setacevs. 

Kinnikinnik.     Common  name  of  Comus  sericea. 

Kle'inia.  Named  by  Linnaeus  in  honor  of  James 
Henry  Klein,  a  German  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
Compositce. 

A  small  genus  of  curious  succulent  plants 
from  Africa.  Some  are  of  upright  habit,  and 
others  trailing  or  creeping.  A  few  have  been 
introduced  into  the  green-house,  and  are 
grown  for  basket  plants.  K.  articulata,  or 
Candle  Plant,  is  very  curious  and  easily 
grown  ;  propagated  by  cuttings.  Syn.  Senecio. 

Kni'ghtia.  Named  after  Thos.  A.  Knight,  a 
celebrated  English  pomologist.  Nat.  Ord. 
Proteacece. 

A  genus  comprising  three  species  of  trees, 
or  shrubs,  one  of  which  is  from  New  Zealand, 
and  the  two  others,  from  New  Caledonia.  K. 
excelsa,  the  only  species  yet  introduced,  is  an 
ornamental  evergreen  tree,  growing  in  its 
native  country  to  the  height  of  100  feet,  and 
having  much  the  habit  of  a  Lombardy  Poplar. 
The  wood  of  this  tree  is  mottled  with  red  and 
brown,  and  is  largely  employed  in  making 
furniture. 

Knight's  Spurs.    An  old  name  for  Larkspur. 

Knight's  Star  Lily.     See  Hippeastrum. 

Knipho'fia.  Named  after  J.  H.  Kniphof,  Pro- 
fessor of  Medicine  at  Erfurt,  1704-1763.  Nat. 
Ord.  LiliacecB. 

This  genus  of  half-hardy  herbaceous  plants 
is  usually  known  as  Tritoma,  but  the  name 
here  given  is  a  prior  one,  and  therefore  the 
more  correct.     See  Tritoma. 


Knot-Berry. 
Knot-Grass. 


Ruhus  Chamcemorus. 
Polygonum  aviculare. 


KEA 

Knot-^Weed.  Centaurea  nigra,  also  the  genus, 
Polygonum. 

Kno'xia.  Named  after  Robert  Knox,  who  lived 
many  years  in  Ceylon.     Nat.  Ord.  RubiacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  rather  pretty,  low-grow- 
ing green-house  evergreens,  with  small  white 
or  pink  flowers.  Propagated  by  cuttings ;  in- 
troduced from  Bengal  in  1828. 

Koele'ria.  A  small  genus  of  grasses  inhabiting 
the  higher  altitudes  of  northern  Europe. 

Koelreute'ria.  Named  after  Kcelreuter,  once 
Professor  of  Natural  History  at  Carlsruhe, 
the  father  of  hybridizing  plants.  Nat.  Ord. 
Sapindacece. 

K.  paniculata,  the  only  species,  is  a  decidu- 
ous shrub  or  low-growing  tree,  a  native  of 
China.  It  has  pinnate  foliage  with  an  odd 
leaflet.  The  flowers  are  yellow,  disposed  in 
terminal  spreading  clusters,  and  are  suc- 
ceeded by  lax-ge  bladdery  capsules,  which 
render  the  tree  conspicuous  till  late  in  autum^i. 
This  tree  is  hardy  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York 
and  southward. 

Koe'niga.  Sweet  Alyssum.  In  honor  of  Charles 
Kcenig,  Superintendent  of  the  Natural  History 
Department  of  the  British  Museum.  Nat. 
Ord.  Cruciferce. 

K  maritima  is  a  pretty  and  well-known 
hardy  annual.  K.  m.  major  has  flowers  nearly 
as  large  as  Candytuft.  Sow  the  seed  in  early 
spring;  it  usually  sows  itself,  coming  up 
freely  where  once  sown.  A.  m.  plena,  a  double 
variety,  is  valuable  for  cut  flowers.  K.  m. 
variegata  has  variegated  leaves,  and  is  a 
pretty  and  useful  plant.  A  more  recent 
variety  with  double  flowers  has  even  finer 
variegation.  The  last  three  named  are  pro- 
pagated by  cuttings,  as  they  do  not  seed. 

Kohl-Rabi.  Brassica  oleracea  Caulo-rapa. 
Kohl-rabi  is  a  very  distinct  vegetable  not 
very  largely  cultivated  except  by  Germans. 
It  comes  between  the  Cabbage  and  Turnip, 
and  is  generally  used  as  a  substitute  for  the 
latter.  The  upper  part  of  the  stem  swells 
into  a  large  fleshy  head  above  ground,  re- 
sembling a  Cabbage.  Kohl-rabi  has  several 
advantages  over  some  other  vegetables,  and 
consequently  deserves  a  place  in  gardens.  It 
is  exceedingly  hardy,  withstanding  even 
severe  frosts,  and  also  resists  drought  much 
better  than  the  Turnip.  The  varieties  mostly 
cultivated  are  the  Early  Purple  and  Early 
White  Vienna,  both  dwarf  and  useful  sorts; 
they  are  not  good  if  allowed  to  get  old  and 
large  before  being  used. 

Ko'psia.  Named  after  Professor  Kops.  the 
author  of  a  Botanical  Dictionary  of  reputa- 
tion.    Nat.  Ord.  Apocynacece. 

K.  fruticosa,  hie  only  species,  is  a  native  of 
Pegu,  Japan.  It  is  an  exceedingly  ornamental 
green-house  evergreen  shrub,  producing 
flowers  similar  to  the  green-house  species  of 
Vinca,  several  times  during  the  season.  The 
color  is  red  and  extremely  showy.  It  is  in- 
creased by  cuttings ;  introduced  in  1818. 

Krame'rla.  Named  after  the  two  Kramers, 
German  botanists.     Nat.  Ord.  Polygalacece. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental  green-house 
evergreen  shrubs.  K.  triandra  is  remarkable 
for  its  entire,  obovate,  acuminate  leaves, 
covered  on  both  sides  with  silky  hairs.  In 
Peru  an  extract,  which  is  a  mild  astringent,  is 
made  from  it.     An  infusion  of  the  roots  of  one 


214 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


KRE 

of  the  species  is  blood-red,  and  is  largely  used 
in  adulterating  port  wine.     The  species  are 
natives  of  South  America. 
Kreysi'gia.     Named  after  F.  L.  Kreysig,  a  Ger- 
man botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

K.  multiflora,  the  only  species,  is  a  very 
pretty,  half-hardy,  herbaceous  perennial,  hav- 
ing a  roughish,  simple  stem,  and  a  knotty 
rhizome.  It  is  of  easy  culture  and  is  increased 
by  divisions  in  spring.  Introduced  from  New 
South  Wales  in  1823. 

Kri'gia.  Dwarf  Dandelion.  In  honor  of  Mr. 
David  Kreig,  a  German  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
CompositcB. 

A  very  pretty  little  annual,  with  flowers 
resembling  miniature  Dandelions.  It  is  quite 
common  in  dry  grounds  from  New  York 
southward. 

Ku'hnia.  Dedicated  to  Dr.  Kuhn,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  brought  the  living  plant  to  Lin- 
naeus.    Nat.  Ord.  Composite. 


LAC 

A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials,  of 
but  little  interest  except  in  botanical  collec- 
tions. K.  Eupatorioides  is  common  in  dry 
soils  from  New  Jersey  to  Wisconsin,  and 
southward. 

Ku'nthia.  Named  after  C.  S.  Kunlh,  a  Prussian 
botanist.     Nat  Ord.  Palmacem. 

K.  Deppeana,  a  rare  palm,  the  only  species, 
allied  to  Areca,  is  a  native  of  New  Grenada. 
It  is  propagated  by  seeds,  and  grows  freely 
with  ordinaiy  green-house  treatment.  Syn. 
ChanuBdorea  elegans. 

Ku'nzea.  Named  after  Gustav  Kunze,  a  botanist 
and  physician  of  Leipsic.  A  genus  of  Myr- 
tacecB,  comprising  a  number  of  species  of 
green-house  shrubs,  often  heath-like,  con- 
fined to  Australia.  Flowers  red,  or  white,  in 
dense  terminal  spikes.  Only  two  species  are 
in  cultivation.  Propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
half  ripened  wood. 


L. 


Labellum.  Lip ;  or  rather  the  lower  lip  only. 
The  third  petal  of  an  Orchid,  usually  turned 
toward  the  lower  front  of  the  flower,  and  very 
different  from  the  remainder ;  also  a  similar 
petal  in  other  flowers. 

Labia'tae.  An  extensive  natural  order  of  herbs, 
or  undershrubs,  with  square  stems,  opposite 
and  exstipulate  leaves,  and  flowers  in  clus- 
tered centrifugal  cymes,  or  crowded  into 
spikes.  This  order  forms  one  of  the  most 
natural  groups  of  plants ;  the  characters  of  its 
members  are  so  uniform  that  it  may  be  called 
monotypic,  as  if  all  the  species  could  be 
comprehended  in  a  single  genus,  and  the  dis- 
crimination of  its  genera  is  hence  often  very 
diflflcult.  They  are  natives  of  temperate 
climates.  Many  of  them  are  carminative,  and 
yield  volatile  oils.  Mint,  Sage,  Rosemary, 
Lavender,  Basil,  Horehound,  Patchouly, 
Savory,  Thyme,  and  Marjoram  belong  to  this 
order,  which  contains  upwards  of  100  genera, 
and  about  2,500  species.  Coleus,  Lamium, 
Salvia,  Perilla,  and  Cunila  are  well-known 
representatives  of  the  order. 

Labiate.  Having  lips ;  a  term  applied  to  that 
form  of  a  monopetalo  us  calyx  or  corolla  which 
is  separated  into  two  unequal  divisions,  the 
one  anterior  and  the  other  posterior,  with 
respect  to  the  axis. 

Labi'chea.  Named  after  M.  Labiche,  a  French 
naval  officer.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosm. 

A  genus  of  five  species  of  evergreen  shrubs, 
allied  to  Cassia,  natives  of  Australia.  L. 
lanceolata,  the  only  species  now  in  cultivation, 
has  trifoliate  leaves,  and  bright  yellow  flowers, 
borne  in  axillai-y  racemes.  It  was  introduced 
from  western  Australia  in  1840. 

Labi'sia.  Spoon-flower.  From  labia,  a  spoon ; 
in  allusion  to  the  form  of  the  corolla  divisions, 
which  resemble  the  bowls  of  small  spoons. 
Nat.  Ord.  Myraindcem. 


A  genus  comprising  a  few  species  of  glab- 
rous or  puberulous  shrubs,  with  the  habit  of 
Pothos ;  natives  of  the  Malayan  Archipelago. 
L.  Maloniana,  introduced  from  Borneo  in  1885, 
has  broad,  lanceolate,  velvety,  dark  green 
leaves,  irregularly  marked  with  pale  green 
down  the  middle ;  red  and  purple  when  young. 
Stem  copper-colored,  spotted  white.  L.  poth- 
oina  is  a  very  pretty  plant,  producing  clusters 
of  small,  rosy-white  flowers. 

La'blab.  A  genus  of  tropical  pulse,  more 
usually  included  in  Dolichos,  which  see. 

Labrador  Tea.  Ledum  latifolia.  This  is  a  shrub 
growing  from  two  to  five  feet  high,  common 
in  swamps  and  bogs,  North  and  West.  The 
leaves  were  formerly  used  as  a  substitute  for 
Tea,  whence  the  common  name. 

Labu'mum.     See  Cytisus  Laburnum. 

Laoae'na.  One  of  the  names  of  Helen  of  Troy, 
applied  because  of  the  beauty  of  the  plant. 
Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids.  L.  bicolor, 
the  original  species,  is  a  native  of  Guatemala, 
and  has  long,  pendulous  racemes  of  flowers 
of  a  greenish-yellow  color,  the  lip  marked 
with  purple  about  the  center.  They  require  a 
hot-house,  and  should  be  grown  in  flat  baskets 
or  pans,  in  leaf-mould  and  sphagnum  moss, 
and  are  increased  by  division  in  spring,  after 
blooming.     Introduced  in  1843. 

Lace  Bark.     See  Lagetta. 

Lace-leaved  Plant.     See  Ouvirandra. 

Lacerate.     Torn ;  having  a  torn  appearance. 

Lachena'lia.  Cape  Cowslips.  Named  after  W. 
de  Lachenal,  a  botanical  author.  Nat.  Ord. 
LiliacecR. 

An  extensive  genus  of  very  interesting  and 
showy  bulbous  plants  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  L.  pendula,  L.  tricolor,  and  L.  quadri- 
color  are  tlie  kinds  mostly  cultivated  in  the 
green-house.  They  have  long,  lanceolate  leaves, 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


216 


LAC 

often  spotted,  and  erect  flower-scapes  bearing 
pendulous  flowers,  the  yellow  color  predomi- 
nating. They  should  be  potted  in  October,  in 
light  fibrous  soil,  and  only  moderately  watered 
until  after  flowering,  then  more  freely  until 
they  show  signs  of  ripening  off.  They  should 
be  kept  in  the  pots  dry  during  summer,  and 
are  propagated  by  offsets.    Introduced  in  1774. 

Lachnae'a.  From  lachne,  down ;  referring  to 
the  downy  clothing  of  the  flower  heads.  Nat. 
Oi'd.  Thymelacece. 

An  interesting  genus  of  green-house  ever- 
green shrubs  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  all 
but  one  with  white  flowers.  The  heads  of  the 
flowers  are  usually  covered  with  fine  wool, 
giving  them  a  singular  appearance.  They  are 
increased  by  cuttings,  and  should  be  kept  in 
the  shade  during  summer. 

Lachna'nthcs.  The  Red  Root.  From  lachne, 
wool,  and  anthos,  a  flower ;  in  allusion  to  the 
flowers,  which  are  woolly.  Nat.  Ord.  Hmma- 
doracecB. 

L.  tinctoria,  or  Red  Root,  is  common  in 
sandy  swamps,  from  New  Jersey  southward. 
The  roots  were  formerly  used  for  a  red  dye, 
whence  the  popular  name.  "  L.  tinctoria,  com- 
monly known  as  Paint  Root,  abounds  in  the 
Southern  States,  and  is  said  to  have  an  im- 
portant bearing  on  the  agriculture  of  those 
States,  from  the  singular  fact  claimed  for  it 
that  when  its  roots  are  eaten  by  white  pigs, 
it  fatally  poisons  them,  while  black  pigs  eat 
the  roots  with  impunity ;  and  hence  the  pre- 
ponderance of  black  pigs  in  the  Southern 
States.  This  extraordinary  statement  is  made 
by  Charles  Darwin,  who  gives  Dr.  Jeffries 
Wyman  as  his  authority.  The  same  testimony 
has  recently  been  given  by  Dr.  P.  Statesbury, 
of  Clinch  County,  Georgia." — American  Agri- 
culturist, March,  1876. 

Laciniate.  Cut  or  divided  into  segments; 
fringed. 

Lactu'ca.  Lettuce.  From  lac,  milk ;  referring 
to  the  milky  juice.     Nat.  Ord.  CompositcB. 

The  native  country  of  the  Lettuce  is  un- 
known; and  from  what  species  the  garden 
varieties  originated  is  merely  conjectural. 
According  to  Herodotus,  it  was  in  use  550 
years  before  Christ ;  yet  Pliny  says  the  an- 
cient Romans  knew  but  one  sort.  In  his 
time  it  was  cultivated  so  as  to  be  had  at  all 
seasons  of  the  year,  and  even  blanched  to 
make  it  more  tender.  In  the  privy-purse  ex- 
penses of  Henry  VIII.,  in  1530,  is  mention  of 
a  reward  to  the  gardener  of  York  Place  for 
bringing  "Lettuze  "  and  Cherries  to  Hampton 
Court.  Gerarde,  in  his  Herbal,  1597,  gives 
an  account  of  eight  sorts  cultivated  in  his 
day.  Parkinson,  in  1629,  says:  "There  are 
so  many  sorts,  and  so  great  diversitie  of 
Lettice,  that  I  doubt  I  shall  scarce  be  be^ 
leeved  of  a  great  many.  For  I  doe  in  this 
Chapter  reckon  up  unto  you  eleaven  or 
twelve  differing  sorts ;  some  of  little  use, 
others  of  more,  being  more  common  and 
vulgar;  and  some  that  are  of  excellant  use 
and  service,  which  are  more  rare,  and  re- 
quire more  knowledge  and  care  for  the  oi'dei-- 
ing  of  them,  as  also  for  their  time  of  spending, 
as  some  in  the  spring,  some  in  summer, 
others  in  autume,  and  some  being  whited  for 
the  winter.  For  all  these  sorts  I  shall 
not  neede  many  descriptions,  but  only  shew 
you  which  doe  cabbage,  and  which  are  loose  ; 


L^ 

which  of  them  ar.e  great  or  small,  white, 
greene,  or  red,  and  which  of  them  bear  white 
seeds,  and  which  of  them  blacke."  We  can- 
not quote  the  whole  chapter,  but  cannot  omit 
one  of  the  "  Vertues  of  the  Lettice,"  viz.: 
"  They  all  cool  a  hot  and  fainting  stomacke." 
Loudon  says  :  "  L.  sativa  is  well  known  as 
furnishing,  among  its  numerous  varieties, 
the  best  vegetable  of  the  salad  kind  grown  in 
the  open  garden.  It  is  questioned  by  some 
whether  the  greater  number  of  what  are  set 
down  as  species  in  this  genus,  are  anything 
more  than  variations  of  one  type ;  and,  at  all 
events,  it  is  thought  L.  virosa  is  the  parent  of 
our  cultivated  sorts."  All  writers  agree  that 
the  Cos  Lettuce  comes  from  one  of  the  Greek 
islands  bearing  that  name.  It  is  by  far  the 
most  delicately  flavored  of  the  whole  class, 
though  not  well  suited  for  our  hot  summers. 
The  best  kinds  at  present  writing  for  our  cli- 
mate are  :  For  early  use,  the  '*  Curled  Simp- 
son" and  "Black-seeded  Simpson;"  and  for 
summer  use,  the  *' Deacon,"  "Salamander," 
"  Yellow-seeded  Butter,"  and  "Henderson's 
New  York."  Hundreds  of  acres  of  glass  are 
devoted  to  the  forcing  of  Lettuce  in  the  United 
States.  The  variety  used  mostly  for  that  pur- 
pose is  known  as  "  Boston  Market." 
Lacunose.  Having  numerous  large  deep  excar- 
vations. 

Lad's  Love.     Artemisia  Abrotanum. 
< 

Lady  Fern.     Asplenium  Felix-fcemina. 

Lady's  Bed-stravsr.     Galium  verum. 

Lady's  Bow^er.     Clematis  Vitalba. 

Lady's  Comb.     Scandix  Pecten-  Veneris. 

Lady's  Cushion.     Arm,eria  maritima. 

Lady's  Ear-drops.  The  flowers  of  the  common 
Fuchsia. 

Lady's  Fingers.     See  Anthyllis. 

Lady's  Glove.     Digitalis  purpurea. 

Lady's  Hair.     Briza  media. 

Lady's  Laces,  or  Lady's  Garters.  Phalaris 
arundinacea  variegata. 

Lady's  Looking-glass.     Campanula  speculum. 

Lady's  Mantle.     Alchenilla  vulgaris. 

Lady's  Slipper.  See  Cypripedium  and  Garden 
Balsam. 

Lady's  Smock.     Cardamine  pratensis. 

Lady's  Thimble.     Campanula  rotundifolia. 

Lady's  Thistle,  Our.     Carduus  Marianus. 

Lady's  Traces,  or  Tresses.     See  Spiranthes. 

Lady  Washington  Geranium.  A  variety 
name  for  one  of  the  large-flowered  Pelargo- 
niums, and  for  a  long  time  in  this  country 
a  common  name  for  the  whole  of  that 
class.  It  is  to  some  extent  still  in  use, 
though  the  variety  bearing  the  name  has  long 
since  been  discarded ;  consequently  it  is  im- 
proper to  thus  continue  to  use  a  specific 
name  for  a  generic. 

Lae'lia.  Named  after  a  Vestal  virgin  of  that 
name,  because  of  the  variety  of  its  flowers. 
Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

»♦  This  is  a  lovely  genus  of  plants.most  of 
the  species  being  compact  in  their  growth, 
with  evergreen  foliage,  resembling  in  many 
respects,  the  genus  Cattleya,  to  wliich  some  of 
them  are  equal  in  the  beauty  of  their  flowers. 
They  produce  their  flowers,  which  are  large, 


216 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


L^ 

distinct  in  color,  and  very  handsome,  on 
spikes  of  varied  length,  from  the  top  of  their 
pseudo-bulbs.  These  plants  merit  a  place  in 
every  collection,  and  will  amply  repay  the 
cultivator  for  any  care  they  may  require  ;  in- 
deed, the  Lmlias  are  among  our  finest  Orchids, 
whether  for  winter  or  summer  flowering." — B. 
S.  Williams.  All  the  species  are  natives  of 
Mexico  and  South  America,  and  were  first  in- 
troduced in  1835. 
Laevigata.      Having  the  appearance  of   being 

polished,  as  many  seeds. 
Laevis.     Free  from  asperities  or  hairs,  or  any 

sort  of  unevenness. 
Lagena'ria.      Bottle   Gourd.      From   legena,   a 
bottle ;  referring  to  the  shape  of  the  fruit  of 
some  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Cucurbitacece. 

L.  vulgaris,  the  only  species  is  an  East  In- 
dian species  of  Gourd,  sometimes  grown  on 
account  of  its  curious  shape.  Like  most  of 
the  order,  the  pulp  is  poisonous.  The  com- 
mon name  does  not  indicate  the  shape  of  all 
the  varieties,  some  being  pear-shaped,  some 
nearly  round,  and  others  egg-shaped.  They 
should  be  sown  at  the  same  time  as  Melons 
and  Squashes,  and  should  have  a  trellis  or 
brush  to  run  upon.  Introduced  in  1597. 
Lagerstroe'inia.  In  honor  of  Magnus  Lagerstrcetn 
of  Gottenburgh.     Nat.  Ord.  Lythracew. 

A  genus  of  handsome,  free-flowering  shrubs 
from  India.  L.  Indica  is  commonly  known  as 
Crape  Myrtle,  and  is  a  favorite  half-hardy 
shrub.  It  can  be  planted  out  in  the  border  in 
spring,  and  will  bloom  profusely  during  mid- 
summer. At  the  approach  of  winter  take  it 
up,  put  it  in  a  tub  or  box,  and  keep  it  in  the 
cool  part  of  the  green-house  or  in  a  dry  cellar, 
giving  but  very  little  water.  There  are  several 
varieties  of  this  species,  having  purple,  pink, 
and  white  flowers.  The  latter  is  rather  a  shy 
bloomer,  and  is  of  dwarfer  habik  Propagated 
by  cuttings. 
Lage'tta.  Lace  Bark.  Lagetto  is  the  name  of 
the  species  at  Jamaica.  Nat  Ord.  Thymelacem. 
A  genus  of  West  Indian,  tall-growing  trees, 
interesting  from  the  peculiar  formation  of  the 
bark  of  some  of  the  species.  The  inner  bark 
of  L.  lintearia  consists  of  numerous  concentric 
layers  of  fibers  which  are  interlaced  in  all 
directions,  and  thus  presents  a  great  degree 
of  resemblance  to  lace,  whence  the  common 
name  of  the  tree. 
Lagu'nis.  Hare's-tail  Grass.  From  lagos,  a 
hare,  and  ou7-a,  a  tail ;  on  account  of  the 
resemblance  of  its  head.  Nat.  Ord.  Gramin- 
acew. 

L.  ovatus,  the  only  species,  is  found  in 
the  Island  of  Guernsey,  and  some  parts  of 
Asia,  and  is  one  of  the  handsomest  of  culti- 
vated annual  grasses. 
La'lage.  Named  after  Lalage,  a  gay,  witty  dame, 
immortalized  by  Horace.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumi- 
noscB. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental  shrubs,  natives 
of  the  south-west  coast  of  Australia.  The 
flowers  are  either  yellow  or  mixed  orange, 
violet,  or  crimson,  and  are  produced  in  axil- 
lary clusters.  They  require  the  green-house, 
and  are  propagated  by  cuttings.  Syn.  Boasima. 
Introduced  in  1830. 
Lama'rckia.  Named  after  J.  B.  Lamarck,  the 
great  French  naturalist.  Nat.  Ord.  Graminor 
cecB. 


LAP 

L.  Aurea,  the  only  species,  is  a  pretty,  many 
stemmed,  low,  ornamental  annual  grass.  It 
is  generally  included  in  collections  of  orna- 
mental grasses.  Native  of  southern  Europe 
and  north  Africa.     Syn.  Chrysurus. 

Lambe'rtia.  Named  in  honor  of  A.  B.  Lambert, 
one  of  the  most  liberal  botanists  in  Europe, 
and  whose  extensive  herbarium  was  open  to 
every  man  of  science.     Nat.  Ord.  ProteacecB. 

Very  handsome  green-house  evergreen 
shrubs  from  tropical  Australia.  The  flowers 
are  mostly  produced  in  terminal  clusters, 
sometimes  singly,  the  prevailing  color  being 
dark  red,  with  occasionally  an  orange  tint. 
Height  of  plant  three  to  four  feet.  They  are 
readily  increased  by  cuttings,  but  must  be 
grown  with  considerable  care,  the  principal 
caution  being  against  over-watering ;  any  ex- 
cess in  that  is  fatal  to  them.  Introduced  in 
1824. 

Lambkill.     See  Kalmia. 

Lamb's  Lettuce  or  Corn  Salad.  See  Valerianella. 

Lamb's  Toe.     Anthyllis  vulneraria. 

Lamb's  Tongue.     Plantago  media. 

Lamium.  From  laimos,  a  throat ;  on  account  of 
the  shape  of  the  corolla.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiatoi. 

A  genus  of  herbaceous  plants  of  but  little 
interest.  L.  album  or  Dead  Nettle  received 
its  English  name  from  the  resemblance  of  its 
leaves  to  those  of  the  true  Nettle,  from  which, 
however,  it  may  be  distinguished  by  its  square 
stem.  L.  maculatum  is  a  pretty  dwarf,  free- 
growing  border  plant,  its  variety  {aureum) 
with  golden -colored  foli^e  is  useful  either  as 
a  rock  or  border  plant,  or  for  spring  bedding. 

Lamproco'ccus.  This  genus  is  now  included 
by  Bentham  and  Hooker  under  uEchmea. 

Lanate,  Lanuginose.  Long,  dense,  curled  and 
matted  hairs,  resembling  wool. 

Lanceolate.  Shaped  like  the  head  of  a  spear ; 
nari'ow  and  tapering  at  each  end. 

Lance- ■w^ood.  The  light  elastic  wood  of  Dugue- 
lia  quitarensis. 

Lando'lphia.  Named  after  M.  Landolphe,  an 
African  explorer.  A  genus  of  scandent  shrubs, 
natives  of  tropical  Africa  and  Madagascar. 
Caoutchouc  is  obtained  in  large  quantities 
from  many  of  the  species.  L.  owariensis,  L. 
florida,  and  other  species  have  been  intro- 
duced to  Kew,  and  distributed  to  various  of 
the  British  colonies.  The  former  bears  a  red- 
dish-brown fruit  about  the  size  of  an  oi'ange, 
with  an  agreeable,  sweetish,  acid  pulp.  Cut- 
tings root  readily  in  heat. 

Lanta'na.  Ancient  name  forViliurnum.  Nat. 
Ord.  Verbenacem. 

An  extensive  genus  of  oi-namental,  free- 
flowering,  tender  shrubs,  common  from  the 
West  Indies  to  Brazil.  The  species  are  rapid 
growers,  and  most  constant  bloomers.  They 
are  readily  increased  by  cuttings,  and  will 
grow  freely  in  the  garden,  preferring  a  sunny 
situation.  Many  new  varieties  have  been 
produced  from  seeds,  comprising,  red,  golden, 
white,  or  various  colored  flowers,  which  ai'e 
much  used  for  bedding-out  purposes  and  as 
specimen  decorative  plants.  Fii'st  introduced 
from  the  West  Indies  in  1692. 

Lantern  Flower.     The  genus  Abutilon. 

Lapage'ria.  Named  after  Josephine  Lapagerie, 
wife  of  Napoleon  I.    Nat.  Ord.  LUiacea. 


AND   GENERAL  HOETICULTURE. 


217 


LAP 

L.  rosea,  and  its  white  variety,  are  unques- 
tionably the  most  beautiful  green-house  twin- 
ing plants  yet  introduced.  The  stems  are 
round,  branching,  and  with  proper  treatment, 
will  grow  to  almost  any  required  length.  The 
flowers  are  large,  lily  or  bell-shaped,  and  pro- 
duced on  solitary,  one-flowered  peduncles.  L. 
rosea  has  deep  rose-colored  flowers,  spotted 
inside  with  white.  Several  seedling  varieties 
with  larger  flowers  and  of  a  rich,  brilliant 
crimson  color,  are  in  cultivation ;  a  double 
variety  has  also  been  introduced,  the  charac- 
ter of  which  has  not  yet  been  established. 
They  should  be  gi-own  in  a  house  with  a  low 
temperature,  and  given  plenty  of  air,  water, 
and  root  room;  the  latter  is  a  necessity. 
They  do  tolerably  well  grown  in  tubs,  but  are 
seldom  seen  in  perfection  except  when  turned 
into  the  border,  and  grown  in  a  soil  largely 
composed  of  turfy  peat,  good  turfy  loam,  and 
sand.  They  are  increased  either  by  layers  or 
from  seeds,  the  latter  being  preferable  ;  plants 
from  cuttings  rarely  succeed.  They  are  na- 
tives of  Chili,  and  were  introduced  in  1847. 
Lapeyrou'sia.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  F.  G.  de 
La  Peyronie,  the  French  navigator.  Nat.  Ord. 
IridacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  showy  flowering  bulbs, 
blue,  white,  purple,  or  pink  in  color,  in  gen- 
eral habit  resembling  the  Lxias,  and  requiring 
the  same  treatment.  Closely  allied  to  Ano- 
mathecn.  Natives  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  ; 
first  introduced  in  1825.     Syn.  ''Peyrousia." 

Lapo'rtea.  Named  by  Gaudichand.  after  his 
friend  M.  Laporte.  A  genus  of  Urticacece,  con- 
sisting of  herbs,  shrubs,  or  trees,  natives  of 
North  America  and  the  warmer  regions  of  the 
Old  World.  Some  of  the  species,  as  L.  gigas, 
are  armed  with  very  virulent  stings,  the  ef- 
fect of  which  remains  for  many  days,  or  even 
months.  L.  Canadensis  (Wood  Nettle),  a 
native  species,  has  lately  been  imported  into 
Germany  as  a  new  textile  plant;  it  is  peren- 
nial and  capable  of  enduring  the  climate  of 
central  Germany,  but  further  experiments  are 
needed  ere  its  commercial  value  can  be  deter- 
mined. 

La'ppa.     Arctium  Lappa,  or  Burdock. 

Larch.     See  Larix. 

Lardiza'bala.  In  honor  of  M.  Lardizabala  y 
Uribe,  a  Spanish  naturalist.  Nat.  Ord.  Ber- 
beridacece. 

Half-hardy  evergreen  climbers,  natives  of 
Chili.  L.  bitemata,  the  most  beautiful  of  the 
species,  has  dark,  glossy,  evergreen  foliage, 
and  drooping  spikes  of  deep,  purple  flowers. 
In  Chili  a  very  tough  fibre  is  obtained  from 
its  stems  and  made  into  cordage;  and  its 
fruit,  containing  a  sweet-tasted  pulp,  is  sold 
in  the  markets.  This  species  would  make  a 
splendid  creeping  plant  for  covering  walls  in 
the  Southern  States,  but  would  not  be  hardy 
north  of  Virginia. 

La'riz.  Larch.  From  the  Celtic,  lar,  fat;  on 
account  of  the  tree  producing  plenty  of  resin. 
Nat.  Ord.  Conifer ce. 

Larix  Americana,  one  of  our  native  species, 
is  a  beautiful  deciduous  tree,  growing  to  its 
greatest  perfection  in  the  more  northern 
States  and  Canada,  where  it  attains  a  height 
of  from  eighty  to  a  hundred  feet,  with  a  diam- 
eter of  from  two  to  three  feet.  The  wood  of 
the  American  species  is  popularly  known  as 


LAT 

Hackmatack,  or  American  Black  Larch,  and  is 
superior  to  any  of  the  species  of  Pine  or 
Spruce  for  ship-building,  for  which  purpose 
it  is  largely  employed  in  Maine  and  the  Brit- 
ish Provinces.  The  trees  are  small  and  of 
but  little  value  south  of  Maine.  Its  southern 
limits  are  the  mountains  of  Virginia.  L.  oc- 
cidentalis,  found  in  British  Columbia,  northern 
Washington  Territory,  the  western  slopes  of 
the  Eocky  Mountains  of  Montana,  very  com- 
mon, and  perhaps  reaching  its  greatest  devel- 
opment in  the  region  north  of  the  Big  Black- 
foot  river,  and  in  the  valley  of  the  Flathead 
river,  Montana,  is  the  largest  and  most  valu- 
able timber  tree  of  the  Columbia  basin.  It  is 
not  so  fine  an  ornamental  tree  as  L.  Europcea, 
which  is  also  a  valuable  timber-tree,  and 
worthy  of  a  place  on  the  lawn.  There  are  a 
number  of  varieties. 

Larkspiir.  A  general  name  for  the  garden 
species  of  Delphinium. 

La'rrea.  In  honor  of  John  Anthony  de  Larrea,  a 
Spanish  promoter  of  the  sciences.  Nat.  Ord. 
Zygophyllacece. 

L.  Mexicana,  the  Creosote  plant,  is  a  shrub 
growing  from  four  to  six  feet  high,  very 
abundant  in  some  parts  of  Mexico,  forming  a 
dense  and  almost  impassable  scrub,  particu- 
larly on  the  borders  of  the  Colorado  desert, 
where  its  luxuriant  growth  puts  a  stop  to  the 
drifting  sand.  Its  appearance  is  a  sure  indi- 
cation of  a  sterile  soil,  as  nothing  will  grow 
beneath  it,  and  its  strong  Creosote  odor  is  so 
repulsive  that  no  animal  will  touch  it.  It  is 
with  great  difficulty  that  it  can  be  made  to 
burn,  and  it  is  consequently  useless  for  fuel. 

Lasia'ndra.  From  lasios,  woolly,  and  aner.  an 
anther ;  alluding  to  the  hairy  stamens.  Nat. 
Ord.  Melastomacece. 

A  large  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
shrubs,  with  handsome  foliage,  and  producing 
large  panicles  of  beautiful  purple  fiowers. 
They  are  easily  propagated  from  cuttings, 
and  were  introduced  from  Eio  Janeiro  in  1836. 
Syn.  Pleroma. 

Lasthe'nia.  Derivation  of  name  unknown.  Nat. 
Ord.  Composite. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  annuals  from  Cali- 
fornia, the  seeds  of  which  should  be  sown  in 
autumn  or  early  spring.  The  flowers  are 
pure  golden  yellow,  making  it  a  very  pretty 
border  plant.     Introduced  in  1834. 

La'straea.  Derivation  unexplained.  Nat.  Ord. 
PolypodiacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  polypodiaceous 
Ferns,  formerly  included  in  the  genus  As- 
pidium.  Some  of  the  newly-introduced  spe- 
cies from  Australia  grow  luxuriantly  in  the 
ordinary  green-house.  Like  all  of  the_  order 
a  moist  atmosphere  is  favorable  to  their  per- 
fect development.  This  genus  is  now  in- 
cluded by  some  botanists  under  Nephrodium. 

Lata'nia.  Bourbon  Palm.  Latanier  is  the 
name  of  the  palm  in  the  Isle  of  Bourbon. 
Nat.  Ord.  PalmacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  handsome  palms, 
with  branching  flower  spikes,  the  male  and 
female  being  produced  on  different  plants.  L. 
VerschaffeUii  (Syn.  L.  aurea)  has  flabelliform 
roundish,  deeply  incised  leaves  of  a  deep 
glaucous-green  color,  and  golden-colox-ed 
midribs.  The  petiole  is  smooth,  of  an 
orange  tint  and  from  two  to  four  feet  long. 


218 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


LAT 

L.  Commersonii,  has  deeply  incised,  gracefully 
recurved  leaves,  the  segments  margined  with 
a  reddish  colored  band,  edged  with  fine  teeth- 
like  spines ;  the  petioles  are  long  and  smooth, 
of  a  deep  chocolate-red  color.  It  is  a  very 
handsome  and  distinct  species.  They  are 
propagated  by  seed,  which  grows  freely  if 
given  a  mild  bottom  heat.  They  can  be  kept 
in  the  green-house  during  winter,  and  require 
but  little  water.  In  the  summer  give  them 
plenty  of  heat  and  water ;  their  growth  will 
be  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  each  given. 
The  species  known  in  cultivation  as  Latania 
Borbonica,  is  now  named  Livistona  Chinenais, 
which  see. 

Lateral.  Fixed  near  or  upon  the  side  of  any- 
thing. 

Laterals.  The  sideshoots  that  emanate  right 
and  left  of  the  leading  branch  or  shoot. 

Lathrae'a.  Tooth  Wort.  From  lathraio»,  hid- 
den, on  account  of  the  species  being  found  as 
if  hidden  under  trees.  Curious  leafless,  her- 
baceous plants,  belonging  to  the  Orobanchacece, 
natives  of  western  Europe  and  Asia,  with 
white,  yellowish,  or  pinkish  flowers  in  dense 
spikes.  Parasitical  on  the  roots  of  various 
trees. 

La'thyrus.  From  la,  to  add  to,  and  thouroa, 
an  irritant ;  to  increase  excitement ;  the  sup- 
posed qualities  of  the  seeds.  Nat.  Ord. 
Leguminosm. 

A  large  genus  of  very  beautiful,  free-flower- 
ing climbing  annuals  and  perennials,  found  in 
the  temperate  regions  of  both  hemispheres. 
L.  odoratus,  the  Sweet  Pea  of  our  gardens,  is 
a  native  of  southern  Sicily,  and  was  first  in- 
troduced into  England  in  1701.  On  account 
of  its  fragrance  it  is  the  most  desirable  of  the 
Bpecies.  There  is  now  great  diversity  in  the 
colors  of  the  different  varieties,  some  of 
late  introduction  being  the  best  in  cultivation ; 
they  include  white,  purple,  black,  scarlet, 
blue-edged,  and  striped  sorts.  The  Sweet 
Pea  delights  in  a  heavy,  stiff  loam,  and  will 
not  succeed  in  a  light  soil  unless  planted  very 
deep,  say  five  inches,  and  the  earth  well 
packed  down  around  the  plants.  L.  sylvestris 
platyphyllus  {L.  latifolius),  or  Everlasting  Pea 
(of  gardens),  of  which  there  are  three  varieties, 
producing  purple,  rose,  and  white  flowers, 
are  pretty  generally  distributed  throughout 
Europe.  They  grow  from  six  to  eight  feet 
high  when  properly  trained  upon  a  trellis ; 
and  if  planted  in  a  moist  soil  will  prolong  their 
season  of  flowering  nearly  the  whole  summer. 
They  are  extensively  used  in  New  York  and 
other  large  cities  as  cut  flowers.  L.  Magelr 
lanicus,  a  perennial  species  from  Cape  Horn,  is 
remarkable  for  the  beauty  of  its  foliage,  as  well 
as  for  its  showy  blue  flowers.  The  perennials 
are  propagated  by  root  division  and  from 
seed.  Seedlings  do  not  usually  get  strong 
enough  to  flower  well  before  the  third  year; 
they  will,  however,  produce  some  flowers  the 
second  year.  There  is  one  perennial  species, 
L.  Uiberosa,  occasionally  met  in  Europe,  hav- 
ing edible  tubers,  which,  if  baked  or  roasted, 
are  said  to  be  great  delicacies.  The  flowers 
of  this  species  are  borne  in  clusters  on  long 
peduncles ;  they  are  of  medium  size,  and  of 
a  rosy-pink  color.  There  are  several  other 
species  under  cultivation. 

Lattice  Plant.     See  Ouvirandra. 


LAV 

Laura'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees,  with  ex- 
stipulate,  usually  alternate,  dotted  leaves. 
They  are  tropical,  aromatic,  and  fragrant 
plants.  Cinnamomum  Zeylanicum  yields  Cin- 
namon Bark.  C.  cassia  supplies  Cassia  Bark. 
Camphora  officinarum,  a  native  of  Cliina, 
Japan,  and  Cochin  China,  yields  Camphor. 
Persea  gratissima  furnishes  the  fruit  called 
Avocado  Pear  or  Alligator  Pear.  Sassafras 
officinale  is  the  American  Sassafras  Tree. 
Laurus  nobilis  is  the  Sweet  Bay.  There  are 
about  fifty  genera  and  between  400  and  500 
species.  Laur^is,  Cinnamomum,  Camphora, 
and  Sassafras  are  examples  of  the  order. 

Laurel  or  Cherry  Laurel.  Cerasvs  Lauro- 
cerasus. 

American.  Kalmia  latifolia. 
Californian.     Oreodaphne  Califomica, 
Ground.     Epigoea  repens. 
Magnolia.     See  Magnolia  glaiica. 
Portugal.     Cerasvs  Lvsitanica. 
Sheep's.     Kalmia  angvstifolia. 
Spurge.     Daphne  Laureola. 
Victor's.    See  Laurus  nobilis. 

Lau'rus.  Laurel.  From  the  Celtic  laur,  green. 
Nat.  Ord.  LauracecB. 

Under  the  common  name  of  Laurel  many 
different  plants  are  met  in  fields  and  gardens, 
but  the  Sweet  Bay,  or  Victor's  Laurel,  L. 
nobilis  is  the  only  one  which  is  properly  so 
called.  It  is  a  native  of  southern  Europe, 
and  is  a  beautiful  evergreen  shrub  or  tree. 
In  some  localities  it  grows  to  the  height  of 
fifty  or  sixty  feet,  always  retaining  its  shrub- 
like character.  Its  leaves  have  an  agreeable 
aromatic,  slightly  bitter  taste ;  its  flowers  are 
yellowish  and  inconspicuous,  and  its  fruits  are 
succulent,  and  of  the  size  of  a  small  cherry. 
The  leaves,  beca\ise  of  their  agreeable  flavor, 
are  used  in  cooking  and  in  various  confec- 
tions. The  dried  figs  that  are  imported  into 
this  country  are  usually  packed  with  these 
leaves.  This  tree  is  not  hardy  enough  to 
resist  the  winters  north  of  the  Carolinas. 
Propagated  by  layers,  root  cuttings,  or  by 
seeds. 

Laurusti'nus.     See  Viburnum  tinus. 

Lava'ndula.  Lavender.  From  lavo,  to  wash, 
in  allusion  to  the  use  made  of  its  distilled 
water.     Nat.  Ord.  Lahiatam. 

Mostly  under-shrubs,  natives  of  the  south 
of  Europe,  but  largely  grown  in  England  and 
France  for  the  sake  of  their  perfume,  and 
for  the  oil,  on  which  this  property  depends. 
The  essential  oil  of  Lavender  is  produced  by 
distillation  from  the  flowers,  and  is  much 
prized  for  its  agreeable  odor.  When  dissolved 
in  spirits  of  wine,  and  mixed  with  other  pur- 
fumes,  it  forms  the  much  appreciated  Laven- 
der Water.  This  oil  is  the  essential  element 
in  the  Sweet  Spirits  of  Lavender  of  the  drug- 
gists. L.  vera  is  the  species  grown  for  these 
extracts,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  or 
from  seed.  Ail  the  hardy  species  are  orna- 
mental. 

Lavate'ra.  Named  after  the  the  two  Lavaters, 
Swiss  botanists.     Nat.  Ord.  Malvacem. 

An  extensive  genus  of  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, biennials,  and  annuals,  common 
throughout  Europe  and  western  Asia.  They 
are  mostly  coarse-growing,  bushy  plants,  of 
little  merit.  The  annual  species  are  rather 
showy,  producing  large  purple  flowers,  suit- 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTUllE. 


219 


LAV 

able  only  for  backgrounds  to  other  plants, 
The  seed  need  only  be  sown  where  wanted  to 
grow. 

Lavender.     See  Lavandula. 
Cotton.     See  Santolina. 

Lawn,  Is  the  name  given  to  the  open  grass 
space  surrounding  a  dwelling.  The  prepara- 
tion of  the  lawn  should  be  preliminary  to  the 
laying  out  of  flower-beds  in  grounds  having 
pretensions  to  wliat  is  called  Landscape  Gar- 
dening. The  formation  of  the  lawn  is  too 
often  hastily  and  imperfectly  done ;  it  is  the 
foundation  of  all  subsequent  operations,  and 
if  badly  done  at  first,  the  fault  can  never  be 
remedied  afterwards.  The  first  thing  to  be 
done  is  to  get  the  ground  shaped  to  the 
desired  grade,  tailing  care  in  grading  that 
when  hills  or  roclis  are  removed,  sufficient 
subsoil  is  also  removed  to  be  replaced  with 
top  soil ;  so  that  at  least  five  inches  of  good 
soil  will  overlay  the  whole  in  all  places.  When 
the  grading  is  finished,  if  the  nature  of  the 
ground  requires  it,  drains  should  be  laid 
wherever  necessary  (see  Draining) ;  then  the 
whole  should  be  thoroughly  plowed,  a  sub- 
soil following  in  the  walie  of  the  common 
plow,  until  it  is  completely  pulverized.  A 
heavy  harrow  should  then  be  applied  until  the 
surface  is  thoroughly  fined  down ;  all  stones, 
roots,  etc.,  should  be  removed,  so  that  a 
smooth  surface  may  be  obtained.  The  lawn 
is  now  ready  to  be  sown.  When  the  seed  is 
sown,  a  light  harrow  should  again  be  applied, 
and  after  that  a  thorough  rolling  given,  so 
that  the  surface  is  made  as  smooth  and  firm 
as  possible.  In  the  latitude  of  New  York,  the 
seed  may  be  sown  any  time  during  the  months 
of  April  and  May,  and  will  form  a  good  lawn 
by  August,  if  the  preparation  has  been  good. 
If  sown  in  the  hot  months  of  June  or  July,  a 
sprinkling  of  oats  should  be  sown  at  the  same 
time,  so  that  the  shade  given  by  the  oats  will 
protect  the  young  grass  from  the  sun.  Lawns 
are  also  sometimes  sown  during  the  early  fall 
months  (September  being  the  best)  with  excel- 
lent results.  The  formula  for  seed  for  lawn 
grass  now  known  in  New  York  as  Central 
Park  Mixture,  is  as  follows :  Eight  quarts 
Khode  Island  Bent  Grass ;  three  quarts 
Creeping  Bent  Grass;  ten  quarts  Red  Top 
Grass ;  ten  quarts  Kentucky  Blue  Grass ;  one 
quart  White  Clover.  For  small  plots,  of 
course  digQ;ing,  trenching,  and  raking  must 
be  done,  instead  of  plowing,  sub-soiling,  and 
harrowing.  Wherever  the  extent  of  the  lawn 
does  not  exceed  2,500  square  feet^  and  where 
sods  can  be  obtained  from  a  suitable  pasture 
near  at  hand  without  much  cost,  the  quickest 
way  to  make  the  lawn  is  to  sod  it;  but  before 
doing  so,  the  ground  should  be  rolled  or  beaten 
down,  particularly  if  any  portion  of  it  has 
been  filled  in,  so  that  there  may  be  no  "  set- 
tling "  to  form  hollows  or  inequalities.  A  con- 
venient size  of  sod  to  lay  down  is  twelve  by 
eighteen  inches,  and  of  a  thickness  of  two 
inches.  In  laying,  see  that  the  edges  are 
neatly  laid  together,  and  the  whole  firmly 
beaten  down  with  the  back  of  a  spade.  If  it  is 
diy  weather  when  the  work  is  done,  it  may  be 
necessary  to  thoroughly  drench  the  newly- 
laid  sod  for  a  week  or  so  after,  every  other 
evening. 

To  keep  the  lawn  in  proper  condition,  it 
should  be  mowed  over  once  every  week,  if  the 


LAW 

weather  is  moist,  and  not  less  than  once  in 
two  weeks,  even  in  dry  weather;  for  if  the 
lawn  has  been  properly  made  in  the  first  place, 
and  "  top-dressed "  with  a  good  coat  of  well- 
rotted  manure  in  fall,  and  the  rough  parts 
raked  off  in  spring,  the  weather  must  be  dry 
and  hot  indeed  lo  prevent  its  growth. 

On  sloping  banks  it  is  often  necessary  to  use 
sod,  as  the  rains  wash  the  soil  off  before  the 
grass-seed  has  time  to  germinate.  It  is  some- 
times even  necessary,  in  sodding  very  steep 
banks,  to  use  pins  eight  or  ten  inches  in 
length,  to  pin  the  sods  to  place,  to  prevent 
them  from  being  washed  down  by  excessive 
rains  before  the  grass-roots  have  had  time  to 
fasten  in  the  soil. 

Lawns  that  have  been  worn  out  by  neglect 
or  other  causes,  or  where  it  is  not  convenient 
or  desirable  to  renew  them  by  plowing  up, 
will  be  greatly  benefited  by  running  a  light 
harrow  over  them  if  the  surface  is  large,  or  by 
a  sharp  steel  rake  for  smaller  areas.  After 
stirring  the  surface  by  such  means,  judiciously, 
so  as  not  to  injure  tlie  roots  too  severely, 
lawn  grass  should  be  sown  over  the  surface, 
using  about  half  the  quantity  of  seed  required 
for  new  lawns,  and  over  this  for  each  acre,  or 
in  the  same  proportions  for  lesser  areas,  sow 
500  pounds  of  some  good  "lawn  enricher;" 
again  harrow  or  rake,  and  roll  down  firmly. 

Weeds  in  lawns,  such  as  thistles,  dande- 
lions, dock-roots,  etc.,  can  only  be  removed 
by  cutting  them  out  with  a  knife.  Thistle 
and  dock-roots  should  be  removed  as  far  as 
possible ;  but  as  to  others,  there  is  no  neces- 
sity for  cutting  the  whole  root  out.  If  cut 
below  the  crown,  the  root  will  not  start  again. 

Ants  on  lawns  are  a  pest  that  we  are  almost 
powerless  to  cope  with.  Nothing  seems  to 
poison  them,  as  either  their  instinct  teaches 
them  to  avoid  the  ordinary  insect  poisons,  or 
their  constitutions  are  proof  against  them. 
Everything  we  have  tried  has  failed,  except 
Pyrethrum  or  Persian  insect  powder.  This 
applied  by  a  bellows  quickly  suffocates  them ; 
but  every  insect  needs  to  be  struck  by  it,  or  it 
is  useless,  as  "it  only  kills  them  by  suffocation. 
They  can  also  be  captured  by  placing  fresh 
bones  or  molasses  in  plates  around  their 
haunts ;  they  attack  these  before  anything 
else.  By  persistently  thus  catching  and 
destroying  them  two  or  three  times  a  day, 
they  may  be  permanently  got  rid  of. 

Lawso'nia.  Henna  Plant.  Named  •  after  Dr. 
Isaac  Lawson,  a  botanical  traveler.  Nat.  Ord. 
LythracecB. 

L.  Alba,  the  only  species,  the  celebrated 
Henna  of  the  East,  and  is  a  dwarf  shrub,  eight 
to  ten  feet  high,  bearing  smooth,  oval,  lance- 
shaped,  entire  leaves,  and  panicles  of  small, 
white,  sweet-smeUing  flowers,  wliich  are  used 
by  Buddhists  as  offerings  to  their  deities. 
This  shrub  is  grown,  throughout  India,  Persia, 
Egypt,  and  the  north  of  Africa,  and  the  use 
of  the  powdered  leaves  as  a  cosmetic  is  very 
general  in  all  these  countries,  the  practice 
having  descended  from  very  remote  ages,  as 
is  proved  by  the  evidence  of  Egyptian 
Mummies,  the  par^s  dyed  being  usually  the 
finger  and  toe  nails,  the  tips  of  the  fingers, 
the  palms  of  the  hands,  and  the  soles  of  the 
feet,  to  all  of  which  it  imparts  a  reddish- 
orange  color,  which  is  considered  by  the  Orien- 
tal fair  sex,  greatly  to  enhance  their  beauty. 


220 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


LAX 

In  the  West  Indies  where  it  is  naturalized,  it 
goes  by  the  name  of  Jamaica  Mignonette. 

La^ma'nnia.  Named  after £.  Laxmann,  a  Sibe- 
rian traveler.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  small  genus  of  low-growing,  green-house 
herbaceous  plants,  from  New  Holland.  The 
flowers  are  borne  in  terminal  heads  on  slender 
scapes,  six  inches  high,  and  are  either  white 
or  purple.  They  are  increased  by  division 
of  the  root,  and  were  introduced  in  1824. 

Layering,    See  Propagation  by  Layering. 

La'yia.  Named  in  honor  of  Thomas  Lay,  nat- 
uralist in  Beechey's  Voyage.  A  genus  of  Com- 
positce,  consisting  of  seven  or  eight  annual 
or  biennial  herbs,  natives  of  California,  and 
Oregon,  usually  pubescent  or  hirsute,  often 
glandular,  with  alternate  leaves,  and  white  or 
yellow  flowers ;  increased  by  seeds.  Syn.  Cal- 
lichroa,   CalUglossa,  and  Oxyura. 

Lead-colored.  Slate  colored,  with  a  slight 
metallic  lustre. 

Lead  Plant.     See  Amorpha  canescens. 

Leadwort.     See  Plumbago. 

Leaf.  An  appendage  to  the  stem,  considered  as 
an  expansion  to  the  bark,  composed  of  cellu- 
lar tissue,  and  generally  with  fibres  of  vascu- 
lar tissue  intermixed. 

Leaf  Cup.     The  genus  Polymnia. 

Leather  Flower.  The  common  name  of 
Clematis   Vior7ia. 

Leather  Leaf.     Cassandra  calyculata. 

Leather-wood.     See  Dirca. 

Le'ohea.  A  genus  of  Cistarece  differing  from 
Helianlhemum  in  some  slight  particulars. 
There  are  four  or  five  species,  all  natives  of 
the  United  States,  slender,  much  branched 
perennial  herbs  with  numerous  small  green- 
ish or  purple  flowers.  Common  in  dry  sterile 
soils. 

Le'cythis.  From  lecythos  an  oil-jar ;  in  allusion 
to  the  shape  of  the  seed-vessels.  A  genus  of 
Myrtacem,  almost  exclusively  confined  to 
Venezuela,  Guiana,  and  Brazil.  Under  the 
name  of  Sapucai  Nuts  the  seeds  of  L.  Zahu- 
cajo  are  sold  as  a  substitute  for  the  closely 
allied  Brazil  nuts,  to  which  they  are  far  su- 
perior. L.  Ollaria  produces  large  fruits  com- 
monly known  as  Monkey  Pots,  but  the  seeds 
are  not  so  palatable  as  the  former,  leaving  a 
bitter  flavor  in  the  mouth. 

Ledenbe'rgia.  A  commemorative  name.  Nat. 
Ord.  PhytolaccacecB. 

L.  'rosea-cenea  the  only  species  is  a  very 
ornamental-leaved  warm  green-house  shrub, 
with  large,  thick  obovate-lanceolate  leaves, 
dark  shining  coppery-green  on  the  upper 
surface  and  bright  rosy-violet  color  beneath. 
The  stems  and  branches  are  reddish-purple. 
It  was  introduced  from  Central  America  in 
1869,  and  is  readily  increased  by  cuttings  in 
heat. 

Le'dum.  Labrador  Tea.  From  ledon,  the  Greek 
name  of  Cistus,  which  this  genus  resembles. 
Nat.  Ord.  Ericaceae. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy,  evergreen,  white- 
flowering  shrubs,  natives  of  British  America. 
See  Labrador  Tea. 

Lee'a.  Commemorative  of  James  Lee,  a  London 
nurseryman,  who  did  a  good  deal  to  popular- 
ize the  Linnsean  system.     A  genus  of  VitacecB, 


LEM 

consisting  of  rough  shrubby  plants  (rarely 
trees),  found  in  tropical  Asia,  Africa,  and  the 
Mauritius.  Plants  of  little  interest  except  L. 
amabilis  which  is  a  very  handsome  foliaged 
plant.    Introduced  from  Borneo  in  1880. 

Leek.     Allium  Porrum. 

Legume.  A  name  given  to  the  seed-vessel  of 
the  Pea  family,  opening  the  two  valves,  and 
having  the  seeds  attached  to  the  ventral 
suture. 

Legumino'sce.  A  natural  order  of  herbs,  shrubs, 
or  trees,  with  alternate,  usually  compound, 
exstipulate  leaves.  The  plants  occur  in  all 
parts  of  the  world,  but  are  abundant  in  trop- 
ical couutries.  The  order  is  a  large  one,  and 
has  been  divided  into  three  sub-orders,  viz : 
PapilionacefB,  Ccesalpineoe,  and  MimosecB.  They 
supply  food,  timber,  fibre,  gums,  dyes,  and 
various  economical  substances.  Some  are 
poisonous.  Among  the  useful  plants  may  be 
mentioned  Beans,  Peas,  Lentils,  Pulse  of 
various  kinds,  Lupins,  Clover,  Lucerne,  Sain- 
foin, Tragacanth,  Indigo,  and  others.  There 
are  about  550  genera  and  7,000  species. 
Phaseolus,  Vicia,  Pis^im,  Lotus,  Cassia,  and 
Acacia  are  examples  of  the  order. 

Leiophy'Uum.  Sand  Myrtle.  From  leios,  smooth, 
and  phyllon,  a  leaf;  referring  to  the  leaves 
being  quite  smooth.     Nat.  Ord.  Ericacem. 

L.  buxifolium,  the  only  species,  is  a  small 
erect  bushy  evergreen  shrub,  its  pretty  white 
flowers  having  pink  tips.  Natives  of  New 
Jersey,  and  the  mountains  of  Virginia.  Syn. 
Ledum  buxifolium. 

Lemna.  Duck-weed.  An  old  Greek  name  of 
uncertain  meaning.     Nat.  Ord.  Lemnacece. 

A  genus  of  small  floating  herbs  distributed 
over  Europe,  Northern  Asia,  and  North 
America,  but  very  rare  in  the  tropics.  These 
plants  are  without  distinct  stems  or  real 
leaves,  "  but  consist  of  small  leaf-like  fronds, 
either  separate,  or  cohering  two  or  three 
together  by  their  edges,  emitting  in  most 
species,  one  or  more  fibres  from  their  under 
surface  into  the  water,  and  multiplying  by 
similar  fronds  growing  out  of  their  edges. 
Flowers  very  rare,  appearing  from  a  fissure 
in  the  edge,  or  on  the  upper  surface  of  the 
frond  "  (Bentham).  The  pretty  little  Nertera 
depressa  with  its  red  fruits  is  often  called 
Australian  or  I'ruiting  Duck-weed,  showing 
plainly  the  absurdity  and  inutility  of  English 
names  only,  to  distinguish  plants. 

Lemnaceae.  A  natural  order  of  very  small 
herbaceous  plants,  found  floating  on  the 
surface  of  stagnant  waters  especially  in  tem- 
perate regions.  The  two  genera,  Lemna  and 
Wolffia,  are  the  smallest  known  Phanerogam- 
ous plants,  and  ai'e  closely  allied  to  Aroidece, 
and  Naidacece. 

Lemou.     See  Citrus, 

Lemon  Grass.  A  popular  name  of  one  of  the 
species  of  Andropogon. 

Lemo'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Sir  Charles 
Lemon.     Nat.  Ord.  RuiacecB. 

L.  spectabilis,  the  only  species,  is  a  green- 
house evergreen  shrub  from  Cuba,  producing 
axillary  clusters  of  beautiful  rose-colored 
flowers  in  September.  During  summer  they 
require  plenty  of  heat  and  water,  and  in  winter 
to  be  kept  dormant,  with  only  water  enough 


IiA.THXB0S  ODOKATUB  (SWEET  PEAS). 


LATIA   ELEGANS. 


luVTANIA  BORBONICA   (LIVTRTONA  OHINrNRIS). 


lAFAGXBIA. 


LEUCOJUM  VEENUM. 


LEONTOPODITJM  (EDELWEISS). 


AND   GENERAL   HOETICULTURE. 


221 


LEM 

to  keep  them  from  shriveling.     Propagated 
by  cuttings.     Syn.  Ravenia. 

Lemon  Verbena.    Aloysia  citriodora. 

Lens  esculenta.     Syn.  for  Ervum  lens  (Lentil). 

Lentibularia'ceae.  A  natural  order  containing 
four  genera  of  principally  aquatic  or  marsh 
herbs,  most  abundant  in  the  tropics.  The 
most  familiar  examples  are  the  common  Blad- 
der-wort ( Utricularia)  and  Pinguicula. 

Lenticular.  Shaped  like  a  lens ;  resembling  a 
double  convex  lens. 

Lentil.     See  Ervum  Lens. 

Lent  Lily.  A  common  name  for  Narcissus 
Pseudo-  Narcissus . 

Lent  Rose.  A  name  given  to  Helleborus  orien- 
talis,  H.  Olympicus,  and  other  species. 

Leono'tis.  Lion's  Ear.  From  leon,  a  lion,  and 
oils,  an  ear ;  some  resemblance  in  the  flower. 
Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 

A  small  genus  of  annuals  and  green-house 
evergreen  shrubs.  Of  the  latter  L.  leonurus, 
the  Lion's  Tail,  is  a  magnificent  species  from 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  producing  brilliant 
scarlet  flowers.  It  requires  a  rough,  sandy 
loam,  with  plenty  of  air,  and  during  the  sum- 
mer a  liberal  supply  of  water,  when  it  will 
not  fail  to  grow  and  flower  finely.  It  is  propa- 
gated by  cuttings.  The  other  species  are 
scarcely  worth  growing.  L.  cardiaca  is 
known  in  domestic  medicine  as  Motherwort. 

Leo'ntice.  From  leon,  leontos,  a  lion ;  alluding 
to  the  fancied  resemblance  in  the  leaves  to 
the  print  of  a  lion's  foot.  Nat.  Ord.  Berberi- 
dacem. 

A  small  genus  of  herbs  with  tuberous  rhi- 
zomes, natives  of  southern  Europe  and  central 
Asia.  L.  Altaica,  the  best-known  species,  is 
a  dwarf  half-hardy  plant,  producing  terminal 
deflected  racemes  of  yellow  flowers  early  in 
May.    It  may  be  increased  by  offsets  or  seeds. 

Leo'ntodon.  Hawk-bit.  From  leon,  a  lion,  and 
odons,  a  tooth ;  referring  to  the  tooth-liKe 
margins  of  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 
A  genus  comprising  about  forty  species  of 
hardy  herbaceous  plants,  very  generally  dis- 
tributed in  the  old  world,  only  one  being 
native  of  America.  None  of  the  species  are 
of  any  horticultural  value. 

Leontopo'dium.  Edelweiss.  Lion's  Foot. 
From  leon,  a  lion,  and  pous,  a  foot;  resem- 
blance of  the  flower-heads.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positcB. 

L.  alpinum,  the  only  species  under  cultiva- 
tion, was  formerly  included  in  the  genus 
Gnaphalium.  This  singular  plant  is  a  native 
of  the  Swiss  Alps,  where  it  is  known  by  the 
popular  title  Edelweiss.  The  flower-heads  are 
flat,  topped  by  a  wide-spreading,  woolly-leaved 
foliaceous  involucre.  The  appearance  not 
inaptly  resembles  the  soft-cushioned  foot  of 
the  lion,  hence  the  generic  name.  It  suc- 
ceeds best  on  rock- work,  or  in  exposed  spots  in 
moist,  sandy  soil,  and  is  increased  by  seeds 
or  by  careful  division.  Syns.  Gnaphalium 
Leontopodium  and  L.  Helveticum. 

Leopard's  Bane.     See  Doronicum. 

Leopard  Wood.     See  Brosimum. 

Leopoldi'nia.  Named  after  the  late  Empress 
of  Brazil.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  small  genus  of  Brazilian  Palms,  compris- 
ing three  or  four  species,  existing  in  consid- 


LEP 

erable  numbers  on  the  Amazon  and  Rio 
Negro.  The  trees  are  of  medium  size,  bear- 
ing terminal,  smooth,  pinnate  leaves,  and 
having  the  upper  part  of  their  stems  covered 
with  a  copious  network  of  fibres.  L.  Piassdba 
is  one  of  the  Palms  which  yield  the  Piassaba 
or  Piacaba  fibre,  now  so  extensively  employed 
by  brush-makers  as  a  substitute  for  bristles, 
and  also  for  making  the  stout  street  brooms 
used  in  all  large  cities.  Two  distinct  varieties 
of  this  fibre  are  recognized  in  commerce,  one 
being  a  coarse  kind  obtained  from  Attalea 
funijera  and  imported  from  Bahia;  and  the 
other  a  finer  kind  brought  from  Para,  the  pro- 
duce of  the  Leopoldinia,  which  is  found  grow- 
ing in  great  abundance  on  the  extensive 
plains  between  the  Rio  Negro  and  Orinoco 
rivers,  forming  entire  forests.  It  attains  a 
height  of  from  fifteen  to  forty  feet,  and  the 
fibre,  or  beard,  as  it  is  usually  called,  which 
is  the  envelope  of  the  young  leaves,  hangs 
down  all  round,  and  completely  covers  the 
trunk  quite  to  the  ground,  except  in  very  tall 
trees,  the  lower  part  of  whose  trunk  is  gen- 
ei'ally  bare.  The  brushes  made  from  this 
fibre  are  known  in  trade  as  Tampico,  and  for 
many  purposes  are  considered  superior  to 
those  made  from  bristles. 
Lepa'nthes.  From  lepos,  bark,  or  lepis,  scale, 
and  anthos,  a  flower ;  the  plants  of  this  genus 
have  very  small  flowers,  and  grow  upon  the 
bark  of  trees.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  genus  ot  the  dwarfest  of  Orchids,  with 
the  habit  of,  and  nearly  related  to,  PleurothaU 
lus.  They  can  only  be  grown  under  a  bell- 
glass,  among  damp  moss,  in  a  cool  part  of  the 
house.  They  are  natives  of  Mexico  and  the 
West  Indies,  and  are  propagated  by  division. 
Introduced  in  1834. 

Lepa'nthiis.     A  synonym  of  Heteranthera. 

Lepi'dium.  Cress  or  Peppergrass.  From  lepis, 
a  scale  ;  in  allusion  to  the  shape  of  the  pods, 
which  appear  like  little  scales.  Nat.  Ord. 
CrucifercB. 

A  very  extensive  genus  of  hardy  annuals 
and  perennials,  found  distributed  throughout 
the  temperate  regions  of  the  earth.  The  only 
species  of  interest  are  L.  sativum,  the  com- 
mon garden  Peppergrass,  whose  nativity  is 
attributed  to  Persia:  and  L.  Piscidium,  iound 
in  the  Society  and  Sandwich  Islands.  This 
species,  in  common  with  many  other  plants, 
possesses  properties  that  intoxicate  fish,  and 
the  natives  use  it  for  that  purpose.  When 
thrown  into  the  water  it  is  eagerly  eaten  by  the 
fish,  which  are,  soon  after  eating  it,  rendered 
insensible,  and  float  helplessly  upon  the 
water,  and  are  easily  taken.  There  are  sev- 
«'ral  native  and  naturalized  species  common 
in  this  country,  all  of  thorn  weeds. 

Lepta'ndra.     Included  under  Veronica. 

Leptochlo'a.  Slender  Grass.  From  leptos, 
slender,  and  chloa,  grass ;  in  allusion  to  the 
slender  habit  of  the  grass.  Nat.  Ord.  Grami- 
nacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  slender  grasses  inhabiting 
North  and  South  America.  L.  gracilis  is  a 
graceful  grass  with  long  plume-like  panicles. 
None  of  the  species  are  considered  valuable 
for  agricultural  purposes. 

Leptosi'phon.  From  leptos,  and  siphon,  a 
tube  ;  alluding  to  the  tube  of  the  flower.  Nat. 
Ord.  PolemoniacecB. 


222 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


LEP 

Handsome  dwarf-growing  Californian  an- 
nuals. Some  of  the  species  make  charming 
bedding  plants.  When  planted  in  masses 
they  form  an  entire  sheet  of  pure  white  or 
lilac  flowers,  not  more  than  eight  inches  from 
the  surface  of  the  soil.  They  succeed  well  in 
the  open  border,and  by  successive  sowings  may 
be  had  in  flower  the  entire  summer  and  au- 
tumn. They  are  also  well  adapted  for  grow- 
ing in  pots  to  bloom  in  winter.  This  genus 
is  closely  allied  to  Gilia,  under  which  it  is 
placed  by  some  authors. 

Leptospe'rmum.  From  leptos,  slender,  and 
sperma,  a  seed  ;  seeds  slender.  A  large  genus 
of  shrubs  or  small  trees  belonging  to  the 
MyrtacecR,  and  nearly  all  confined  to  Australia 
and  Tasmania.  The  leaves  are  alternate,  small, 
leathery,  and  full  of  dots,  or  cells  containing 
oil;  their  white  flowers  are  borne  on  short 
stalks,  on  the  sides  of  the  young  branches, 
either  solitary  or  in  little  clusters.  L.  lani- 
gerum,  a  native  of  Tasmania  and  south-eastern 
Australia,  is  commonly  called  Tea  tree,  on  ac- 
count of  its  leaves  having  been  used  by  the 
early  settlers  in  these  countries,  as  a  substi- 
tute for  tea.  Propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
young  shoots. 

Lepto'syne.  From  leptosin,  slender;  a  name 
applicable  to  the  original  species.  Nat.  Ord. 
CompositoB. 

A  genus  of  annual,  or  perennial,  herbaceous, 
or  suffruticose  plants,  with  showy  peduncu- 
late heads  the  ray  and  disk  being  both 
bright-yellow  and  pinnately  divided  or  dis- 
sected leaves.  They  have  the  habit  of  Core- 
opsis, which  they  represent  on  the  western 
side  of  North  America.  L.  Maritima,  an 
autumn  blooming  perennial,  is  cultivated 
under  the  name  of  "  Mid- Winter  Sunflower." 

Lepto'tes.  From  leptos,  slender;  referring  to 
the  leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  Brazilian  Orchids.  The 
two  species  known,  are  pretty  little  epiphytps, 
producing  small,  rush-like  leaves  and  lovely 
white  flowers,  having  a  blotch  of  bright  crim- 
son on  the  lip.  They  are  of  easy  culture, 
growing  in  the  green-liouse,  either  on  cork  or 
in  baskets  of  moss,  and  requiring  liberal  wat- 
ering during  the  growing  season.  They  ai"e 
propagated  by  division  ;  introduced  in  1831. 

Leptu'rus.  A  small  genus  of  grasses  but  rarely 
met;  it  is  occasionally  found  inhabiting 
marshy  places  on  the  sea-coast,  where  it  fur- 
nishes considerable  pasture  for  cattle. 

Leschenau'ltia.  Named  after  M.  LeschenauU,  a 
French  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  GoodeniaeeoB. 

A  small  genus  of  veiy  ornamental  heath- 
like shrubs,  with  rich  blue  or  scarlet 
flowers,  natives  of  Australia.  They  are 
among  the  most  beautiful  and  effective 
green-house  hard-wooded  plants,  and  re- 
quire the  most  careful  attention  at  all  sea- 
sons, particularly  in  regard  to  watering.  L. 
biloba  major  is  p<n-haps  the  flnest  blue  hard- 
wooded  shrub  in  cultivation,  and  L.  forinosa 
Mith  scarlet  flowers,  is  an  exceedingly  hand- 
some species.  They  are  propagated  by  cut- 
tings of  the  moderately  firm  young  shoots  in 
a  little  heat. 

Lespede'za.  Named  in  honor  of  M.  Lespedez, 
once  Governor  of  Florida,  and  a  great  patron 
of  botany.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguniinosce. 


LEU 

A  genus  of  low-growing,  pea-flowering 
shrubs,  annuals  and  herbaceous  perennials, 
common  from  South  Carolina  to  Mississippi. 
Some  of  the  kinds  are  showy  when  in  flower. 
L.  bicolor,  introduced  from  Japan  under  the 
name  of  Desmodium  pendidijlorum,  is  a  hardy 
deciduous  shrub,  blooming  in  the  autumn, 
and  producing  long,  pendulous,  branched 
panicles  of  rich  rosy-purple  colored  flowers. 
If  pruned  close  down  to  the  ground  every 
spring  it  forms  a  neat,  graceful  bush,  two  to 
three  feet  high,  covered  in  autumn  with  blos- 
som ;  a  splendid  addition  to  any  collection  of 
herbaceous  plants.  The  species  of  most 
value  is  L.  striata,  or  Japan  Clover,  which 
first  appeared  in  1849,  near  Charleston,  S.  C. 
The  seeds  are  supposed  to  have  been  brought 
from  Japan,  or  China,  in  some  tea  boxes.  It 
rapidly  spread  into  Georgia,  and  in  1870  ap- 
peared in  Tennessee,  and  now  spreads  from 
the  Atlantic  coast  to  the  Mississippi  Biver. 
It  is  a  low  perennial  plant,  Avith  a  spreading 
habit,  much  like  that  of  white  clover.  It 
flourishes  on  the  poorest  soils,  preventing 
washing  by  rains,  furnishing  not  only  good 
grazing,  but  fertilizing  the  soil  by  the  decay 
of  its  stubble  as  clover  does.  For  sheep  pas- 
ture, south  of  Virginia  it  is  scarcely  excelled 
by  anj'  other  forage  plant. 

Lettuce.     See  LactiLca. 

Leucade'ndron.  From  leukos,  white,  and  den- 
dron,  a  tree ;  in  allusion  to  the  white  leaves. 
Nat.  Ord.  ProteacecB.  . 

An  extensive  genus  of  green-house  ever- 
green shrubs  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
They  are  cultivated  for  their  silvei-y  foliage, 
and  their  large  terminal  clusters  of  yellow 
flowers,  which  are  produced  in  June  and  July. 
They  all  grow  freely  in  a  cool  green-house,  if 
care  be  observed  not  to  over-water  in  winter ; 
in  fact,  they  are  at  all  times  impatient  of 
water.  They  are  readily  increased  by  cuttings 
or  ripened  wood.  L.  argenteum  is  the  Witte- 
broom,  or  Silver  Tree,  of  the  Cape  colonists. 
It  is  a  very  handsome  tree,  too  rarely  seen  in 
cultivation.  The  beautiful  silvery-white  dried 
leaves  are  imported,  and  largely  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  wreaths,  etc. 

Leuca'nthemum.  Ox-ej^e  Daisy.  From  leukos, 
white,  and  anthos,  a  flower;  white  flowers, 
Nat.  Ord.  Compositm. 

This  pernicious  weed,  L.  vuJgare,  formerlj' 
included  in  the  genus  Chrysanthemum  (C.  leu- 
canthemum),  is  a  native  of  Great  Britain,  but 
has  become  thoroughly  naturalized  in  many 
parts  of  the  United  States.  It  is  a  perennial, 
and  increases  rapidly  from  seed,  or  from  the 
roots.  L.  alpinum  is  rather  a  quaint,  pretty, 
very  dwarf  plant,  with  white,  daisy-like  flow- 
ers, and  well  deserves  cultivation  on  rock- 
work  in  poor,  gravelly  soil.  It  is  sometimes 
known  as  Chrysanthemum  articuin  and  Pyreth- 
rum  alpinum. 

Leucoco'ryne.  From  leukor,  white,  and  koryne, 
a  club  ;  because  of  the  white  sterile  anthers. 
Nat.  Ord.  LiUacea. 

Half-hardy  bulbous  plants,  pretty,  and  de- 
serving attention.  They  may  be  cultivated 
either  in  pots  or  in  the  open  ground,  if  they 
are  taken  up  and  preserved  in  sand  through 
the  winter.  The  flowers  are  large  for  the  size 
of  the  plant,  and  are  either  white  or  lilac. 
They    are   increased    by    offsets,   and    when 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


223 


LEU 

planted  in  the  borders  the  bulbs  should  be  set 
rather  closely  together  to  insure  a  display. 
Introduced  from  Chili  in  1851. 

Leuchtenbe'rgia.  Named  after  Prince  Leuchten- 
berrj.     Nat.  Ord.  Cactacece. 

L.  principis,  the  only  species,  has  glaucous- 
green,  succulent,  triangular  leaves,  truncated 
at  the  apex,  and  there  bearing  six  or  seven 
long,  chafify,  almost  horny  scales,  of  which 
the  center  one  is  almost  as  long  as  the  mami- 
Ise,  and  the  others  form  a  whorl  round  the 
center.  The  stem  is  about  as  thick  as  a  man's 
arm,  hard  and  woody,  and  the  flowers  are  a 
rich,  clear  yellow,  large,  usually  solitary,  and 
produced  at  the  top  of  the  plant,  among  the 
younger  mamilse.  It  was  introduced  from 
Mexico  in  1847,  and  requires  the  same  treat- 
ment as  Mamillaria. 

Leucoca'rpus.  From  leucos,  white,  and  Kar- 
pos,  a  fruit;  alluding  to  the  color  of  the  ber- 
ries.    Nat.  Ord.  ScrophulariacecB. 

L.  alatus,  the  only  species,  a  native  of 
Mexico,  is  a  tall,  puberulous  or  glabrous 
green-house  plant,  with  yellow  bi-abiate  flow- 
ers and  large  opposite-spreading  leaves.  It 
grows  from  two  to  two  and  a  half  feet  high, 
and  is  very  ornamental  when  laden  with  its 
white  fruits.     Syn.  Mimulus  perfoliatus. 

Le'ucojum.  Snowflake.  From  leukos,  white, 
and  ion,  a  violet ;  in  reference  to  the  color  of 
the  flower,  whence  the  English  name  Snow- 
flake.     Nat.  Ord.  AmarylUdaceoB. 

Hardy  bulbs,  growing  to  the  height  of 
twelve  and  eighteen  inches,  and  producing 
spikes  of  pretty  white  flowers  like  the  Snow- 
drop. They  increase  by  offsets  from  the 
bulbs.  L.  vemum,  Spring  Snowflake,  one 
of  our  best  early  flowering  bulbs,  is  a 
native  of  Germany  and  Switzerland,  where  it 
is  found  wild  in  the  woods  and  other  shady 

•  places.  It  was  introduced  in  1596 ;  is  dedi- 
cated to  St.  Agnes,  the  patron  saint  of  young 
virgins,  from  its  loveliness  and  purity,  and 
hence  is  called  St.  Agnes's  Flower.  In  Park- 
inson's time  it  was  also  known  by  the  name 
of  the  Great  Early  Bulbous  Violet.  It  is  said 
to  have  become  naturalized  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Bridgeport,  Dorsetshire,  England. 
These  very  elegant  and  delightfully  fragrant 
flowers  greatly  resemble  the  Snowdrop,  but 
they  are  much  larger,  and  are  about  a  month 
later.  There  is  a  yellowish  green  spot  on  each 
petal  near  the  point.  They  are  among  the  most 
desirable  of  early  flowering  bulbs,  and  are 
suitable  for  rock-work  or  borders.  A  shel- 
tered situation  should  be  chosen,  and  the 
soil  should  be  well-drained.     Syn.  Erinosma. 

Leucophy'ta  Bro"wnii.  A  synonym  for  Caloce- 
phaliis  Brownii,  which  see. 

Leucopo'gon.  From  leukos,  white,  and  poqon, 
a  beard ;  referring  to  the  hairs  on  the  flowers. 
Nat.  Ordi  EpacridacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs, 
with  handsome  white  flowers,  produced  in 
terminal  or  axillary  spikes.  The  species  are 
widely  scattered  over  Australia,  Tasmania, 
and  New  Zealand.  But  few  of  the  species  are 
under  cultivation. 

Leucospe'rmiim.  From  leucos,  white,  and 
sperma,  a  seed;  in  allusion  to  the  downy 
seeds.  A  genus  of  Proteacece,  consisting  of 
evergreen  shrubs,  or  small  trees,  natives  of 
south  Africa.     The  flowers  are  solitary  under 


LHO 

each  bract,  sessile,  and  capitate,  and  the 
leaves  are  sessile  and  coriaceous,  generally 
covered  with  silky  hairs.  Several  species  are 
in  cultivation. 
Leucoste'gia.  A  genus  of  Ferns  now  incor- 
porated with  Davallia. 

Leucotho'e.  The  name  of  a  sea-goddess  in  the 
Greek  Mythology.     Nat.  Ord.  Ericacem. 

A  genus  of  handsome  hardy  evergreen 
shrubs,  natives  of  North  America  and  Japan. 
The  flowers  are  white,  and  are  disposed  in 
terminal  and  axillary  racemes.  They  are 
among  the  most  desirable  of  hardy  Ericaceous 
shrubs,  and  are  propagated  by  seeds,  layers, 
or  divisions  of  established  plants  early  in 
spring.  L.  Davisice  is  a  handsome  evergreen 
shrub,  a  native  of  California,  where  it  grows 
from  three  to  five  feet  high.  It  has  rather 
small  deep  green  foliage,  and  bears  at  the 
tops  of  each  branch,  clusters  of  small  white 
blossoms,  which  being  abundant,  are  very 
effective. 

Levi'sticum.  From  levo,  to  assuage ;  the  plant 
is  said  to  relieve  flatulency.  Nat.  Ord.  Um- 
belliferce. 

L.  officinale,  the  only  species  in  cultivation, 
is  a  hardy  herbaceous  perennial,  with  yellow 
flowers  and  ternately-decorapound  leaves.  It 
is  seldom  seen  except  in  botanic  gardens.  A 
variety  with  variegated  leaves  has  been 
recently  introduced. 

Levid'sia.  Bitter  Root.  Named  after  Captain 
M.  Lewis,  the  American  traveler  and  compan- 
ion of  Clark.     Nat.  Ord.  Portulacacece. 

L.  rediviva.  the  only  species,  is  a  succulent 
perennial,  with  a  fleshy,  tapering  root.  Its 
leaves  are  quite  succulent,  and  from  their 
centre  arises  a  strong  stalk  bearing  a  solitary 
rose-colored  flower,  surrounded  by  an  invo- 
lucre of  five  to  seven  scales.  As  soon  as  the 
flower  appears  the  leaves  begin  to  wither  and 
dry  up,  usually  lasting  only  a  few  days,  the 
entire  period  of  the  plant's  existence  above 
ground  not  exceeding  six  weeks.  This  ex- 
ceedingly curious  plant  is  a  native  of  the 
upper  Oregon  Territory,  and  its  roots,  which 
are  largely  collected  by  the  Indians,  afford  a 
wholesome,  though  bitter-tasted  food,  being 
composed  almost  entirely  of  starch.  The 
specific  name,  rediviva,  was  given  to  the  plant 
in  consequence  of  the  growth  of  some  dried 
and  apparently  dead  roots,  taken  from  an  her- 
barium specimen. 

Leyceste'rla.  Named  after  William  Leycester, 
of  the  Indian  Civil  Service.  Nat.  Ord.  Capri- 
foliacem. 

L.  formosa,  the  only  species,  is  a  very  hand- 
some hardy  or  half-hardy  deciduous  shrub,  of 
a  rather  rambling  habit.  It  is  a  distinct  and 
interesting  plant,  bearing  its  purplish-tinged 
white  flowers  in  fascicles  disposed  in  whorls 
of  fives  and  sixes,  the  whole  forming  short, 
leafy,  drooping  racemes,  which  terminate  the 
branches  and  branchlets.  It  is  a  native  of 
the  temperate  Himalayas,  whence  it  was  in- 
troduced in  1824.  It  is  propagated  by  cut- 
tings of  the  young  shoots  in  spring  or  by 
seeds. 

Lho'tzkya.  Named  after  Dr.  John  Lhotzky,  a 
Viennese  botanist  who  traveled  in  Australia. 
Nat.  Ord.  Myrlacece. 

A  genus  of  evergreen.  Heath-like  shrubs, 
natives  of  Australia.    G.  acutifolia  (white)  and 


224 


HENDEESON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


LIA 

G.  violacea  (purple),  the  species  best  known  to 
cultivation,  are  of  easy  management,  and  are 
propagated  by  cuttings  made  of  the  young 
shoots,  when  the  base  is  hardened  a  little. 

Lia'tris.  Blazing  Star.  Button  Snake  Root. 
Derivation  of  the  name  unknown.  Nat.  Ord. 
CompositcB. 

This  genus  consists  of  some  twenty  species, 
all  hardy  herbaceous  perennials,  common 
from  New  York  to  Kansas  and  southward. 
Some  of  the  species  are  very  ornamental 
border  plants.  They  all  produce  long  spikes 
of  purple  flowers  from  August  until  October, 
L.  pycnostachya  (Kansas  Gay  Feather),  one  of 
the  finest  of  the  species,  has  rosy  purple 
flowers,  on  a  spike  three  to  four  feet  high. 
They  begin  to  flower  at  the  top  of 
the  spike,  and  continue  to  open  downward, 
which  is  chai-acteristic  of  the  species.  They 
are  increased  by  seed,  will  flower  the  second 
year,  and  will  grow  anywhere  and  bloom  well ; 
the  size  and  length  of  the  spike  will,  however, 
be  in  proportion  to  the  richness  of  the  soil. 

Liber.  The  inner  lining  of  the  bark  Exogens, 
where  alone  its  woody  matter  resides. 

Libe'rtia.  Named  after  Mademoifielle  M.  A. 
Liebert  de  Mabnedy,  a  Belgian  lady  and  bota- 
nist.    Nat.  Oi'd.  IridacecE. 

A  small  genus  of  half-hardy  bulbs,  natives 
of  Australia,  Tasmania,  New  Zealand,  and 
Chili.  They  are  of  dwarf  habit,  with  delicate 
white  flowers,  which  are  produced  in  umbels 
on  a  scape  one  and  a  half  feet  high.  L.  formosa 
produces  spikes  of  flowers  of  snowy  white- 
ness more  like  those  of  some  delicate  Orchid 
than  of  an  out-door  plant.  L.  ixioides  and 
L.  Magellanica  are  also  very  attractive  when 
in  flower.  They  are  Increased  by  offsets ;  in- 
troduced in  1822. 

Liboce'drus.  From  libanos,  incense,  and  ce- 
drus,  the  cedar ;  the  wood  being  fi-agrant  and 
resembling  the  cedar.     Nat.  Ord.  Coniferm. 

This  genus  consists  of  handsome  evergreen 
trees,  natives  of  Chili  and  New  Zealand.  They 
are  nearly  related  to  the  Arbor- Vitee,  differing 
only  the  form  of  their  cones.  They  are  fine 
timber  trees,  growing  to  an  immense  size. 
Spars  eighty  or  ninety  feet  long,  are  obtain- 
able from  L.  Chilensis,  and  a  single  tree  often 
yields  as  many  as  1,500  boards.  Its  grain,  too, 
is  so  straight  and  equal  that  it  can  be  split 
into  shingles,  which  look  as  though  they  had 
been  dressed  with  a  plane.  These  trees  are 
not  hardy  in  the  Northern  States. 

liibo'nia.  Named  after  M.  Libon,  a  traveler  in 
Brazil.     Nat.  Ord.  Acanthaceoe. 

A  genus  of  handsome  flowering  plants  from 
Brazil.  L.  floribunda,  the  only  species  yet 
known,  is  a  small  suffruticose  plant,  with 
elliptic  oblong  leaves,  and  very  abundant 
tubular,  yellow-tipped  scarlet  flowers,  one  or 
two  from  each  leaf  axil.  The  calyx  is  five 
cleft ;  the  corolla  tubular,  with  an  erect 
bilabiate  limb ;  two  stamens  affixed  .  to  the 
middle  of  the  tube,  with  two-celled  cordate- 
ovate  anthers,  one  cell  inserted  higher  than 
the  other;  disk  annulate;  stj'le  filiform,  with 
a  punctate  stigma.  The  flowers  are  droop- 
ing, very  abundant,  and  exceedingly  orna- 
mental. The  leaves  are  apt  to  drop  if  the 
plant  is  allowed  to  suffer  for  water.  L.  Pen- 
rhosienaia,  a  seedling  from  the  above,  obtained 


Lie 

by  crossing  it  with  Sericograpis  (Jacobinia) 
Ghiesbrechtiana,  is  in  many  respects  a  decided 
improvement.  The  plant  is  dwarfer  and  of 
denser  growth ;  the  foliage  is  darker,  larger, 
and  more  persistent;  the  flowers  are  even 
more  abundant,  there  being  from  four  to  six 
at  the  axils  instead  of  two,  with  more  red  and 
less  yellow;  and  they  make  their  appearance 
earlier.  These  plants  should  be  grown  in  the 
green-house,  where  they  will  floM'er  from 
November  till  Spring.  They  are  also  excellent 
sitting-room  plants,  and  worthy  of  a  place  in 
any  collection  They  grow  best  in  a  moder- 
ately rich  loam,  and  are  easily  increased  by 
cuttings ;  introduced  in  1864.  This  genus  is 
now  included  by  Bentham  and  Hooker  under 
Jacobinia,  but  the  plants  are  best  known  by 
their  former  names. 

Lichens.  Lichens,  as  they  are  in  form  among 
the  simplest  of  plants,  so  they  may  be  called 
the  pioneers  of  the  vegetable  kingdom.  They 
are  in  general  parasitical  plants,  living  upon 
the  bark  of  trees,  or  on  the  moist  ground,  or 
even  upon  the  bare  rocks.  The  sporules  of 
the  lichen  are  furnished  with  a  gummy  and 
adhesive  fluid,  and  being  scattered  about  by 
the  winds  they  fall  upon  bare  rocks,  and  to 
these  attach  themselves.  Without  soil,  and 
simply  from  the  moisture  and  from  the  air, 
they  vegetate  and  form  a  small  central  lichen ; 
others  grow  in  circles  around,  till,  in  process 
of  time,  the  whole  surface  of  the  bare  rock 
becomes  covered  with  a  hoary  coat.  These 
lichens  periodically  decay,  and  mouldering  to 
the  earth  form  with  the  particles  of  abraided 
rock,  a  soil  which  is  fitted  for  the  reception 
of  other  plants  further  advanced  in  the  scale 
or  organization.  Lichens  are  found  at  the 
extreme  points  of  vegetation,  on  the  summits 
of  high  mountains,  and  near  the  poles,  where 
all  other  vegetable  bodies  disappear.  In  the 
Arctic  regions,  the  hunters  prepare  an  im- 
portant article  of  food  from  one  of  the  species 
that  is  there  found  in  great  abundance  where 
there  is  scarcely  a  particle  of  soil,  and  where 
the  snow  rarely  disappears. 

The  Iceland  Moss. — Cetraria  islnndica  is 
used  as  an  edible  substance  by  the  Icelanders, 
who  rarely  obtain  corn  bread,  and  whose 
limited  stock  of  substitutes  obliges  them  to 
have  recourse  to  every  species  of  vegetable 
production  which  is  permitted  by  their  in- 
clement climate  to  spring  forth.  The  plant  is 
collected  by  the  inhabitants  of  this  northern 
region ;  and  after  being  washed,  is  cut  into 
pieces,  or  it  is'dried  by  the  fire  or  in  the  sun, 
then  put  into  a  bag  which  is  well  beaten.  It 
is  ultimately  worked  into  a  powder  by  being 
trampled  on,  and  in  this  state  is  used  as  food. 
This  lichen  contains  a  nutritious  matter 
called  lichen-starch,  along  with  a  bitter 
principle.  When  boiled  and  macerated  in 
water  it  forms,  a  nutritious  and  light  jelly, 
which,  with  the  addition  of  sugar  and  milk, 
has  been  used  as  a  dietetic  medicine  in  cases  of 
decline,  and  was  fancied  at  one  time  as  a  cure 
for  consumption. 

The  Reindeer  Moss. — Cladonia  rangiferina 
grows  in  great  abundance  in  the  north  of 
Europe,  especially  in  Lapland,  where  it  con- 
stitutes almost  the  sole  winter  food  of  the 
reindeer,  that  useful  animal,  without  which 
the  natives  of  that  barren  region  could  not 
exist.     Linnseus  assures  us  that  this  lichen 


AND   GENEEAL   HORTICULTURE. 


225 


Lie 

grows  so  luxuriantly  in  Lapland,   as  to  be 
found  sometimes  a  foot  in  height. 

Rocella  tinctoria,  from  wliich  Litmus  is 
obtained,  furnishes  an  excellent  dye.  Lec- 
anora  esculenta  is  frequently  met  with  in  im- 
mense quantities  in  the  most  arid,  desert 
regions  of  Asia  and  north  Africa.  It  occurs 
in  rounded  masses  about  the  size  of  a  filbert, 
and  is  largely  used  as  food.  It  possesses  too, 
a  peculiar  interest,  on  account  of  its  being 
supposed,  by  some  commentators,  to  be  the 
"manna"  which  fed  the  children  of  Israel 
during  their  wanderings  in  the  wilderness. 

Licua'la.  The  name  of  the  species  in  the 
Macassar  language.    Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  small  genus  of  very  elegant  palms,  allied 
to  Corypha,  natives  of  the  East  Indies,  New 
Guinea,  and  northern  Australia.  L.  grandis 
(Syn.  Pritchardia  grandis)  has  fan-shaped, 
deep,  bright  green  leaves,  three  feet  in  diam- 
eter, borne  on  long  slender  petioles  two  to 
three  feet  long.  It  was  discovered  in  one  of 
the  South  Sea  Islands  and  takes  rank  among 
the  most  distinct  and  attractive  Palms  ever 
introduced.  L.  acutifida,  has  a  slender  stem, 
bearing  a  small  head  of  beautiful,  much- 
parted,  fan-like  leaves,  of  an  intense  green. 
As  an  exhibition  plant  or  ornament  for  the 
green-house  or  conservatory,  it  is  highly  to 
be  recommended,  either  when  young  or  in  a 
more  mature  state.  The  stems  of  this  plant 
grow  from  five  to  eight  feet  high,  and  form 
the  handsome  walking  canes  imported  into 
England  under  the  name  of  Periang  Lawyers. 

Iiiebi'gia.  Named  after  Liebig,  a  celebrated 
German  chemist.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneraceoe. 

A  genus  of  hot-house  evergreen  plants, 
allied  to  Chirita,  and  requiring  the  same 
treatment.  They  are  natives  of  the  East 
Indies. 

Lie'tzia.  Named  after  A.  Lietze,  a  nurseryman 
at  Rio  Janeiro.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneracem. 

L.  Brazilensis,  the  only  described  species, 
is  a  stove-house  perennial  with  a  tuberous 
rhizome.  The  flowers  are  green,  spotted  with 
brown,  and  are  remarkable  for  their  curious 
form  as  well  as  color.  It  was  introduced  from 
Brazil  in  1880,  and  is  propagatea  by  seeds, 
tubers,  or  cuttings. 

Ligneous.  Having  the  texture  of  wood ;  of  or 
belonging  to  wood. 

Lignum.  The  wood;  that  central  part  of  a 
stem  which  lies  beneath  the  bark,  or  its 
equivalent,  the  cortical  integument. 

Lignum  Vitae.    See  Guaiacum. 

Ligula'ria.  From  ligula,  a  strap ;  referring  to 
the  florets.     Nat.  Ord.  Composites. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  and  half-hardy  her- 
baceous perennials,  some  of  which  are  of  an 
ornamental  character,  and  are  favorite  garden 
plants.  They  abound  in  the  mountainous 
regions  of  Asia,  and  have  been  more  generally 
known  as  species  of  Cineraria  and  Senecio.  L. 
KcRmpferi  aureo-maculata,  a  native  of  China, 
and  popularly  known  as  Farfugium  grande,  is 
a  low-growing-broad-leaved  plant,  remarkable 
for  its  shiny,  dark-green  foliage,  which  is 
irregularly  blotched  with  bright  yellow,  or 
sometimes  with  white  and  rose.  It  is  easily 
grown,  and  is  a  very  decorative  plant  for  the 
border.  It  requires  the  protection  of  the 
house  during  winter,  and  is  propagated  by 
division  in  spring  or  autumn. 


LIL 

Ligulate.     Strap-shaped ;    narrow,    moderately 

long,  with  the  two  margins  parallel. 
Ligu'sticum.     Named  for  the  country  Liguria, 

where  the    officinal    Lovage,    L.   Levisticum, 

abounds.     Nat.  Ord.  Umbelliferce. 

A  genus  of  about  twenty  species  of  glabrous 

perennial  herbs,  dispersed  over  the  northern 

hemisphere.     None  of  the  species  is  worth 

cultivating. 
Ligustri'na  Amurensis.     A  synonym  of  Syringa 

Amurensis. 

Ligu'strum.  Privet.  From  ligare,  to  tie ;  refer- 
ring to  the  use  made  of  the  flexible  shoots. 
Nat.  Ord.  Oleacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  ornamental  shrubs,  or 
small  trees,  natives  of  tropical  Asia,  Japan, 
and  Northern  Africa.  The  species  are  of  easy 
culture  in  almost  any  soil  or  situation,  and 
are  especially  valuable  in  the  neighborhood  of 
large  towns,  where  a  smoky  atmosphere  pre- 
vails; in  the  shade,  or  under  the  drip  of  trees. 
L.  vulgare,  the  common  Privet,  is  extensively 
used  for  hedges  in  ornamental  gardens,  owing 
to  its  bearing  clipping  without  injury.  L. 
ovalifolium,  a  native  of  Japan,  commonly 
known  as  the  California  Privet,  is  one  of  the 
hardiest  and  most  floriferous  of  the  genus, 
and  is  remarkable  for  the  beauty  and  persist- 
ence of  its  foliage,  which  is  of  a  dark  waxy- 
green  color,  and  considerably  larger  than  the 
common  Privet.  As  a  single  specimen  on  a 
lawn,  or  for  grouping  in  shrubberies,  it  is  of 
rapid  growth  and  great  beauty,  while  its 
adaptation  as  a  hedge  plant  is  unsurpassed. 
L.  ovalifolium  variegatum  is  a  vigorous,  com- 
pact grower,  the  young  leaves  of  which  have 
a  beautiful  yellow  tint,  passing  into  white  as 
thS  leaves  get  older.  All  the  species  are 
readily  increased  by  cuttings. 

Lilac.    See  Syringa  vulgaris. 

Lilia'ceae.  Including  HemerocallidecB,  Tvlip- 
acecB,  Coronarioe,  Asphodelece,  Asparagineoe. 
and  ConvallariacecB.  A  natural  order  of  herbs, 
shrubs,  or  trees,  with  bulbs,  corms,  rhizomes, 
or  fibrous  roots,  simple,  sheathing,  or  clasping 
leaves,  and  regular  flowers.  They  are  natives  of 
both  temperate  and  tropical  regions,and  pos- 
sess medicinal  qualities.  Onions,  Leeks,  Garlic, 
Chives,  Shallot,  Rocambole,  Tulips,  Hyacinths, 
Lilies,  etc.,  are  all  furnished  by  plants  belong- 
ing to  this  extensive  order.  There  are  up- 
ward of  150  genera  and  1,2U0  species.  Lilium, 
Tulipa,  Hyacinthus,  Yucca,  Agapanthus,  Aspho- 
dehis,  and  DraccBna,  are  examples  of  the  order. 

Lilium.  The  Lily.  From  the  Celtic  word  li, 
signifying  whiteness;  the  lily  having  long 
been  considered  an  emblem  of  whiteness  and 
purity.    Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

This  genus,  the  type  of  an  extensive  order, 
numbers  upward  of  sixty  species,  and  is  emi- 
nently distinguished  for  its  surpassing  loveli- 
ness, its  rare  combination  of  grandeur  and 
chaste  beauty.  A  remarkable  feature  in  this 
family  of  plants  is,  that  it  has  no  poor  rela- 
tions.  In  a  general  collection  of  the  species, 
all  that  can  be  imagined  desirable  and  perfect 
in  floral  forms  Will  be  realized.  A  great 
inducement  to  the  cultivation  of  this  genus  is 
their  ease  of  culture,  and  their  almost  perfect 
hardiness,  thriving  with  all  the  vigor  of  indig- 
enous forms  when  planted  in  the  flower  bor- 
der. All  of  them  delight  in  light  rich  soil, 
such  as  is  afforded  by  a  mixture  of  loam  and 


226 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


LIL 

•well-rotted  manure,  and  one  uniform  treat- 
ment is  applicable  under  all  circumstances  to 
the  whole  of  the  species ;  all  may  be  grown 
together  in  the  border,  and  remain  undis- 
turbed a  number  of  years,  frequent  removals 
being  injurious,  by  destroying  the  roots.  All 
the  species  thrive  best  when  planted  in  partial 
shade,  the  shrubbery  border,  or  in  large  beds 
in  an  open  grove.  Propagated  by  offsets. 
When  the  old  bulbs  have  several  small  ones 
formed  around  them,  take  them  up  in  Octo- 
ber, divide  them  into  single  bulbs,  and  re- 
plant the  large  flowering  bulbs  immediately 
into  fresh,  rich  earth,  where  they  are  to 
flower.  Plant  the  small  bulbs  in  a  bed  of  the 
same  kind  of  soil  by  themselves;  let  them 
remain  until  sufficiently  large  and  strong  for 
flowering,  which  should  require  but  two 
years ;  then  take  them  up,  select  the  larger 
bulbs,  and  plant  them  where  they  are  to 
remain,  taking  care  to  enrich  the  earth  with 
well  decomposed  manure  ;  the  small  ones  to 
be  replanted  as  before.  L.  candidum  should 
be  taken  up  and  replanted  in  August  or  first 
part  of  September,  as  the  bulbs  make  a 
growth  in  autumn,  upon  which  in  a  great 
measure  depends  their  flowering  the  coming 
season.  In  selecting  the  situation  for  the 
Lily-bed,  care  should  be  taken  to  have  the 
dryest  spot  possible,  where  water  is  not  liable 
to  stand  in  the  winter.  A  good  mulching  of 
leaves,  coarse  manure,  or  evergreen  boughs 
will  prove  highly  beneficial.  The  species  are 
pretty  generally  distributed  throughout  the 
temperate  regions  of  the  northern  hemi- 
sphere ;  a  few  only  are  found  in  the  moun- 
tains of  sub-tropical  Asia.  California  has 
furnished  several  that  are  among  the  more 
difficult  to  cultivate  here,  because  of  the  dif- 
ference in  the  seasons  of  growth.  Japan  has 
furnished  by  far  the  greater  number  of  really 
excellent  species,  among  which  are  L.  aura- 
tum,  or  Golden-banded,  of  which  there  are 
many  beautiful  varieties  in  cultivation;  L. 
speciosum  and  its  varieties ;  L.  Kramerii,  L. 
LeichUinii,  L.  Tigrinum  jlore  pleno,  L.  Thun- 
bcrgianum  in  variety,  L.  longiflorum,  L.  Han- 
soni,  etc.  L.  candidum,  the  oldest  known 
species,  comes  from  the  Levant.  Asia  fur- 
nishes L.  Chalcedonicum  and  L.  giganteum; 
Siberia  the  beautiful  little  L.  tenuifolium, 
which  is  there  grown  as  an  article  of  food. 
The  United  States  contributes  L.  superbum, 
L.  Canadense,  L.  Philadelphicum,  L.  Catesboei, 
L.  Carolinianum,  and  L.  Columbianum,  to- 
gether with  L.  Washingtonianum,  L.  Hum- 
boldti,  L.  parvum,  L.  Californicum,  L.  pnrdali- 
num,  L.  Roezlii,  L.  Parryi  and  L.  Walkerii 
from  California.  Most  of  the  other  species 
are  found  scattered  throughout  Europe.  The 
great  popularity  of  this  flower  has  induced 
the  growers  and  dealers  to  sub-divide  the 
species  and  multiply  varieties  to  such  an 
extent  as  to  bewilder  the  amateur  in  making 
a  selection.  A  prominent  European  house 
offers  sixty  varieties  of  L.  elegana  {L.  Thunber- 
gianum),  and  nearly  as  many  of  L.  speciosum 
[L.  landfolium).  L.  candidum,  the  Annuncia- 
tion, or  St.  Joseph's  Lily,  has  eight  varieties, 
L.  umbellatum  about  thirty,  any  one  of  which 
would  well  represent  the  family.  All  the 
species  succeed  well  grown  in  pots,  but  sev- 
eral bear  what  is  termed  forcing,  or  being 
made  to  bloom  out  of  their  natural  season. 
The  principal  of  these  are  L.   candidum,  L. 


LIL 

longiflorum,  and  L,  Harrisii.  The  latter  of 
these,  L.  Harrisii,  or  the  Bermuda  Easter 
Lily,  was  introduced  into  general  cultivation 
about  1878.  There  is  some  question  whether 
it  is  a  "  sport "  from  the  old  Lilium  longi- 
florum, or  Trumpet  Lily,  or  whether  long 
years  of  cultivation  in  the  congenial  climate 
of  Bermuda  hiis  so  changed  the  nature  of  the 
plant  as  to  give  it  the  wonderful  free-flower- 
ing properties  it  possesses.  We  are  inclined 
to  think  the  variety  is  distinct  from  L.  longi- 
florum, for  it  is  not  only  more  prolific  in  flow- 
ering, but  the  flowers  are  wider  and  more 
robust,  a  result  not  to  be  expected  from  any 
temporary  cultivation  in  a  climate  no  matter 
how  congenial.  The  rules  for  the  cultivation 
of  the  Bermuda  Easter  Lily  are  almost  iden- 
tical with  those  in  use  for  Koman  Hyacinths, 
or  Lily-of-the-Valley  (see  Convallaria) ,  except 
that  after  the  boxes  or  pots  are  filled  with 
roots  the  time  for  the  development  of  the 
flower  is  longer.  The  dry  bulbs,  however, 
usually  can  be  procured  as  early  as  the 
first  week  in  August,  and  if  potted  or 
boxed  up  at  that  time,  and  placed  outside, 
will  form  roots  sufficient  to  enable  ihem  to 
be  brought  into  the  green-house  by  the  first 
of  October,  and  if  kept  in  a  temperature  of 
sixty  degrees  at  night,  with  ten  or  fifteen 
degrees  higher  during  the  daytime,  will  give 
a  crop  of  flowers  by  Christmas.  The  Bermuda 
Lily  is  largely  used  for  decoration  at  Easter, 
and  for  that  season,  beginning  to  force  in 
January  will  be  soon  enough.  Lilium  longi- 
florum and  L.  candidum  require  exactly  the 
same  treatment,  except  that  neither  of  these 
can  be  made  to  flower  so  early  as  the  Bermuda 
Lily. 

It  may  be  added  here  that  the  Calif omian 
Lilies  often  remain  a  whole  year  in  the 
ground  before  growing. 

Iiily.  A  general  name  for  plants  of  the  genus 
Lilium,  applied  also  to  various  other 
plants. 

African.     Agapanthus  umbellatus. 

Annunciation.     Lilium  candidum. 

Atamasco.     Zephyranthes  Atamasco. 

Belladonna.    Amaryllis  Belladonna. 

Bermuda.     Lilium  Harrisii. 

Blackberry.     Pardanthus  Chinensis. 

Cape.     Crinum  Capense. 

Chequered.    Fritillaria    Meleagris. 

Cuban.     Scilla  Peruviana. 

Easter.     Lilium  longiflorum  and  L.  Harrisii. 

Golden  banded.    Lilium  auralum. 

Guernsey.     Nerine  Sarniensis. 

Jacobean.    Sprekelia  (Amaryllis)  formosissima. 

Japan.    Lilium  speciosum. 

Knight's  Star.     The  genus  Hippeastrum. 

Martagon.     Lilium  Martagon. 

Mediterranean.     Pancratium  maritimum. 

Of  the  Amazon.     Eucharis  Amazonica. 

Of  the  Nile.     Richardia  ^thopica. 

Of  the  Valley.      See  Convallaria  majalis. 

Of  the  Valley,  Tree.     Andromeda floribunda. 

Orange.     Lilium  croceum. 

St.  Bruno's.     Anihericum  Liliastrum. 

St.  James's  Cross.       Sprekelia  formosissima. 

St.  Joseph's.     Lilium  candidum. 

Scarborough.     Vallota  purpurea. 

Scarlet  Martagon.     Lilium  Chalcedonicum. 

Swamp.     Lilium  superbum. 

Sword.     The  genus  Gladiolus. 

Tiger.     Lilium  tigrinum. 


AND  GENEBAL  HORTICULTURE. 


227 


LIL 

Tom  Thumb.     Lilium  tenuifolium. 
Trumpet,  White.     Lilium  longifiorum. 
Turban.    Lilium  Pomponium. 
Turk's  Cap.     Varieties  of  Lilium  Martagon. 
Turk's  Cap,  American.     Lilium  superbum. 
White  Water.     See  Nymphcea  adorata. 
Yellow  Pond.     Nuphar  advena. 

Lily-Thorn.     The  genus  Catesbcea. 

Lima  Bean.     See  Phaseolus  lunatus. 

Limato'des.  Name  unexplained.  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidacece. 

A  genus  of  East  Indian  terrestrial  Orchids, 
nearly  allied  to  Calanthe.  L.  rosea  is  a  very 
beautiful  plant.  The  flowers  are  from  pure 
white  to  tlie  deepest  pink,  produced  on  a  tall 
spike,  wliich  proceeds  from  tlie  base  of  the 
bulb  after  the  foliage  has  died  awaj-.  They 
require  the  same  treatment  as  the  Calanthe. 

Limbate.  Having  one  color  surrounded  by 
an  edging  of  another. 

Lime.     See  Fertilizers. 

Lime,  of  commerce.     See  Citrus. 

Lime  Tree,  or  Linden.    See  Tilea. 

Limna'nthemum.  Floating  Heart ;  From  limme, 
a  marsli,  and  anthos,  a  flower;  from  the  situ- 
ations where  they  grow.  Nat.  Ord.  Genti- 
anacecB. 

A  genus  of  very  interesting  and  beautiful 
aquatic  plants,  closely  allied  to  Villarsia,  two 
species  of  which  are  occasionally  met  in 
ponds  from  Maine  southward.  L.  lacunosa,  is 
a  charming  plant  having  at  first  sight  the 
appearance  of  a  miniature  Water  Lily.  Its 
leaves  are  from  one  to  tsvo  inches  in  diameter, 
beautifully  blotched  with  brown,  giving  them 
an  appearance  similar  to  those  of  the  Cycla- 

■  men.  The  flowers  are  white,  about  half  an 
inch  across,  and  very  curiously  borne  upon 
tlie  same  stem  which  bears  the  leaves.  The 
plant  blooms  freely  all  summer,  and  will 
grow  in  either  sliallow  or  deep  water,  and 
would  make  a  charming  plant  for  the  aqua- 
rium. L.  NymphtBoides,  a  European  species  is 
perfectly  hardy  and  produces  its  bright  yellow 
flowers  in  great  profusion.  It  is  a  very  beauti- 
ful hardy  aquatic,  but  somewhat  difficult  to 
eradicate  when  once  established. 

Limna'nthes.  From  limne,  a  marsh,  and  anthos, 
a  flower  ;  in  allusion  to  the  habitat  of  the 
plant.      Nat.  Ord.  Geraniacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  annuals  from  Cali- 
fornia. They  are  of  trailing  habit,  and  produce 
small  white,  and  yellow  and  white  flowers, 
quite  fragrant  and  neat,  but  not  showy. 
They  come  soon  into  flower  after  the  seed  is 
sown,  and  a  succession  of  flowers  can  be  kept 
up  by  occasional  sowings  during  summer. 
They  are  not  at  ail  particular  as  to  soil,  but 
prefer  a  moist  situation. 

Limno'biiun.  American  Frog's  Bit.  From 
limnohius,  living  in  pools.  Nat.  Ord.  Hydro- 
charidacece. 

A  genus  of  aquatic  plants,  floating  in  stag- 
nant water,  common  almost  everywhere. 

Limno'charis.  From  limne,  a  pool,  and  chairo, 
to  delight  in;  referring  to  their  habitat. 
Nat.  Ord.  Alismacece. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  aquatic 
plants,  with  yellow  flowers  and  heart-shaped 
leaves,  natives  of  Brazil.  Two  species,  L. 
Plumieri  and  L.  Humboldtii,  are  in  cultiva- 
tion, and  are  favorite  plants  for  the  aquarium. 


LIN 

Liniodo'rum  tuberosum.  A  synonym  for  Calo- 
pogon  pulchellus. 

Limo'uia.  From  limoun,  the  Arabic  name  of 
the  Citron.     Nat.  Ord.  Rutacece. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs  from 
the  East  Indies,  China  and  New  Holland.  L, 
acidissima,  typical  of  the  genus,  is  a  spiny 
shrub  growing  eight  or  ten  feet  high,  and 
having  pinnate  leaves  with  winged  stalks, 
and  racemes  of  pure  white  flowers.  The 
fruit  is  about  the  size  of  a  damson  plum,  yel- 
low, with  a  red  or  purplish  tint.  The  Java- 
nese employ  the  extremely  acid  pulp  of  these 
fruits  as  a  substitute  for  soap.  The  fruit  is 
also  used  medicinally. 

Limonia'strum.  From  leimon,  a  meadow,  and 
Aster,  a  star ;  in  allusion  to  the  starry  flowers, 
and  the  habitat  of  the  plants.  Nat.  Ord. 
PlumbaginacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  nearly  hardy  shrubs, 
natives  of  the  western  Mediterranean  region. 
They  are  closely  allied  to  Statice  and  have 
the  blue  flowers  and  general  appearance  of 
some  of  the  more  twiggy  species  of  that 
genus.  All  the  green  parts  of  the  plants  are 
covered  with  white  discs  of  calcareous 
matter. 

Limoo.  A  name  used  in  some  of  the  Pacific 
Islands  for  Sea-weed. 

Lina'ceae.  A  small  natural  order  of  herbs,  or 
shrubs,  with  entire,  sessile,  alternate,  op- 
posite, or  verticillate  leaves,  which  have  oc- 
casionally a  pair  of  minute  glands  at  the  base. 
Flowei's  regular  and  hermaphrodite,  usually 
terminal,  ])lue,  yellow  or  white,  rarely  pink. 
Linum  usitatissimum,  yields  the  flax  and  lin- 
seed of  commerce.  The  order  contains  four- 
teen genera,  and  over  125  species. 

Lina'ria.  Toad  Flax.  From  linum,  flax ;  on 
account  of  the  similarity  of  the  leaves.  Nat. 
Ord.  ScrophulariacecB. 

A  very  large  genus  of  hardy  annuals,  her- 
baceous perennials,  and  a  few  half-hardy  and 
tender  species.  Many  of  them  are  exceed- 
ingly ornamental.  L.  cymbalaria  is  the  well- 
known  Kenilworth  Ivy,  or  Coliseum  Ivy,  a 
valuable  trailing  plant,  and  one  of  the  best 
for  hanging-baskets  and  rustic  designs. 
There  is  a  very  pretty  variegated  form  of  this 
species.  L.  triornithophora,  remarkable  for  the 
resemblance  of  its  flowers  to  three  little 
birds  attached  to  the  spur.  L.  vulgaris,  com- 
monly known  as  Butter-and-Eggs,  was  intro- 
duced into  Philadelphia  as  a  garden  flower 
many  years  ago,  and  has  become  thoroughly 
naturalized,  and  a  perfect  nuisance  in  many 
parts  of  the  country.  When  once  introduced 
it  takes  almost  complete  possepsicui  of  the 
soil,  producing  an  almost  innumerable  num- 
ber of  seeds,  besides  its  rapid  increase  by 
means  of  its  numerous  spreading  roots.  The 
useful  species  are  all  readily  increased  from 
seeds. 

Linco'nia.  Said  to  be  a  south  African  name. 
Nat.  Ord.  Bruniacem. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  Epacris-like,  green- 
house shrubs,  natives  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  The  leaves  are  spirallj^  arranged,  and 
the  solitary  white  flowers  are  borne  in  the 
axils  of  the  upper  leaves.  They  were  flrst 
introduced  in  1816  and  require  the  same 
culture  as  the  Diosma,  which  they  much  re- 
semble. 


228 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OP   PLANTS 


LIN 

Lindelo'fia.  Named  in  honor  of  Freidrich  von 
Lindelof,  of  Darmstadt,  a  patron  of  botany. 
Nat.  Ord.  Boraginacem. 

L.  spectabilis  is  a  rather  showy  perennial, 
growing  about  one  arid  a  half  feet  high, 
bearing  in  early  summer,  drooping  clusters 
of  deep  purple-blue  flowers.  It  is  hardy  in 
well  drained  situations,  but  is  not  so  valuable 
a  plant  as  many  others  of  the  same  order. 
Syn.  Cynoglossum  longiflorum. 

Linden.     See  Tilia. 

Linde'nia.  Named  after  J.  Linden,  a  Belgian 
horticulturist.     Nat.  Ord.  RubiacecB. 

A  small  genus,  natives  of  Mexico,  Central 
America,  and  the  Fiji  Islands.  L.  rivularis, 
the  only  species  yet  in  cultivation,  is  a  dis- 
tinct plant,  with  rather  small  lanceolate 
leaves,  and  bearing  solitary  long-tubed  white 
flowers  nearly  five  inches  long,  from  short 
spurs.  Although  the  flowers  are  solitary,  the 
plant  is  very  free-blooming  and  is  remark- 
ably interesting.  It  was  introduced  from 
Mexico  in  1856,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings 
of  the  ripened  wood. 

Linde'ra.  Wild  Allspice.  Fever  Bush.  Named 
after  John  Under,  a  Swedish  botanist.  Nat. 
Ord.  Lauracece. 

A  tall-growing  shrub,  common  in  damp 
woods  from  New  York  southward.  Syn. 
Laurvs  Benzoin. 

Lindhei'mera.  Named  in  honor  of  F.  Lind- 
heimer,  the  discoverer  of  the  plant.  Nat.  Ord. 
CompositcB. 

L.  texana,  the  only  species  is  an  erect, 
branching,  half-hardy  annual,  with  yellow 
flowers  resembling  a  Zinnia.  Introduced  to 
cultivation  from  Texas. 

Li'ndleya.  Named  after  Professor  lAndley  by 
Humboldt  and  Kunth.     Nat.  Ord.  RosacecE. 

L.  mespiloides,  the  only  species,  is  an  orna- 
mental, low-growing,  evergreen  tree  or  shrub, 
native  of  the  mountainous  regions  of  Mexico. 
It  has  simple,  crenulate,  shining  leaves,  and 
solitary,  large,  white,  sweet-scented  flowers, 
borne  on  the  tips  of  its  branchlets.  It  was  in- 
troduced to  cultivation  in  1843,  and  is  pro- 
pagated by  cuttings  of  the  ripened  wood  in 
heat,  or  by  grafting  on  the  Hawthorn. 

Lindsae'a.    A  synonym  of  Lindsaya,  which  see. 

Lindsay'a.     Named  after  Archibald  Lindsay,  a 

distinguished    English    botanist.      Nat.   Ord. 

PolypodiacecB. 
A  genus  of  about  fifty  species  of  handsome 

tropical    ferns,    most    of    them    difficult    to 

cultivate. 
Linear.    Narrow,  short,  with  parallel  margins, 

as  the  leaf  of  the  Yew. 
Ling.     Calluna  vulgaris,  also  a  Chinese  name  for 

Trapa  bicornis. 

Li'nuaea.  Twin-Flower.  Dr.  J.  F.  Gronovius, 
with  the  concurrence  of  Linnaeus,  selected 
this  little  depressed,  early-flowering,  long- 
overlooked  northern  plant,  to  transmit  the 
illustrious  name  of  Linnseus  to  posterity. 
Nat.  Ord.  CaprifoliacecB. 

L.  borealis,  the  only  species,  is  a  beautiful 
little  trailing  evergreen  plant,  with  long, 
slender  branches,  bearing  small  ovate  or 
obovate  leaves,  slightly  toothed  at  the  top, 
and  sending  up  erect,  thread-like  flower  stalks, 
which  fork  near  the  top,  and  bear  two  grace- 
fully     drooping,      very      fragrant      bell-like 


LIP 

flowers,  of  a  pale  pink  or  nearly  white  color, 
and  almost  half  an  inch  in  length.  It  grows 
almost  exclusively  in  woods,  in  cold,  moist 
situations,  is  common  from  New  Jersey 
northward,  and  is  widely  dispersed  over 
northern  Europe  and  Asia,  According  to 
some  writers,  its  scent  is  so  powerful,  especi- 
allj'  at  night,  that  it  may  be  discovered  at  a 
considerable  distance.  The  Laplanders  use  a 
decoction  of  its  flowers  as  a  remedy  in  rheu- 
matic complaints. 

Linosy'ris.  A  genus  of  Compositce  of  little 
horticultural  value.  L.  divaricata,  with  gol- 
den-yellow flowers,  a  native  of  Australia,  is  in 
cultivation  as  a  hardy,  herbaceous  perennial. 
L.  vulgaris,  Goldilocks,  is  a  showy  British 
perennial  producing  its  bright  yellow  flowers 
in  terminal  clusters  in  late  summer  and 
autumn.    Syn.  Chrysocoma  Linosyris. 

Li'num.  Flax.  From  the  Celtic  word  llin,  a 
thread  ;  whence  the  Greek  linon,  and  the  Latin 
linum.     Nat.  Ord.  Linacece. 

This  genus  contains  upward  of  fifty  species 
of  various  characters,  some  rising  to  be  small 
shrubs,  hardy  and  tender  perennials,  bien- 
nials, and  annuals ;  all  of  them  interesting, 
and  many  very  handsome.  The  tender 
species  require  the  ordinary  treatment  of 
green-house  plants.  L.  triginum  (Syn.  Rein- 
wartia  trigind)  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of 
all  our  yellow-flowering  shrubby  green-house 
plants ;  while  L.  grandiflorurn,  one  of  the  best 
and  most  showy  annuals  in  cultivation,  has 
magnificent  crimson  flowers.  L.  flavum,  and 
all  the  tall-growing  species  find  a  place  in 
the  borders,  and  the  dwarf  kinds  on  the  rock- 
work  or  in  the  rock-gardens.  The  latter  are 
somewhat  impatient  of  wet  in  winter,  and  in 
consequence  are  usually  potted  in  autumn,  and 
kept  in  a  cold-frame  during  winter.  L.  usita- 
tissimum,  the  common  annual  Flax,  has 
been  an  object  of  cultivation  from  the 
earliest  times.  Mr.  B.  Clarke  thus  describes 
it  in  the  "Treasury  of  Botany  :  "  "  The  plant 
has,  for  the  most  part,  solitary,  quite  erect 
stems,  alternate  smooth  linear-lanceolate 
leaves,  and  a  corymbose  inflorescence ;  the 
sepals  are  ovate-acute,  with  a  membraneous 
margin  ;  and  the  petals  are  blue,  three  times 
longer  than  the  calyx.  The  finer  kinds  of  the 
linen  of  commerce  are  manufactured  from  the 
ligneous  fibres  of  the  stem  of  this  plant ;  and 
the  seed,  called  Linseed,  is  scarcely  less  valu- 
able, on  account  of  the  large  quantity  of  oil 
contained  in  the  embryo.  The  seeds  contain 
a  mucilage,  which,  dissolved  in  water,  is 
demulcent  and  emollient,  and  the  meal  of  the 
seed  is  used  for  poultices.  The  cake  remain- 
ing after  the  oil  is  expressed,  is  extensively 
used  in  fattening  cattle."  L.  catharticum,  re- 
markable for  its  erect,  much-branched  stems, 
its  opposite,  smooth,  obovate-lanceolate 
leaves,  and  small  white  flowers,  is  occasionally 
used  in  medicine,  being  bitter  and  purgative. 

Lion's  Ear.     See  Leonotis. 

Lion's  Foot.     See  Leontopodium. 

Lion's  Tail.     Leonotis  Leonurus. 

Lipa'ria.  From  Uparos,  oily,  shining;  in  allu- 
sion to  the  shining  surface  of  the  leaves. 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguininosce. 

A  genus  of  south  African  shrubs  with  un- 
divided, alternate,  lanceolate  leaves,  and 
bright  yellow  flowers,  in  terminal  heads.     L. 


828 


T.TT.TTTM  WASHINGTONIANTJM. 


UIAVU  COLCHICtrM. 


LOLITJM  PEEENNE   (ENGLISH  BYE-GBASS). 


LrNUM  IXAVUM. 


LOBELIA  (DWAKP). 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


229 


LIP 

parva  and  L.  sphaerica,  the  two  species  intro- 
duced, are  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
young  shoots,  and  thrive  best  in  a  compost 
of  turfy  loam  and  fibrous  peat. 

Li'paris.  From  liparos,  unctuous ;  referring  to 
the  leaves.    Nat.  Ord.  Orchidace.m. 

A  small  genus  of  terrestrial  and  epiphytal 
Orchids,  of  no  special  merit.  They  have 
mostly  purplish  or  greenish  flowers.  Several 
of  the  species  are  common  in  moist  wood- 
lands in  the  Middle  States  and  westward. 

Lip  Fern.        See  Cheilanthes. 

Li'ppia.  In  honor  of  A.  Lippi,  a  French  physi- 
cian.    Nat.  Ord.  Verbenacem. 

A  large  genus  of  shrubs  or  sub-shrubs, 
rarely  herbs,  mostly  American,  a  few  being 
found  in  Africa.  But  few  of  the  species  are 
in  cultivation.  Aloysia  cUriodora,  the  Lemon 
Verbena,  is  by  some,  placed  in  this  genus. 

Liquida'mbar.  From  Uquidus,  liquid,  and  amhar, 
amber;  referring  to  the  gum,  called  liquid 
storax,  produced  by  some  species.  Nat.  Ord. 
HamamelidacecB. 

A  genus  of  beautiful  deciduous  trees.  L. 
styraciflua,  our  common  Sweet  Gum  Tree,  is 
one  of  our  finest  forest  trees,  and  one  deserv- 
ing more  general  cultivation  on  the  lawn,  and 
for  a  shade  tree  upon  the  roadsides.  It  is  a 
tall,  erect-growing  tree  of  elegant  appearance, 
especially  in  autumn,  when  its  beautiful  star- 
shaped  leaves  which  are  very  fragrant  when 
bruised,  or  after  a  shower  when  young, 
change  to  a  bright  red,  quite  as  conspicuous 
as  those  of  the  Maple,  and  remain  on  the  tree 
much  longer.  This  is  the  tree  whose  rough, 
corky-ridged  branches,  are  sold  in  the  streets 
of  New  York  as  the  "  Alligator  Plant."  These 
pieces  of  stick  are  sold  by  the  thousands 
every  season  at  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  cents 
each,  to  unsophisticated  city  men,  with  about 
as  much  chance  of  growing  as  their  fence 
pickets.  There  are  several  other  species, 
one  from  the  Levant,  and  the  others  of  late 
introduction  from  Formosa,  one  or  more  of 
which  furnish  the  wood  used  by  the  Chinese 
to  make  the  chests  in  which  they  export  their 
tea.    They  are  increased  by  seeds. 

Liquid  Manures.     See  Manures. 

Liquorice.     See  Glycyrrhiza. 

Liriode'ndron.  Tulip  Tree.  From  leirion,  a 
lily,  and  dendron,  a  tree  ;  the  flower  produced 
by  this  tree  bears  some  resemblance  to  a 
Lily,  but  is  more  like  a  Tulip.  Nat.  Ord. 
MagnoUacece. 

L.  tulipifera,  the  only  species,  is  one  of  our 
most  beautiful  forest  trees,  and  has  no 
superior  for  a  shade  tree  where  there  is 
plenty  of  room  for  its  perfect  development. 
It  is  common  from  Canada  to  Louisiana  in 
rich  woodlands,  where  it  sometimes  attains  a 
height  of  200  feet,  with  a  trunk  as  straight 
as  an  arrow.  Its  flowers  which  are  of  the  size 
and  shape  of  Tulips,  and  very  fragrant,  are 
produced  in  June  in  the  greatest  abundance. 
Color  greenish  white,  variegated  with  yellow 
and  orange.  There  are  two  varieties  of  the 
species,  one  of  which  furnishes  white,  the 
other  yellowish  lumber.  The  former  is  of 
but  little  value  to  the  mechanic,  but  the  latter 
is  highly  esteemed  for  cabinet  work,  for  boat- 
building and  especially  in  the  manufacture  of 
wooden  pumps,  wooden-ware,  etc. ;  it  is  also 
largely  used  for  caiTiage  bodies.     Lirioden- 


LIT 

drin,  a  stimulant  tonic,  with  diaphoretic 
properties,  is  obtained  by  macerating  the 
inner  bark,  especially  the  root.  It  is  propa- 
gated by  seeds  sown  as  soon  as  ripe. 
Li'riope  graminifolia.  A  synonym  of  Ophio- 
pogon  spicatum. 

Lisia'nthus.  From  lysis,  the  termination  of  a 
disease,  and  anthos,  a  flower ;  referring  to  its 
intense  bitterness  and  medicinal  properties. 
Nat.  Ord.  GentianacecB. 

This  genus  is  composed  of  green-house  an- 
nuals and  evergreens,  mostly  of  little  merit 
as  flowering  plants,  the  exception  being  L. 
princeps,  an  evergreen  shrub  from  New 
Grenada,  that  has  long  hanging  flowers  of 
a  rich  scarlet,  shading  into  yellow  at  either 
end,  and  having  an  emerald  green,  five-lobed 
limb.  This  species  is  propagated  by  cuttings, 
and  was  introduced  in  1848.  L.  Russelliamta 
(Syn.  Eustoma  Russellianum),  an  annual  or 
biennial  from  Mexico,  is  another  very  pretty 
species  with  rich  blue  flowers  shaded  with 
purple.    It  is  propagated  only  by  seeds. 

Lissa'uthe.  From  lissos,  smooth,  and  anthos,  a 
flower ;  in  reference  to  the  limb  of  the  corolla 
being  destitute  of  hairs.  Nat.  Ord.  Epa- 
cridacecE. 

A  genus  of  small,  rigid  shrubs,  sometimes 
not  more  than  three  or  four  inches  high,  and  sel- 
dom exceeding  five  feet,  having  small  needle- 
pointed  leaves,  and  small,  usually  white  flow- 
ers, borne  in  short  spikes  from  the  sides  of  the 
branches.  L.  sapida,  a  native  of  south-eastei'n 
Australia,  is  called  the  Australian  Cranberry, 
on  account  of  its  resemblance  both  in  size  and 
color  to  the  European  Cranberry,  but  its  flesh 
is  thin,  and  more  like  that  of  the  Siberian 
Crab.  The  fruits  of  L.  strigosa,  and  L.  Mon- 
tana are  eaten  in  Tasmania,  the  latter  being 
a  vei-y  dwarf  mountain  species,  bearing  large, 
white,  transparent,  fleshy  fruits. 

Lissochi'lus.  From  lissos  smooth,  and  cheilos,  a 
lip ;  in  allusion  to  the  lip  of  the  flower.  Nat. 
Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids  from  Africa, 
producing  racemes  of  rather  showy  flowei's 
from  the  base  of  the  pseudo-bulbs.  The 
species  are  not  very  numerous,  and  the  few 
are  only  met  with  in  large  collections. 

Li'stera.  Twayblade.  Dedicated  to  Dr.  Martin 
Lister,  an  early  British  naturalist.  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids,  bearing 
slender  spikes  of  small  green  flowers,  of  no 
special  interest  except  in  botanical  collections. 
The  several  species  are  common  throughout 
the  United  States. 

Lita'nthes.  From  litos,  small,  and  anthos,  a 
flower;  because  of  the  extremely  small  size 
of  the  plant.    Nat.  Ord,  LiliaceoB. 

L.  pusillus,  the  only  species,  is  an  exceed- 
ingly small  bulbous  plant,  having:  a  bulb  about 
the  size  of  a  pea.  The  flowers  are  small, 
white,  solitary  and  drooping.  It  was  intro- 
duced from  South  Africa  in  1870,  and  forms  a 
pretty  object  when  grown  in  clumps  in  a 
pot. 

Lithospe'rmum.  Gromwell.  From  lithos,  a 
stone,  and  sperma,  a  seed  ;  the  little  nuts  or 
seeds  are  extremely  hard,  and  have  a  surface 
as  smooth  as  polished  pebbles.  Nat.  Ord. 
Boraginacece. 


230 


HENDERSONS   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


LIT 

Annual  and  perennial  herbs,  and  sometimes 
shrubs,  of  easy  culture.  Some  of  the  species 
are  well  adapted  for  rock-%York  and  for  the 
border.  L.  prostratum  is,  unquestionably,  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  of  spring-flowering  per- 
ennials, when  it  succeeds  properly.  A  light, 
well-drained  soil  is  necessary  to  have  it  in 
perfect  health.  It  is  a  prosti-ate,  half-shrubby 
plant,  with  rich,  deep-blue  flowers,  resembling 
those  of  the  Forget-me-not,  and  succeeds  best 
in  a  light,  well-drained  soil.  It  is  a  native  of 
southern  Europe,  and  was  introduced  in  1825, 
and  is  easily  increased  by  seeds  or  cuttings. 

Litmus.  A  blue  dye  prepared  from  Rocella 
tinctoria,  and  some  other  Lichens.  It  is  of 
great  importance  to  chemists,  as  it  affords 
a  delicate  test  for  acids  and  alkalies,  since 
blue  litmus  paper  acquires  from  acids  a  red 
tint,  which  is  restored  by  alkalies. 

Idtobro'chia.  A  commemorative  name.  Nat. 
Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  tropical  Ferns,  dif- 
fering from  Pleris  only  in  the  reticulation  of 
the  veins  of  tlie  fronds. 

Li'tsaea.  From  the  Japanese  name.  Nat.  Ord. 
LauracecB. 

A  large  genus  of  half-hardy  or  green-house 
shrubs  or  trees,  natives  of  the  Malayan  Archi- 
pelago to  Japan,  Australia,  New  Zealand,  etc. 
L.  glauca  and  L.  Japonica,  both  Japanese  spe- 
cies, are  handsome  bushes  for  green-house  or 
conservatory  decoration. 

Littae'a.  Under  this  name  Tagliabue,  an  Italian 
botanist,  described  a  South  American  Agave, 
which  flowered  for  the  first  time  in  Europe  in 
the  garden  of  the  Duke  of  Litta,  near  Milan,  in 
1815,  but  which  now  bears  the  name  of  Agave 
geminiflora. 

Litto'nia.  Named  after  Dr.  S.  Litton,  once 
Professor  of  Botany  at  Dublin.  Nat.  Ord. 
Liliacece. 

A  genus  comprising  onlj'  only  two  species  of 
South  African  plants.  They  are  half-climbing 
in  habit,  bearing  showy  orange-colored  flow- 
ers. L.  modesta,  the  only  species  yet  intro- 
duced, is  an  elegant  green-house  plant,  very 
like  Gloriosa  in  habit  and  appearance. 

Littoral.     Growing  on  the  sea-shore. 

Lituate.  Forked,  with  the  points  a  little 
turned  outward. 

Live-Forever.     See  Seduni. 

Live  Oak.     See  Quercus  virens. 

Liver-Leaf.  The  popular  name  of  Hepatica 
triloba,  from  a  supposed  resemblance  of  the 
leaves. 

Livistona.  Named  in  honor  of  Patrick  Murray, 
of  Livingston,  near  Edinburgh,  Scotland.  Nat. 
Ord.  PalmacecB. 

A  genus  of  very  interesting  and  ornamental 
Palms,  natives  of  southern  China,  the  Malaj'an 
Archipelago,  New  Guinea,  and  Australia.  Two 
of  the  species  attain  a  height  of  from  ninety 
to  one  hundred  feet ;  the  remaining  species 
rarely  exceed  thirty  or  forty  feet  in  height.  L. 
Australis,  also  called  Corypha  Australis,  is  one 
of  the  few  palms  found  in  Australia,  and  is 
principally  found  along  the  coast,  and  is  the 
tallest  of  the  species.  Its  unexpanded  leaves, 
prepared  by  being  scalded  and  then  dried  in 
the  shade,  are  used  for  making  hats,  while 
the  younger  and  more  tender  leaves  are  eaten 
like  cabbages.     It  is  very  largely  grown  for 


LOB 

decorative  purposes  in  all  the  large  cities  of 
the  United  States.  In  Assam  the  leaves  of  L. 
Jenkinsiana  are  used  for  making  the  peculiar 
umbrella  hats  worn  in  that  country.  L.  altis- 
sima,  introduced  from  Java  in  1868,  is  a  very 
beautiful  species  now  largely  used  as  a  sum- 
mer decorative  plant.  L.  Chinensis  (Syn. 
Latania  Borbonica),  under  which  name  it  is 
generally  cultivated,  is  a  well-known  and  very 
handsome  Palm  and  makes  a  very  beautiful 
plant  for  the  lawn  in  summer.  When  grown 
in  tubs  or  large  pots,  this  Palm  is  one  of  the 
best  suited  and  most  largely  used  for  the 
decoration  of  hotel  verandas ;  thousands  are 
now  in  use  for  that  purpose.  Exceedingly 
fine  specimens  of  this  beautiful  Palm  are  now 
growing  in  the  Botanic  Gardens  at  Washing- 
ton. Several  other  species  are  in  cultivation 
and  they  are  all  admirably  adapted  for  various 
decorative  purposes,  and  especially  for  the 
sub-tropical  garden.  They  are  propagated  by 
seeds  sown  in  heat. 

Lizard's  Tail.  The  common  name  for  Saururus 
cernuus. 

Lla'vea.  In  honor  of  M.  La  Llave,  the  dis- 
coverer of  the  only  known  species.  Nat.  Ord. 
Polypodiacece. 

L.  cordifolia,  the  only  species,  is  a  very 
interesting  Fern,  found  in  the  higher  eleva- 
tions of  Mexico.  It  requires  the  same  treat- 
ment as  most  green-house  Ferns. 

Lloy'dia.  Named  after  Edward  Lloyd,  who 
first  discovered  the  plant  in  North  Wales. 
Nat.  Ord.  LiliaceoE. 

A  small  genus  of  two  species  of  bulbous 
plants,  the  best  known  of  which,  L.  serotina, 
has  white,  solitary,  erect  flowers,  veined  ex- 
ternally with  green.  It  is  found  on  the  rocky 
ledges  of  the  Snowdon  range  in  Wales,  and 
the  mountains  and  Arctic  regions  of  the 
Northern  hemisphere.  Syn.  Anthericum  aero- 
tinum. 

Loa'sa.  The  native  name  in  South  America. 
Nat.  Ord.  Loasacece. 

A  genus  of  very  curious  climbing  or  creep- 
ing plants,  of  annual  or  bieimial  duration, 
having  yellow,  white,  or  scarlet  flowers.  The 
seed  should  be  sown  in  March  in  a  gentle 
heat,  and  after  being  gradually  hardened  the 
plants  may  be  removed  to  the  borders  of  the 
flower-garden.  The  leaves  of  all  the  species 
have  more  or  less  of  the  irritating  qualities  of 
the  common  Stinging  Nettle.  They  are  all 
natives  of  Chili,  and  were  introduced  in  1822. 

Loasa'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbs,  with 
rigid  or  stinging  hairs,  opposite  or  alternate, 
exstipulate  leaves,  and  showy  flowers,  natives 
of  tropical  and  sub-tropical  America.  The 
species  are  of  little  economic  value ;  some  of 
them,  from  their  stinging  qualities  are  called 
Chili  Nettles.  There  are  about  ten  genera 
and  100  species,  Loasa  being  the  best  known. 

Lobate.  Lobed;  divided  into  a  number  of 
segments. 

Lobately-crenate.  Having  deep  crenatures, 
or  indentations. 

Lobe.  A  rounded  projection  or  division  of  a 
leaf  or  other  organ. 

Lobe'lia.  Named  in  honor  of  Matthew  Label, 
author  of  various  botanical  works.     He  was  a 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


231 


LOB 

native  of  Lille,  became  physician  and  botanist 
to  James  I.,  and  died  in  London  in  1816. 
Nat  Ord.  Campanulacece. 

An  extensive  and  varied  group  of  interest- 
ing plants.  The  genus  consists  of  over  eighty 
species,  many  of  which  are  highly  ornamental 
and  useful  in  the  garden  and  in  the  green- 
house. L.  erinus  and  its  varieties  are  trailers, 
and  remarkable  for  their  profusion  of  beauti- 
ful blue  flowers.  They  are  usually  treated  as 
annuals,  and  grown  from  seed,  but  succeed 
well  when  grown  from  cuttings.  This  species 
was  introduced  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope 
in  1752,  and  from  it  have  sprung  numerous 
varieties,  running  through  all  shades  of  blue 
rose,  lilac,  etc.  A  very  pretty  double  blue 
variety  was  originated  in  1870.  L.  cardinalis, 
Cardinal  Flower,  a  native  species,  common 
throughout  the  States,  is  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  flowers  in  cultivation.  Though 
usually  found  in  moist  places,  it  will  grow 
well  in  the  border,  and  is  one  of  our  best 
plants  to  grow  on  the  shady  side  of  the  house. 
L.  syphilitica,  another  species  common  to  our 
brook  and  river  sides,  has  beautiful  blue 
flowers,  and  is  well  worthy  of  cultivation.  L. 
infiata  (Indian  Tobacco),  an  annual  species, 
common  in  the  Northern  States,  is,  perhaps, 
the  best  known  of  the  whole  family,  because 
of  the  medicinal  properties  it  was  formerly 
supposed  to  possess.  It  is  still  largely  used 
in  medicine,  but  is  not  now  considered  a  spe- 
cific for  every  disease  that  flesh  and  blood  are 
heirs  to. 

Lobelia'ceae.     A  tribe  of  CampanulacecB. 

Lobel's  Catchfly.     See  Silene  armeria. 

Loblolly  Bay.     See  Gordonia. 

Lobster-Leaved  Cactus.     See  Epiphyllum. 

Loco.     See  Astragalus. 

Locular.     Divided  into  cells. 

Locust  Tree.  The  common  name  for  the  genus 
Robinia ;  also  used  for  Ceratonia  Siliqua,  and 
Hymencea. 

Locust  Tree.  Of  Scripture,  or  St.  John's 
Bread.     See  Ceratonia. 

Loddige'sia.  Named  after  Conrad  Loddiges, 
founder  of  a  once  celebrated  London  nursery. 
Nat.  Ord.  Lpguminosce. 

L.  oxalidifolia,  the  only  species  is  a  much- 
branched  evergreen  shrub,  with  trifoliate 
leaves,  and  bearing  pinkish  flowers,  with  a 
dark  purple  keel,  borne  in  three  to  eight- 
flowered  umbels  in  June.  It  was  introduced 
from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  in  1802,  and  is 
easily  increased  by  cuttings  in  April. 

Lodoi'cea.  Coco  de  Mer.  Double  Cocoanut. 
Named  after  Laodice,  the  daughter  of  Priamus 
and  Hecuba.    Nat.  Ord.  Palamcea,. 

L.  Seychellarum,  the  only  species  of  this 
genus,  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  of  the 
order.  It  is  found  only  on  the  islands  Praslin 
and  Curiense  of  the  Seychelles  group.  This 
Palm  has  a  nearly  cylindrical  trunk,  scarcely 
exceeding  a  foot  in  diameter,  grows  to  the 
height  of  one  hundred  feet,  and  bears  a  crown 
of  fan-shaped  leaves,  some  of  which  are  up- 
ward of  twenty  feet  long  and  twelve  feet  wide. 
Many  marvelous  stories  are  told  of  this  tree, 
its  fruit,  and  its  uses.  We  give  the  descrip- 
tion and  history  of  this  Palm,  which  is  far 
more  wonderful  than  fiction,  in  the  language 
of  Thomas  Moore,  F.L.S.,  as  related  in  the 


LOI 

"Treasury  of  Botany:"  "This  magnificent 
Palm  requires  a  great  length  of  time  to  arrive 
at  maturity.  The  shortest  period  before  it 
puts  forth  its  flower-buds  is  thirty  years,  and 
a  hundred  years  elapse  before  it  attains  its 
full  growth.  From  the  age  of  fifteen  to 
twenty-five  years  it  is  in  its  greatest  beauty, 
the  leaves  at  this  period  being  much  larger 
than  they  are  subsequently.  The  stem  grows 
quite  upright,  straight  as  an  iron  pillar, 
and  in  the  male  trees  frequently  attains  100 
feet  in  height,  the  females  being  shorter.  At 
the  age  of  thirty  it  first  puts  forth  its  blos- 
soms, the  males  forming  enormous  catkins, 
about  three  feet  in  length  and  three  inches  in 
diameter,  while  the  females  are  set  on  a 
strong  zig-zag  stalk,  from  which  hang  four  or 
five,  or  sometimes  as  many  as  eleven  nuts, 
averaging  about  forty  pounds  weight  each. 
From  the  time  of  fiowering  to  the  maturation 
of  the  fruit,  a  period  of  nearly  ten  years 
elapses,  the  full  size,  however,  being  attained 
in  about  four  years,  at  which  time  it  is  soft 
and  full  of  a  semi-transparent,  jelly-like  sub- 
stance. The  arrangements  provided  by  nature 
for  the  roots  of  this  tree  are  of  a  most  peculiar 
kind.  The  base  of  the  stem  is  rounded,  and 
fits  into  a  natural  bowl  or  socket  about  two 
and  a  half  feet  in  diameter  and  eighteen 
inches  in  depth ;  this  bowl  is  pierced  with 
hundreds  of  small  oval  holes  about  the  size  of 
a  thimble,  with  hollow  tubes  corresponding 
on  the  outside,  through  which  the  roots  pene- 
trate the  ground  on  all  sides,  never,  however, 
becoming  attached  to  the  bowl,  their  partial 
elasticity  affording  an  almost  imperceptible 
but  very  necessary  '  play '  to  the  parent  stem 
when  struggling  against  the  force  of  violent 
gales.  This  bowl  is  of  the  same  substance  as 
the  shell  of  the  nut,  only  much  thicker.  It 
rots  very  slowly,  for  it  has  been  found  quite 
perfect  and  entire  in  every  respect  sixty  years 
after  the  tree  has  been  cut  down." 

Loese'lia.  Named  after  John  Lcesel,  author  of 
"Flora  Prussica."    Nat.  OrA.  Polemoniacem. 

A  genus  of  glabrous,  slightly  viscid  shrubs 
or  herbs,  natives  of  Mexico,  Central  America, 
and  New  Grenada.  The  flowers  are  axillary, 
scarlet  or  white,  the  upper  ones  often  crowded 
at  the  apices  of  the  branches ;  leaves  alternate 
or  opposite,  undivided,  often  acutely  toothed. 
L.  coccinea,  a  very  showy  scarlet  species,  is 
generally  found  under  the  name  of  Hoitzia 
coccinea.  They  are  easily  increased  by  cut- 
tings. 

Loga'nia.  A  genus  comprising  about  twenty 
Australian  species,  and  one  from  New  Zealand, 
all  herbs  or  small  shrubs,  of  no  particular 
interest,  either  as  useful  or  ornamental  plants. 
It  has  given  its  name  to  the  order  Loganiacew. 

Logania'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbs,  shrubs, 
or  trees,  of  variable  habit,  closely  allied  to 
Rubiacece.  They  inhabit  chiefly  tropical 
countries,  and  are  bitter  and  highly  poisonous, 
both  in  bark  and  seeds.  The  Poison-Nut, 
Strychnos  nux-vomica,  belongs  to  this  order. 
There  are  about  thirty  genera,  and  350  species. 
Spigelia,  Strychnos,  and  Logania  are  the  most 
easily  recognized  examples. 

Logwood.     See  Hcematoxylon. 

Loiseleu'ria.  Alpine  Azalea.  Named  for  Loise- 
leur  Deslongchampa,  a  French  botanist.  Nat. 
Ord.  EricacecB. 


232 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


LOL 

L.  procumbens,  the  only  species,  is  a  trail- 
ing evergreen  shrub  with  small  elliptical 
leaves,  and  terminal  clusters  of  small  rose- 
colored  or  white  flowers.  It  is  found  on  the 
summits  of  the  White  Mountains  in  New 
Hampshire,  in  the  most  rocky  situations. 
Lo'lium.  Rye  Grass.  The  old  Latin  name 
used  by  Virgil  and  Pliny.  Nat.  Ord.  Gramin- 
acece. 

A  widely  distributed  genus  of  grasses,  the 
most  important  of  which,  in  agricultural 
economy,  is  L.  perenne,  commonly  called  Rye- 
grass, which  has  had  the  reputation  in  Great 
Britain,  for  many  years,  of  being  one  of  the 
most  important  and  valuable  of  the  cultivated 
grasses.  The  leaves  are  generally  abundant 
and  luxuriant  on  rich  moist  soil,  but  on 
poorer,  light  and  gravelly  soils  they  are 
often  so  scanty  as  to  i-ender  the  grass  of  little 
value  either  for  hay  or  pasturage.  This  differ- 
ence of  development  in  various  situations, 
will,  in  a  great  degree,  account  for  the  differ- 
ence of  opinion  that  exists  in  regard  to  the 
value  of  this  grass  for  agricultural  purposes. 

L.  Italicum.  Italian  Rye  Grass,  a  variety  of 
the  above  is  considered  in  England  one  of 
their  best  grasses  to  cut  for  soiling,  as  it 
affords  a  large  and  nutritive  crop. 

L.  temulentum.  Darnel,  is  an  annual  grass 
closely  allied  to  the  Rye-grass,  and  is  remark- 
able as  the  only  species  of  the  family  known 
to  possess  poisonous  properties.  It  is  a  com- 
mon weed  among  other  grains,  especially 
wheat,  throwing  up  a  stem  two  or  three  feet 
high,  bearing  a  spike  somewhat  resembling 
that  of  the  other  species.  The  seeds  of  this 
grass  are  extremely  deleterious,  acting  as  a 
narcotic  poison  and,  if  taken  in  small  quanti- 
ties for  a  long  period  together,  causing  a 
peculiar  disease  called  dry  gangrene,  resem- 
bling that  occasioned  by  the  ergot  of  rye. 
The  bad  i-eputation  of  this  species  has  prej- 
udiced that  of  the  other,  and  useful  species. 
The  "Tares"  of  Scripture  are  supposed  to 
refer  to  this  species. 
Loma'ria.  From  loma,  an  edge;  referring  to 
the  position  of  the  spore  or  seed  cases  on  the 
leaves.     Nat.  Ord.   PolypodiacecB. 

An  extensive  and  interesting  genus  of  Ferns, 
including  hardy,  green-house,  and  hot-house 
species.  They  occur  in  most  parts  of  the 
world,  and  comprise  examples  with  simple 
pinnatifid  and  pinnate  fronds,  while  one  spe- 
cies, L.  Fraseri,  has  a  slender,  tree-like  stem, 
and  bi-pinnatifid  fi'onds,  but  it  is  quite  excep- 
tional in  the  genus.  L.  Gibba,  a  dwarf  species, 
is  largely  grown  for  decoration.  They  are  all 
of  easy  culture  and  are  propagated  by  spores. 

Iioma'tia.  From  loma,  an  edge ;  referring  to 
the  winged  edge  of  the  seeds.  Nat.  Ord.  Pro- 
teaceoB. 

A  small  genus  of  South  American  and 
Australian  evergreen  shrubs  or  small  trees, 
with  simple  pinnate  and  bipinnate  leaves  of  a 
leathery  texture.  A  few  of  the  species  are 
grown  in  collections  of  plants  with  variegated 
or  ornamental  foliage.  They  require  ordinary 
green-house  treatment,  and  are  propagated  by 
cuttings. 
Lomatophy'llum.  From  loma,  lomatos,  a  border, 
and  phyllon,  a  leaf ;  alluding  to  the  distinctly- 
bordered  leaves.    Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  succulent 
plants,  allied  to  Aloe.   L.  Aloiflorum,  or  Bour- 


LOP 

bon  Aloe,  the  only  species  in  cultivation,  has 
smooth  leaves  nearly  three  feet  long,  and  two 
to  three  inches  broad.  The  stems  in  old  speci- 
mens measure  about  eight  feet  high,  and  are 
nearly  as  thick  as  a  man's  thigh.  It  was 
introduced  from  the  Island  of  Bourbon  in  1766 
under  the  name  of  Phylloma  aloiflorum,. 

Lombardy  Poplar.     See  Populus. 

Lo'nas.  Derivation  unknown.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
posites. 

L.  inodora,  the  only  species,  is  a  hardy, 
erect,  branched,  annual  herb,  thriving  in  any 
ordinary  garden  soil.  It  produces  its  small 
yellow  flowers  in  dense,  terminal-crowded 
corymbs  from  July  to  October. 

Loiichi'tis.  From  louche,  a  lance ;  alluding  to 
the  shape  of  the  fronds.  Nat.  Ord.  Polypo- 
diacexs. 

A  small  genus  comprising  two  species  of 
plant-stove  ferns.  L.  pubescens,  an  introduc- 
tion from  the  Mauritius  has  deltoid,  tri-pin- 
natifid  fronds,  two  to  four  feet  long,  with 
marginal  sori,  placed  in  the  sinuses  of  the 
fronds,  and  more  or  less  distinctly  reniform. 

Lonchoca'rpus.  From  lonche,  a  lance,  and 
karpos,  a  fruit ;  in  allusion  to  the  shape  of  the 
pods.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  ornamental  shrubs, 
natives  of  tropical  America,  Africa  and 
Australia.  L.  roseus,  probably  the  only 
species  yet  introduced,  has  erect,  simple 
racemes  of  large,  showy,  rose-colored  flowers. 
It  was  introduced  from  South  America  in 
1700,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
lialf-ripened  young  wood. 

Loudon  Pride.     See  Saxifraga  umbrosa. 
Long  Moss.     See  Tillandsia. 

Long  Purples.     Shakespeare's  name  for  Orchis 

mascula. 
Long-tailed  Ornithogalum.    See  Ornithogalum. 

Loiii'oera.  Honeysuckle.  Named  after  Adam, 
Lonicer,  a  German  botanist,  who  died  in  1596. 
Nat.  Ord.  Caprifoliacea:. 

An  extensive  genus  of  climbing  and  upright 
shrubs,  inhabiting  both  the  Eastern  and  the 
Western  Hemispheres,  and  much  cultivated 
for  the  sake  of  ornament  and  the  fragrance  of 
their  flowers.  L.  sempcrvirens,  Trumpet 
Honeysuckle,  a  handsome  climbing  plant  with 
sub-evergreen  foliage  and  scarlet  flowers,  is  a 
native  species,  common  from  New  York  to 
Florida,  and  is  one  of  the  most  ornamental 
of  the  genus.  L.  Halleana,  from  Japan,  one 
of  the  best  of  the  climbing  species,  is  a  very 
rapid  and  free  grower  and  blooms  all  summer, 
and  L.  brachypoda  aurea  n  t iculata,  alao  from 
Japan,  is  prized  for  the  beauty  of  its  variegat- 
ed foliage.  L.  Tartarica,  Tartarian  Honey- 
suckle, makes  an  ornamental  shrub  growing 
from  six  to  eight  feet  high, of  compact  habit, 
and  is  profusely  covered  with  flowers  in  May, 
and  with  orange-colored  berries  during  sum- 
mer. All  the  species  are  worthy  of  cultiva- 
tion, and  are  readily  increased  by  layers, 
cuttings,  or  from  seed. 

Looking-Glass  Tree.  A  name  given  to  TTer- 
itiera  littoralis. 

Loosestrife.     See  Lysimachia. 

Lope'zia.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  Lopez,  a 
Spanish  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.   OnagracecB. 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


233 


LOP 

This  is  a  genus  of  very  handsome  plants, 
distinguished  by  having  two  filaments,  of 
which  one  bears  an  anther,  and  the  other  is 
petal-like  and  abortive.  The  seed  vessel  is 
four-valved,  four-celled,  and  many  seeded. 
The  species  are  all  natives  of  Mexico,  bearing 
alternate,  rarely  opposite  toothed  leaves,  and 
terminal  racemes  of  small  purple  or  red 
flowers.  The  biennials  are  green-house  plants. 
The  seeds  of  the  annuals  may  be  sown 
early,  in  a  hot-bed  or  in  the  green-house, 
and  transplanted  when  they  have  made  a 
couple  of  leaves.  They  make  very  pretty 
standard  when  trained  and  pinched  during 
the  summer.  On  the  approach  of  cold  weather 
they  should  be  brought  into  the  green-house, 
where  they  will  flower  handsomely  during  the 
winter.  L.  coronata,  the  Mosquito  plant  intro- 
duced in  1804,  is  one  of  the  best  known 
species,  and  is  easily  increased  by  cuttings, 
or  by  seeds. 

Lopha'nthus.  Giant  Hyssop.  From  lophos,  a 
crest,  and  anthos,  a  flower ;  in  allusion  to  the 
crested  lip  of  the  corolla.  Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 
A  genus  of  hardy  plants,  with  the  habit  of 
Nepeta,  natives  of  the  northern  United  States 
and  eastern  Asia.  They  are  all  hardy  peren- 
nials and  grow  well  in  any  soil. 

Iiophi'ola.  A  diminutive  of  lophos,  a  crest ;  re- 
ferring to  the  crested  sepals.  Nat.  Ord. 
Hcemodoracece. 

L.  aurea,  the  only  species,  is  a  pretty, 
slender,  hardy  herbaceous  plant  with  yellow 
flowers,  densely  woolly  on  the  outside.  It 
succeeds  best  in  a  peaty  soil  in  a  damp  situ- 
ation, and  will  grow  and  flower  well  in  pots 
placed  in  pans  of  water;  it  is  increased  by 
division  of  the  roots. 

Lophospe'rmum.  From  lophos,  a  crest,  and 
sperma,  a  seed  ;  the  seeds  are  furnished  with 
a  crested  wing.     Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacece. 

Handsome  green-house  climbers,  bearing 
numerous  large  rosy-purple  flowers.  They 
are  also  adapted  for  the  open  air,  and  flower 
well  when  trained  against  a  wall  or  fence  hav- 
ing a  south  aspect  in  the  flower  garden,  de- 
lighting in  an  airy  position,  with  rich  earth  to 
grow  in.  Seed  is  also  produced  plentifully  in 
such  positions ;  and  when  this  is  secured  it 
saves  the  trouble  of  preserving  plants  through 
the  winter,  as,  if  it  is  sown  early  in  March,  in 
heat,  and  brought  forward  in  pots,  the  young 
plants  bloom  quite  as  soon,  and  are  generally 
more  vigorous  than  those  which  have  been 
kept  from  the  preceding  year.  L.  scandens, 
the  species  best  known,  is  a  native  of  Mexico, 
and  was  introduced  in  1834. 

Lop-seed.     Phryma  leptostachya. 

Loquat  or  Japan  Medlar.  Photinia  {Eriobo- 
trya)  Japonica. 

Lorantha'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  evergreen 
shrubs  with  articulated  branches,  opposite, 
exstipulate,  fleshy  leaves,  and  hermaphro- 
dite, or  unisexual  flowers,  parasitic  on  the 
wood  of  other  trees.  Natives  chiefly  of  the 
equinoxial  regions  of  Asia  and  America,  but  a 
few  are  European  and  African.  The  fruit  of 
this  order  contains  bird-lime,  a  peculiar  vis- 
cous, tenacious,  and  elastic  substance.  Mis- 
tletoe, Viscuni  album,  was  formerly  worshipped 
by  the  Gauls ;  it  was  also  held  sacred  by  the 
Druids.  The  False  Mistletoe,  Phoradendron 
flavescens,  is  our  native  species,  so  much  in 


LOX 


demand  for  holiday  decorations.  There  are 
about  thirteen  genera,  and  Ave  hundred  spe- 
cies. 

Lorate.     Shaped  like  a  thong  or  strap. 

Lord  Anson's  Pea.    Lathyrus  Magellanicus. 

Lords  and  Ladies.    Arum  maculatum. 

Lo'reya.  Named  after  M.  Lorey,  a  French 
botanist  and  author  of  a  "  Flora  of  Burgundy," 
1825.     Nat.  Ord.  Melastomacece. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental  trees,  natives 
of  northern  Brazil  and  Guiana.  L.  arbores- 
cens,  probably  the  only  species  yet  introduced, 
has  white  flowers  borne  in  cymose  panicles, 
followed  by  a  yellow  edible  berry,  very  like  a 
medlar. 

Lorope'talum.  From  loron,  a  thong,  and  peta- 
Ion,  a  petal ;  referring  to  the  long,  thong-like 
petals.     Nat.  Ord.  Hamamelidacem. 

L.  Chinense,  the  only  species,  is  a  very  orna- 
mental, free- flowering,  hardy  shrub,  intro- 
duced from  the  Khasia  Mountains,  and  China, 
in  1889.  The  flowers  are  white,  disposed  in 
terminal,  crowded,  six  to  eight  flowered  heads, 
It  thrives  in  very  rich,  light  soil,  and  is  pro- 
pagated by  seeds  or  cuttings. 

Lo'tus.  From  Lotos  of  Theophrastus ;  the  true 
Lotus  is  Zizyphus  Lotus.     Nat.  Ord.  Legumin- 

OSCB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  annuals  and 
herbaceous  perennials,  a  few  of  which  are 
ornamental  and  are  sometimes  cultivated  in 
the  borders.  L.  corniculatus,  the  Bird's-foot 
Trefoil,  with  its  double-flowered  form,  are 
very  handsome,  dwarf,  herbaceous  plants  with 
bright  yellow  flowers,  well-suited  for  the  rock 
garden.  L.  JacobcBus,  a  green-house  plant, 
has  flowers  more  nearly  black  than  almost 
any  known  flower.  It  forms  a  neat  bush  and 
is  easily  increased  by  cuttings.  Several  of  the 
species  are  forage  plants. 

Lotus,  Egyptian.     Nymphea  Lotus. 

Lousewort.  One  of  the  vulgar  names  of  Pedi- 
Gularis  Canadensis ;  also  called  Wood  Betony. 

Lovage.     Ligusticum  Scoticum. 

Love-Apple.  A  name  formerly  used  for  the 
Tomato. 

Love  Grass.  A  popular  name  for  the  genus 
Eragrostis,  which  see. 

Love-in-a-Mist.    Nigella  Damascena. 

Love-in-idleness.     Viola  tricolor. 

Love-lies-bleeding.     See  Amaranthus  caudatus. 

Love-Tree.  A  name  sometimes  given  to  the 
Judas-tree,  Cercis  Siliquastrum. 

Lo'wea.  Named  after  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lowe,  of 
the  University  of  Cambridge.  Nat.  Ord. 
RosaceoB. 

L.  berberidifolia,  the  only  species,  is  a  very 
singular  and  rare  plant,  native  of  northern 
Persia,  and  the  Soongari  desert,  first  de- 
scribed by  Pallas,  and  by  him  referred  to 
Rosa,  in  which  genus  it  is  now  replaced.  It 
is  a  neat  little  shrub,  with  yellow  rose-like 
fiowers,  with  a  purple  spot  at  the  base  of 
each  petal,  and  simple  obovate-cuneate  ser- 
rated glaucous  foliage.  It  agrees  perfectly  in 
the  character  of  its  flowers  with  Rosa,  but 
differs  strikingly  in  its  foliage,  and  is  seldom 
seen  excepting  in  botanical  collections. 

Loxoco'cous.  From  loxos,  oblique,  and  cokkos, 
a  berry ;  oblique-fruited.  Nat.  Ord.  PalmacecB. 


234 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


LOX 

L.  rupicola,  the  only  species,  is  an  elegant 
stove-house  Palm,  introduced  from  Ceylon  in 
1878.  It  has  spreading  pinnate  leaves,  five  to 
six  feet  long  and  three  to  four  feet  wide,  bear- 
ing twelve  to  twenty  pairs  of  spreading,  some- 
what recurved  pinnules.  It  is  still  rare,  and 
flowered  for  the  first  time  in  England,  at  Kew, 
in  the  spring  of  1878. 

Loxso'ma.  From  loxos,  oblique,  and  soma,  a 
body;  the  sporangia  are  girt  by  an  incomplete 
ring.     Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

L.  Cunninghami,  the  only  species,  is  a  rare 
and  beautiful  Fern  with  decompound,  coriace- 
ous, long-stalked  fronds,  glaucous  beneath ; 
the  sori  are  marginal,  and  have  a  short,  broad, 
incomplete  oblique  ring,  opening  vertically.  It 
is  a  native  of  New  Zealand,  and  is  of  easy  cul- 
ture in  a  cool  green-house. 

Lucerne.     See  Medicago. 

Lucid,  Lucidus.     Bright,  shining. 

Lucu'lia.  Luculi  Swa  is  the  name  given  to  the 
tree  by  the  Nepalese.     Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacece. 

The  two  species  forming  the  genus  are 
among  the  finest  winter-flowering  plants  we 
possess,  as,  when  well  grown,  they  become 
covered  with  large  heads  of  lovely  pink 
flowers.  The  plants  should  be  placed  when 
young  in  large  pots,  well  drained,  and  filled 
with  fibrous  loam.  The  encouragement  of  a 
slight  bottom  heat  and  a  rather  elevated 
humid  atmosphere  will  induce  them  to  grow 
with  vigor.  It  is  best,  in  this  early  stage  of 
their  development,  to  stop  the  shoots  once  or 
twice,  so  as  to  form  handsome  specimens, 
and  when  the  growth  is  nearly  complete, 
they  should  be  removed  to  the  green-house 
to  mature  it  and  form  their  flowers,  which 
are  usually  unfolded  about  the  end  of  autumn, 
and  with  a  little  care  may  be  preserved  for  a 
long  period.  L.  gratissima  is  the  best  known 
species,  and  should  find  a  place  in  every  col- 
lection. It  bears  numerous  cymes  of  reddish- 
pink  flowers,  which  are  very  fragrant.  There 
are  few  more  beautiful  plants  than  this  when 
in  bloom,  and  it  should  be  more  generally 
grown.  It  does  well  in  a  loamy  soil,  to  which 
leaf  mould  and  sand  have  been  added.  The 
species  are  natives  of  Nepal,  and  were  intro- 
duced in  1823.  Although  it  is  possible  to  prop- 
agate Luculias  from  cuttings,  it  is  by  no 
means  a  successful  method,  unless  the  con- 
ditions under  which  the  cuttings  are  placed 
regarding  shade  and  temperature  are  just 
suitable  to  their  requirements.  Seedling 
plants  grow  fast,  if  properly  attended  to,  but 
seldom  bear  flowers  before  the  second  or 
third  year. 

Lucu'ma.  The  Peruvian  name  of  one  the 
species.     Nat.  Ord.  Sapotacece. 

A  large  genus  of  lactescent  trees  and 
shrubs,  natives  of  South  America  and  the 
West  Indies,  a  few  being  found  in  Australia 
and  New  Caledonia.  L.  Mammosa,  the  Mar- 
malade Plum  bears  a  veiy  luscious,  large 
oval  or  top-shaped  fruit  of  a  russet  color. 
It  was  introduced  in  1739,  and  is  perhaps  the 
only  species  in  cultivation. 

Luddema'nnia.  Complimentary  to  M.  Ludde- 
mann.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidaceoR. 

L.  Pescatorei,  the  only  species,  was  formerly 
called  Gycnoches  Pescatorei.  It  is  a  native  of 
South  America.  The  flower  spike  is  pendu- 
lous, very  long,  producing  thirty  to  forty  buff- 


LUP 

yellow  flowers,  brown  inside,  with  the  sepals 
and  lip  bright  yellow.  This  species  is  in- 
creased by  division,  and  should  be  grown  in 
a  basket  in  moss. 

Lu'fTa.  From  louff,  the  Arabic  name.  Nat. 
Ord.  CucurbitacecB. 

A  curious  genus  of  ornamental  gourds,  na- 
tives of  the  warm  regions  of  the  globe,  one 
being  indigenous  to  America.  The  long' 
green  fruits  when  ripe,  form  inside  a  tough 
fibrous  mass  which,  when  the  seeds  and  shell 
are  removed,  is  used  for  bathing  purposes, 
and  for  scouring  cooking  utensils.  Hence, 
some  of  the  species  are  called  Sponge  Gourds, 
and  Dish-rag  Plants. 

Lu'hea.  Named  after  C.  Vander  Luke,  a  Ger- 
man botanist,  who  wrote  on  the  plants  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.     Nat.  Ord.  Tiliacem. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome  stove-house 
trees,  allied  to  Sparmannia.  L.  paniculata, 
probably  the  only  species  yet  introduced,  has 
broad-ovate  blunt  leaves,  unequally  serrate 
and  cordate  at  the  base,  and  rosy-white  flow- 
ers borne  in  leafy  cymes  at  the  tips  of  the 
branches.  It  is  a  very  pretty  plant,  thriving 
well  in  a  mixture  of  peat  and  loam,  and  is 
increased  by  cuttings  of  the  nearly  ripened 
wood,  in  sand.  In  Brazil  the  bark  of  this 
species  is  used  in  tanning  leather. 

Luna'ria.  Moonwort,  Honesty.  From  luna,  the 
moon ;  referring  to  the  shape  of  the  seed- 
vessels.     Nat.  Ord.  CrucifercB. 

Of  this  old  garden  plant  there  are  but  two 
species.  One  a  hardy  biennial.  L.  biennis, 
with  blue  and  while,  and  white  flowers,  is 
interesting  for  its  large  oval,  silvery  seed 
pouches,  whii-h  are  quite  ornamental,  and  are 
much  used  in  bouquets  of  dried  Fei-ns  and 
Grasses,  as  they  last  a  long  time  if  kept  dry. 
The  seeds  of  this  species  should  be  sown  in 
early  summer  for  flowering  the  next  year.  It 
is  a  native  of  Germany,  and  is  meiltioned  by 
the  earliest  botanical  writers.  The  other 
species  is  a  hardy  herbaceous  perennial  of 
but  little  merit. 

Lunate,  Lunulate.  Shaped  like  a  half-moon; 
crescent-shaped. 

Lung"wort.     See  Pulmonaria. 

Lupine.     See  lAipinus. 

Lupi'nus.  Lupine.  From  lupus,  a  wolf;  de- 
vastates land  as  a  wolf  does  the  fold ;  liter- 
ally, destrover.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminosoB. 

A  genus  of  herbaceous  annuals  and  peren- 
nials, which  contains  some  of  our  most  beauti- 
ful border  flowers ;  yellow,  blue,  white  and 
and  pink  Lupines  are  among  the  oldest  of  our 
cultivated  border  annuals.  L.  nanus  is  a 
beautiful  little  annual,  with  dark  blue  flowers, 
a  native  of  California,  and  requires  the  usual 
treatment  of  Californian  annuals.  L.  muia- 
hilis  and  L.  Cruikshankii  are  splendid  plants, 
growing  to  the  height  of  four  or  five  feet,  and 
branching  like  miniature  trees.  L.  polyphyllus 
and  its  varieties  are  perennials,  and  they  are 
splendid,  vigorous-growing  plants,  with 
spikes  of  fiowers  from  one  foot  to  eighteen 
inches  in  length;  L.  Nootkatensis  is  a  hand- 
some dwarf  perennial,  and  L.  arboreus,  when 
trained  against  a  wall,  will  attain  six  feet  in 
height,  and  in  sheltered  situations  it  will 
grow  with  equal  vigor  when  trained  as  a 
bush  lied  to  a  stake;  L.  latifolius  is  a  peren- 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


235 


LUR 

nial  from  California  with  very  long  spikes  of 
blue  flowers. 

Lurid.     Of  a  dingy  brown  ;  gray  with  orange. 

Luxembu'rgia.  In  honor  of  the  Duke  of  Lux- 
emburg, under  whose  patronage  M.  Auguste 
de  St.  Hilaire  commenced  his  botanical  re- 
searches in  Brazil.     Nat.  Ord.  OchnacecB. 

A  genus  of  very  showy,  branched,  very 
glabrous  shrubs,  bearing  racemes  of  bright 
yellow  flowers,  blossoming  during  the  sum- 
mer months.  They  were  flrst  introduced 
from  Brazil  in  1840,  and  are  propagated  by 
cuttings  of  the  half-ripened  shoots. 

Lu'zula.  From  the  Granien  Luzulce  of  Bauhin, 
Glow-worm  Grass.     Nat.  Ord.  Juncacece. 

A  genus  of  herbaceous  perennial  plants, 
of  but  little  beauty,  allied  to  the  Rushes. 
They  are  common  throughout  the  United 
States.  From  their  being  usually  found  in 
dry  grounds  and  woods,  they  are  commonly 
known  by  the  name  Woodrush. 

Luzuria'ga.  Named  in  honor  of  Ignatio  de  Lu- 
zuriaga,  a  Spanish  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Lilia- 
cecB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
climbing  shrubs,  somewhat  resembling  the 
Lapageria,  to  which  they  are  closely  allied. 
The  flowers  are  white,  and  are  produced  in 
gi  eat  abundance.  L.  radicans  is  a  very  pretty 
Smilax-like  plant  with  delicate  leafage  and 
neat  white  flowers.  It  is  valuable  for  green- 
house culture,  and  general  decorative  pur- 
poses, and  is  propagated  by  cuttings.  Syu. 
Callixene. 

Lyca'ste.  Named  after  a  beautiful  woman  of 
Sicily.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

Veiy  handsome  epiphytes  of  the  pseudo- 
bulbous  class.  They  grow  with  freedom  when 
potted  in  a  well-drained  mixture  of  turfy- 
peat  and  sphagnum,  interspersed  with 
which  should  be  a  considerable  number  of 
small  pieces  of  charcoal  or  potsherds.  Being 
natives  of  the  Western  Hemisphere,  the 
species  do  not  require  a  vei-y  high  tempera- 
ture, that  of  an  ordinary  green-house  being 
fully  sufficient ;  neither  do  they  require  so 
decided  a  rest  as  some  other  individuals  of 
the  order,  but  should  be  freely  supplied  with 
both  water  and  air  when  growing.  There 
are  abouttwenty-five  species  in  this  genus,  all 
natives  of  Central  and  South  America.  First 
introduced  in  1828. 

Ly'chnis.  From  lychnos,  a  lamp;  referring  to 
the  brilliancy  of  the  flowers  of  some  of  the 
species.     Nat.  Ord.  Caryophyllacece. 

A  group  of  very  ornamental  herbaceous 
plants,  quite  hardy,  and  deserving  a  place  in 
every  garden.  The  species  vary  in  character 
very  much,  some  of  them  attaining  a  height 
of  three  or  four  feet,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
common  Scarlet  Lychnis  {L.  Chatcedonica),  an 
old  garden  favorite  from  Russia,  Aaluable 
because  there  are  so  few  flowers  of  that  color 
among  our  hardy  herbaceous  plants.  There 
is  a  fine  double  variety  of  this  species,  also  a 
double  and  single  white.  L.  Haageana,  a 
brilliant  scarlet  garden  hybrid  is  also  a  very 
desirable  variety.  Many  others  are  low-grow- 
ing, not  more  than  six  inches  in  height.  L. 
grandiflora,  and  L.  fidgens  are  very  handsome, 
and  the  very  pretty  L.  cceli-rosea  should  be 
included  in  the  list  of  annuals  for  every  gar- 
den.     L.  SenncB  introduced    from  Japan    in 


LYC 

1865,  is  beautifully  striped  white  and  crim- 
son. The  rosy-red  and.  white  varieties  of  the 
"German  Catch-fly," fL.  viscaria,  are  mostV 
showy  and  desirable  hitrdy  herbaceous  plantsr 
more  especially  the  form  with  double  dark  red 
flowers  known  as  L.  v.  splendens,  which  is  useti 
with  good  effect  as  an  edging  plant,  about 
Paris.  They  are  all  easily  propagated  by  seed 
or  by  division. 

Ly'cium.  Box  Thorn.  Prom  lycion,  a  name 
given  by  Dioscorides  to  a  thorny  shrub,  and 
applied  to  the  genus  because  of  its  containing 
some  thorny  shrubs.     Nat.  Ord.  Solanacece. 

There  are  numerous  species  in  this  genus, 
all  hardy  or  green-house  shrubs,  mostly  of 
little  value  as  ornamental  plants.  L.  barba- 
rum  is  a  plant  of  rapid  growth,  green  foliage, 
and  small  lilac  flowers.  It  is  a  climber,  and 
is  grown  considerably  in  England  to  cover 
trellises  and  arbors.  It  is  commonly  called 
Tea  Plant,  and  its  leaves  have  been  recom- 
mended as  a  substitute  for  tea.  L.  Carolinia- 
num,  a  handsome  shrub,  is  common  in  the 
swamps  from  Carolina  to  Florida.  L.  vid- 
gare,  a  native  of  Europe,  and  an  escape  from 
our  gardens  into  the  hedge  rows  and  waste 
places  in  some  of  the  States,  is  popularly 
known  as  Matrimony  Vine. 

Lycope'rdon.  From  lykos,  a  wolf,  and  perdo, 
to  explode  backwards ;  some  old  writers 
believed  that  this  fungus  developed  from  the 
dung  of  the  wolf.  A  genus  of  Fungi,  known 
also  as  "  Puff-balls."  While  white  and  fleshy 
they  are  edible.  L.  giganteum,  a  species  that 
grows  so  large  as  to  suffice  for  a  meal  for  ten 
or  twelve  persons,  is  esteemed  as  an  article 
of  food  by  many  people.  When  ripe,  the  dry 
mass  of  threads  and  spores  is  used  as  a 
styptic,  and  its  fumes  answer  the  purpose  of 
chloroform. 

Lycope'rsicum.  Love  Apple.  Tomato.  From 
lykos,  a  wolf,  and  persicon,  a  peach  ;  in  allusion 
to  the  fleshy  fruit,  and  its  inferiority  com- 
pared with  the  peach.     Nat.  Ord.  Solanacece. 

A  genus  of  three  or  four  species  of  her- 
baceous, procumbent  plants,  natives  of  South 
America,  chiefly  Peru.  The  flowers  are  dis- 
tinguished from  those  of  the  allied  Solanum, 
by  their  stamens  having  the  anthers  connected 
together  by  a  thin  membrane  which  is  pro- 
longed upwards.  The  principal  species  is  L. 
escidentum,  for  culture,  etc.,  of  which,  see 
Tomato. 

Lycopodia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  Cryptogams, 
consisting  of  two  very  distinct  groups,  and 
comprising  four  genera  and  about  150  species. 
They  are  found  in  all  climates,  and  are  either 
terrestrial,  or  epiphytal  perennials.  The 
stems  are  branched  and  leafy  througliout,  and 
generally  rigid.  The  leaves  are  imbricated 
all  round  the  stem,  and  are  arranged  in  from 
two  to  six  ranks.  Lycopodium,  and  Selaginella, 
are  the  best  known  examples. 

Lycopo'dium.  Club  Moss.  From  lykos,  a  wolf, 
and  pous,  a  foot ;  the  roots  having  a  resem- 
blance to  that  animal's  paw.  Nat.  Ord.  Lyco- 
podiacem. 

An  extensive  genus  of  neat  little  evergreen 
herbaceous  plants  allied  to  Selaginella,  but 
distinguished  from  that  genus  by  their 
coniferous  habit  and  the  single  form  of  the 
capsules.  L.  dendroideum,  remarkable  for  its 
tree-like  appearance,  is  largely  employed  in 


236 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


LYC 

making  "  Christmas  greens,"  and  in  bouquet 
work  by  tlie  florists.  It  is  very  common  in 
swampy  places,  particularly  in  New  England. 
The  spores  of  the  common  Club  Moss,  L. 
clavafum,  are  very  inflammable,  and  are  used 
on  the  stage  to  prodiice  artificial  lightning. 
Many  species  formerly  placed  under  this 
genus  are  now  removed  to  Selaginella,  which 
see. 
Lyco'psis.  A  genus  of  Boraginacew,  differing 
very  slightly  from  Anchusa,  with  which  genus 
it  is  now  united  by  many  botanists. 

Lyco'ris.  The  name  of  a  woman  in  Eoman 
history.     Nat.  Ord.  AmaryllidacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  hardj'  bulbs  from  China, 
producing  an  umbel  of  several  showy  flowers 
on  a  slender  scape  from  twelve  to  eighteen 
inches  high,  the  color  being  yellow  or  light 
straw,  and  pink.  Thej'  are  allied  to  the 
Vallota,  and  require  the  same  treatment. 
Introduced  in  1758. 

Lygodi'ctyon.  From  Lygodiiim  and  dictyon,  a 
net ;  its  net-like  A-eins  distinguishing  it  from 
Lygodium.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacete. 

L.  Forsteri,  a  climbing  Fern,  common  in  the 
South  Sea  Islands,  constitutes  this  genus.  It 
is  almost  identical  with  the  genus  Lygodium, 
and  is  also  known  as  Hydroglossum.  Syn. 
Lygodium  reticulatum. 

Lygo'dium.  Climbing  Fern.  Japan  Fern. 
From  lygodes,  flexible ;  in  allusion  to  the 
twining  habit  of  the  plants.  Nat.  Ord.  Poly- 
podiacecB. 

A  genus  of  climbing  Ferns,  mosllj'  of  an 
ornamental  character,  and  widely  dispersed 
over  the  warmer  parts  of  the  earth.  L. 
scandens,  introduced  from  Japan  in  1830,  is  a 
favorite  in  the  green-house,  and  is  well 
adapted  to  house  culture,  as  it  requires  but 
little  light,  and  is  not  injured  by  "furnace 
heat"  or  gas,  so  fatal  to  most  plants  in- 
troduced into  the  drawing-room.  It  is 
moreover  a  rapid  grower.  With  a  little 
management  this  plant  can  be  made  to  com- 
plete its  growth  during  the  summer,  and  it 
may  then  be  placed  in  a  cool  room  in  the 
house  or  in  the  hall,  where  it  will  remain  an 
object  of  beauty  till  spring,  when  it  may  be 
cut  down  for  a  new  growth.  There  is  reason 
to  suppose  that  L.  scandens  is  hardy,  even 
in  the  vicinity  of  New  Yoi-k.  It  is  increased 
by  spores  or  root  division.  L.  palmatum,  the 
only  native  species,  is  found  in  Connecticut, 
Massachusetts,  Virginia,  and  Kentucky.  It 
is  pressed  and  sold  in  large  quantities  for 
parlor  decoration,  and  is  known  in  the  trade 
as  the  Hartford  Fern. 

Lyo'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  John  Lyon,  a  col- 
lector of  North  American  plants.  Nat.  Ord. 
Ericacece. 

This  genus  formerly  included  under  An- 
dromeda,  comprises  about  eight  species  of 
hardy  or  green-house  trees  or  shrubs.  They 
are  natives  of  North  America,  Mexico, 
Jamaica,  and  Cuba.  L.  ligustrina,  the 
American  representative  of  the  genus  is 
found  in  low  thickets,  and  swamps,  from  New 
England  to  Virginia  and  southwards. 

Lype'ria.  From  lyperos,  sad  or  sorrowful ; 
alluding  to  the  dull,  heavy  color  of  the  flow- 
ers.    Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacem.     A  genus  of 

•  herbs  or  low-branching  under-shrubs,  all 
natives  of  southern  Africa.    They  are  of  little 


LYT 

ornamental  value,  and  are  but  little  culti- 
vated. The  flowers  of  L.  crocea  have  been 
imported  under  the  name  of  African  Saffron. 

Lyrate.  A  lyrate  leaf  is  pinnatifld,  with  the 
upper  lobes  much  larger  than  the  lower,  and 
ending  in  one  still  larger. 

Lysilo'ma.  A  genus  of  Leguminosm,  of  the  tribe 
Mimosece,  formerly  combined  with  Acacia,  from 
which,  however,  it  is  botanically  different.  It 
comprises  eight  or  ten  species,  all  natives  of 
tropical  America,  and  "is  of  considerable  im- 
portance in  an  economic  point  of  view,  on 
account  of  one  of  its  species  yielding  the 
A'aluable  hard  timber  known  as  Sabicu, 
Savacii,  or  Savico  wood,  the  origin  of  which 
was  long  unknown,  but  which  has  now  been 
ascertained  to  be  the  product  of  a  species  of 
this  genus,  to  which  the  name  of  Sabicu  has 
been  given.  Sabicu  timber  is  imported  in 
considerable  quantities  from  Cuba,  where  only, 
tlie  tree  is  known  to  exist.  It  is  a  dark 
colored  wood,  very  heavy,  excessively  hard, 
and  extremely  durable,  the  two  latter  quali- 
ties rendering  it  of  great  value  to  the  ship- 
builder, by  whom  it  is  much  esteemed.  On 
account  of  its  hardness,  it  was  selected  for  the 
stairs  of  the  building  for  the  Great  Exhibition 
in  1851,  and  notwithstanding  the  immense 
number  of  people  who  passed  up  and  down, 
the  stairs  were  found,  at  the  close  of  the  Ex- 
hibition, to  be  scarcely  at  all  the  worse  for 
wear. 

Lysima'chia.  Loosestrife.  From  lysis,  dis- 
solving, and  mache,  strife ;  supposed  soothing 
qualities.     Nat.  Ord.  Primulacece. 

Hardy  herbaceous  perennials  of  the  easiest 
culture.  L.  nummularia.  Moneywort,  is  a 
well-known  evergreen  trailer,  a  native  of 
Great  Britain.  If  kept  in  a  pol  of  moist  soil 
and  suspended,  it  will  produce  shoots  of  two 
or  three  feet  in  length,  which  hang  down  on 
every  side.  L.  nummularia  aurea  is  a  golden- 
leaved  variety  of  great  beauty,  now  much 
used  as  a  drooping  plant.  L.  verticillata  is  an 
upright-growing  plant,  with  an  abundance  of 
showy  yellow  flowers  suitable  for  a  large 
border.  L.  clethroides,  a  Japanese  species 
is  a  graceful  and  beautiful  plant,  from  two  to 
three  feet  high,  bearing  long  dense  nodding 
spikes  of  white  blossoms,  the  leaves  display- 
ing biilliant  tints  in  autumn.  They  are  all 
readily  increased  by  cuttings,  seeds  or 
division. 

Lysiono'tus,  From  lysis,  loosening,  and  notos, 
the  back ;  in  reference  to  the  capsule  opening 
with  elasticity  from  the  dorsal  suture.  Nat. 
Ord.  GesneracecB. 

A  genus  containing  a  few  species  of  glabrous 
or  pubescent  plants,  natives  of  the  Himalayas. 
L.  ternifolia  (Syn.  L.  serraia)  has  compound 
umbels  of  beautiful  pale  lavender-colored 
flowers,  with  veins  of  a  deeper  color,  shaded 
to  soft  gray.    It  was  introduced  in  1882. 

Lythra'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbs  or  shrubs, 
often  with  square  branches,  and  usually  op- 
posite, entire,  exstipulate  leaves.  The  plants 
are  chiefly  tropical,  but  some  are  found  in 
Europe  and  North  America.  They  have 
astringent  qualities.  Lawsonia  alba  yields  the 
Henna  of  the  Arabs.  There  are  forty  genera, 
and  upwards  of  300  species ;  Cuphea,  Grislea, 
and  Lythrum  are  good  examples  of  the  order. 


236  LINARIA  CTMBALLARIA  VAKIEGATA. 


LUNABIA  BIENNIS   (HONESTY). 


1IAI/30LHIA.  (VIRGrNIAN  STOCK). 


MAHEBNIA  ODORATA. 


UABANTA  ZEBRINA. 


LYCHNIS  CHALCEDONICA. 


MALOPE  GBANDITIyORA.  237 


AND   GENEKAL   HOKTICULTURE. 


237 


LYT 

Iiy'thrum,  Loosesti'ife.  From  lythron,  black 
blood ;  the  prevailing  purple  color  of  the  flow- 
ers.    Nat.  Ord.  Lythracem. 

A  genus  of  hardy  annuals  and  herbaceous 
perennials.  Several  species  of  the  latter  are 
common  in  marshes  and  wet  places  through- 
out the  Middle  and  Western  States.   The  flow- 


MAC 

ers  produced  in  the  gardens  are  finer  than 
those  growing  wild.  They  flower  freely  in  the 
autumn  months  and  are  propagated  by  divis- 
ion. L.  GrcBfferi  is  a  very  ornamental  trailing 
plant,  well  adapted  for  cultivating  in  hanging 
pans  or  baskets  for  summer  decoration.  It  is 
readily  increased  by  cuttings. 


M. 


M 


aa'ckia  Amurensis. 

rastis  Amurensis. 


A   synonym  of   Clad- 


Ma'ba.  Its  native  name  in  the  Tonga  Islands. 
Nat.  Ord.  EbenacecB. 

A  genus  of  nearly  twenty  species,  dispersed 
over  tropical  Africa  and  Asia,  the  Pacific 
Islands,  and  Australia.  The  Ebony  Wood  of 
Cochin  China  is  believed  to  be  the  produce  of 
a  tree  of  this  genus.  Only  one  or  two  species 
are  in  cultivation. 

Macada'mia.  Named  after  John  McAdam,  M.D., 
of  Victoria.     Nat.  Ord.  Proteacce. 

M.  ternifoUa  is  remarkable  for  its  fruit, 
which  contains  a  kernel  of  a  remarkably  rich 
and  agreeable  flavor,  resembling,  but  much 
superior  to,  the  Filbert.  It  is  the  only  species 
yet  in  cultivation,  and  was  introduced  in  1869. 

Mace.  The  envelope  which  surrounds  Nutmegs. 
See  Myristica. 

Machaeranthe'ra.  From  machairos,  a  sickle, 
and  anthera,  an  anther;  alluding  to  their 
peculiar  form.     Nat.  Ord.   Composite^. 

A  genus  of  biennial  and  annual  plants, 
natives  of  North  America,  now  classed  with 
Aster.  M.  canescens,  and  M.  tanacetifolia  are  in 
cultivation  but  are  scarcely  worth  growing. 

Macka'ya  Named  after  Dr.  J.  F.  Mackay, 
author  of  the  "Flora  Hibernica."  Nat.  Ord. 
AcnnthacecB. 

M  bella,  the  only  species,  is  a  lovely  shrubby 
green-house  plant,  a  native  of  the  rocky  bed 
of  the  Tongat  river.  Natal,  and  is  described 
by  its  discoverer,  Mr.  J.  Sanderson,  as  form- 
ing a  beautiful  object,  being  one  mass  of  most 
delicate,  pendant,  pale  lilac,  campanulate 
flowers,  which  grow  in  racemes  four  to  six 
Inches  long.  It  grows  very  freely,  but  re- 
quires special  treatment  to  induce  it  to  flower 
profusely.  The  essential  points  are  the 
encouragement  of  a  free  growth  during  sum- 
mer and  the  allowance  of  a  season  of  rest  in 
winter,  during  which  time  no  water  should  be 
applied  to  the  roots  or  overhead.  The  plant 
is  nearly  or  quite  deciduous,  and  the  I'acemes 
are  produced  from  the  points  of  nearly  all 
well  ripened  shoots.  It  was  introduced  in 
1869,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  in  sum- 
mer. This  genus  is  included  by  Bentham  and 
Hooker  under  Asystasia. 

Maclea'nia.  Named  after  John  Maclean,  of 
Lima,  a  British  merchant,  and  a  distinguished 


patron  of  botany.  A  genus  of  Peruvian  shrubs 
of  the  Nat.  Ord.  Vacciniacem,  comprising  about 
a  dozen  species  of  ornamental  green-house 
shrubs,  with  alternate  leaves  and  axillary 
flower  stalks,  terminated  by  a  single  reddish 
or  yellow  flower  of  great  beauty.  Cuttings 
will  readily  root  in  sand  or  soil.  First  intro- 
duced in  1842. 


Macleay'a. 

see. 


A  synonym   for  Bocconia,   which 


Maclu'ra.  Osage  Orange.  Named  after  Wil- 
liam Maclure,  a  North  American  geologist. 
Nat.  Ord.  UrticacecB. 

A  genus  of  handsome,  low-growing  trees, 
generally  attaining  the  height  of  thirty  feet. 
There  are  but  three  species  included  in  the 
genus,  two  of  which  are  common  in  the  West 
Indies,  and  not  hardy  here,  excepting  in  the 
extreme  Southern  States.  M.  aurantiaca,  the 
Osage  Orange,  is  a  native  of  the  south-western 
States,  and  forms  a  spreading  tree  from  thii-ty 
to  sixty  feet  high,  but  is  easily  kept  dwarf  by 
cutting  back,  and  is  extensively  used  as  a 
hedge  plant  in  the  Western  States,  for  which 
purpose  its  rapid  growth,  together  with  its 
strong  spines,  renders  it  suitable.  The  wood 
is  bright  yellow  and  very  elastic.  It  is  called 
Bow-wood,  from  its  being  used  by  the  Indians 
for  making  bows.  Young  plants  are  grown 
from  seed,  which,  if  sown  in  good  soil,  will 
make  very  strong  plants  for  the  hedge-rows  in 
two  years.  Many  prefer  setting  them  one 
year  from  seed.  This  species  is  hardy  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  Yoi'k,  and  is  used  for  hedges 
and  on  the  lawn.  M.  tricuspidata  (Syn.  Cud- 
rania  triloba)  is  an  ornamental  deciduous  tree, 
remarkable  for  the  difference  of  the  appear- 
ance and  shape  of  its  leaves  in  its  young  and 
adult  state.  It  forms  a  good  hedge  plant, 
and  in  China,  whence  it  was  introduced  in 
1872,  the  leaves  are  used  for  feeding  silk- 
worms, and  the  wood  yields  a  yellow  dye.  M. 
tinctoria  is  a  synonym  for  Chlorophora  tinctoria, 
which  see. 

Maco'des.  From  makes,  length ;  in  reference 
to  the  shape  of  the  labellum.  A  very  beauti- 
ful Orchid  from  Java,  its  leaves  beautifully 
marked  with  netted  golden  veins,  closely  allied 
to  An(Bctochilus. 

Macrade'nia  lutescens,  is  a  little  Trinidad 
Orchid  forming  a  genus  allied  to  Oncidium. 


238 


HENDEESON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


MAC 

Macrome'ria.  From  makros,  large,  and  meris, 
a  part ;  the  flowers  of  this  genus  are  the 
largest  in  the  whole  family.  A  genus  of  Bor- 
raginacece,  comprising  about  eiglit  species  of 
half-hardy  perennial  herbs,  natives  of  Mexico, 
Columbia  and  Peru,  closely  allied  to  Litho- 
spermum.  M.  exserta  with  yellow  flowers, 
probably  the  only  species  yet  in  cultivation, 
was  introduced  from  Mexico  in  1846. 

Macronemum.  From  Makros,  long,  and  Kneme, 
a  leg;  in  reference  to  the  long  flower-stalks. 
Nat.  Ord.  Ruhiacem. 

A  genus  of  tropical  trees  and  shrubs,  natives 
of  tropical  America  and  the  West  Indies.  M. 
Jamaicense,  the  only  species  j'et  introduced, 
has  greenish-white,  sweet  scented  flowers, 
with  oblong-oval,  polished  leaves.  It  was 
introduced  from  Jamaica  in  1806. 

Mapropi'per.  The  word  signifles  large  pepper. 
Nat.  Ord.  Piperucece. 

M.  methysticum  formerly  called  Piper  methy- 
sticum,  furnishes  the  root  called  Ava  by  the 
Polynesians.  It  has  narcotic  properties,  and 
is  employed  medicinally,  but  is  chiefly  remark- 
able for  the  value  attached  to  it  as  a  narcotic 
and  stimulant  beverage,  of  which  the  natives 
partake  before  they  commence  any  important 
business  or  religious  rites.  It  is  used  by 
chewing  the  root  and  extracting  the  juice, 
and  has  a  calming  rather  than  an  intoxicating 
effect.  Europeans  distill  the  juice,  and  use  it 
as  a  beverage  in  moderate  quantities.  By 
the  more  respectable  of  the  population  it  is 
considered  a  filthy  preparation,  and  is  not 
indulged  in. 

Macrorhy'nchus.  From  markos,  long,  and 
rhynchos,  a  snout.  Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  genus  of  annual  and  perenni.al  plants, 
natives  of  North  and  South  America,  closely 
allied  to  the  Dandelion.  M.  grandiflorus,  a 
Calif omian  perennial  spt^cies  has  very  hand- 
some, lai-go,  yellow  flower-heads,  but  it  is 
rarely  foujid  in  cultivation. 

Macro'stylis.  From  makro»,  long,  and  stylos,  a 
style ;  style  very  long.     Nat.  Ord.  RutacecB,. 

A  genus  of  pretty,  green-house  evergreen 
shrubs,  indigenous  to  South  Africa  and  nearly 
allied  to  Barosma,  and  Diosma.  The  reddish 
flowers  are  arranged  in  a  kind  of  umbel  on  the 
ends  of  the  branches.  The  Orchidaceous 
genus  of  this  name  is  synonymous  with 
Corymbis. 

Macroto'mia.  From  makros,  long,  and  tome,  a 
cutting;  in  allusion  to  the  long  division  of 
the  calyx.     Nat.  Ord.  Boraginacece. 

A  genus  of  erect,  hispid,  perennial  herbs, 
natives  of  the  Himalayas  and  the  East  Indies. 
M.  Benthami,  the  only  species  yet  introduced, 
grows  from  one  to  two  feet  high,  producing 
a  thyrse  eight  to  twelve  inches  long,  of  dark 
maroon-purple  flowers.  It  was  introduced 
from  the  "Western  Himalayas  in  1884,  and  is 
perfectly  hardy. 

Macroza'mia.  From  makros,  long,  and  Zamia. 
Nat.  Ord.  CycadacecB. 

This  interesting  genus  is  formed  from  a  few 
species  of  Zamia,  and  contains  some  of  the 
most  beautiful  plants  under  cultivation 
for  decorative  purposes.  The  leaves  and 
trunk  are  similar  to  Cycas  except  that  the 
pinnse  have  no  midrib  and  are  striate,  with 
parallel  veins.      M.  plumosa,    plume-like,   is 


MAG 

one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  is  remarkable 
for  its  distinct  and  elegant  character.  M 
corallipes  is  another  rare  species.  There 
are  several  species  under  cultivation,  all 
natives  of  Australia.     For  culture  see  Zamia. 

Maculate,  Maculose.    Spotted  or  blotched. 

Madder.      The  root  of  Rubia  tinctoria,   which 

see. 

Maderia  Nut.     See  Juglans. 

Maderia  Vine.       See  Boussingaultia  baselloides. 

Ma'dia.  Madi  is  the  name  of  the  original 
species  {31.  saliva)  in  Chili.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positce. 

This  is  a  small  genus  of  coarse-growing, 
hardy  annuals,  with  bright  yellow  and  white 
flowers,  natives  of  Chili  and  northern  Califor- 
nia. They  gi'ow  freely  in  almost  any  soil  or 
situation.  The  seeds  should  be  sown  in  the 
spring  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  in  readiness 
and  the  weather  sufficiently  warm  ;  introduced 
in  1831.     Syn.  Madnria. 

Madonna  Lily.     Lilium  candidum. 

Mad-wort.     The  genus  Alyssitm. 

Magic  Tree,  Peruvian.     Cantua  buxifolia. 

Magno'lia.  Named  after  Pierre  Magnol,  Pro 
fessor  of  Medicine  at  Montpellier,  1G38-1715, 
Nat.  Ord.  Magnoliacecs. 

A  magnificent  genus  of  ornamental  trees 
and  shrubs,  natives  of  the  United  Stales, 
China,  India,  and  Japan.  It  is  composed  of 
evergreen  and  deciduous  hardy  and  half- 
hardy  trees  and  shrubs.  The  flowers  are 
white,  purple,  or  greenish  white,  and  are  re- 
markable for  their  fragrance.  M.  acuminata 
(Cucumber  Tree)  grows  from  thirty  to  fifty  feet 
high,  and  is  common  in  moist  woods  from 
New  York  to  Ohio  and  southward.  M.  glauca 
(Small  or  Laurel  Magnolia,  Sweet  Bay)  is  a 
low  growing  deciduous  tree,  in  some  localities 
called  Swamp  Sassafras.  It  is  also  known  by 
the  name  of  Beaver  Tree,  because  the  roots 
are  eaten  by  beavers,  which  animals  also 
make  use  of  the  wood  in  constructing  their 
huts  or  nests.  This  species  is  common  in 
swamps  in  New  Jersey  and  southward.  The 
flowers  are  single,  produced  on  the  ends  of 
the  branches,  greenish  white,  and  delight- 
fully fragrant.  They  are  collected  and  sold 
in  the  markets  and  sti'eets  of  New  York  in 
large  quantities.  M.  cordata  is  the  Yellow 
Cucumber  Tree  of  Georgia.  M.  grandiflora 
(Great  Laurel)  is  justly  entitled  to  its  specific 
name,  as  it  is  one  of  the  most  noble  and  beau- 
tiful of  American  evergreen  trees,  remark- 
able for  the  majesty  of  its  form,  the  magnifi- 
cence of  its  foliage,  and  the  beauty  of  its 
fiowers.  This  is  a  large  tree,  growing  from 
sixty  to  one  hundred  feet  high ;  the  foliage  is 
thick,  brilliant  on  the  upper  surface,  and 
rusty  colored  underneath ;  the  flowers  are 
pure  white,  six  to  eight  inches  across,  and 
very  fragrant.  It  is  a  native  of  the  Carolinas 
and  westward,  but  not  hardy  north  of  Wash- 
ington. There  is  one  specimen  in  Philadel- 
phia, well  protected,  that  blooms  annually. 
M.  macrophylla  is  a  comparatively  rare  species 
being  only  occasionally  met  in  the  woods 
from  Florida  to  Tennessee.  It  rarely  attains 
a  height  of  sixty  feet.  It  is  a  deciduous  tree 
of  perfect  form,  with  leaves  from  one  and  a 
half  to  three  feet  long,  clustered  at  the  sum- 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE, 


239 


MAG 

mit  of  the  branches.  The  flowers  are  pure 
white,  with  a  purple  spot  at  the  base  of  the 
petals,  and  are  from  eight  to  twelve  inches  in 
width,  and  deliciously  fragrant.  This  species 
is  not  considered  sufficiently  hardy  to  with- 
stand the  severity  of  our  winters.  It  is  to  be 
regretted  that  it  has  such  a  reputation,  as  it 
is  in  a  great  measure  unjust.  It  might  not 
succeed  in  the  more  exposed  situations,  but 
there  is  scarcely  a  fine  suburban  place  around 
New  York  that  has  not  some  sheltered,  cosy 
corner  in  which  this  noble  tree  would  not  de- 
light to  grow.  There  is  upon  the  Manice 
estate  at  Queens,  Long  Island,  a  tree  of  this 
species  that  was  planted  more  than  fifty  years 
ago,  and  is  now  fifty  or  more  feet  high,  with 
a  boll  a  foot  in  diameter.  There  is  upon  this 
tree  every  year  hundreds  of  flowers,  and  it  is 
no  less  conspicuous  in  autumn,  with  its  large 
heads  of  bright  scarlet  fruit.  It  also  suc- 
ceeds well  up  the  Hudson  River.  Young 
trees  are  easily  produced  from  seed.  M. 
hypoleuca,  a  Japanese  species  of  great  beauty, 
has  leaves  a  foot  long,  glaucous  beneath,  and 
sometimes  purple  tinted  above,  with  a  red 
midrib  and  leaf  stem.  The  flowers  are  large, 
creamy-white,  delightfully  fragrant,  and 
bloom  in  June  after  the  foliage  is  developed. 
31  stellata,  known  as  Hall's  Japan  Magnolia,  is 
another  very  desirable  species.  Its  form  is 
low  and  shrub-like,  flowers  pure  white  and 
delicately  fragrant.  It  blooms  earlier  than 
any  other  Magnolia,  and  is  very  showy.  31. 
Campbellii,  introduced  from  the  Himalayas  in 
1858,  the  flowers  of  which  are  pale  rose  in- 
side, crimson  outside,  and  slightly  fragrant, 
is  an  exceedingly  handsome  deciduous 
species,  probably  not  entirely  hardy 
in  the  Northern  States.  M.  con- 
spicua,  or  31.  Yulan,  is  a  native  of  China, 
where  it  attains  a  height  of  forty  or  fifty  feet. 
It  is  perfectly  hardy  in  this  latitude,  and  re- 
markable for  the  great  number  of  white 
flowers  produced  in  spring,  before  the 
leaves  are  developed.  3f.  purpurea  and  31. 
Soulangeana,  are  deciduous,  like  the  former, 
and  are  in  all  respects  similar,  except  that  the 
fiowers  are  purple  outside  and  white  within. 
These  two  species  contrast  finely  with  M. 
Conspieua,  when  planted  together  upon  the 
lawn.  31.  fuscata,  a  green-house  evergreen 
from  China,  is  a  low-growing  shrub,  with 
small  glossy  leaves,  and  dull  purple  flowers 
of  exquisite  fragrance.  There  are  many 
other  species  and  varieties,  but  those  de- 
scribed are  the  best  representatives. 

Maguolia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  or 
shrubs,  with  alternate,  leathery,  sometimes 
dotted  leaves,  and  showy,  often  fragrant 
flowers,  natives  of  tropical  and  eastern  Asia, 
and  North  America.  They  possess  bitter, 
tonic,  and  aromatic  qualities.  There  are 
about  a  dozen  genera  and  upward  of  seventy 
species.  Examples :  niicium,  Drimys,  and 
Liriodendron. 

Maguey-fibre  Plant.  Various  species  of 
Agave. 

Mahe'rnia.       An    anagram  of    Hermannia,    an 

allied  genus.     Nat.  Ord.  Sterculiacece. 

A  genus  of  neat  little  green-house  shrubs, 
growing  about  two  feet  high,  and  remarkable 
for  the  profusion  of  their  fragrant  yellow,  or 
red  and  yellow  flowers.  The  yellow  31. 
odorata,  is  the  best  known.      They  are  easily 


MAL 

grown  in  the  green-house  with  ordinary 
treatment.  All  the  species  are  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  were  introduced  early 
in  the  present  century,  and  are  easily  increas- 
ed by  cuttings  of  the  young  shoots. 

Mahogany-Tree.     Swietenia  Mahagoni. 

Maho'nia.  In  honor  of  Bernard  3Ic3Iahon,  an 
American  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Berheridacem. 
A  genu;:  of  handsome  hardy  and  half-hardy 
evergreen  shrubs,  most  of  which  are  now  in- 
cluded in  the  genus  Berberis.  3£.  Bealii  has 
large  leaves  of  a  yellowish  green  tint,  com- 
posed of  broad  spiny  leaflets  of  irregular  out- 
line, and  terminal  clusters  of  yellow  flowers, 
produced  in  winter  or  early  spring,  a  native 
of  Japan,  B.  Japonica  is  probably  a  variety  of 
the  same  species.  They  are  of  comparatively 
recent  introduction  (1845)  and  are  so  distinct 
from  everything  else  that  one  or  the  other  of 
the  varieties  should  be  found  in  every  collec- 
tion of  choice  shrubs.  They  require  a  slight 
protection  in  winter  in  the  Northern  States. 
By  some  this  genus  is  placed  under  Berberis. 

Maiden  Hair  Fern.     See  Adiantum. 

Maiden  Hairtree.     See  Salisburia. 

Maiden  Pink.     Dianthus  deUoides. 

Maize.     See  Zea. 

Malabai'la.  Named  after  Count  3falabaila  von 
Canal,  once  director  of  the  Botanic  Gardens 
at  Prague.     Nat.  Ord.  Umbelliferce. 

A  genus  of  hardy  perennial,  often  glabrous 
herbs,  similar  in  habit  to  Peucedanum,  but 
with  broader  leaves;  natives  of  eastern 
Africa,  western  Asia  and  south-eastern 
Europe.  3f.  Opoponax  (Syn.  Pastinaca  Opo- 
ponax)  is  sometimes  cultivated  as  a  decora- 
tive plant  for  the  sub-tropical  garden.  It 
grows  about  six  feet  in  height  and  is  easily 
increased  by  seeds  sown  in  the  open  ground 
in  spring. 

Malabar-Leaf.     A  common  name  for  Cinnamo- 

mum  3Ialabathrum. 

Malabar  Nightshade.     See  Basella. 
Malacoca'rpus.     From   malakos,  soft,  and  kar- 

pos,  a  fruit ;  alluding  to  the  Juicy  fruits.     Nat. 

Ord.  Cactacece. 

This  genus,  now  included  by  Bentham  and 

Hooker  under  EcMnocactius,  is  composed  of 

the  smooth-fruited  species  of  that  genus. 

Malacoid.     Having  a  mucilaginous  texture. 

Mala'xis.  From  malaxis,  tenderness ;  in  allu- 
sion to  the  nature  of  the  species.  Nat.  Ord. 
OrchidacecB. 

A  genus  of  curious  and  interesting  terres- 
trial Orchid-3,  growing  naturally  in  spongy 
boggy  places.  They  are  mainly  of  botanical 
interest. 

Malay,  or  Rose  Apple.  A  name  applied  to  the 
fruit  of  Eugenia  Jambos,  and  some  other 
species  of  Eugenia. 

Malco'lmia.  Named  after  W.  3falcolm,  a  cele- 
brated London  nurseryman.  Nat.  Ord.  Cruci- 
fercB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  plants,  mostly  annuals, 
chiefly  natives  of  the  south  of  Europe,  pro- 
ducing white  or  purple  flowers  disposed  in 
facemes.  Most  of  the  species  are  but  little 
grown.  3f.  maritima  is  the  well-known  Vir- 
ginian Stock  of  our  gardens.  They  all  grow 
from  seed  sown  in  spring. 


240 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


MAL 

Male  Fern.     A   common   name   for    Aspidium 

Filix-mas. 
Mallo-w.     See  Malva. 

Ma'lope.  From  malos,  soft  or  tender:  refer- 
ring to  the  texture  of  the  leaves.  Nat.  Orel. 
Malvacece. 

Annual  plants  with  very  handsome  flowers. 
M.  trifida,  of  which  there  are  two  kinds,  one 
with  crimson  and  the  other  with  white 
flowers,  is  rather  dwarf;  but  M.  grandijlora 
will  grow  four  or  five  feet  high  in  a  good  soil 
and  an  open  situation,  bearing  very  large 
and  showy,  brilliant  crimson  flowers.  All  the 
kinds  are  quite  hardy,  and  only  require  sow- 
ing in  April  or  May  in  the  open  border,  and 
thinning  outortransplanting,  when  the  young 
plants  are  three  or  four  inches  high.  Natives 
of  north  Africa;  introduced  in  1808. 
Malorti'ea.  Named  in  honor  of  E.  Von  Malortie 
of  Hanover.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  small  genus  of  slender,  dwarf,  elegant 
palms,  admirably  adapted  for  cultivation  in 
the  dwelling-house  or  for  table  decoration. 
They  are  characterized  by  their  slender  reed- 
like stems  and  simple  branching  spikes  of 
unisexual  flowers.  M.  gracilis  and  M.  simplex, 
two  species  from  Guatemala,  are  considerably 
grown  as  ornamental  plants,  and  were  form- 
erly referred  to  Chammrops.  They  are  of 
easy  culture,  requiring  a  rich  light  soil  and 
plenty  of  water. 
Malpi'ghia.  Named  after  Marcello  Malpighi, 
an  Italian  naturalist.  Nat.  Ord.  Malpigiaceae. 
A  genus  containing  about  twenty  species  of 
small  trees  or  shrubs,  natives,  principally,  of 
tropical  America.  Flowers  pink  or  white, 
fasciculate  or  corymbose,  rarely  solitary ; 
drupe  fleshy.  The  fruits  of  M.  glabra,  and  M. 
urens,  are  eaten  in  the  West  Indies,  those  of 
the  former  being  called  Barbadoes  Cherry. 
Propagated  by  cuttings. 
Malpigia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  or 
shrubs,  sometimes  climbing,  with  simple,  1 
generally  opposite  leaves,  and  yellow  or  red 
flowers.  They  are  natives  chiefly  of  tropical 
countries,  and  a  great  number  of  tliem  are 
found  in  South  America.  There  are  about 
forty-nine  genera  and  600  species.  Good  ex- 
amples are  Malpigia  Bannisteria,  and  Gaudi- 
chaudia. 
Ma'lus.  Pyrus  Malus.  The  Apple,  which  see. 
Ma'lva.  Mallow.  From  malacho,  to  soften ; 
referring  to  their  emollient  qualities.  Nat. 
Ord.  Malvacece.. 

This  is  a  group  of  plants  remarkable  for 
their  large,  showy  flowers  ;  but  the  coarseness 
of  the  leaves  and  loose  manner  of  growing  de- 
prive the  genus  of  much  of  the  interest  it 
would  otherwise  have.  The  genus  consists  of 
tender,  half-hardy,  and  hardy  perennials  and 
annuals,  all  of  the  easiest  culture,  according 
to  their  respective  kinds.  M.  moschata,  the 
Musk-Mallow,  derives  its  name  from  the 
peculiar  musky  odor  given  ofif  by  all  parts  of 
the  plant  when  kept  in  a  confined  situation,  par- 
ticularly in  dry  weather ;  but  it  is  seldom  pow- 
erful enough  to  be  perceived  in  the  open  air. 
This  species  is  a  hardy  herbaceous  perennial, 
common  in  waste  places  in  Great  Britain.  M. 
rotundifolia  has  become  naturalized  until  it  is 
quite  a  nuisance  in  our  gardens  and  yards. 
Malva'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbaceous 
plants,  trees,  or  shrubs,  generally  distributed 


MAM 

over  the  world.  They  are  mucilaginous  and 
demulcent,  and  yield  fibres.  Althma  officinalis 
(the  Marsh-Mallow)  yields  mucilage,  Gossi- 
pium  furnishes  various  kinds  of  cotton.  Hibis- 
cus cannabinus  supplies  Indian  hemp,  Paritium 
elatum  gives  Cuba  bast.  There  are  nearly 
fifty  genera,  including  Malva,  Lavatera,  Hibis- 
cus, and  Sida,  and  upwards  of  1,000  species. 

Malva'strum.  Name  altered  from  Malva.  Nat. 
Ord.  Malvacece,. 

A  genus  containing  about  sixty  species  of 
green-house  or  hardy  herbs,  natives  of  the 
warmer  parts  of  North  and  South  America. 
M.  Munroanum  is  a  dwarf  hardy  plant,  with 
rather  small  orange-red  flowers,  introduced 
from  Columbia  in  1828,  under  the  name  of 
Malva  Munroanum.  M.  laieritium,  an  intro- 
duction from  Buenos  Ayres,  has  handsome 
brick-red  flowers,  on  long  peduncles.  The 
perennial  sorts  are  increased  by  seeds  or  cut- 
tings ;  the  annuals  by  seeds  only. 

Malvavi'scus.  From  malva,  mallow,  and  viscus, 
glue  ;  referring  to  the  mucilage  with  which  it 
abounds.     Nat.  Ord.  Malvacece. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs,  with  entire  or 
slightly  lobed  leaves,  and  crimson  flowers, 
natives  of  tropical  America  and  Mexico.  M. 
arboreus  (Syn.  Achania  m.ahmviscuft)  is  a  well- 
known  green-house  shrub,  VfiiAx  bright  scarlet 
flowers ;  free-flowering,  and  desirable.  Pro- 
pagated by  cuttings  of  the  side  shoots. 

Ma'iumea.  Mammee  Tree.  Mamey  is  the 
native  name.     Nat.  Ord.  Clusiacem. 

M.  Americana,  a  native  of  the  West  Indies, 
produces  the  Mammee  Apple,  or  South  Ameri- 
can Apricot,  which  is  very  much  valued  in 
tropical  countries.  It  often  attains  the  size 
of  a  child's  head,  and  is  of  a  yellow  color.  The 
outer  rind  and  the  pulp  which  immediately 
surrounds  the  seeds  are  very  bitter,  but  the 
intermediate  is  sweet  and  aromatic,  and  is 
eaten  cut  into  slices  and  steeped  in  wine,  or 
made  into  preserves  of  various  kinds. 

Mammee  Apple.     See  Mammea. 

Mammilla'ria.  From  mamma,  the  nipple ;  in 
allusion  to  the  small  tubercles.  Nat.  Ord. 
Cactacece. 

Succulent  plants,  with  almost  globular 
stems  covered  with  prickles,  but  without 
leaves,  the  flowers  growing  out  of  the  stem 
without  any  stalk.  These  plants  are  natives 
of  the  high  table-land  of  Mexico,  where  they 
are  subject  to  very  few  variations  of  tem- 
perature, and  they  should,  therefore,  be  kept 
in  green-house  heat  all  the  year.  They  are 
also  found  in  Texas  and  Colorado.  In  their 
native  country  they  grow  in  rich  loam,  and 
therefore  require  a  better  soil  than  the  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  Cereus  and  Echinocactus, 
which  grow  among  calcareous  rocks,  in  the 
mould  formed  by  the  deposition  of  vegetable 
matter  in  the  fissures.  By  attending  to  these 
particulars  the  Mammillarias  may  be  easily 
grown  in  any  situation  where  they  can  be 
kept  free  from  frost.  When  kept  in  a  room, 
they  should  be  allowed  as  much  air  as  pos- 
sible, and  the  dust  which  lodges  among  their 
spines  should  be  frequently  blown  off  with  a 
small  pair  of  bellows  or  the  breath.  There 
are  about  100  species  in  this  genus,  nearly 
all  confined  to  Mexico  and  South  America. 
They  were  first  introduced  from  Peru  in  1799, 
and  are  propagated  by  offsets  or  by  seeds. 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


241 


MAM 
Mammoth  Trees  of  California.     See  Sequoia. 

Manohineel  Tree.  The  virulently  poisonous 
Hippomane  Mancinella. 

Mandarin  Orange.     Citrus  nobilis. 

Mandevi'Ua.  Named  after  H.  J.  Mandeville,  an 
English  minister  at  Buenos  Ayres,  and  a 
botanical  collector.    Nat.  Ord.  Apocynacece. 

M.  suaveolens,  the  only  species  yet  intro- 
duced, is  a  native  of  South  America,  and  is  a 
desirable  climber  for  the  green-house,  as  it  is 
a  rapid  grower,  and  produces  clusters  of  very 
sweet-scented  white  flowers  during  the  sum- 
mer. It  should  be  allowed  to  rest  during 
■winter.  It  is  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
small,  stiff  side  shoots,  taken  off  close  to  the 
old  wood.     Introduced  in  1837. 

Mandio'cco.  A  synonym  of  Manihot,  which 
see. 

Mandrago'ra.  Mandralie.  From  mandra,  an 
oxstall,  and  agauros,  cruel ;  alluding  to  its 
poisonous  effects  when  accidentally  given  to 
cattle  with  their  fodder.  Nat.  Ord.  Solanacece.. 
The  species  are  natives  of  southern  Europe 
and  the  East,  and  have  very  short  stems,  with 
a  thicli,  fleshy,  often  forlied  root,  from  the 
summit  of  which  the  entire  ovate  lance-shaped 
leaves  appear.  The  early  writers  attribute 
the  most  wonderful  and  poisonous  properties 
to  this  plant ;  it  was  both  used  to  save  and  to 
destroy  life.  Shakespeare  alludes  to  it  as  fol- 
lows :  "Or  have  we  eaten  of  tlie  insane  I'oot 
that  takes  the  reason  prisoner?  "  In  the  olden 
time  tliis  root  was  said  to  be  employed  as  an 
anaesthetic,  in  the  same  way  that  chloroform 
now  is.  While  its  poisonous  properties  are 
yet  acknowledged  and  dreaded,  its  medical 
properties  are  no  longer  esteemed. 

Mandrake.     See  Podophyllum  and  Mandragora. 

Mane'ttia.  In  honor  of  Xavier  Manetti,  prefect 
of  the  Botanic  Garden  at  Florence,  and  au- 
thor of  "Regnum  Vegetabile,"  1756.  Nat. 
Ord.  RubiacecB. 

An  elegant  family  of  green- house  climbers, 
suitable  for  training  over  a  wire  trellis  at- 
tached to  the  pots  in  which  the  plants  grow. 
The  species  delight  in  a  moderately  warm  and 
moist  atmosphere  when  they  are  growing, 
and  in  the  case  of  having  tuberous  roots,  like 
M.  cordifolia,  are  all  the  better  for  a  decided 
drying  through  the  winter.  The  other  species, 
from  having  only  fibrous  roots,  will  not  bear 
a  reduction  to  the  same  extent.  M.  bicolor 
for  winter-flowering  should  be  grown  freely 
through  the  summer,  and  afterward  be  placed 
in  a  di'y,  warm  position  to  induce  it  to 
flower  freely,  and  to  prescve  its  foliage  from 
mildew,  to  which  it  is  very  subject.  The 
flowers  of  this  species  are  yellow  and  crimson ; 
those  of  the  others  are  scarlet,  except  M.  Ly- 
gistum,  a  native  of  Cuba,  which  has  pink 
blossoms.  All  the  species  do  well  here 
planted  out  during  summer,  keeping  up  a 
continuous  bloom,  and  are  propagated  by 
cuttings,  either  of  the  roots  or  shoots.  In- 
troduced from  South  America  in  1806. 

Mangel  "Wurzel.     Beta  vulgaris  macrorhiza.     A 

cultivated  variety  of  Beet,  largely  grown  as 

food  tor  cattle. 
Mangl'fera.     Mango  Tree.     From  mango,    the 

Hindoo  name  of  the  fruit,  and fero,  to  bear. 

Nat.  Ord.  Anacardiacece. 


MAN 

M.  Indica  grows  abundantly  in  India,  where 
numerous  varieties  are  cultivated.  It  is  also 
grown  in  Brazil  and  the  Mauritius  for  the 
fruit,  which  is  highly  esteemed  for  its  grateful 
acidity  and  sweet  perfume.  In  the  tropics  it 
is  the  principal  fruit  eaten.  The  tree  grows 
about  twenty  feet  high,  and  the  fruit  is  pro- 
duced in  terminal  clusters. 

Mangle'sia.  Named  after  Captain  Mangles,  and 
his  brother,  Robert  Mangles,  distinguished 
patrtms  of  botany.     Nat.  Ord.  ProteacecB. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  green-house  shrubs 
from  Swan  River,  with  very  small  flowers  of 
little  beauty.  It  is  grown  only  for  its  beauti- 
ful foliage,  and  is  now  included  under  Orevilr 
lea  by  some  botanists. 

Mangosteen.     See  Oarcinia. 

Mango  Tree.     See  Mangifera. 

Mangrove.     See  Rkizophora. 

Manica'ria.  From  manica,  a  glove ;  referring 
to  the  spathe  rolled  around  the  inflorescence 
or  flower  stem.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacew. 

A  noble  genus  of  Palms  inhabiting  the  tidal 
swamps  of  the  Lower  Amazon  River.  M. 
saccifera,  the  only  species  yet  introduced,  has 
immense  leaves,  unlike  any  others  of  the 
order,  which  are  more  or  less  pinnated  or  fan- 
shaped;  these,  on  the  contrary,  are  entire, 
frequently  growing  thirty  feet  long  and  from 
three  to  four  in  widt^ ;  and  being  of  a  stiff 
habit,  stand  erect  upon  the  summit  of  the 
stout,  crooked  stem,  which  usually  attains 
the  height  of  fifteen  or  twenty  feet.  The  In- 
dians call  the  Palm  Bussu,  and  its  immense 
leaves  are  invaluable  to  them  for  thatching 
their  huts.  The  fibrous  spathes  are  also  eon- 
verted  into  useful  bags  and  caps  by  simply 
cutting  round  them  near  the  bottom,  and 
pulling  them  off  entire,  and  afterward  stretch- 
ing them  open  as  wide  as  possible  without 
tearing;  they  also  supply  a  coarse,  but  strong 
kind  of  cloth.  On  account  of  its  immense 
size  this  interesting  species  is  rarely  met  in  ' 
collections.     Propagated  by  seeds. 

Mani'hot.  The  Brazilian  name  of  this  genus. 
Nat.  Ord.  EuphorbiacecB  (Syn.  Mandiocca). 

A  genus  comprising  ab<)ut  eighty  species  of 
tall  herbs,  or  evergreen  shrubs,  mostly  natives 
of  Brazil,  a  few  being  dispersed  through  the 
warm  regions  as  far  as  Mexico.  M.  Aipi,  the 
Sweet  Cassava,  deserves  special  notice  as 
being  one  of  the  recent  additions  to  the  food 
plants  of  this  country.  It  is  closely  related 
to  the  Ricinus  or  Castor-oil  Bean  which  it 
resembles  in  general  appearance.  In  the 
southern  portion  of  the  United  States  and 
more  particularly  in  Florida,  there  are  large 
areas  admirably  adapted  to  the  growth  of  this 
plant  as  an  article  of  home  consumption, 
while  in  time  its  manufacture  into  starch, 
tapioca,  and  glucose,  ought  to  become  a  lead- 
ing industry.  It  has  also  created  much  inter- 
est as  food  for  stock  being  greatly  relished  by 
cattle,  horses,  hogs,  and  poultry.  The  tubers 
often  three  or  four  feet  in  length  may  be  dug 
at  any  season,  only  however,  as  wanted  for 
use,  as  they  decay  soon  after  being  exposed  to 
the  air.  It  is  propagated  from  cuttings  of 
the  larger  stems,  which  before  frost,  are  cut, 
laid  in  piles  and  covered  with  earth.  "When 
ready  for  planting  in  January,  February,  or 
March,  the  stems  are  cut  into  pieces  about  6ix 


242 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


MAN 

inches  long  and  planted  foul"  of  five  feet  apart 
each  way,  and  three  or  four  inches  deep.  The 
crop  receives  shallow  culture  until  sufficiently 
grown  to  hold  its  own  against  weeds.  It  may 
be  left  to  grow  for  two  years  with  advantage, 
thus  requiring  a  minimum  of  culture.  It  is 
calculated  that  from  ten  to  fifty  tons  of  roots 
of  one  year's  growth  ought  to  be  obtained 
from  an  acre  of  land  according  to  its  quality. 
Besides  those  already  mentioned  it  can  be  put 
to  a  variety  of  uses,  the  Florida  house-wives 
having  used  it  for  making  bread,  puddings, 
custards,  fritters,  jellies,  etc.,  and  also  as  a 
vegetable  in  all  the  ways  in  which  potatoes 
are  used.  The  root  of  M.  utilissima  (Syn.  Jan- 
ipha  manihot)  is  virulently  poisonous  and  bit- 
ter. The  poisonous  juice  is  however  express- 
ed in  the  process  of  manufacture  and  when 
allowed  to  settle,  deposits  what  is  known  as 
Brazilian  Arrowroot  or  Tapioca.  It  is  from 
this  that  the  Tapioca  of  Commerce  is  pre- 
pared. 

Manna.   See  Alhagi,  Ornus,  Tamarix  and  Rocella. 

Manna  Ash.     See  Ornus. 

Man-of-the-Earth.     See  IpomoRa. 

Man  Orchis,  or  Green  Man  Orchis.  A  name 
usually  given  to  Acertxs  anthropophora,  which 
see. 

Mauti'sia.  Opera  Girls.  Named  after  the  in- 
sect Mantis,  to  which  the  flowers  have  been 
compared.     Nat.  Ord.  ScitarninetB. 

Hot  house  herbaceous  evergreens  from  the 
East  Indies.  One  of  the  species  has  l<mg 
been  grown  in  some  countries  for  the  singu- 
larity and  beauty  of  its  flowers,  which  present 
some  appearance  of  a  ballet  dancer,  hence  the 
popular  name.  Dancing  Girls,  applied  to  the 
plant.  The  filament  and  anther,  with  its 
wing-like  margins,  repi-esent  the  head  and 
neck  of  the  lady,  the  long  inner  segments  of 
the  corolla  represent  the  arms,  while  the  label- 
lum  corresponds  to  the  dress.  The  flowers 
are  purple  and  yellow ;  they  were  introduced 
in  1808,  and  are  propagated  by  root  division. 

Manu'lea.  From  manus,  the  hand ;  in  allusion 
to  the  divisions  of  the  corolla.  Nat.  Ord. 
ScrophulariaceoR. 

A  genus  of  about  twenty-five  species  of 
green-house  plants ;  natives  of  southern 
Africa.  They  are  handsome  plants  with 
golden-yellow,  or  orange-colored  flowers,  of 
easy  cultivation,  though  rarely  found  except 
in  large  collections.  M.  rubra,  yellow,  and 
M.  tomentosa,  orange,  are  the  best  known 
species,  and  are  easily  increased  by  cuttings 
or  by  seed. 

Manures.  There  are  few  soils  or  conditions 
under  which  crops  can  be  grown  successfully 
without  tlie  use  of  manures,  consequently, 
their  aid  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  every 
operator  in  the  soil  whether  professional  or 
amateur.  According  to  the  experiments 
which  have  been  made — all  substances  enter- 
ing into  the  composition  of  vegetable  manure 
or  food,  should  be  in  a  state  of  fluidity,  or  in 
the  form  of  gas.  The  great  object  therefore 
in  the  application  of  manure  should  be  to 
make  it  afford  as  much  soluble  matter  as  is 
possible  to  the  roots  of  the  plant,  and  in  so 
gradual  a  manner  that  it  may  be  entirely  con- 
sumed in  producing  the  required  crop.  Every 
substance,  organic  or  inorganic,  that  adds 
directly  or  indirectly  to  the  fertility  of  the 


MAN 

soil  may  therefore  be  considered  a  manure. 
The  comparative  value  of  the  manures  must 
be  regulated  by  the  cost.  If  rotted  stable  man- 
ure whether  from  horses  or  cows,  can  be  deliv- 
ered on  the  grounds  at  $3  per  ton,  it  is  about 
as  valuable  for  fertilizing  purposes,  as  Peru- 
vian Guano  at  $65  per  ton,  or  pure  bone  dust 
at  $40  per  ton.  It  is  better  than  any  of  these 
or  any  other  concentrated  fertilizer,  from  the 
fact  of  its  mechanical  action  on  the  land  — 
that  is,  its  effects  from  its  light  porous 
nature  in  aerating  and  pulverizing  the  soil. 
The  method  of  its  application  is  so  well  known 
that  it  is  not  necessary  to  go  further  into 
detail. 

Fish.  On  the  coasts  of  New  Jersey,  Con- 
necticut, Long  Island,  etc..  Fish  are  often 
used  as  a  manure.  When  composted  with  sea- 
weed and  soil,  decomposition  is  very  rapid 
and  the  quantity  applied  to  the  land  must  be 
according  to  the  strength  of  the  compost.  It 
is  a  valuable  manure  for  all  early  vegetable 
crops. 

Garden  Eefuse  of  almost  any  description 
is  valuable  as  a  manure,  either  composted  with 
lime  and  soil,  or  dug  in,  when  green.  Leaf- 
soil  collected  from  woods  where  the  leaves 
have  decayed  naturally  till  those  beneath  the 
surface  have  become  changed  into  a 
light  mold  is  of  great  value  in  heavy  soils, 
and  in  all  composts  where  turfy  peat  cannot 
be  had.  For  Rhododendrons,  Azaleas,  and 
many  fine-rooted,  hard-wooded  plants,  its 
value  is  not  sutficiently  recognized  in  many 
places  where  quantities  might  easily  be  col- 
lected. Nothing  is  better  suited  for  improv- 
ing flower-beds,  or  for  adding  to  soil  of 
any  description  for  placing  round  trees, 
shrubs,  or  plants,  whose  roots  it  is  desired  to 
encourage. 

Muck  is  the  name  given  to  a  deposit 
usually  largely  composed  of  vegetable  matter, 
found  in  swamps  or  in  hollows  of  forest  lands. 
Of  itself  it  has  usually  but  little  fertilizing 
property,  but  from  its  poi'ous  nature  when 
dry,  it  is  one  of  the  best  materials  to  use  for 
mixing  with  other  manures  as  an  absorbent; 
mixed  with  night  soil  it  is  the  basis  of  Pou- 
drette,  a  well  known  commercial  fertilizer. 

Lime.  Under  certain  conditions  and  for 
certain  crops,  the  use  of  Lime  as  a  manure 
is  often  attended  with  excellent  results. 
Quick-lime  is  extremely  caustic,  and  possesses 
the  power  of  decomposing  animal  and  vege- 
table substances.  Its  chemical  action  there- 
fore brings  the  component  parts  of  the  soil 
into  a  proper  condition  for  being  absorbed  by 
the  roots  of  plants ;  hence  its  fertilizing  value 
on  land  that  has  been  recently  broken  up, 
or  that  contains  a  quantity  of  roots,  fibre, 
peat  or  other  inert  vegetable  matter.  Lindley 
in  his  "Theory  of  Horticulture"  states  that 
"when  this  substance  (Lime)  is  mixed  with 
decaying  matter,  it  hastens  its  decomposition 
and  renders  it  more  easily  assimilated.  This 
is  its  chief  horticultural  value  if  regarded  as  a 
manure.  In  old  cultivated  land,  rich  in  humus, 
it  suddenly  increases  productiveness  in  a 
remarkable  degree,  increasing  the  properties 
of  dormant  animal  or  vegetable  manure. 
Hence  it  has  a  most  important  effect  in 
kitchen  gardens.  But  limed  land  soon  loses 
its  productiveness  unless  manure  is  subse- 
quently applied,  and  poor  soils  are  soon  run 
out  by  it."    One  of  the  best  methods  of  apply- 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


243 


MAN 

ing  it  is  by  composting  it  with  double  the 
amount  of  soil,  weeds,  or  organic  matter  of 
any  description  (see  Composts),  spreading  it 
over  the  ground,  and  keeping  it  as  near  the  top 
of  the  soil  as  possible.  Applied  at  the  rate  of 
100  bushels  per  acre  it  is  of  great  benefit  to 
grass  lands,  and  all  Cereals,  Beet-root,  Sain- 
foin, Clover,  Peas,  etc.  Such  a  compost  is 
also  an  excellent  top  dressing  for  lawns, 
especially  in  shady  situations,  if  they  get  full 
of  moss.  To  some  plants  such  as  many  Coni- 
fers, Rhododendrons.  Azaleas,  and  almost  all 
members  of  the  Heath  familj-,  its  presence  in 
the  soil  is  undoubtedly  injurious.  For  Guano, 
Bone  Dust,  Ashes,  etc.,  see  Fertilizers. 

Manure,  Liquid.  Manure  of  almost  any 
description  is  quicker  in  its  action,  and  may 
be  most  efficiently  applied  in  the  form  of 
Liquid  Manure.  It  has  also  the  great  advan- 
tage of  economy  as  it  can  be  applied  at  any 
season  when  nourishment  is  required  by  the 
growing  crops,  or  by  plants  in  pots.  Cow 
Manure  forms  one  of  the  best  substances  for 
this  purpose  as  it  possesses  none  of  the 
caustic  principles  so  prevalent  in  chemical 
preparations,  and  will  never  injure,  no  matter 
how  strong  it  is  made.  Manure  from  sheep- 
pens,  poultry  or  pigeon-houses,  is  also  excel- 
lent for  this  purpose  when  procurable,  but 
must  be  used  with  more  caution.  Guano, 
about  one  pound  to  twenty  gallons  of  water, 
or  one  pound  of  Sulphate  of  Lime  with  half  a 
pound  of  Nitrate  of  Soda,  are  also  excellent, 
but  these  also  must  be  used  with  caution. 
Soot,  placed  in  a  bag  and  left  soaking  in  the 
water,  is  an  excellent  liquid  manure  always 
tending  to  produce  healthy  foliage  of  a  dark 
green  color.  Stir  up  well  a  few  times,  then 
allow  the  liquid  to  stand  and  become  clear, 
the  clearer  the  better.  It  is  only  that  which 
dissolves  in  the  water  and  becomes  invisible, 
the  same  as  sugar  dissolves  in  tea,  that  is  of 
real  benefit  to  plants,  yet  some  persons  stir 
up  the  mud  at  the  bottom  of  the  casks,  sus- 
pending visible  matter  in  the  water.  This  is 
generally  useless,  and  often  worse,  in  seal- 
ing up  the  pores  of  the  soil. 

Liquid  Manure,  when  kept  in  casks  for 
some  time,  is  apt  to  become  offensive,  though 
that  which  escapes  is  just  what  plants  re- 
quire, the  very  essence  of  the  liquid.  This 
may  be  kept  in  it  by  adding  a  little  Sulphate 
of  Iron,  an  ounce  or  two  probably  sufficing. 
A  ready  and  clean  method  of  preparing  Liquid 
Manure  at  once,  is  by  stirring  a  quarter  of  a 
pound  of  Guano  well  into  a  four-gallon  can  or 
pail  of  water,  or  half  that  quantity  of  Nitrate 
of  Soda  or  Sulphate  of  Ammonia,  and  apply- 
ing forthwith  where  it  is  needed.  The 
strength  named  is  for  garden  crops;  half  that 
quantity  is  sufficient  for  plants  in  pots,  and 
more  should  not  be  used  by  the  inexperi- 
enced. 

Manures,  Absorbents  tor.  This  term  is 
used  in  horticulture  for  such  materials  as  ab- 
sorb and  retain  the  liquid  portions  of  manure, 
among  which  may  be  mentioned  Charcoal, 
dry  Peat  or  Muck,  Saw-dust,  or  in  short  any 
material  that  will  absorb  urine  or  other 
liquid  forms  of  manure  that  is  not  hurtful  to 
vegetation.  Since  1855  a  material  has  come 
largely  into  use  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York 
for  stable-bedding  of  horses  and  cows  in  lieu 
of  straw.  It  is  imported  from  Germany,  and 
is  known  as  German  Peat  Moss.    It  is  simply 


MAR 

the  decayed  Sphagnum  of  the  swamps,  from 
which  the  water  has  been  expressed,  thor- 
oughly dried,  packed  in  bales  and  shipped  to 
this  country  where  it  is  sold  at  about  fourteen 
dollars  per  ton.  We  have  had  it  in  use  in  our 
stables  for  over  two  years  and  find  it  to  be 
not  only  much  cheaper  than  straw,  but  it  has 
at  least  three  times  the  value  as  a  deodorizer, 
and  as  an  absorbent  for  manure.  There  is, 
no  doubt  abundance  of  such  deposits  in  the 
United  States,  which  will  doubtless  be  util- 
ized as  soon  as  their  great  value  becomes  ap- 
preciated 

Maple.     The  common  name  for  the  genus  Acer. 

Marajah  Palm.     See  Bactris. 

Mara'nta.  Ari'owroot.  Named  after  B.  Ma- 
ranti,  an  Italian  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Scitam- 
inece. 

A  genus  of  tropical  herbaceous  plants,  pretty 
extensively  disseminated  from  the  West  to 
the  East  Indies.  Some  of  the  species  are 
among  the  finest  ornamental  leaved  plants  in 
cultivation.  M.  zebrina  (known  also  as  Cala- 
ihea  zebrina)  has  leaves  two  feet  long  and  sis 
inches  wide,  of  a  rich  deep  green,  beautifully 
shaded  with  a  purplish  green,  and  has  a  soft 
appearance,  resembling  the  finest  velvet.  It 
is  a  native  of  Brazil,  and  was  introduc^ed  in 
1815.  M.  Sanguinea,  an  excellent  plant  for 
house  or  window  culture  is  now  known  as 
Stromanthe  (which  see).  Many  other  well- 
known  species  are  equally  ornamental,  and 
occupy  a  prominent  position  in  choice  collec- 
tions. Several  of  the  species  are  cultivated 
in  the  East  and  West  Indies  for  the  starch 
that  is  contained  in  their  tubers,  which  is 
very  nutritive,  and  is  commercially  known  as 
Arrowroot.  The  term  Arrowroot  is  said  to  be 
derived  from  the  fact  that  the  native  Indians 
used  the  roots  of  these  plants  as  an  applica- 
tion to  wounds  inflicted  by  poisoned  arrows. 
The  green-house  kinds  are  of  easy  culture, 
heat  and  water  being  the  main  requirements 
while  growing ;  they  should  also  be  shaded 
from  the  sun.  We  have  found  it  an  excellent 
and  economical  plan  to  grow  them  during  the 
summer  months  in  between  large  foliaged 
plants,  such  as  Palms,  which  give  them  the 
necessary  conditions  of  shade  and  moisture. 
Increased  by  division.  See  Calathea,  to  which 
many  Marantas  have  been  transferred. 

Mara'nteae.     A  tribe  of  ScitaminecB. 

Mara'ttia.  Named  after  J.  F.  Maratti,  an  Ital- 
ian botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiaceoe. 

A  well-marked  genus  of  hot-house  or  green- 
house ferns,  natives  of  South  America  and  the 
Eastern  and  Pacific  Islands.  Being  swamp- 
loving  plants  they  will  grow  more  luxuriantly 
if  placed  partiallj'  in  water ;  propagated  by 
spores. 

Marcgra'via.  In  honor  of  George  Marcgrave,  a 
German  who  published  a  Natural  History  of 
Brazil,  in  1718.     Nat.  Ord.  Ternstrcemiacece. 

M.  umbellata,  one  of  the  best  known  species, 
is  a  sub-parasitical  creeping  shrub.  At  first 
it  is  radicant,  like  some  Ferns,  but  as  it  ad- 
vances the  stem  becomes  shrubby,  adhering 
still  by  its  fibers  to  the  trunk  of  some  tree,  to 
the  top  of  which  it  frequently  runs,  at  length 
dividing  into  loose  pendulous  branches,  com- 
monly terminating  with  umbels  of  white 
flowers.  It  is  a  native  of  the  cool  wooded 
mountains  of  Jamaica.     It  appears  in  such  a 


244 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


MAR 

variety  of  forms  that  in  the  diflferent  stages 
of  its  growth  it  has  been  mistalien  for  differ- 
ent plants.  The  genus  is  remarliable  for  the 
transformation  of  its  smaller  leaves  into 
hollow,  tubular  bodies,  resembling  the 
pitchers  of  some  other  plants.  It  succeeds 
well  in  the  green-house,  and  is  propagated  by 
cuttings. 
Marcgra'vieae,     A  tribe  of  TernstrcRmiacecB. 

Marciscent.  Permanent ;  not  falling  off  until 
the  part  which  bears  it  is  perfected,  but  with- 
ering long  before  that  time,  as  the  flowers  of 
Lobelia,  Orobanche,  etc. 

Mare's  Tail.     See  Hippurus. 

Marguerite.  Bellis  perennis,  and  Chrysanthe- 
mum frutescens. 

Marguerite.  Reine.  The  China  Aster,  Calli- 
stephus  Chinensis. 

Margyrica'rpus.  From  margaron,  pearl,  and 
karpos,  a  fruit;  resemblance  in  white  fruit. 
Nat.  Ord.  Rosacem. 

A  small  genus  of  branched  rigid  shrubs 
found  in  the  temperate  regions  of  South 
America  and  the  Andes  of  Patagonia.  M. 
seiosus  is  a  pretty  little  hardy  evergreen,  well 
suited  for  the  rockery,  and  should  be  so 
planted  that  its  branches  can  rest  on  a  dark 
colored  stone,  which  will  show  up  the  fruit  to 
advantage.  It  was  introduced  from  the 
Andes  in  1829,  and  is  propagated  freely  by 
cuttings,  or  by  layers. 

Maria'nthus.  .  From  Maria,  Mary,  and  anthv^, 
a  flower ;  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Mary.  Nat. 
Ord.  PittosporacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  deciduous 
climbers,  natives  of  Australia.  M.  cairuleo- 
pundatus  has  pretty  pale  blue,  spotted  flow- 
ers, and  is  propagated  by  cuttings ;  intro- 
duced in  1840. 

Ma'rica.  From  maraino,  to  flag;  referring  to 
the  ephemeral  nature  of  the  flowers,  which 
last  hardly  a  day.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacem. 

A  small  genus  of  fibrous-rooted  plants,  with 
very  beautiful  but  transient  flowers,  some- 
what resembling  the  Tigridia.  They  all  grow 
freely,  are  increased  by  division  or  from 
seed,  and  require  the  protection  of  the  green- 
house while  at  rest  during  winter.  They  are 
natives  of  Central  and  South  America,  and 
were  first  brought  into  notice  in  1782. 

Ma'rlgold.     See  Calendula  and  Tagetes. 

Marigold.     Corn.     Chrysanthemum  segetum. 

Marigold.     Marsh.     See  Caltha  palustris. 

Mariposa  Lily.     The  genus  Calochortus. 

Marjoram.     See  Origanum. 

Marker.  This  is  a  simple  implement  used 
mostly  by  market  gardeners  to  line  out  drills. 
It  is  often  home-made  by  taking  a  piece  of  joist 
3x4  inches,  and  about  six  feet  in  length,  and 
to  each  side  nailing  pointed  slats  eight  or 
nine  inches  long,  at  a  width  apart  usually,  on 
one  side  of  fourteen  inches,  and  the  other  of 
nine  inches.  Two  handles  four  or  five  feet  in 
length  are  fastened  to  it,  by  which  it  is 
dragged,  the  teeth  marking  the  rows.  If 
wanted  deep  a  weight  is  placed  on  the  joist. 
In  operating  it  a  line  is  stretched  across  the 
bed  to  be  sown  or  planted,  the  first  teeth  be- 
ing guided  by  the  line ;  it  is  steadily  dragged 
along  the  bed,  making  from  four  to  six  lines 


MAR 

at  once,  in  a  much  more  uniform  manner  than 
can  be  done  with  the  hoe. 

Marking  Nut  Tree.     See  Semecarpus. 

Marmorate.  Marbled;  traversed  by  irregular 
veins  of  color. 

Marro"w.  Vegetable.  Cucurbita  Pepo  var.  ovifera. 

Marru'bium.  Horehound.  From  marrob,  a 
Hebrew  word  signifying  a  bitter  juice  ;  in  al- 
lusion to  the  extreme  bitterness  of  the  plants. 
Nat.  Ord.  Labiatm. 

M.  vulgare  is  the  common  Horehound  of  our 
gardens.  The  plant  is  a  native  of  Europe,  but 
has  become  naturalized,  and  is  as  familiar  as 
an  indigenous  plant  in  the  United  States.  Of 
the  several  species,  this  is  the  only  one  val- 
ued, and  this  only  for  its  tonic  properties. 

Marsde'uia.  Named  after  William  Marsden, 
author  of  a  history  of  Sumatra.  Nat.  Ord. 
Asclepiadacem. 

A  genus  of  green-house  or  half-hardy  twin- 
ing, or  sub-erect  shrubs,  natives  of  New  Hol- 
land, Moluccas,  tropical  America,  and  the 
East  Indies.  M.  tenacissima  furnishes  a  valu- 
able fibre,  and  M.  tindoria  and  M.  parviflora 
yield  by  decoction  a  blue  dye  resembling  in- 
digo. Propagated  by  cuttings.  Syn.  Gono- 
lobus. 

Marshallia.  Named  for  Humphrey  Marshall^ 
of  Pennsylvania,  author  of  Arbustrum  Ameri- 
canum,  one  of  the  earliest  works  on  the  trees 
and  shrubs  of  this  country.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positce. 

A  genus  of  herbaceous  perennials,  common 
to  Virginia,  and  southward.  The  leaves  are 
alternate,  entire,  and  glabrous ;  flower  scape 
about  one  foot  high,  with  a  single  terminal 
head  of  purple  or  rose  flowers,  resembling 
those  of  the  Scabious. 

Marsh  Cinquefoil.  A  common  name  for  Co- 
marum  palustre. 

Marsh  Mallow.     See  AlthcBa. 

Marsh  Marigold.     See  Caltha. 

Marsh  Rosemary.     See  Statice. 

Marsh  Trefoil.     Menyanthes  trifoliata. 

Marsi'lea.  Linnseus  dedicated  this  genus  to 
the  Count  L.  F.  Marsigli,  founder  of  the  Acad- 
emy of  Science,  Bologna.  Nat.  Ord.  Marail- 
eacecB. 

A  genus  of  curious  low-growing  aquatics 
inhabiting  Brazil,  Australia,  Africa,  and  the 
south  of  Europe.  They  are  termed  pseudo- 
ferns,  and  are  very  interesting  plants  for  the 
aquarium. 

Martagon  Lily.     See  lAlium  Martagon. 

Martine'zia.  In  honor  of  Balthassar  MartineZy 
a  Spanish  naturalist.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacem. 

A  small  genus  of  Palms,  mostly  of  dwarf 
habit,  natives  of  Central  America.  A  few  of 
the  species  are  under  cultivation  for  decora- 
tive purposes. 

Marty'nia.  Unicorn  Plant.  Named  after  Dr. 
Martyn,  once  Professor  of  Botany  at  Cam- 
bridge, England ;  he  died  in  1768.  Nat.  Ord. 
Pedaliacem. 

A  genus  of  hardy  and  half-hardy  annuals, 
growing  from  two  to  three  feet  high,  branch- 
ing, with  heart-shaped  leaves,  the  whole  being 
covered  with  clammy  hairs.  Some  of  the 
species  are  quite  ornamental,  but  too  coarse- 


MEETENSIA  VTRGINICA. 


MALVAVISCUS  ARBOREA. 


MAETTNIA   PROBOSOIDEA. 


MABTTNIA  FBAGRANS. 


MANGITERA  (MANGO). 


MATEICAEIA  INODORA  FL.  PL. 


MZLOTHEIA  rvrSCTATA. 


MESEMBBTANTHEMUM  (TBICOLOB). 


MEDICAGK)  LUPULINA  (YELLOW  TREFOIL  CLOVER). 


MK8EMBRTANTHEMTJM  COBDIFOLTOM  VARIEOATUM.         245 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


245 


MAR 

growing  for  handsome  border  plants.  M.  pro- 
boscidea  is  indigenous  to  southern  Illinois  and 
southward,  but  is  most  common  on  the  banks 
of  the  Mississippi.  It  is  grown  in  the  garden 
for  the  young  seed  pods,  which  are  used  to 
some  extent  for  pickling.  They  require  to  be 
placed  three  feet  apart  each  way ;  at  that  dis- 
tance, in  rich  soil,  the  plants  will  completely 
cover  the  ground.  Seed  should  be  sown 
where  it  is  to  grow,  in  April  and  May. 
Maru'ta  Cotula.  May-weed.  A  common  field 
weed. 

Marvel  of  Peru.    See  Mirabilis. 

Masdeva'llia.  Named  after  J.  Masdevall,  a 
Spanish  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids 
from  South  America.  The  flowers  are  re- 
markable for  their  singularity,  and  also  for 
their  beauty.  They  require  to  be  grown  in  a 
lower  temperature  than  most  Orchids,  and 
are  increased  by  division.  First  introduced 
in  1835. 

Mask  Flower.    See  Alonsoa. 

Massa'ngea.  A  small  genus  of  Bromeliacece, 
now  included  by  Bentham  and  Hooker  under 
Caraguata.  They  are  grown  principally  for  the 
elegance  of  their  leaves. 

Masso'nia.  Named  after  F.  Masson,  a  botan- 
ical traveler  in  South  Africa.  Nat.  Ord. 
Liliacece. 

A  genus  of  small  Cape  bulbs.  The  leaves 
are  commonly  two  in  number,  lying  flat  on 
the  ground.  The  flowers  are  in  an  umbel- 
like head,  nearly  sessile,  between  the  leaves. 
The  flowei's  are  sword-shaped,  usually  white, 
and  of  little  beauty.  They  may  be  wintered 
in  a  frame  or  kept  in  sand  in  the  green-house, 
and  are  increased  by  offsets.  Introduced  in 
1791. 

Mato'nia.  Named  after  Dr.  Maton,  once  Presi- 
dent of  the  Linneean  Society,  London.  Nat. 
Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

M.  pectinata,  the  only  species,  is  a  rare  and 
handsome  stove-house  Fern,  with  large  fan- 
shaped  fronds,  one  and  a  half  to  two  feet 
wide,  very  hard  and  leathery.  It  was  intro- 
duced from  Borneo  in  1839,  and  is  increased 
by  spores  or  division. 

Matrica'ria.  So  called  from  its  former  use  in 
medicine.     Nat.  Ord.  CompositcB. 

A  genus  of  about  seventy  species  of  annual, 
rarely  perennial,  branched  herbs ;  natives  of 
Europe,  Africa  and  western  Asia.  Few  of  the 
species  are  worthy  of  cultivation  ;  the  annual 
sorts  are  easily  raised  from  seed,  the  peren- 
nial by  division  or  by  cuttings.  M.  inodora 
fiore-pleno  a  double  form  of  a  common  British 
weed,  is  a  very  free-flowering  and  desirable 
border  plant.  It  is  also  known  in  cultivation 
as  Anthemia  ChamoTnilla  flore-pleno. 

Ma'tthiola.  Stock-Gilliflower.  Named  after 
P.  Malhioli,  an  Italian  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
CrucifercB. 

In  this  genus  we  have  the  well-known  Stock 
in  all  its  multifarious  varieties.  These,  for 
the  purposes  of  culture,  are  classed  in  two 
divisions  :  the  biennial  kinds,  as  the  Bromp- 
ton.  Queen,  etc.,  and  the  annual  or  Ten-Week 
Stocks.  The  former  require  to  be  sown  the 
season  previous  to  that  in  which  they  are 
wanted  to  flower.  They  do  best  when  sown 
in  May  or  June  in  the  open  air,  allowing  them 


MAT 

to  grow  up  strong,  and  when  about  two  inches 
high  they  should  be  potted  singly  in  small 
pots.  This  is  for  the  purpose  of  protecting 
them  through  the  winter,  as  in  very  severe 
weather,  or  a  long  continuance  of  wet,  they 
perish ;  but  being  potted  and  put  in  a  frame 
they  are  perfectly  safe  as  they  become  harder 
and  better  ripened,  and  in  the  succeeding 
spring  may  be  placed  where  they  are  to  bloom. 
The  seeds  of  Ten-Week  Stocks  should  be 
sown  in  a  hot-bed  or  green-house  in  February 
or  March.  As  soon  as  the  plants  have  com- 
pleted their  second  leaves,  prick  out  into 
shallow  boxes,  and  in  three  or  four  weeks 
they  will  be  ready  to  pot  in  thumb  pots,  and 
the  plants  will  be  sufficiently  large  for  trans- 
planting by  the  end  of  the  following  April. 
Much  attention  is  paid  to  the  saving  of  this 
seed  on  the  Continent,  and  as  many  as  twelve 
distinct  colors  may  now  be  selected ;  a  great 
many  more  are  advertised,  but  they  are  in- 
distinct, and  we  think  it  preferable  to  have  a 
few  decided  and  brilliant  colors  than  a  multi- 
tude of  indefinite  shades,  several  of  which 
are  neai'ly  duplicates  of  each  other.  The 
colors  run  through  all  the  shades  of  crimson, 
lilac,  rose,  white,  etc.  There  are  no  true 
scarlets,  though  some  catalogues  continue 
yearly  to  offer  such  colors.  One  of  the  first 
requisites  to  insure  good  double  Stocks  is  to 
put  the  ground  intended  for  them  in  the  very 
best  possible  condition.  It  is  a  great  mistake, 
and  but  too  common,  to  suppose  that  the  soil 
for  flowers  need  not  be  rich ;  for  we  are  of 
opinion,  from  observation,  that,  to  a  great 
extent,  the  double  state  is  only  brought  about 
by  excess  of  vigor,  and  if  this  condition  is 
lost  by  planting  in  impoverished  ground,  it  is 
only  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  flowers 
Avill  degenerate  to  their  normal  condition. 
Another  common  error  deserves  notice,  re- 
specting the  choice  of  plants  to  bear  seed.  It 
is  very  generally  supposed  that,  to  insure 
seed  which  will  produce  double  flowers  in  the 
following  season,  it  is  necessary  that  the 
seed-bearing  plants  stand  in  close  proximity 
to  others  which  have  their  flowers  double, 
because  it  is  supposed  the  single  flowers  are 
-impregnated  with  the  pollen  of  the  double 
ones;  but  to  prove  the  fallacy  of  this  suppo- 
sition it  is  only  necessary  carefully  to  ex- 
amine the  iatter,  and  they  will  be  found  alto- 
gether devoid  of  the  organs  bearing  pollen. 
The  great  secret  in  the  production  of  seed 
likely  to  bring  double  flowers  is,  we  believe, 
to  impart  extraordinary  vigor  to  the  single 
plants  which  are  to  bear  it,  and  every 
means  available  should  be  resorted  to  for  this 
end.  There  is  no  good  reason  why  as  good 
seed  should  not  be  grown  in  some  portions  of 
the  United  States  as  in  any  part  of  the  world. 
In  fact,  the  finest  Stocks  we  have  ever  seen 
were  grown  from  seed  saved  in  the  western 
part  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  that  from 
Stocks  that  had  been  grown  a  number  of 
years  in  order  to  fairly  test  the  question  as  to 
whether  Stocks  as  well  as  other  seeds  cannot 
be  produced  as  well  here  as  in  Germany ;  and 
the  question  is  settled,  that  one  of  our  large 
dealers  grows  and  saves  his  own  seed,  and 
that  which  gives  the  greatest  satisfaction  to 
his  customers.  To  save  seed  let  the  largest 
pods  from  the  strongest  plants  be  selected, 
and  the  seed  placed  in  good  ground,  and  there 
will  be  no  lack  of  double  flowers.     The  In- 


246 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


MAT 

termediate  Stock  is  an  excellent  kind  to  grow 
in  pots  for  early  spring  decoration.  The 
seed  should  be  sown  about  midsummer  for 
this  purpose,  and  the  young  plants,  after 
being  potted,  should  be  brought  up  as  robust 
as  possible ;  keeping  them  in  frames  through 
the  winter  until  they  are  in  bloom,  when  they 
tend  to  make  the  green-house  gay  in  March, 
and  in  April  may  be  turned  into  the  flower 
garden,  where  they  continue  to  bloom  for  a 
length  of  time.  Double  varieties  may  be  per- 
petuated by  striking  the  side  shoots  at  mid- 
summer, under  a  hand  glass,  as  is  practiced 
with  pinks,  but  this  trouble  is  hardly  neces- 
sary if  the  foregoing  directions  are  observed. 
There  are  several  other  species  included  in 
the  genus,  only  one  of  which,  however,  is 
often  seen  beyond  the  precincts  of  the  purely 
botanical  collection,  this  one  is  the  Malthiola 
tristis,  or  Night-scented  Stock.  It  is  a  curious 
looking  plant,  with  narrow,  glaucous  foliage, 
and  small,  lurid  colored  flowers,  emitting  an 
agreeable  fragrance  in  the  evening,  and  on 
this  account  is  yet  preserved  along  with  its 
more  gay  associates.  It  requires  to  be  grown 
in  the  green-house,  with  the  ordinary  man- 
agement of  plants  belonging  to  that  structure, 
and  is  readily  increased  by  cuttings.  M. 
annua  is  the  original  of  all  the  varieties  of 
the  Ten-Week  Stocks,  and  M.  Groeca  of  the 
wall-leaved  or  smooth-leaved  Annual  Stock; 
both  of  which  are  natives  of  the  South  of 
Europe,  and  were  favorably  mentioned  as 
"  flowers  for  the  garden  for  pleasure  "  by 
Parkinson  in  1629. 

Matrimony  Vine.     See  Lycium. 

Maturation.     The  process  of  ripening ;  also  the 
time  when  fruits  are  ripe. 

Maura'ndya.   Named  after  Professor  Maurandy, 
of  Carthagena.     Nat.  Ord.  ScrophulariacecB. 

A  handsome  genus  of  tender  climbing  per- 
ennial plants  fi'om  Mexico,  with  violet,  pink, 
purple,  and  white  colored  flowers.  All  the 
species  are  profuse  bloomers,  and  may  be 
treated  as  annuals,  or  increased  by  cuttings. 
The  seed  should  be  sown  in  February  or 
March,  in  a  hot-bed  or  in  the  green-house,  and 
pricked  out  into  shallow  boxes,  and  then  into 
small  pots,  and  grown  on  until  it  is  time  to 
plant  out  tender  annuals.  They  are  admirable 
for  any  sunny  situation  where  a  delicate 
climbing  plant  is  required.  They  commence 
to  flower  in  August,  and  continue  until  after 
there  has  been  six  to  eight  degrees  of  frost. 
By  taking  the  roots  up  in  the  fall,  potting,  and 
placing  them  in  a  cool  green-house  or  warm 
cellar,  they  can  be  planted  out  again  in  spring, 
and  will  come  into  flower  much  earlier  than 
plants  grown  from  seed.  There  are  two  erect 
growing  species  from  California  that  iX'e  have 
not  yet  had  an  opportunity  to  test.  The  genus 
is  allied  to  Antirrhinum,  to  which  the  flowers 
have  a  great  resemblance.  Lophospermum  is 
included  in  this  genus  by  some  authors.  In- 
troduced in  1796. 

Mauri'tia.    Named  after  Prince  Maurice  of  Nas- 
sau.    Nat.  Ord.  Palmacem. 

A  genus  of  Palms  peculiar  to  tropical  South 
America.  They  grow  to  an  immense  size, 
some  species  attaining  the  height  of  100  or  150 
feet.  They  bear  a  crown  of  enormous  fan- 
shaped  leaves,  from  among  which  the  pendu- 
lous flower-spikes  are  produced.  The  species 
are  abundant  on  the  banks  of  the  Amazon, 


MED 

Rio  Negro,  and  Orinoco  Rivers.  They  usually 
occupy  swampy  tracts  of  ground,  which  are  at 
times  completely  inundated,  and  present  the 
appearance  of  forests  rising  out  of  the  water. 

Mawseed.     The  seeds  of  Papaver  somniferum. 

Maxilla'ria.  From  maxillce,  the  jaws  of  an  in- 
sect; referring  to  a  resemblance  of  the 
columns  and  labellum.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchidaceoe. 
An  extensive  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids. 
Many  of  the  species  are  very  beautiful,  and  of 
delicious  fragrance ;  others,  on  account  of 
their  small  flowers,  are  not  worthy  of  cultiva- 
tion. Some  of  them  have  their  flowers  hang- 
ing down  from  the  pseudo-bulbs,  and  are 
grown  in  baskets  of  moss  or  on  pieces  of  cork, 
or  hung  by  wires  to  the  rafters  of  the  Orchid 
house.  All  of  them  are  adapted  to  the  cool 
house. 

Maximilia'na.    Named  after  PHnce  Maximilian. 
Nat.  Ord.  PalmaceoB. 

M.  regia,  the  only  known  species,  is  an  im- 
mense-growing Palm  of  the  Amazon.  Its 
trunk  often  exceeds  100  feet  in  height,  and  is 
crowned  with  leaves  from  thirty  to  fifty  feet 
long,  and  its  woody  spathes,  when  open,  fre- 
quently measure  as  much  as  five  or  six  feet  in 
length,  by  about  two  feet  in  width,  tapering 
to  a  long  point  or  beak.  These  spathes  are  so 
hard  that  when  filled  with  water  they  will 
stand  the  fire,  and  are  sometimes  used  by  the 
Indians  as  cooking  utensils,  but  more  fre- 
quently as  baskets  for  carrying  their  stores. 

May  Apple.     See  Podophyllum. 

May  Flower.     See  EpigoRa. 

Mayte'nus.     From  Mayten,   the  Chilian  name 
of  the  genus.     Nat.  Ord.  CelastracecB. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs  or  small  trees 
with  alternate  coriaceous  leaves,  and  small 
flowers,  solitary,  or  clustered  in  the  axils.  The 
arborescent  species  have  very  hard  wood,  and 
the  leaves  of  the  commonest  Peruvian  species, 
although  astringent,  are  said  to  be  greedily 
devoured  by  cattle.  They  are  seldom  found 
in  cultivation. 

May  Tree  or  May  Bush.     See  Cratcegus. 

May  "Weed.     The  popular  name  of  the  genus 
Maruta. 

MeadoAv  Beauty.     See  Rhexia. 

Meadow  Clary.     Salvia  pralensis. 

Meadow  Grass.     See  Poa  pralensis. 

Meadow  Pink.     A  common  name  of  Dianthus 
deltoides. 

Meadow^Rue.     See  Thalictrum. 

Meadovy  Saffron.     See  Colchicum. 

Meadow  Sw^eet.     See  SpircBa  Ulmaria. 

Mealy.     Covered  with  a  scurfy  powder. 

Mealy  Bug.     See  Insects. 

Mecono'psis,     From    mekon,    the    poppy,   and 
opsis,  like.     Nat.  Ord.  PapaveracecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  pei'ennials, 
natives  of  Britain,  north-west  America,  and 
the  Himalayas.  M.  cambrica,  common  in 
Wales  where  it  is  known  as  Welsh  Poppy,  is 
a  showy  plant,  growing  about  one  foot  high, 
with  bright-green  pinnate,  hairy  leaves, 
slender  stems,  and  large  terminal,  short-lived 
flowers,  of  a  delicate  sulphur  yellow  color. 
Propagated  by  seeds  or  by  division. 

Mede'ola.    Indian  Cucumber  root.  Named  after 
Medea,  the  sorceress.     Nat.  Or. I.  Liliacem. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


247 


MED 

M.  Virgmica,  the  only  species,  is  a  hard}' 
herbaceous  perennial,  common  from  Virginia 
southward.  It  has  a  creeping,  tuberous  root, 
tasting  like  a  cucumber,  from  which  the  plant 
derives  its  local  name,  Indian  Cucumber.  It 
has  an  erect,  feimple  stem,  with  sessile  leaves 
produced  in  wln)rls,  with  a  terminal  umbel  of 
small,  greenish-yellow  flowers. 

Medica'go.  Medick.  From  mediko,  a  name 
given  by  Dioscorides  to  a  Median  Grass. 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  weedy-looking  plants,  with  yel- 
low pea-flowers  which  are  generally  single  or 
in  small  clusters.  The  seed  pods  in  many  of 
the  species,  are  very  curious,  some  resem- 
bling snails,  others  hedgehogs,  and  others  bee- 
hives. They  were  formerly  found  in  seed- 
men's  catalogues  under  these  various  names, 
and  recommended  to  garnish  dishes  of  meat, 
etc.  They  are  now  seldom  met,  as  the  plants 
to  which  they  belong  are  found  not  worth 
growing.  M.  lupulina,  the  yellow  Trefoil,  is 
an  excellent  fodder  plant,  either  alone  or  when 
mixed  with  grasses.  It  starts  very  early  in  the 
spring,  is  very  productive,  and  grows  rapidly. 
M.  8ativa  is  the  well-known  Alfalfa,  or  Lucerne, 
now  extensively  used  in  California  and  many 
other  parts  of  the  world  as  a  fox-age  crop.  It 
is  particularly  fitted  from  its  deep-rooting 
properties,  for  dry,  barren  soils.  In  some 
sections  of  California  five  crops  are  cut 
annually,  and  at  this  writing  it  is  considered 
the  most  valuable  forage  crop  of  the  State.  See 
Alfalfa. 

Medick.     See  Medicago. 

Mediui'lla.  Named  after  J.  de  Medinilla  y  Pin- 
eda, Governor  of  the  Marianne  Islands.  Nat. 
Ord.  Melastomacem. 

A  small  genus  of  East  Indian  evergreen 
shrubby  plants,  with  large  fleshy  leaves,  and 
large  pendulous  racemes  of  white  or  I'ose- 
colored  flowers.  The  species  generally  met 
in  our  green-house  is  M.  magnijica,  a  plant 
that  truly  deserves  the  name.  Its  enemy  in 
the  green-house  is  the  mealy  bug,  which  is 
very  sure  to  find  it.  It  is  propagated  by  cut- 
tings, and  requires  considerable  heat  to  grow 
it  in  perfection.     Introduced  in  1884. 

Medlar.     See  Mespiltis. 

Medlar.  Japanese.     See  Photinia  Japonica. 

Medulla,  Medullary.  The  pith  of  a  plant; 
that  central  column  of  cellular  matter  over 
which  the  wood  is  formed  in  Exogens. 

Medusa's  Head.     Eiiphorbia  Caput- Medusce. 

Megacli'nium.  From  megas,  large  and  kline,  a 
bed  ;  referring  to  the  axis  or  rachis  on  which 
the  flowers  are  borne.  Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 
A  small  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids  of  tropical 
western  Africa,  closely  allied  to  Bulbophyllum, 
remarkable  for  the  curious  flattened,  sword- 
shaped  flower  stalks,  upon  which  the  curious 
little  flowers  are  seated  in  a  straight  row 
along  the  middle  on  both  sides.  The  flowers 
are  of  a  greenish  or  yellowish  brown,  spotted 
more  or  less  with  purple.  Some  of  them 
have  a  fancied  resemblance  to  little  frogs  or 
toads,  whence  one  species  has  been  named 
M.  bufo.  They  are  seldom  met  except  in 
large  collections. 

Megarrhi'za.  Big-Root.  From  megas,  large, 
and  rhiza,  root ;  alluding  to  the  large  tuberous 
root  stocks.     Nat.  Ord.  Cucurbitacece. 


MEL 

A  genus  of  tuberous  rooted,  climbing  plants 
with  small  white  flowers  which  are  produced 
in  early  spring,  the  leaves  are  cordate,  pal- 
matelylobed  or  angled.  "  A  genus  confined  to 
the  Pacific  coast,  the  species  not  all  known, 
nearly  allied  to  the  Echinocystus  of  the  Atlantic 
States,  to  which  it  has  been  referred,  but  from 
which  it  is  separated  by  its  thick  perennial 
roots,  its  large  turgid  emarginate  seeds,  and 
its  thick  fleshy  cotyledons,  which  remain 
under  ground  in  germination.  The  fruit  in 
some  species  appears  to  be  wholly  indehis- 
cent."  Cal.  Bot. 

Mega'sea.  A  genus  now  included  under  Saod- 
fraga. 

Melale'uca.  From  melas,  black,  and  leukos, 
white;  referring  to  the  color  of  the  oltl  and 
young  bark.     Nat.  Ord.  MyrUicecB. 

This  genus  consists  of  evergreen  trees  and 
shrubs,  natives  of  Australia  and  the  islands  in 
the  Indian  Ocean.  They  have  alternate  flat  or 
cylindrical  leaves,  and  yellowish,  purple,  or 
crimson  flowers  produced  in  axillary  clusters. 
M.  hucadendron  minor  is  one  of  the  more  im- 
portant species  the  leaves  of  which  after  fer- 
mentation are  distilled  for  the  purpose  of 
yielding  the  well-known  Cajeput  Oil,  a  limpid, 
very  volatile,  powerfully  aromatic  oil,  of  a 
bluish-green  color,  highly  valued  as  a  pre- 
servative of  all  preparations  of  natural  his- 
tory. The  leaves  of  this  species  are  used  as 
a  tonic,  and  the  bark  is  used  as  oakum  and  for 
thatching  houses.  Numerous  species  are 
grown  as  green-house  plants,  on  account  of 
the  simplicity  of  their  foliage  and  the  beauty 
of  their  clustered  flowers. 

Melampy'rum.  Cow-wheat.  A  genus  of 
Scrophulariacem,  natives  of  Europe  and  west- 
ern Asia,  one  being  very  broadly  dispersed 
over  Asia  and  North  America.  M.  arvense 
has  large  oblong  spikes  of  flowers,  variegated 
with  yellow,  green,  and  crimson,  and  forms 
quite  a  conspicuous  object  in  the  corn  fields  in 
the  Isle  of  Wight,  England.  Our  native 
species  M.  Americanum  is  common  in  open 
woods  and  is  inconspicuous. 

Melana'uthon.     Dark-flowered. 

Melanoca'ulon.     Black-stemmed. 

Melantha'ceae.  A  natural  order  included  by 
Bentham  and  Hooker  under  Liliacece. 

Mela'nthium.  From  m^.los,  black,  and  anthos, 
a  flower ;  referring  to  the  dusky  flowers,  Nat. 
Ord.  MelanthacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  half-hardy  bulbs,  requiring 
the  protection  of  the  green-house  or  pit  dur- 
ing winter.  The  flowers  are  white,  yellow  or 
pink,  and  some  with  nearly  black  flowers.  All 
have  very  much  the  appearance  of  small  Ixias. 
They  grow  in  a  light  soil,  flower  in  early 
summer,  and  are  increased  by  offsets ;  intro- 
duced in  1797. 

Melasphae'rula.  From  mslas,  black,  and  sphm- 
rula,  a  ball ;  referring  to  the  blackish  bulbs. 
Nat.  Ord.     Iridacew. 

A  small  genus  of  very  pretty  green-house 
plants  of  graceful  habit,  producing  a  pro- 
fusion of  yellow  or  yellowish-green  flowers 
which  remain  in  perfection  for  a  considerable 
time.  They  are  natives  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  and  require  to  be  treated  similarly  to 
the  Ixias.    Syn.  Aglma  and  Diasia. 


248 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


MEL 

Mela'stoma.  From  rndos,  black,  and  stoma,  a 
mouth;  the  black  berries  of  certain  species 
when  eaten  stain  tlie  mouth.  Nat.  Ord.  Me- 
lastomacecB. 

This  genus  contains  a  considerable  number 
of  species,  distributed  over  tropical  Asia  and 
the  islands  of  the  Indian  and  Paeilic  oceans, 
extending  as  far  south  as  Moreton  Bay.  The 
plants  are  small  shrubs,  covered  with  close- 
pressed  hairs,  and  have  large  violet-purple, 
pale  rose,  or  white  flowers,  mostly  in  fascicles 
at  the  summit  of  the  branches.  Propagated 
in  spring  by  cuttings. 

Melastoma'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees, 
herbs,  or  shrubs,  with  opposite,  ribbed  leaves 
and  showy  flowers.  They  are  found  chiefly 
in  warm  climates,  though  some  are  natives  of 
more  temperate  regions.  There  are  no  un- 
wholesome plants  in  the  order,  and  the  suc- 
culent fruit  of  several  is  edible.  There  are 
over  one  hundred  genera,  and  nearly  two 
thousand  species.  Illustrative  genera  are 
Pleroma,  Rhexia,  Miconia,  and  Bertolonia. 

Melha'nia.  From  Mount  Melhan,  in  Arabia 
Felix,  where  the  original  species  was  first 
found.     Nat.  Ord.  Sterculiacece. 

A  genus  of  about  sixteen  species  of  orna- 
mental trees  or  shrubs,  natives  of  Africa,  the 
warmer  parts  of  Asia,  and  tropical  Australia. 
M.  erythroxijlon  is  a  handsome  green-house 
plant,  with  white  flowers  changing  to  pink,  and 
ovate,  cordate  leaves,  tomentose  beneath.  It 
is  a  native  of  St.  Helena,  and  only  a  very  few 
individuals  now  exist  in  its  native  habitat.  M. 
Tuelanoxylon,  also  from  St.  Helena,  has,  within 
comparatively  recent  years,  become  quite 
extinct  in  a  wild  state,  and  probably  no  longer 
exists  in  cultivation. 

Me'lia.  Bead  Tree.  From  Melia,  the  Greek 
name  for  the  Ash  ;  in  allusion  to  the  resem- 
blance in  the  leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Meliacect. 

A  small  genus  of  tropical  trees  and  shrubs, 
with  alternate  pinnate  or  bipinnate  leaves,  and 
flowers  borne  in  panicles.  M.  Azedarach,  com- 
monly known  as  the  Pride  of  India,  False 
Sycamore,  Holj'  Tree,  Arbre  u  Chapelet,  Bead 
Tree,  Hill  Margosa,  and  in  our  Southern  States 
also  as  Umbrella  China  Tree  and  China  Berry, 
is,  says  Dr.  Masters,  "widely  diffused  over  the 
globe,  having  been  carried  to  America,  Africa, 
and  different  parts  of  southern  Europe.  It  is 
from  tliirty  to  fifty  feet  high,  with  bi-pinnate 
leaves,  and  large  bunches  of  fragrant,  lilac- 
colored  flowers,  which  are  succeeded  by  a 
fruit  about  the  size  of  a  Cherry,  with  an  ex- 
ternal pulp  and  a  hard  nut  within.  In  south- 
ei'n  France  and  Spain  the  tree  thrives  well  in 
the  open  air,  as  it  does  in  our  Southern  States. 
The  Arabic  name,  Azedarach,  implies  a 
poisonous  plant,  and  the  fruit  is  generally 
considered  so.  The  root  is  bitter  and  nau- 
seous, and  is  used  as  an  anthelmintic.  The  tree 
is  supposed  to  possess  febrifugal  properties, 
and  a  decoction  of  the  leaves  is  used  as  a 
remedy  for  hysterics.  It  derives  the  name 
Bead  Tree  on  account  of  the  use  made  of  the 
seeds  in  Catholic  countries  where  the  nuts 
are  threaded  for  beads,  for  which  purpose  they 
are  peculiarly  suited,  having  a  natural  perfora- 
tion through  the  centre  ;  hence  the  tree  has  been 
called  Arbor  Sancta."  We  make  the  following 
extract  from  the  American  Agriculturist :  "The 
tree  is  not  hardy  north  of  Virginia,  but  south- 
ward it  is  a  common  street  tree,  and  frequent 


MEL 

around  country  places.  The  ease  with  which 
it  may  be  transplanted  and  its  rapid  growth 
are  somewhat  offset  by  the  readiness  with 
which  its  branches  are  broken  by  high  winds. 
Its  wood  makes  excellent  fuel,  is  durable, 
and  is  used  for  furniture.  There  has  been  in- 
ti-oduced  from  Texas,  within  a  few  years,  a 
marked  variety,calledtheUmbrella  China  Tree. 
Several  years  ago  we  saw  a  small  specimen  of 
this  in  the  extensive  collection  of  P.  J.  Berck- 
mans,  near  Augusta,  Ga.,  which  promised  to 
be  valuable,  and  now  we  have  a  photograph 
of  a  tree  in  Abbeville,  Ala.,  taken  by  J.  C. 
Mangold,  to  show  the  remarkably  compact 
habit  and  umbrella-like  form.  Mr.  J.  A.  Clen- 
dinen  sends  an  account  of  the  tree,  from  which 
we  learn  that  the  foliage  is  so  dense  that  it 
will  turn  almost  any  i-ainfall.  It  does  not 
fruit  so  abundantly  as  the  ordinary  form  of 
the  tree,  but,  what  is  quite  remarkable,  the 
variety  is  reprt)duced  from  the  seed.  This 
variety  of  the  favorite  China  Tree  will  com- 
mend itself  to  our  readers  in  the  Southern 
States,  as  it  has  naturally  the  compact  habit 
that  is  somewhat  imperfectly  produced  in  the 
ordinary  form  of  the  tree  by  severe  cutting. 
China  Berries,  as  the  fruit  of  the  tree  is  usu- 
ally called,  are  eaten  by  sheep  and  goats, 
which  in  winter  require  but  little  other  food  ; 
cows  are  fond  of  them,  but  they  impart  an  un- 
pleasant taste  to  the  milk.  The  hard  stone  is 
sometimes  bored  and  strung  to  make  rosa- 
ries '  and  necklaces,  hence  the  tree  is  known 
in  some  countries  as  the  Bead  Tree.' 

Melia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  and  shrubs 
with  alternate,  pinnate  leaves,  without 
stipules,  flowering  in  panicles.  They  are 
natives  of  the  tropics  of  America  and  India, 
and  very  rare  in  Africa.  The  flowers  of  this 
order  are  generally  fragrant,  aromatic,  and 
tonic.  Many  supply  compact  beautifully- 
veined  timber,  such  as  the  well-known  Ma- 
hogany of  tropical  America  {Swielenia  Mahog- 
oni),  the  Satin-wood  of  India  {Chloroxylon 
Swietenia),  the  Yellow-wood  of  New  South 
Wales  (Oxleya  xanthoxyla),  the  Ked-wood  of 
Coromandel  {Soymidafebrifuga),  and  the  Toon 
of  India,  or  Simal-Kun  of  the  Lepchas  {Ced- 
rela  Toona).  A  kind  of  oil  is  procured  from 
Satin-wood,  and  the  barks  of  Cedrela  febrifuga, 
as  well  as  the  Mahogany  Tree,  and  others,  are 
used  medicinally  in  intermittent  fevers,  etc. 
There  are  nine  known  genera  and  twenty-flve 
species.  Swietenia,  Cedrela,  Flindersia,  and 
Soy7nida  are  examples  of  the  order. 

Melia'ntheae.     A  tribe  of  SapindacecB. 

Melia'nthus.  Honey  Flower.  From  meli, 
honey,  and  anthos,  a  flower ;  the  tubes  contain 
a  copious  supply  of  honey-like  juice.  Nat. 
Ord.  SapindacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental  shrubs  or 
small  trees  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  pro- 
ducing axillary  or  terminal  clusters  of  purple 
flowers,  from  which  the  natives  obtain  honey 
for  food  by  shaking  the  branches.  They  are 
rarely,  if  ever,  introduced  into  the  green- 
house, and  it  is  difficult  to  make  them  flower. 
M.  major  is  an  old  green-house  plant,  the 
leaves  of  which  have  a  peculiar  odor,  which 
has  given  it  the  name  of  "  Pease  Meal 
Plant."  It  is  easily  raised  from  seed  and 
forms  a  very  ornamental  plant  with  smooth, 
glaucous,  deeply-cut  leaves ;  largely  em- 
ployed in  sub-tropical  gardening. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


249 


MEL 

Meli'chrus.  From  meUchros,  honey-colored, 
in  reference  to  the  color  of  the  glands  of  the 
flower.     Nat.  Ord.  EpacridacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental  green-house 
shrubs,  with  a  procumbent  or  somewhat  erect 
habit :  natives  of  eastern,  temperate  Australia. 
They  have  erect,  showy,  scarlet  flowers  with 
sessile  lanceolate  leaves,  and  a,re  propagated 
by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened  shoots. 

Meli'cope.  From  meli,  honey,  and  /cope,  a 
division ;  in  allusion  to  the  four  honey  glands 
at  the  base  of  the  ovaries.  Nat.  Ord.  Ruta- 
ceoe. 

A  genus  of  about  fifteen  species  of  green- 
house shrubs,  natives  of  New  Zealand  and 
the  Pacific  Islands.  M.  ternata,  the  only 
species  yet  in  cultivation,  has  greenish-white, 
rather  small  fiowers,  borne  in  axillary  many- 
flowered  cymes.  It  was  introduced  from 
Ne^v  Zealand  in  1822,  and  is  propagated  by 
cuttings  of  the  small  side  shoots. 

Melilo'tus.  Sweet  Clover.  From  meli,  honey, 
and  Loins.  The  plants  are  said  to  be  the 
favorite  resort  of  bees.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumi- 
nosem. 

This  genus  consists  of  about  twenty  species, 
mostly  belonging  to  southern  and  central 
Europe  and  western  Asia.  Some  of  the 
species  are  grown  in  their  native  countries  as 
forage  plants.  M.  qfficinaiis,  with  yellow 
flowers,  and  M.  alba,  with  white  flowers,  are 
common  on  the  roadsides  in  the  United  States, 
having  become  naturalized  from  Europe,  and 
are  sometimes  cultivated  as  "  Bee  Plants." 

Meli'ssa.  Balm.  From  melissa,  a  bee;  liter- 
ally, a  bee-flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiatm. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  hei'baceous  perennials. 
The  different  species  being  widely  diffused 
throughout  Europe,  middle  Asia,  and  by 
naturalization  in  the  United  States.  M. 
qfficinaiis  has  varieties  having  delightfully 
fragrant  leaves  finely  marked  with  yellow  and 
white,  known  as  Golden  and  Silver  Balm. 
They  are  all  hardy  perennials,  and  propagated 
by  cuttings  and  by  division  of  the  roots. 

Meli'ttis.  Bee  Balm.  From  melitta,  a  form  of 
the  Greek  melissa,  a  bee,  to  which  insect  the 
plant  was  considered  specially  grateful.  Nat. 
Ord.  Labiatm. 

M.  Melissophyllumwidely  diffused  in  Europe, 
is  a  very  handsome  hardy  perennial,  with 
large  creamy-white  flowers,  spotted  pink  or 
purple.  It  is  most  distinct  in  character,  and 
should  be  grown  extensively  on  the  margins 
of  shrubberies,  and  in  herbaceous  borders 
generally.    Propagated  by  division. 

Melleous.  Having  the  taste  or  smell  of 
honey. 

Melliferous.     Honey-bearing. 

Meloca'ctus.  Melon  Thistle.  From  melos,  a 
melon,  and  cactus ;  in  allusion  to  the  appear- 
ance of  the  plants.     Nat  Ord.  CactaceoB. 

A  sectional  genus  of  Cactus,  differing  from 
Echinocactus  in  having  the  flowers  produced 
on  a  head  or  cushion  covered  with  dense, 
woolly  and  bristly  hairs,  and  beset  with  spines, 
while  those  of  the  Echinocactus  issue  from 
the  bare  ribs  or  angles.  M.  communis,  the 
Turk's  Cap  Cactus,  so  called  from  the  flower- 
ing portion  on  the  top  of  the  plant  being  of  a 
cylindrical  form  and  red  color,  like  a  fez  cap, 
is  a  fair  representative  of  this  class.  In 
South   America  and    in  many  of   the    West 


MEN 

Indian  Islands  it  is  very  common,  covering 
large  tracts  of  barren  soil.  Notwithstanding 
the  arid  places  in  which  they  grow,  they  con- 
tain a  considerable  quantity  of  moisture,  and 
the  mules  resort  to  them  when  hard  pressed 
for  water,  carefully  removing  the  spines  with 
their  fore-feet  previous  to  quenching  their 
thirst  with  the  juice.  They  are  not  often  seen 
in  cultivation,  and  are  more  grotesque  than 
beautiful. 
Melodi'nus.  From  melon,  an  Apple,  and  dineo, 
to  turn  round  ;  referring  to  the  shape  of  the 
fruit.    Nat.  Ord.  Ajwcynacece. 

A  genus  of  woody-stemmed  often  climbing 
plant-stove  shrubs,  natives  of  the  East 
Indies,  China,  the  Malayan  Archipelago,  the 
Pacific  Islands  and  Australia.  They  are  very 
ornamental  plants,  closely  allied  to  Dipladenia 
and  are  well  worthy  of  cultivation  for  their 
showy  flowers.  D.  m,onogynus  has  large, 
white,  fragrant  flowers,  borne  in  axillary  and 
terminal  panicles,  followed  by  four-cornered 
yellow  fruits,  the  size  of  an  orange,  contain- 
ing an  edible  pulp.  It  was  introduced  from 
northern  India  in  1820. 

Melon.    Musk.       Cacumis    Melo.       See    Musk- 

Melon. 
Melon-Thistle.     See  Melocactus. 

Melon.  Water.  Cucumis  Citrullus.  See  Water- 
Melon. 

Melon-Wood.  A  yellow  Mexican  wood,  which 
resembles  Sander's  wood ;  used  for  furniture. 

Melo'thria  punctata.  This  is  given  in  "  Nichol- 
son's Dictionary  of  Gardening  "  as  the  cor- 
rect name  of  the  beautiful  little  climbing 
cucurbitaceous  plant  known  as  Pilogyne 
suavis.  It  is  a  native  of  South  Africa,  and 
was  introduced  to  this  country  by  way  of 
Germany  in  1875.    See  Pilogyne. 

Meni'scium.  A  group  of  ten  species  of  very 
distinct,  though  coarse-habited  Ferns,  with 
simple,  or  once-pinnate  fronds.  The  sori  are 
naked,  linear-oblong  and  curved,  placed  on 
the  transverse  venules.  Sometimes  the  fronds 
are  contracted  and  the  fructification  becomes 
crowded,  almost  like  Acrostichum. 

Menisperma'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trailing 
shrubs  with  alternate,  simple,  usually  entire 
leaves,  and  incomplete,  usually  unisexual 
flowers.  They  occur  in  the  ti'opical  woods  of 
Asia  and  America,  and  have  bitter  and  nar- 
.  cotic  properties,  some  being  very  poisonous. 
There  about  thirty  genera,  and  three  hundred 
species.  Illustrative  examples  are  Anamirta, 
Cissampelos  and  Menispermum. 

Menispe'rmum.  Moon-seed.  From  mene,  the 
moon,  and  sperma,  a  seed ;  the  fruit  is  kidney 
or  half-moon  shaped ;  whence  the  English 
name  Moon-seed.  Nat.  Ord.  Menispermacem. 
A  small  genus  of  handsome  climbing 
shrubs,  natives  of  the  Northern  States  and 
Europe,  with  curiously-shaped  leaves,  racemes 
of  yellowish  or  greenish-white  flowers, 
and  red  or  black  berries,  which  have  some- 
what of  an  intoxicating  quality.  M.  Canadense, 
which  is  the  commonest  species,  is  a  very 
ornamental,  hardy,  free-growing  climber,  ad- 
mirably adapted  for  covering  a  wall  or  arbor 
in  a  very  short  time.  It  is  well  deserving  of 
general  cultivation,  and  yet  it  is  comparatively 
little  known,  perhaps  on  account  of  the  modest 
color  of  its  elegant  little  drooping  racemes  of 


250 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLrANTS 


MEN 

flowers,  which  are  generally  hidden  from 
common  observers  by  the  leaves.  It  looks 
very  well  on  a  lawn  trained  up  a  single  pole, 
and  with  the  extremity  of  its  branches  left  to 
spread  themselves  to  the  wind  at  pleasure. 
It  also  looks  very  well  trained  to  form  a 
pillar,  or  to  a  frame  with  an  umbrella-top, 
etc.  Pi'opagated  by  cuttings,  or  from  seed 
sown  in  spring. 

Me'utha.  Mint.  The  Latin  version  of  the 
Greek  name  Minthe,  borne  by  the  daughter  of 
Cocytus,  who,  according  to  the  poets,  was 
metamorphosed  into  a  Mint  plant  by  Proser- 
pine in  a  fit  of  jealousy.  Nat.  Ord.  LabiatcB. 
A  well-known  genus  of  useful  herbs.  The 
species  are  pi'etty  generally  distributed 
throughout  the  cooler  parts  of  the  woild,  but 
are  most  common  tliroughout  Europe.  They 
have,  through  naturalization,  become  quite 
common  in  many  parts  of  the  United  States. 
M.  piperita  is  the  well-known  Peppermint.  It 
is  extensively  cultivated  in  Wayne  County, 
N.  Y.,  for  the  sake  of  its  volatile  oil,  which  is 
procured  by  distilling  its  leaves.  M.  viridis, 
or  Spearmint,  is  the  plant  that  is  used  for 
culinary  purposes  under  the  name  of  Mint. 
This  species  is  extensively  forced  or  for- 
warded under  glass,  and  thousands  of  dollars' 
worth  of  it  are  sold  in  the  winter  and  spring 
months  in  the  markets  of  New  York.  M. 
Pulegium  is  the  true  Pennyroyal,  a  native  of 
Great  Britain,  like  the  preceding  species. 
(The  plant  known  as  Pennyroyal  of  our  woods 
is  an  annual,  Hedeoma  pidegioides,  American 
Pennyroyal.)  The  species  are  abundantly 
propagated  by  suckers,  division,  or  cuttings, 
and  but  rarely  produce  perfect  seed.  The 
only  difficulty  in  their  cultivation  in  the  pri- 
vate garden  is  in  keeping  them  within  bounds. 
M.  citrata,  a  native  of  Europe,  is  the  species 
from  which  the  Oil  of  Bergamot  is  extracted. 

Mentze'lia,  Named  in  honor  of  C.  Mentsel,  a 
German  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Loasacem. 

A  genus  of  hardy  annuals  and  perennials, 
mostly  with  large  white,  showy  flowers  ;  com- 
mon on  the  western  plains.  M.  albicaulis,  a 
low-branching  plant  from  six  to  ten  inches 
high,  with  white  polished  stems,  and  deeply 
cut,  lance-shaped  leaves,  is  found  abundantly 
on  the  arid,  sandy  plains  of  Oregon  and  Cali- 
fornia. It  produces  oily  seeds  that  the 
Indians  pound  up  and  make  into  cake,  which 
forms  part  of  their  food.  They  are  all  easily 
raised  from  seed.  Burtonia  is  now  generally 
included  under  this  genus. 

Menya'nthes.  Buck  Bean.  From  men,  a 
month,  and  anthos,  a  flower;  the  time  of 
duration.     Nat.  Ord.   Gentianacece. 

Tlie  European  kinds  have  white  flowers,  but 
some  of  the  exotic  species,  now  called  Vil- 
larsia,  which  are  natives  of  Australia  and  the 
Cape,  are  very  handsome,  with  very  showy 
yellow  flowers.  They  are  all  marsh  plants, 
and  should  be  sown  or  planted  in  the  mud  or 
soft  ground  left  by  the  water.  Some  of  the 
kinds  are  only  half-hardy.  M.  trifoliata  is 
common  in  moist  places  from  New  England 
north  and  westward.  It  produces  racemes 
of  very  pretty  white  or  slightly  reddish  flow- 
ers, about  one  foot  high. 

Menzie'sia.     Named  after  A.  Menziea,  surgeon 
and  naturalist  of  the  expedition   under  Van- 
couver.    Nat.  Ord.  Ericacece. 
The  several  species  that    constitute    this 


MES 

genus  are  small,  handsome,  heath-like  shrubs, 
natives  of  the  North  American  coast.  The 
flowers  are  larger  and  more  globular  than  the 
common  Heath,  and  much  handsomer ;  they 
are  terminal,  either  singly  or  in  clusters. 
They  were  introduced  in  1810,  and  are  propa- 
gated by  layers  in  autumn  or  by  cuttings. 

Mercuria'lis.  So  named  after  Mercury,  who  is 
supposed  Lo  have  discovered  som«i  virtues  in 
the  genus.     Nat.  Ord.  Eupliorbiacem. 

A  genus  of  uninteresting  plants  widely  dis- 
tributed in  temperate  climates.  M.  perennin, 
the  Dog's  Mercury,  is  a  poisonous  plant 
which  turns  a  dull  bluish-green  when  dried  ; 
a  deep  blue  dye  of  a  fugitive  nature  may  be 
obtained  from  it. 

Merende'ra.  A  name  given  to  ColcMcum  by 
the  Spaniards,  and  applied  to  this  genus  be- 
cause of  its  affinity.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliucew. 

M.  Caucnsica,  the  best  known  species,  is  a 
hardy  bulb  with  purple  flowers,  from  the  Cau- 
casus. It  is  very  like  Bulbocodium  vernum, 
but  flowers  in  autumn  and  grows  fnely  in  the 
garden  with  the  same  treatment  as  is  given 
to  other  hardy  bulbs.  AI.  Persica,  introduced 
in  1872,  under  the  name  of  M.  Aifchinsoni,  has 
pale  lilac,  fragrant  flowers,  about  two  inches 
in  diameter.  It  was  introduced  in  1823,  and 
is  propagated  by  offsets. 

Mermaid  Weed.  The  popular  name  of  the 
genus  Proserpinaca,  a  common  plant  in  sandy 
swamps  near  the  coast. 

Merte'nsia.  Named  in  honor  of  Prof.  F.  C. 
Mertens,  a  German  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Bora- 
ginace(B. 

A  genus  of  very  handsome,  hardy  perennial, 
glabrous,  or  pilose  herbs,  natives  of  eastern 
Europe,  Asia,  and  North  America.  Flowers 
blue  or  purplish,  in  terminal  racemes,  leaves 
alternate,  often  pellueid-dotted.  M.  Virginica 
(the  Virginian  Cowslip),  syn.  Pulmonaria,  is 
an  admirable  plant  for  either  the  herbaceous 
border,  or  for  rock  work.  Propagated  by 
division,  or  by  seeds  sown  as  soon  as  ripe. 

Mery'ta.  From  meryo,  to  roll  up  ;  in  reference 
to  the  male  flowers  forming  something  like  a 
rolled-up  ball.     Nat.  Ord.  Araliacece. 

A  genus  of  six  species  of  stove  or  green- 
house glabrous  trees,  natives  of  Norfolk 
Island,  New  Zealand,  and  the  South  Paciflc 
Islands.  3/.  Denhami  and  M.  macrophylla  are 
cultivated  for  their  showy  and  ornamental 
foliage. 

Mesembryaceae  or  Mesembryaceae.  A  nat- 
ural order  now  included  by  many  botanists  as 
a  tribe  of  Ficoidece. 

Mesembrya'nthemum.  Fig  Marigold,  Ice 
Plant.  From  mesembria,  midday,  and  anthe- 
mon,  a  flower ;  referring  to  the  flowers  open- 
ing better  on  sunny  days.  Nat.  Ord.  FicoidecB. 
This  genus  consists  of  nearly  four  hundred 
species,  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  of 
Avhich  have  been  introduced  and  highly  recom- 
mended for  the  flower  garden.  They  are 
very  succulent  and  grow  in  hot,  sandy  plains, 
the  genus  being  almost  entirely  couflned  to 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  Their  leaves  are 
very  variable  in  form,  but  almost  always  of  a 
thick,  fleshy  texture ;  the  flowers,  which  em- 
brace all  shades  of  orange,  crimson,  pink, 
white,  etc.,  are  most  of  them  very  beautiful, 
the  petals  of  brilliant  colors  and  of  a  lasting 
nature,  with  a  handsome  centre.     They  only 


AND   GENEKAL   HORTICULTURE. 


251 


MES 

expand  in  the  sunshine,  and  are  well  adapted 
for  a  hot  situation,  one  in  which  but  little 
else  would  thrive  well.  M.  crystallinurn,  a 
native  of  the  Canary  Islands  and  Greece,  as 
well  as  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  is  the  com- 
mon Ice  Plant  of  our  gardens,  so  called  in 
consequence  of  every  part  of  the  leaf  and 
stalk  being  covered  with  small  watery  pus- 
tules, which  glisten  in  the  sun  like  fragments 
of  ice.  Large  quantities  of  the  plant  are  col- 
lected in  the  Canaries  and  burned,  the  ashes  be- 
ing sent  to  Spain  for  use  of  glassmakers.  The 
English  name  of  Fig  Marigold  is  applied  to  M. 
edule,  the  fruit  of  which  is  shaped  like  a  fig, 
and  which  is  eaten  by  the  Hottentots ;  and  to 
the  flower,  which  resembles  that  of  the  Mari- 
gold in  shape,  and  sometimes  in  color.  M. 
cordifolium  variegatum  is  I'emarkable  for  the 
distinct  variegation  of  its  leaves,  white  and 
green.  It  is  a  free-gi'owing plant,  well  adapted 
for  rockeries,  vases,  or  edgings  to  beds  or 
ribbon  borders.  This  variety  is  increased  by 
cuttings,  as  the  variegation  is  not  constant  in 
plants  grown  from  seed.  All  the  species  are 
easily  incx'eased  by  cuttings. 

Mesopini'diuni.  From  mesos,  medium-sized, 
and  spinidiom,  a  bird.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 
A  small  genus  of  beautiful  little  Orchids 
from  the  Andes  of  Peru,  nearly  allied  to 
Odontoglossum.  M.  sanguineum  is  one  of  the 
most  showy  species,  and  is  interesting  on 
account  of  its  nodding  racemes  of  rosy  flow- 
ers. The  species  are  rarely  seen  in  collec- 
tions. They  may  be  grown  in  a  cool  house, 
must  be  sparingly  watered,  and  are  increased 
by  division ;  introduced  in  1867. 

Me'spilus.  Medlar.  From  mesos,  half,  and 
pilos,  a  ball ;  referring  to  the  shape  of  the 
fruit  of  the  Medlar.     Nat.  Ord.  Rosacem. 

A  genus  of  low-growing,  hardy  deciduous 
trees,  common  to  Europe.  They  are  orna- 
mental and  produce  an  edible  fruit  of  but  little 
value.  They  are  good  plants  for  shrubberies, 
or  for  single  specimens  like  the  Hawthorn, 
which  they  resemble  somewhat  in  appearance. 

Mesquit  or  Meskit.     Prosopis  juliflora. 

Me'sua.  Named  after  Mesne,  the  father  and 
bon,  two  celebrated  Arabian  physicians  and 
botanists,  who  resided  at  Damascus,  and 
flourished  in  the  eighth  and  ninth  centuries. 
Nat.  Ord.   GiMiferce. 

A  small  genus  of  tender  evergreen  trees 
from  tropical  Asia,  remarkable  for  their  beauti- 
ful foliage,  and  large,  pure  white  axillary 
flowers,  which  are  highly  fragrant.  The  flow- 
ers, both  fresh  and  dried,  are  sold  in  all  the 
Indian  bazaars,  under  the  name  of  Nagkesur, 
being  held  in  high  esteem  on  account  of  their 
fragrance. 

Metho'nica. 

see. 


A  synonym   of   Gloriosa,   which 


Metrodo'rea.  In  memory  of  Metrodorus  Sa- 
binus,  said  to  have  been  the  first  draughtsman 
of  plants.     Nat.  Ord.  RufacecB. 

M.  alropurpurea,  the  only  described 
species,  is  a  shrubby  stove-house  shrub  with 
purplish  flowers  borne  in  panicles.  It  is  a 
native  of  Mexico,  introduced  in  1851. 

Metrosi'deros.  From  metra,  heart-wood,  and 
sideros,  iron  ;  referring  to  the  hardness  of  the 
wood.     Nat.  Ord.  Myrtaceae. 


MIC 

A  genus  of  lofty  trees,  climbers  and  shrubs, 
natives  of  New  Zealand.  M.  robusta  is  a  tall 
tree  with  a  stout,  erect  trunk,  and  a  branching 
head  of  myrtle-like  foliage,  and  showy,  scarlet 
or  crimson  flowers.  The  wood  of  this  species 
is  very  valuable  for  ship  timber.  M.  tomentosa, 
is  called  the  Fire  Tree  by  the  cohmists,  on 
account  of  its  brilliant  flowers.  One  or  two 
species  are  under  cultivation  in  the  green- 
houses, where  their  bright  scarlet  flowers  are 
very  effective.  They  were  flrst  introduced  in 
1787,  and  are  propagated  from  cuttings  of  the 
young  wood. 

Metro'xylon.  From  metra,  the  heart  of  a  tree ; 
and  xylon,  wood,  in  allusion  to  the  large  pro- 
portion of  pith  contained  in  the  plant.  Nat. 
Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  small  genus  of  erect  plant-stove  palms, 
natives  of  the  Malayan  Archipelago,  New 
Guinea,  and  the  Fiji  Islands.  From  the 
trunks  of  M.  IcBve  and  M.  Rumphii  part  of  the 
sago  of  commerce  is  prepared.  Syn.  Sagus, 
which  see. 

Metterni'chia.  Named  after  Prince  Metternich, 
of  Austria,  1772-1859.     Nat.  Ord.  SolanacecB. 

A  genus  of  handsome  plant-stove  evergreen 
plants  similar  in  habit  to  Brunsfelsia,  natives 
of  South  America.  They  have  very  showy 
funnel-shaped  flowers,  with  entire  shining, 
somewhat  coriaceous  leaves.  They  are  closely 
allied  to  Lisianthus. 

Me'um.  From  meion,  small ;  in  allusion  to  the 
leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Umbelliferm. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  plants, 
most  of  which  are  of  but  little  merit.  M. 
athamaiicum  (Spignel),  a  native  of  Scotland, 
is  a  plant  of  compact  habit,  with  charmingly 
cut  foliage  of  most  intense  green  ;  its  flowers 
are  of  no  importance,  but  its  leaves  are  of 
great  value  for  decorative  purposes. 

Mexican  Fox  Glove.    See  Titranema. 

Mexican  Tea.     See  Chenopodium. 

Mexican  Thistle.     See  ErythrolcBna. 

Mexican  Tiger  Flower.    See  Tigridia  pavonia. 

Meye'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  M.  Meyen,  Nat. 
Ord.  Acanthacete. 

M.  erecta,  the  best  known  species,  is  a  very 
pretty  green-house  shrub  with  purple  and 
yellow  flowers,  introduced  from  West  Afx'ica 
in  1857.  The  genus  is  now  included  under 
Thunbergia,  which  see. 

Mezereon.  A  common  name  for  Daphne  Mez- 
eriuin. 

Mice.  Field.  Are  often  very  destructive  to  some 
kinds  of  garden  crops,  particularly  such  plants 
as  are  kept  under  glass  in  winter,  such  as 
Vines  in  cold  grapei'ies,  Cabbage,  Lettuce  or 
such  plants  as  are  kept  in  cold  frames.  They 
are  easily  destroyed  by  any  of  the  methods 
used  for  the  destruction  of  the  ordinary  mice 
or  rats. 

Michaelmas  Daisy.    The  English  name  for  the 

genus  Aster. 

Micha'uxia.  Named  after  A.  Michaiix,  a  French 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Campanulaceoe. 

A  genus  of  hardy  biennials,  chiefly  found  in 
the  Levant.  They  are  allied  to  the  Cam- 
panulas, and  are  of  easy  culture.  M.  cam- 
panuloides  is  a  remarkable  and  highly  orna- 
mental plant,  growing  from  three  to  eight 
feet    high.      The  flowers  are  white,   tinged 


252 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


MIC 

with  purple,  and  are  arranged  in  a  pyra- 
midal candelabra-like  head,  which  makes 
it  very  striking  and  distinct.  It  flourishes 
best  in  a  moist  and  deep  sandy  loam,  and 
should  be  treated  as  a  hardy  biennial,  seed- 
lings being  raised  annually  so  as  always  to 
have  good  flowering  plants.  Its  fine  stately 
form  and  tall  stature  are  very  effective,  either 
in  the  mixed  border  or  when  given  a  nook  to 
itself  in  a  choice  bed  of  evergreen  shrubs. 
They  are  all  of  easy  culture,  were  first  intro- 
duced in  1787,  and  are  propagated  by  seeds. 

Miche'lia.  Named  after  P.  A.  Michele,  a  famous 
Florentine  botanist,  who  died  in  1757.  Nat. 
Ord.  Magnoliacece. 

Lofty  evergreen  trees,  natives  of  India  and 
the  islands  of  the  Eastern  Archipelago.  M. 
Cliampaca  is  cultivated  in  India  for  the  power- 
ful fragrance  of  its  fiowers,  which  is  said  to  be 
so  strong  that  bees  seldom  if  ever  alight  on 
them.  The  tree  is  sacred  to  Vishnu,  and  is 
therefore  an  object  of  superstitious  regard  on 
the  part  of  the  Hindoos,  who  adorn  their  dark 
hair  with  the  rich  orange-colored  fiowers.  It 
has  seldom  been  introduced  into  tlie  green- 
house, and  where  tried  it  has  not  proved  an 
acquisition. 

Mico'nia.  Named  after  D.  Micon,  a  Spanish 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Melastomacece. 

A  large  genus  of  trees  and  shrubs,  natives 
of  tropical  America  and  Asia.  The  fiowers 
are  white,  pink,  purple,  red,  or  yellow,  gen- 
erally in  terminal  panicles.  A  few  of  the  spe- 
cies are  grown  for  their  beautiful  foliage.  The 
genus  contains  nearly  300  species. 

Microca'chrys.  From  mikros,  small,  and 
kachrys,  a  cone;  referring  to  the  very  small 
cones.     Nat.  Ord.  Coniferm. 

M.  tetragona,  the  only  species,  is  a  prostrate, 
much -branched  evergreen  shrub,  introduced 
to  cultivation  from  the  mountains  of  Tas- 
mania in  1857.  It  is  called  the  "  Strawberry- 
fruited  Cypress  of  Tasmania,"  and  is  described 
in  the  Gardener's  Chronicle  "  as  quite  a  gem 
among  conifers."  The  female  plant  is  very 
pretty,  having  nearly  every  one  of  its  multi- 
tude of  little  bi'auchlets  terminated  by  a 
bright-red,  almost  globular,  fieshy  cone, 
measuring  about  one-quarter  of  an  inch  from 
base  to  apex.  By  training  up  a  leader,  the 
lateral  branches  arrange  themselves  in  a 
drooping  manner  round  about.  Syn.  Dacry- 
dium  tetragonum. 

Mioroglo'ssa.  From  mikros,  small,  and  glossa, 
a  tongue  ;  alluding  to  the  shortness  of  the 
straps  of  the  ray-fiowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
posiiw. 

A  genus  of  about  six  species  of  small  shrubs, 
natives  of  the  warmerpartsof  Asia  and  Africa. 
M.  albescens  (syn.  Aster  albescens)  is  a  hand- 
some, hardy  shrub,  introduced  from  the  Him- 
alayas in  1883.  The  flower-heads  are  small, 
in  a  diffuse  corymb,  and  are  of  a  beautiful 
blue  color.  Propagated  by  seeds  or  by  divi- 
sion of  the  roots. 

Microle'pia.  From  micros,  small,  and  lepis,  a 
scale ;  in  allusion  to  the  appearance  of  the 
spore,  or  seed-cases.  Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 
A  genus  of  strong-growing  evergreen  Ferns, 
closely  allied  to  Davallia,  under  which  genus 
they  are  included  by  some  authors.  The  spe- 
cies are  plants  of  easy  culture,  and  of  great 


MIG 

beauty,  all  well  adapted  for  amateur  collec- 
tions, as  they  thrive  well  in  a  moderate  tem- 
perature. They  are  found  in  nearly  all  the 
sub-tropical  parts  of  the  world.  Introduced 
in  1836. 
Microli'cia.  From  mikros,  small,  and  alikia, 
stature  ;  the  plants  are  dwarf.  Nat.  Ord.  Me- 
lasto7nace<B. 

A  large  genus,  comprising  over  seventy 
species,  few  of  which  are  of  any  horticultural 
A^alue.  M.  bivalvis  and  M.  recurva,  introduced 
from  Trinidad  in  1822,  are  pretty  dwarf  plants 
with  purple  flowers,  and  are  increased  by 
seeds  or  division. 

Microme'ria.  From  micros,  small,  and  meris,  a 
part ;  referring  to  the  usually  diminutive  flow- 
ers.    Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 

A  genus  of  hardy  or  half-hardy  shrubs  or 
herbs,  comprising  about  sixty  species,  dis- 
persed over  nearly  all  the  temperate  and 
warmer  parts  of  the  globe,  but  occurring  in 
the  greatest  abundance  in  the  Mediterranean 
region.  Some  of  the  species  have  an  odor 
like  common  Thyme,  others  smell  like  Mint. 
M.  Piperella  is  a  pretty  little  rock  plant,  and 
may  be  increased  by  cuttings. 

Micromy'rtus.  From  micros,  small,  and  Myrtos, 
Myrtle  ;  small  Myrtles.  Nat.  Ord.  Myrtacece. 
A  genus  of  heath-like  green-house  shrubs, 
natives  of  Australia.  M.  microphylla,  the  only 
species  yet  introduced,  forms  a  neat  little 
green-house  plant,  with  small  white  flowers, 
borne  in  racemes  on  the  upper  branches.  It 
is  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened 
wood,  and  was  introduced  to  cultivation  in 
1870. 

Microspe'rma.  From  mikros,  small,  and  sperma, 
a  seed.     Nat.  Ord.  Loasacece. 

M.  bartonioides,  is  a  very  pretty  little  yellow 
California  annual,  now  included  by  Bentham 
and  Hooker  under  Mentzelia.  It  is  also  in 
cultivation  under  the  name  of  Eucnide  bar- 
tonioides. 

Micro'stylis.  From  mikros,  small,  and  stylos,  a 
column.    Nat.  Ord.  Orchiidacem. 

A  small  genus  of  terrestrial  or  epiphytal 
orchids,  natives  of  tropical  America  and 
India.  But  few  of  the  species  are  under  cul- 
tivation. M.  discolor,  a  native  of  Ceylon, 
is  a  very  interesting  plant,  worthy  of 
a  place  in  every  collection.  It  is  char- 
acterized by  Sir  William  Hooker  "  as 
among  the  most  lovely  of  terrestrial  orchids. 
The  foliage  is  a  rich  purple,  sometimes  with  a 
green  edge  plaited  longitudinally  and  much 
crisped  at  the  margin,  nor  are  the  flowers, 
though  minute,  wanting  in  singularity  of 
structure,  when  seen  under  the  microscope. 
They  have  the  property  of  changing  color,  be- 
ing at  first  yellow,  then  orange,  or  purple." 
It  requires  the  same  treatment  as  the  Anwc- 
tochilus. 

Midday  Flo-wer.  The  Australian  settlers' 
name  for  Mesembryanthemum. 

Midrib.  The  large  vein  extending  along  the 
middle  of  a  leaf,  from  its  petiole  nearly  or 
quite  to  the  other  end. 

Midsiiipman's  Butter.     See  Persea. 

Mid-winter  Sunflower.     See  Leptosyne. 

Mignonette.  Reseda  odorata.  This  well- 
known  plant  is  generally^  treated  as  an  annual 
and  sown  every  year  as  such ;    but  it  is,  in 


MrSTCLUS  TIGEIfrUS  FL.   PL. 


Ml  r.T.A  UULOKA. 


MICEOLEPIA   EOCETA   CEISTATA, 


MIGNONETTE. 


UXMOSA  PUDICA. 


IfIMUI.US  MOSCHATUS. 


MXBABILIS  (MARVEL  OF  PEBTT). 


MINA  LOB  AT  A. 


MONTBBETIA  POTTSI. 


MOMORDICA   BALSAMINA. 


MOMOEDICA  CHAEANTIA. 


MOLUCELLA   LiEVIS. 


MONTBEETIA  CEOCOSMUEFLOEA. 


MIMTTLUS  CAEDINALIS. 


aS3 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


253 


MIG 

fact,  a  shrub,  and  if  preserved  carefully 
through  the  winter,  in  two  or  three  years  its 
stem  will  become  quite  woody.  In  this  state  it 
is  called  the  Tree  Mignonette,  and  is  supposed 
by  many  to  be  a  different  species.  It  is  a 
native  of  Barhary,  and  grows  wild  on  the 
sandy  shore  of  Algiers.  The  name  Mignon- 
ette, which  is  French  for  "the  little  dar- 
ling," is  supposed  to  have  been  given  to  it  on 
account  of  its  seeds  having  been  first  sent  to 
England  from  Paris.  It  is  rather  singular, 
however,  that  it  should  be  known  by  a  French 
name  in  England,  while  in  France  and  Ger- 
many it  is  known  by  its  Latin  name  of  Reseda. 
Mignonette  should  always  be  sown  in  light, 
sandy  soil,  if  possible  ;  as,  when  grown  in  a 
rich  loam,  it  loses  its  fragrance.  With  a 
little  management,  it  may  be  contrived  to 
have  Mignonette  in  flower  every  month  dur- 
ing the  year  without  the  aid  of  a  regular 
gardener.  In  order  that  the  plants  may  flower 
in  winter,  the  seed  should  be  sown  in  the 
open  border  in  July ;  or,  if  it  be  more  con- 
venient, tlie  seeds  may  be  sown  in  pots  in 
that  month,  placing  the  pots  in  any  situation 
where  they  will  have  abundance  of  light  and 
air.  In  September  the  plants  should  be  put 
in  the  pots  in  which  they  are  to  flower,  and 
only  a  sufficient  number  left  in  each  to  make 
the  pots  look  full  without  the  plants  being  so 
crowded  as  to  occasion  them  to  be  drawn  up. 
This  number  must,  of  course,  vary  according 
to  the  size  of  the  pot ;  but  it  should  never  ex- 
ceed eight,  or  be  less  than  three.  The  pots 
should  then  be  taken  into  the  house,  and 
placed  in  any  convenient  situation  in  a  room 
without  a  fire,  till  they  have  formed  their 
flower-buds,  which  will  be  the  latter  end  of 
October.  They  should  then  be  removed  to  a 
window  in  a  room  where  the  temperature 
does  not  exceed  50°  at  night,  when  they  will 
throw  out  an  abundance  of  branches,  and  will 
continue  flowering  beautifully  during  Novem- 
ber, December,  and  January ;  and,  if  they  are 
regularly  watered  every  day,  till  the  following 
March.  When  it  is  wished  to  obtain  a  plant 
of  Tree  Mignonette,  a  healthy,  vigorous  plant 
of  Mignonette  sown  in  a  pot  in  April  should 
be  selected,  and  the  flower-buds  should  be 
taken  off  as  fast  as  they  appear.  In  autumn 
all  the  lower  side  shoots  should  be  cut  off,  so 
as  to  shape  the  plant  into  a  miniature  tree, 
and  it  should  be  transplanted  into  a  larger 
pot,  with  fresh  soil,  formed  of  turfy  loam 
broken  small.  It  should  then  be  removed  to 
a  green- house  or  warm  room,  and  by  being 
regularly  watered  every  day,  and  kept  toler- 
ably warm,  it  will  remain  in  a  growing  state 
all  the  winter,  and  by  spring  its  stem  will  be- 
gin to  appear  woody.  It  should  be  treated  in 
the  same  manner  the  following  year,  all  the 
side  branches  being  cut  off  as  they  appear, 
except  those  that  are  to  form  the  head  of  the 
tree  ;  and  by  the  third  spring  it  will  have  bark 
on  its  trunk,  and  be  completely  a  shrub.  It 
may  now  be  suffered  to  bloom,  and  its  flowers 
will  continue  to  be  produced  every  summer 
for  a  great  many  years  in  succession 

Mignonette  does  best  in  a  cool  climate,  our 
summers  sometimes  being  too  warm  to  grow 
it  in  perfection ;  but  for  fall  flowering  nothing 
can  surpass  its  luxuriance,  beauty,  or  fra- 
grance. For  this  purpose  sow  the  seed  in 
July  or  early  in  August  in  a  well-prepared 
bed  of  deep  rich  soil.     It  is  of  the  utmost  im- 


MIL 

portance  that  the  seeds  of  Mignonette,  when 
sown  in  the  hot  months,  should  be  well 
flrmed.  Our  plan  is  to  sow  in  drills  two  or 
three  inches  deep  and  eighteen  inches  apart. 
After  sowing  the  seed  it  is  carefully  and  reg- 
ularly trodden  down  with  the  foot,  and  then 
raked  lengthwise  of  the  rows  to  make  the 
ground  level.  In  this  way  the  seed  will  ger- 
minate in  the  hottest  or  dryest  weather,  while 
it  is  almost  certain  to  fail  if  left  loose.  Thin 
the  plants  out  to  six  inches  apart  each  way, 
and  from  the  first  of  September  until  quite 
cold  weather  there  will  be  a  profusion  of 
flowers. 

Mignonette  fob  cutting  in  winteb  is 
most  successfully  grown  in  a  span-roofed 
house  with  solid  side  benches.  These  should 
be  thoroughly  drained  and  heavily  manured 
with  well-rotted  cow  manui'e  which  should  be 
well  mixed  with  the  soil  to  the  depth  of  at 
least  eighteen  inches.  The  seed  may  be  sown 
in  rows  six  inches  apart,  directly  upon  the 
beds,  about  the  middle  of  August,  and  thinned 
out  from  four  to  six  inches  apart,  according 
to  the  strength  of  the  variety  sown.  The 
plants  thrive  much  better  if  the  surface  of  the 
soil  is  gone  over  frequently  and  kept  loose, 
care  being  taken  that  no  chick-weed  is  left,  as 
it  luxuriates  in  the  cool,  rich  border,  and  will 
cause  no  end  of  trouble  later  in  the  season. 
Water  should  be  carefully  and  systematically 
applied,  the  beds  thoroughly  watered  when 
necessary,  and  withheld  till  the  appearance 
of  the  soil  or  plants  indicates  the  need  of 
more  moisture. 

To  keep  the  stems  straight  and  marketable 
a  system  of  brushing  may  be  adopted,  using 
branches  suitable  to  the  height  of  the  Mignon- 
ette. By  thus  keeping  the  plant  as  upright 
as  possible,  and  breaking  the  shoots  well 
back  in  picking,  the  last  shoot  gathered  in 
June  will  be  nearly  as  firm  as  those  picked  in 
November  and  December.  To  have  sturdy, 
short-jointed  Mignonette  the  temperature 
must  be  kept  low,  not  over  forty  degrees  at 
night,  no  matter  if  it  occasionally  touches  the 
freezing  point;  plenty  of  air  being  given 
whenever  the  weather  will  permit.  It  will 
not  mature  as  fast  as  if  kept  warmer,  but  the 
spikes  will  be  all  the  finer,  more  marketable, 
and,  of  course,  more  valuable. 

Mika'nia.  Climbing  Hempweed.  Named  after 
Joseph  Mikan,  Professor  of  Botany  at  Prague. 
Nat.  Ord.  Compositm. 

A  genus  of  hardy  and  half-hardy  twining 
plants,  allied  to  Eupatorium.  M.  scandens, 
common  from  Long  Island  to  Kentucky  and 
southward,  is  a  perennial,  with  axillary  clus- 
ters of  flesh-colored  flowers.  M.  violacea,  a 
tender  species  with  dark,  velvet-like  foliage, 
is  now  much  used  as  a  drooping  plant  for 
baskets,  vases,  etc.    Propagated  by  cuttings. 

Milde'w.  The  term  used  for  the  parasitical 
fungus  so  common  to  vegetation,  both  under 
glass  and  in  the  open  air.  Like  nearly  all 
other  parasites  hurtful  to  plants,  it  seems  to 
us  that  Mildew  only  attacks  plants  when, 
from  some  cause  or  other,  they  are  in  an 
abnormal  state.  For  instance,  we  find  that  if 
some  varieties  of  Roses  and  Grape  Vines, 
cither  under  glass  or  in  the  open  air,  are 
exposed  to  excessive  drought,  so  as  to 
enfeeble  the  leaf  action,  or  if  exposed  to  a 
sudden    change    of    temperature,    they    are 


251 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


MIL 

almost  certain  to  be  attacked  with  Mildew. 
Many  3^ears  ago,  in  our  green-houses  at  Jersey 
City,  N.  J.,  we  had  a  marked  instance  well 
illustrating  this  belief.  We  had  a  Eose-house, 
on  which  the  sashes  had  been  slid  down  for 
ventilation ;  it  came  up  suddenly  cold,  and 
before  the  green-house  could  be  closed,  some 
six  or  eight  square  spaces  of  3x3  feet,  where 
the  sashes  had  been  let  down,  were  frozen  so 
severely  that  the  young  shoots  of  the  Roses 
hung  down  and  we  thought  they  were  ruined. 
The  next  morning,  however,  they  appeared  all 
right ;  but  in  a  few  days  after  Mildew  appear- 
ed in  the  square  space  (3x3  feet)  witli  the 
lines  nearly  as  closely  defined  as  if  struck  out 
with  a  rule,  the  other  portions  of  the  Rose- 
house  being  entirely  free  from  it.  Now  we 
reason  from  this  incident,  and  others  nearly 
as  marked,  that  spores  or  germs  of  mildew  are 
nearly  always  present,  floating  in  the  atmos- 
phere, and  that  when  a  congenial  soil,  so  to 
speak,  is  formed  by  a  relaxed  condition  of 
the  plant,  the  floating  germ  is  sown  on  the 
enfeebled  leaves,  and  the  parasite  starts  into 
the  low  organic  life  known  as  Mildew.  For- 
tunately, we  have  a  rarely-failing  antidote 
against  Mildew.  Sulphur,  applied  in  various 
forms,  is  almost  a  certain  specific.  For  Grape 
Vines,  Roses  or  other  plants  affected  by  Mildew 
outdoors,  the  flowers  of  sulphur  applied  by  the 
sulphur  bellows,  when  used  in  the  early  stage 
of  the  attack,  will  at  once  check  it ;  but  when 
Mildew  attacks  Roses  or  Grape  Vines  under 
glass  in  winter,  the  best  plan  is  to  paint  the  hot 
water  pipes  with  a  wash  of  sulphur  and  lime  or 
sulphur  and  guano  (the  guano  or  lime  is  only 
used  to  make  the  sulphur  stick  to  the  pipes) 
every  eight  or  ten  days.  The  fumes  of  the  sul- 
phur, evolved  by  the  heated  water  in  the  pipes 
(about  200  degrees),  is  certain  destruction  to 
the  germ-producing  Mildew.  When  flues  are 
used  instead  of  hot- water  pipes,  the  sulphur 
wash  may  be  used  on  them ;  but  care  must  be 
taken  that  it  is  only  on  the  end  of  the  flues 
farthest  from  the  furnace,  as,  if  much  hotter 
than  200  degrees  it  will  injure  the  leaves; 
but  no  harm  can  ever  ensue  from  its  use  on 
the  hot-water  pipes  or  on  the  smoke  flue,  if 
not  hotter  than  200  degrees.  At  seasons 
when  no  fires  are  used,  the  following  prepar- 
ation will  usually  be  found  a  pi'ompt  remedy 
against  Mildew :  take  six  pounds  each  of 
flowers  of  sulphur  and  lump  lime,  put  together 
and  slake  the  lime,  adding  ten  gallons  of  water. 
Boil  all  together  until  it  is  reduced  to  four 
gallons ;  allow  the  liquid  to  settle  until  it  gets 
clear,  and  then  bottle  for  use.  One  gill  only 
of  this  is  to  be  mixed  with  five  gallons  of 
water,  and  syringed  freely  over  the  plants, 
care  being  taken  not  to  let  it  drop  on  expand- 
ed flowers  or  ripe  fruit,  as  its  odor  is  verj' 
disagreeable.  Mr.  Chas.  E.  Pearson,  of  Chil- 
well,  in  an  article  on  the  culture  of  the  Chry- 
santhemum, see  "Journal  of  Horticulture," 
London,  December,  1888,  says :  "If  Mildew  ap- 
pears while  the  plants  are  outside,  syringe 
with  the  following :  1  pound  soap,  >^  pound 
sulphur,  and  ten  gallons  of  water,  mix  with 
boiling  water,  and  add  the  remaining  quantity 
cold ;  stir  constantly  while  using.  This  is  a 
perfect  cure,  and  far  before  any  method  of 
dusting  sulphur,  etc.  After  they  are  housed,  a 
coat  of  linseed  oil  and  sulphur  on  the  pipes  is 
a  good  preventive.  I  have  not  feeen  a  speck 
of  mildew  in  all  our  large  show  houses  this 


MIM 

season,  which  I  attribute  to  this  precaution." 
This  linseed  oil  and  sulphur  cure  was  first 
brought  before  the  public  some  years  ago  by 
Mr.  Arch.  Veitch,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  in  a 
communication  to  the  "  Gardeners'  Monthly," 
the  editor  of  which,  Mr.  Thos.  Meehan,  in  a 
communication  to  the  "Journal  of  Horticul- 
ture," February,  1889,  says  :  *  *  "I  have  seen 
it  tried  over  and  over  again,  and  have  no 
hesitation  in  saying,  that  it  not  only  prevents 
Mildew  from  appearing  in  a  plant-house  but 
wni  speedily  stop  its  progress  after  it  com- 
mences its  ravages."  It  may  moreover,  be 
used  on  steam  pipes,  or  on  hot  flues  with 
perfect  safety,  the  oil  seeming  to  modify  the 
acrid  fumes  of  the  sulphur  and  render  them 
innocuous. 

Milfoil,     See  Achillea. 

Mi'lium.     Millet  Grass. 

Milk-Thistle.     Silybum  Marianum. 

Milk-Tree.     See  Brosimum. 

Milk  Vetch.     See  Astragalus. 

Milk-Vine.     Periploca  grceca. 

Milk-Weed.  See  Asclepias,  a  name  also  given 
to  Euphorbia. 

Milk-Wort.     The  genus  Polygala. 

Mi'lla.  Named  after  J.  Milla,  gardener  to  the 
Spanish  Court  at  Madrid.  Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecB, 
A  genus  of  hardy  bulbs,  allied  to  Tritelia 
with  which  it  is  often  confounded.  M.  biflora, 
the  only  cultivated  species,  grows  freely  in 
the  open  border,  producing  white  flowers 
often  in  pairs,  on  a  slender  scape  about  a  foot 
high.  It  flowers  in  July  and  August,  con- 
tinuing a  long  time  in  succession.  It  was 
introduced  from  Mexico  in  1826,  and  is 
increased  by  seeds  or  offsets. 

MUlet-Grass.     The  common  name  of  Milium,. 

Mille'tia.  Named  after  J.  A.  Millet,  a  French 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Legmninosce. 

A  genus  of  tall-climbing  trees  or  shrubs, 
natives  of  Australia,  and  the  warmer  parts  of 
Asia  and  Africa.  M.  megasperma,  introduced 
from  Queensland,  has  glossy  dark  green 
leaves  and  loose  panicled  racemes  of  showy 
purple  flowers,  resembling  in  habit  the  Wis- 
taria Chinensis. 

Milto'nia.  Named  after  the  Earl  Fitzwilliam. 
Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacem. 

This  small  genus  stands  conspicuously 
prominent,  even  in  the  magnificent  order  to 
whicli  it  belongs,  on  account  of  the  number 
and  beauty  of  its  flowers.  Nor  are  they  at  all 
difficult  of  management,  requiring  only  to  be 
treated  in  the  manner  recommended  for  Lcb- 
lia  or  Cattleya ;  and  when  grown  into  a 
tolerably  good  specimen,  nothing  can  exceed 
the  grandeur  of  M.  spectabilis  or  M.  Candida, 
the  large  size  and  delicate  white  of  the  sepals 
and  petals,  contrasted  with  the  rich  crimson 
marking  of  the  expansive  lip  of  the  former, 
when  seen  in  any  quantity,  fully  equal  the 
most  showy  of  the  order.  Either  or  both  of 
the  above  should  always  be  included  in  every 
collection  of  Orchids.  The  genus  consists  of 
about  a  dozen  species,  all  natives  of  Brazil ; 
introduced  in  1840. 

Mimo'sa  Sensitive  Plant.  From  mimos,  a 
mimic ;  referring  to  the  irritability  of  the 
leaves,  as  if  imitating  animal  sensibility.  Nat. 
Ord.  Legu7ninos(B. 

To  this  genus  belongs  the  Sensitive  Plant, 
of  which  there  may  be  said  to  be  three  spe- 


AND   GENEKAL  HORTICULTURE. 


255 


MIM 

cies,  the  leaves  of  all  of  which  shrink  to  the 
touch,  viz.  :  M  sensitiva  and  pudica,  natives 
of  Brazil,  growing  two  to  three  feet  high,  with 
pale  ball-like  pink  flowers ;  and  M.  casta,  a 
native  of  the  East  Indies,  growing  about  two 
feet  high,  with  pale  yellow  flowers.  JM  pudica 
is  the  true  Sensitive  Plant,  and  the  one  that 
is  usually  grown,  being  more  sensitive  than 
M.  senMitiva.  It  is  cultivated  as  an  annual, 
and  should  be  raised  on  a  hot-bed  or  in  the 
green-house  in  spring,  with  the  tender  an- 
nuals ;  and  either  kept  in  pots  thi'oughout  the 
summer,  or  turned  out  into  the  open  border 
about  the  end  of  May.  Many  species  formerly 
included  under  the  genus  Mimosa  are  now  re- 
moved to  Acacia;  the  principal  distinction 
between  the  genei'a  l)eiag  that  Mimosa  has  a 
jointed  seed-pod,  which  Acacia  has  not.  Sev- 
eral other  genera  have  also  been  formed  out 
of  Mimosa.  Some  of  the  kinds  are  hot-house 
plants;  others  thrive  in  a  green-house;  and 
M.  marginata  (the  M.  prostrata  of  the  nurs- 
eries) is  sufficiently  hardy  to  stand  the  winter 
at  the  South.  They  are  pro|)agated  by  cut- 
tings ;  the  annuals  by  seeds.  A  singular  fact 
in  connection  with  the  Mimosa  pudica  is  said 
to  be,  that  if  chloroform  be  applied  to  the 
plant,  its  sensitiveness  is  suspended  until  the 
effects  of  the  anaesthetic  have  passed  off. 

Mi'mulus.  MoTikey  Flower.  From  mimo,  an 
ape  or  actor ;  in  reference  to  the  ringent  or 
gaping  mouth  of  the  flower.  Nat.  Ord.  Scro- 
phulariacefB. 

This  genus,  among  the  most  ornamental  of 
our  hardy  and  half-hardy  herbaceous  plants, 
is  found  dispersed  over  America,  Asia,  Aus- 
tralia, and  Africa,  but  most  numerous  in 
western  America.  Two  species  have  broken 
out  into  numberless  varieties :  these  are  M. 
cardinalis,  and  M.  luteus,  and  the  latter,  espec- 
ially seems  capable  of  bringing  a  great  deal  of 
variety  to  the  aid  of  the  flower-gardener.  All 
of  these,  and  M  moschatus,  or  Musk  Plant,  as  it 
is  called,  are  valuable  aids  in  that  department, 
and  are  very  generally  grown  for  the  purpose, 
being  very  prolific  of  flowers.  M.  cupreus, 
introduced  from  Chili  in  1861,  is  also  the 
origin  of  a  great  number  of  very  beautiful 
hybrids  known  as  M.  maculosus.  They  are  all 
easily  propagated  by  seeds,  cuttings,  or  by 
division  of  the  roots. 

Mi'musops.  From  mimo,  an  ape,  and  apsis,  a 
face;  the  flowers  may  be  fancied  to  resemble 
the  face  of  a  monkey.     Nat.  Ord.  Sapotacece. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  trees  with  a  milky 
Juice,  "the  better  known  species  of  which  are 
found  in  the  East  Indies,  tropical  Australia, 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  Brazil.  They  are 
very  ornamental,  showy  trees,  with  entire, 
smooth  leaves,  and  small  white,  often  sweet- 
smelling  flowers.  Several  species  yield  hard, 
durable  and  very  heavy  timber,  such  as  M. 
Elengi  and  M.  Indica,  in  Ceylon,  where  the 
wood  is  used  for  ordinary  house-building  pur- 
poses, and  M.  hexandra,  in  the  peninsula  of 
India.  A  species  called  the  Bully-tree,  or 
Bullet-tree,  in  British  Guiana,  grows  over  100 
feet  high,  with  a  trunk  six  feet  in  diameter, 
affording  a  very  close-grained  timber  of  an 
exceedingly  durable  nature,  being  but  little 
influenced  by  the  weather.  Its  small  fruits, 
about  the  size  of  coffee-berries,  are  delicious 
when  ripe.  The  fruits  of  other  species,  also, 
are  eaten  in  their  native  countries,  such  as 


MIT 

those  of  M.  Elengi.  the  seeds  of  which  likewise 
afford  an  abundance  of  oil,  while  its  highly- 
fragrant  flowers  yield  their  perfume  to  water 
by  distillation." — A.  Smith,  in  "Treasury  of 
Botany. " 

Mi'na.  A  genus  of  Convolvulacea^,  containing 
one  species,  J/,  lobata,  a  beautiful  climbing 
herbaceous  plant,  with  rosy-crimson  flowers, 
changing  as  they  expand  first  to  orange  and 
then  to  pale  yellow.  Now  placed  byBentham 
and  Hooker  under  Ipomea,  as  I.  versicolor. 

Minia  tus.  Of  a  vermilion  color ;  pure  red  with 
a  little  yellow. 

Mint.    See  Mentha. 

Mint-bush,  or  Mint  tree  of  Australia.     See 

Prostr  anther  a. 

Mira'bilis.  Marvel  of  Peru.  From  mirahilis, 
wonderful,  as  everything  was  at  first  con- 
sidered that  was  sent  from  South  America 
to  Great  Britain.     Nat.  Ord.  Nyctaginacem. 

The  varieties  of  M.  Jalapa,  or  Marvel  of 
Peru,  are  valuable  ornaments  of  the  borders 
of  the  flower  garden.  The  seed  should  be 
sown  in  May  where  they  are  to  grow,  or  they 
may  be  sown  for  early  blooming  in  a  hot-bed 
and  transplanted  in  May  along  with  Dahlias 
and  such  plants.  Their  after  treatment 
closely  resembles  that  of  the  former ;  they 
should  be  staked  and  tied  in  the  same  way, 
and  on  the  approa^ch  of  winter  their  large 
tuberous  roots  should  be  taken  up  and  stored 
away  in  dry  sand  until  the  following  spring, 
when  in  April  they  may  be  forwarded  on  a 
moderate  hot-bed,  and  again  in  May  be 
planted  into  the  border  of  the  flower  garden, 
or  they  may  be  planted  at  once  in  the  border  as 
soon  as  danger  from  frost  is  past.  The  whole  of 
the  genus  are  of  one  character,  and  may  be 
treated  alike.  Plants  from  the  old  roots  will 
come  into  flower  much  earlier  than  if  grown 
from  seed.  The  colors  of  the  Marvel  of 
Peru  are  various,  one  being  pure  white  and 
very  fragrant,  while  others  are  beautifully  as 
well  as  curiously  striped.  Gerarde  first 
notices  this  genus  in  1596. 

Mirbe'Ua.  Named  after  C.  F.  B.  Mirbel,  a 
physiological  botanist  of  Paris.  Nat.  Ord. 
LeguminoscB. 

This  genus  consists  of  eight  or  nine  species 
of  Australian  shrubs,  with  handsome  yellow, 
purple,  or  bluish  flowers.  A  few  of  the  species 
are  occasionally  met  in  the  more  rare  collec- 
tions of  green-house  plants.  They  are  ever- 
greens, producing  their  flowers  in  July, 
and  are  propagated  by  cuttings ;  introduced 
in  1825. 

Missouri  Currant.     See  Ribes  aureum. 

Mist  Flow^er.     See  Conoclinium. 

Mist  Tree.     See  Rhus  cotinus. 

Mistletoe.     See  Viscum  album. 

Mitche'Ua.  Partridge  Berry.  Named  in  honor 
of  Dr.  John  Mitchell,  an  early  correspondent 
of  Linnffius,  and  an  excellent  botanist,  who 
resided  in  Virginia.     Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacece. 

A  small  genus  comprising  two  species  of 
glabrous  creeping  herbs,  one  dispersed 
through  North  America  from  Mexico  to 
Canada,  and  the  other  a  native  of  Japan.  M. 
repens,  our  native  species,  is  a  low,  creeping 
evergreen,  widely  distributed  throughout  the 
United    States    and    Canada  in    dry   woods. 


256 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF   PLANTS 


MIT 

The  flowers  are  white,  tinged  with  purple, 
and  fragrant,  the  fruit  is  scarlet  and  edible, 
but  nearly  tasteless,  and  remains  on  during 
the  winter.  The  Partridge  is  very  fond  of  it, 
whence  the  local  name.  It  is  a  pretty  little 
plant  for  rockeries,  hardy  ferneries,  and  such 
like  places. 
Mite'Ila.  Mitre-Wort.  Bishop's  Cap.  A  diminu- 
tive from  mitra,  a  cap  or  mitre ;  alluding  to 
the  form  of  the  young  pod.  Nat.  Ord.  Saxi- 
fragacecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  perennial  herbs,  with 
stalked,  roundish,  cordate  crenated  leaves, 
and  greenish-white  flowers,  often  nodding, 
in  slender  many-flowered  racemes.  One 
species,  M.  nuda,  occurs  in  Siberia,  and  this 
and  the  other  species  are  natives  of  this 
country.  They  are  admirable  subjects  for  the 
rock-garden. 

Mitraca'rpum.  From  mitra,  a  mitre,  and  karpos, 
a  fruit;  in  allusion  to  the  fruit  being  cut 
round  about  in  the  middle.  Nat.  Ord.  Rubia- 
ceoB. 

A  genus  of  erect  or  prostrate  herbs,  often 
with  perennial  roots,  natives  of  tropical 
America  and  southern  Africa.  The  small 
white  flowers  are  produced  in  dense-flowered 
heads ;  the  leaves  are  linear-lanceolate  or 
ovate.  M.  stylosum,  the  only  species  in 
cultivation  is  a  plant-stove  annual.  None  of 
the  other  species  so  far  as  known,  are  of  any 
horticultural  merit. 

Mitra'ria.  From  mitra,  a  mitre ;  referring  to 
the  seed  pod.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneraceoe. 

M.  coccinea,  the  sole  representative  of  this 
genus,  is  a  low-growing  shrubby  plant, 
native  of  the  Island  of  Chiloe.  Its  leaves  are 
small,  opposite,  or  sometimes  trifoliate.  The 
flowers  are  solitary,  and  of  a  bright  scarlet 
color.  It  is  a  very  beautiful  plant  for  the 
green-house,  or  for  planting  out  during  the 
summer.  It  was  introduced  in  184:8,  and  is 
propagated  by  cuttings. 

Mitriosti'gma.  From  mitra,  a  mitre,  and 
stigma;  in  reference  to  the  shape  of  the  pistil. 
A  genus  of  two  species,  closely  related  to 
Gardenia  with  which  they  are  usually  classed. 
M.  axillare,  forms  a  compact  spreading  shrub 
with  white,  very  fragrant,  single  axillary 
flowers.  It  was  introduced  from  Natal  in 
1856,  and  is  often  cultivated  under  the  name 
of  Gardenia  citriodora. 

Moccasin  Flower.  The  popular  name  of  our 
native  Cypripediums,  from  the  fancied  resem- 
blance of  the  flower  to  a  moccasin  or  slipper. 

Mock  Orange.     See  Philadelphiis. 

Mock  Orange  Gourd.     Cucurbita  aurantia. 

Mock  Privet.     See  Phillyrea. 

Mode'cca.  The  East  Indian  name.  Nat.  Ord. 
Paasifloracece. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  climbing  shrubs,  re- 
sembling Passiflora  in  habit,  but  by  no  means 
so  handsome.  Natives  of  tropical  Asia  and 
Africa.  The  flowers  are  small  and  greenish- 
white.     Propagated  by  cuttings. 

Modi'ola.  From  modiolus,  the  nave  of  a 
wheel ;  referring  to  the  formation  of  the  seed- 
vessel.     Nat.  Ord.  Malvacece. 

A  genus  of  annual  and  herbaceous  peren- 
nials allied  to  the  Mallow.  They  are  mostly 
uninteresting  plants,  with  low,  creeping  habit. 


MOL 

and  purple  or  crimson  flowers.    Natives  of 
the  Southern  States,  and  Brazil. 
Mo'hria.    Named    after    M.  Mohr,   a  German 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

A  genus  of  South  African  Ferns,  consisting 
of  but  one  species,  M.  thurifraga,  a  beautiful 
Fern  with  the  general  appearance  of  Woodsia 
obtusa.  It  makes  a  splendid  specimen  plant, 
and  may  be  grown  in  a  cool  green-house. 
Propagated  by  spores. 
Moldavian  Balm.  See  Dracocephalum. 
Moles.  The  common  Mole  {Talpa),  is  found 
in  most  parts  of  the  country,  and  is  well 
known  for  its  curious  cylindrical  form,  and 
the  blackness  of  its  velvet-like  coat.  The 
eyes  are  so  small  as  to  be  practically  useless 
to  the  animal,  which  is,  however,  possessed 
of  acute  hearing  and  smell.  The  teetli  prove 
them  to  be  carnivorous,  and  observation 
proves  that  Moles  feed  on  insects,  chiefly  as 
lax'vsB,  and  on  earth-worms.  Occasionally  a 
little  vegetable  matter  may  be  swallowed  along 
with  this  food.  The  home  of  the  Mole  is  usually 
situated  in  some  secui-e  situation  under  a 
large  stone  or  the  root  of  a  tree,  and  there  are 
usually  several  passages  diverging  from  it, 
into  any  of  which  it  may  retreat  when  dangei 
threatens.  It  is  probable  that  Moles  do  more 
good  than  harm  when  they  confine  their 
operations  to  the  fields,  but  in  gardens  they 
do  much  damage  by  cutting  the  roots  of  the 
plants  in  fiower  borders,  upheaving  the  soil 
in  seed-beds,  etc.,  and  their  earth-heaps  render 
lawns  very  unsightly.  They  are  unwelcome 
visitors  to  the  garden,  and  it  is  necessary  to 
remove  them  by  the  use  of  traps  set  in  their 
burrows  or  runs.  As  they  are  very  wary,  it  is 
needful  to  take  special  precautions  against 
the  smell  of  one's  hands  lemaining  about  the 
traps. 
Moli'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  Molina,  a 
writer  upon  Chilian  plants.  Nat.  Ord.  Gram- 
inacece. 

M.  cctrulea  is  a  tall,  tufted,  hardy,  perennial 
grass,  with  stems  one  to  three  feet  in  height, 
the  variegated  form  of  .which  forms  an  excel- 
lent decorative  and  bedding  plant. 
Mollis.     Soft. 

Molopospe'rmum.  From  Molop»,  a  stripe,  and 
Sperma,  a  seed  ;  the  fruit  has  tlie  appearance 
of  being  striped.     Nat.  Ord.  Umbelliferce. 

M.  Cicutarium,  the  only  species  is  a  large 
visjorous-growing,  handsome  perennial  plant, 
producing  beautiful,  finely  cut,  fern-like  leaves, 
often  four  feet  in  diameter.  It  forms  an  ex- 
cellent plant  for  large  shrubberies  and  is  very 
effective  as  a  solitary  plant  on  lawns.  It  is  a 
native  of  central  and  southern  Europe  and 
is  propagated  by  division,  or  by  seeds  sown 
when  ripe. 
Mo'ltkia.  Named  after  Count  Gadske  Moltke, 
a  Danish  noble.     Nat.  Ord.  Boraginacem. 

M.  cce.rulea,  is  a  hardy  herbaceous  perennial, 
with  beautiful  blue  flowers.  It  is  a  native  of 
Persia,  grows  freely  with  ordinary  garden 
culture,  and  is  propagated  by  seeds  or  root 
division;  introduced  in  1829. 
Moluce'lla.  A  genus  of  Labiatce,  of  hardy,  or 
half-hardy  annuals,  inhabiting  the  Mediter- 
ranean region.  M.  IcBvis,  is  remarkable  on 
account  of  the  singular  form  of  the  calyces, 
«  which  are  shallowly  bell-shaped,  and  densely 
arranged  on  erect  ptems.  It  forms  an  excellent 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


257 


MOM 

subject  for  skeletonizing.  Seeds  sown  in  a 
green-house  or  frame  can  be  planted  out  in 
May. 

Momo'rdica.  Balsam  Pear,  Balsam  Apple. 
From  mordeo,  to  bite ;  the  seeds  have  the  ap- 
pearance of  being  bitten.  Nat.  Ord.  Cucur- 
bitacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  annual  and  perennial 
climbing  herbaceous  plants,  with  coarse  leaves 
and  inconspicuous  flowers,  either  white  or 
yellow.  31.  charantia,  an  East  Indian  species, 
is  the  Balsam  Pear  of  our  gardens.  It  has 
bright  orange-yellow,  pear-shaped  fruit,  from 
four  to  six  inches  long,and  covered  all  over  with 
little  wart-like  pi'otuberances.  When  ripe  the 
fruit  splits  open  and  turns  back,  and  its  bright 
red  seeds  give  it  a  showy  appearance.  M. 
balsamina.  Balsam  Apple,  is  in  all  respects  the 
same,  excepting  that  the  fruit  is  smaller  and 
nearly  round.  This  fruit  in  Syria  is  famous  for 
curing  wounds.  They  cut  it  open  when  un- 
ripe, and  infuse  it  in  sweet  oil,  exposed  to  the 
sun  for  some  days  until  the  oil  becomes  red. 
It  may  then  be  applied  to  a  fresh  wound, 
dropped  on  cotton.  They  grow  best  in  a  light 
rich  soil,  with  a  sunny  aspect,  and  should  be 
trained  over  a  trellis  or  on  brush. 

Monadelphous.  Having  all  the  stamens  united 
by  their  fihiments  into  a  tube. 

Monandrous.     Having  only  one  stamen. 

Mona'rda.  Horse  Mint.  Named  after  M. 
Monardez,  a  physician  of  Seville.  Nat.  Ord. 
Labiatce. 

A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials, 
common  from  Pennsylvania  to  Wisconsin. 
Tliey  are  mostly  coarse  growing,  and  of  but 
little  beauty.  M.  didyvia,  Oswego  Tea,  has 
bright  red,  showy  flowers,  and  is  sometimes 
cultivated  under  the  name  of  Bee  Balm. 

Monarde'Ua.  A  genus  of  hardy  annual  or  peren- 
nial, pleasantly  aromatic,  fragrant  herbs, 
of  the  natural  order  LabiatcB,  much  resembling 
Monarda  in  aspect  and  inflorescence,  natives 
of  North  West  America.  They  have  bright 
colored  flowers,  in  terminal  heads,  and  are  of 
easy  cultivation. 

Moneywort.     See  Lysimackia. 

Moneywort.     Cornish.     Sibthorpia  Europma. 

Moniliform.  Formed  like  a  necklace  ;  that  is 
to  say,  with  alternate  swellings  resembling 
beads. 

Moni'mia.  Named  after  Monime  the  wife  of 
Mithridates.  Nat.  Ord.  Monimiacece.  A  small 
genus  of  shrubby  plants,  natives  of  the  Mas- 
carene  Islands.  Their  leaves  are  opposite, 
entire,  coriaceous,  and  often  slightly  pubes- 
cent ;  none  of  the  species  are  in  cultivation. 

Monimia'ceae.  An  order  of  trees  or  shrubs, 
natives  of  the  warmer  parts  of  Asia  and 
America,  Australia,  and  the  Southern  Pacific 
Islands.  The  bark  and  leaves  are  aromatic 
and  fragrant,  and  the  succulent  fruit  of  some 
is  eaten.  There  are  over  twenty  genera 
described  and  over  150  species.  Monimia, 
Larelia,  and  Boldoa,  are  examples  of  the  order. 

Monkey  Flo-wer.     See  Mimulus. 

Monkey  Pot.     See  Lecythis. 

Monkey  Puzzler.  A  common  name  for  Arau- 
caria  imbricata. 

Monkey's  Dinner-Bell.     See  Hura  crepitans. 

Monk's  Hood.     See  Aconitum. 


MON 

Monni'na.  Named  after  Monnino,  Count  de 
Flora  Blanca,  a  Spanish  promoter  of  botany. 
Nat.  Ord.  Polygalacem. 

A  genus  of  about  fifty  species  of  green- 
house evergreen  herbs,  shrubs,  or  small  trees, 
natives  of  Western  America.  The  flowers 
have  usually  a  white  or  yellowish  corolla,  and 
blue  calycine  wings.  Few  of  the  species  are 
of  any  horticultural  value. 

Monoohae'tum.  From  monos,  one,  and  chaite, 
a  bristle;  in  allusion  to  the  shape  of  the  con- 
nective of  the  stamen.  Nat.  Ord.  Melasto- 
macecB. 

A  genus  of  over  twenty  species,  of  erect, 
branched,  often  tomentose  shrubs,  natives  of 
the  mountains  of  Peru,  New  Grenada,  Mexico, 
and  Guatemala.  They  form  showy  plants, 
and  are  of  easy  culture. 

Monochi'lus.  From  Monos,  one,  and  cheilos,  a 
lip  ;  alluding  to  the  form  of  flower.  Nat.  Ord. 
Verbenacece. 

M.  gloxinifolius,  the  only  species  introduced 
from  Brazil  in  1838  is  a  very  pretty  low-grow- 
ing stove-house  plant,  with  white  flowers,  re- 
markable for  the  form  of  its  corolla.  It  is 
propagated  by  cuttings. 

Monocotyledons  or   Endogens.      One  of  the 

two  great  classes  into  which  all  flowering 
plants  are  divided.  They  are  characterized 
as  having  the  wood  of  the  stem  irregularly 
disposed  in  longitudinal  bundles,  not  in  con- 
centric laj^ers,  and  having  no  defined  central 
pith ;  the  leaves  generally  parallel  veined ;  and 
the  flowers  with  organs  mostly  in  threes  or 
fours,  never  in  fives ;  in  grasses,  the  parts  are 
arranged  in  twos  and  threes.  The  embryo 
with  a  single  cotyledon ;  first  formed  leaves 
alternate,  the  radicle  not  branching  but 
throwing  out  adventitious  roots. 

Monodo'ra.  From  monos,  one,  and  dora,  a 
skin ;  in  allusion  to  the  fruit  being  one-celled. 
Nat.  Ord.  Anonacece. 

A  small  genus  of  plant-stove  trees  confined 
to  tropical  Africa.  M.  Myristica,  or  Calabash 
Nutmeg,  the  only  species  yet  introduced,  has 
large,  variegated,  pendulous,  sweet-scented 
flowers,  followed  by  large  globose  woody  fruit, 
varying  in  size  from  that  of  an  orange,  to  a 
large  melon,  containing  a  number  of  seeds 
w^hich  abound  in  an  aromatic  oil  of  a  nutmeg 
flavor,  and  which  are  commonly  called  Jamaica 
or  American  nutmegs.  It  was  introduced  in 
1843,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
ripened  wood. 

Monoecious.  Having  male  and  female  organs 
in  different  flowers  on  the  same  plant. 

Monogra'mma.     From  morios,  one,  and  grmmma, 

a  writing ;  referring  to  the  spore  or  seed-cases. 

Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacew. 
A  small  genus  of  very  dwarf  Ferns  from  the 

West  Indies,  requiring  a  warm  green-house. 
Monogynous.      Having    but  one    style,   even 

though  many  carpels  be  present. 

Monole'na.  From  monos,  one,  and  olene,  the 
arm  ;  alluding  to  the  process  or  arm  from  the 
base  of  the  anther.     Nat.  Ord.  MelastomacecB. 

A  genus  of  fleshy,  stemless,  glabrous  plants, 
with  thick  rhizomes,  natives  of  Peru  and 
Grenada.  M.  primxdoBflora,  the  only  one  yet 
introduced,  is  a  very  handsome  species.  It 
has  deep,  bright,  pink  flowers  with  a  white 
eye  and  yellow  anthers,  of  free  growth,  and  is 


258 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


MON 

jft-opagated  by  division  or  by  cutting  up  the 
riiizomes,  and  starting  them  in  bottom  heat. 

Mono'lophus.  A  small-growing,  ^deciduous 
plant,  of  the  Nat.  Ord.  ZingiberacecB.  It  has 
slender,  leafy  stems,  about  two  feet  in  height, 
bearing  distichously  arranged  leaves,  and 
terminal  oblong  spikes  of  pretty  bright  rose- 
colored  flowers.  It  is  a  native  of  India,  and 
of  quite  recent  introduction.  Included  under 
Kccmpferia  by  some  authors. 

Monolo'pia.  From  monolopus,  a  single  cover- 
ing ;  referring  to  the  flower  covering.  Nat. 
Ord.  CompositoB. 

California  woolly  annuals,  allied  to  Chrysan- 
themum. There  are  but  two  species :  one, 
M.  major,  with  yellow  flowers,  is  rather  showy ; 
the  other  is  a  mere  weed. 

Mono'panas:.  From  monos,  one,  and  Panax ; 
the  plant  resembling  a  Panax,  and  having  a 
one-celled  ovary.  A  genus  proposed  by  Kegel 
to  accommodate  the  Aralia  Ghiesbrechtii  of 
gardens. 

Monope'talous.  Having  one  petal ;  having  all 
the  petals  united  by  their  edges. 

Monophy'llous.  Having  only  one  leaf;  or 
several  leaves  united  by  their  edges  into 
one. 

Mono'psis.  From  vionos,  one,  and  opfiis,  a 
face ;  the  flowers  are  regular,  not  bilabiate. 
Nat.   Ord.  Lobeliacem. 

This  little  annual  desers^es  far  more  atten- 
tion than  it  has  hitherto  received.  It  bears  a 
resemblance  to  the  well-known  Lobelia  gracilis, 
except  that  its  flowers  are  round,  the  segments 
being  equal  instead  of  bilabiate,  as  in  Lobelia. 
The  Monopsis  requires  the  treatment  usual 
for  the  other  plants  mentioned,  and  in  the 
same  situations  has  a  much  better  effect,  its 
flowers  being  of  the  same  color,  but  from  their 
form  are  more  showy.  It  is  from  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope,  and  at  present  is  seldom  seen 
in  cultivation.    Introduced  in  1812. 

Monosepalous.  Having  one  sepal ;  having  all 
the  sepals  united  by  their  edges. 

Mono'tropa.  The  generic  name  of  the  Indian 
Pipe  or  Corpse  Plant. 

Monotropa'ceae.  An  order  of  leafless  herbs, 
parasitical  on  the  roots  of  trees,  principally 
Pines  and  Beeches.  There  are  nine  genera, 
and  from  ten  to  twelve  species.  Hypopytis, 
Monotropa,  and  Schweinitzia,  are  native  ex- 
amples of  the  order. 

Monso'nia.  Named  after  Lady  Ann  Monson,  a 
correspondent  of  Linnoeus.  Nat.  Ord.  Gerani- 
acece. 

A  genus  of  verj'  beautiful  herbaceous  plants, 
nearly  allied  to  the  Geraniums,  but  with  much 
larger  flowers.  Though  but  rarely  seen,  they 
are  well  worthy  of  cultivation,  and  are  easily 
propagated  by  seeds,  or  by  cuttings.  First 
introduced  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  in  1774. 

Monste'ra.  Name  not  explained.  Nat.  Ord. 
Aroidece. 

A  genus  of  climbing  stove  epiphytes,  for- 
merly known  as  Dracontium.  Several  of  the 
species  are  cultivated  in  collections  of  plants 
with  ornamental  foliage.  M.  deliciosa,  a  Mex- 
ican species,  has  a  succulent  fruit,  with  a 
luscious  pineapple  flavor.  It  is  better  known 
among  us  as  Philodendron  pertusum.  Most  of 
the  species  have  holes  in  their  leaves  at  irregu- 
lar intervals,  and  are  curious  and  interesting 


MOK 

plants.  They  are  all  excellent  subjects  for  the 
sub-tropical  garden.  Propagated  by  cuttings 
and  by  seeds. 

Monta'noa.  Named  after  Montana,  a  Mexican 
politician.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  genus  of  about  fourteen  species  of  orna- 
mental shrubs,  natives  of  North  America, 
from  Mexico  to  Columbia.  M.  bipinnatijida 
(syn.  M.  heracleifoUa,  Polymnia  grandis)  has 
large,  opposite,  deeply-dentate  leaves,  and  is 
much  used  in  Europe  in  sub-tropical  garden- 
ing. It  is  easily  increased  by  seeds,  or  root- 
cuttings. 

Montbre'tia.  Named  in  honor  of  M.  Montbret. 
Nat.  Ord.  IridacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  or  half-hardy  bul- 
bous plants,  natives  of  Southern  Africa.  M. 
Pottsii,  has  bright,  yellow  flowers,  flushed  on 
the  outside  with  brick-red,  borne  on  spikes, 
six  to  nine  inches  long,  and  twelve  to  twenty 
flowered.  It  is  perfectly  hardy,  as  is  M.  cro- 
cosmijlora,  a  veiy  handsome  hybrid,  raised 
between  M.  Potsii  and  Crocosmia  aurea.  The 
latter  is  a  vigorous  growing  Iris-looking  plant 
with  scapes,  a  foot  or  more  high,  bearing 
many-flowered  panicles  of  bright  orange-scar- 
let flowers,  from  July  until  frost.  It  is  one  of 
the  most  floriferous  and  showy  of  autumn 
blooming,  hardy,  bulbous  plants,  and  like  the 
Gladiolus  many  beautiful  varieties  have  ori- 
ginated from  seed  and  are  now  cultivated 
under  distinctive  names.  The  genus  is  closely 
allied  to  Izia,  and  is  placed  under  Tritonia  by 
some  authors. 

Monterey  Cypress.     Cupressus  macrocarpa. 

Moon  Daisy.  A  common  name  for  Leucanthe- 
mum,  or  Ox-eye  Daisy. 

Moon-Flower.  A  popular  name  of  IpomcBa 
(Calonyction)  grandijlora ;  applied  also  to -A?(e- 
mone  nemorosa,  and  Leucanthemum  Chrysanthe- 
moides. 

Moon-Seed.     See  Menispermum. 

Moon^wort.     See  Botrychium  and  Limaria. 

Moose  Horn  Fern.     See  Platycerium  ^thiopica. 

Moose-Tvood.     See  Dirca. 

Moqui'lea.  From  the  name  of  one  of  the 
species  in  Guiana.     Nat.  Ord.  RosacecB. 

A  genus  of  nearly  twenty  species  of  trees 
and  shrubs,  mostly  natives  of  Brazil.  The 
powdered  bark  of  M.  utilis  (the  Carapi  or 
Pottery-tree  of  Para),  baked  with  an  equal 
quantity  of  clay,  makes  vessels  capable  of 
withstanding  a  great  amount  of  heat. 

Morae'a.  Named  after  R.  Moore,  an  English 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

Bulbous  plants  with  very  handsome  flowers, 
nearly  allied  to  Ixia,  from  which  genus  they 
have  been  removed.  They  are  generally 
grown  in  pots.  When  they  have  done  flower- 
ing, they  should  be  kept  dry  till  they  begin  to 
grow  in  spring.  When  planted  in  the  open 
ground  they  should  be  protected  from  frost 
and  heavy  rains.  They  are  natives  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  are  propagated  by 
offsets.    Introduced  iu  1758.    Syn.  Vieusseuxia. 

Morel.  This  group  of  Fungi,  included  in  the 
genus  Morchella,  grow  chiefly  in  woods.  Sev- 
eral species  are  distinguished,  all  of  them 
edible,  the  common  Morel  being  esteemed  for 
its  good  qualities,  and  regarded  as  a  great 
delicacy. 


AND   GENEKAL  HORTICULTURE. 


259 


MOR 

More'nia.  In  honor  of  M.  Moreno.  Nat.  Ord. 
PalmacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  hot-house  Palms  from 
Peru,  requiring  the  same  treatment  as  the 
Chamcedorea,  to  which  genus  they  are  closely 
allied. 

Morica'ndia.  Named  after  M.  E.  Moricand,  an 
Italian  botanist,  author  of  "Flora  Veneta." 
Nat.  Ord.  Cmciferce. 

A  genus  of  very  pretty  hardj'  annual  or 
biennial  herbs,  natives  of  southern  Europe, 
northern  Africa  andAvestern  Asia,  with  beauti- 
ful large  i-osy-purple  or  violet-colored  flowers. 
Propagated  by  seeds,  sown  in  spring  in  a 
warm  dry  situation  out  of  doors. 

Mori'na.  Named  after  L.  Morin,  a  French 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Dij^sacacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  hei'baceous  per- 
ennials. M.  longifolia,  a  native  of  the  moun- 
tains of  the  north  of  India,  is  a  showy  plant, 
growing  two  or  three  feet  high  and  flowering 
freely  from  July  until  October.  Its  habit  of 
growth  resembles  the  Acanthus ;  the  llowers 
resemble  those  of  the  Verbena,  only  they  are 
larger,  and  produced  in  whorls  around  the 
stem.  The  general  appearance  of  the  plant  is 
weedy. 

Mori'nda.  From  morus,  a  Mulberry,  and 
Indica,  Indian  ;  Indian  Mulberry.  Nat.  Ord. 
Rubiacece. 

A  genus  of  about  forty  species  of  erect  or 
scandent  glabrous  shrubs,  or  trees,  all 
natives  of  the  tropics,  M.  tinctoria  has  pure 
white  flowers  with  a  Jasmine-like  fragrance ; 
the  bark  of  the  root  gives  a  rich  red  dye. 

Mori'nga.  Horse-radish  Tree.  From  moringo, 
the  Indian  name.     Nat.  Ord.  Moringacece. 

The  three  species  that  compose  this  genus 
are  green-house  evergreens  from  north  Africa, 
western  Asia,  and  the  East  Indies.  The 
root  of  one  of  the  species,  AI.  pterygosperma,  is 
pungent  and  stimulant,  and  is  used  by  the 
natives  for  Horse-radish.  The  fruit  of  this 
species  is  called  Ben  Nuts,  from  which  is  ex- 
tracted a  fluid  oil,  called  Oil  of  Ben,  used  by 
watchmakers. 

Moringa'ceae.  This  natural  order  contains  but 
a  single  genus,  Moringa,  which  see. 

Moriso'nia.  Named  after  Robert  Morison  of 
Aberdeen,  Professor  of  botany  at  Oxford  in 
16S3.     Nat.  Ord.  CapparidacecB. 

A  genus  of  four  species  of  West  Indian  and 
South  American  trees,  with  white  axillary  flow- 
ers and  succulent  fruit.  M.  Americana,  proba- 
bly the  only  species  in  cultivation,  is  of  easy 
culture  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
ripened  shoots  in  sand  ;  introduced  from  the 
West  Indies  in  1824. 

Mormo'des.  From  mormo,  a  goblin  ;  referring 
to  tlie  strange  appearance  of  the  flowers. 
Nat.  Ord.   OrchidacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids,  with 
dark  purple,  curiously  shaped  flowers,  from 
Mexico.  They  are  rarely  met  under  culti- 
vation and  when  grown  it  is  more  for  their 
singularity  than  their  beauty. 

Mo'rna.  Named  after  Morula,  one  of  Ossian's 
heroines.     Nat.  Ord.  CoinpositcE. 

This  is  a  small  genusof  beautiful  half-hardy 
annuals,  with  yellow  and  white  everlasting 
flowers,  allied  to  Helichrysum ;  introducotl 
from  Swan  River  in  1835.  They  should  be 
started  in  a  hot-bed,  and  planted  out  in  May. 


MOS 
Morning  Glory.     See  IpomcBu. 

Morono'bea.  From  Moronobo  or  Coronobo,  the 
Carribean  name  of  M.  coccinea.  Nat.  Ord. 
CruttifercB. 

A  small  genus  of  large,  slender-stemmed 
trees  natives  of  the  West  Indies,  Guiana  and 
Brazil.  M.  coccinea,  the  Hog  Gum-Tree  has 
large,  white,  terminal,  solitary  flowers,  and  is 
valuable  for  a  fluid  pellucid  juice  which  issues 
from  incisions  in  the  trunk  and  which  hardens 
into  a  valuable  medicinal  resin.  It  is  said 
that  in  Jamaica,  hogs  when  injured  rub  them-, 
selves  against  the  tree  in  order  to  become 
smeared  with  the  juice,  hence  the  common 
name. 

Morphology.  That  department  of  botany  which 
treats  of  the  forms  and  modifications  of  the 
organs  of  the  plants. 

Mo'rus.  Mulberry.  From  mor,  the  Celtic  for 
black;  referring  to  the  color  of  the  fruit.  Nat. 
Ord.   UrticaceoB. 

The  species  of  the  Mulberry  grow  from  ten 
to  forty  feet  high,  and  are  more  celebrated  as 
affording  leaves  upon  which  the  Silk-worm 
feeds  than  for  their  fruit,  which  is,  however, 
of  a  very  grateful  quality.  M.  rubra,  the  Red 
Mulberry,  is  veiy  common  throughout  the 
United  States,  and  produces  the  best  fruit 
of  any  of  the  species.  Charles  Downing  raised 
a  seedling  from  31.  alba  multicaulis,  which  is 
called  "Everbearing,"  and  justly  so,  as  it 
ripens  its  fruit  eai'lier  than  any  of  the  species, 
and  keeps  in  bearing  later.  31.  nigra,  the 
Black  Mulberry,  is  the  species  that  was 
formerly  cultivated  for  its  fruit,  and  was  an 
object  of  much  attention  at  a  very  early 
period  in  the  western  parts  of  Asia  and  Europe. 
The  care  bestowed  upon  it  must  have  been 
solely  on  account  of  its  fruit ;  for  the  know- 
ledge of  the  mode  of  rearing  silk-worms  was 
confined  to  the  people  of  central  and  southern 
Asia  till  the  sixth  century.  It  is  mentioned 
in  the  Psalms  that  the  wrath  of  the  Almighty 
destroyed  the  "Mulberry  trees  with  frost," 
and  this  must  have  been  recorded  as  a 
remarkable  instance  of  the  Divine  displeasure ; 
for  the  Mulberry  is  universally  known  not  to 
put  forth  its  buds  and  leaves  till  the  season  is 
so  far  advanced  that,  in  the  ordinary  course 
of  events,  all  dangers  from  the  frost  are  past. 
We  also  read  in  the  Bible  that  "  David  came 
upon  the  Philistines,  and  smote  them  over 
against  the  Mulberry  trees."  This  species  is 
found  wild  in  the  chains  of  the  Caucasus  and 
adjoining  mountains,  and  also  in  Persia  and 
Asia  Minor.  31.  alba,  the  White  Mulberry,  is  a 
nativeof  China,  and,  with  its  varieties,  is  culti- 
vated for  food  for  the  Silk-worm.  Of  all  the 
varieties,  M.  alba  multicaulis,  is  considered  the 
best,  and  is  the  most  grown  in  silk-producing 
countries.  It  was  this  variety  that  created  such 
a  mania  in  the  United  States  about  fifty  years 
ago,  when  it  was  asserted  that  silk  was  soon  to 
take  the  place  of  cotton,  aiad  that  in  all  the 
Middle  States  it  could  be  profitably  produced. 
It  is  now  largely  grown  in  California  for  rais- 
ing the  Silk-worm. 

Mosch'aria.  From  moschos,  musk;  a  musk- 
smelling  plant.    Nat.  Ord.  Composites. 

A  half-hardy  annual  from  Chili,  interesting 
only  for  the  fragrance  of  the  plant ;  the  flow- 
ers are  white,  but  of  little  merit. 

Moschatus.    Possessing  the  odor  of  musk. 


260 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


MOS 

Mosquito  Plant.     See  Lopezia  coronata. 

Moss.     See  Sphagnum. 

Moss  Campion,       One  of  the  popular  names  of 

Silene,  which  see. 
Moss  Pink.     See  Phlox  subulata. 
Mother  of  Thousands.     Linaria  Cymbalaria. 
Mother-wort.      Leonurus,    a    worthless    weed, 

common  in  neglected  and  waste  places ;  also, 

Artemisia  vulgaris. 
Mountain  Ash.     See  Pyrus  aucuparia. . 
Mountain  Cov^rslip.     See  Primula  Auricula. 
Mountain  Fringe.     See  Adlutnia  cirrhosa. 
Mountain  Holly.     See  Nemopanthes. 
Mountain  Laurel.     See  Oreodaphne. 
Mountain  Mahoe.     See  Paritium. 
Mountain  Spinach.     See  Atriplex. 

Mountain  Sweet.    A  Canadian  name  for  Ceano- 

thus  Americanus. 

Mount  Etna  Lily.    See  Sternbergia. 
Mourning  Bride.     See  Scabiosa. 
Mouse-ear  Chick-weed.     See  Ceraatium. 
Mouse-tail.     Myosurvs  minimus. 
Moutan,  or  Tree  Pseony.     See  Pceonia. 
Moving  Plant.     See  Desmodium. 

Mucous,  Mucose.  Covered  with  a  slimy  secre- 
tion, or  with  a  coat  that  is  readily  soluble  in 
water,  and  becomes  slimy;  resembling 
mucus. 

Mucronate.  Abruptly  terminated  by  a  hard, 
shaip  point ;  thus,  mucronato-serrate  is  when 
the  serratures  terminate  in  a  hard,  sharp 
point, 

Mucu'na.  Cow  Itch.  The  Brazilian  name. 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

The  plants  of  this  genus  are  well  known  to 
travelers  in  tropical  countries  from  the 
exceedingly  annoying  character  of  their  seed- 
pods,  which  are  thickly  covered  with  stinging 
hairs,  easily  detached  by  the  slightest  shake, 
and  causing  great  irritation  if  they  happen  to 
fall  upon  exposed  parts  of  the  body. 

Mud  Plantain.     See  Heteranthera. 

Muehlenbe'ckia.  Named  after  H.  G.  Muehlen- 
beck,  a  Swiss  physician.  Nat.  Ord.  Polygon- 
acece. 

A  genus  of  twining  shrubs  or  small  trees, 
natives  of  South  America,  New  Zealand,  and 
Australia.  M.  complexa  (syn.  Polygonum 
complexum)  is  of  dense  and  diffuse  habit,  and 
from  the  distinct  form  and  color  of  its  foliage, 
together  with  its  graceful,  drooping,  w'ire- 
like  branches,  often  covered  with  transparent 
fruit,  the  tooth-like  divisions  of  which  hang 
like  miniature  icicles  in  small  clusters  on 
lateral  shoots  from  the  more  ripened  stems, 
is  a  most  desirable  plant  for  vases  or  hanging 
baskets.  It  is  probably  hardy,  and  was  intro- 
duced from  New  Zealand  in  1870.  M.  platy- 
clada  is  the  name  now  given  by  some  to  the 
plant  known  as  Cocoloba  platyclada,  which 
see. 

Mu'kia.  Derivation  unknown.  Nat.  Ord.  Oucur- 
bitacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  CuAMrbiiacem,  nearly  allied 
to  Bryonia.  They  are  confined  to  the  tropics 
of  the  old  world.  M.  scabrella  is  widely 
diffused.      It  is  an  annual,  scabrous  climbing 


MUL 

herb,  with  entire  or  lobed  leaves,  small  yello-w 
flowers  and  greenish  fruit,  half  an  inch  in 
diameter,  which  is  yellow  or  reddish  when 
ripe. 

Mulberry.     See  Morus. 

Mulberry.    Indian.     See  Morinda. 

Mulberry.    Paper.     Brou^sonetia  papyri/era. 

Mulching.  Placing  leaves  or  rough  litter  around 
newly  planted  trees  to  prevent  evaporation 
from  the  soil  has  been  long  practiced.  Good 
cultivators  apply  leaves,  rough  manure,  etc. ,  to 
the  surface  of  the  soil  to  protect  the  roots  of 
certain  plants  against  the  action  of  the  frost,  it 
being  useful,  not  so  much  against  freezing  as 
to  prevent  alternate  freezing  and  thawing. 
In  strawberry  culture,  the  mulch  applied  in 
the  fall  protects  the  roots  during  winter ;  it  is 
allowed  to  remain  on  the  bed,  where,  if  thick 
enough,  it  keeps  down  weeds,  and  prevents 
the  evaporation  of  moisture  from  the  soil 
during  the  dry  time  we  are  apt  to  have  between 
the  flowering  and  the  ripening  of  the  Straw- 
berry. The  utility  of  a  mulch  is  not  confined 
to  the  Strawberry  among  fruits ;  Raspberries 
and  Currants  are  much  benefited  by  it;  and 
the  finer  varieties  of  English  Gooseberries,  a 
fruit  with  which  very  few  succeed  in  our  hot 
summers,  can  be  successfully  grown  when  so 
treated.  Newly  planted  trees,  whether  of 
fruit  or  ornamental  kinds,  are  much  benefited 
by  a  mulch,  and  its  application  often  settles 
the  question  of  success  or  failure.  We  have 
known  a  whole  Pear  orchard  to  be  mulched, 
and  the  owner  thought  its  cost  was  more  than 
repaid  by  saving  the  fallen  fruit  from  bruises;. 
Spinach  is  protected  in  the  same  way,  and 
Carnations,  Pansies,  Roses,  and  other  partly 
hardy  plants,  are  mulched  in  the  same  manner. 
The  rooting  of  a  laj'er  is  by  some  gardeners 
thought  to  be  facilitated  by  placing  a  flat 
stone  over  the  buried  branch ;  the  fact  being 
that  the  stone  acts  as  a  mulch,  and  prevents 
the  soil  around  the  cut  portion  from  drying 
out,  and  greatly  favors  the  rooting  process. 
Even  in  the  vegetable  garden  mulching  is 
found  useful,  especially  with  Cauliflowers, 
which  find  our  summers  quite  too  dry.  The 
material  of  the  mulch  is  not  of  much  impor- 
tance ;  mostly  one  kind  of  litter  will  answer 
nearly  as  well  as  another.  The  material  will 
be  governed  in  great  measure  by  locality ; 
those  living  near  salt  water  will  find  salt  hay, 
as  hay  from  the  marshes  is  called,  the  most 
readily  pi'ocured ;  those  who  live  near  Pine 
forests  use  the  fallen  leaves,  or  Pine  needles, 
as  they  are  called ;  in  the  grain-growing 
districts  straw  is  abundant,  and  nothing  can 
be  better ;  it  can  be  applied  more  thoroughly 
if  run  through  a  cutter.  Leaves  are  Nature's 
own  mulch,  and  answer  admirably,  if  there  is 
danger  of  their  being  blown  away,  brush  laid 
over  them,  or  even  a  little  earth  sprinkled  on 
them,  will  keep  them  in  place.  One  of  the 
best  materials  to  use  for  summer  mulching  is 
the  green  grass  mowed  from  lawns.  This, 
applied  to  the  thickness  of  two  or  three  inches 
around  the  roots  of  all  kinds  of  small  fruits, 
will  be  found  not  only  to  greatly  benefit  the 
crop,  particularly  in  dry  weather,  but  will  save 
greatly  in  labor  by  preventing  the  growth 
of  weeds.  Stable  manure,  particularly  that 
of  cows,  is  extensively  used  in  Rose  growing 
in  winter,  two  or  three  inches  of  which  is 
placed  over  the  soil,  whether  they  are  grown 


MYOSOTIS  PALUSTRIS. 


MYOSOTIS  DI8SITIFLORA. 


MUSA   ENSKTE. 


KUBCABI  BOTEYOID^S. 


MYRSIPHYLLCM   (SMILAX). 


PLAN  or  HOUSE  FOB  FORCING  MUSHKOOMS, 
SEA  KALE,  BHUBARB,   ETC. 


v./     = 


MUSHBOOM  (AGABICUS  CAMPEBTBI8.) 


Stcfiorj. 


Scale  '/tf^ntb  I  Ft. 


I     I      I      I     I    T 


Ground 


MU6HB00MS  ON  SHELVES. 


Pkr). 


MUSHKOOMS  IN  BEDS. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


261 


MUL 

in  pots  or  on  benches ;  Moss  mulching  is  also 

used  for  this  and  other  purposes. 
Mtillein.     See  Verbascum. 
Multifid.     Divided  half-way  into  many  parts  or 

segments. 
Munti'ngio.     Named    after    Abraham  Munting, 

Professor    of    Botany    at    Groeningen,   1626- 

1683.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 
M.    Calabura,   the    only  described  species, 

is  a  handsome   small  evergreen  shrub,  with 

white  flowers  resembling  those  of  the  Bramble. 

An  infusion  of  its  leaves  is  used  as  tea  in 

Caraccas,  whence  it  was  introduced  in  1690. 

Mura'ltia.  Named  after  John  Von  Muralt,  a 
Swiss  botanist,  1645-1733.  Nat.  Ord.  Poly- 
galacecB. 

A  genus  of  about  fifty  species  of  green-house 
mucli-branched  shrubs,  natives  of  South  Africa. 
M.  Heisteria,  the  species  best  known  to  culti- 
vation, has  small,  purple,  axillary  flowers, 
and,  under  good  treatment,  is  almost  per- 
petually in  bloom.  It  was  introduced  in  1787, 
and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  young 
wood. 

Muricate.  Covered  with  short,  sharp  points, 
as  in  Panicum  muricatum. 

Mu'rraya.  Named  after  Professor  Murray, 
editor  of  Linnceus's  works.    Nat.  Ord.  Ruta- 

C€CB, 

A  small  genus  of  hot-house  evergreen  trees 
from  India,  Java,  and  China,  producing  showy 
white  flowers,  which  are  very  fragrant. 
Murucu'ja.    The  name  of  the  species  in  Brazil. 
Nat.  Ord.  Passifloracea;. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  climbers,  with 
showy  scarlet  or  purple  flowers.  The  genus 
was  formerly  included  in  Passiflora,  and 
should  in  all  respects  be  treated  the  same. 
Natives  of  Brazil. 
Mu'sa.  Banana  or  Plantain.  Named  in  honor 
of  Antonius  Musa,  the  physician  of  Augustus. 
Nat.  Ord.  Scitaminem. 

The  representative  species  of  this  interest- 
ing and  useful  genus  are  M.  paradisiaca,  the 
Plantain,  and  M.  sapientum,  the  Banana.  The 
latter  has  its  stems  marked  with  purple  spots, 
and  its  fruits  are  shorter  and  rounder  than 
those  of  the  Plantain,  and  are  red  and  yellow 
in  color,  but  otherwise  the  two  plants  are  lit- 
tle different  one  from  the  other.  The  fruit  of 
the  Plantain  is  smaller  and  angular,  and  yel- 
low in  color.  "They  have  been  cultivated 
from  the  most  remote  times  in  tropical  cli- 
mates, in  sub-tropical  Asia,  America,  Africa, 
and  the  islands  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
Oceans,  for  the  sake  of  their  fruits,  which  they 
produce  in  enormous  quantities,  with  very 
little  attention.  There  are  several  varieties, 
the  fruits  of  which  differ  in  color  and  taste.. 
The  starch  in  the  unripe  fruit  becomes  con- 
verted, as  it  ripens,  into  mucilage  and  sugar. 
They  are  highly  nutritious,  and  serve  as  the 
staple  food  of  a  large  number  of  the  human 
race.  Though  less  nutritious  than  wheat  or 
potatoes,  yet  the  space  occupied  by  their  cul- 
ture and  the  care  required  are  so  very  much 
less,  that  Humboldt  has  calculated  the  pro- 
duce of  Bananas  compared  to  that  of  Wheat 
as  133  to  1,  and  to  that  of  Potatoes  as  44  to  1. 
Plantain  meal  is  obtained  by  -powdermg  the 
dried  fruit.  It  is  very  nutritious,  as  it  con- 
tains not  only  starch,  but  proteine  or  flesh- 


MUS 

forming  material.  The  fruits  of  the  Plantain 
are  stated  by  chemists  to  be  most  nearly  allied 
in  composition  and  nutritive  qualities  to  the 
Potato,  and  the  Plantain  meal  to  Rice.  The 
natives  in  many  parts  of  India  live  almost 
entirely  on  Plantains,  and  the  stems,  laden 
with  fruit,  are  made  use  of  at  wedding  fes- 
tivities, in  token  of  plenty."  The  Banana  is 
not  known  in  an  uncultivated  state.  The 
wildest  tribes  in  South  America,  who  depend 
upon  this  fruit  for  subsistence,  propagate  the 
plant  by  suckers.  Eight  or  nine  months  after 
the  sucker  has  been  planted,  the  Banana 
begins  to  form  its  clusters,  and  the  fruit  is 
ready  for  picking  in  two  or  three  months 
thereafter.  When  the  stalk  is  cut,  the  fruit 
of  which  has  ripened,  a  sprout  is  put  forth, 
which  again  bears  fruit  in  three  months.  The 
whole  labor  of  cultivation  that  is  required  for 
a  plantation  of  Bananas,  is  to  cut  the  stalks 
laden  with  ripe  fruit,  and  to  give  the  plants  a 
slight  nourishment  once  or  twice  a  year  by 
digging  round  the  roots.  The  yield  per  acre, 
with  the  little  or  no  care  bestowed,  is  between 
fifty  and  sixty  tons  of  ripe  fruit.  The  Banana 
is  often  cultivated  in  the  green-house.  M. 
Cavendishii  is  the  best  for  this  purpose ;  it  is 
a  dwarf  species,  from  China,  rarely  growing 
more  than  six  feet  high,  and  is  exceedingly 
ornamental.  In  a  warm  house  it  ripens  its 
fruit  to  perfection,  and  the  flavor  is  far 
superiorto  that  which  is  found  in  our  markets, 
which  is  picked  quite  green,  and  ripened  in 
holds  of  vessels  or  in  fruit  stores.  M.  superba 
and  M.  Ensete  have  foliage  of  magnificent  pro- 
portions, and  are  often  grown  on  the  lawn  as 
ornamental  plants.  M.  coccinea,  a  native  of 
Cochin  China,  has  spathcs  of  a  bright  scarlet 
color,  tipped  with  yellow,  and  is  a  very  orna- 
mental plant  in  a  stove  or  warm  green-house. 

Musca'ri.  Grape  Hyacinth.  From  moschos, 
musk;  the  smell  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord. 
Liliacece. 

A  small  genus  of  bulbous  plants,  with  small 
white  or  blue  globular  flowers,  in  racemes,  at 
the  end  of  a  simple  stalk.  They  only  require 
planting  where  they  can  remain  many  years 
without  being  disturbed.  Though  natives  of 
middle  Europe  and  the  Mediterranean  region, 
they  have  become  naturalized  in  many  parts 
of  the  United  States.  On  the  east  end  of  Long 
Island  some  fields  are  literally  blue  with  the 
flowers  in  early  spring.  From  their  peculiar 
fragrance,  the  plant  is  often  called  "Baby's 
Breath." 

Musci.  An  important  tribe  of  Ciyptogams, 
comprising  the  true  Mosses. 

Mushroom.  Agaricus  campestris.  The  great 
interest  now  being  taken  in  Mushroom  culture 
in  the  United  States  has  induced  us  to  treat 
the  subject  as  fully  as  the  limits  of  our  space 
will  permit.  Mushrooms  may  be  grown 
either  in  a  house  specially  erected  for  the  pur- 
pose, in  cellars,  out-houses,  sheds,  under 
green-house  stages,  tables,  or,  as  in  France 
and  other  parts  of  the  world,  in  caves  or  other 
subterranean  places,  as  light  is  not  necessary 
to  their  growth.  There  is  a  peculiar  interest 
in  Mushroom  culture  to  the  amateur  or  begin- 
ner, from  the  fact  that,  while  in  all  other  culti- 
vated plants  we  have  something  tangible  to 
start  with— either  plants,  seeds,  or  roots  — 
we  have  neither,  here,  as  far  as  the  naked  eye 
can  see;    for    the    white  mouldy  substanue 


262 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


MUS 

called  spawn  is  not  easily  imngined  to  be 
either,  though  we  know,  by  the  use  of  the 
microscope,  that  the  germs  or  spores  are  to 
be  found  in  countless  numbers  on  the  "gills  " 
of  the  fully-developed  Mushroom,  and  these, 
without  doubt,  when  falling  in  a  congenial 
"  soil,"  form  the  spawn  which  we  plant  to  de- 
velop the  Mushroom.  But  an  extended 
botanical  or  phj'siological  inquiry  is  not  neces- 
sary to  the  subject  of  culture.  As  there  is  no 
necessity  for  light  in  Mushroom  culture,  the 
usual  method  of  growing  them,  where  there  is 
a  green-house,  is  to  use  the  sheds  used  for 
potting,  packing,  or  for  covering  the  boiler 
pits ;  and  the  portion  of  them  used  for  Mush- 
room growing  is  generally  four  feet  from  the 
back  wall,  starting  on  the  floor  of  the  shed 
with  the  first  bed,  the  additional  beds  being 
formed  of  shelving  of  the  same  width,  and 
from  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  deep,  raised  one 
above  another  to  the  top  of  the  wall,  like 
steamboat  sleeping  berths.  Of  course,  ii  the 
shed  is  used  for  growing  Mushrooms  exclu- 
sively, these  beds  will  be  formed  in  the  middle 
and  front  of  the  shed,  leaving  say  three  feet 
walks  between  each  tier  of  Mushroom  beds ; 
for  example,  if  the  shed  is  eleven  feet  wide, 
it  will  give  two  Mushroom  beds  four  feet  wide 
on  each  side,  with  a  three-feet  walk  in  the 
centre ;  or  if  twenty-two  feet  wide,  the  beds 
for  Mushrooms  should  be  four  feet  wide  at 
front  and  rear,  with  an  eight-feet  bed  in  the 
centre,  and  three  feet  walks  all  around,  the 
eight-feet  bed  being  accessible  from  the  walks 
on  either  side.  When  a  Mushroom  bed  is 
made  under  the  green-house  bench,  the  bench 
must  be  made  of  slate  or  other  material,  to 
prevent  the  water  getting  through,  otherwise 
Mushrooms  could  not  well  be  raised  under  it. 
The  bed  must  also  be  formed  under  such 
benches  as  have  no  pipe  or  flues  under  them, 
as  the  heat  from  such  near  to  the  bed  would 
be  hurtful.  "Where  there  is  a  superfluity  of 
cellar-room,  there  is  no  better  place  to  raise 
Mushrooms,  as  the  cool  moisture  of  the  atmos- 
phere and  the  uniform  temperature  of  the  cellar 
is  more  congenial  to  the  growth  of  this  vege- 
table than  structures  above  ground.  The  beds 
may  be  formed  of  the  size  and  depth  above 
recommended ;  or,  where  portable  Mushroom 
beds  are  wanted,  boxes  may  be  used  of  the 
requisite  depth  and  of  convenient  size.  The 
temperature  of  the  apartment  where  Mush- 
rooms are  to  be  grown  during  the  winter 
months  should  range  from  55°  to  65",  and, 
consequently,  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt 
to  grow  the  crop  in  the  winter  months  unless 
artificial  means  were  used  to  keep  the  tem- 
perature to  that  height;  for  though  the 
manure  in  the  beds  were  up  to  80°  when  first 
made,  it  would  only  partially  raise  the  tem- 
perature of  an  unheated  building  in  winter. 
Probably  the  best  time  to  begin  making  the 
beds  for  a  crop  wanted  in  winter  is  during 
August  and  September,  as  at  that  season  the 
temperature  is  high  enough  to  cause  the 
spawn  to  germinate  freely,  so  that  the  first 
beds  made  in  August  will  give  the  first  crop 
during  December;  those  in  September,  in 
January  or  February ;  and  so  on.  The  fol- 
lowing plan,  given  in  our  work,  "Gardening 
for  Profit,"  has  been  extensively  practiced  for 
the  past  fifteen  years,  with  rare  instances  of 
failure,  even  by  those  who  never  before 
attempted    the   culture    of    the    Mushroom : 


MUS 

"Let  fresh  horse  droppings  be  procured  from 
the  stables  each  day,  in  quantity  not  less, 
perhaps,  than  a  good  barrowful.  To  every 
barrowload  of  droppings  add  about  the  same 
weight  (which  will  be  a  little  less  than  one- 
third  in  bulk)  of  fresh  loam  from  a  pasture,  or 
sod  land  of  any  kind,  in  fact,  that  has  not 
been  manured ;  the  danger  of  old  manured 
soil  being,  that  it  may  contain  spurious /itH^t. 
Let  the  droppings  and  soil  be  mixed  together 
day  by  day  as  the  droppings  can  be  procured. 
If  they  can  be  had  all  at  once  in  quantity 
enough,  so  much  the  better.  Let  the  heap  be 
turned  every  day,  so  that  it  is  not  allowed  to 
heat  violentlj^,  until  you  have  got  enough  to 
form  the  bed  of  the  dimensions  required.  Be 
careful  that  you  keep  it  under  cover,  so  that 
it  cannot  possibly  get  wet.  Now,  from  the 
prepared  heap  of  droppings  and  soil,  spread 
over  the  bed  a  thin  layer;  pound  this  firmly 
down  with  a  brick,  and  so  on  till  it  reaches  a 
depth  of  eight  inches.  Be  careful  that  it  is 
not  more  nor  less  than  eight  inches ;  more  will 
cause  the  mass  to  heat  too  violently,  while  less 
is  hardly  enough.  Into  this  bed  plunge  a 
thermometer ;  in  a  day  or  two  the  bed  will 
heat  so  that  it  will  run  up  to  100"  or  over; 
and  as  soon  as  it  declines  to  90",  take  a  dib- 
ble, or  sharp  stick,  and  make  holes  three  or 
four  inches  deep  all  over  the  bed  at  twelve 
inches  each  way ;  into  each  hole  put  a  piece 
of  spawn  about  the  size  of  a  hen's  egg,  cover- 
ing up  the  hole  again  with  the  compost,  so 
that  it  will  present  the  same  level,  firm  sur- 
face as  before  the  spawn  was  put  in.  Let  it 
remain  in  this  condition  for  about  ten  or 
twelve  days,  by  which  time  the  spawn  will 
have  'run'  through  the  whole  bed.  Now 
spread  evenly  over  the  surface  of  the  bed 
nearly  two  inches  of  fresh  loam ;  firm  it  down 
moderately  with  the  back  of  a  spade,  and 
cover  up  the  bed  with  three  or  four  inches  of 
hay  or  straw.  This  completes  the  whole 
operation  of  'planting  the  crop.'  Nothing 
now  I'emains  to  be  done  but  to  attend  to  the 
proper  degrees  of  heat  and  moisture.  If  you 
can  control  the  means  of  heating,  so  that  the 
place  can  be  kept  uniformly  at  a  temperature 
of  60",  all  the  better;  if  not,  it  may  range 
from  40°  to  60°.  It  should  never  get  below 
40°,  else  the  bed  will  become  cold  and  delay 
the  crop  until  too  late  in  the  season  to  be 
profitable.  Unless  the  air  of  the  house  has 
been  unusually  dry,  the  Mushrooms  will 
appear  before  any  water  is  required;  but 
examination  should  be  made,  and  if  the  sur- 
face of  the  bed  appears  dry,  a  gentle  sprinkling 
of  water,  heated  to  about  100",  must  be  given. 
With  this  treatment,  beginning  in  August, 
our  first  crop  is  ready  for  use  in  December; 
while  beginning  in  September,  the  crop  should 
be  ready  in  January  and  February.  The 
Mushrooms  do  not  come  up  all  at  once,  but 
from  three  to  four  weeks  will  be  needed  to  get 
off  the  first  crop.  After  this,  a  slight  dress- 
ing of  fresh  soil  about  half  an  inch  in  depth  is 
spread  over  the  bed,  and  again  beaten  down 
with  the  spade ;  this  is  gently  watered  with 
tepid  water  when  dry,  and  a  second  crop  of 
Mushrooms  (often  better  than  the  first)  is 
gathered  in  March  or  April.  To  show  how  a 
simple  oversight  in  our  operations  may  defeat 
the  whole  work,  I  will  state  that  in  my  first 
attempt  at  Mushroom  growing  I  labored  for 
two  years  without  being  able  to  produce  a 


AND   GENEKAL   HORTICULTURE. 


263 


MUS 

single  Mushroom.  In  my  apprentice  days  I 
had  known  no  such  word  as  fail  in  so  simple  a 
matter ;  but  here,  on  my  first  attempt,  on  my 
own  responsibility,  I  was  met  by  total  failure. 
Every  authority  was  consulted,  all  the  various 
methods  tried,  but  with  no  better  success.  In 
all  such  cases  something  must  be  blamed,  and 
I  pronounced  the  spawn  worthless ;  but  this 
could  not  well  be,  as  a  friend  had  abundant 
crops  growing  from  spawn  received  from  the 
same  source.  Driven  into  a  corner  by  this 
information,  I  made  another  exploration  of 
my  'authorities,'  and  was  fortunate  to  find 
in  one  of  them  a  single  sentence  that  at  once 
showed  where  my  error  had  been ;  it  was  to 
'  be  careful  to  delay  the  covering  with  mould 
until  ten  or  twelve  days  after  the  bed  had 
been  spawned.'  Now,  in  all  the  different 
methods  I  had  tried,  I  had  in  each  invaria- 
bly put  in  the  spawn,  and  at  once  put  on  the 
two-inch  covering  of  soil,  which  had  the 
effect  to  shutdown  the  steam,  thereby  raising 
the  temperature  in  the  bed  to  a  degree  that 
destroyed  the  spawn,  and  consequently 
defeated  my  whole  operations.  My  excuse 
for  this  digression  is  to  show  the  importance 
of  what  might  otherwise  be  thought  unneces- 
sary details.  Although  spawn  is  procurable 
at  cheap  rates  in  all  horticultural  stores,  yet 
to  such  as  desire  to  make  it  themselves,  I 
give  the  following  brief  directions:  Take 
equal  portions  of  horse  droppings,  cow  dung, 
and  fresh  loam,  and  mix  the  whole  thoroughly 
together,  as  you  would  make  mortar;  then 
form  it  into  cakes  about  the  size  of  large 
bricks;  place  these  on  edge,  under  cover, 
until  they  become  half  dry ;  then  insert  into 
each  a  piece  of  spawn  half  an  inch  or  so 
square,  and  let  the  bricks  remain  until  they 
are  quite  dry ;  then  spread  about  eight  inches 
of  horse  dung  over  the  floor  of  the  shed,  on 
which  build  the  bricks  in  a  pile  three  feet 
wide  by  three  feet  high,  keeping  the  side  in 
which  the  spawn  has  been  put  uppermost ; 
then  cover  them  over  with  sufficient  stable 
manure,  so  as  to  give  a  gentle  heat,  not 
exceeding  100°,  through  the  whole.  In  two  or 
three  weeks  the  spawn  will  have  spread  itself 
through  the  whole  mass  of  each  brick ;  they 
are  then  removed  to  a  dry  place,  and  will 
retain  their  vital  properties  for  many  years. 
There  is  not  the  least  question  that  the  culti- 
vation of  Mushrooms  for  market,  forced  in 
the  manner  detailed,  will  give  a  larger  profit 
for  the  labor  and  capital  invested  than  that 
from  any  other  vegetable.  The  supply  has 
never  yet  been  half  enough,  and  sellers  have 
had  prices  pretty  much  as  they  pleased.  I 
know  of  no  house  that  has  been  especially 
erected  for  the  purpose,  and  the  markets 
have  been  supplied  from  beds  formed  in  out- 
of-the-way  corners,  giving  only  an  uncertain 
and  irregular  supply,  very  discouraging  to 
buyers.  I  have  no  doubt  whatever  that 
Mushroom  houses,  roughly  built,  but  exclu- 
sively devoted  to  that  purpose,  would,  in  the 
vicinity  of  any  of  our  large  cities,  pay  a  profit 
of  fifty  per  cent,  per  annum  on  the  cost  of 
construction." 

The  following  article  was  written  to  a  re- 
quest made  by  me  to  John  G.  Gardner,  Jobs- 
town,  N.  J.,  who  has  been  eminently  success- 
ful as  a  grower  of  Mushrooms. 

"  Having  been  interested  in  the  culture  of 
Mushrooms  for  the  past  fifteen  years,  both  in 


MUS 

England  and  in  this  country,  and  having  read 
almost  everything  written  on  the  subject, 
besides  having  had  ample  experience  every 
year,  growing  them  successfully  in  various 
ways,  under  green-house  benches,  in  cellars, 
and  in  houses  constructed  especially  for 
Mushroom  culture  ;  it  is  only  after  close  study 
that  I  have  been  able  during  the  last  three 
years  to  produce  enough  in  quantity  to  com- 
pensate for  the  expense  attending  their  cul- 
ture. Starting  with  these  facts  uppermost  in 
my  mind — that  I  could  not  realize  Mushrooms 
enough  in  value  as  an  equivalent  of  labor  and 
material  expended,  and  that  at  some  future 
time  I  might  have  to  grow  them  for  market,  I 
concluded  that  I  must  become  more  familiar 
with  the  conditions  of  their  development,  and 
closely  watched  from  day  to  day  all  stages  of 
operations,  until  the  Mushrooms  appeared 
upon  the  surface  of  the  beds. 

"The  first  serious  drawback  I  saw,  was  the 
falling  off  after  two  or  three  weeks  of  the 
quantity  gathered,  and  upon  examining  the 
beds  I  found  abundance  of  spawn  in  thread- 
like form  looking  healthy,  and  Mushrooms 
already  formed  upon  the  ends  of  the  threads, 
but  only  a  few  developed,  ninety  per  cent, 
becoming  brown  in  color  after  showing  upon 
the  surface  the  size  of  small  peas.  Now  I  was 
at  a  loss  to  know  the  cause  of  this  falling  off; 
with  the  spawn  in  perfect  health,  and  as  some 
of  the  beds  in  the  same  house  having  had 
exactly  the  same  treatment,  spawned  and 
commenced  bearing  at  the  same  time  were 
still  bearing  well,  being  positive  also  that  the 
atmospheric  conditions  had  not  been  changed, 
and  that  the  beds  were  moist  enough,  I  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  the  food  of  the 
Mushroom  had  been  all  absorbed,  and  nothing 
left  to  develop  the  thread-like  forms  into 
Mushrooms,  and  that  what  was  needed  was 
food  prepared  in  a  soluble  form  that  I  could 
apply  at  this  stage  of  falling  off.  I  had  read 
that  the  Mushroom  abounds  in  nitrogen,  and 
that  this  substance  must  be  a  necessary  ele- 
ment, but  in  what  form  did  the  Mush  room  take 
it  up?  I  knew  also  that  from  beds  that  would 
not  ferment  although  in  a  house  of  the  proper 
temperature,  I  could  not  get  a  crop,  so  it  ap- 
peared clear  to  me  that  fermentation  was  the 
means  of  preparing  the  nitrogen,  causing  it  to 
take  the  form  of  ammonia,  and  that  in  this 
state  it  became  soluble,  and  fit  for  plant  food. 
At  once  then  I  saw  this  to  be  the  cardinal 
point — that  this  ammonia  must  be  retained 
in  the  beds,  that  the  labor  of  turning  and  drj^- 
ing  the  material,  and  all  the  foundation  that 
took  place  in  the  manure  was  a  loss,  as  the 
nitrogen  escaped  in  the  form  of  ammonia,  but 
until  some  other  material  than  horse-stable 
manure  be  used  for  the  beds  (and  I  believe  it 
will  be  practical  in  the  near  future  to  use 
other  material),  there  will  be  a  loss  of  am- 
monia from  the  beds  by  fermentation  in 
different  stages.  I  have  been  experimenting 
with  sphagnum  moss  and  cocoanut  fibre, 
using  hot  water  to  get  the  proper  temperature 
to  produce  the  spawn  in  an  active  state,  and 
covering  with  soil,  charged  with  ammonia,  I 
have  been  successful  in  raising  healthy  Mush- 
rooms. 

"In  October,  1886,  being  satisfied  with  the 
result  of  my  experiments,  and  feeling  certain 
that  I  had  mastered  the  fundamental  part  of 
'  Mushroom     Culture,'      I    made     a    radical 


264 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


MUS 

change  in  my  operations,  which  I  give  in 
detail.  First,  however,  I  will  give  some  idea 
of  my  house.  It  had  been  a  storage  cellar  for 
roots,60x24  feet,  with  a  cement  floor,  and  below 
ground  level.  I  had  six  rows  of  2%  inch  pipe 
put  in  to  keep  up  a  proper  temperature  in 
severe  weather,  tore  out  all  the  shelves  and 
benches  of  the  old  system,  and  formed  the 
bed  on  the  floor.  I  received  the  manure  by 
the  cars  from  New  York,  and  had  it  unloaded 
and  carted  at  once,  making  the  bed  the  same 
day,  passing  the  manure  through  openings  in 
the  walls,  and  levelling  it  to  an  even  depth  of 
fifteen  inches.  The  next  day  I  had  soil  from 
the  vegetable  garden,  a  rich  mellow  loam, 
carted  and  put  on  to  the  depth  of  three 
inches  over  one  half  of  the  bed,  lengthwise  in 
the  house.  The  other  half  of  the  bed  I  had 
forked  up  loosely  three  inches  in  depth,  so  as 
to  dry  and  ferment  as  quickly  as  possible, 
throwing  open  all  the  windows  and  doors.  In 
twelve  days  after  making  the  bed  in  the  part 
that  had  no  soil  upon  it,  I  cut  di'ills  with  a  hoe 
sixteen  inches  apart  and  two  inches  deep 
lengthwise  of  the  house,  to  receive  the  spawn, 
•  leaving  drills  uncovered  two  days.'  Finding 
the  temperature  in  the  bottom  of  the  drill  to  be 
95", and  the  bed  below  getting  dry,  I  took  soil  by 
hand,  and  spreading  a  little  thinly  in  the  bot- 
tom of  the  drill,  I  put  in  the  spawn,  which 
was  in  cake  form,  broken  into  pieces  the  size 
of  a  small  egg,  then  moistening  it  in  each 
drill  by  a  sprinkler,  I  partially  closed  the 
house,  so  as  to  hold  a  warm  damp  moisture 
over  the  spawn.  On  the  second  day,  finding 
the  temperature  falling,  I  pulled  the  manure 
loosely  over  the  spawn  with  a  lake,  and  plac- 
ing a  thermometer  at  the  same  depth  as  the 
spawn,  I  found  next  morning  the  temperature 
to  be  90°.  I  then  tamped  the  bed  down  to  a 
level  surface,  and  passing  the  soil  from  the 
other  part  of  the  bed  upon  the  spawned  part, 
I  forked  up  the  surface  loose,  and  threw  the 
house  open  again  to  dry  the  bed  ready  for 
spawning,  which  was  in  half  the  time  of  the 
first  part.  When  spawned  half  the  soil  was 
passed  over  again  and  the  whole  surface  made 
even  and  tamped  down  firmly.  In  five  weeks 
I  gathered  Mushrooms,  and  continued  to  do  so 
until  the  following  May,  when  the  warm 
weather  set  in  and  the  Maggot  played  havoc 
with  them  in  all  stages.  The  soil  was 
thoroughly  charged  with  ammonia  as  it  lay 
upon  the  surface  of  the  bed  during  the  whole 
fermentation,  and  furnishing  the  food  for  the 
Mushroom.  The  moisture  of  the  house  was 
kept  up  by  fermenting  manure  in  oil  barrels, 
which  were  recharged  as  they  cooled  off.  The 
temperature  was  kept  at  57",  as  nearly  as  pos- 
sible ;  other  artificial  heat  by  steam  or  flue 
heating  would  have  answered  nearly  the 
same  purpose. 

"For  growing  Mushrooms  in  fruit-houses 
such  as  a  peachhouse  or  grapery,  I  use  hot- 
bed sashes,  forming  the  frames  with  boards, 
making  the  beds  directly  upon  the  soil  of  the 
border.  These  beds  I  form  with  the  manuie 
as  soon  as  received,  making  them  one  foot  in 
thickness,  and  treading  down  firmly.  I  then 
spread  one  and  a  half  inches  of  soil  evenly 
over  the  surface,  and  fork  up  an  inch  or  so  of 
the  manure  with  it,  intermixing  it  slightly  so 
as  to  prevent  the  soil  forming  a  cake-like  sur- 
face ;  I  then  add  two  inches  of  manure,  which 
is  left  loose  on  the  top  of  the  bed.    I  find  that 


MUS 

the  soil  lessens  the  fermentation  near  the  sur- 
face, and  that  a  large  amount  of  the  ammonia 
is  gathered  in  the  loose  manure  which  is 
much  cooler  and  damper  than  the  body  of  the 
bed  below  the  soil.  I  spawn  at  a  temperature 
of  90^  to  95",  placing  the  spawn  in  drills  one 
foot  apart  and  two  inches  deep,  using  one  and  a 
half  bricks  to  a  sash  6x3  feet,  finishing  with 
one  and  a  half  inches  of  soil  direct  from  the 
vegetable  garden.  I  find  when  fresh  manure 
is  formed  into  beds,  that  when  the  fermenta- 
tion is  ceasing,  the  manure  becomes  nearly 
dry,  so  that  there  is  no  danger  of  raising 
the  temperature  when  the  beds  are  soiled 
directly  after  spawning.  The  sashes  are  then 
put  on,  each  one  being  tilted  an  inch  or  so  to 
let  out  the  moisture  given  off  by  the  beds,  so 
as  to  keep  the  soil  dry  upon  the  surface  until 
the  Mushrooms  appear,  after  which  the  soil 
must  be  kept  moist,  the  supply  of  air  being 
regulated  so  as  not  to  allow  it  to  become  dry. 
Strong  light,  or  sun's  rays  must  be  kept  ofif 
the  sashes  to  keep  an  even  temperature,  as  a 
sudden  raise  of  10"  would  be  of  great  detriment 
to  the  young  Mushrooms  near  the  surface.  I 
spread  half  a  peck  of  soil  charged  with  Am- 
monia under  each  sash  over  the  surface  of  the 
bed  every  two  weeks,  after  gatheiing  has 
commenced,  which  should  be  in  from  five  to 
six  weeks.  Frames  made  up  in  this  way  will 
bear  good  crops  from  November  to  April. 

"Remarks.  Mushroom  spores  will  repro- 
duce themselves  in  fourteen  days,  from  dry 
spawn  put  into  active  state,  so  in  case  where 
the  beds  have  been  found  dry,  after  fermenta- 
tion has  ceased,  which  is  often  the  case  if  not 
watched  closely ;  after  having  been  spawned 
two  weeks,  take  a  watering  pot  with  a  fine 
sprinkler  and  water  the  surface  so  as  to  pen- 
etrate about  two  inches  with  water  at  90 
degrees,  at  the  same  time  raising  the  temper- 
ature of  the  house  10  degrees.  Mushrooms 
will  then  appear  in  from  five  to  six  weeks. 

"Best  Temperattjke f or  Mushroom-house 
57  degrees. 

' '  Best  Condition.  Moist  only  to  a  percep- 
tible degree,  the  surface  soil  kept  damp  by 
watering  moderately  with  clear  water,  of  a 
temperature  of  not  less  than  80  degrees,  ap- 
plied with  a  syringe  or  a  watering-pot  with  a 
fine  sprinkler.  To  have  the  beds  packed 
solidly,  as  recommended  by  a  great  many 
growers,  is  a  mistake,  as  the  thread-like 
spawn,  cannot  travel  freely  enough  thx-ough 
the  material  of  the  bed — have  the  beds  fiim 
only.  For  storing  spawn  in  a  dry  state,  with 
which  to  spawn  other  beds,  it  is  best  to  have 
it  in  solid  material  as  it  will  handle  better 
than  in  flakes. 

"  Atmosphere.  The  best  means  to  keep  the 
atmosphere  of  a  Mushroom-house  moist,  is  to 
place  a  few  barrels  of  fermenting  manure  in 
the  house,  changing  them  when  cooled  off. 
This  will  obviate  running  the  risk  of  getting 
the  beds  too  wet  from  the  syringe  or  watering 
pot. 

' '  VentiijATION.  The  passage  of  air  must  be 
from  the  top,  and  must  be  fully  under  control 
at  a  temperature  not  below  45  degrees  on 
entering  the  house.  Avoid  all  currents  of  air 
on  the  surface  of  the  bed  when  in  bearing. 

"  Heating.  Use  hot- water  pipes  as  little 
as  possible,  and  only  when  the  house  drops 
below  55  degrees.  Hot-water  pipes  within 
eight  inches  of  the  bed  will  damage  the  Mush- 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


265 


MUS 

rooms.  Keep  a  temperature  as  near  57  degrees 
as  possible,  a  sudden  change  of  ten  degrees 
higher  or  lower  will  have  a  bad  effect." 

Mushrooms  on  Pasture  Lands,  etc.  A 
simple  method  of  growing  Mushrooms  on 
pasture  lands  or  on  lawns  is  to  take  pieces  of 
spawn — about  the  size  of  a  liickory-nut — and 
lift  the  sod  with  a  trowel  or  spade,  just  suffi- 
cient to  get  the  spawn  under  it  and  then  press 
it  down  tight.  Set  the  pieces  of  spawn  one  to 
two  feet  apart.  Three  or  tour  dollars'  worth 
of  spawn,  which  can  be  got  from  any  seeds- 
man, is  sufficient  for  an  acre. 

The  best  time  to  place  the  spawn  under  the 
sod  is  from  middle  of  May  to  middle  of  June, 
and  in  a  favorable  season  a  fair  crop  can  be 
expected  the  following  September,  or  in  three 
or  four  months  from  time  of  planting. 

Musk  Mallow.    See  Malva. 

Muskmelon.  Cueumis  melo.  See  Cucumis. 
The  cultivation  of  the  Muskmelon  was  car- 
ried on  at  a  very  remote  period.  It  is  said 
to  be  a  native  of  the  central  part  of  Asia,  and 
to  have  been  brought  into  Europe  fx'om 
Persia;  but  the  date  of  its  first  culture  is  so 
remote  that  there  is  no  certain  knowledge  on 
the  subject.  It  appears  to  have  been  brought 
into  Italy  early  in  the  first  century,  if  not  be- 
fore, as  it  is  mentioned  ty  Pliny,  who  died 
from  suffocation  caused  by  the  great  eruption 
of  Vesuvius  in  A.  D.  79.  In  his  works  he  de- 
scribes the  methods  by  which  Melons  were 
grown  or  forced,  so  as  to  be  obtained  for  the 
Emperor  Tiberius  at  all  times  of  the  year. 
Of  the  Melon  there  are  many  varieties.  Of 
the  various  classes  of  Melons,  one  of  the 
oldest  and  best  is  the  Cantaloup,  which,  ac- 
cording to  M.  Jacquin,  derives  its  name  from 
Cantalouppi,  a  seat  belonging  to  the  Pope, 
near  Rome,  where  this  sort,  brought  from 
Armenia  by  the  missionaries,  was  first  culti- 
vated. The  flesh  of  this,  with  its  varieties,  is 
yellowish  or  pink.  The  Nutmeg  and  Citron 
varieties,  which  are  the  more  common  in  our 
markets,  are  supposed  to  be  the  African  or 
Egyptian  Melons  of  the  early  writers.  The 
Melons  of  Persia  have  long  borne  a  high 
character,  and  differ  materially  from  the 
varieties  commonly  cultivated.  They  are  ex- 
tremely rich  and  sweet,  and  instead  of  the 
thick  rind  of  the  common  melons,  they  have 
a  very  thin  and  delicate  skin,  which  makes  a 
fruit  of  the  same  apparent  size  contain  nearly 
twice  as  much  edible  flesh.  From  this 
peculiarity  they  are  difficult  to  handle  and 
ship ;  and  they  are  likewise  more  difficult  of 
culture,  requiring  a  long,  warm  season  to 
ripen  to  perfection.  The  most  popular 
Melon  of  the  New  York  markets  is  the 
•'  Hackensack,"  a  green-fleshed,  finely  netted 
variety,  cultivated  in  immense  quantities  in 
the  vicinity  of  Hackensack,  N.  J. 

Musk-Plant.     See  Mimulus  Moschatus. 

Musk-Thistle.     Carduus  Nutans. 

Musk  Tree,  or  Musk  "Wood.     Eurybia  (Aster) 
argophylla. 

Musquash  Root.     One  of  the  popular  names  of 
Cicuta  maculata. 

Mussae'nda.     The  Cingalese  name  of  one  of  the 
species.     Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  tropical  evergreen  shrubs. 
M.  frondosa  is  a  very  pretty  species,  with  ter- 
minal clusters  of  yellow  flowers,  surrounded 


MYL 

by  bracts  of  pure  white,  which  give  it  a  very 
singular  appearance.  The  leaves  of  some  of 
the  species  are  esteemed  for  their  medicinal 
properties.  M.  uniflora  is  a  vigorous,  free- 
flowering,  handsome  plant,  suitable  for  basket 
culture.  They  are  natives  of  the  East  Indies, 
and  are  propagated  by  cuttings.  Introduced 
in  1814. 

Mu'sschia.  Named  after  J.  H.  Mussche,  once 
Director  of  the  Botanic  Garden  at  Ghent. 
Nat.  Ord.  Campanulacece. 

A  small  genus  of  perennial  herbs  or  small 
shrubs,  natives  of  the  Island  of  Madiera.  M. 
aurea  is  a  fine  herbaceous  perennial,  bearing 
its  rich,  golden-yellow  flowers  in  erect,  loose 
panicles.  Introduced  in  1777.  Syn.  Campor 
nula  aurea. 

Mustard.     See  Sinapis. 

Mustard.  Hedge.     See  Erysimum. 

Mustard  Tree  of  Scripture.  Supposed  to  be 
the  common  Mustard-plant  (Sinapis  alba,  or 
nigra),  which  in  Palestine  is  said  to  attain  the 
height  of  ten  to  fifteen  feet.  The  late  Dr. 
Royle  endeavored  to  prove  that  Salvadora 
Persica  was  meant,  but  this  tree  does  not  grow 
in  Galilee. 

Muticous.     Pointless. 

Muti'sla.  Named  after  C.  Mutis,  a  South  Ameri- 
•  can  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Comjwsitce. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental  green-house 
climbing  plants,  natives  of  South  America, 
chiefly  confined  to  tlie  Andes  of  the  West,  and 
especially  of  Chili.  The  flowers  are  produced 
in  terminal  heads  or  clusters,  and  are  mostly 
of  a  pink,  purple,  or  yellow  color.  They  re- 
quire a  warm  place  in  the  green-house.  Prop- 
agated by  cuttings.    Introduced  in  1832. 

Myce'lium.  A  word  equivalent  to  spawn,  de- 
noting the  negative  part  of  Fungi,  the  greater 
part  of  what  most  readily  attracts  attention 
being  frequently  merely  the  fructification. 
The  vegetative  part  of  a  mushroom,  for  in- 
stance, is  represented  by  the  delicate  white 
down  and  strings  which  traverse  the  soil,  the 
fruit  is  the  stem,  pileus,  and  gills,  which  we 
call  the  mushroom.  Fungi,  except  the  lowest 
forms,  are  made  up  chiefly  of  long,  slender 
threads,  composed  of  rows  of  cells  placed  end 
to  end !  these  threads  usually  branch,  and  are 
interwoven  so  as  to  form  a  tissue  that  seems 
frequently  composed  of  cells  united  in  the 
way  observed  among  other  plants,  though 
really  only  a  false,  soft,  cellular  tissue. 

Mygi'nda.  Named  after  Francis  von  Mygind,  a 
German  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Celastracece. 

A  small  genus  of  glabrous  or  pilose  shrubs, 
natives  of  tropical  America  and  Chili.  M. 
latifolia,  the  best  known  species,  has  small 
white  flowers  in  bunches  at  the  ends  of  the 
branches.  It  was  introduced  in  1795,  and  is 
propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  I'ipened  wood. 

Myloca'ryum.     Buck-wheat  Tree.    From  Myle, 

a  mill,  and  karyon,  a  nut ;   the  dry  seeds  have 

four  wings  like  a  windmill.     Nat.  Ord.  Cyril-    '^  • 

lacetB.  '  '- 

M.  ligvstrinum,  the  only  species  is  a  half- 
hardy,  evergreen  shrub,  with  terminal  racemes 
of  white  fragrant  flowers.  It  is  a  native  of 
the  Southern  United  States,  and  succeeds  best 
here  in  the  cool  green-house.  It  is  propa-- 
gated  by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened  shoots. 
This  plant  is  now  named  Cliftonia  ligustrina  by 
many  botanists. 


266 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


MYO 

Myopo'rum.  The  typical  genus  of  Myoporacece, 
consisting  of  upwards  of  fifteen  species  of 
siirubs  cliiefly  from  Australia.  Flowers  often 
white,  small  or  medium.  They  are  increased 
by  cuttings,  but  few  of  the  species  are  in 
cultivation. 

Myosoti'dium  Nobile.  The  only  representa- 
tive of  the  genus  is  a  very  handsome,  hardj^ 
or  nearly  hardy  herbaceous  perennial,  resem- 
bling a  gigantic  Forget-me-not,  and  belonging 
to  the  same  natural  order,  Boraginacece. 

It  is  difficult  of  cultivation  and  seems  to  do 
best  in  a  cool,  damp,  sheltered  situation, 

Myoso'tis.  Forget-me-not.  From  mya,  a 
mouse,  and  otos  an  ear ;  resemblance  of  the 
leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  BoraginaceoB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  and  half-hardy  annuals  and 
perennials,  comprising  numerous  European, 
northern  Asiatic,  and  one  or  two  native 
species.  The  herbaceous  species  succeed 
best  in  moist  places,  but  all  may  be  grown  in 
pots,  provided  they  are  kept  well  watered. 
They  are  usually  grown,  however,  in  cold 
frames  like  Pansies.  M.  dissitiflora  is  a 
handsome  species,  from  Switzerland,  closely 
allied  to  3f.  aylvatica,  with  large,  deep  sky- 
blue  flowers,  and  larger  in  all  its  parts  than 
the  latter.  It  is  one  of  the  best  sorts  for 
winter  blooming,  and  succeeds  best  grown  in 
a  cool  house  like  Mignonette.  M.  palustris, 
the  true  "  Forget-me-not,"  is  a  well-known 
hardy  perennial  from  six  to  twelve  inches 
high,  flowering  in  a  cool  moist  position  all 
summer.  M.  Azorica  with  its  variety  known 
as  Imperatrice  Elizabeth,  form  beautiful 
branching  bushes,  six  to  twelve  inches  high, 
covered  with  numerous  heads  of  bluish - 
purple  flower.  It  is  a  native  of  the  Azores, 
and  is  not  so  hardy  as  the  other  species,  but 
is  very  useful  for  green-house  decoration  in 
the  winter  and  spring  months.  They  are  all 
readily  propagated  by  division,  or  by  seed. 

My'rcia.  A  mythological  name.  Nat.  Ord. 
Myrtacew. 

A  very  large  genus — over  three  hundred 
species — of  trees  or  shrubs,  all  natives  of 
tropical  and  sul>tropical  America.  The  flow- 
ers are  small,  and  very  few  of  the  species  are 
in  cultivation. 

My'rica.  Bayberry,  Wax  Myrtle,  Sweet  Gale. 
From  myrio,  to  flow ;  found  on  the  banks  of 
rivers.     Nat.  Ord.  Myricacem. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  and  hardy 
shrubs.  The  former  are  not  much  grown. 
Of  the  latter  M.  cerifera  is  a  shrub  common  to 
New  York  and  the  Atlantic  coast,  growing 
four  to  eight  feet  high.  The  foliage  has  a 
pleasant  fragrance,  and  is  used  to  a  large  ex- 
tent in  mixing  with  flowers  used  in  summer 
bouquets.  In  New  England  the  wax  which 
invests  the  berries  is  collected  in  considerable 
quantities.  It  is  obtained  by  boiling  the  ber- 
ries in  water,  when  the  wax  melts  and  rises 
to  the  surface.  Under  the  name  of  Bayberrj' 
tallow  it  is  often  used  to  make  candles,  either 
alone  or  mixed  with  tallow ;  it  is  also  em- 
ployed in  soap-making. 

Myrica'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  or 
shrubs  with  resinous  glands,  alternate  leaves 
and  unisexual  flowers.  They  inhabit  tem- 
perate and  tropical  countries,  and  have 
aromatic,  tonic,  and  astringent  properties. 
The  order  contains  but  one  genus  and  about 
thirty-five  species. 


MYK, 

Myrica'ria.  From  murike,  the  Greek  name  of 
the  Tamarisk.     Nat.  Ord.  TcunaricacetB. 

Of  the  several  species  that  are  included  in 
this  genus,  31.  Germanica  is  the  only  one  of 
special  interest.  It  is  a  hardy  evergreen 
shrub  from  six  to  eight  feet  high,  with  very 
narrow,  flat  leaves,  and  long  spikes  of  delicate 
pink  flowers.  It  is  indigenous  throughout 
most  parts  of  Europe  and  the  Caucasus.  It  is 
of  easy  culture,  and  very  ornamental.  Propa- 
gated by  cuttings  of  young  shoots,  either  In 
spring  or  autumn. 

Myriophy'llum.  Water  Milfoil.  From  myrios, 
a  myriad,  and  phyllon,  a  leaf ;  division  of  the 
leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  HaloragacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  aquatic 
plants,  allied  to  Hippuris.  The  several 
species  are  common  in  ponds  and  ditches 
throughout  the  United  States.  M.  spicatum 
makes  a  desirable  plant  for  the  aquarium. 

Myri'stica.  Nutmeg.  From  mi/ristikos,  sweet- 
smelling.     Nat.  Ord.  MyrMicaceoe,. 

M.  moschata  or  fragrans,  a  beautiful  branch- 
ing tree,  growing  about  thirty  feet  high,  pro- 
duces the  Mace  and  Nutmegs  of  commerce. 
It  is  px-incipally  grown  in  the  Banda  Isles, 
though  common  in  Java  and  the  Molucca 
Islands.  The  male  and  female  flowers  are  on 
difterent  trees.  The  flowers  of  both  are  small, 
white,  bell-shaped,  and  without  any  calyx ; 
the  embryo  fruit  appearing  at  the  bottom  of 
the  female  flower  in  the  form  of  a  little  reddish 
knob.  The  female  flowers  grow  on  slender 
peduncles,  two  or  three  together,  but  it  is 
rare  that  more  than  one  flower  in  each  bunch 
comes  to  maturity  and  produces  fiuit ;  this 
resembles  in  size  a  small  peach,  but  it  is 
rather  more  pointed  at  both  ends.  The  outer 
coat  is  about  half  an  inch  thick  when  ripe,  at 
which  time  it  bursts  at  the  side  and  discloses 
the  spices.  These  are,  the  Mace,  having  the 
appearance  of  a  leafy  net-work  of  a  fine  red 
color,  which  seems  the  brighter  by  being  con- 
trasted with  the  shining  black  of  the  shell 
that  it  surrounds.  This  is  laid  to  dry  in  the 
shade  for  a  short  time,  but  if  dried  too  much 
a  great  part  of  its  flavor  is  lost  by  evaporation. 
On  the  other  hand,  if  packed  too  moist,  it 
either  ferments  or  breeds  worms.  The  Nutmeg 
is  contained  in  a  shell  somewhat  harder  than 
that  of  the  filbert,  and  could  not  in  the  state 
in  which  it  is  gathered  be  broken  without 
injuring  the  nut.  On  that  account  the  nuts 
are  successively  dried  in  the  sun,  and  then  by 
tire  heat,  till  the  kernel  shrinks  so  much  as  to 
rattle  in  the  shell,  which  is  then  easily  broken, 
and  the  Nutmeg  released.  After  this  process, 
they  are  several  times  soaked  in  sea- water  and 
lime,  and  then  laid  in  a  heap,  where  they  heat 
and  get  rid  of  their  superfluous  moisture  by 
evaporation.  This  process  is  pursued  to  pre- 
serve the  substance  of  the  nut,  as  well  as  to 
destroy  its  vegetative  power.  When  perfectly 
cured  they  are  packed  in  dry  slacked  lime,  and 
sent  to  market. 

Myristica'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  and 
shrubs,  natives  of  the  tropical  regions  of  Asia 
and  America,  Madagascar,  Africa,  with  one 
representation  in  Australia.  Myriatica  the 
only  genus  furnishes  the  well-known  Nutmeg 
and  Mace  of  commerce,  and  contains  about 
eighty  species. 

Myrobalau  Plum.     See  Prunvs  cerasifera- 

Myrobalans.     See  Terminalia. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


267 


MYR 

Myro'dia.  From  inyron,  myrrh,  perfume,  and 
osme,  a  smell.     Nat.  Ord.  Slerculiacece. 

A  genus  of  South  American  trees  or  shrubs, 
■with  an  aromatic  odor.  There  are  seven 
species  described  of  which  M.  turbinata  is 
the  only  one  yet  introduced.  Its  flowers 
are  white  and  very  fragrant,  otherwise  it  is  of 
little  horticultural  interest.  It  is  of  easy 
cultivation,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  of 
the  half-ripened  shoots. 

Myrospe'rmiiin.  From  myron,  myrrh,  an  aro- 
matic balsam,  and  sprrma,  a  seed ;  the  seeds 
yield  a  strong-smelling  resin.  Nat.  Ord. 
LeguminoscR. 

This  is  the  genus  which  produces  the  Balsam 
of  Peru,  used  in  perfumery  and  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  lozenges.  They  are  all  from  South  Amer- 
ica, and  closely  allied  to  Myroxylon,  and  are 
mainly  interesting  for  the  drugs  they  furnish. 

Myro'xylon.  Tolu  Balsam  Tree.  From  myron, 
myrrh,  and  xylon,  wood  ;  the  wood  is  resinous 
and  sweet-scented.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A.  genus  of  about  six  species  of  evergreen 
trees,  natives  of  tropical  America.  M.  Tolui- 
ferum  (Tolu  Balsam-bearing),  the  most  impor- 
tant species,  is  a  large  spreading  tree,  with 
very  thick,  rough,  brown  bark.  The  balsam 
flows  from  incisions  made  in  the  bark  during 
the  hot  season,  its  smell  is  extremely  fragrant, 
somewhat  resembling' the  lemon,  and  its  taste 
is  warm  and  sweet. 

Myrrh.  An  aromatic,  medicinal,  gum-resin, 
yielded  by  Balsamodendron  myrrha,  a  native 
of  Arabia  Felix.     See  also  Myrrhis. 

My'rrhis.  Sweet  Cicely  or  Myrrh.  From  myrrha, 
myrrh ;  in  allusion  to  the  scent  of  the  plants. 
Nat.  Ord.  UnbellifercB. 

M.  odora,  the  only  species  of  interest,  is  a 
very  graceful-looking  plant  with  finely  cut 
foliage,  and  an  agreeable  odor.  It  is  still 
used  in  salads  in  Italy.  Native  of  the  moun- 
tains of  Europe  and  the  Caucasus  region. 

Myrsina'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees,  shrubs 
or  undsr-shrubs  of  variable  habit,  natives  of 
Africa,  Asia  and  America,  and  said  to  abound 
chiefly  in  islands  with  an  equable  temperature. 
Little  is  known  of  their  properties.  There  are 
over  thirty  genera  and  five  hundred  species. 
Myrsine,  Ardisia,  Theophrasta,  and  Jacquinia 
are  examples  of  the  order. 

My'rsine.  The  old  Greek  name  given  by  Dio- 
scorides  to  the  myrtle.  Nat.  Ord.  MyrsinacecB. 
A  genus  of  about  eighty  species  of  shrubs 
or  small  trees,  mostly  evergreen,  natives  of 
Asia,  Africa,  and  tropical  America,  a  few  being 
indigenous  in  Japan,  Australia,  and  New 
Zealand.  The  berries  of  M.  Africana,  a  species 
widely  dispersed  over  Africa  and  occasionally 
to  be  seen  in  green-house  collections,  are  said 
to  be  mixed  with  barley  by  the  Abyssinians  as 
food  for  their  asses  and  mules.  Syn.  Sider- 
oxylon,  Manglilla,  and  Samara. 

Myrsiphy'llum.  Smilax.  From  myrsine,  a 
myrtle,  and  phyllon,  a  leaf;  resemblance  of 
the  leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacem. 

M.  asparagoides,  the  well-known  Smilax  of 
the  florist,  is  a  native  of  various  parts  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  It  was  first  introduced 
into  England  in  1702,  Imt  was  soon  discarded. 
It  was  again  introduced  by  Mr.  Cooper  about 
1861,  who  sent  it  to  Kew,  where  it  flowered, 
and  from  whence  it  was  disseminated.  It  is 
now  one  of  the  essentials  of  a  florist's  stock ; 


MYR 

in  fact  it  is  of  greater  importance  than  any 
flower,  if  we  except  the  Rose.  It  is  of  easy 
culture,  as  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that 
it  is  treated  in  about  as  many  different  ways 
as  there  are  growers.  Sow  the  seed  in  the 
green-house  in  boxes  of  light  rich  soil  in  Jan- 
uary or  early  in  February.  As  soon  as  the 
plants  are  three  inches  high,  prick  them  out 
first  into  shallow  boxes,  and  again  into  thumb 
pots  when  established,  and  grow  on  in  any 
convenient  place,  even  partially  under 
benches,  where  little  else  would  grow.  When 
required  shift  into  three-inch  pots,  and  grow 
on  until  about  the  first  of  August,  and  then 
plant  out  in  the  bed  where  they  are  to  grow, 
at  about  six  inches  from  plant  to  plant,  and 
twelve  inches  between  the  rows.  This  is 
about  the  right  distance  when  strings  of  six 
or  nine  feet  are  used  to  train  on ;  if  higher  the 
plants  may  be  set  farther  apart.  By  the  first 
of  January  following,  they  will  have  made  a 
growth  of  eight  or  ten  feet,  and  be  ready  for 
cutting.  A  second  growth  will  at  once  com- 
mence, and  a  crop  secured  by  March  or  April. 
When  the  second  crop  has  been  cut,  give  it  a 
partial  rest,  clean  the  bed  off,  enrich  with  a 
light  top  dressing,  and  put  up  the  strings 
for  the  next  year's  growth,  which  will  com- 
mence in  August  or  September.  When  grow- 
ing freely  it  may  be  liberally  supplied  with 
manure  water  once  a  week  and  syringed  once 
a  day.  This  treatment  never  fails  of  giving 
at  least  two  good  cuttings  a  year ;  and  with  a 
succession  of  plantings  a  supply  can  be  had  at 
all  times  of  the  year.  The  strings  used  should 
be  of  a  green  color,  so  that  in  festoonmg  they 
may  not  be  seen.  Although  a  crop  is  often 
taken  after  the  last  cutting  in  April,  we  pre- 
fer to  use  the  space  in  spring  for  other  pur- 
poses, and  plant  the  young  plants  of  Smilax 
each  year,  beginning  the  first  planting  in 
August,  as  above  mentioned.  From  August 
to  October  a  light  shading  should  be  used  on 
the  glass.  We  find  nothing  better  than 
naphtha  mixed  with  a  little  white  lead,  so  as 
to  give  it  the  color  of  thin  milk.  This  shad- 
ing can  be  put  on  with  a  syringe  in  a  few 
minutes.  It  costs  only  twenty-five  cents  for 
each  thousand  square  feet  of  glass,  and  we 
consider  it  the  best  shading  for  all  green- 
house operations.  One  important  caution  in 
growing  Smilax  must  be  given ;  it  will  not 
stand  tobacco  nor  any  other  kind  of  smoke  or 
gas,  the  leaves  quickly  getting  yellow.  If 
infested  by  the  Aphis  (Green  Fly)  tobacco 
must  be  used  in  the  liquid  state  by  steeping 
the  stems  till  of  the  color  of  strong  tea.  When 
other  plants  require  to  be  fumigated  in  the 
same  house  with  Smilax,  to  save  the  Smilax 
from  injury,  it  should  be  first  freely  syringed, 
as  the  smoke  will  then  not  hurt  the  leaves. 
The  same  plan  should  be  used  with  Helio- 
trope, or  any  other  plants  the  leaves  of  which 
are  susceptible  to  injury  from  fumigation. 
Myrta'ceas.  A  natural  order  of  trees  or  shrubs, 
natives  chiefly  of  warm  countries,  as  South 
America  and  the  East  Indies ;  many,  how- 
ever, are  found  in  more  temperate  regions, 
and  some  of  the  genera  are  peculiar  to  Aus- 
tralia. Many  yield  an  aromatic  volatile  oil, 
some,  edible  fruits,  and  others  furnish  astrin- 
gent and  saccharine  substances.  The  leaves 
of  certain  species  of  Leptospermum,  and  Mela- 
leuca, are  used  as  tea  in  Australia.  Pimento, 
or  Allspice  is  the  berried  fruits  of  Eugenia 


268 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


MYR 

Pimenta,  a  tree  of  the  West  Indies  and  Mexico. 
The  flower  buds  of  Caryophyllus  aromaticus, 
constitute  the  Cloves  of  commerce.  Guavas 
are  the  fruits  of  species  of  Psidium.  Punica 
Granatum,  yields  the  Pomegranate.  The 
species  of  Eucalyptus,  are  the  gigantic  Gum  or 
Fever-trees  of  Australia.  The  order  is  a  very 
extensive  one,  containing  about  one  hundred 
genera,  and  fifteen  hundred  species. 

Myrtle.     See  Myrius. 

Myrtle.   Sand.     Leophyllum  huxifolium. 

Myrtle.     Wax  or  Candleberry.     Myricacerifera. 

My'rtus.      From    myron,    signifying  perfume. 
Nat.  Ord.  Myrtac^m. 

A  genus  of  beautiful  evergreen  shrubs,  na- 
tives of  Europe,  Asia,  South  America,  and 
some  of  them  of  New  Holland.  The  common 
Myrtle,  M.  communis,  of  which  there  are  eight 
or  ten  very  distinct  varieties,  is  too  well  known 
to  require  any  description.      It  is  not  sur- 


NAN 

passed  in  beauty  of  foliage  by  any  exotic 
shrub,  and  the  flowers  are  of  a  pure  white, 
and,  like  the  leaves,  fragrant.  The  fragrance 
arises  from  an  oil  which  is  secreted  in  little 
cells,  which  appear  as  dots  when  the  leaves 
are  held  up  to  the  light.  The  handsomest 
varieties  of  the  common  Myrtle  are  the 
Roman,  or  broad-leaved,  the  broad-leaved 
Dutch,  the  narrow-leaved,  and  the  double- 
flowered.  M.  Nummularia,  a  native  of  the 
Falkland  Islands  spreads  over  the  ground 
like  common  Thyme.  M.  Vgni  (syn.  Eu<jenia 
Ugni),  introduc<^d  from  Valdivia  in  1845, 
forms  a  very  pretty,  cool  green-house  plant, 
with  white  flowers  succeeded  by  rod  or  blacli 
glossy  fruits,  which,  when  ripe,  are  higlily 
flavored  and  emit  an  agreeable  perfume.  It 
is  quite  hardy  in  the  Southern  States.  All 
the  species  are  readily  propagated  by  cuttings 
of  the  partially  ripened  shoots. 


K 


"l^abee.   The  Bish  or  Bikh.  A  powerful  Indian 

■^      poison  obtained  from  Aconitum  ferox. 

Naege'lia.  Named  after  Karl  Najgeli,  an  eminent 
German  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Geaneracem. 

Tliis  genus  was  formerly  included  witli  Ges- 
nera,  of  which  the  type  is  the  well-known  G. 
zehrina.  They  are  deciduous  green-house 
plants  natives  of  Mexico.  The  leaves  are 
oval-shaped,  of  a  green  color,  and  have  a 
velvety  appearance,  being  thickly  covered 
with  short  crimson  hairs,  which  give  them  a 
rich  velvet-like  hue.  They  have  erect  racemes 
of  large,  showy  flowers,  mostly  bright  scarlet. 
They  are  propagated  and  cultivated  the  same 
as  recommended  for  Gesnera. 

Nagkesur.     See  Mesua. 

Na'ias.  From  Naias,  water  nymph.  A  genus 
giving  its  name  to  the  order  Naidacece.  All 
the  species  are  little  branching  herbs,  grow- 
ing under  water  and  are  only  of  botanical 
interest. 

Naidaceae.  Pond-weed  Family.  A  natural  order 
of  plants  living  in  fresh  or  salt  water,  widely 
distributed  over  the  globe,  and  of  but  little 
horticultural  interest.  There  are  about  six- 
teen genera  and  over  one  liundred  species; 
Aponogeton,  Nais,  and  Triglochin  are  examples. 

Nail-w^ort.  A  common  name  for  Paronychia, 
which  see. 

Naked  Seeds.  Seeds  having  no  pericarpal 
covering,  as  in  Conifers  and  Cycads. 

Na'ma.  From  nama,  a  stream  of  water ;  allud- 
ing to  their  natural  habitat.  Nat.  Ord.  Hydro- 
phyllacecB. 

A  genus  of  annual  or  perennial  herbs  or 
shrubs,  natives  of  northwest  America  and 
Mexico.  The  species  are  not  much  cultivated. 
N.  Parryii,  the  best  known,  introduced  to 
cultivation  from  California  in  1881,  is  a  half- 
hardy  herbaceous  plant,  with  lilac-purple  flow- 
ers in  dense  clusters,  on  terminal  branched 
panicles.  It  is  propagated  by  division  or  by 
cuttings. 


Nancy  Pretty.  A  common  English  name  for 
Saxifraga  umbrosa. 

Nandi'na.  From  Nandin,  the  name  of  the 
slirub  in  Japan.     Nat.  Ord.  Berberidacece. 

N.  dumestica,  the  only  representative  of  the 
genus  is  a  handsome,  erect,  half-hardy  green- 
house shrub,  witli  ternately-compound  leaves 
and  terminal  compound  panicles  of  white 
flowers  with  yellow  anthers,  followed  by 
round,  red  beri-ies,  about  the  size  of  peas.  It 
is  a  native  of  China  and  Japan  where  it  is 
extensively  grown  ;  it  is  also  a  favorite  oina- 
mental  plant  in  the  Soutliern  States  where  it 
is  now  thoroughly  domesticated.  It  was 
introduced  to  cultivation  in  1804,  and  is 
propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  well -ripened 
wood. 

Na'nnorhops.  From  nannos,  dwarf,  and  rhops, 
a  bush ;  in  reference  to  the  low  growth  of  the 
plant.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

N.  Ritcheana,  the  only  described  species,  is  a 
low,  unarmed,  plant-stove  palm,with  a  tufted, 
creeping  caudex.  The  leaves  of  this  plant  are 
used  in  India  for  the  manufacture  of  fans, 
sandals,  baskets,  etc.  It  is  propagated  by  off- 
sets or  by  seeds. 

Nano'des.  From  nanodes,  a  pigmy.  Nat,  Ord. 
OrchidacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  dwarf,  rare  and  beauti- 
ful Orchids,  natives  of  Brazil  and  the  West 
Indies.  N.  Madusce.,  the  principal  one  under  cul- 
tivation, is  thus  described  by  B.  S.  Williams, 
in  the  "  Orchid  Growers'  Manual."  "This  is 
a  very  rare,  most  extraordinary,  and  beautiful 
plant,  very  distinct  in  habit  from  any  other 
Orchid  I  have  seen.  There  is  no  bulb  to  support 
it,only  a  woody  stem  with  light  green  leaves  on 
both  sides,  which  are  about  three  inches  long ; 
flowers  large,  terminal,  produced  two  or  more 
together ;  sepals  and  petals  light  green,  tinged 
with  brown ;  lip  large  and  spreading,  deeply 
fringed  round  the  margin,  rich  maroon  in 
color,  except  towards  the  base,  where  it  is 
green.    It  requires  to  be  grown  on  a  block,  or 


KAB0I8STTS  (XBTJUPET  MAJOB) 


NAECISSU8  ALBUS  PLENUS  ODOBATUS. 


NEMOPHILA., 


KABCI8SUS  (VAR.  "8IR  WATKIN  "). 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


269 


NAN 

in  a  basket  with  moss  and  peat,  and  kept  very 
cool,  as  it  is  a  native  of  tlie  liigher  Andes  of 
western  Soutli  America." 

Nanus.     Dwarf. 

Napiform.     Turnip-shaped. 

WTapoleo'na.  Named  in  honor  of  the  Emperor 
Napoleon.     Nat  Ord.  Myrtacem. 

A  very  singular  genus  of  shrubs,  natives  of 
western  tropical  Africa,  whose  place  in  the 
natutal  system  is  a  contested  point  among 
botanists.  "  Among  the  most  remarkable 
plants  that  have  hithei'to  been  discovered  ranks 
this  rare  species.  It  forms  a  bush  about  as  large 
as  a  Camellia,  and  some  idea  of  the  structure  of 
its  liowers  may  be  formed  when  we  state  that 
the  species  has  been  referred  to  the  natural 
order  PassifloracecB  by  some  botanists,  and  to 
CucurbilacecB  by  others." — Paxton.  Whitfield,  a 
botanical  collector,  brought  with  him  in  1813 
from  Sierra  Leone,  dried  specimens  and  living 
plants,  one  of  the  latter  of  which,  flowering 
a  few  years  later,  cleared  away  all  uncer- 
tainty as  to  its  location  in  the  natural  system. 
The  propagation  of  this  plant  may  be  effected 
by  cuttings,  and  in  other  respects  its  treat- 
ment should  resemble  that  of  the  Gardenia. 

Narci'ssus.  Name  of  a  youth  said  to  have  been 
changed  into  this  flovrer.  Nat.  Ord.  Amarylli- 
dacecB. 

In  this  genus  of  ornamental,  usually  hardy 
bulbous  plants,  we  have  a  long  list  of  estab- 
lished favorites,  i-emarkable  alike  for  the  ele- 
gance, fragrance,  and  precocity  of  their 
flowers.  The  majority  of  them  will  thrive  in 
almost  any  soil  or  situation,  though  they  will 
succeed  best  in  a  thoroughly  drained,  toler- 
ably rich  soil,  and  if  the  position  is  one 
partially  shaded  from  the  hot  sunshine  in 
spring,  the  flowers  will  retain  their  beauty  for 
a  much  longer  period  than  if  more  fully  ex- 
posed. The  hardy  sorts,  when  grown  in  the 
open  borders,  should  be  planted  in  September 
in  newly-dug,  well-manured  ground  at  a  depth 
of  three  inches,  reckoning  from  the  top  of  the 
bulb  to  the  surface  of  the  soil.  This  will  not 
be  too  much  for  any,  except,  perhaps,  the 
Jonquils,  which,  from  having  smaller  bulbs, 
may  be  placed  an  inch  shallower.  When 
planted  in  beds  and  it  becomes  necessary  to 
remove  them  to  make  room  for  other  plants 
it  should  be  done  as  soon  as  their  beauty  is 
past.  As  the  bulbs  are  by  no  means  mature 
at  this  tinae,  they  should  be  "laid  in  "  in  some 
slightly  shaded  place  until  the  foliage  is  quite 
withered,  when  they  may  be  taken  up,  dried, 
and  stored  away  until  wanted  for  the  next 
planting  season.  Narcissi  are  well  adapted 
for  planting  in  the  herbaceous  or  shrubbery 
border,  or  in  the  grass  by  the  sides  of  wood- 
land walks,  in  open  spaces  between  trees  and 
shrubs,  in  cemeteries,  or  in  any  situation 
where  the  flowers  may  be  readily  seen  on  their 
appearance  in  spring.  The  foliage  should  be 
allowed  to  ripen  naturally  before  being  re- 
moved, at  which  time  an  annual  top-dressing 
of  loam  and  decayed  manure  may  be  applied 
with  advantage.  Varieties  of  Polyanthus 
Narcissus  are  very  extensively  cultivated  in 
pots  for  green-house  decoration,  as  well  as  for 
the  use  of  their  highly-fragrant  flowers  in  a 
cut  state.  The  instructions  given  for  the 
culture  and  management  of  the  Hyacinth  will 
be  found  in  every  way  applicable  to  the  Nar. 
ciasus  (see  Hyacinth).    Of  those  most  com- 


NAR 

monly  grown  for  forcing,  we  prefer  the  follow- 
ing :  Soliel  d'or  (yellow,  with  orange  cup), 
Gloriosus  (white,  primrose  cup),  States  Gen- 
eral (white,  with  citron  cup).  Grand  Primo 
(white,  with  citron  cup),  and  Grand  Monarque 
(white,  with  paleyeliow  cup),  with  the  Double  > 
~,Eximan  (yellow)  and  Paper  White.  Double 
and  single  sweet-scented  Jonquils,  N.  Jon- 
quilla,  are  very  fragrant  when  in  flower,  and 
are  well  adapted  for  pot  culture,  as  is  also  the 
early  variety  of  the  Poets' Narcissus, iV".poe<iCMs 
ornatus.  The  Paper  White  Narcissus,  iV.  Tazelta, 
is  forced  in  immense  quantities  by  the  florists 
of  New  York  andotherlargecities,and,nextto 
the  Roman  Hyacinth  and  Tulip,  is  the  bulb  most 
extensively  grown  for  this  purpose.  When 
grown  on  a  large  scale,  they  are  planted  in 
boxes  of  soil  four  inches  deep  at  a  distance  of 
three  to  four  inches  apart,  and  treated  as 
described  for  Roman  Hyacinths.  The  hardy 
varieties  of  Narcissus  or  Daffodils,  of  which 
large  quantities  are  now  used,  are  forced  in 
the  same  manner,  it  being  imperative  for  their 
success  that  they  be  well  rooted  in  the  boxes 
or  pots  before  being  brought  into  heat,  as,  if 
they  are  insufficiently  rooted,  failure  will  re- 
sult. To  be  in  proper  condition  to  force,  the 
pots  or  boxes  should  be  matted  around  with 
the  roots.  The  most  reliable  single  varieties 
for  forcing  are  Trumpet  Major  (yellow). 
Trumpet  Minor  (yellow  trumpet  and  white 
perianth),  Obvallaris(the  famous  Tenby  Daf- 
fodil, rich  yellow),  and  Poeticus  Ornatus 
(white) ;  of  double  varieties,  Incoraparabilis 
(yellow  and  orange),  Pseudo  Plenus,  or  Lent 
Lily  (yellow  and  white),  and  Von  Sion  (all 
yellow).  Of  double  whites.  Alba  plena  odorataT) 
is  the  best.  For  out-doors  all  of  the  above 
are  desirable,  and  in  addition  many  others, 
such  as  Horsfieldi,  Scoticus,  Sir  Watkin,  Pal- 
lidus  prfficox,  Leedsii,  the  varieties  of  Bulbo- 
codium,  Orange  Phoenix,  etc. 
Nardosta'chys.  From  Nardos,  a  sweet-scented 
shrub,  and  stachys,  a  spike  ;  the  Nardus  of  the 
ancients  was  close  akin  to  this  plant.  Nat.  Ord. 
Valerianiacece. 

This  genus  comprises  two  species  of  hardy 
perennial  herbs,  natives  of  the  Himalayas. 
The  flowers  are  arranged  in  dense,  small 
heads,  rosy-purple  in  color.  The  root  is  short, 
thick,  fibrous,  and  very  fragrant.  The  only 
species  introduced  is  N.  Jatamansi,  which  is 
now  generally  acknowledged  to  be  the  Spiken- 
ard of  the  ancients. 

Narthe'cium.  From  narthex,  a  rod ;  referring 
to  the  flower-stems.     Nat.  Ord.  Juncacem. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous,  Iris- 
like rushes,  well  adapted  to  moist  places  in 
the  mixed  border.  N.  ossifragum,  a  native 
species,  produces  lively  spikes  of  deep  golden- 
yellow  flowers  in  July  and  August.  It  is 
popularly  known  as  Bog  Asphodel. 

Na'rthex.  The  ancient  Greek  name  given  by 
Dioscorides  to  Asafoetida.  Nat.  Ord.  Umbel- 
lifercB. 

A  genus  of  tall-growing  plants,  the  most 
notable  of  which  is  N.  Asafoetida,  a  native  of 
Western  Thibet,  Persia,  etc.  "It  seems  cer- 
tain from  the  researches  of  Falconer  and 
others,  that  this  plant  produces  some  of  the 
Asafoetida  of  commerce,  while  Scorodosma 
foelida,  a  gigantic  umbelliferous  plant,  found 
in  the  sandy  steppes  east  of  the  Caspian,  as 
well  as  some  other  allied  plants,  also  furnish 


270 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


NAS 

the  drug.  On  cutting  into  the  upper  part  of 
the  root,  a  juice  exudes  which  hardens  by  ex- 
posure, and  is  collected  and  sent  to  this  country 
from  Bombay.  The  drug  is  well  known  for  its 
disgusting  odor,  which  it  seems  has  charms 
for  some  people,  as  the  Persians  and  other 
Asiatics  use  it  as  acondiment." — Dr.  Masters, 
in  "  Treasury  of  Botany."  The  plant  is  closely 
allied  to  Ferula  under  which  genus  it  is  placed 
by  Bentham  and  Hooker. 

Naso'nia.  Fiom  na~<io,  a  nose ;  in  allusion  to  the 
column.     Nat.  Ord.  Orckidacece. 

N.  punctata,  the  only  species  that  constitutes 
this  genus,  is  a  very  beautiful  little  epiphytal 
Orchid,  a  native  of  Peru.  It  is  dwarf- 
growing  plant,  with  small  green  alternate 
leaves.  The  flowers  are  large,  cinnabar-red, 
with  the  centre  of  the  lip  yellow,  and  are  pro- 
duced from  the  axils  of  the  leaves  on  a  short 
scape. 

Nastu'rtium.  Water  Cress.  From  nasiis,  the 
nose,  and  tortus,  tormented  ;  referring  to  the 
hot,  acrid  smell.     Nat.  Ord.  Cruciferce. 

This  genus  consists  principally  of  dwarf, 
uninteresting,  weedy  looking  plants.  N. 
officinale  is  the  well-known  Water  Cress,  a 
native  of  Great  Britain.  It  has  become 
naturalized  here,  and  is  common  near  springs, 
or  open,  running  water  courses.  The  culture 
of  Water  Cress  is  still  comparatively  little 
known  in  the  United  States,  and  as  the  subject 
was  very  fully  treated  in  our  vegetable  work, 
"  Gardening  for  Profit,"  in  1874,  we  here  quote 
from  that  work  at  length,  believing  that  little 
else  is  needed  for  a  full  undei'standing  of  its 
cultivation.  "This  is  a  well-known  hardy 
perennial  aquatic  plant,  growing  abundantly 
along  the  margins  of  running  streams,  ditches 
and  ponds,  and  sold  in  immense  quantities  in 
our  markets  in  spring.  Where  it  does  not 
grow  naturally  it  is  easily  introduced  by 
planting  along  the  margins  of  ponds  or 
sti-eams,  where  it  quickly  increases,  both  by 
spreading  of  the  root  and  by  seeding.  Many 
a  farmer,  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York, 
realizes  more  profit  from  the  Water  Cresses 
cut  from  the  margin  of  a  brook  running 
through  his  farm,  in  two  or  three  weeks 
in  spring,  than  from  his  whole  year's  hard 
labor  in  growing  Corn,  Hay,  or  Potatoes. 
Water  Cress  can  be  best  cultivated  in  places 
where  the  streams  run  through  a  level  tract. 
Supposing  the  streams  to  be  a  foot  deep  on  an 
average  and  six  or  eight  feet  wide,  running 
through  a  meadow,  a  good  plan  for  cultiva- 
tion is  to  make  excavations  laterally,  say  in 
beds  five  feet  wide  (with  allej-s  between  five 
feet)  to  a  depth  of  about  eight  inches,  or  deep 
enough  to  be  flooded  by  the  stream  when  it  is 
of  average  height,  or,  when  shallow,  by  dam- 
ming it  up  so  as  to  flood  the  beds.  The  ad- 
vantage of  having  the  beds  excavated  at  right 
angles  to  the  stream  rather  than  parallel  with 
it  is,  that  in  the  event  of  freshets  the  crop  is 
less  liable  to  be  washed  away.  The  length 
and  number  of  the  beds  excavated  must,  of 
course,  be  determined  by  circumstances. 
Water  Cress  seeds  germinate  freely  in  earth 
when  kept  saturated  ;  hence  the  beds,  when 
properly  leveled  and  pulverized  by  digging 
and  raking,  should  be  slightly  flooded  (enough 
to  saturate  the  soil  only  when  the  seeds  ger- 
minate) ;  for,  of  course,  if  the  beds  were  filled 
up  with  water  the  seeds  would  be  washed  off. 


NAU 

After  the  seedlings  have  started  so  as  to  show 
green,  the  water  may  be  gradually  let  on  as 
they    develop.      Probably  the    best    time   of 
sowing  the  seed  would  be,  for  the  latitude  of 
New    York,    about   the    middle    of    August. 
When  Water  Cress  is  found  growing  naturally, 
the  beds  can  be  made  by  setting  the  plants  six 
or  twelve  inches  apart  each  way.     When  the 
cultivation  is  once  fairly  begun  there  is  no 
difficulty  about  forming  new    beds,    as  few 
plants  grow  more  rapidly  when  proper  condi- 
tions are  present.     If  the  crop  is  planted  or 
the  seed  sown  by  the  middle  of  August,  it  will 
have  spread  all  over  the  beds  by  November. 
The  streams  being  full  in  autumn,  the  beds 
will  be  fully  flooded,  so  as  to  protect  the 
plants    during    winter.     It   is  always  found 
wild  growing  best  in  clear,  shallow,  slowly- 
running  water  with  a  sandy  or  gravelly  bot- 
tom ;  and  as  Nature  is  always  the  surest  guide 
to  successful  cultivation,  the  nearer  she  can 
be  imitated  the  better  the  success.    I  find  it 
is  one  of  the  plants  the  culture  of  which  is  not 
very  easy  to  give  by  writing,  as  so  much  must 
be    determined    by    the    circumstances     of 
locality.     Whenever  a  suitable  stream  is  at 
command  the  experiment  of  growing  Water 
Cress  is  worth  trial,  especially  when  we  know 
that  it,  in  many  cases,  pays  for  a  given  area 
six  or  eight  times  more  than  any  other  vege- 
table cultivated,  provided  it  can  be  sold  in  the 
markets  of  New  York  or  Philadelphia.     It  is 
usually    sold    in  baskets,    containing   about 
three  quarts,  which  sell,  Avhen  first  in  market, 
at  one  dollar  each ;  and  2U0  or  300  such  are 
carried  in  an  ordinary  wagon,  so  that  from  a 
single  load  of  this  simple  vegetaV)le,  $2U0  to 
$300  are  realized.    The  Water  Cress  has  a 
particularly  pleasant  pungent  taste,  agreeable 
to  most  people  in  early  spring.     It  is  said, 
that  when  Sir  Joseph   Banks  first  arrived  in 
England  after  his  voyage  around   the  world, 
among  the  fli'st  things    he   asked  for  were 
Water  Cresses,  well  knowing  their  value  as  a 
purifier  of  the  blood  ;  and  that   he  afterward 
presented    one    of    the  largest  Water    Cress 
growers  for  the  London  market  a   Banksian 
Medal,  for  energy  shown  in  the  business,  be- 
lieving that,  while  he  had  benefited  himself, 
he  had  benefited  the  community.    I  have  no 
doubt  whatever     that    in    situations    where 
irrigation    could    be  used    at    pleasure,  and 
regular  plantations  made  ,is  for  Cranberries, 
if  grown  in  this  way  (judging  from  the  enor- 
mous price  they  sell  at,  picked  up  as  they  are 
in  the  present  hap-hazard  way),   at  present 
prices,  an  acre  would  sell  for  four  thousand 
or  five  thousand  dollars. 

The  name  of  this  genus  is  frequently  mis- 
applied to  the  common  forms  of  TroptBolum. 

Natal  Plum.     Arduina  grandiflora. 

Natans.     Floating  under  water. 

Naturalized.  Introduced  from  a  foreign  coun- 
try, but  growing  perfectly  wild,  and  propaga- 
ting freely  by  seed. 

Nau'clea.  From  naus,  a  ship,  and  kleio,  to 
enclose  ;  the  half-capsule  is  hull-shaped.  Nat. 
Ord.  Rubiacece. 

A  genus  of  trees  and  shrubs,  natives  of 
tropical  Asia  and  the  Malayan  Islands.  N. 
Gambir,  or  Uncaria  Gambir  yields  the  Gambir 
or  Teri-a  Japonica  of  commerce.  Among  the 
Malays,  its  chief  use  is  as  a  masticatory  in 
combination  with  the  Areca-nut  and  the  Betel- 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


271 


NAU 

leaf,  but  considerable  quantities  are  exported 
to  China  and  Europe  for  tanning  ttie  finer 
kinds  of  leather.  It  is  also  used  by  dyers  and 
curriers.  Two  or  three  species  are  in  cultiva- 
tion, but  they  are  of  no  horticultural  value. 

Naumbe'rgia  thyrsiJlora.  A  synonym  of  Lysi- 
niachia  thyrsiJlora. 

Navarre'ttia.  Derivation  of  name  unknown. 
Nat.  Ord.  Polemoniacem. 

Mostly  coarse  hardy  annuals,  with  blue 
flowers,  from  California.  They  are  allied  to 
Ipomosis,  and  should  have  the  same  treat- 
ment. Tlie  genus  is  now  included  under  Gilia 
by  some  botanists. 

Navelv^rort.    See  Cotyledon 

Navicular.  Boat-shaped,  the  same  as  Cymbi- 
form. 

Neapolitan  Violet.  (F.  o.  pallida  plena).  A 
variety  of  Viola  odorata. 

Nebulose.     Clouded. 

Neck.  The  upper  tapering  end  of  bulbs  is 
called  the  neck,  as  in  Crinum,  Amaryllis,  etc. 

Necklace  Tree.    See  Ormosia. 

Neck-Weed.  A  popular  name  for  Cannabis 
saliva  or  Hemp. 

Necta'ndra.  From  Nektar,  and  ander,  andros, 
a  male  (stamen) ;  in  reference  to  the  three 
nectariferous  barren  stamens.  Nat.  Ord. 
Lauracece. 

A  genus  of  about  seventy  species  of  trees  or 
shrubs  natives  of  tropical  America,  from  Brazil 
and  Peru,  8.s  far  as  Mexico  and  the  West  Indies. 
The  species  most  worthy  of  notice  is  N. 
Rodicei,  the  Bibisi  tree,  or  Green-heart  of 
British  Guiana,  the  timber  of  which  is  largely 
imported  for  ship-building. 

Nectar.  The  honey,  etc.,  secreted  by  glands, 
or  by  any  part  of  the  corolla. 

Nectariferous.  Honey-bearing,  or  having  a 
nectary. 

Ne'ctarine.  Persica  vidgaris  var.  IcEvm.  The 
Nectarine  is  almost  identical  with  the  Peach  ; 
both  owe  tlieir  origin  to  one  and  the  same 
parent,  Persica  vulgaris,  and  in  growth,  habit, 
and  general  appearance  they  are  almost  iden- 
tical. Most  botanists  consider  them  the  same 
species ;  the  only  difference  between  the  two 
being  in  the  skin,  the  Nectarine  having  a 
smooth  and  tlie  peach  a  downy  one. 
The  fruit,  however,  is  rather  smaller, 
and  is  one  of  tlie  most  wax-like  and  exquisite 
of  all  productions  for  the  dessert.  They  are, 
perhaps,  scarcely  so  rich  in  flavor  as  the 
finest  peach,  but  have  more  piquancy,  partalc- 
ing  more  of  the  peach-leaf  flavor.  Tlieir 
identity  has  often  been  confirmed  by  fruit  of 
both  sorts  being  produced  not  only  on  the 
same  ti-ee,  but  on  the  same  stem ;  and  in- 
stances are  recorded  of  the  same  occurring  in 
one  fruit,  one  side  of  which  was  downy  like 
the  Peach,  tlie  other  smooth  like  the  Nectar- 
ine. Nectarines,  however,  usually  produce 
Nectarines  again,  on  sowing  the  seeds,  but 
they  occasionally  produce  peaches ;  the  Bos- 
ton Nectarine  was  a  seedling  from  a  Peach 
stone.  The  French  have  always  considered 
them  the  same,  and  designate  them  as  smooth 
and  downy  peaches.  The  Nectarine  is  a  little 
more  shy  of  bearing  in  this  country  than  the 
Peach  but  this  aiises  almost  always  from  the 
destruction  of  the  crop  of  fruit  by  t\iQCurculio, 


NEI 

the  destroyer  of  all  smooth-skinned  fruits  in 
sandy  soils.  It  is  quite  hardy  wherever  the 
Peach  will  thrive,  though  it  will  not  generally 
bear  large  and  fine  fruit  unless  the  branches 
are  shortened  in  annually,  about  one  half  of 
their  lengtli.  Witli  this  easy  system  of  prun- 
ing, good  crops  are  readily  obtained  wlierever 
t\\QCurculio  is  not  very  prevalent  (see  Curculio). 
The  culture  of  the  Nectarine  is  in  all  respects 
similar  to  the  Peach  (which  see).  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  good  selection  of  choice  varieties 
for  a  small  garden  :  Violet  Hative  one  of  the 
very  best,  of  delicious  flavor,  hardy  and  pro- 
ductive ;  Elruge,  Hardwicke,  Boston,  Roman, 
and  New  AVhite. 

Neotarosco'rdum.  Honey  Garlic.  From 
nectar,  honey,  and  skorodon,  garlic,  referring 
to  honey-pores  in  the  flower  of  this  onion-like 
plant.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidacea;. 

This  genus  of  bulbs  is  allied  to  the  Allium, 
and  was  formerly  called  Allium  siculum.  It 
is  a  very  curious,  hardy  bulb,  throwing  up  a 
flower  scape  tliree  to  four  feet  high,  quite 
slender,  with  a  cluster  of  long,  pendulous, 
green  or  purplish  flowers.  It  grows  freely  in 
a  light  soil,  and  flowers  in  June.  Introduced 
from  Sicily  in  1832.  It  is  increased  by  off- 
sets. 

Nectary.  An  organ  which  secretes  honey ;  an 
old  name  for  petals  and  other  parts  of  the 
flower  when  of  unusual  shape,  especially  when 
honey-bearing.  So  the  hollow  spur-shaped 
petals  of  Columbine  were  called  nectaries ; 
also  the  curious,  long-clawed  petals  of  Monks- 
hood. 

Needle-and-Thread,  Adam's.  A  popular  name 
for  Yucca  filamentosa. 

Needle-shaped.  Long,  slender,  and  rigid,  like 
the  leaves  of  a  Pine. 

Negro  Corn.     A  "West  Indian  name  for  Dlwura. 

Negro's  Head.     Phytelephas  macrocarpa. 

Negu'ndo.  Box  Elder,  Ash-leaved  Maple. 
Derivation  of  name  unknown.  Nat.  Ord, 
AceracecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  native,  deciduous  trees, 
allied  to  the  Maple.  N.  aceroides  (syn.  fraxin- 
ifolium)  is  common  in  Pennsylvania,  and  South 
and  West.  Its  variety,  N.  a.  foliis  argenteis 
variegatis,  is  one  of  the  handsomest  variegated 
trees  under  cultivation  in  England,  but  in  the 
dry,  hot  climate  of  the  United  States,  though 
a  native,  it  is  rarely  seen  in  perfection,  the 
leaves  burning  up  under  our  hot.  scorching 
sun.  The  leaves  are  beautifully  marked 
white  and  green,  and  it  is  a  plant  of  rapid  and 
vigorous  growth.  There  are  several  varie- 
ties, but  none  so  good  as  the  above.  N.  Cali- 
fomicum  is  found  in  valleys  of  the  lower 
Sacramento  River  and  the  interior  valleys  of 
the  coast  ranges  of  the  San  Bernardino 
Mountains.  The  wood  is  occasionally  used 
in  manufacturing  furniture,  etc. 

Nei'llia.  Named  after  Patrick  Neill  of  Edinburgh, 
Scotland,  secretary  of  the  Caledonian  Horti- 
cultural Society  in  the  early  part  of  this  cen- 
tury.    Nat.  Ord.  Rosacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy  branching  shrubs,  natives 
of  northern  India,  Java,  and  North  America. 
Two  species  are  in  cultivation,  both  from  the 
Himalayas,  bearing  terminal  racemes  of  white 
flowers  in  June,  and  forming  excellent  plants 
for  shrubberies,  etc. 


272 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


NEJ 

Ne'ja.  A  small  genus  of  CompositcB,  consisting 
of  about  six  south  Brazilian  perennials,  or 
under-shrubs,  with  yellow  flower-heads.  N. 
gracilis  is  a  compact,  free-flowering  little 
plant,  and  has  a.  very  neat  appearance  in  the 
borders.    Propagated  by  seeds  or  division. 

Neli'tris.  From  ne,  privative,  and  elytron,  a 
seed  case ;  in  reference  to  the  berry  being 
without  any  partitions.  Nat.  Ord.  MyrtaceoR. 
A  genus  of  shrubs  or  small  trees,  natives  of 
tro])ical  Asia  and  Australia.  Only  one  or  two 
species  are  in  cultivation. 

Nelso'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  D.  Nelson,  the 
botanist  who  accompanied  Captain  Cook.  Nat. 
Ord.  AcanthacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  plants  distributed  over 
tropical  and  sub-tropical  regions  in  both  the 
Old  and  New  Worlds.  The  species  consist  of 
diffuse  tomentose  herbs,  and  are  but  little  cul- 
tivated. 

Nelu'mbium.  Nelumbo,  Sacred  Bean.  From 
Ndumbo,  the  Cingalese  name  of  N.  speciosum. 
Nat.  Ord.  NymphmcecE. 

This  genus  contains  several  beautiful  spe- 
cies, all  aquatic  plants  growing  in  ponds 
and  slow-running  streams.  N.  speciosum 
is  the  Sacred  Bean  or  Sacred  Lotus  of 
India.  It  is  a  native  of  both  the  East  and 
West  Indies,  China,  Japan,  Persia,  and  Asiatic 
Russia.  According  to  Thunberg,  it  is  es- 
.  teemed  a  sacred  plant  in  Japan,  and  pleasing 
to  their  deities,  the  images  of  their  idols  be- 
ing often  represented  as  sitting  on  its  large 
leaves.  The  worship  of  the  Lotus  was  com- 
mon with  the  ancient  Egj-ptians;  it  is  not 
now,  however,  to  be  met  with  on  the  Nile. 
Herodotus  described  the  plant  with  tolerable 
accuracy,  comparing  the  receptacle  of  the 
flower  to  a  wasp's  nest.  Sculptured  repre- 
sentations of  it  abound  among  the  ruins  of 
Egyptian  temples,  and  many  other  circum- 
stances prove  the  veneration  paid  to  this 
plant  by  tlie  votaries  of  Isis.  The  Chinese 
have  several  varieties,  the  most  beautiful  be- 
ing the  rose-colored  flowering  one.  They 
have  always  held  it  in  sacred  regard.  That 
character  has  not,  however,  limited  it  to 
merely  ornamental  purposes,  for  the  roots 
are  not  only  served  up  in  summer  with  ice, 
but  they  are  also  laid  up  with  salt  and  vine- 
gar for  the  winter.  The  leaves  are  covered 
with  a  fine  microscopic  down,  which,  by  re- 
taining a  film  of  air  over  the  upper  surface, 
prevents  it  from  being  wetted  wht»n  water  is 
poured  on  it,  the  water  rolling  off  in  drops ; 
this  has  a  very  pretty  appearance,  the  drops 
of  water  looking  like  drops  of  molten  silver. 
The  Hindoos  have  a  proverb  founded  on  this 
peculiarity  of  the  leaves,  to  the  effect  that 
the  good  and  virtuous  man  is  not  enslaved  by 
passion  nor  polluted  by  vice ;  for  though  he 
may  be  immersed  in  the  waters  of  temptation 
yet,  like  a  Lotus  leaf,  he  will  rise  uninjured 
by  them.  N,  luteum  {Telloio  Nelumbo  or  Water 
Chinquapin)  is  a  very  beautiful  species,  with 
yellow  flowers  from  six  to  ten  inches  in  diam- 
eter, common  in  the  Western  and  Southern 
States.  It  has  been  introduced,  probably  by 
the  Aborigines,  into  the  Delaware  near  Phila- 
delphia, and  also  in  some  parts  of  New  Jersey 
and  Connecticut.  It  may  be  grown  in  a  large 
tub,  or  in  a  tank,  in  the  same  manner  in 
which  the  white  Pond  Lily  is  often  grown. 

Nelu'mbo.     See  Nelumbium. 


NEP 

Nemasty'lia.  From  nema,  a  thread,  and  stylos, 
a  column ;  referring  to  the  slender  style.  Nat. 
Ord.  IridaceoB. 

A  genus  of  half-hardy  bulbs,  natives  of 
Mexico  and  the  southern  United  States.  They 
can  be  grown  quite  successfully,  if  treated  in 
the  same  manner  of  Ixiaa  and  Sparaxis. 
There  are  three  species  in  cultivation — N. 
geminiflora  (syn.  N.  acutus)  and  N.  purpureus, 
from  Texas,  and  N.  ccBlestinus,  from  Florida. 
All  are  of  dwarf  growth  with  showy  blossoms, 
which,  however,  are  fugacious,  though  pro- 
duced continuously. 

Nemata'nthus.  From  nema,  a  thread,  and 
anthos,  a  flower ;  in  allusion  to  the  pendant, 
thread-like  peduncles  on  which  the  flowers 
are  suspended.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneracece. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  trailing 
plants,  with  large  scarlet  flowers,  singly,  in 
the  axils  of  the  leaves.  It  requires  a  warm, 
humid  atmosphere,  in  which  it  is  a  rapid 
grower.  It  is  a  native  of  Brazil.  Introduced 
in  1841. 

Neme'sia.  A  name  applied  by  Dioscorides  to 
denote  an  allied  plant.  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophu- 
lariacece. 

A  small  genus  of  low-growing  annuals  from 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  They  have  opposite 
or  whorled  leaves,  and  terminal  racemes  of 
white  and  purplish  tinted  flowers.  They  are  of 
but  little  interest. 

Nemopa'nthes.  Mountain  Holly.  From  nemos, 
a  grove,  and  anthos,  a  flower ;  it  being  gener- 
ally found  in  groves.  Nat.  Ord.  AquifoliacecE.. 
N.  Canadensis,  tlie  only  species,  is  a  beau- 
tiful hardy  shrub,  indigenous  to  the  moun- 
tains from  Virginia  to  Maine,  Wisconsin  and 
northward.  It  was  formerly  called  Ilex  Cana- 
densis, and  is  popularly  known  as  Mountain 
Holly.  It  forms  a  handsome,  much-branched 
shrub,  from  four  to  six  feet  in  height,  with 
small  white  flowers,  which  are  succeeded  in 
autumn  by  large,  beautiful  crimson  berries. 
It  is  increased  by  seeds  or  by  layers. 

Nemo'phili.  From  nemos,  a  glove,  and  phileo, 
love  ;  the  plants  delight  in  a  shady  situation. 
Nat.  Ord.  Hydrophyllacem. 

A  small  genus  of  verj'  beautiful  hardy 
annuals  from  California.  N.  insignis,  is  a 
beautiful  border  plant  with  lovely  blue  flow- 
ers, and  should  be  grown  in  a  moist,  partly 
shaded  situation.  The  seed  should  be  sown 
very  early  in  spring.  The  Nemophilas  make 
fine  pot  plants  for  flowering  in  the  green- 
house in  winter;  and  for  this  purpose  the 
seed  should  be  sown  early  in  the  fall,  and  the 
plants  kept  rather  cool  in  winter. 

Neo'ttia.  From  neottia,  a  bird's-nest;  refer- 
ring to  the  interlacing  of  the  numerous  roots. 
Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacem. 

A  genus  of  hardy  and  green-house  terres- 
trial Orchids  of  but  little  interest  and  rarely 
cultivated. 

Neotto'pteris.  From  neottia,  a  bird's-nest,  and 
pteris,  a  fern  ;  founded  on  the  Bird's  Nest  or 
Spleenwort  Fern.  Linn.  Nat.  Ord.  Poly- 
podiacecB. 

A  genus  of  very  interesting  Ferns  from  New 
Zealand  and  the  East  Indies,  found  in  all  good 
collections,  now  included   under  Asplenium. 

Nepentha'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  curious 
shrubs  or  sub-shrubs  inhabiting  tropical 
Asia,  Madagascar,    tropical    Australia,   New 


AND   GENEEAL   HORTICULTURE. 


273 


NEP 

Caledonia,  and  especially  the  Malayan  Archi- 
pelago. Nepenthes,  the  only  genus  comprises 
upwards  of  thirty  species. 

Nepe'nthes.  Pitcher  Plant.  From  nepenthes, 
grief-assuaging ;  its  supposed  medicinal  qual- 
ity.    Nat.  Ord.  Nepenthacece. 

Among    the    many    curious    forms    which 
abound  in  the  vegetaVjle  kingdom,  perhaps 
few  arrest  more  general  attention  than  do  the 
members  of  this  genus.      The  extraordinary 
appendage  to  the  apex  of  each  leaf  has  obtain- 
ed for  it  the  appropriate  appellation  of  the 
Pitcher    Plant.     Connected  with    the   point 
of  the  leaf,  by  means  of  a  long,  pendant,  strap- 
like ligament,  hangs  a  hollow  tube,  sometimes 
of  the  color  and  consistence  of  the  leaf,  shaped 
much  in  the  manner  of  some  antique  vase, 
which  will  hold  from  half  a  pint  to  nearly  a 
quart  of  water,  and  extending  over  the  mouth 
of  which  is  what  may  be  readily  likened  to  a 
lid,  the  whole  hanging  loosely  by  the  strap  be- 
fore mentioned,  and  appeai-ing  only  as  though 
provided  by  a  beneficent  Providence  to  catch 
and  preserve  the  dews    of  heaven    for   the 
supply  of  the  animal  population  of  the  sultry 
clime  from  which  it  is  obtained.     In  culti- 
vation, the  species  require  very  similar  treat- 
ment to  what  is  usual  for  East  Indian  Orchids. 
They  are  of  an  upright,  slender  habit,  requir- 
ing some  support  to  their  flexible  branches ; 
and  for  this  purpose  light  iron  rods  should  be 
fixed  to  the  pot  or  basket  in  which  they  are 
grown,  and  circular  hoops  afford  the  easiest 
means  of  fastening  the  leaves  and  pitchers  in 
their  respective  places.     Turfy  peat,  with  an 
equal   quantity  of  Sphagnum  moss,  appears 
to  be    the    most  proper    medium    for   their 
roots  and  with  a  damp  atmosphere  of  about  bO° 
in  summer  they  grow  vigorously.     The  neces- 
sary reduction  of  heat  and  moisture  in  winter 
must  be  observed  with    these    as  with    all 
other  plants.    N.  distillatoria,  the  first  intro- 
duced species  is  still  in  cultivation  though  it 
has  been  superseded  in  size  and  beauty  by 
many  later  introductions.       N.    Rafflesiana, 
like   many  others  has  two  kinds  of  pitchers, 
those  on    the    lower    leaves    being  bladder- 
shaped,  with  two  fringed  wings  in  front,  about 
four  inches  long  by  two  wide  and  beautifully 
spotted  with  rich  brown ;  while  those  on  the 
upper  leaves  are  less  beautifully  colored,  a 
good  deal  longer,  and  funnel-shaped,  narrow- 
ing gradually  to  the  base  where  they  gracefully 
curve  upward.       N.  calcarata,  N.  Hookeriana, 
N.  Northiana,  N.  lanata,  N.  Veitchii  (syn.  N. 
sanguinea),  and  N.  Rajah  with  pitchers  a  foot 
or  more  long,  are  afew  of  the  number  of  species 
introduced  of  late  years,  while  the  hybridizer 
has  given  us  manv  varieties  of  equal,  if  not 
greater  beauty  and  interest.    The  genus  is 
distributed  throughout  Borneo,  Sumatra  and 
the  adjacent  islands  of  the  Indian  Archipelago. 
Increase  is  had  by  cuttings,  or  by  separating 
the  offsets  produced  near  the  base  of  the  stems 
of  the  old  plants ;  these  should  be  taken  off  and 
potted  at  once  in  the  manner  of  mature  speci- 
mens, and  if  allowed  the  warmest  part  of  the 
house,  or  a  brisk  bottom  heat,  they  soon  es- 
tablish themselves.     To  believers  in  the  Dar- 
winian   theory    of  insect-eating  plants,    the 
Pitcher  Plants  offer   a   good    argument.    In 
nearly  all  the  varieties  a  fluid  is  found  at  the 
bottom   of  the  "pitchers,"  that  seems  to  at- 
tract, and  at  the  same   time  poison  ants  that 


NEP 

flock  to  it  in  immense  numbers,  sometimes  a 
thousand  being  found  in  a  single  •'  pitcher." 
Mr.  William  Smith,  Superintendent  in  the  Bo- 
tanic Gardens,  Washington,  D.  C,  holds  to  the 
belief  that  the  fluid  intoxicates  the  insects. 
First  introduced  in  1820. 
Nep'eta.  Catnip,  Cat  Mint.  From  Nepet  a  town, 
in  Tuscany.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous 
plants,  properly  classed  with  troublesome 
weeds.  N.  cataria,  the  well-known  Catnip, 
which  is  regarded  as  an  useful  herb,  and  N. 
Glechoma  (Ground  Ivy)  have  become  natural- 
ized throughout  most  of  the  States,  until  they 
have  become  more  troublesome  than  useful. 
The  latter  is,  however,  an  excellent  companion 
plant  to  Vinca  minor  fo&covering  very  shady 
areas  or  door-yards  in  the  cities  or  for  grow- 
ing under  trees,  or  other  very  shady  spots  in 
the  country.  N.  G.  variegata,  a  variety  its 
leaves  beautifully  variegated  with  white,  has 
been  lately  introduced  from  Japan,  and  is  an 
excellent  and  valuable  basket  plant,  and  it  will 
probably  prove  hardy.  N.  cataria,  is  now  being 
grown  in  rough  waste  places  for  Bee-food,  for 
which  it  is  said  to  be  valuable.  N.  Mussini,  is 
an  old  plant,  and  was  once  used  a  good  deal 
for  edgings  to  borders  for  which  its  compact 
growth  well  suits  it.  The  other  species  are 
suitable  only  for  botanical  collections.  Syn. 
Glechoma  and  Cataria. 
Nephe'Iium.  An  ancient  name  for  Burdock; 
applied  in  reference  to  the  similarity  of  the 
heads  of  the  flowers  and  seeds.  Nat.  Ord. 
SapindacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  fruit-bearing  trees  from 
China  and  the  East  Indies.  N.  Litchi,  the 
best  variety  has  fruit  nearly  round,  about 
one  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter,  with  a  thin 
brittle  shell  of  a  red  color,  which  is  quite 
warty.  When  fresh,  they  are  filled  with  a 
white,  almost  transparent,  sweet,  jelly-like 
pulp ;  after  they  have  been  gathered  some 
time,  the  fruit  shrivels,  turns  black,  and  then 
bears  some  resemblance  to  Prunes.  The 
Chinese  are  very  fond  of  these  fruits,  and 
consume  large  quantities  of  them,  both  green 
and  in  the  dried  state,  preserved. 
Nephro'dium.  From  nephron,  a  kidney;  the 
shape  of  the  spore-cases.  Nat.  Ord.  Polypo- 
diacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  Ferns,  distrib- 
uted freely  over  tlie  warmer  parts  of  the  Old 
and  New  Worlds,  and  consisting  mostly 
of  species  which  have  more  or  less  the  aspect 
of  the  common  male  fern,  i^.  Filix  mas.  The 
most  familiar  species  is  N.  molle,  which  is 
everywhere  met  with  in  collections  of  culti- 
vated ferns  as  well  as  among  dried  ferns  from 
nearly  all  parts  of  the  world.  Many  beauti- 
ful species  and  varieties,  both  hardy  and 
exotic,  are  now  in  cultivation,  and  are 
deserved  favorites  in  all  collections.  The 
various  genera,  however,  of  this  section  or 
group  of  Ferns,  as  Polystichum,  Sagenia, 
Aspidium,  Lastrea,  Nephrodium,  etc.,  have 
been  so  mixed  up  by  botanists  that  no  two 
agree  as  to  which  particular  genus  many  of 
the  species  belong. 
Nephro'lepis.  From  nephros,  a  kidney,  and 
lepis,  a  scale  ;  referring  to  the  covering  of  the 
seed  or  spore-cases.  Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacem. 
A  considerable  genus  of  very  handsome 
tropical  Ferns.      N.  davallioides  furcana  is  by 


274 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


NEP 

far  the  finest  of  the  family,  and  the  one  best 
adapted  for  the  ordinary  green-house.  It  has 
no  equal  for  the  sitting  room  or  conservator}', 
being  a  rapid  grower,  of  graceful  habit,  and 
not  liable  to  be  injured  by  sudden  changes  of 
temperature.  N.  exaltala,  and  N.  tuberosa 
(syn.  N.  cordifolia),  are  both  very  desirable 
species,  especially  for  large  hanging  baskets. 
N.  Duffii  is  also  a  very  elegant  species  having 
fascicles  of  numerous  gracefully-arching 
narrow  fronds.  It  was  introduced  from  Duke 
of  York's  Island  in  1878.  There  are  many 
other  interesting  and  beautiful  species,  all 
of  easy  culture,  and  rapidly  increased  by 
division,  or  by  spores. 

Nephrospe'rma.  From  nephros,  a  kidney,  and 
sperma,  a  seed ;  referring  to  the  shape  of  the 
seed.      Nat.  Ord.  Pulmacece. 

N.  Van  Houlteanum,  the  only  described 
species,  is  a  very  elegant,  armed,  plant-stove 
palm,  with  pinnate,  gracefully  arched  leaves, 
divided  into  pendulous,  acuminate,  unequal 
segments.  The  plants  are  very  useful  for 
decorative  purposes  in  the  young  state.  It 
was  introduced  from  the  Seychelle  Islands  in 
1868,  and  is  propagated  by  imported  seeds. 
Syns.  Areca  nobilis,  and  Oncospermum  Van 
Houtteanum. 

Ne'phthytis.  Named  after  Nephthys,  the 
mother-in-law  of  Typhon.  Nat.  Ord.  Aroidece. 
A  small  genus  of  four  species,  of  which  N. 
picturata  is  remarkable  for  the  handsome 
variegated  character  of  its  foliage.  This 
variegation  is  peculiar,  and  quite  unique  in 
character,  forming  a  pattern  resembling  in  out- 
line the  tips  of  fern-fronds  laid  between  the 
nerves  of  the  bright  green-colored  leaves, 
with  their  points  all  directed  towards  the  base 
of  the  leaf.  Introduced  from  the  Congo  in 
1887. 

Neptu'nia.  Named  after  the  mythological  deity 
Neptune,  in  reference  to  the  species  growing 
in  water.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosm. 

A  singular  genus  comprising  about  eight 
species  of  prostrate,  often  floating  perennial, 
herbs  or  small  shrubs.  Natives  of  North  and 
South  America,  tropical  Asia  and  Australia. 
N.  plena  (abounding),  the  only  cultivated 
species,  is  a  most  curious  and  interesting 
water-plant  with  yellow  flowers.  The  white, 
spongy,  lower  portion  of  the  stems  full  of 
air-cells,  enabling  the  plant  to  float,  are  very 
remarkable.  The  leaflets  and  petioles  are  as 
irritable  as  those  of  Mimosa  pudica,  and  are 
of  ah  extremely  delicate  yellowish-green 
color.  It  was  introduced  from  Mexico  in 
184:5.  N.  lutea  is  found  in  damp  soil  near  the 
coast.  Key  West  to  Alabama  and  westward. 

Neri'ne.  Guornsey  Lily.  Named  after  Nerine., 
daughter  of  Nerius.  Nat.  Ord.  Amarylli- 
dacem. 

Showy  bulbous  plants,  the  type  of  which  is 
the  Guernsey  Lily,  and  which  are  natives  of 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  China,  and  Japan. 
The  Guernsey  Lily  is  a  native  of  Japan,  and 
the  reason  why  it  has  obtained  its  English 
name  is  said  to  be,  that  a  ship  laden  with  these 
bulbs  and  other  plants  from  China  was  Wrecked 
on  the  coast  of  Guernsey ;  and  that  the  bulbs 
being  washed  on  shore,  took  root  in  the  sandy 
soil  of  the  beach,  and  flourished  there  so 
remarkably  as  to  be  supposed  to  be  natives 
of  the  island.  Whether  this  story  be  true  or 
not,  it  is  quite  certain  that  for  nearly  two 


NER 

hundred  years  these  bulbs  have  been  culti- 
vated in  Guernsey  with  the  greatest  success, 
growing  freely  in  the  open  air,  and  producing 
abundance  of  offsets  every  year,  from  which 
the  market  is  supplied.  Tho  Dulbs  are  gener- 
ally  planted  in  spring,  in  pots  of  very  sandy 
loam,  and  placed  in  some  window  or  other 
situation  where  they  will  have  plenty  of  light. 
They  flower  in  September  and  October ;  and 
as  soon  as  they  have  flowered  the  bulbs  are 
generally  thrown  away,  as  they  are  said  never 
to  flower  well  the  second  year.  This  is,  how- 
ever, entirely  the  fault  of  the  grower,  as,  if 
they  were  planted  in  a  well-drained,  sunny 
border  in  the  open  ground,  and  allowed  to 
mature  their  new  bulbs  every  year  by  the 
agency  of  the  leaves,  there  is  no  doubt  that 
they  would  live  as  long  as  any  of  the  kinds  of 
Narcissi,  and  flower  as  fredly.  The  true 
Guernsey  Lily  is  N.  sarniensis.  N.  curvifolia 
is  also  an  exceedingly  beautiful  species,  and 
one  of  the  most  vigorous  growers.  The 
flowers  which  appear  at  various  seasons,  are 
of  a  bright  glittering  scarlet,  the  petals  in  the 
sunlight  appearing  as  if  sprinkled  with  gold- 
dust.  It  is  probably  the  most  showy  of  the 
genus,  and  is  known  in  cultivation  as  Amaryl- 
lis or  Nerine  Fothergillia. 

Ne'rium.  Oleander.  From  neros,  moist ;  refer- 
ring to  their  native  places  of  growth.  Nat. 
Ord.  ApocynacecB. 

Nerium  oleander  and  its  varieties  are  old  and 
valued  inhabitants  of  our  green-houses ;  their 
large  and  handsome  flowers,  either  double  or 
single,  pink  or  white,  produced  in  the  early 
part  of  the  season,  having  made  them  general 
favorites.  As  the  flowers  are  borne  only  on 
mature,  well-ripened  shoots,  the  plants  must 
be  well  exposed  to  sun  and  air  during  their 
period  of  growth.  Many  beautiful  varieties, 
both  double  and  semi-double,  mostly  of  Conti- 
nental origin,  have  been  introduced  of  late 
years,  and  are  the  more  valuable  on  account 
of  their  blooming  freely  when  in  a  young  or 
dwarf  state.  Neriums  are  easily  propagated 
by  cuttings  of  the  matured  leading  shoots  in 
a  close,  narrow,  warm  place,  or  they  may  be 
rooted  successfully  in  bottles  of  water,  and 
afterwards  potted  carefully  in  soil.  Their 
principal  insect  enemy  is  the  White  Scale, 
which  only  persistent  sponging  or  washing 
with  kerosene  emulsion  will  subdue.  Not- 
withstanding their  beauty  they  are  one  of  the 
most  virulent  of  vegetable  poisons.  The 
leaves  are  fatal  to  animals ;  the  flowers  have 
caused  death  to  those  who  carelessly  picked 
and  ate  them,  and  it  is  on  record  that  the 
branches  divested  of  their  bark,  and  used  as 
skewers,  have  poisoned  the  meat  roasted  on 
them,  and  killed  seven  out  of  twelve  persons 
who  partook  of  it. 

Ne'rtera.  From  nerteros,  lowly ;  referring  to 
the  habit  of  tlie  genus.     Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacem. 

A  small  genus  of  creeping,  herbaceous 
plants,  indigenous  to  the  mountains  of  Java, 
the  Phillipine  and  Sandwich  Islands,  the 
Andes  of  South  America,  Australia,  and  New 
Zealand.  N.  depressa,  the  Bead  Plant,  com- 
monly known  under  the  absurd  name  of 
Flowering  or  Fruiting  Duckweed,  is  a  beauti- 
ful hardy  i>erennial  rock  plant,  forming  a 
dense  carpet,  close  to  the  ground,  of  creeping 
stems  thickly  covered  with  tiny,  small,  ovate, 
almost  fleshy  leaves.  The  plant  is  exceedingly 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTUEE. 


275 


NER 

attractive  and  conspicuous  when  covered  with 
its  bright  orange-red  or  crimson  berries  about 
the  size  of  small  peas,  and  which  are  produced 
in  the  greatest  profusion.  It  may  be  increased 
from  seeds,  but  is  generally  propagated  by 
division  of  the  root,  any  small  piece  of  which 
will  root  freely.  It  is  also  well  adapted 
for  growing  in  pots  or  shallow  pans.  Intro- 
duced from  the  Antarctic  Mountains  in  1868. 

Nerves.  The  strong  veins  upon  the  leaves  or 
flowers. 

Nervose.     Nervous ;  full  of  nerves. 

Nesas'a.  A  genus  of  Lythracece,  comprising 
about  a  dozen  species  of  erect,  leafy,  perennial 
herbs,  or  sub- shrubs,  natives  of  America  and 
Africa,  with  yellow,  purple,  or  blue  flowers. 
N.  verticillata,  our  native  species,  is  a  most 
showy  plant,  with  four  to  six-sided  stems,  two 
to  six  feet  long,  bearing  axillary,  rose- colored 
flowers  on  short  pedicels.  Found  in  swampy 
ground,  common  in  the  Eastern  States. 

Netted-veined.  Furnished  with  branching 
veins  forming  net-work. 

Nettle.     See  Urtica. 

Nettle  Tree.     See  Celtis. 

Neuma'nnia.  A  genus,  now  included  under 
Pitcairnia. 

Neurolo'ma  arabidifolia.  A  synonym  for  Arabia 
albida. 

Ne'viusia.  Named  in  honor  of  the  Rev.  R.  D. 
Nevius,  of  Alabama,  the  discoverer.  Nat.  Ord. 
RosacecB. 

N.  Alabamensis,  the  only  species,  is  a  hand- 
some shrub,  with  slender  branches  and  numer- 
ous large,  white,  solitary  or  clustered  flowers 
on  terminary  peduncles.  It  differs  from  its 
allies,  Kerria,  Rhodotypus,  etc.,  in  having  no 
petals,  the  absence  of  which  is  compensated 
by  the  large  spreading  persistent  calyx-lobes. 
It  was  discovered  in  Alabama  in  1882,  and  may 
be  propagated  by  cuttings. 

New  Jersey  Tea.     See  Ceanothus. 

New  Zealand  Flax.     See  Phormium. 

New  Zealand  Spinach.  Tetragonia  expansa. 
This  is  grown  as  a  substitute  for  summer 
Spinach,  being  of  a  delicate  flavor,  and  con- 
tinuing available  the  whole  summer.  This 
species  is  found  in  Tasmania,  Australia,  Nor- 
folk Island,  and  both  sides  of  South  America, 
as  well  as  in  New  Zealand  and  Japan.  It  is  a 
half-hardy  annual  under  cultivation,  and  was 
introduced  into  England  from  New  Zealand  in 
1772  by  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  on  his  return  from 
accompanying  Captain  Cook  on  his  first  voy- 
age around  the  world,  and  disseminated  by 
the  English  seedsmen. 

Ne-wr  Zealand  Tea.     Leptospermum  scoparium. 

Nica'ndra.  Named  after  Nicander,  who  wrote 
on  medicine  and  botany  about  150  A.D. 

A  genus  of  Solanacem;  comprising  only  one 
species,  N.  Physaloides  (Winter-cherry-like), 
so  called  from  the  resemblance  of  its  fruit  to 
that  of  Physalis,  is  a  stout  annual  plant, 
about  two  feet  in  height,  with  smooth,  deeply 
sinuated  leaves.  Introduced  from  Peru  in 
1759. 

Nico'tiana.  Tobacco.  Named  in  honor  of  Johyi 
Nicot,  of  Nismes,  ambassador  from  the  King 
of  France  to  Portugal,  who  procured  the  first 
seeds  from  a  Dutchman,  who  had  them  from 
Florida.     Nat.  Ord.  SolanacecB. 


NIE 

Of  this  extensive  genus  of  annuals  and  per- 
ennials, the  best  known  and  most  generally 
cultivated  is  N.  tabacum,  and  its  varieties. 
There  are,  however,  several  other  species 
largely  cultivated,  particularly  in  Mexico, 
Central  America,  and  the  West  Indies.  The 
specific  name,  tabacum,  according  to  Hum- 
boldt, is  derived  from  the  Haytian  word  for 
the  pipe  in  which  the  herb  is  smoked,  and 
which  has  been  transferred  from  the  instru- 
ment to  the  plant.  N.  repanda  is  largely 
grown  in  the  West  Indies,  and  furnishes  the 
material  for  the  celebrated  Havana  cigars. 
"  Smoking  is  a  custom  of  very  great  antiquity 
in  both  hemispheres,  although,  previous  to 
the  discovery  of  America,  it  was  not  common 
among  the  inhabitants  of  the  Old  World,  and 
the  substances  smoked  were  either  Hemp  or 
such  herbs  as  Coltsfoot.  But  when  Columbus 
and  his  followers  landed  in  Cuba  in  1492, 
they  discovered  the  far-famed  Tobacco  in 
common  use  among  the  natives ;  and  subse- 
quent explorers  found  it  was  spread  over  the 
whole  continent  of  America,  where  it  had  been 
cultivated  from  time  immemorial.  The  pleas- 
antly soothing  effects  of  this  new  herb  were  so 
enticing  that  it  soon  found  patrons  among  the 
adventurers,  and  in  an  almost  incredibly  short 
time  after  their  return  to  Spain,  tobacco- 
smoking  began  to  be  practiced  in  Europe ;  but 
it  did  not  gain  much  ground  among  the  nations 
of  the  North  until  the  famous  Sir  Walter  Ra- 
leigh and  his  companions  introduced  the 
custom  into  England  in  1586.  At  first  it 
met  with  the  most  violent  opposition ;  kings 
prohibited  it ;  popes  fulminated  bulls  against 
it ;  and  sultans  sentenced  smokers  to  the 
most  cruel  kinds  of  death.  Persecution,  how- 
ever, only  helped  to  spread  it.  In  spite  of  all 
penalties,  the  custom  rapidly  progressed,  un- 
til, at  the  present  day,  it  may  be  said  to  be 
almost  universally  practiced  by  both  civilized 
and  uncivilized  man."  JV^.  affinis  is  a  good 
border  plant,  having  long  tubed  white  flowers, 
which  open  about  6  P.  M.,  and  emit  a  power- 
ful and  pleasant  odor  during  the  evening  and 
night.  N.  Wigandioides,  a  shrubby  species 
from  Columbia,  has  large  ovate-acuminate 
leaves,  and  is  well  adapted  for  sub-tropical 
gardening. 

Nierembe'rgia.  In  honor  of  John  Eusebius  Nie- 
remberg,  a  Spanish  Jesuit,  author  of  a  History 
of  Nature,  Antwerp,  1635.  Nat.  Ord.  Sola- 
nacece. 

A  very  interesting  genus  of  annuals  and 
green-liouse  herbaceous  perennials,  natives  of 
Central  and  South  America.  These  interest- 
ing little  plants  well  deserve  attention.  JV. 
fiUcaulis  and  N.  gruc'dis  are  among  the  most 
beautiful  of  the  class  of  plants  adapted  for 
embellishing  the  flower  garden  in  summer,  or 
"  turning  out,"  as  it  is  termed.  A  few  speci- 
mens of  either,  in  a  tolerablv  good  situation, 
will  keep  up  a  display  from  June  till  cut  off  by 
the  autumnal  frosts  ;  nor  are  the  other  species, 
N.  aristata  and  N.  calycina,  deficient  in  beauty, 
though  not  so  well  adapted  for  this  purpose, 
because  of  their  more  extended  habit.  N. 
riindaris,  introduced  from  La  Plata  in  1866,  is 
a  very  handsome  hardy  perennial,  bearing 
white  flowers  with  a  pale-yellow  centre.  It  is 
a  low-growing  plant,  and  is  in  flower  from 
June  till  fall  in  the  open  border.  This  species 
is  much  used  in  cemetery  decoration.     Cut- 


276 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


NIG 

tings  put  in  during  the  winter  in  the  green- 
house, will  make  fine  plants  for  planting 
out  in  spring. 

Nige'lla.  Love-ln-a-Mist,  or  Devil-in-the-Bush. 
From  niger,  black;  the  color  of  the  seeds. 
Nat.  Ord.  RanunculacecB. 

Annual  plants,  with  showy  flowers,  which 
are,  however,  almost  hidden  by  their  leafy 
involucres.  N.  Hispanica  is  the  handsomest 
species.  They  only  require  sowing  in  March 
or  April  in  the  open  border ;  or  they  may  be 
sown  in  autumn,  as  they  will  stand  the  winter 
without  protection,  and  will  thus  be  read}"  to 
flower  early  in  the  summer.  They  are  mostly 
natives  of  the  south  of  Europe,  and  have  long 
been  in  cultivation. 

Niger.     Black,  or  black  a  little  tinged  with  gray. 

Night  Bloomiiig  Cereus.     See  Cereus. 

Night  Blooming  Jasni%f .     See  Cestrum. 

Night  Flo-wer.     A  name  given  to  Nyctanthes 

arbor-tristis. 

Night  Scented  Stock.  A  common  name  applied 
to  Hesperis  tristis,  Matthiola  tristis,  M.  odora- 
tissima,  etc. 

Nightshade.     See  Solanum. 

Night  Shade.     Deadly.     Atropa  Belladonna. 

Night  Shade.     Enchanter's.     See  Circcea. 

Nigrescens,  Nigricans.     Blackish. 

Nimble  "Will  or  Drop  Seed.  A  popular  name 
for  the  grass  Muhlenbergia  diffusa. 

Ni'pa.  The  name  of  the  tree  in  the  Moluccas. 
Nat.  Ord.  Palmacew. 

N.  fructieans,  the  only  representative  of  the 
genus,  is  an  ornamental,  unarmed,  palm-like 
plant,  with  a  creeiiing,  furcated  trunk,  feathery 
leaves,  and  large  round  bunches  of  fruits.  Dr. 
Seemann,  in  the  "  Treasury  of  Botany,"  says : 
"  It  is  commonly  met  with  in  the  salt  marshes 
of  the  coasts  and  islands  of  the  Indian  seas, 
and  is  generally  classed  with  Pandanacece,  or 
PalmacecB,  but  does  not  quite  agree  with  either 
of  these  natural  orders.  A  similar  plant 
abounds  in  the  tertiary  formations  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Thames,  where  its  fruit  must  at 
one  time  have  floated  about  in  as  great  pro- 
fusion as  those  of  N.  fruticans  do  at  the  pres- 
ent day  in  Indian  rivers.  It  is  rather  diffi- 
cult to  grow  and  is  found  to  succeed  best  with 
the  pot  partially  submerged  in  water;  it  was 
introduced  to  cultivation  in  1822. 

Niphae'a.  From  niphos,  snow;  in  allusion  to 
its  pure  white  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Gesneracece. 
A  small  genus  of  green-house  herbaceous 
perennials,  with  pure  white  flowers.  The 
genus  is  allied  to  Achimenes  ;  it  requires  the 
same  treatment,  and  is  increased  in  the  same 
manner.  Intrt)duced  from  New  Grenada  and 
Guatemala  in  1841. 

Nipho'bolus.  From  niphobolos,  covered  with 
snow  ;  referring  to  the  white  covering  of  the 
spore  cases.     Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiaceoR. 

A  genus  of  Ferns  found  in  the  East  Indies, 
Australia,  and  Africa.  They  were  separated 
from  Polypodium,  to  which  they  bear  a  close 
resemblance.  Some  of  the  species  are  very 
beautiful,  and  well  adapted  for  the  Fern-case. 
They  are  increased  by  division  or  by  spores. 

Ni'tidus.  Having  an  even,  smooth,  polished 
surface,  as  many  seeds. 


NOP 

Nitra'ria.  From  nitrum,  nitre ;  first  found  by 
Schreber  near  the  niti-e  works  in  Siberia.  Nat. 
Ord.  Malpighiacem. 

Low  shrubs  with  white  flowers,  which  are 
very  hardy,  and  will  grow  well  in  situations 
exposed  to  the  sea.  In  gardens,  the  ground 
in  which  they  grow  should  be  occasionally 
watered  with  water  in  which  saltpetre  has 
been  dissolved. 

Nivalis.  Growing  near  snow,  or  appearing  at 
a  season  when  snow  is  on  the  ground, 

Niveus.     Snow-white  ;  the  purest  white. 

Node.  That  part  or  point  in  a  stem  from  which 
a  leaf,  whether  complete  or  incomplete, 
arises. 

Nodose.  Nodulose.  Knotted;  having  many 
nodes  or  knots. 

No-Eye  Pea.  Of  the  West  Indies.  See  Ca- 
ja)ius. 

Noise'ttia.  Named  after  L.  C.  Noisette,  a 
French  nurseryman,  author  of  "  Le  Jardin 
Frutier."    Nat.  Ord.  Violacem. 

N.  longifolia,  the  only  cultivated  species,  is 
a  green-house  evergreen  shrub,  introduced 
from  Cayenne  in  1824.  The  flowers  are  cream 
color,  produced  in  large  clusters.  Propa- 
gated by  cuttings. 

Nola'na.  From  nola,  a  little  bell ;  the  form  of 
the  flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Convolvulacece. 

Trailing  annual  plants,  with  pretty  blue 
flowers,  that  only  require  sowing  in  early 
spring  in  the  open  border.  N.  atriplicifolia, 
the  handsomest  species,  strongly  resembles 
Convolvulus  minor.  They  are  natives  of  Chili 
and  Peru,  and  were  introduced  in  1825. 

Nolana'ceae.  A  natural  order  now  included 
under  Convolvulacece. 

Noli'na.  Named  after  P.  C.  Nolin,  a  French 
botanist  of  the  last  century.  Nat.  Ord.  Ldlia- 
cecB. 

A  genus  of  about  a  dozen  species,  natives  of 
Mexico  and  the  southern  United  States.  N. 
Georgiana  (Georgian)  is  a  showy  plant,  with  a 
very  large  tunicated  bulb,  and  numerous 
small  white  flowers  crowded  in  long  bracted 
racemes  borne  on  scapes  two  to  three  feet 
high.  It  is  found  on  dry  sand  hills  in  the 
middle  districts  of  Greorgia  and  South  Caro- 
lina, and  flowers  in  April  and  May.  This 
genus  is  now  included  by  Mr.  Baker  under 
Beaucarnea. 

None-so-Pretty.     Saxifraga  umbrosa. 

No'nnea.  Named  after  J.  P.  Nonne,  of  Erfurt, 
a  German  writer  on  botany,  1729-1772.  Nat. 
Ord.  BoraginacecB. 

A  rather  large  genus  of  hardy  or  half-hardy 
plants  of  little  interest,  except  in  botanical 
collections. 

Noon-Flo-wrer,  or  Noon-tide.  Tragopogon  pror- 
tensis. 

Nopa'lea.  From  Nopal,  the  Mexican  name  for 
a  Cactus.     Nat.  Ord.  Cactacem. 

A  small  genus  of  fleshy  shrubby  plants, 
closely  allied  to  Opuntia,  from  which  they 
differ  in  having  erect  and  eonivent,  not  ex- 
expanding,  petals,  and  the  stamens  being 
shorter  than  the  style,  but  longer  than  the 
corolla.  N.  coccinellifera,  largely  cultivated 
in  Mexico  and  the  West  Indies,  as  food  for 
the  cochineal  insects,   is    better    known    as 


NOLANA  ATEIPLICIFOLIA, 


NBPHEOLEPIS  DUFFn. 


NICOTIANA   (TOBACCO  PLANT). 


AS  >     ,M.«, 


NICOTIANA  AITINIS. 


NTirPH.a:A  alba. 


ntcteehoa  capensis. 


NIGELLA  HlSPAinCA. 


NTMPaEA  DEVONIENBIS. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


277 


NOR 

Opuntia  coccinellifera  under  which  name  it   is 
described  in  this  worlv,  and  which  see. 

Nora'ntea.  Altered  from  Gonora-antegri,  the 
Guiana  name  of  N.  Guianensis.  Nat.  Ord. 
TernstromiacecB. 

A  genus  of  handsome  epiphytal  or  climbing 
shrubby  plants,  natives  of  the  tropical  parts 
of  America.  A  few  species  are  in  culti- 
vation. N.  Guianensis  has  violet-colored 
flowers  on  long  spikes  with  large  scarlet 
bracts.  The  branches  are  red,  and  throw  out 
roots  by  which  they  are  supported.  It  is  a 
beautiful  species  and  was  introduced  to  culti- 
vation in  1818. 

Norfolk  Island  Pine.    See  Araucaria  excelsa. 

Normal.  When  tlie  ordinary  structure  peculiar 
to  the  family  or  genus  is  in  nowise  departed 
from. 

Norway  Maple.     Acer  Platanoides. 

Norway  Spruce.     See  Abies  excelsa. 

Nosebleed.  A  common  name  for  the  Yarrow. 
Achillea  Millefolium. 

Noteles'a.  From  notos,  south,  and  Elaia,  the 
Olive ;  in  allusion  to  the  form  and  native 
place  of  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  OleacecB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  shrubs, 
natives  of  Australia  and  Tasmania.  The 
flowers  are  white  and  are  borne  in  axillary 
racemes  ;  the  leaves  are  opposite  and  entire. 
N.  ligicstrina,  the  Tasmanian  Ironwood,  yields 
an  extremely  hard  dense  wood,  which  is  used 
as  a  substitute  for  lignum-vitse,  and  for  turn- 
ery and  inlaid  work. 

Nothochlae'na.  From  nothos,  spurious,  and 
chlaina,  a  cloak;  some  of  the  species  appear 
to  have  an  involucre.  Nat.  Ord.  Polypodi- 
acecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  green-house  Ferns 
found  in  almost  every  tropical  and  sub-tropi- 
cal country.  It  is  related  to  Polypodium,  dif- 
fering only  in  the  sori.  A  immber  of  the  spe- 
cies have  been  introduced  into  the  Fern-house, 
and  among  them,  N.  nivea,  a  fine  Silver 
Fern,  and  N.  flavens  (syn.  N.  chrysophylla)  a 
very  beautiful  miniature  Golden  Fern ;  N. 
lanuginosa,  N.  MarantcB  (an  almost  hardy  spe- 
cies), N.  trichomanoides,  N.  sidphurea,  and  N. 
Eckloniana,  are  all  very  desirable  species. 
They  are  propagated  by  spores. 

Nothosoo'rdum.  From  nothos,  spurious,  and 
Scordon,  garlic  ;  in  refei'ence  to  the  near  rela- 
tionship which  exists  between  this  genus  and 
Allium.     Nat  Ord.  LiliacecB. 

A  genus  comprising  about  ten  species  of 
green-house,  or  hardy  bulbs,  closely  allied  to 
Allium,  and  Milla,  in  which  genera  the  species 
of  this  genus  are  by  some  authorities  dis- 
tributed. Natives  of  North  and  tropical 
America,  and  China. 

Notospa'rtium.  From  notos,  southern,  and 
Spartium,  Broom ;  in  reference  to  its  being  a 
native  of  the  southern  Hemisphere,  and  its 
Broom-like  appearance.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumi- 
noscB. 

N.  CarmichoBlicB  the  only  species,  is  a  beauti- 
ful and  interesting,  half-hardy.  Broom-like 
shrub,  or  small  tree.  "  This,  the  '  Pink- 
Broom,'  of  the  residents  of  the  Middle  Islands 
of  New  Zealand,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
plants  in  the  colony,  and  is  further  remarkable 
as  being  a  member  of  what  is  one  of  the 
largest  families  of  plants  in  every  part  of  the 


NUT 

world,  except  New  Zealand.  Indeed,  the 
absence  of  Leguminosce  in  New  Zealand,  in  con- 
trast with  their  great  abundance  in  Australia, 
is  the  most  singular  feature  in  the  Flora  of 
the  Island." — Hooker. 

Nudicaulis.    When  a  stem  has  no  leaves. 

Nu'phar.  Yellow  Water  Lily.  From  Naufar, 
the  Arabic  for  Water  Lily.  Nat.  Ord.  Nym- 
phacecB. 

The  several  species  included  in  the  genus 
are  common  in  ponds  and  stagnant  water  in 
the  Middle,  Northern,  and  Western  States, 
and  are  known  as  Yellow  Water  Lilies. 

Nut.  A  hard  indehiscent  pericarp,  usually 
containing  only  one  seed,  the  fruit  or 
kernel  of  the  seed  of  various  plants ;  rarely 
applied  to  certain  tubers. 

Acajou,  the  Cashew  Nut.  Anacardium,  occi- 
dentale. 

Ar.     See  Buniumfiexuosum. 

Barbadoes.      The  seed  of  Curcus  purgans. 

Barcelona.     A  variety  of  Corylus  Avellana. 

Bedda.  The  fruit  of  Terminalia  Bellerica,  called 
also  Bastard  Myrobalans. 

Ben.  The  winged  seed  of  Moringa  pterygo- 
serma. 

Betel.     The  seed  of  Areca  Catechu. 

Bitter.     Gary  a  amara. 

Bladder.     Staphylea  trifoliaia  and  S.  pinnafa. 

Brazil  or  Cdstanha.  The  seed  of  Bertholletia 
excelsa. 

Bread.     The  fruit  of  Brosimum  Alicastrum. 

Bread.  Monkey.  The  fruit  of  Adansonia  digi- 
tata. 

Buffalo.     The  fruit  of  Pyrularia  oleifera. 

Butter.     Juglans  cinerea. 

Candle.     The  seed  of  Aleurites  triloba. 

Cashew.      The  seed  of  Anacardium  occidentale. 

Cob.     A  variety  of  Corylus  Avellana. 

Cocoa.     Cocos  nucifera. 

Cocoa,  Double  or  Sea.     Lodoicea  Seychellarum. 

Cola  or  KoUa.     The  seed  of  Cola  acuminata. 

Coquilla.     The  fruit  of  Attalea  funifera. 

Earth.  Arachis  hypogcea,  also  Buniumfiexuo- 
sum, and  Carum  bulbo-castanum. 

Elk.     The  fruit  of  Pyrularia  oleifera. 

French.     Juglans  regia. 

Ground.  Arachis  hypogom,  also  a  common 
name  for  Aralia  (Panax)  trifolia. 

Hazel,  English.     Corylus  Avellana. 

Hazel,  American.  Corylus  Americana  and  C. 
rostrata. 

Hickory.     Carya  Alba,  and  other  species. 

Hog  or  Pig.     Carya  porcina. 

Hog  Pea.  A  common  name  for  AmphicarpcBa, 
which  see. 

Ivory.     Phytelephas  macrocarpa. 

Jesuits'.     Trapa  nutans. 

Malabar.     Adahota  Vasica. 

Marking,  Maranay  or  Marsh.  The  nuts  of 
Semecarpus  Anacardium. 

Mocker  or  Moker.  The  nut  of  Carya  tomen- 
tosa. 

Monkey.  Arachis  hypogda,  and  the  seeds  of 
Anacardiium. 

Oil.  The  fruit  of  Pyrularia  (Hamiltonia)  olei- 
fera, also  a  West  Indian  name  for  the  seeds 
Ricinus  communis. 

Olive.     The  fruit  of  Elmocarpus. 

Pea.     See  Arachis  hypogcBa. 

Pecan.     Carya  olivcsformis. 

Physic.  Curcus  purgans.  (Syn.  Jatropha  pwr- 
gans.) 


278 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


NUT 

Pistachia,  or  Pistachio.      Thie  edible  seed  of 

Pistachia  vera. 
Poison.     The  poisonous  seed  of  Strychnos  nux 

vomica. 
Rush.      Cyperua  rotundua  var.  Hydra,  and  C. 

escwlentus. 
Sapucaia.      The   seed   of  Lecythis    Zabucajo, 

also,  L.  Ollaria  and  L.  grartdiflora. 
Sassafras.     Nectandra  Ptichury. 
Singhara.      Tlie  fruit  of  various   species   of 

Trapa,    especially    T.  bispinosa  and    T.  bi- 

cornis. 
Soap.    Mimosa  abstergens. 
Souari  or  Suwarrow.      The  seed  of  Caryocar 

nuciferum  and  C.  butryosum. 
Spanish  or  Barcelona.     Corylvs  Avellana  Bar- 

celonensis,  also  Morcea  Sisymchium. 
Vegetable  Ivory.     Phytelephas  macrocarpa. 
Water.  The  fruit  of  various  species  of  Trapas. 
Wood.     Coryltts  Aoellana. 
Nutans.     Nodding;  inclined   very  much  from 
the  perpendicular,  so  that  the  apex  is  directed 
downward,  as  the  flower  of  the  Snowdrop. 

Nut-galls.  The  galls  produced  by  insects  on 
Qiiercus  infectoria. 

Nut-gall- tree.    Chinese  or  Japanese,  Rhus  aemi- 

alata. 

Nut-grass.     Cyperua  rotundua,  var.  Hydra. 

Nutmeg.     See  Myristica,  moschata. 
American.     Monodora  myristica. 
Brazilian.     Cryptocarya  moschata. 
Californian.      Torreya  myristica. 
Clove.     Agathophyllum  aromaticwm. 
Peruvian.     Tlie  seed  of  Laurelia  aempervirens. 
Plume.     Afherosperma  moschata. 
Wild.     Myristica  fatua,  and  M.  tomentosa. 

Nutmeg-Geranium,     See  Pelargonium  fragrana. 

Nutmeg-wood.  The  wood  of  the  Palmyra 
Palm,  Borassus  Jlabelliformis. 

Nut  Pine.  Pinus  monophylla  (syn.  P  Fremon- 
tiana),  and  P.  Sabiniana,  the  seeds  of  the 
latter  are  collected  in  immense  quantities  by 
the  Californian  and  Oregon  Indians  as  an 
article  of  winter  food. 

Nutta'llia.  Named  by  Torrey  and  Gray,  in 
honor  of  Thomas  Nuttall,  of  Cambridge,  Mass., 
an  eminent  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Roaacem. 

This  genus  consists  of  but  one  species,  N. 
Cerasijormis,  a  small  ornamental  deciduous 
shrub,  of  nearly  globose  habit,  branching 
fi'eely,  and  producing  its  drooping  racemes  of 
white  flowers  in  great  abundance.  Easily 
increased  by  seeds,  or  by  suckers,  which 
spring  plentifully  from  the  roots.  Introduced 
to  cultivation  from  California  in  1848. 

Nux  Vomica.    See  Strychnos. 

Nuy'tsia.  Fire  Tree.  Named  after  T.  Nuyts,  a 
Dutch  navigator.     Nat.  Ord.  Loranthacece. 

A  genus  of  very  handsome  shrubs  or  small 
trees  from  Swan  River,  Australia,  remarliable 
as  being  the  only  one  in  this  order  of  parasites 
that  grows  on  the  ground.  From  the  abun- 
dance of  its  brilliant  orange-colored  flowers, 
the  colonists  call  it  the  Flame-tree  or  Tree  of 
Fire. 

Nyctagina'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbs, 
shrubs  or  trees,  natives  of  tropical  regions, 
principally  America,  with  opposite  unequal 
leaves  and  involucrate  flowers.  The  plants 
X)f  the  order  have  in  general  purgative  quali- 
ties ;  that  of  Mirabilis  Jalapa  (false  Jalap)  has 


NYM 

the  nauseous  smell  of  the  true  Jalap,  with 
which  it  was  long  confounded.  The  order 
comprises  about  twenty  genera,  and  one 
hundred  species.  Mirabilis,  Bougainvillea  and 
Abronia,  are  illustrative  genera. 

Nycta'nthes.  Sad  Tree.  From  nyctos,  night, 
and  anthos,  a  flower ;  the  flowers  open  in  the 
evening.     Nat.  Ord.  Oleacem. 

The  only  species  is  a  free-flowering  shrub 
or  small  tree,  native  of  India.  The  flowers 
open  only  in  the  evening,  and  drop  before 
morning ;  their  fragrance  perfumes  the  air  at 
night.  The  flowei's  are  gathered  in  the  morn- 
ing and  worn  as  necklaces  and  in  the  hair 
by  the  native  women.  As  it  loses  its  bright- 
ness during  the  day  it  has  received  its  specific 
name,  N.  arbor  truitis,  or  Sad  Tree. 

Nycteri'nia.  From  nycterinoa,  nocturnal;  the 
flowers  being  fragrant  during  the  evening. 
Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacem. 

A  genus  of  half-hardy  annuals,  perennials, 
or  under-shrubs,  natives  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  A  few  of  the  species  have  been  under 
cultivation  but  they  are  chiefly  plants  of  little 
interest.     Syn.  Zaluzianskia. 

Nycte'rium.  A  genus  now  classed  under  So- 
lanum. 

Nycto'calos.  From  nyx,  night,  and  kaloa, 
beautiful ;  because  the  handsome  flowers  of 
the  first  species  discovered  open  in  the  even- 
ing and  fade  in  the  morning.  Nat.  Ord. 
Bignoniacece. 

A  small  genus  of  twining,  shrubby 
plants,  natives  of  the  Malayan  Archipel- 
ago, Assam  and  Queensland.  N.  Thomp- 
soni,  the  only  introduced  species  is  a 
handsome  stove-house  climber,  with  white 
Gloxinia-like  flowers  nearly  seven  inches 
long.  It  expands  only  at  night  and  drops  the 
next  morning.  It  was  introduced  from 
Assam  in  1868. 

Nymphae'a.  Water  Lily.  From  nymphe,  a 
water  nymph.     Nat.  Ord.  Nymphceacece. 

This  genus  consists  of  beautiful  water 
plants  found  in  lakes,  ponds  and  rivers  in 
almost  all  parts  of  the  world.  N.  odorata 
is  the  double  white  Water  Lily  or  Pond  Lily, 
so  common  and  well-known  throughout  the 
Eastern  and  Southern  States.  Of  this  species 
there  are  several  varieties,  mostly  having 
pure  white  flowers,  remarkable  lor  their  fra- 
grance. There  is,  on  the  Island  of  Nantucket, 
and  also  near  Barnstable,  Mass.,  a  variety  with 
pinkish  flowers,  and  rarely  with  bright  pink-red 
flowers.  They  are  exceedingly  beautiful,  and 
valued  highly  for  their  rarity.  The  cultiva- 
tion of  all  our  native  species  in  tubs  on  the 
lawn,  or  wherever  desired,  is  attended  with 
but  little  difficulty.  The  roots  should  be  ob- 
tained from  their  native  hal.iitat  as  early  in 
spring  as  possible,  or  at  least  before  they 
have  made  much  growth.  Take  any  tub  or 
cask,  say  eighteen  inches  in  depth,  put  in 
good  rich  loam  or  muck  to  the  depth  of  six 
or  eight  inches,  in  which  plant  the  roots, 
barely  covering  them,  and  fill  the  cask  with 
water,  replenishing  it  as  it  loses  by  evapora- 
tion. In  winter  empty  the  water  and  remove 
to  a  cold  cellar,  or  protect  from  hard  freezing 
by  a  covering  of  leaves.  This  is  all  the  care  and 
trouble  required  to  produce  flowers  almost 
as  fine  as  are  found  in  their  natural  homes. 
Artificial  ponds  can  be  made  upon  the  lawn 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


279 


OAK 

with  but  little  expense,  in  -which  the  Nympheea 
may  be  grown  with  less  trouble  even  than  in 
tubs.  Dig  out  a  basin-shaped  pond  of  any  de- 
sired size,  to  the  depth  of  two  and  a  half  feet 
in  the  centre,  cement  in  the  same  manner  as 
for  a  cistern,  put  in  some  earth,  and  plant 
the  same  as  in  a  tub.  Cover  over  with  boards 
upon  the  approach  of  cold  weather,  and  then 
cover  all  with  leaves  or  coarse  litter  sufficient 
to  protect  the  cement  from  fi'ost.  This  will 
not  only  furnish  beautiful  aquatic  flowers, 
but  will  attract  thousands  of  birds,  particu- 
larly robins,  daily  for  their  baths.  Many  of 
the  rarer  exotic  species,  such  as  N.  gigantea, 
N.  Zanzibar ensis,  N.  asrulea,  N.  rubra,  N. 
scutifolia,  N.  Devoniensis,  N.  Lotus,  etc.,  are 
now  grown  in  this  way,  and  are  exceedingly 
attractive  during  the  summer.  The  Water 
Lily,  when  expanded,  towards  evening  has 
the  peculiarity  of  enticing  myriads  of  insects 
to  light  on  its  petals,  the  petals    gradually 


OCH 

close  as  evening  falls,  and  the  insects 
are  imprisoned.  They  are  propagated  by 
seeds,  which,  in  most  cases,  ripen  freely,  and 
should  be  sown  in  small  pots  of  soil  and  sub- 
merged in  shallow  warm  water  in  spring. 
The  seedlings  will  grow  freely,  and  if  prop- 
erly treated,  will  flower  well  the  same  season. 

Ny'ssa.  Tupelo,  Pepperid<;e  Sour  Gum.  From 
Nyssa,  a  water  nymph  ;  because  of  the  habitat 
of  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Cornacew. 

A  genus  of  beautiful  low-growing  trees, 
common  in  moist  woodlands  and  low  grounds 
throughout  the  United  States.  The  wood  is 
very  tough  and  difficult  to  split,  and  on  that 
account  it  is  valued  for  hubs  of  carriage  wheels, 
hatter's  blocks,  and  similar  work.  The  foliage 
of  this  genus  is  remarkable  for  its  fine  glossy 
verdure  during  summer,  and  its  rich  crimson 
tints  in  autumn,  when  it  is  one  of  the  brightest 
ornaments  of  the  forest. 


o. 


Oak.    The  popular  name  for  the  trees  of  the 
genus  Quercus,  which  see. 
Oak.     Black.     Quercus  Robur. 

Chestnut.     Querent  sessiliflora. 

Chestnut,  American.     Quercus  Prinus. 

Cork.     Quercus  Suber. 

Evergreen.     Quercus  Ilex- 
Indian.     Tectona  grandis.     The  Teak  tree. 

Japanese.     Quercus  glabra. 

Jerusalem.     Chenopodium  Botrys. 

Live.      Quercus  virens.     An  important  ship- 
building wood. 

Nut-gall.     Quercus  infectoria. 

Pin.     Quercus  palustris. 

Poison.     Rhus  toxicodendron. 

Scarlet.     Quercus  coccinea. 

Scrub.     Quercus  Cutesbmi  and  Q.  ilicifolia. 

Swamp.     Quercus  Prinus. 

Turkey,  American.     Quercus  Catesbcei. 

White,  American.     Quercus  alba. 

Willow.     Quercus  Phellos. 

Yellow.     Quercus  Castanea. 

Oak-Fern.     Polypodium  Dryopteris. 

Oak-leaved  Geranium.     See  Pelargonium. 

Oat  or  Oats.     See  Avena. 

Oat-Grass.  See  Arrhenantherum,  also  Avena 
pratensis  and  Bromus  mollis. 

Oat.  Water.  A  name  given  to  Water  Rice. 
Zizania  aquatica. 

Obelisca'ria.  From  obeliskos,  obelisk,  in  allu- 
sion to  the  elevated  disk  of  the  flower.  Nat. 
Ord.  CompositcB. 

A  small  genus  of  half-hardy,  showy  peren- 
nials, common  in  Texas.  They,  too,  closely 
resemble  their  allied  species,  the  Rudbeckia, 
to  become  favorites  in  the  garden. 

Obero'nia.  So  called  after  Oberon,  the  Fairy 
King,  in  allusion  to  the  quaint  and  variable 
forms  of  the  plant.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  genus  of  Orchids,  all  epiphytal,  having 
terminal  spikes  of  minute  flowers,  of  but 
little  interest  except  to  botanists.     In  refer- 


ence to  the  genus  Dr.  Lindley  says  t  •'  The 
resemblance  to  insects  and  other  animal  forms, 
which  have  been  perceived  in  the  Orchidace- 
ous plants  of  Europe,  and  which  have  given 
rise  to  such  names  as  Fly  Orchis,  etc.,  may 
be  traced  so  plainly  in  the  genus  Oberonia,  in 
every  species,  that  it  alone  would  furnish  a 
magazine  of  new  ideas  for  the  grotesque  pen- 
cil of  a  German  admirer  of  the  wild  and 
preternatural.  If  the  Brahmins  had  been 
botanists,  one  might  fancy  they  took  their 
doctrine  of  metempsychosis  from  these  pro- 
ductions." They  are  chiefly  natives  of  India 
and  Africa. 

Obscure.     Of  a  dark,  dingy  color. 

Obtuse.     Blunt  or  rounded. 

Oca.  The  tubers  of  Oxalis  tuberosa  and  O. 
crenata  are  so  called  in  Brazil,  where  they  are 
cooked  and  used  like  potatoes. 

Occidental.  Coming  from  or  relating  to  the 
west,  as  Platanus  Occidentalis. 

O'chna.  From  Ochne,  the  old  Greek  name  for 
the  wild  Pear,  to  which  the  foliage  of  this 
genus  bears  some  resemblance.  Nat.  Ord. 
Ochnaceoe. 

A  genus  of  about  twenty-five  species  of  ever- 
green shrubs,  natives  of  tropical  Asia  and 
Africa,  only  a  few  of  which  are  in  cultivation. 
O.  midtijlora,  is  a  most  remarkable  as  well  as 
handsome  plant.  The  fruit  is  about  the  size 
of  a  Strawberry,  but  less  conical,  and  upon  it 
are  placed  black  seed-like  bodies  about  the 
size  of  Peas.  These  are  really  the  carpels, 
and  present  a  striking  contrast  to  the  bright 
crimson  receptacle  and  calyx.  It  is  a  native 
of  Sierra  Leone,  and  was  reintroduced  in 
1882. 

Ochna'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  and 
shrubs  scattered  over  the  whole  of  the  tropics, 
but  mostly  in  America.  Some  of  the  species 
possess  tonic  properties,  and  the  berries  of 
Gomphia  Jabotapita,  are  edible.  The  order 
contains  twelve   genera,  including   Gomphia, 


280 


HEXDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


OCH 

and  Luxemburgia,  and  about  one  hundred  and 

fifty  species. 
Oclira  or  Ochro.     Abehnoschus  esculentus. 
Ochraceous.  Having  the  color  of  clay,  or  yellow 

ochre. 
Ochroca'rpus.     From  ochros,  pale  yellow,  and 

karpos,  a  fruit ;    alluding  to  the  color  of  the 

fruits.     Nat.  Ord.  GuttifercB. 

A  genus  of  tropical  trees,  natives  of  Africa, 

Asia,   and  the  Mascarene  Islands,   of   little 

horticultural  interest.     0.  Africanus,  bears  a 

large  fruit  with  a  thick  rind  and  a  yellow  pulp. 

The  tree  abounds  with  a  yellow  resinous  gum. 

Syn.  Mammea. 
Ochroleucus.    'Whitish-yellow. 

Ochro'ma.  Cork-wood.  From  ochros,  pale ; 
referring  to  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  MalvacecB. 
0.  Lagopus,  a  tree  growing  from  thirty  to 
fifty  feet  high,  known  as  Corkwood,  is  com- 
mon in  the  West  Indies  and  Central  America, 
where  it  is  employed  as  a  substitute  for 
cork,  for  stopping  bottles ;  it  is  also  extensively 
used  for  making  rafts,  floats  for  fishing  nets, 
and  other  purposes  where  light  wood  is  re- 
quired. 

Ochro'pteris.  From  ochros,  pale-yellow,  and 
pterin,  a  Fern  ;  alluding  to  the  color  of  the 
plant.     Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

O.  pallens,  tlie  only  described  species,  is  an 
extremely  rare  and  beautiful  Fern  requiring 
an  abundance  of  heat  and  moisture  to  grow 
it  successfully.  It  has  large  decompound 
fronds,  with  small,  glossy,  coriaceous  pinules, 
and  is  an  introduction  from  the  Mascarene 
Islands  and  Mauritius. 

O'cimum.  Basil.  From  Okimon,  the  old  Greek 
name  used  by  Theophrastus  for  Basil.  Nat. 
©rd.  LablatoB. 

A  somewhat  extensive  genus  of  fragrant 
and  aromatic  plants,  mostly  natives  of  India. 
The  most  important  of  them  are  O.  basilicum, 
the  Sweet  or  Common  Basil,  a  tender  annual, 
introduced  from  India  in  1548,  and  O.  mini- 
mum, the  Dwarf  or  Bush  Basil,  a  native  of 
Chili,  and  introduced  in  1573.  The  leaves  of 
both  species  have  a  strong  aromatic  smell, 
and  are  much  used  in  seasoning  soups  and 
various  other  dishes. 

Oco'tea.  Said  to  be  the  native  name  of  the  tree 
in  Guiana.     Nat.  Ord.  LauracecB. 

A  large  genus  comprising  alwut  two  hun- 
dred trees  or  shrubs,  natives  of  tropical 
America,  a  few  being  found  in  the  Canary 
Islands,  South  Africa,  and  the  Mascarene 
Islands.  M.  bullata,  probably  the  only  species 
yet  introduced,  has  small  green  flowers,  and 
is  a  plant  of  comparatively  little  interest. 
It  is  also  in  cultivation  under  the  name  of 
Oreoduphne  bullata. 

Octome'ria.  From  oMo,  eight,  and  meris,  a  part ; 
in  allusion  to  the  pollen  masses.  Nat.  Ord. 
OrchidacecB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  epiphytal  Orchids, 
natives  of  Brazil,  Guiana,  and  the  West  Indies. 
They  are. curious  little  Pleurothallis-like  Or- 
chids, and  are  frequently  imported  along  with 
Bromeliads,  about  the  bases  of  which  they 
grow  on  the  trunks  of  trees.  O.  graminifolia, 
with  pale-yellow  flowers,  and  O.  Saundersiana, 
with  yellow  flowers  striped  with  purple,  are 
the  best  known  species.  The  latter  was  intro- 
duced from  Brazil  in  1880. 


(ENO 

Oculatus.  Marked  with  concentric  spots  of 
different  colors  or  tints. 

O'cymum.    A  synonym  of  Ocimum,  which  see. 

Odes  or  Oides.  A  Greek  termination  signifying 
similarity  ;  as  Phyllodes,  leaf-like. 

Odontade'nia.  From  odous,  odontos,  a  tooth, 
and  aden,  a  gland;  in  allusion  to  the  five- 
toothed  glands.     Nat.  Ord  Apocynacece. 

A  genus  of  shrubby  plants,  natives  mostly 
of  Brazil  and  Guiana.  O.  speciosa,  the  only 
introduced  species,  has  showy  yellow,  deli- 
cately-scented flowers,  borne  in  large,  loose 
bunches,  and  is  an  excellent  plant  for  training 
on  the  rafters  of  the  plant-stove.  It  is  propa- 
gated by  cuttings,  and  was  introduced  from 
Trinidad  in  1854.     Sjm.  Dipladenia  Harrisi. 

Odontoglo'ssum.  From  odoiis.  odontos,  tooth, 
and  glossa,  a  tongue  ;  tooth-like  processes  on 
the  lip  or  labellum.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  verj' extensive  genus  of  epiphytal  OrchiOT, 
found  principally  in  the  cool  mountain  regions 
of  Mexico.  Peru,  New  Grenada,  and  Venezuela. 
Very  many  of  the  species  have  been  intro- 
duced into  the  green-house,  and  are  greatly 
prized  by  cultivators  for  their  magnificent 
flowers,  which  are  remarkable,  both  for  their 
size  and  the  beautj^  of  their  colors.  Many  of 
the  species  have  pure  white  flowers,  variously 
spotted  ;  some  have  a  powerful  odor  of  violets. 
With  but  few  exceptions,  they  require  to  be 
grown  in  a  moderately  cool  house.  All  the 
Odontoglossums  are  propagated  by  division, 
none  having  as  yet  been  raised  from  seeds. 
Mr.  H.  Veitch,  in  his  paper  on  the  "  Hybrid- 
ization of  Orchids,"  1855,  says  that  numer- 
ous crosses,  between  various  species,  both 
Mexican  and  New  Grenadan,  have  been 
effected,  and  seed-pods,  with  apparently  good 
seed,  have  been  produced,  but  with  the  utmost 
care  that  could  be  bestowed,  no  progeny  has 
yet  been  raised.    See  Orchids. 

CEna'nthe.  From  oinos,  wine,  and  anthos,  a 
flower ;  referring  to  the  vinous  odor  of  the 
blossoms.     Nat.  Ord.  UmbellifercB. 

A  genus  of  mostly  uninteresting  herbs,  fre- 
quenting wet  or  marshy  places,  or  even  grow- 
ing in  water.  OE.  crocafa  is  a  stout-branched 
species,  attaining  a  height  of  three  to  five 
feet,  and  is  remarkable  as  being  one  of  the 
most  poisonous  plants  of  the  whole  order. 
The  juice  of  the  stem  and  roots  becomes  yel- 
low when  exposed  to  the  air.  The  roots  act 
as  a  narcotic,  acrid  poison,  and  from  their  re- 
semblance to  parsnips,  have  been  the  cause  of 
frequent,  and  sometimes  of  fatal  accidents. 
The  plant  has  been  used  with  beneficial  results, 
in  certain  skin  diseases,  and  for  the  purpose 
of  poisoning  rats  and  moles. 

CEnoca'rpus.  From  oinos,  wine,  and  karpos,  a 
fruit ;  yields  palm-wine  and  oil.  Nat.  Ord. 
PalmacecB. 

An  exclusively  South  American  genus  of 
lofty  Palms,  consisting  of  several  species, 
some  of  which  yield  large  quantities  of  sweet- 
tasted  oil,  which  is  excellent  for  cooking,  and 
is  much  used  for  burning  in  lamps. 

CEnothe'ra.  Evening  Primrose.  From  oinos, 
wine,  and  thera,  imbibing ;  the  roots  of  (E. 
biennis  were  formerly  taken  after  meals  as  in- 
centives to  wine-drinking.  Nat.  Ord.  Onagra- 
cecB. 

A  genus  of  annual,  biennial,  or  perennial 
herbaceous  plants,  natives  of  North  and  South 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


281 


OFF 

America,  a  few  species  of  ■vrhicii  are  natural- 
ized over  tiie  warmer  portions  of  tlie  globe. 
Many  of  the  species  and  varieties  are  amongst 
the  most  beautiful  and  attractive  of  hardy 
plants,  their  large,  showy,  fragrant  flowers 
presenting  considerable  difference  in  color, 
some  being  yellow,  others  white  or  purple, 
and  usually  opening  in  the  evening.  They  are 
all  of  easy  cultivation,  readily  increased  by 
seeds  or  division,  and  are  most  suitable  for 
the  margins  of  shrubberies,  mixed  borders,  or 
similar  situations.  CE.  Fraseri,  CE.  Missou- 
riensis  (E. biennis. var.  Lamarckiana,(E.  riparia, 
(E.  Taraxifolia,  and  many  other  sorts,  will  be 
found  excellent  for  this  purpose,  while  many 
of  ihe  annual  sorts,  better  known  under  the 
familiar  name  of  Godetia,  are  most  attractive 
in  mixed  borders,  especially  if  sown  or  grown 
in  clumps  or  masses. 

OfBcinalis.  Applied  to  plants  which  are  useful 
in  medicine  or  the  arts. 

Offset.  Short  branches  next  the  ground  which 
take  root. 

Oidium.  A  name  given  to  a  genus  of  naked- 
spored  moulds,  which  has  obtained  consider- 
able notoriety  from  its  connection  with  the 
Vine  Mildew,  which  arises  from  the  attacks  of 
0.  Tuckeri.  This  fungus  derived  its  name 
from  a  gardener  at  Margate,  England,  who 
was  one  of  the  first  to  use  sulphur  as  a 
remedy.  There  are  many  different  kinds  of 
Oidium,  all  peculiar  to  the  plants  they  most 
frequent,  thus  Peas,  Hops,  Turnips,  etc.,  have 
their  special  species  to  contend  against.  The 
best  known  remedy  is  an  application  of  the 
flowers  of  sulphur,  or  a  weak  solution  of 
sulphide  of  potassium. 

Oil  of  Ben.     See  Moringa. 

Oil  of  Bergamot.     See  Mentha  citrata. 

Oil  of  Origanum.     See  Origanum. 

Oil  Palm.     See  Elceis. 

Oil  Plant.     Sesainum  orientale. 

Okra.     See  Hibiscus  esculentus. 

Oldenla'ndia.  Named  after  H.  B.  Oldenlandi  a 
Dane,  who  collected  plants  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  An  extensive  genus  of  Rubiacece  com- 
prising nearly  seventy  species  of  stove  and 
green-house  plants,  found  in  tropical  countries, 
principally  in  Asia.  O.  umbellata,  commonly 
known  as  Chay-root,  yields  a  red  dye,  and  is 
largely  employed  by  the  dyers  of  southern 
India,  the  plant  there  being  extensively  culti- 
vated. O.  Deppeana  is  a  favorite  free-flower- 
ing green-house  plant,  with  white  flowers, 
almost  constantly  in  bloom. 

Old  Maid.     Vinca  rosea. 

Old  Man.  Artemisia  Abrotanum,  Clematis  vitalba, 
and  Rosmariniis  officinalis. 

Old  Man  Cactus.     See  Pilocereiis. 

Old  Man's  Beard.  Saxifraga  sarmentosa,  TiU 
landsia  usneoides,  and  Geropogon,  which  see. 

Old  Witcli  Grass.     Panicum  capillare. 

Olea.  Olive.  From  elaia,  Olive.  Nat.  Ord. 
OleacecE. 

Europoea,  var.  sativa,  the  tree  that  produces 
the  Olives  and  Olive  Oil  of  commerce,  is  a  low- 
branching  evergreen,  growing  from  twenty  to 
thirty  feet  high.  The  leaves  bear  some  re- 
semblance to  those  of  the  Willow,  only  they 
are  softer  and  more  delicate.  The  flowers  are 
as  deliiate  as  the  leaves,  and  are  produced  in 


OLE 

small  axillai-y  bunches,  from  wood  of  the 
former  year,  and  appear  from  June  until 
August.  At  first  they  are  of  a  pale  yellow ; 
but  when  thej^  expand  their  four  petals,  the 
insides  are  white,  and  only  the  centre  of  the 
flower  yellow.  The  matured  wood  of  the  Olive 
is  hard  and  compact,  though  rather  brittle ; 
its  color  is  reddish,  and  it  takes  a  fine  gloss, 
on  which  account  the  ancients  carved  it  into 
statues  of  the  gods,  and  the  moderns  make  it 
into  snuff-boxfs,  and  various  trinkets,  that 
find  a  ready  sale  to  travelers  in  Eastern  lands. 
An  observing  visitor  to  the  Holy  Land  from 
New  York  says:  "There  is  annually  more 
Olive-wood  sold  from  the  Mount  of  Olives  to 
Pilgriuis  than  ever  grew  there."  The  Wild 
Olive  is  found  indigenous  in  Syria,  Greece, 
and  Africa,  and  on  the  lower  slopes  of  the 
Atlas.  The  cultivated  one  grows  spon- 
taneously in  many  parts  of  Syria,  and  is  ex- 
tensively cultivated  in  the  south  of  France, 
Italy,  and  Spain,  and  has  been,  from  all  the 
accounts  we  can  gather,  from  the  earliest 
periods  of  the  earth's  history.  The  young 
Olive  bears  its  fruit  at  two  years  old ;  in  six 
years  it  pays  the  expense  of  cultivation ;  after 
that  period,  in  good  years,  the  produce  is  the 
surest  source  of  w«alth  to  the  farmer.  A  com- 
mon saying  in  Italy  is,  if  you  wish  to  leave  a 
lasting  inheritance  to  your  children's  children, 
plant  an  Olive.  Besides  its  use  for  the  pro- 
duction of  oil,  the  unripe  fruit  is  used  as  a 
pickle.  For  this  purpose  they  are  steeped  in 
an  alkaline  solution,  to  extract  a  part  of  the 
bitter  flavor,  they  are  next  washed  in  pure 
water,  and  afterward  preserved  in  salt  and 
water,  to  which  fennel,  or  some  aromatic,  is 
sometimes  added.  Olive  branches  have  for 
ages  been  regarded  as  emblems  of  peace  and 
plenty.  The  O.frayrans  (syn.  Osmanthus  frag- 
rans)  is  a  native  of  China,  and  is  highly  odor- 
iferous, and  on  this  account  is  much  esteemed 
by  the  Chim^se,  who  use  the  leaves  to  adulter- 
ate and  flavor  tea.  It  is  also  a  favorite  green- 
house plant.  It  is  readily  increased  in  spring 
by  cuttings  of  well-ripened  wood.  0.  Ameri-' 
cana,  a  native  species,  common  from  North 
Carolina  to  Florida,  is  an  evergreen  shrub  or 
small  tree,  producing  axillary  racemes  or  pani- 
cles of  small,  white,  fragrant  flowers,  and  a 
bitter,  astringent  fruit  about  the  size  of  a  pea. 

Olea'ceae.  A  n;itural  order  of  trees  and  shrubs, 
natives  chiefly  of  North  America,  Asia,  Europe, 
and  New  Holland,  with  opposite  &imple  or  com- 
pound leaves,  and  hermaphrodite,  or  unisex- 
ual flowers.  The  plants  of  the  order  are 
bitter,  tonic  and  astringent,  and  some  yield 
fixed  oil.  Olive  oil  is  expressed  from  the 
fruit  of  a  cultivated  variety  of  Olea  Europcea, 
and  the  unripe  fruit  macerated  in  brine  and 
flavored  with  aromaticsis  used  as  a  condiment. 
Ash- wood  {Fraxinus)  is  invaluable  for  its  light- 
ness, flexibility  and  strength,  several  species 
of  Ornus  yield  manna,  and  the  bark  of  the  com- 
mon Ash  has  been  proposed  as  a  substitute  for 
quinme.  There  are  upwards  of  twenty  genera, 
including  Olea,  Fraxinus,  and  Syringa,  and 
nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  species. 

Oleaginous.  Fleshy  in  substance,  but  filled 
with  oil ;  also,  like  oil. 

Oleander.     See  Nerium  Oleander. 

Olea'ndra.  A  small  genus  of  tropical  Ferns 
distinguished  from  Aspidium  chiefly  in  habit, 
with  wide-creeping  scandent  shoots,  jointed 


282 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


OLE 

stems,  and  entire  lanceolate-elliptical  fronds. 
0.  neriiformis  and  O.  nodosa  are  both  easily 
cultivated,  free-growing  species. 

Olea'ria.  A  genus  of  Composites,  very  nearly 
allied  to  the  Aster,  and  only  distinguished 
from  the  Eurybia,  vrhich  generally  represents 
Aster  in  Australia,  by  the  pappus  being  more 
distinctly  double,  and  the  outer  ring  of  setae 
being  shorter  and  often  more  chaff-like.  It 
consists  of  about  a  dozen  shrubs,  natives  of 
New  Zealand,  with  small  entii'e  or  toothed 
leaves  cottony  beneath.  Some  of  them  O. 
Haastii,  for  instance,  make  beautiful  bushes 
in  the  open  border.  Propagated  by  cuttings 
of  the  half-ripened  wood. 

Olea'ster.     See  Elceagnus. 

Oleraceous.    Esculent,  eatable. 

Olfe'rsia.  Named  after  Olfers,  a  German  botan- 
ist.    Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiaceoe. 

A  genus  of  hot-house  Ferns  common  in  the 
West  Indies,  South  America,  and  occasion- 
ally in  the  East  Indies.  There  are  many 
species,  but  few  of  them  are  under  cultivation. 
This  genus  is  included  under  Acrostichum  by 
some  botanists. 

OUbanum,  or  Frankincense  Tree.      Boswellia 

tkurifera. 
Olivaceous.     Greenish-brown. 
Olive.    See  Oka. 

Olive.     Barbadoes.    Bontia  Daphnoides. 
Olive-Bark  Tree.     Terminalia  Catappa, 
Olive.     Californian.     Oreodaphne  Californica. 
Olive.     Wild.    Elmagnus  angustifolius,  also  Rhus 

Cotimis  and  Daphne  Thymekea. 

Olive  Wood.  See  Elmodendron ;  also  the  yel- 
lowish fancy  wood  of  the  Olive  tree. 

Ompha'lea.  From  omphalos,  the  navel,  alluding 
to  the  umbilicated  anthers.  Nat.  Ord.  Euphor- 
biacece. 

A  genus  of  tropical  trees  or  tall  shrubs 
remarkable  for  the  curious  structure  of  the 
male  flowers.  0.  triandra  the  only  species  in 
cultivation,  introduced  from  Jamaica  in  1793, 
grows  about  twelve  feet  high  and  is  more 
interesting  than  ornamental.  A  juice  is 
extracted  from  it  that  turns  black  in  drying 
and  is  used  in  making  ink,  or  as  glue ;  the  nuts 
after  the  poisonous  embryo  is  extracted  are 
edible. 

Omphalo'bium.  From  omphalos,  the  navel, 
and  lobos,  a  pod.     Nat.  Ord.  Conaracece. 

A  small  genus  of  tropical  trees  that  furnish 
the  beautiful  Zebra  Wood  of  the  cabinet- 
makers. The  species  are  mostly  confined  to 
Africa  and  India. 
Omphalo'des.  Venus's  Navelwort.  From  ompha- 
los, the  navel,  and  eidos,  like ;  the  fruit  resem- 
bles the  navel.     Nat.  Ord.  Boraginacece. 

An  interesting  genus  of  hardy  annuals,  and 

Serennials.  They  are  natives  of  southern 
lurope,  Asia  Minor,  and  the  Caucasus.  O. 
linifolia,  is  a  common  border  annual,  known 
as  Venus'  Navelwort.  The  flowers  are  white, 
tinged  with  blue.  O.  verna,  the  Petite  Con- 
soude  of  the  French,  is  a  charming,  low-grow- 
ing perennial,  with  creeping  shoots,  heart- 
shaped  leaves,  and  brilliant  blue  flowers,  like 
the  Forget-me-not ;  sometimes  from  its  habit, 
called  Creeping  Forget-me-not.  It  is  propa- 
gated by  division. 


ONC 

Onagra'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  annual  or 
perennial  herbs,  or  shrubs,  with  simple  leaves, 
and  the  parts  of  the  flower  usually  tetramer- 
ous.  They  inhabit  chiefly  the  temperate  reg- 
ions of  Europe,  Asia,  and  America,  and  are 
found  sparingly  in  Africa.  The  species  contain 
mucous,  and  occasionally  somewhat  astrin- 
gent principles.  Some  yield  edible  fruits,  as 
Fuchsia,  others  furnish  edible  roots,  as 
(Enothera  biennis,  and  both  Trapa  natans,  and 
T.  bicornis,  remarkable  for  their  horned  fruit, 
supply  edible  seeds.  There  are  about  twenty- 
two  known  genei'a,  and  upwards  of  three  hun- 
dred species.  Fuchsia,  Gaura,  (Enothera,  and 
Trapa,  ai'e  illustrative  genera. 

Onci'dium.  From  onkos,  a  tumor ;  the  plants 
belonging  to  this  genus  have  warts,  tumors, 
or  other  excrescences  at  the  base  of  the 
labellum.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

This  is  perhaps  the  most  extensive  and 
varied  genus  in  the  order  to  which  it  belongs. 
Some  of  its  species  have  extremely  large 
pseudo-bulbs,  others  have  the  pseudo-bulbs 
very  small ;  another  portion  are  entirely  desti- 
tute of  these,  and  have  instead  thick,  leathery 
leaves,  which  again  vary  in  size  from  two  feet 
long  and  nearly  half  as  much  in  breadth,  to 
scarcely  six  inches  in  their  greatest  measure- 
ment ;  a  third  group  are  distinguished  by  their 
rounded,  rush-like  leaves,  about  the  thickness 
of  a  little  finger,  and  from  two  to  four  feet  in 
length.  Besides  this,  quite  as  much  disparity 
exists  in  the  size  and  color  of  the  flowers,  and 
in  the  length  of  the  flower-spike,  which,  in 
some  species,  will  attain  an  extent  of  twenty 
feet,  while  in  others  it  is  not  more  than  three 
or  four  inches  ;  yet  every  individual  is  beauti- 
ful and  worthy  a  place  wherever  Orchids 
are  grown.  O.  Papilio,  the  Butterfly  Orchid, 
is  certainly  as  much  like  a  butterfly  as  it  is 
possible  to  imagine  a  flower  to  be,  and  as  it  is 
borne  on  a  long  slender  stem,  which  quivers 
with  every  breeze,  it  forms  no  bad  representa- 
tion of  a  beautiful  insect  fluttering  over  the 
neighboring  flowers.  O.  altissimum  has  a 
spike  of  flowers  which  is  sometimes  ten  or 
twelve  feet  in  length.  0.  altvisimum,  0. 
ampliatum  majus,  0.  cucullatmn,  O.  Gardneri- 
anum,  O.  Papilio,  0.  Kramerianum,  O.  splen- 
didum,  0.  macranthum,  O.  Marshallianum,  0. 
Jonesianum,  O.varicosum,  O.  crispum,  etc.,  are 
among  the  most  beautiful  of  this  large  and 
interesting  genus.  They  are  all  natives  of 
South  America,  Mexico  and  the  West  Indies, 
and  as  they  will  thrive  in  a  lower  temperature 
than  the  Aerides  and  other  East  Indian 
Orchids,  they  are  very  suitable  for  a  small  hot- 
house. It  is  better  to  cultivate  all  the  larger 
growing  kinds  in  pots  or  pans,  and  to  place 
them  in  rather  large  ones,  that  they  may  not 
require  frequent  shifting,  which,  each  time  it 
is  performed,  inflicts  a  serious  check  upon  the 
plants,  in  consequence  of  the  unavoidable 
breaking  of  the  roots.  The  soil  for  them 
should  be  turfy  peat  and  sphagnum, 
thoroughly  mixed,  but  not  broken  finely; 
this,  with  abundant  drainage,  a  brisk,  moist 
temperature  in  the  growing  season,  shade 
from  strong  light,  a  careful  preservation  from 
insects  and  dirt,  and  a  moderate  rest  in 
winter,  will  not  fail  to  form  healthy  flowering 
specimens  in  a  short  time.  The  smaller 
species  may  be  placed  on  cork,  or  in  bas- 
kets. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


283 


ONC 

Oncospe'rma.  From  onkos,  a  tumor,  and 
sperma,  a  seed ;  in  reference  to  the  form  of 
the  seeds.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacecs. 

A  genus  of  a  few  species  of  spiny  plant-stove 
Palms,  natives  of  tropical  Asia.  There  are 
several  species  in  cultivation,the  best  known  of 
which,  '^O.filamentosum,  the  Nibung  or  Nibong 
of  the  Malays,  is  a  very  elegant  Palm,  found 
growing  in  masses  in  swampy  places  upon  the 
coasts  oi  Malacca,  Sumatra,  Borneo,  and  the 
islands  of  the  Indian  Archipelago.  It  attains 
a  height  of  forty  or  fifty  feet,  and  has  leaves 
ten  or  twelve  feet  in  length,  with  very  numer- 
ous, narrow,  drooping  leaflets  about  two  feet 
long.  In  Borneo,  the  delicate  white  heart  of 
the  unexpanded  leaves,  called  the  Cabbage, 
is  highly  esteemed  as  a  vegetable.  The 
unsplit  trunks  are  used  for  house-building,  for 
posts,  etc.,  and  the  hardest  part  of  the  split 
trunks  for  rafters,  flooring,  etc." — A  Smith, 
in  "  Treasury  of  Botany."  When  growing  they 
require  plenty  of  heat  and  a  copious  supply  of 
water,  and  are  propagated  by  seeds  or  by 
suckers.     Sj'ns.  Areca  and  Nephrosperma. 

Onion.  AUiiun  cepa.  The  Onion  has  been 
known  and  cultivated  as  an  article  of  food 
from  the  very  earliest  period.  Its  native 
country  is  unknown,  but  it  is  believed  to  have 
originated  in  the  East.  In  the  sacred  writings 
we  flnd  it  mentioned  as  one  of  the  things  for 
which  the  Israelites  longed  when  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  complained  to  Moses  because  they 
were  deprived  of  their  Leeks,  Onions,  and 
Garlic,  of  which,  said  the  murmurers :  "  We 
remember  we  did  eat  in  Egypt  freely."  To 
show  how  much  it  v>'as  esteemed  by  the 
ancient  Egyptians  we  need  only  mention  that 
Herodotus  says  in  his  time  (450  B.C.)  there 
was  an  inscription  on  the  Great  Pyramid, 
stating  that  a  sum  amounting  to  1,600  talents 
had  been  paid  for  Onions,  Radishes,  and 
Garlic,  which  had  been  consumed  by  the 
workmen  during  the  progress  of  its  erection. 
Even  at  the  present  day,  the  people  of  western 
Asia,  as  well  as  the  inhabitants  of  cold  coun- 
tries, are  all  large  consumers  of  Onions,  which, 
for  culinary  purposes,  are  more  universally 
cultivated  than  almost  any  other  vegetable. 
The  garden  varieties  that  have  been  intro- 
duced are  very  numerous,  and  their  origin 
about  as  difficult  to  trace  as  the  species.  The 
justly  celebrated  Bermuda  Onion  of  our 
markets  is  growu  from  seed  annually  imported 
from  the  south  of  Europe.  Onions  are  also 
most  extensively  grown  in  the  United  States, 
one  seed  firm  alone  selling  twenty  tons  of  the 
seed  annually.  The  varieties  grown  are  the  red, 
white,  and  yellow-skinned,  among  which  are 
numerous  varieties,  the  favorite  kinds  being 
known  as  Yellow  Danvers,  White  Globe,  Red 
Globe,  Wethersfleld  Red,  White  Portugal,  etc. 
Beginners  growing  the  Onion  for  market  had 
better  consult  works  specially  devoted  to 
Onion  culture,  or  works  specially  on  Market 
Gardening,  but  for  private  use  we  will  briefly 
detail  the  methods.  For  the  earliest  crop  the 
"sets"  or  small  bulbs,  which  are  produced 
from  seed  thickly  sown  the  previous  year, 
should  be  planted  as  early  in  spring  as  the 
ground  is  dry  enough  to  work,  in  beds  four  or 
five  feet  wide,  and  in  rows  nine  inches  apart 
with  two  or  three  inches  between  the  sets  or 
bulblets,  pressingthese  down  about  an  inch  or 
so  into  the  soil.  Grown  in  this  way,  the  Onions 
are  usually  used  in  the  green  state.     For  the 


ONO 

main  crop  the  seed  proper,  is  thinly  sown  in 
drills  two  or  three  inches  deep,  the  rows  at 
the  same  distance  apart  as  for  the  sets.  To 
insure  quick  and  safe  germination  after  sowing 
the  seed,  the  drills  should  be  trod  along  evenly 
Avith  the  foot,  and  then  raked  level.  This  plan 
of  treading  in  seeds  with  the  feet  we  invari- 
ably practice,  particularly  if  the  soil  be  dry. 
If  not  done,  our  hot,  dry  atmosphere  pene- 
trates the  loose  soil,  partially  drying  up  the 
seed,  which  always  impedes  germination,  and 
often  destroys  the  crop  completely.  The 
omission  of  practicing  the  firming  of  the 
soil  over  seeds,  either  by  the  feet,  roller,  or  in 
any  other  manner  that  will  accomplish  the 
purpose,  is  the  loss  of  many  millions  annually, 
not  only  tt)  the  garden,  but  to  the  farm.  The 
importance  of  this  subject  is  our  excuse  for 
the  digression.  In  ten  to  twelve  days  after 
sowing,  the  Onion  seed  will  have  started 
sufficiently  to  show  the  rows.  The  ground 
should  then  be  lightly  hoed,  so  as  to  destroy 
the  weeds  which  germinate,  many  of  them 
simultaneously  with  the  Onion  seed.  In  the 
seed  rows,  where  the  hoe  cannot  be  used,  the 
soil  should  be  stirred  with  the  fingers,  other- 
wise weeds  would  quickly  grow  up  and  choke 
the  crop.  When  about  three  or  four  inches 
high  the  Onions  should  be  thinned  out  to  two 
or  three  inches  apart.  Kept  entirely  clear 
from  weeds,  the  crop  is  ripened  off  in  June, 
July,  or  August,  according  to  the  latitude  in 
which  it  is  grown.  It  is  a  curious  fact,  how- 
ever, that  Onions  do  not  ripen  their  bulbs 
later  than  August;  consequently,  though 
they  will  grow  well  enough  if  sown  late  in  the 
season,  yet,  if  wanted  to  ripen  so  as  to  keep 
during  winter,  they  must  be  sown  in  the  first 
sowing  of  seeds  in  the  spring.  Two  kinds  of 
Onions  are  grown  exclusively  from  bulbs,  one 
of  these  is  the  Potato  Onion,  or  "Multiplier," 
which  increases  by  the  bulb  splitting  up  and 
dividing  itself  into  six  or  eight  smaller  bulbs, 
which  in  turn  form  the  sets  to  plant  for  the 
next  crop.  The  other  variety  is  what  is  called 
the  Top  Onion,  which  foi-ms  little  bulbs  on  the 
top  of  the  stem  in  the  place  of  flowers. 
These  bulbs  are  in  clusters,  and  about  the 
size  of  hazel  nuts.  The  bulbs  are  broken  apart, 
and  planted  in  spring  at  the  same  distances 
as  the  "sets." 
Onion.  Barbadoes.  Ornithogalum  scilloides. 
Crow.  Allium  vineale. 
Gipsey.  Allium  ursinum. 
Himalayan.  Allium  leptophyllum. 
Hog.  Osm^mda  regalis. 
Pearl.  Allium  Ampeloprasum. 
Potato.  Allium,  cepa,  var.  aggregatum. 
Sea.  Urginea  {Scilla)  maritima. 
Tree,  or  Canada.  Allium  proliferum, 
Welsh.  Allium  Jistulosum. 
AVild  American.     Allium  cernuum. 

Onion  Lily.     See  Ornithogalum  caudatum. 

Onobrycliis.  Sainfoin.  Esparsette.  From  onos, 
the  ass,  and  brycho,  to  bray ;  said  to  be  the  fav- 
orite food  of  the  ass.  Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 
A  somewhat  extensive  genus  of  hardy  her- 
baceous perennials,  or  small  shrubs,  natives 
of  Europe,  western  Asia,  and  north  Africa. 
O.  saliva.  Sainfoin,  the  only  species  of  special 
interest,  grows  about  two  feet  high,  with 
branched,  rather  spreading  stems,  and  large 
spikes  of  crimson  flowers  variegated  with 
purple  and  white.    It  has  a  long  tap  root,. ex- 


284 


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ONO 

tending  to  a  considerable  depth,  wliich,  on 
hard  soil,  tends  to  break  up  the  subsoil,  and 
loosen  it  for  subsequent  cultivation.  It  has 
been  grown  in  some  parts  of  France,  Ger- 
many, and  England  for  years,  and  has  proved 
a  most  valuable  fodder  plant,  especially  in 
light,  dry,  sandy  or  calcareous  districts  in  tlie 
Southern  and  Western  States.  Owing  to  its 
long  descending  roots  it  flourishes  during 
long  continued  droughts,  and  succeeds  in 
many  situations  where  no  other  forage  plant 
would  exist.  It  is  moreover  very  nutritious, 
and  whether  made  into  hay  or  fed  green  is 
greatly  relished  by  all  domestic  cattle.  It 
will  crop  from  seven  to  ten  years,  according 
to  the  nature  of  the  soil,  and  its  yield  is 
greatly  increased  by  judicious  top  dressing. 
Its  culture  is  almost  identical  with  that  of 
Alfalfa  or  Luzerne,  which  see. 

Ono'clea.  From  onoa,  a  vessel,  and  kleio,  to 
close ;  referring  to  the  singularly  rolled  up 
fructification.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacem. 

A  very  distinct  genus  of  Ferns,  the  principal 
and  perhaps  the  only  species  of  which  is  0. 
sensihilis,  sometimes  called  the  Sensitive 
Fern,  but  having  no  other  claim  to  this 
name,  beyond  the  fact  of  its  speedily 
withering  when  cut.  It  is  a  very  common 
Fern,  found  generally  in  moist  or  wet  places, 
along  streams,  etc.  It  is  an  excellent  subject 
for  a  shady  place  in  the  rock  garden. 

Ono'nis.  Eest-harrow.  From  onos,  an  ass, 
and  onemi,  to  delight;  the  ass  delights  to 
browse  on  the  herbage.  Nat.  Ord.  Legu- 
minoscB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  small  herbaceous 
plants,  common  to  Europe.  A  few  species 
are  tender  annuals  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  They  have  white,  pink,  or  yellow 
flowers,  some  of  them  very  pretty,  but  best 
suited  to  rough,  waste  places.  They  are 
easily  grown  from  seed,  and  will  adapt  them- 
selves to  any  place  given  them. 

Onopo'rdon.  Cotton  Thistle.  From  onos,  an 
ass,  and  perdo,  to  destroy ;  referring  to  the 
supposed  effects  on  the  ass.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positcB. 

0.  Acanthium,  the  supposed  Scotch  Thistle, 
is  a  native  of  Europe,  but  has  become  natural- 
ized in  many  parts  of  the  United  States.  It 
grows  from  six  to  eight  feet  high,  and  is  one 
of  the  most  showy  of  the  Thistle  family. 
According  to  common  tradition,  the  Danes  or 
Norsemen,  while  invading  Scotland,  came 
upon  the  Scots,  unperceived  at  midnight,  and 
halting  while  their  spies  were  thrown  for- 
ward to  discover  the  undefended  points  of 
their  enemy's  camp,  one  of  them  chancing  to 
tread  upon  a  Thistle  of  this  species,  uttered 
a  loud  cry  of  pain,  which  roused  the  Scots  to 
their  danger,  who  at  once  attacked  and  re- 
pelled the  invaders,  gaining  a  complete 
victory ;  and  henceforth  they  adopted  the 
Thistle  as  the  national  emblem.  In  1540 
James  V.  instituted  an  order  of  knighthood 
called  the  Order  of  the  Thistle.  See  Scotch 
Thistle. 

Ono'seris.  From  onos,  an  ass,  and  serin.  Endive  ; 
a  salad  foi'  asses.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  genus  of  about  a  dozen  shrubs  or  herbs, 
natives  of  the  Andes  and  ti'opical  South 
America.  The  leaves  of  0.  adpressa  are  over 
three  inches  long,  and  are  pure  white  and 


OPH 

cottony  beneath.     Introduced  in  1830,  under 
the   name  of  Centroclinium. 
Ono'sma.     Golden  Drop.     Fiom   onos,  an  ass, 
and  osme,  smell ;   said  to  bo  grateful  to  that 
animal. 

A  genus  of  Boraginacece,  consisting  of 
nearly  seventy  species,  only  a  few  of  which 
are  in  cultivation.  They  are  found  in  northern 
Africa,  southern  Europe,  and  west  and  central 
Asia.  0.  siellatum,  and  its  variety  0.  s.  tauricum, 
with  yellow  flowers,  are  the  most  showy,  and 
should  have  a  well-drained  sunny  exposure  in 
the  rock  garden,  or  herbaceous  border. 

Onosmo'dium.  So  called  from  its  similarity  to 
Onosma.     Nat.  Ord.  Boraginacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  herbacous  peren- 
nials, only  two  of  which,  O.  Carolinianum  and 
0.  Virginianum  both  with  yellowish-white 
flowers,  and  natives  of  the  United  States,  are 
in  cultivation. 

Ony'chium.  From  onyx,  a  claw ;  shape  of  the 
lobes  of  the  fronds.  Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 
A  small  genus  of  very  elegant  Ferns  found 
in  Japan,  Africa,  Australia,  and  the  East 
Indies.  A  few  of  the  species  are  under  cul- 
tivation, and  among  them  0.  Japonicum,  a 
delicate,  fennel-like  Fern,  fragile,  fairy-like, 
yet  one  that  succeeds  well  with  the  most 
ordinary  green-house  treatment.  It  requires 
shade,  and  is  propagated  from  spores  or  by 
division.  Introduced  in  1864.  Syns.  O 
Capense  and  O.  lucidum. 

Opaque.  When  the  surface  is  dull,  or  not  at  all 
shining. 

Opera  Girls.     See  Mantisia  saltatoria. 

Opercula'ria.  From  operculum,  lid  ;  referring  to 
the  shape  of  the  calyx.     Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacece. 

A  genus  of  very  pretty  Australian  green- 
house shrubs  or  herbs,  sometimes  twining. 
The  species,  of  which  only  two  are  in  cultiva- 
tion, succeed  best  in  a  compost  of  sandy  loam 
and  leaf  mould,  and  are  propagated  by  seeds 
sown  in  heat  in  spring,  or  by  cuttings  of  the 
young  shoots. 

Operculum.  The  lid  of  anything,  as  in  the 
pitcher  of  Nepenthes ;  more  especially  the  lid 
of  the  spore-cases  of  Urn-mosses. 

Ophe'lia.  From  Opheleia,  serviceable ;  plants 
useful  in  medicine.     Nat.  Ord.  Gentianacem. 

This  genus  is  composed  of  one  species,  a 
pretty  little  annual,  with  starry  pink  flowers, 
allied  to  the  Gentian.  Seeds  should  be  sown 
early  in  the  hot-bed  or  in  the  green-house,  and 
planted  out  as  soon  as  the  border  is  ready  for 
tender  plants.  It  is  a  native  of  the  East 
Indies,  and  was  introduced  in  1836.  Syn. 
Swertia. 

Ophiocau'lon.  From  ophis^  a  serpent,  and 
kaulon,  a  stem;  in  reference  to  its  climbing 
habit.     Nat.  Ord.  Passifloracece. 

A  small  genus  of  plant-stove,  climbing,  her- 
baceous plants,  natives  of  tropical  Africa, 
Natal,  and  Madagascar.  O.  Cissampeloides, 
introduced  from  western  Africa  in  1871,  is  a 
green-house  climber  with  orbicular  or  cordate, 
glaucous  leaves  two  to  three  inches  long, 
often  mottled  with  white.  It  is  closely  allied 
to  Mode.cca,  and  is  often  found  in  cultivation 
under  the  name  of  Passiflora  marmorata. 

Ophioglo'ssum.  Adder's  Tongue.  From  opTiios, 
a  snake,  and  glossa,  a  tongue  ;  referring  to  the 
shape  of  the  spike  of  fructification. 


OCIMUM  (BASIL). 


CENOTHEBA  MISSOURIENSIS. 


OBEUfiCAEIA. 


ODONTOGLOSSUM  EOSSU. 


OCHNA  MTTLTIFLOEA. 


384  (ENOTHERA   LAMAKCKIANA. 


(ENOTHERA  DBDMMONDL 


ORNITHOGALUM   AUREUM. 


..^^-.  «^/^^^^^V/Y')^ 


ORNITHOliALUM  ARABICUM. 


ONOPORDON   ACANTHIUM. 


ONOBRYCHIS   (SAINFOIN). 

.'Si-:, 


OBIGANITM  (SWEET  MARJORAM). 


OKRA  (DWABF),  PROLIFIC.  28$ 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


285 


OPH 

The  typical  genus  of  Ophioglossacem,  distin- 
guished from  all  others  of  that  order,  by  having 
its  fructification  borne  in  the  form  of  spikes. 
The  species  are  spread  over  the  whole  world, 
from  the  Torrid  to  the  Arctic  Zones,  and  being 
of  simple  structure  are  not  readily  discrimi- 
nated. Some  botanists  regard  the  greater  part 
of  them  as  mere  forms  of  0.  vulgatum,  the 
common  Adder's  Tongue. 
Ophiopo'gon.  From  ophis,  a  serpent,  and 
pogon,  a  beard;  a  translation  of  the  native 
Japanese  name.     Nat.  Ord.  HoRmodoracce. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  or  lialf-hardy  her- 
baceous perennials,  natives  of  India,  China 
and  Japan.  They  have  long,  linear  leaves 
and  erect  spikes  or  racemes  of  flowers,  about 
a  foot  in  length.  0.  Jaburan  variegahis  is  a 
most  beautiful  and  useful  plant  for  the  cool 
green-house  or  for  hanging  baskets,  vases, 
etc.  Its  deep  violet-blue  flowers,  freely  pro- 
duced in  dense  spikes,  followed  by  deep  blue 
berries  about  the  size  of  currants,  and  re- 
maining a  long  time  in  perfection,  are  an  ex- 
cellent contrast  to  the  drooping  broad  grass- 
like leaves  striped  with  green  and  creamy- 
white.  There  is  a  variegated  form  of  O. 
Japonicus  intermedins,  known  as  0.  J.  argenteo- 
marginatus  which  though  producing  white 
flowers  is  also  an  excellent  plant  for  the  pur- 
poses named.  They  are  both  introductions 
from  Japan,  are  of  easy  culture,  and  are  in- 
creased readily  by  division.  Syn.  Flueggia, 
sometimes  spelled  Fluggia. 

O'phrys.  From  ophrys,  eyebrows ;  referring 
to  the  fringe  of  the  inner  sepals.  Nat.  Orel. 
Orchkldcece. 

A  small  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids,  chiefly 
natives  of  England.  They  are  exceedingly 
difficult  to  manage,  but  produce  their  flowers, 
which  are  of  rare  beauty,  freely  in  early  sum- 
mer, in  fields  and  dry  pastures.  0.  opifera 
looks  as  though  a  bee  were  buried  in  the 
flower;  another,  O.  aranifera,  has  the  lip  in 
the  form  of  a  spider;  and  in  a  third,  0.  mus- 
cifera,  the  whole  flower  resembles  a  fly. 

Opium.     See  Papaver  somniferum. 

Oplisme'nus.  From  hoplismenos,  awned ;  re- 
ferring to  the  awns.  Nat.  Ord.  Graminacem. 
A  small  genus  of  tender  grasses  allied  to 
Panicum,  broadly  dispersed  over  the  tropical 
and  sub-tropical  regions.  0.  Burmanni 
variegaius  is  a  beautiful  drooping  grass, 
prettily  variegated  with  white  and  pink.  It 
is  best  knovvn  in  cultivation  as  Panicum 
variegatum. 

Opo'panax.  Ancient  Greek  writers  mention  a 
medicinal  plant  under  this  name,  which  is  used 
by  botanists  to  designate  a  genus  of  Umbelli- 
ferce,  containing  two  or  three  species.  O. 
Chironium,  is  a  plant  six  or  seven  feet  high, 
resembling  the  Parsnip,  and  is  a  native  of 
southern  Europe.  It  yields  a  milky  juice, 
having  similar  properties  to  those  possessed 
by  Ammoniacum,  but  is  now  scarcely  used. 
The  plant  is  of  no  ornamental  value,  and  is 
only  to  be  foimd  in  botanic  gardens.  Syn. 
Malaibala  Apoponax. 

Opora'nthus.  From  opora,  autumn,  and  anthos, 
a  flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidacece. 

A  hardy,  free-flowering  bulb  from  the  south 
of  Europe.  The  flowers  bear  a  strong  resem- 
blance to  the  Yellow  Crocus,  for  which,  in- 
deed,  if  it  flowered  at  the  same  season,  it 


OPU 

might  easily  be  mistaken.  It  is  very  orna- 
mental, and  should  be  planted  in  beds  with 
the  Colchicum,  as  they  flower  at  the  same 
season,  and  contrast  finely  in  color.  It  grows 
freely  in  a  light  soil,  but  should  have  a  slight 
protection  in  winter  to  perfect  the  bulbs.  It 
generally  comes  into  flower  with  our  first 
frosts,  the  leaves  remaining  green  during  the 
winter.  This  bulb  was  formerly  classed  as 
Amaryllis  lutea,  and  none  but  the  keen  eye  of 
the  botanist  can  see  any  difference.  This 
genus  is  now  included  with  Stcrnbergia,  which 
see. 

Opposite.  Placed  on  opposite  sides  of  some 
other  body  or  thing,  and  on  the  same  plane. 
Thus  when  leaves  are  opposite,  they  are  on 
opposite  sides  of  the  stem ;  when  petals  are 
opposite  they  are  on  opposite  sides  of  the 
flower,  and  so  on. 

OppositifoUus.  Opposite  a  leaf,  that  is  to  say, 
growing  on  the  side  of  a  stem  opposite  to  that 
on  which  a  leaf  grows ;  also  applied  to  leaves 
opposite  to  each  other. 

Opu'ntia.  Prickly  Pear.  Indian  Fig.  A  Latin 
name  of  which  the  derivation  is  not  applicable 
to  the  species  now  placed  under  it.  Nat.  Ord. 
CuctacecB. 

There  are  upvs^ard  of  a  hundred  and  fifty 
species  of  the  Opuntia,  or  Prickly  Pear,  all  of 
which  are  natives  of  this  continent.  They  are 
found  chiefly  in  Mexico.  California,  Peru, 
Brazil,  the  West  Indies,  and  a  few  in  the  United 
States.  The  plants,  whon  old,  are  hard  and 
woody,  but  the  new  growth  remains  succu- 
lent or  fleshy  for  some  time.  Some  species 
grow  erect  and  tree-like,  while  others  are 
procumbent  or  ci-eep  on  the  ground,  and 
nearly  all  have  spines.  The  upright  growers 
sometimes  reach  a  height  of  ten  feet  or  more, 
and  one  kind  even  twenty  feet.  Some  of 
them  (0.  Tuna,  for  example)  have  been  in- 
troduced into  southern  Europe,  Africa  and 
other  places  where  they  are  cultivated  for  the 
sake  of  obtaining  Cochineal.  The  flowers  (ex- 
cept in  Nopalea)  are  generally  a  dull  reddish 
orange.  The  fruit  is  pear-shaped,  two  or 
three  inches  long,  and  of  a  bright  carmine 
color  when  ripe.  The  fruit  is  edible,  and  has 
a  pleasant  sub-acid  flavor,  being  considered 
cooling  and  refreshing,  and  is  much  used  in 
the  West  Indies  and  other  places.  The 
juice  is  sometimes  used  as  a  water  color, 
and  also  for  coloring  candies.  In  Mexico  the 
plant  is  used  for  hedges  as  well  as  for  the 
Cochineal  insect,  and  from  the  fruit  is  pre- 
pared a  beverage  balled  Colinche.  Writers 
tell  us  that  in  Algeria  the  French  make  from 
the  old  woodanumberof  ornamental  articles, 
such  as  flower  trays,  fancy  baskets,  etc.,  and 
even  veneering.  The  Opuntia,  it  will  be  se^n, 
is  a  plant  of  considerable  commercial  value. 
Botanists  have  taken  three  species  from 
Opuntia,  to  which  they  have  given  the  generic 
name  Nopalea ;  the  reason  of  which  may  not 
be  apparent  to  the  common  ob.server.  In 
the  new  genus  the  flowers  have  erect  petals, 
which  are  drawn  together  at  the  top  instead 
of  being  expanded,  as  they  are  in  Opuntia;  the 
stamens  are  longer  than  the  corolla,  but 
shorter  than  the  style.  The  stems  are  round, 
or  nearly  so,  with  jointed,  fleshy,  flat  branches; 
but  unlike  Opuntia,  the  tubercles  upon  the 
branches  are  not  always  armed  with  spines. 
The  flowers,  instead  of  being  yellow  or  orangey 


286 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


OPU 

like  Opuntia  are  reddish  or  crimson.  In 
view  of  the  commercial  value  of  the  product, 
we  shall  next  allude  somewhat  briefly  to  the 
Nopalea  (Opuntia)  as  connected  with  the  cul- 
tivation of  the  Cochineal  insect,  Coccus  Cacti. 
There  are  two  species  grown  chiefly  for  this 
purpose,  the  Nopalea  coccinellifera  and  N. 
Tuna.  The  flrst  grows  about  eight  feet  high, 
and  its  branches  give  it  a  tree-like  appearance. 
The  stem  and  older  branches  are  nearly  round 
and  grayish  In  color,  but  the  younger 
growth  is  flat  and  deep  green  in  color.  The 
joints  are  from  six  to  twelve  inches  long, 
oblong  in  form,  mostly  without  spines,  but 
having,  when  young,  a  growth  of  fleshy  leaves, 
which  soon  drop  off,  leaving  a  scar  and  a  tuft 
of  short  wool  and  bristles.  Though  the  name 
coccinellifera,  or  cochineal  bearing,  has  been 
given  to  this  particular  species,  it  is  not  the 
only  one  upon  which  this  insect  feeds,  for  in 
Mexico  N.  Tuna  is  even  more  largely  grown 
for  the  same  purpose.  Nopaleries  is  the  name 
given  to  plantations  for  rearing  the  Cochineal 
insect.  The  male  only  is  winged,  and  some- 
what resembles  the  Aphis,  and  the  two  are 
not  very  distantly  related  to  each  other :  both 
feed  in  the  same  way,  di-awing  the  juices  of 
the  plant  through  a  proboscis.  It  is  the 
female,  however,  which  yields  the  highly- 
prized  dj'e.  A  plantation  will  sometimes  con- 
tain from  fifty  to  sixty  thousand  plants.  The 
plants  are  grown  in  rows,  but  are  not  allowed 
to  grow  to  their  natural  height  for  convenience 
in  handling.  In  the  month  of  August  the  female 
insects  are  placed  on  the  plants,  and  in  about 
four  months  thereafter  the  first  crop  is  fit  to 
be  gathered,  and  another  prepared  for,  three 
being  taken  in  the  course  of  the  year.  When 
fully  grown  the  insects  are  brushed  off  and 
dried  in  ovens,  when  they  are  ready  for  sale. 
The  value  of  this  industry  is  such  that  the 
Pricklj'  Pear  has  been  placed  on  the  coat  of 
arms  of  the  Mexican  Republic.  Though  Mex- 
ico is  the  native  place  of  the  Cochineal,  it  is 
now  largely  grown  in  New  Grenada  and  the 
Canary  Islands,  and  to  a  less  extent  in 
some  parts  of  southern  Europe  and  Africa. 
The  annual  produce  amounts  to  thousands  of 
tons,  the  usual  price  being  about  two  thous- 
and dollars  per  ton,  which  gives  us  an  idea 
of  the  value  of  the  industry.  There  are  many 
interesting  facts  connected  with  the  Coccus 
family,  as  regards  both  their  natural  history 
and  their  commercial  value  which  we  must 
pass  over,  simply  remarking  that  it  is  to  a 
member  of  this  family  that  we  are  indebted 
for  some  of  the  best  shell  and  other  lacs.  It 
may  be  said  of  them,  as  it  cannot  be  said  of 
most  insects,  that  they  make  some  amends  for 
the  injury  they  do  to  plants.  Of  our  native 
species  of  Prickly  Pear.  O.  vulgaris  is  the  com- 
mon Prickly  Pear  of  New  York  and  some  of 
the  Eastern  States.  It  is  very  hardy  and  tena- 
cious of  life,  growing  among  the  rocks  where 
there  is  scarcely  sufficient  soil  to  cover  the 
roots.  Its  flowers  are  bright  yellow,  very 
handsome,  and  produced  freely.  There  are 
other  American  species  which  produce  larger 
and  even  handsomer  flowers  than  O.  vulgaris. 
The  other  members  of  this  order  take  pre- 
cedence in  the  green-house,  on  account  of 
their  rarity,  and,  in  some  instances,  more 
showy  flowers.  See  Nopalea. 
Opuntia'ceae.  A  natural  order,  now  placed  as 
a  sub-division  of  Cactacem. 


ORC 

Orache,  or  Mountain  Spinach.     See  Atriplex. 
Orange.     See  Citrus. 

Orange-flower  Tree.     Philadelphus  coronarius. 
Orange  Gourd.     Cucurbita  Pepo  aurantia. 
Orange  Grass.     Hypericum  Sarothra. 
Orange  Osage.     See  Madura. 
Orange  Root.     Hydrastis  Canadense. 
Orbicular.     Nearly  round  and  flat. 

Orchard.  Fruits  of  all  kinds  are  now  so 
extensively  used,  that  there  are  few  country 
gardens  large  enough  to  give  a  sufficient 
supply  of  fruit,  even  if  it  were  desirable  to 
grow  many  fruit  trees  in  a  vegetable  garden. 
It  is  often  necessary  therefore  to  establish  an 
orchard  from  which  to  supply  the  ordinary 
demands  for  the  larger  fruits.  As  these  trees 
will  last  a  generation  or  longer,  and  as  many 
of  them  are  several  years  before  they  come 
into  bearing,  any  error,  therefore,  made  in 
the  selection  of  kinds,  is  a  serious  one. 
Whenever  practicable,  the  purchase  of  trees 
for  the  orchard  should  be  made  direct  from 
the  nurserymen  whose  reputation  is  beyond 
question.  Many  thousands  of  farmers,  and 
others,  in  nearly  every  section  of  the  country 
have  been  victims  of  irresponsible  tree 
peddlers,  who,  either  from  ignorance  or 
design,  have  palmed  upon  their  unfortu- 
nate patrons,  apples,  pears,  peaches,  plums, 
and  other  fruit-trees,  which,  after  years  of 
anxious  waiting  for,  have  proved  entirely 
wjjrthless.  The  safest  plan  therefore,  is  to 
purchase  direct  from  the  nearest  reliable 
nurseryman,  keeping  in  view  the  point  that  it 
is  best  always  to  buy  trees  grown  North  of 
your  latitude,  and  not  to  plant  too  many 
varieties,  but  only  those  that  are  found  to 
do  best  in  your  locality. 

The  soil  and  its  preparation  for  the  orchard 
are  also  vital  matters.  For  most  fruits  a 
deep  and  rather  sandy  loam  is  best,  but,  as  in 
all  other  crops,  it  is  useless  to  plant  trees  un- 
less the  soil  is  free  from  water,  and  if  draining 
is  necessary  it  must  be  thoroughly  done.  (See 
draining.)  A  limestone  gravelly  soil  is  best 
for  apples;  pears  succeed  best  upon  good  clay 
loams ;  plums  require  a  rather  moist  soil  for 
the  best  results,  and  peaches  must  have  a 
warm  light  sandy  loam  with  a  somevvhat 
heavier  subsoil,  but  well  drained,  either 
naturally  or  artificially.  The  location  of  an 
orchard  is  quite  important.  Apples  and 
peaches  do  best  upon  hilly  or  rolling  ground, 
while  pears  and  plums  do  well  in  low  lands. 
A  western  exposure,  and  in  some  cases  a 
northei'n  slope,  is  preferable  to  any  other,  for 
all  fruits.  A  southern  slope  is  the  worst  of 
all,  as  the  trees  in  such  a  case  are  forced  by 
the  sun's  warmth  into  a  too  early  growth,  and 
often  suffer  from  late  spring  frosts,  which 
destroy  the  blossom,  while  the  more  back- 
ward trees  upon  western  and  northern  slopes 
are  uninjured.  The  advantage  of  a  western 
slope  is  that  it  escapes  the  morning  sun, 
which  is  sometimes  injurious  after  a  cold 
frosty  night,  while  it  enjoys  the  last  of  the 
evening  sun  and  so  gets  a  large  share  of 
warmth  which  remains  during  the  night. 

The  Preparation  of  the  Soil  and  the  man- 
ner of  planting  the  trees  are  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance, and  should  be  thoroughly  well  done. 
A  rich  soil  is  not  required.  If  the  land  is  able 
to  produce  a  good  crop  of  corn,  potatoes  or 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


287 


ORG 

clover,  it  is  rich  enougii ;  if  made  too  rich  the 
trees  are  apt  to  make  too  much  wood,  or  a 
weak,  rank,  growth,  which  must  be  cut  away 
by  pruning,  and  thus  really  exhaust  the  tree, 
and  put  off  its  bearing  period  for  some  con- 
siderable time.      The  following  details  will 
suggest  a  proper  method  for  the  average  con- 
ditions.     The  planter  of  course  must  study 
his    particular  case    and  make    a   judicious 
application  of  these  suggestions.    The  land 
should  be  well  plowed  in  the  fall  or  late  sum- 
mer, as  deeply  as  possible ;  deep  plowing  in 
this  case  is  beneficial,  when  it  might  be  other- 
wise for  an  ordinary  crop.      The  next  thing  to 
be  done  is  to  prepare  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
good  compost  of  rotted  leaves,  sod,  scrapings 
of  the  barn-yard,  lime,  wood  ashes  and  some 
rotted  manure.      These  are  well  mixed  and 
put  into  a  heap  ready  for  use.      The  trees  are 
then  ordered  to  be  delivered  at  a  special  time, 
and  for  safety,  and  the  pi-oper  guidance  of  the 
nurseryman  full  and  accurate  directions  should 
be  given  for  shipping.      The  orders  should  be 
sent  so  as  to  give  the  nurseryman  ample  time 
to  ship  the  trees.      The  next  work  is  to  stake 
out  the  ground,  and  dig  the  holes,  two  feet 
deep,   and  large  enough  to    give    the  roots 
ample  spread,  say  four  feet  wide.    The  top 
soil    should    be    thrown    on    one    side    by 
itself.     The  compost  is  then  hauled  on  to  the 
ground   and  a  liberal  quantity  of  it  thrown 
into  the  hole  and  spread,  and  partly  mixed 
with  the  earth  in  it,  being  left  slightly  raised 
in  the  centre  for  the  tree  to  rest  upon.  Every- 
thing   is    now  in    readiness   for    the    trees. 
When  these  arrive,  they  should  be  unpacked 
and  sorted  at  once,  and  each  variety  laid  in 
the  wagon  by  itself.      Each  variety  should  be 
planted  separately  in  a  row  or  block.     The 
wagon  is  then  taken  to  a  field.      The  planter 
who  has  a  boy  to  assist  him,  takes  a  tree,  sets 
it  firmly  upon  the  earth  in  the  hole  so  that  it 
is    a  little  deeper  than  it  has  been  in  the 
nursery,  and  while  the  assistant  holds  it,  he 
spreads  the  roots  and  carefully  works  the 
soil  among  them  that  so  they  are  in  as  natural 
a  position  as  possible.  This  is  very  important 
and  should  be  well  done.      After  this  the  rest 
of  the  top  soil  is  thrown  in  and  well  trodden 
with  the  feet.      Then  the  subsoil  is  put  in 
with  a  little  of  the  compost  mixed  with  it  and 
thoroughly  well  firmed  with  the  feet,  but  left 
in  a  slight  mound  so  as  to  turn  water  from  the 
stem.     After   all   the  trees  have  been  thus 
planted,  each  one  should  be  properly  pruned, 
the  young  wood  being  cut  back  one-third  and 
the   head  properly    shaped.       Fall  planting, 
which  is  generally  preferable,  should  be  done 
from  the  15th  October  to  the  15th  November, 
and  spring  planting  as  soon  as  the  ground  is 
free  from  frost  and  dry  enough  to  work. 

The  after  treatment  of  a  young  orchard 
should  be  as  follows  :  For  the  first  three  years 
such  crops  as  potatoes,  beans  or  turnips,  that 
are  cultivated  and  manured  may  be  grown, 
but  no  others,  both  to  manure  the  ground, 
destroy  weeds,  and  for  the  sake  of  the  culti- 
vation, the  trees  being  hoed  as  the  rest  of  the 
crop.  Afterwards  the  ground  may  be  sown 
to  clover,  but  not  to  grass,  as  a  sod  is  injuri- 
ous to  a  young  orchard,  although  it  may  be 
permitted  in  an  established  one. 

Orchard  Baler.    This  name  is  given  to  an  in- 
vention that  promises  to  be  of  great  value  to 


ORG 

the  fruit-growing  interest  of  the  Unites  States. 
It  is  a  machine  by  which  the  branches  of  fruit 
or  other  trees  are  tied  in  a  pyramidal  form, 
and  in  this  shape  thatched  witli  straw  or  hay, 
as  a  protection  in  winter  against  the  severe 
frosts  which  cause  so  much  injury  to  the  buds 
of    Peaches    and    other   fruit    trees.       Thus 
thatched    and    excluded    from   the   sun,   the 
flower  buds  of  fruit  trees  Avill  be  held  back 
from  opening  for  nearly  a  week,  which  will 
often  be  sufficient  to  save  them  from  late 
spring  fi-osts.     It  is  claimed  that  Peacli  Trees 
so  protected  never  fail  to  produce  annually  a 
crop  of  fruit.     A  pair  of  these  machines  cost 
from  $25  to  $50 ;  and  it  is  claimed  that  two 
men  can  bale  and  thatch  fifty  trees  per  day. 
The  time  for  the  operation  is  after  the  leaves 
have  fallen  in  autumn,  or  any  time  except 
when  the  limbs  are  frozen.     Of  course,  it  is 
equally  applicable  to  ornamental  trees,  and 
for  such  trees  as  the   Magnolia  grandijlora, 
which  is  rarely  seen  in  good  condition  north 
of  Richmond,  it  would  be  particularly  valu- 
able. 
Orchard  Grass.  -See  Dactylis. 
Orche'lla  "Weed.    The  common  name  of  several 
species  of  Roccella,  a  genus  of  lichens,  cele- 
brated for  their  valuable  properties  as  dye- 
weeds. 
Orcliida'ceae.    A  very  large  order  of  plants,  and 
one  of  the  most  natural  families  of  the  vege- 
table kingdom.  They  are  perennial  herbaceous 
plants  or  shrubs,  assuming  a  terrestrial  habit 
in  temperate  countries,  and  in  warmer  lati- 
tudes, growing  on  trees  (Epiphytes),  or  fixing 
themselves  to  stones.     Or.-hids  are  found  in 
almost  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  are  noted 
for  the  peculiar  shapes  and  diversity  of  their 
flowers.     According   to    the    authors  of  the 
"  Genera  Plantar um,"  the  order  contains  over 
330  genera  and  5,000  species. 
Orcliid  Culture.  The  following  article  on  Orchid 
culture  was  written  in  1888  for  "  Gardening  for 
Pleasure,"  by  Mr.  William  Grey  of  Kenwood,  Al- 
bany. As  he  is  known  to  be  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful growers  of  Orchids  in  this  or  indeed  any 
other  country,  his  experience  may  prove  valu- 
able to  the  more  skillful  as  well  as  to  the 
tyro  in  their  culture. 

The  taste  for  cultivating  Orchids  is  rap- 
idly increasing.  Every  season,  dozens  of 
amateurs  already  possessing  green-houses 
begin  the  culture  of  Orchids.  To  be 
successful,  careful  attention  and  some  knowl- 
edge of  the  subject  by  actual  practice  are  nec- 
essary ;  but  as  most  of  our  gardeners  are  such 
as  have  had  European  training,  nearly  all  that 
are  proficient  in  their  business  have  a  knowl- 
edge of  Orchid  culture.  It  is  about  the  only 
part  of  floriculture  that  I  have  had  no  actual 
practice  in,  so  that  I  am  glad  to  avail  myself  of 
the  experience  of  Mr.  Grey,  who  kindly  has 
written  the  following  brief  instructions  : 

The  best  twelve  well-known  kinds  are, 
Cattleya  Trianice,  Dendrobium  nobile,  Dendro- 
bium  Wardianum,  Loelia  anceps,  Ccelogyne 
cristata,  Lycaste  Skinmri,  Odontoglossum 
Alexandras,  Odontoglossum  Pescatorei,  Cypripe- 
dium  insigne,  Phuius  Wallichii,  Calanthe 
Veitchii,  Calanthe  veslita.  The  next  twelve 
are  Cattelya  Mossice,  Cadogyne  ocellata,  Cypri- 
pedium  Spicerianum,  Cypripedium  villosum, 
Dendrobium  crassinode,  Phaiiis  grandifolius, 
Phalcmopsis  amabilis,  Phalcenopsis  SchiUeriana, 


288 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


ORG 

Phalmnopsis  Stuartiana,  Vanda  ccerulea,  Vanda 
Sanderkma,  Zygojyetalmn  Mackayi.  (For  de- 
scription of  the  various  species,  see  Orchid 
Catalogues.) 

"  Of  these  the  best  suited  for  growing  in  pots 
are,  Cattleyas,  Dendrobiums,  and  Odontoglos- 
sums,  all  of  which  do  well  in  coarse  chopped 
peat,  the  pots  nearly  filled  with  crocks  ;  CceIo- 
gyne  and  Lycaste,  coarse,  sandy  peat,  with 
chopped,  haif-decayed  leaves;  Cyprijiedimns, 
Phaius,  and  Zygopelalums  in  peat  and  loam, 
and  a  little  rotten  manure  ;  Phalmnopsis,  Van- 
das,  and  Lcelias  do  well  in  baskets,  pots,  or 
small  pans,  in  chopped  sphagnum  ;  the  drain- 
age must  be  perfect.  Calanthes,  chopped  sods 
of  sandy  loam,  with  not  over-fine  leaf  mould. 
The  plants  must  be  made  steady  with  stakes 
and  copper  wire. 

"  The  kinds  suited  to  grow  on  bark  or  cork, 
or  other  such  material,  are  Cattleyas,  Lcelias, 
Phalmnopsis,  Vandas,  and  Dendrobiums.  These 
all  do  well  on  blocks  of  cork,  rafts,  cylinders, 
etc.,  with  sphagnum  or  other  moss ;  but  take 
more  care  as  they  dry  so  quickly.  A  plant  on 
a  block  will  take  water  twice  a  day ;  the  same 
in  a  basket  only  once  in  two  days.  Blocks 
can  be  hung  overhead,  and  dipped  twice  a  day 
in  hot,  dry  weather. 

"The  temperature  should  be  for  such  varie- 
ties as  Phalaznopsis,  Vandas,  Dendrobiums,  and 
Cypripediums,  in  winter,  sixty  to  sixty-five 
degrees  at  night,  to  seventy-five  degrees  by 
day,  with  air;  in  summer,  seventy  degrees 
at  night,  ninety  or  more  degrees  by  day,  with 
plenty  of  air  and  ventilation  at  night.  Cattleya, 
Lcelia,  Phaius,  Calanthe,  CcBlogyne,  and  Zygo- 
petalum,  in  winter,  fifty-five  or  sixty  degrees 
at  night,  seventy  degrees  with  sun  by  day ;  in 
summer,  sixty-five  degrees  at  night,  eighty- 
five  degrees  by  day,  with  plenty  of  air.  Odonto- 
glossums,  in  winter,  fifty-five  degrees  at  night, 
sixtj'-five  degrees  by  day ;  in  summer,  as 
cool  as  they  can  be  kept.  All  want  abun- 
dance of  atmospheric  moisture  night  and 
day. 

"Some  kinds,  such  as  Phalcenopsis  and  Van- 
das, grow  at  all  seasons ;  Cypripediums,  Cat- 
tleyas, and  Lcelias  in  spring;  Calanthe, 
Codogyne,  Phaius,  and  ZygojJetalums  in  sum- 
mer. When  any  plant  grows  in  winter 
(except  Odo7itoglossums)  it  should  be  placed  in 
a  warm  house.  Odontoglossums  do  best  at  a 
temperature  of  fifty-five  to  seventy  degrees ; 
never  hotter,  if  possible. 

"  Cattleya  TrianicB,  Lcelia  anceps,  and  Cypripe- 
dium  insigne  bloom  during  the  resting  period, 
which  is  from  December  to  January.  Pha- 
lcenopsis and  Vandas  grow  all  the  year ;  and 
during  the  short  dark  days  of  fall  and  winter 
less  food  is  given  by  withholding  water.  Cal- 
anthe, Coelogyne,  and  Phaius  bloom  with  the 
maturity  of  the  growth,  and  lay  dormant 
until  spring. 

"  The  best  shading  for  an  Orchid  house,  when 
ground  glass  is  not  used,  is  canvas  raised 
eighteen  inches  above  the  roof ;  or,  if  that  is 
not  convenient,  thin  paint  made  of  turpentine 
and  whitening,  or  white  lead.  Lay  it  on  in 
the  middle  of  March  and  brush  it  off  in  the 
middle  of  October.  Ground  glass  is  too  dark 
from  October  to  March  for  plants,  and  nothing 
does  well  with  me  under  it  in  winter.  I  use 
first  quality  clear  French  glass.  When  the 
^ass  is  shaded  with  canvas  it  should  be  done 
from  March  to  October  from  nine  o'clock  in 


ORG 

the  morning  to  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
except  on  cloudy  days. 

"Orchids  when  grown  by  a  florist  to  pay 
would  have  to  be  grown  in  quantity,  each 
species  with  a  house  to  itself;  but  when 
grown  by  amateurs,  of  course  nearly  all 
species  are  usually  grown  in  one  house.  The 
most  of  the  twenty-four  species  named  could 
be  had  in  flower  from  November  to  April.  All 
plants  with  a  tendency  to  early  maturity 
should  be  placed  at  the  warm  end  of  the 
house ;  or  in  the  fall,  partition  off  the 
space  necessary  at  the  warmer  end  for  the 
most  forward.  The  plants  would  have  to  be 
imported  from  the  woods  at  first  cost,  when 
grown  to  sell  (established  plantj  at  pi-esent 
prices  would  be  too  expensive),  and  the  flowers 
sold  cheap  to  become  popular.  Orchid-grow- 
ing to-day,  is  where  Rose-growing  was  thirty- 
five  years  ago.  To  sum  up  :  In  the  cultivation 
of  Orchids  all  plants,  when  newly  potted  or 
mounted,  should  be  made  firm,  or  wii-ed, 
otherwise,  if  the  plants  move  by  syringing, 
or  other  cause,  the  rootlets  will  be  destroyed. 
The  atmosphere  of  an  Orchid  house  should 
always  be  moist,  winter  and  summer,  in 
winter  allowing  the  pottery,  cork,  or  other 
material  to  become  more  dry.  Light  and  air 
are  essential  to  vigorous  growth,  delug- 
ing with  water  when  in  active  growth,  but 
never  closing  top  ventilation ;  never  having  a 
stagnant  atmosphei-e  ;  gradually  withholding 
water  as  the  growth  approaches  maturity,  and 
then  only  enough  to  keep  them  from  shrivel- 
ing. As  to  the  time  for  repotting,  the  culti- 
vator is  guided  by  the  commencement  of 
growth.  Plants  should  always  be  under- 
potted  as  long  as  the  plant  is  not  top-heavy, 
for  such  as  Cattleyas,  Lcelias,  Dendrobiums,  etc. 
a  top-dressing  is  often  all  that  is  needful. 
Calanthe,  Phaius,  etc.,  are  repotted  annually. 
"Insects,  such  as  thrips  and  aphis,  are  kept 
under  by  filling  the  evaporated  pans,  or  other 
vessels,  with  chopped  tobacco  stems  covered 
with  water.  Slugs  are  kept  down  by  placing 
lettuce  leaves,  sliced  potatoes  or  carrots 
on  the  pots,  which  examine  daily  and  destroy. 
Roaches  and  water  bugs  may  be  killed  by 
mixing  roach  poison  with  molasses,  and 
placing  it  on  oyster  shells  at  convenient 
points  in  the  green-house.  These  same  reme- 
dies will  be  found  effective  against  insects 
attacking  any  kind  of  green-house  plant." 

Okchid  Fertilization.  So  much  interest 
has  of  late  years  been  exhibited  in  this  subject, 
that  we  would  refer  the  reader  for  informa- 
tion on  this  as  well  as  other  important  ques- 
tions in  Natural  Science  to  Charles  Darwin's 
work  "On  the  various  Contrivances  by  which 
British  and  Foreign  Orchids  are  Fertilized  by 
Insects."  This  must  always  be  a  book  of 
reference  to  those  who  wish  to  understand 
the  very  curious  structures  that  adapt  many 
Orchids,  in  a  very  peculiar  degree  to  benefit 
by  the  visits  of  insects,  while  a  smaller 
number  are  adapted  for  self-fertilization 
alone. 

Okchid  Flowebs  in  Motion.  Great 
interest  has  lately  been  exhibited  in  the 
motion  of  the  beautifully  fringed  labellum  of 
Bulbophyllum  barbigerum,  the  numerous  long 
hairs  on  which  keep  continually  in  motion. 
A  correspondent  of  "Garden  and  Forest" 
in  mentioning  it  also  says  : 

"The  singular  little  Masdevallia  muscosa  is, 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


289 


ORG 

perhaps,  still  more  remarkable.  It  appears 
from  an  account  which  has  recently  been 
published,  that  the  lip  of  this  plant  is  sensitive 
and  has  a  movement  as  definite  as  that  of  the 
remarkable  Dionae,a  muscipula,  or  ■"  Venus'  Fly- 
trap." The  habit  of  the  plant  is  almost  that  of 
the  well-known  M.  Harryana,  but  smaller,  the 
flowers  standing  some  sis  inches  high;  light 
yellow  in  color,  the  tube  of  the  sepals  short, 
the  lip  long  and  protruding,  and  much  nar- 
rowed behind.  When  the  flowers  open,  the  lip 
hangs  pendulous  underneath,  but  when  an 
insect  alights  on  the  lip,  and  touches  a  small 
cushion-like  disc,  situated  some  distance 
from  the  apex,  the  lip  suddenly  shuts  up 
tight  against  the  column  moving  through 
an  angle  of  80°  or  90"  in  two  seconds.  The 
Masdevallia  is  not  as  bloodthirsty  as  the 
Dionoea,  for  the  insect  is  not  tightly  boxed 
in,  nor  does  the  plant  forthwith  proceed  to 
devour  and  digest  its  victim.  There  is  a  way 
of  escape  between  the  two  petals  and  the  face 
of  the  column,  but  the  insect  can  scarcely 
fail  to  carry  away  the  pollen-masses  in 
making  its  exit,  and  there  can  be  little 
doubt  that  on  visiting  a  second  flower  it 
comes  in  contact  with  the  stigma,  and  thus 
fertilization  is  effected. 

' '  This  is  not  ail.  The  plant  regularly  goes  to 
sleep  at  night — that  is  to  say,  it  closes  up 
tight— but  positively  refuses  to  sleep  in  the 
daytime ;  for  two  hours  in  a  dark  cellar  are 
reported  to  have  made  no  impression  on  it. 
The  slightest  touch  with  a  hair  on  the  sensi- 
tive cushion  causes  the  lip  to  close  suddenly, 
but  after  a  short  time  it  gradually  opens  again. 
Another  remarkable  point  about  the  plant  is 
that  the  peduncles  are  completely  covered 
with  greenish-yellow  moss-like  bristles,  which 
have  been  well  compared  to  those  of  the  Moss 
Rose.  There  is  no  climbing  up  some  other 
way.  Ants  have  been  observed  to  make  the 
attempt,  but  eventually  had  to  give  it  up  in 
disgust.  It  is  supposed  that  this  is  the 
particular  use  of  these  bristles  to  keep  away 
robber-insects.  Those  who  would  pay  their 
respects  must  come  in  a  legitimate  way,  and 
alight  on  the  flower  itself.  Quite  a  little 
chapter  of  romance;  but  one  would  suspect 
that  the  insect  goes  away  with  rather  mixed 
feelings  after  its  first  visit." 

Orchis.  From  orchis,  testiculale ;  referring  to 
the  two  oblong,  bulb-like  roots  of  many  of  the 
species.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  dwarf  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchias, 
mostly  unpretending,  yet  beautiful  little 
plants.  They  are  common  in  England  and 
throughout  most  of  Europe,  0.  mascula  and 
0.  maculata,  being  among  the  most  beautiful 
and  interesting  plants  of  the  British  woods. 
With  the  exception  of  a  few  species,  they  are 
perfectly  hardy,  and  can  be  grown  in  the  out- 
side border,  or  in  pots,  forced  like  the  Hya- 
cinth. They  do  not  like  being  moved  from 
their  native  homes,  but  are  easily  produced 
from  seed,  which,  if  sown  in  a  frame  of  light, 
turfy  loam,  will  make  fk)wering  plants  in  three 
years.  0.  spectabilis  (Showy  Orchis),  is  com- 
mon in  rich  woods  throughout  the  Northern, 
Eastern  and  Western  States.  This  species 
does  well  under  cultivation.  Propagated  by 
division. 

Orchis.     Bee.     Ophrys  apifera. 
Cuckoo.     Orchis  mascula. 


ORI 

Fly.     Ophrys  muscifera. 

Marsh.     Orchis  latifolia. 

Military.     Orchis  mililaris. 

Wliite  Fringed.     Habenaria  blephariglottis. 

Yellow  Fringed.     Habenaria  ciliaris. 

Ordeal  Bean  of  Old  Calabar.  See  Physoa- 
tigma. 

Ordeal  Tree.    See  Tanghinia. 

Oreooo'me  Candollei.  A  very  striking  and 
effective  decorative  plant  belonging  to  the 
Nat.  Ord.  UmbellifercB. 

It  makes  a  fine  pyramid,  five  feet  high,  fur- 
nished with  large  leaves  that  are  as  finely 
divided  as  those  of  a  Todea,  spread  out  hori- 
zontally, and  recurve  gracefully. 

They  are  of  fresh  green  color,  and  the 
flowers  which  rise  well  above  the  foliage,  are 
pure  white.  It  is  quite  hardy  and  is  an  excel- 
lent plant  for  margins  of  shrubberies  or  for 
planting  singly  on  a  lawn. 

Oreoda'phne.  From  oreos,  a  mountain,  and 
Daphne,  Mountain  Daphne.  Nat.  Ord,  Laii- 
racece. 

A  genus  of  hardy  evergreen  trees,  confined 
mostly  to  the  Pacific  Coast.  O.  Californica  (syn. 
Umbellularia)  is  a  common  tree  in  the  moun- 
tainous parts  of  California,  where  it  goes  by  a 
variety  of  names,  such  as  Mountain  Laurel, 
Spice-bush,  Balm  of  Heaven,  Sassafras  Laurel, 
Cajeput-tree,  California  Laurel,  etc.  In  some 
parts  it  attains  a  height  of  fifty  to  one  hun- 
dred feet,  but  in  the  southern  districts  it  is 
seldom  more  than  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  high. 
When  bruised  it  emits  a  strong  spicy  odor 
which  is  apt  to  excite  sneezing ;  the  natives 
use  the  leaves  as  a  condiment.  This  species 
was  introduced  by  Mr.  Douglas  in  1862.  Syn. 
Ocotea. 

Oreodo'xa.  From  oreos,  a  mountain,  and  doxa, 
glory ;  alluding  to  the  lofty  stature  of  some  of 
the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  small  genus  of  very  tall-growing  and 
handsome  Palms,  inhabiting  the  West  Indies 
and  tropical  America.  Some  of  the  species 
are  among  the  most  graceful  of  palms.  O. 
regia,  the  Royal  Palm,  is  a  favorite  cultivated 
species,  and  is  largely  used  in  the  decoration 
of  rooms.  O.  oleracea,  the  West  Indian  Cab- 
bage Palm,  sometimes  attains  a  height  of 
one  hundred  and  seventy  feet,  with  a  very 
small  trunk,  perfectly  straight  and  cylindrical. 
The  heart  of  the  young  leaves  is  cooked  like 
Cabbage,  and  the  pith  affords  Sago.  Oil  in 
considerable  quantities  is  obtained  from  the 
fruit.     Young  plants  are  obtained  from  seed. 

Oreo'panax.  From  oreos,  a  mountain,  and 
Panax,  alluding  to  the  relationship  of  the 
plants  to  Panax,  and  their  natural  habitats. 
Nat.  Ord.  Araliacece. 

A  genus  of  comparatively  late  introduction 
comprising  certain  tropical  American  trees 
and  shrubs,  closely  allied  to  Hedera.  Sixty- 
four  species  have  been  described,  but  only  a 
few  are  in  cultivation.  They  form  very 
ornamental  greep-house  plants,  and  are  propa- 
gated by  cuttings  of  the  young  shoots. 

Organ.  A  general  name  for  any  defined  sub- 
ordinate part  of  the  vegetable  structure,  ex- 
ternal or  internal ;  as  cell,  fibre,  leaf,  root,  etc. 

Oricola.     See  Primula. 

Ori'ganum.  Marjoram.  From  oros,  a  moun- 
tain, and  ganos,  joy ;  referring  to  the  natural 
places  of  growth.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 


290 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


OEM 

A  genus  of  hardy  and  half-hardy  herbaceous 
plants  and  shrubs,  natives  of  Europe  and 
Northern  India.  O.  vulgare,  the  wild  Mar- 
joram, common  throughout  Europe,  and  natur- 
alized in  this  country,  furnishes  the  Oil  of 
Origanum,  which  is  an  acrid  stimulant.  O. 
Onitea  and  0.  Majorana  are  included  in  the 
pot  or  seasoning  herbs,  under  the  name  of 
Marjoram.  They  are  natives  of  Sicily  and 
Portugal,  respectively.  There  are  a  few  orna- 
mental species  sometimes  grown  as  house 
plants,  the  more  common  of  which  is  0. 
sipyleum,  a  native  of  the  Levant,  and  popularly 
known  as  Hop  Plant.  It  is  of  easy  culture, 
and  is  propagated  by  cuttings. 

Ormoca'rpuin.  From  ormos,  a  chain,  and  kar- 
pos,  a  fruit;  referring  to  the  narrow  chain- 
like pods.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  consisting  of  three  or  four  shrubs, 
natives  of  tropical  Africa  and  the  Indian 
Archipelago,  nearly  allied  to  ^schynomene,. 
O.  Coronilloides  has  pale  yellow  flowers,  borne 
in  many-flowered  axillary  peduncles  in  May. 
Young  specimens  only  are  adapted  to  pot  cul- 
ture, and  are  produced  from  cuttings. 

Onno'sia.  Bead  Tree.  From  ormo8,  a  neck- 
lace ;  in  allusion  to  this  use  of  the  seeds.  Nat. 
Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental  tropical  trees, 
natives  of  Guiana  and  the  West  Indies.  They 
are  all  too  large  for  introduction  into  the 
green-house.  O.  dasycarpa  is  the  West  Indian 
Bead  Tree,  or  Necklace  Tree,  the  seeds  of 
which,  like  those  of  0.  coccinea,  a  native  of 
Guiana  and  Brazil,  are  nearly  round,  beauti- 
fully polished,  and  of  a  bright  scarlet  color, 
with  a  black  spot  at  one  end,  resembling 
beads,  for  which  they  are  substituted,  being 
made  into  bracelets,  necklaces,  or  mounted  in 
silver  for  studs  or  buttons.  The  seeds  are 
picked  up  on  the  seacoast  in  various  places, 
at  very  great  distances  from  where  they  grow, 
having  been  carried  by  strong  oceanic  cur- 
rents. They  are  usually  mixed  in  with  small 
shells,  and  sold  as  "  Sea  Beans,"  the  common 
error  being  that  they  are  the  fruit  of  some  sea 
plant. 

Ornamental  Grasses.     See  Grasses. 

Ornamental  Leaved  Plants.  These  are  such 
as  are  grown  for  the  beauty  of  their  foliage 
rather  than  for  their  flowers ;  such  as  the 
various  Crotons,  Dracaenas,  Goleus,  Dieffen- 
bachias,  etc.,  with  colored  or  variegated 
leaves;  the  numberless  Palms,  Ferns,  Agaves, 
Aralias,  Ricinus,  etc.,  with  large  showy  or 
finely  divided  leaves,  or  possessing  other 
remarkable  characteristics  in  their  foliage  are 
also  placed  in  this  class. 

Ornamental  Planting.  The  beauty  of  many  of 
our  country  homes  is  sadly  marred  by  the  in- 
judicious planting  of  ornamental  trees  and 
shrubs.  There  is  no  branch  of  the  land- 
scape gardener's  art  that  demands  more  sound 
judgment,  correct  ideas,  or  refined  taste,  for  it 
is  not  enough  merely  to  be  able  to  admire  and 
appreciate  a  well  defined  and  harmoniously  col- 
ored landscape,  and  to  judge  of  its  merits  or  de- 
fects, but  he  must  also  be  able  to  select  the  mate- 
rials, and  so  arrange  or  dispose  of  them  as  to 
produce  an  effect  at  once  the  most  powerful, 
agreeable,  and  perfect,  that  they  are  capable  of 
doing.  To  attain  this  end  the  planter  I'equires 
an  amount  of  skill  and  knowledge  only  attaina- 


OEN 

ble  by  perseverance,  study,  and  practice. 
These  remarks  apply  principally  to  large  and 
extensive  country  seats,  but  also  bear  weight 
with  regard  to  less  pretentious  residences.  In 
former  years  the  rage  has  been  altogether  for 
mixed  planting,  without  regard  to  the  future 
size  of  the  trees  or  shrubs  planted,  or  to  the 
effect  of  the  shades  of  color,  either  in  the 
summer  or  fall ;  but  now  a  more  tasteful  and 
natural  idea  prevails,  and  planting  in  groups 
with  reference  to  the  general  effect,  the  ulti- 
mate size  of  the  trees,  and  their  coloring  in 
summer  and  fall,  is  more  generally  carried 
out.  Trees  having  a  resemblance  to  one 
another  in  the  size  and  form  of  their  lea  /es 
may  be  associated  in  groups,  but  it  is  more 
desirable  that  they  possess  some  other  marked 
characteristic  in  common,  such  as  color  of 
foliage,  bark,  or  flower,  habit  of  growth,  or 
form,  etc.  Thus,  when  depth  of  color  in  leaf- 
age is  desired,  fit  associates  are  found  in  the 
Purple  Beech,  Elm,  Oak,  Hazel,  or  Barberry ; 
Avhen  light  colors  are  wanted  they  are  at  com- 
mand in  the  Golden  Birch,  Alder,  Elder,  or 
Willow,  as  also  among  the  naturally  silvery- 
foliaged  trees,  as  the  Silver  Poplar,  Linden, 
Maple,  Huntingdon  and  other  Willows,  and 
Sea  Buck  Thorn,  while  among  strictly  varie- 
gated trees  and  shrubs,  there  exists  a  wide 
field  to  select  from.  The  autumnal  colors  and 
tints  of  falling  foliage  deserve  marked  atten- 
tion. The  rich  scarlet  and  purple  of  the  Oaks, 
Liquidamber,  Nyssa,  or  Scarlet  Maple ;  the 
golden-yellow  of  the  Norway  and  other  Maples, 
Tulip  Trees,  etc. ;  the  Chestnut,  with  its  yel- 
low and  brown  ;  gorgeous  festoons  of  the  Vir- 
ginia Creeper  and  Yellow  Celastrus,  contrast- 
ing beautifully  with  the  deep  green  of  the 
Spruces,  Hemlocks,  or  other  evergreens. 
Color  in  bark  is  most  appreciable  when 
branches  are  denuded  of  their  foliage,  and 
small  groups  having  distinct  colors  tend  to 
relieve  the  dull  monotony  of  the  winter  and 
early  spring  months.  White  Birch,  Linden, 
Golden  Ash,  Purple,  and  Golden  Willow,  Vir- 
gilia  lutea,  the  Red  Dogwood,  etc.,  all  work 
in  well ;  while  Deutzias,  Spiraeas,  Weigelas, 
Chinese  Magnolias,  Tartarian  Honeysuckle, 
the  Dwarf  Buck-eyes  (Pavia),  Hawthorns. 
Japanese  Judas  Tree,  Hydrangea  paniculata 
grandiflora,  Rhododendrons,  Azaleas,  and  a 
host  of  other  equally  desirable  shrubs,  either 
singly  or  in  groups,  may  fill  up  the  foreground 
and  give  lightness  and  beauty  to  the  carriage 
drive  and  lawn  during  the  whole  season. 
Irregularity  of  outline  to  the  lawn  gives  an 
idea  of  size,  and  the  margins  and  points  may 
be  well  filled  up  here  and  there  by  groups  of 
hardy  herbaceous  and  other  plants,  Arundo 
Donax  versicolor,  A.  conspicua,  Eulalias,  Pam- 
pas Grass,  etc.,  in  prominent  positions  in 
groups,  or  as  single  specimens  on  the  lawn. 

Omithi'dium.  From  ornis,  a  bird,  and  eidos, 
like ;  the  upper  lip  of  the  stigma  is  beak-like. 
Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacem. 

A  small  genus  of  curious  little  Orchids,  but 
not  of  sufficient  beauty  or  interest  to  warrant 
their  introduction  into  the  Orchid  house. 
They  are  regarded  as  weeds  among  air  plants. 

Ornithoce'phalus.  From  ornis,  omithos.  a  bird, 
and  kephale,  a  head  ;  in  reference  to  the  form 
of  the  column  and  anther.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchid- 
acece. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


291 


ORN 

A  genus  of  curious  little  epiphytal  Orchids, 
natives  of  tropical  America.  O.  grandiflorus, 
a  very  pretty  and  desirable  species  with  yellow 
flowers,  is,  perhaps,  the  only  species  in  culti- 
vation. 

Ornithochi'lus.  From  ornis,  ornithos,  a  bird, 
and  cheilos,  a  lip ;  referring  to  the  shape  of 
the  labellum.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  stove-house  Orchids, 
natives  of  Buruiah  and  the  Himalayas.  N. 
fuscus  has  brownish-yellow  flowers  striped 
with  purple,  and  very  fragrant.  It  is  often 
found  in  cultivation  as  Aerides  diforme. 

Ornitho'galum.  Star  oi  Bethlehem.  From  ornis, 
a  bird,  and  gala,  milk.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  rather  large  genus  of  bulbous  plants,  the 
species  of  which  are  natives  of  southern 
Europe,  western  Asia,  and  tlie  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  Several  of  the  species  are  hardy,  and 
grow  so  freely  as  to  become  a  nuisance  ;  this 
is  particularly  so  with  0.  umbellatum,  the 
pretty  little  Star  of  Bethlehem,  that  has 
escaped  in  many  places  from  the  gardens  into 
the  meadows,  and  taken  almost  complete  pos- 
session, and  become  very  troublesome.  O. 
caudatum,  a  tender  species  from  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  has  very  large,  watery-looking 
bulbs;  the  leaves  are  broad  and  very  long,  and 
they  wither  and  shrivel  up  at  the  tip,  so  as  to 
have  a  round,  tail-like  appearance ;  whence 
their  common  name,  Long-tailed  Ornithoga- 
lum.  This  species  is  sometimes  called  Onion 
Lily,  and  is  a  favorite  with  the  Chinese,  who 
grow  it  in  dishes  filled  with  water  and  gravel. 
Its  tenacity  of  life  is  most  remarkable,  as  it 
will  grow  anywhere  and  under  almost  any  cir- 
cumstances, in  water  or  hung  up  against  a 
wall  in  a  dry  room,  in  rich  earth  or  poor,  in- 
doors or  out,  and,  with  slight  protection,  will 
endure  our  winters.  Its  flower  scape  is  from 
two  to  four  feet  in  length,  and  it  keeps  in 
bloom  for  several  months.  There  is  but  little 
beauty  in  the  flowers  of  most  of  the  species. 
O.  Arabicum  has  large  wliite  flowers  with  a 
black  centre,  and  has  a  distinct  aromatic 
odor.  O.  thyrsoides  has  yellow  flowers  in 
dense  racemes,  twelve  to  thirty  flowered, 
borne  on  an  erect  scape  twelve  to  eighteen 
inches  long.  Tliere  are  several  varieties  of 
this  species,  0.  t.  album,  ^uve  white  with  dark 
centre  ;  O.  t.  aureum,  golden-colored,  and  O.  t. 
Jiavissimum,  much  brighter  yellow  than  the 
type,  are  all  distinct  and  desirable  green-house 
plants,  and  are  deserving  of  a  place  in  every 
collection.  All  the  species  are  increased  by 
offsets. 

Ornithoglo'ssum.  From  ornis,  ornithos,  a  bird, 
and  glossa,  a  tongue  ;  referring  to  resemblance 
existing  in  the  petals.     Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecB. 

A  genus  of  bulbous  plants,  with  simple  or 
slightly-branched,  leafy  stems,  with  green  and 
purple  or  white  flowers,  natives  of  south 
Africa.  They  thrive  well  in  sandy  loam,  and 
require  the  same  genei'al  treatment  as  Tigrida. 
Syn.  Lichtensteinia. 

Orzii'thopus.  Bird's  foot.  From  ornis,  orni- 
thos, a  bird,  and  pons,  a  foot ;  referring  to  the 
claw-like  legumes  or  seed  pods.  A  genus 
of  LeguminoscE  of  which  one  species,  O. 
perpvsillus,  a  small  prostrate  herb,  is  not  un- 
common in  dry,  gravelly  soils  in  Great  Britain. 
O.  sativus,  the  Serradilla,  by  some  considered 
merely  a  variety  of  0.  perpusillus,  a  native  of 
Portugal,  is  a  valuable  agricultural  plant,  in- 


ORT 

troduced  to  cultivation  in  1818,  and  particu- 
larly worthy  of  attention  from  the  fact  of  its 
producing  an  abundant  crop  of  excellent  fod- 
der, where  nothing  else  will  grow  to  perfec- 
tion. 

O'rnus.  Flowering  Ash.  From  oreinos,  ancient 
name  of  the  Ash ;  applied  on  account  of  the 
resemblance  and  affinity.  Nat.  Ord.  OleacecB. 
Hardy,  white-flowered,  deciduous  trees. 
The  genus  includes  about  a  dozen  species,  all 
interesting  on  account  of  their  clustered  pan- 
icles of  pure  white  flowers,  borne  at  the  ex- 
tremities of  the  branches.  In  Sicily  several 
of  the  species  are  extensively  grown  under 
the  name  of  Manna  Ash,  the  trees  yielding 
the  saccharine  substance  commercially  known 
as  Manna,  the  properties  of  which  are  pur- 
gative instead  of  nourishing ;  consequently  it 
could  not  have  been  tlie  Manna  that  sustained 
the  Hebrews  in  the  wilderness,  although  it  is 
known  by  that  name  at  the  present  day.  This 
genus  is  included  under  Fraxinus  by  some 
authors. 

Oroba'nche.  A  genus  of  singular-looking  par- 
asitic plants,  typical  of  the  OrobanchacecB, 
and  represented  by  a  variety  of  species  which 
grow  severally  on  the  roots  of  Clover,  Ivy, 
Furze,  Beans,  Tobacco,  Hemp,  etc.  Some  of 
them  are  agricultural  pests,  land  do  a  great 
deal  of  damage. 

O'robus.  From  oro,  to  excite,  and  bous,  an  ox ; 
the  Orobus  of  Theophrastus  Avas  the  name  of 
a  plant  used  for  fattening  cattle.  Nat.  Ord. 
Leguminosce. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  perennials,  dis- 
tinguished from  Lathyrus  chiefly  by  not  being 
of  a  climbing  habit  of  growth.  The  majority 
of  the  species  are  very  handsome  when  in 
flower,  which  is  generally  in  spring.  There 
is  a  similarity  between  many  of  them ;  the 
following  are  the  most  distinct :  0.  auranlius, 
orange-yellow ;  O.  lathyroides,  bright  blue ; 
0.  vernus,  purple  and  blue,  with  red  veins ; 
and  0.  taurica,  orange.  O.  pubescens,  O.  can- 
escens,  O.  varius,  and  O.  Fischeri,  are  also 
good  showy  species,  but  O.  vernus  and  its 
varieties  aie  the  handsomest  of  the  species. 
All  are  of  easy  culture,  and  are  increased  by 
seeds  or  division  of  the  root. 

Oro'ntium.  Golden  Club.  Derivation  of  name 
obscure.     Nat.  Ord.  AroidecB. 

This  genus  consists  of  two  species  of  aquatic 
plants.  O.  aquaticum  is  common  in  ponds 
from  Maine  to  Florida,  near  the  coast.  O. 
Japonicum,  a  native  of  Japan  and  the  East 
Indies,  has  leaves  like  Lily  of  the  Valley, 
green  on  the  upper  side,  and  covered  with 
very  minute  hairs,  so  that  they  look  like  fine 
A'elvet.  These  leaves  are  readily  eaten  by 
cattle  and  swine  in  spring.  The  seeds  are 
boiled  and  eaten  like  peas  by  the  natives. 
This  species  makes  a  beautiful  plant  for  the 
aquarium. 

Orpine.     A  common  name  for  Sedum  Telephium. 

Orris  Root.     The  root  of  Iris  Florentina. 

Orthosi'phon.  From  orthos,  straight,  and 
siphon,  a  curved  tube  ;  alluding  to  the  tube  of 
the  flower.     Nat.  Ord.  LabialcB. 

A  genus  of  perennial  herbs  or  shrubs, 
natives  of  the  East  Indies,  the  Malayan  Archi- 
pelago, Africa  and  Australia.  O.  stamimus 
has  pretty  pale  lilac-blue  flowers,  nearly  one 
inch   long,   arranged   in    whorls,    and    these 


292 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


OUT 

again  in  racemes  at  the  ends  of  the  branches, 
the  stamens  projecting  a  long  way.  It  was 
introduced  from  tropicai  Asia  in  1869,  and  is 
increased  by  cuttings  of  tlie  half-ripened 
shoots. 

Orthrosa'nthes.  From  orihros,  morning,  and 
anthos,  a  flower;  the  flowers  expand  early  in 
the  day.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

A  genus  of  green-house  herbaceous  peren- 
nial plants,  natives  of  extra-tropical  South 
America  and  western  Australia.  M.  multi- 
Jlorus  is  a  pretty  little  plant  with  beautiful 
sky-blue  colored  flowers,  of  easy  culture  in  a 
compost  of  turfy  peat  and  leaf-mould.  It  is 
propagated  by  division  of  the  tufted  root- 
stocks,  or  by  seeds.  Syn.  Sisyrinchium  cyan- 
eum. 

Orva'Ia.  Said  to  be  from  Orvale.,  the  French 
name  for  Clary.     Nat.  Oi'd.  LabiatcE. 

0.  Lamoides,  the  only  described  species,  is  a 
hardy  herbaceous  plant,  producing  its  pretty 
purplish  red  and  white  flowers  in  April.  It  is 
a  native  of  the  south  of  Europe,  and  is  easily 
.  increased  by  division  or  by  seeds.  Bentham 
and  Hooker  now  include  this  genus  under 
Lamium. 

Orychopra'gmus  Sonchifolius.  A  showy  plant 
belonging  to  the  Nat.  Ord.  Cruciferm.  It 
is  a  very  attractive  plant,  as  its  flowers 
are  of  a  bright  violet-blue  color,  and  under 
good  cultivation  it  attains  a  height  of  two 
feet,  the  loose  terminal  racemes  of  flowers 
being  about  half  that  height.  It  succeeds  Well 
in  sheltered  localities  treated  as  a  half-hardy 
annual.     Syn.  Moricandia. 

Ory'za.  Eice.  Derived  from  the  Arabic  name, 
crmz.      Nat.  Ord.  GraminaceoR. 

A  small  genus  of  grasses,  only  one  of  which, 
O.  saliva,  the  common  Rice  of  commerce  is  of 
any  great  importance  ;  and  this  is  one  of  the 
most  useful  and  extensively  cultivated  of  all 
grains,  suppljing  as  it  does  tlie  priucipal  food 
of  nearly  one-third  of  the  human  race.  Like 
that  of  all  other  grains,  its  native  place  is 
unknown,  but  it  is  generally  supposed  to  be 
of  Asiatic  origin,  though  recent  travellers  in 
South  America  mention  finding  the  rice-plant 
apparently  in  a  wild  state  on  the  banks  of 
some  rivers  there.  Wherever  it  may  have 
originated,  it  is  now  cultivated  in  all  parts  of 
the  globe  where  the  conditions  of  heat  and 
moisture  are  favorable  for  its  development. 
It  is  adapted  to  tropical  and  sub-tropical 
climates,  rather  to  the  latter  than  the  former, 
and  requin^s  much  moisture,  rather,  however, 
in  the  soil  than  in  the  air.  Rice  is  an  annual, 
varying  from  one  foot  to  six  feet  in  height. 
There  are  as  many  other  distinguishing  char- 
.  acteristics  of  the  varieties  under  cultivation,  as 
there  are  in  the  varieties  of  wheat,  barley,  or 
corn.  The  seed  or  grain  of  rice  grows  on 
little  separate  stalks  springing  from  the  main 
stalk  ;  and  the  whole  appearance  of  the  plant, 
when  the  grain  is  ripe,  may  be  said  to  be  in- 
termediate between  that  of  barley  and  of 
oats.  It  flourishes  best  in  low  marshy 
grounds  which  can  be  overflowed,  and  tide- 
water swamps  are  particularly  favorable  for 
the  crop. 

There  is  another  species,  Oryza  mutica, 
which  grows  upon  dry  lands  and  the  sides  of 
mountains,  largely  cultivated  in  Ceylon  and 
Java,  and  to  some  extent  in  southern  E>i- 
rope.    There  is  a  variety  of  this  species  known 


OST 

as  "Cochin  China,"  which  is  considerably 
grown  in  dry  soils  in  North  Carolina,  Virginia, 
and  to  some  extent  in  Maryland.  It  is  not 
equal  in  quality  to  that  grown  in  marshy 
soils,  neither  is  it  as  productive,  as  its  yield 
hardly  exceeds  fifteen  to  twenty  bushels  per' 
acre,  while  the  rice  grown  in  wet  ground, 
and  flooded,  produces  thirty  to  sixty  and 
under  the  most  favorable  circumstances 
nearly  one  hundred  bushels  to  the  acre,  each 
bushel  weighing  from  forty-five  to  forty-eight 
pounds  of  clean  rice. 
Osage  Orange.     See  Madura  aurantiaca. 

Osbe'ckia.  Named  after  Peter  Osbeck,  a  Swedish 
naturalist.     Nat.  Ord.  Melastomacem. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  and 
deciduous  shrubs  and  herbs,  natives  of  tropi- 
cal Asia,  Africa,  and  the  adjoining  Islands. 
The  rose,  purple,  or  violet  flowers  are  borne 
in  terminal  racemes.  0.  Nepalensis  (syn. 
Melastoma  Nepalensis)  has  large,  handsome, 
purplish,  rose-colored  flowers,  and  is  well 
worthy  of  a  place  in  any  collection.  Several 
other  species  are  in  cultivation ;  they  are  all 
easily  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  half- 
ripened  shoots. 

Osier.  Any  of  the  Willows  grown  for  their  long 
flexible  shoots,  which  are  largely  used  in 
basket-making,  are  called  Osiers.  The  one 
most  extensively  grown,  and  considered  the 
best  for  this  purpose,  and  to  which  the  name 
is  generally  applied,  is  Salix  viminalis,  or 
Basket  Osier. 

Osma'nthus.  From  osme,  perfume,  and  anthos, 
a  flower,  in  allusion  to  the  fragrance  of  the 
flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  OleacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  half-hardy  glabrous 
shrubs  or  trees,  natives  of  eastern  Asia,  North 
America,  and  the  Pacific  Islands.  O.  fragrans 
(syn.  Olea  fragrans),  a  native  of  Japan,  China, 
etc.,  is  a  handsome  shrub  with  serrated 
leathery  leaves,  and  yellowish  or  almost  white, 
exceedingly  fragrant  flowers.  O.  aquifolium 
(syn.  O.  illicifolium)  is  a  very  handsome  ever- 
green shrub,  somewhat  resembling  a  Holly, 
with  leathery,  smooth,  shining  leaves,  varying 
considerably  in  their  size  and  toothing.  There 
are  several  white  and  yellow  variegated 
varieties  in  cultivation,  all  well  deserving  a 
place  in  the  cool  green-house.  They  may  be 
propagated  by  cuttings,  but  are  more  rapidly 
increased  by  grafting  on  the  Privet. 

Osmorhi'za.  Sweet  Cicely.  From  osme,  scent, 
and  W(i,:a,  a  root;  roots  sweet  scented.  Nat. 
Ord.  UmbellifercB. 

A  small  genus  of  uninteresting  herbaceous 
perennials.  They  are  common  in  rich, 
moist  woods,  and  are  popularly  known  as 
Sweet  Cicely. 

Osmu'nda.  Flowering  Fern.  From  Osmunda, 
one  of  the  names  of  Thor,  a  Celtic  deity.  Nat. 
Ord.  Polypodiacem. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  Ferns,  found  widely 
distributed  throughout  the  temperate  regions 
of  both  hemispheres.  A  well-known  species 
is  0.  regalis,  or  Royal  Fern.  There  are  several 
species  common  in  swamps  and  wet  places 
throughout  the  United  States.  Most  of  them 
bear  transplanting  well,  and  make  beautiful 
plants  for  a  shady  border. 

Osteospe'rmum.  From  osteon,  a  bone,  and 
sperma,  seed ;  referring  to  the  hardness  of  the 
seed.      Nat.  Ord.  Compositoi. 


OSMUNDA  BEGAUS. 


OXAIIS   VAiDIVIAMA. 


OXAUS  TETKAPHTLLA. 


OXALIS  EOSEA. 


OXYUBA  CHBTS&NTHEMOIDES. 


392 


OCBISIA  COCCINEA. 


OXALIS   BOWTKI. 


P^ONIAS  (HERBACEOUS). 


PANCRATTOM  CALATHINIJM. 


PALAVA  FLEXUOSA. 


P«ONIAS  (MOUTAN   OR  TREE). 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


293 


OST 

A  genus  of  green-house  fchrubs,  natives  of 
South  Africa.  They  are  rather  ornamental 
plants  with  yellow  flowers,  some  of  whieh  are 
in  cultivation  in  European  collections. 

Ostrich  Fern.     See  Struthiopteris. 

Ostro'-wskia.  Named  in  honor  of  the  Russian 
botanist,  Ostrowski.  Nat.  Ord.  CampanulacecB. 
O.  magniftca,  the  representative  species,  is 
a  beautiful  hardy  herbaceous  plant,  introduced 
from  the  mountains  of  eastern  Bolihara. 
It  grows  about  four  feet  high,  bearing  large 
mauve-colored  flowers,  four  to  six  inches 
across.  It  forms  a  deep-reaching  tuberous 
root  about  two  feet  long,  after  tlie  fashion  of 
Platycodon  grandiflora.  It  flowered  for  the 
first  time  in  Europe  in  1S87. 

O'strya.  Hop  Hornbeam,  Iron  Wood.  From 
oslroyos,  a  scale ;  scaly  catkins.  Nat.  Ord. 
CorylaceoR. 

O.  Virginica,  the  only  native  species,  is  a 
tree  of  moderate  size,  remarkable  for  the 
extreme  hardness  of  its  wood.  It  is  of  slow 
growth,  forms  a  compact  top,  with  small  green 
leaves.  The  furrows  of  its  bark  are  extremely 
fine,  by  which  it  is  readily  distinguished. 

Ossae'a.  Named  after  Don  Antonia  de  la  Ossa, 
once  director  of  the  Botanic  Gardens  at 
Havana.     Nat,  Ord.  Melastumacece. 

A  genus  of  about  forty  species  of  shrubby 
plants,  natives  of  tropical  America.  0.  fas- 
cicularis,  probably  the  only  species  in  cultivar 
tion,  is  a  very  showy  plant,  with  white  flowers 
borne  in  many-flowered  bunches.  ^  It  was 
introduced  from  Jamaica  in  1822'  and  is 
propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened 
shoots. 

Ossified.  Becoming  like  bone ;  hard,  brittle, 
and  close  in  texture  like  a  peach  stone. 

Oswego  Tea.     See  Monarda  didyma. 

Osy'ris.  From  ozos,  a  branch  ;  alluding  to  the 
numerous  pliant  branches.  Nat.  Ord.  Santa- 
lacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
shrubs,  natives  of  southern  Europe,  Africa, 
and  the  East  Indies.  O.  alba,  probably  the 
only  cultivated  species,  has  small  white 
flowers  borne  in  clusters  on  the  branchlets, 
and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  ripened 
shoots  in  heat. 

Otabeite  Chestnut.  A  common  name  for  Ino- 
carpoH  Edulis. 

Otaheite  Myrtle.     Securinega  durissima. 

Otho'nna.  Ragwort.  From  othone,  linen; 
referring  to  the  soft,  downy  clothing  of  the 
original  plant.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositor. 

An  extensive  genus,  the  species  of  which 
are  mostly  coarse-growing  green-house  or 
frame  annuals,  perennials,  and  low  shrubs. 
With  but  few  exceptions  the  flowers  are 
yellow.  They  are  natives  of  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hop«^,  and  the  African  shores  of  the 
Mediterranean.  But  few  of  the  species  merit 
a  jilace  in  the  garden.  O.  crassifoUa,  one 
of  the  Cape  species,  is  a  handsome  and  showy 
plant,  of  a  trailing  habit,  with  singularly 
glaucous  and  fleshy  leaves,  and  handsome 
yellow  flowers,  opening  only  in  the  sunlight. 
It  is  particularly  well  adapted  for  planting 
under  shrubs,  or  for  baskets,  vases,  or  rustic 
designs.  It  grows  freely  in  a  light  soil,  and 
Is  increased  by  cuttings. 


OXA 

Othonno'psis.  From  Othonna,  and  apsis,  like ; 
in  allusion  to  the  resemblance  which  exists 
between  the  two  genera.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positcB. 

A  genus  of  glabrous  green-house  shrubs, 
differing  from  the  allied  genera,  Othonna  and 
Senecio,  in  the  disk  being  constantly  sterile. 
0.  cheirifolia  (Wall-flower  leaved),  probably  the 
only  species  in  cultivation,  is  a  very  pretty, 
low-spreading  evergreen  plant  with  rich  yellow 
flower-heads  nearly  two  inches  across.  It 
was  introduced  from  north  Africa  in  1752,  and 
is  increased  by  cuttings  or  division.  Syn. 
Othonna  cheirifolia. 

Otte'lia.  From  Ottel,  the  native  name  in  Mala- 
bar.    Nat.  Ord.  Hydrocharidacece. 

A  genus  of  stove  or  green-house  aquatic 
herbs,  widely  distributed  over  tropical  and 
sub-tropical  countx-ies.  Two  species,  one  O. 
Indica,  from  the  East  Indies,  with  white, 
and  the  other  0.  ovalifolia,  from  Australia, 
with  yellow  flowers,  are  in  cultivation  and  re- 
quire to  be  grown  in  a  cistern  or  pan  of  water. 
Syn.  Damasonium. 

Ouri'sia.  Named  in  honor  of  Governor  Ouris, 
of  the  Falkland  Islands,  from  whom  Commer- 
son  obtained  the  plant.  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophular- 
iacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome  green-house 
plants  from  South  America  and  Australia.  0. 
coccinea,  is  a  very  beautiful  species  with  a 
short  creeping  stem,  cordato-ovate  crenate 
leaves,  mostly  radical ;  and  an  erect  scape  a 
foot  or  more  in  height,  bearing  a  raceme  of 
drooping  crimson  flowers  arranged  in  opposite 
pairs.  Some  of  the  species  are  said  to  be 
hardy.     Introduced  in  1860. 

Ouvira'ndra.  Lattice  or  Lace-leaf  Plant.  From 
ouvirandrano,  the  native  name ;  signifying 
water-j^am,  the  roots  being  eatable.  Nat.  Ord. 
Naidaceoi. 

A  genus  of  aquatic  plants,  natives  of  Mada- 
gascar. They  are  popularly  known  as  the 
Lattice  or  Lace-leaf  Plants,  from  the  singular 
appearance  of  the  leaves,  resembling  open 
lattice-work,  or  apparently  consisting  of  only 
a  skeleton  of  nerves.  The  leaves  grow  in 
radiating  clusters  from  the  rhizome,  and 
float  Just  beneath  the  surface  of  the  water, 
presenting  a  flat  side  to  tlie  light.  The  plant 
is  not  only  curious,  but  a  valuable  one  to  the 
natives  of  Madagascar,  who  collect  its  fleshy, 
farinaceous  roots  as  an  article  of  food.  It 
grows  on  the  margins  of  running  streams  in 
shallow  water.  It  is  rare  in  collections,  and 
is  one  of  the  most  interesting  plants  for  the 
aquarium. 

Oval.    The  same  as  Elliptic. 

Ovary.  That  part  of  the  pistil  which  contains 
the  ovules  or  seeds. 

Ovate.    Egg-shaped. 

Ovoid,  Ovoidal.  A  solid  with  an  oval  figure,  or 
resembling  an  egg. 

Ovule.  The  young  seeds  of  plants  contained  in 
the  ovary. 

Oxali'deae.    A  tribe  of  GeraniacecB. 

O'xalis.  From  oxys.  acid ;  the  leaves  have  an 
acid  taste.     Nat.  Ord.  Geraniacew. 

This  genus  comprises  a  great  number  of 
species,  differing  widely  in  their  habits  and 
manner  of  growth.  Some  are  annuals,  some 
herbaceous  perennials,  and  some  are  green- 


294 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF   PLANTS 


OXE 

house  shrubs.  Many  have  tuberous  roots, 
others  are  bulbs.  Some  are  tender,  others  per- 
fectly hardy.  The  flowers  are  always  hand- 
some in  form  and  beautiful  in  color.  The 
leaves  vary  considerably,  but  they  are  most 
commonly  trifoliate  and  slightly  acid.  Many  of 
the  species  are  grown  in  the  green-house,  one  of 
the  most  useful  being  O.fioribwnda,  which  was 
introduced  from  Brazil  in  1829.  This  very  beau- 
tiful species  requires  protection  during  winter. 
It  has  bright  rose-colored  flowers,  which  are 
produced  in  great  abundance  during  nearly 
the  whole  year.  There  is  a  variety  of  this 
species  with  pure  white  flowers.  Both  are 
rapidly  increased  by  division  of  the  root. 
Of  the  bulbous  species,  O.  Bowiei  is  decidedly 
the  handsomest.  The  flowers  are  large  and 
of  a  most  brilliant  rose  color,  and  produced 
in  the  greatest  profusion.  This  is  generally 
cultivated  as  a  green-house  species ;  it  will, 
however,  endure  our  winters  if  planted  in  a 
rockery  or  in  the  border ;  and  so  tenacious  is 
it  of  life  that  it  will  dispute  possession  with 
almost  any  other  plant  in  the  bed.  This 
species  was  introduced  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  in  1824.  O.  tetraphylla,  four  leaved 
(syn.  O.  Deppei),  and  0.  lasiandra  (woolly- 
stamened)  continue  in  bloom  nearly  all  sum- 

,  mer  and  are  very  effective  planted  in  groups  in 
,  the  herbaceous  border  or  rockwork.  The 
bulbs  require  to  be  taken  up  and  kept  from 
frost  during  winter.  One  of  the  most  desir- 
able for  conservatory  decoration  is  0.  lutea, 
another  Cape  species,  with  large  terminal 
clusters  of  golden  yellow  flowers,  on  long 
slender  scapes;  there  is  a  beautiful  double 
variety  of  this  .species.  O.  Valdiviensis  is  a 
charming  little  hardy,  annual  species  with 
bright  yellow  flowers  ;  introduced  from  Chili 
in  1802.  0.  versicolor  is  still  another  beau- 
tiful species.  It  requires  the  sunlight  to  ex- 
pand its  flowers;  but  they  are  generally 
thought  to  be  more  beautiful  when  closed 
than  when  open.  The  colors  are  crimson, 
white,  and  a  pale  shade  of  yellow.  It  is 
rapidly  increased  by  offsets.  A.  acetosella, 
our  common  Wood  Sorrel,  is  a  native  of  Great 
Britain,  and  by  naturalization  has  become 
common  throughout  the  States.  All  the 
species  under  cultivation  are  either  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope  or  South  Amenica,  and  all 
alike  are  of  easy  culture. 

Oxe'ra.  From  otctos,  sour ;  in  allusion  to  the 
acrid  taste.     Nat.  Ord.  Verbenacece. 

A  genus  of  about  ten  species  of  climbing 
shrubs,  natives  of  New  Caledonia.  0.  pul- 
chella,  the  only  species  yet  in  cultivation,  is  a 
very  handsome,  green-house  climber,  Avith 
large,  yellowish-white  flowers,  two  inches 
long,  between  funnel  and  bell-shaped,  and  is 
of  easy  culture ;  increased  by  cuttings. 

Ox-eye.     See  Heliopsis. 

Ox-eye  Daisy.     See  LetLcanthemum. 

Oxlip.     Primula  elatior. 

Oxya'nthus.  From  oxys,  sharp,  and  anthos,  a 
flower  ;  referring  to  the  sharp-toothed  calyx 
and  corolla.     Nat.  Ord.  Ruhiacece. 

A  genus  of  white-flowered  evergreen  shrubs 
from  Sierra  Leone,  allied  to  Gardenia,  and 
requiring  the  same  treatment  in  cultivation 
and  propagation. 

Oxyco'ccus.  Cranberry.  From  oxyn,  sharp, 
and  kokkos,  a  berry ;  sharp  acid  taste  of  the 
berries.     Nat.  Ord.  Vacdniacem. 


OXY 

"  The  Cranberry  is  a  familiar  trailing  shrub, 
growing  wild  in  swampy,  sandy  meadows  and 
mossy  bogs  in  the  northern  portions  of  both 
hemispheres,  and  produces  a  round,  red,  acid 
fruit.  Our  native  species,  O.  macrocarpus,  so 
common  in  the  swamps  of  New  England,  and 
on  the  borders  of  our  inland  lakes,  as  to  form 
quite  an  article  of  commerce,  is  much  the 
largest  and  flnest  species;  the  European 
Cranberry,  O.  palustris,  being  much  smaller  in 
its  growth,  and  producing  fruit  inferior  in  size 
and  quality.  The  Eussian,  O.  viridis,  is  also  a 
medium-sized  variety.  Of  O.  macrocarpus, 
there  are  three  varieties :  the  '  Bell-shaped,' 
which  is  the  largest  and  most  valued,  of  a 
very  dark,  bright  red  color;  the  'Cherry,' 
two  kinds,  large  and  small;  the  large  one  the 
best,  of  a  round  form,  a  fine,  dark,  red  berry, 
nearly  or  quite  equal  to  the  Bell-shaped ;  and 
the  Bugle  Oval,  or  Egg-shaped,  two  kinds, 
large  and  small,  not  so  highly  colored  as  the 
Bell  or  Cherry,  and  not  scv  much  prized,  but 
still  a  fine  variety." — Doweling.  Cranberry 
cultui-e,  where  the  conditions  are  favorable, 
is  very  profitable ;  and  as  the  subject  is 
receiving  much  attention,  both  in  this 
country  and  in  Europe,  it  may  be  of  service 
to  give  a  few  facts  in  regard  to  the  best 
methods  of  raising  Cranberries  successfully. 
The  selection  of  land  for  the  cultivation  and 
growing  of  the  plants  is  the  first  considera- 
tion ;  for,  unless  it  is  adapted  to  theii*  growth, 
it  will  be  useless  to  plant  them.  The  soil 
best  adapted  is  low,  moist  land,  suitably 
drained,  so  that  the  water  will  be  from  twelve 
to  eighteen  inches  lower  than  the  surface  of 
the  ground.  They  will  grow  on  moderately 
damp  soil  that  can  be  plowed  or  cultivated,  so 
as  to  mjike  it  friable  and  soft,  or  on  the 
borders  of  streams  or  ditches,  as  the  plant 
draws  its  nourishment  from  air  and  water; 
light  sandy  soil  or  muck  covered  with  two 
or  three  inches  of  sand  is  the  best  adapted  to 
their  culture.  They  will  not  do  well  on  dry 
sand  or  clay.  If  planted  on  rich  muck  or 
loam,  they  grow  rank  and  strong,  sometimes 
eight  or  ten  feet,  and  covar  the  ground  with  a 
net  of  vines  three  or  four  inches  thick.  As 
the  fruit  grows  on  the  end  of  the  shoot,  the 
rank  growth  throws  out  but  few  buds ;  but  if 
sanded  over,  the  shoots  are  of  short  growth, 
and  throw  out  more  and  stronger  fruit  buds. 
Thei-e  are  large  portions  of  land  all  over  our 
country  that  is  now  of  but  little  value,  too 
wet  or  too  cold  for  grass,  that  would  grow 
large  quantities  of  fruit,  if  properly  prepared 
by  draining  and  sanding.  In  preparing  the 
ground,  if  it  be  wet  and  spongy,  it  should  be 
well  drained,  so  as  to  leave  the  water  about 
ten  or  twelve  inches  below  the  surface.  It 
can  then  be  prepared  by  burning  over  and 
removing  the  top  soil,  carting  it  off  for  com- 
post, or  burning  when  it  is  dry ;  by  leveling 
the  ground,  and  covering  it  with  pure  sand 
(free  from  seeds  or  weeds),  two  or  three 
inches  deep,  to  keep  the  surface  loose,  and  to 
prevent  foul  grass  from  choking  the  plants. 
Some  growers  prefer  to  put  on  two  or  three 
inches  of  sand  (on  the  ice),  and  after  two 
years'  growth,  to  put  on  one  or  two  inches 
more,  which,  we  think,  is  an  improvement. 
The  sand  should  not  be  mixed  with  the  soil, 
but  placed  in  a  layer  of  two  inches  over  ;t ;  it 
wall  thus  keep  down  all  weeds.  The  roots  of 
the  Cranberry  are  very  fine,  and  do  not  retain 


AND   GENERAL   HOETICULTUEE. 


295 


OXY 

their  vitality ;  but  the  plant  throws  out  new 
roots  from  the  stem.  In  putting  out  the 
young  plants,  make  a  hole  four  or  five  inches 
deep,  with  a  stick  or  dibble,  in  which  place 
the  plant,  and  press  the  soil  around  it  firmly 
with  the  foot.  Leave  an  inch  to  an  inch  and 
a  half  of  the  young  vine  above  ground.  When 
planting,  if  practicable,  water  freely,  to  settle 
the  sand  around  the  plant;  the  stem  will 
soon  begin  to  grow.  They  are  very  tenacious 
of  life,  and  if,  when  received,  they  are  appar- 
ently dry,  put  them  into  water  from  five  to 
six  hours  before  planting;  they  will  regain 
their  freshness  and  be  sure  to  grow.  Where 
failures  have  occurred,  it  has  been  owing  to 
their  having  been  taken  from  the  parcel  and 
put  out  in  a  dry  soil.  Another  plan  adopted 
by  some  growers,  is  to  take  the  vines  up 
without  roots,  often  four  or  five  feet  in  length, 
which  they  cut  and  sow  in  drills,  oi  lay  the 
vines  down  in  a  trench,  and  cover  with  soil,  or 
•  with  a  stick  two  inches  wide  and  half  an  inch 
thick,  crowd  the  vines  down  into  the  soil  three 
or  four  inches  deep.  It  will  take  eight  to  ten 
barrels  of  clean  vines  per  acre.  In  this  ease 
they  are  not  planted  so  deep,  and  are  not  so 
apt  to  live  as  when  planted  with  a  dibble,  as 
advised  above,  with  the  roots  attached.  They 
are  usually  sold  in  parcels  of  100  each,  and 
will  pack  more  closely  and  cost  much  less 
than  barreled  vines,  and  are  the  only  kind 
that  can  be  forwarded  by  mail.  Ten  thousand 
of  these  will  plant  more  ground  than  eight  or 
ten  barrels  of  vines.  If  placed  two  feet  apart 
each  way  10,000  will  plant  an  acre  ;  they  can 
be  cultivated  with  a  cultivator  or  horse  hoe, 
to  keep  down  grass  and  weeds;  and  after  one 
or  two  years  of  cultivation  they  will  take  care 
of  themselves,  or-  it  will  only  be  necessary  to 
pull  out  what  little  grass  may  grow.  If  wanted 
in  small  patches  or  in  gardens,  they  can  be 
planted  a  foot  apart,  and  will  cover  the  ground 
much  sooner.  Vines  usually  sold  by  the  bar- 
rel have  clinging  to  the  roots  earth  that  is 
full  of  the  seeds  of  weeds,  which  are  intro- 
duced into  the  soil,  demanding  much  labor  to 
keep  the  plants  clean ;  it  is  therefore  better 
to  purchase  clean  vines.  The  Cranberry  can 
be  planted  out  at  almost  any  season  of  the 
year  when  the  ground  is  not  frozen ;  in  the 
fall  from  September  until  the  ground  freezes  ; 
in  spring,  until  July ;  in  the  South  or  West, 
from  October  to  March.  If  the  vines  are 
received  too  late  for  planting,  or  if  frozen, 
they  can  be  covered  with  earth  or  damp  moss 
in  a  box,  and  placed  in  a  cellar  until  they  can 
be  planted  out,  after  being  placed  in  water  for 
a  few  hours.  Overflowing  or  flooding  is  desir- 
able, if  not  indispensable  to  complete  success. 
The  water  may  remain  on  the  vines  until  the 
10th  of -May  in  the  latitude  of  N.  Y.,  or  until 
there  is  no  danger  from  frost.  It  may  cover 
the  vines  from  one  to  two  feet  or  more,  and 
if  it  can  be  let  on  or  off  at  will  for  a  few  hours 
during  the  season,  it  will  prevent  drought, 
and  also  destroy  the  worm,  which  is  some- 
times veiy  destructive.  The  water  should 
not  stand  on  them  when  in  flower,  as  it  would 
injure  the  pollen  and  prevent  fruiting,  or 
when  the  fruit  is  quite  green.  The  best  known 
and  most  extensively  cultivated  is  the  Bell,  of 
which  there  are  two  or  three  varieties.  The 
Cape  Cod  Bell  is  the  best  known,  and  has  been 
more  extensively  cultivated  than  any  other 
variety.     The  color  is  a  dark  red,  but  it  often 


OXY 

varies  in  color  and  shape  on  different  soils, 
but  its  bearing  and  ripening  qualities  are  the 
same,  being  of  good  size  and  medium  early. 
The  Bugle  is  an  old  variety,  rather  early,  of 
medium  size  to  large,  a  good  keeper,  color 
dark  scarlet,  and  a  medium  bearer.  The 
Cherry  generally  grows  on  wet  soil  or  moist 
iy>land.  Of  this  there  are  a  number  of 
varieties ;  but  the  one  most  commonly 
planted  is  of  medium  size,  round  shape,  bright 
red  color,  a  good  bearer,  but  rather  later 
than  other  varieties ;  it  is  a  leading  market 
sort.  Another,  called  Mottled  Bell  pink  on 
white  ground,  is  a  very  handsome  fruit,  but 
late  and  little  grown.  Two  new  varieties 
have  lately  been  introduced,  which,  by  a  num- 
ber of  years'  cultivation,  we  think  superior  to 
the  above  in  several  particulars,  being  early 
and  constant  bearers  when  others  fail,  and  in 
the  future  they  are  likely  to  become  leading 
sorts.  In  some  sections  there  would  have 
been  a  short  crop  but  for  these  kinds.  The 
Eaton's  Early  Black  Bell  stands  first.  It 
ripens  yery  early,  is  fully  colored  by  the  5th 
of  September  in  New  England,  is  uniform  in 
color  and  shape,  of  a  very  handsome  dark  red 
color,  almost  black,  of  medium  and  uniform 
size,  a  great  and  constant  bearer,  a  good 
keeper,  and  the  vines  hardy ;  and  being  early, 
it  brings  the  highest  price  in  market.  The 
Mansfield  Creeper  was  first  discovered  in  a 
corn-field,  and  transplanted  to  a  Cranberry 
bed.  In  its  new  position  it  was  found  to  be 
entirely  different  in  its  growth  and  habit  from 
all  other  varieties.  It  seemed  to  creep  on 
the  ground  and  take  root  at  every  joint,  pro- 
ducing bearing  shoots  every  two  or  three 
inches  on  the  vine,  and  throwing  out  fruit 
buds  for  a  fresh  start  another  year.  It  is  a 
few  days  later  than  the  Eaton  Bell.  Both  are 
adapted  to  upland  culture.  It  is  of  large  size 
and  a  great  bearer ;  the  flesh  is  more  tender, 
and  not  so  acid ;  color  dark  scarlet  on  one 
side,  the  other  side  nearly  white,  and 
slightly  mottled ;  shape  roundish  oval.  It  is  a 
fine  keeper.  A  writer  in  the  New  Hampshire 
"Journal  of  Agriculture"  describes  a  plot  of 
nearly  three-fourths  of  an  acre,  completely 
covered  with  beds  of  Cranberries,  the 
vines  "thickly  matted  and  in  a  flourishing 
condition."  The  grounds,  which  were  natur- 
ally slightly  moist,  were  prepared  as  for 
Strawberries,  and  then  planted  with  Cran- 
berry vines.  They  were  placed  in  rows  or 
beds,  in  the  same  manner  as  Strawberry 
plants,  and  then  served  with  a  top  dressing 
of  meadow  mud,  which  had  been  taken  from 
its  natural  bed  and  exposed  to  the  frosts  of 
one  winter,  by  which  it  was  rendered  very 
loose  and  friable.  They  were  afterward  culti- 
vated with  the  hoe  until  they  had  completely 
covered  the  ground,  simply  passing  between 
the  beds,  pulling  out  such  weeds  and  gi-ass 
as  might  occasionally  be  seen  growing  among 
them,  and  killing  the  worms,  if  any  were 
found  on  the  plants.  The  proprietor  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  a  good  crop,  or  an  average 
of  160  bushels  to  the  acre.  The  fruit  was  of 
excellent  quality,  and  sold  readily  for  one- 
third  more  than  the  common  uncultivated 
Cranberry  of  the  swamps  in  that  vicinity. 
The  above  writer  considers  any  soil  that  will 
produce  a  crop  of  Indian  corn  suitable  for  a 
Cranberry  plot.  In  regard  to  the  success  of 
Mr.  Bates  in  his  method  of  culture,  Mr.  B.  G.' 


296 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


OXY 

Boswell,  of  Philadelphia,  gives  the  following 
testimony,  viz.:  "As  the  plant  naturally 
grows  in  a  very  wet  soil,  it  is  generally  sup- 
posed that  it  will  not  thrive  in  a  dry  soil,  but 
this  idea  is  erroneous.  Mr.  S.  Bates,  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, has  grown  the  Cranberry  on  a 
dry  soil  for  several  years,  with  the  utmost 
success.  His  method  is  to  plow  the  land, 
spread  on  a  quantity  of  swamp  muck,  and 
after  harrowing  the  soil  thoroughlj^  set  out 
the  plants  in  drills  twenty  inches  apart,  hoe- 
ing them  the  first  season,  after  this  no  culti- 
vation is  needed.  By  the  above  method  the 
plants  will  cover  the  ground  in  three  years." 
It  is  hoped  that  the  above  details  will  prove 
ol  service  to  those  about  to  embark  in  the 
culture  of  this  useful  fruit.  The  Cranberry  is 
also  adapted  to  garden  culture.  Every  family 
can  have  a  garden  patch.  A  moist  but  not 
clayey  soil  should  be  selected,  and  the  ground 
prepared  by  plowing  or  spading,  as  for  Straw- 
berries. The  entire  surface  should  be  covered 
one  or  two  inches  with  fine  muck,  or  one  or 
two  inches  of  sand  can  be  substituted.  They 
can  be  planted  one  foot  to  eighteen  inches 
apart,  and  four  to  six  inches  in  depth.  They 
are  also  highly  ornamental  in  pots,  the  fruit 
hanging  on  the  vines  until  the  flowers  appear 
for  the  next  crop.  Experiments  in  New  Eng- 
land indicate  that  the  Cranberry  can  be  culti- 
vated on  upland,  though  generally  with  mod- 
erate success.  On  Long  Island,  however, 
there  are  Cranberry  patches  of  five  or  six 
acres,  on  upland  soil,  that  produce  from  50 
to  100  bushels  per  acre,  which  is  considered  a 
satisfactory  result,  as  manure  is  unnecessary, 
and  the  trouble  of  cultivating,  gathering,  and 
marketing  the  Cranberry  is  less  than  that 
required  by  the  Strawberry  or  any  of  the  small 
fruits. 
Oxyde'ndron.  Sorrel-tree.  From  o.rys,  sour, 
and  dendron,  a  tree ;  in  allusion  to  the  foliage 
being  sour  to  the  taste.  Nat.  Ord.  Ericacece. 
0.  arboreum,  the  only  species,  is  found  in 
rich  woods  in  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  and  south- 
ward, has  deciduous  leaves  the  size  and 
shape  of  those  of  a  Peach.  It  bears  its  flowers 
in  long  one-sided  racemes,  clustered  in  an 
open  panicle,  terminating  the  branches  of  the 
season,  and  forms  a  tree  from  fifteen  to  forty 
feet  high. 

Oxylo'bium.  From  oxya,  sharp,  and  lobos.  a 
pod ;  the  seed-pods  ending  in  a  point.  Nat. 
Ord.  Leguminosoe. 

Handsome  spring-flowering  green-house 
plants  from  New  Holland.  They  should  be 
occasionallj'  stopped  while  j'oung,  to  ensure 
dwarf,  bushy  specimens.  The  flowers  are 
orange  and  yellow,  are  freely  produced,  and 
very  pretty.  They  are  increased  by  cuttings 
or  from  seed.     Introduced  in  1805. 

Oxype'talum.  From  oxys,  sharp,  and  petalum, 
a  petal ;  sharp  pointed. 

A  genus  of  Asclepiadacece,  comprising  about 
fifty  species  of  perennial  herbs  or  sub-shrubs, 
mostly  natives  of  South  America,  with  blue, 
white,  or  purplish  flowers.  O.  caruleum,  is 
a  charming  climber,  remarkable  for  the 
changes  in  color  exhibited  by  the  flower  at 
various  stages  of  its  existence.  When  first 
open  it  is  pale  blue,  with  a  slight  tinge  of 
green;  then  purplish,  and  when  withered, 
lilac.  All  are  propagated  by  cuttings.  Intro- 
duced in  1852. 


OZO 

Oxyra'mpMs.  From  oxys,  sharp  pointed,  and 
ramphos,  a  beak  ;  referring  to  the  beaked  keel- 
petal.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosm. 

0.  macrostyla,  the  only  described  species  is 
a  very  pretty  green-house  plant,  with  showy 
purplish-crimson  flowers.  It  was  intro- 
duced in  1837,  and  is  easily  grown  and  propa- 
gated. 

Oxy'ria.  Mountain  Sorrel.  From  oxys,  acid ; 
the  leaves  are  sour  to  the  taste.  Nat.  Ord. 
Polygonacem. 

Low  alpine  perennials  with  round-kidney- 
form  and  long  petioled  leaves,  chiefly  from 
the  root,  obliquely  truncate  sheaths,  and 
small  greenish  flowers  clustered  in  panicled 
racemes  on  a  slender  scape.  O.  reniformis,  a 
native  of  Britain  and  O.  dipyna,  found  in  the 
alpine  regions  of  the  White  Mountains,  are 
sometimes  cultivated  and  are  interesting 
plants  for  the  rock  garden. 

Oxy'spora.  From  oxys,  sharp,  and  spora,  a 
seed ;  in  allusion  to  the  seeds  being  awned  at 
both  ends.     Nat.  Ord.  MelastomacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  handsome,  slender, 
erect,  or  almost  scandent  plants,  natives  of 
eastern  Bengal,  and  the  Malayan  Archi- 
pelago. 0.  paniculata,  the  only  cultivated 
species,  has  drooping  panicles,  often  a  foot 
long,  of  bright  rose-colored  flowers.  It  is  of 
easy  cultivation,  and  may  be  increased  by 
cuttings.   Introduced  in  1826. 

Oxy'tropis.  From  oxys,  sharp,  and  tropin,  a 
keel ;  the  keel  petal  ends  in  a  sliarp  point. 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosm. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous 
perennials,  mostly  natives  of  Siberia,  a  few 
are  found  in  Europe.  They  are  nearly  allied 
to  Astragalus.  0.  cyanea,  from  the  Ural 
Mountains,  is  dense-growing  plant  witH  sil- 
very, pinnate  leaves,  of  dwarf  habit,  produc- 
ing spikes  about  six  inches  high  of  bluish- 
pui'ple  flowers  in  June.  It  is  a  slow  growing 
plant,  well  adapted  for  the  border,  and  can  be 
readily  increas<^d  from  seeds.  Introduced  in 
1818.  0.  montana,  an  Austrian  species,  is  of 
similar  habit,  with  pendant  spikes  of  dark 
purple  flowers,  which  ai'e  succeeded  by  large 
inflated  pods. 

Oxy'ura.  Supposed  to  be  from  oxys,  sharp,  and 
oura,  a  trail ;  but  the  application  is  not  very 
apparent.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

O.  chrysanthemoides,  the  only  species,  is  a 
hardy  annual  with  3'ellow  flowers,  somewhat 
resembling  the  Chrysanthemum  ;  it  is  a  showy 
plant,  and  easy  to  grow.  It  is  a  native  of 
California,  and  was  introduced  in  1834.  This 
genus  is  now  included  under  Layia,  by  some 
botanists. 

Oyster  Plant.  A  common  name  for  Salsify, 
which  see. 

Oyster  Plant.     British.     Mertensia  marilima. 

Ozotha'mnus.  From  ozein,  to  smell,  and 
thamnos,  a  shrub  ;  alluding  to  the  odor  of  the 
plant.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  genus  of  nearly  hardy  shrubs,  mostly 
natives  of  Australia.  0.  rosmarinifolius,  has 
white  flower  heads,  in  dense  corymbs,  forming 
a  large  leafy  panicle.  It  forms  a  handsome 
shrub  and  will  prove  hardy,  south  of  Washing- 
ton. It  is  readily  propagated  by  cuttings  of 
the  half  ripe  wood. 


AND   GENEKAL   HORTICULTURE. 


297 


P. 


PAC 

Pachide'ndrou.  From  pachys,  thick,  and 
dendron,  a  tree.  Nat.  Ord.  Liliacem. 
A  genus  of  tree  Aloes,  increased  from  suclc- 
ers,  or  young  side  shoots,  when  they  are  pro- 
duced ;  leaves  taken  off  close  from  the  stem, 
and  laid  to  dry  for  a  few  days,  then  planted  in 
dry  soil,  will  produce  young  plants  at  the 
base.  This  genus  is  now  included  under 
Aloe  hy  many  botanists. 

Pachi'ra.  The  native  name  of  the  trees  in 
Guiana.     Nat.  Ord.  Malvacece. 

A  genus  of  very  handsome  dense-foliaged 
trees,  natives  of  tropical  America.  They  are 
commonly  known  in  cultivation  as  Carolineas, 
but  owing  to  their  size,  are  seldom  seen 
except  in  large  collections. 

Pachyphy'tiim.  From  pachys,  thick,  and  phy- 
ton,  a  plant ;  referring  to  the  fleshy  leaves. 
Nat.  Ord.  Crassulacece. 

P.  bracteofium  is  a  green-house  succulent, 
allied  to  Echeveria,  and  grown  for  its  unique 
appearance.  There  are  other  species,  but 
they  are  less  ornamental  than  this.  Included 
by  some  under  Cotyledon. 

Pachyrhi'zus.  From  pachys,  thick,  and  rhiza, 
a  root ;  alluding  to  the  thick,  tuberous  roots 
of  the  plants.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  small  genus  of  tall,  twining  plants, 
natives  of  the  warmer  parts  of  Asia,  Africa 
and  America.  The  flowers  of  P.  angulatus  are 
of  a  beautiful  blue  color,  and  are  borne  in 
long  racemes.  It  is  cultivated  in  the  tropics 
for  its  large  turnip-like,  tuberous  roots, 
which  are  eaten  either  raw  or  boiled.  It  was 
introduced  in  1781,  and  is  propagated  by  cut- 
tings or  by  seeds. 

Pachysa'ndra.  Mountain  Spurge.  "Etoxo.  pachys, 
thick  and  aner,  andros,  a  stamen  ;  referring  to 
the  thickness  of  the  stamens.  Nat.  Ord. 
EuphorbiacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  plants 
of  more  botanical  than  horticultural  interest. 
Of  the  two  species,  one,  P.  procumbens,  is  a 
native  of  this  country,  the  other,  P.  termi- 
nalis,  was  introduced  from  Japan  in  1882. 

Pachysto'ma.  From  pachys,  thick,  and  stoma, 
a  moutli ;  alluding  to  the  thick  lip.  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidace<B. 

A  genus  of  stove-house  terrestrial  Orchids, 
natives  of  the  East  Indies  and  the  Malayan 
Archipelago  and  tropical  Africa.  P.  Thomp- 
soniana,  an  African  species,  with  large  white 
flowers,  shining  as  if  varnished,  is  the  most 
interesting  of  the  genus  and  the  most  gener- 
ally cultivated. 

Paddy.    A  name  for  unhusked  Rice. 

Paedero'ta.  From  paideros,  a  name  applied  by 
the  ancients  to  a  species  of  Acanthus.  Nat. 
Ord.  Scrophulariacem. 
A  genus  comprising  two  species  of  dwarf 
•  hardy  perennial  herbs,  inhabiting  the  moun- 
tains of  central  and  eastern  Europe.  The 
yellow  or  blue  flowers  are  disposed  in  dense 
terminal  spikes.  They  are  usually  treated  as 
annuals,  and  require  a  dry,  airy  situation, 
forming  excellent  plants  for  the  rock-garden. 


PiEO 

Paeo'nia.  Named  after  the  Greek  physician 
Paeon,  who  is  said  to  have  employed  it  in 
medicine,  and  used  it  to  cure  Pluto  of  a 
wound  inflicted  by  Hercules.  Nat.  Ord.  Ra- 
nunculacecB. 

The  Peonies  common  in  our  gardens  are 
divided  into  two  groups,  viz.,  those  which  are 
allied  to  the  Tree  Pseony  {Pceonia  Moutan), 
and  which  are  all  more  or  less  shrubby,  and 
the  common  herbaceous  Pajonies.  The  her- 
baceous PsBonies  are  well-known  ornaments 
of  our  gardens,  where  they  are  great  favor- 
ites, from  their  showy  flowers,  their  great 
hardiness,  and  their  easy  culture ;  all  essen- 
tial qualities  for  a  large  garden,  and  for  such 
only  are  they  desirable.  The  roots  of  these 
plants  are  composed  of  bundles  of  carrot-like 
tubers,  which  may  be  separated  from  each 
other  to  increase  any  particular  species  or 
variety ;  or  the  tubers  of  the  common  Peeo- 
nies  may  be  grafted  with  shoots  of  any  choice 
kinds.  The  Tree  or  shrubby  species  are 
chiefly  increased  by  grafting  on  the  roots  of 
the  herbaceous  sorts.  Of  the  herbaceous  spe- 
cies, P.  officinalis,  the  old  double  crimson, was 
the  fii-st  introduced  into  English  gardens, 
having  been  brought  from  Switzerland  in 
1548,  where  it  is  indigenous,  as  well  as  in 
many  other  parts  of  Europe  and  Asia.  P. 
albijlora,  the  old  double  white,  is  a  native  of 
Siberia,  and  was  introduced  at  about  the 
same  period.  P.  tenuifolia,  the  Fern-leaved 
Pseony,  is  a  native  of  Russia,  from  whence  it 
was  introduced  in  1765.  The  fine.  Fern-like 
foliage  of  this  species  renders  the  plant  a 
beautiful  object  independently  of  its  brilliant 
flowers.  There  is  a  double  variety  of  it. 
From  a  limited  number  of  species,  several 
hundred  hybrids  have  been  produced,  many 
of  which  are  very  beautiful,  but  scarcely 
superior  to  the  species,  yet  necessary  to  keep 
alive  the  interest  in  the  genus.  One  or  two 
herbaceous  species  have  been  found  in  Oregon 
and  California,  but  are  inferior  to  the  Euro- 
pean species.  P.  Moutan  and  its  varieties  are 
natives  of  China  and  Japan,  principally  on 
Mount  Ho-an,  where  it  is  reported  they  grow 
to  the  height  of  ten  feet.  The  native  species 
is  purple,  but  there  are  white,  pink,  pale  pur- 
ple, and  mottled  varieties.  Until  the  second 
half  of  this  century  only  such  sorts  as  had 
white,  rose,  salmon,  and  lilac-colored  flowers 
were  known;  and  we  are  indebted  to  Mr. 
Fortune  for  the  introduction  of  his  Chinese 
varieties,  most  of  which  have  scarlet,  violet, 
and  magenta-colored  flowers.  Von  Siebold, 
too,  introduced  a  number  of  Japanese  varie- 
ties, which  however  form  a  different  race,  and 
are  mostly  single  or  semi-double.  Each  year 
they  increase  in  size  and  beauty,  and  soon 
become  the  most  atti-active  features  of  the 
garden.  They  are  the  first  of  any  of  the 
varieties  of  Pffionias  to  flower,  and  put  forth 
their  blooms  early  in  May.  Grown  in  pots 
they  may  be  forced  into  flower  during  winter 
and  are  excellent  subjects  for  conservatory 
decoration.  Many  beautiful  varieties  have  of 
late  years  been  produced  from  seed.  The 
shrubby  species  were  first  introduced  in  1794. 


298 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


P^O 

Paeo'ny.     See  Pceonia. 

Pagoda-tree.  Chinese.  A  name  given  to 
Sophora  Japonica,  Plumieria  acuminata,  and 
Ficus  Indica. 

Paigle.     An  old  name  for  tlie  Cowslip. 

Painted.  A  term  used  in  cases  where  colors 
are  ari-anged  in  streaks  of  unequal  density. 

Painted  Cup.     See  Castilleia. 

Paint  Root.    See  Lachanthes. 

Palafo'xia.  Named  by  Lagasca,  in  honor  of 
Palafox,  a  Spanish  general.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positcB. 

A  genus  of  rather  coarse-growing  herbaceous 
and  shrubby  perennials,  with  white,  flesh- 
colored,  or  purple  flowers,  produced  in  rather 
loose  paniculate  or  corymbose  heads.  P. 
Hookeriana,  a  native'-of  Mexico  is  a  pretty 
dwarf  annual  species,  forming  a  dense  tuft 
about  one  foot  high.  The  flowers  are  pro- 
duced freely  in  loose  clusters  and  are  of  a 
pleasing  rosy-pink  hue.  Several  of  the  species 
are  common  fi-om  Carolina  to  Texas. 

Palate.  The  mouth  of  a  ringent,  or  gaping 
flower. 

Pala'va  or  Pala'via.  In  honor  of  A.  Patau  y 
Verdera,  once  professor  of  botany  at  Madrid. 
Nat.  Ord.  MalvacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  Peruvian  herbaceous 
annuals,  producing  small  pink  or  purple  flow- 
ers on  long  axillary  stalks  ;  rarely  cultivated 
excepting  in  botanical  collections. 

Paleae.  Membraneous  scales  resembling  chaff. 
The  inner  scales  of  the  flower  in  grasses  are 
pales. 

Palestine  Lily.    Arum  Palestinum.    See  Arum. 

Palioou'rea.  Named  after  Le  Palicour,  of 
Guiana.     Nat.  Ord.  Ruhiacem. 

A  large  genus  of  tropical  American  shrubs 
of  variable  habit,  with  four- angled  branches. 
They  form  very  pretty  shrubs,  with  variously 
colored  (never  blue)  flowers.  Only  a  few  spe- 
cies are  in  cultivation.     Syn.  Psychotria. 

Paliso'ta.  Named  in  honor  of  Palisot  de  Beaiir 
vols,  a  French  botanist  and  traveler.  Nat. 
Ord.  Commelinacece. 

A  genus  of  perennial  herbs,  natives  of 
Africa.  P.  bicolor  has  large  bright  green 
leaves,  with  broad  disk  of  greenish-yellow, 
the  margins  being  studded  with  stiff  brownish 
hairs.  It  grows  from  one  to  two  feet  high, 
and  is  a  very  elegant  ornamental-leaved  plant. 
Introduced  from  Fernando  Po  in  1878. 

Paliu'rus.  Christ's  Thorn.  Name  of  a  town  in 
Africa.     Nat.  Ord.  Rhamnacece. 

There  are  but  two  species  in  this  genus, 
both  hardy  deciduous  shrubs,  natives  of 
southern  Europe  and  western  Asia.  They  are 
handsome  shrubs,  well  adapted  for  shrub- 
beries. The  fruit  of  P.  aculeaius  is  very  sin- 
gular, appearing  like  a  head  with  a  broad- 
brimmed  hat  on,  whence  its  French  name 
Porte  ^hapeau.  This  is  the  plant  that  is  sup- 
posed to  have  furnished  the  thorns  used. for 
plaiting  the  crown  placed  upon  Christ's  head 
before  His  crucifixion.  It  has  flexible 
branches,  capable  of  being  easily  plaited  ;  and 
each  leaf  has  two  sharp  spines  at  its  base.one 
of  which  is  straight  and  erect,  and  the  other 
curved  and  bent  downward  so  as  to  form  a 
hook.  There  is  some  difference  of  opinion  as 
to  whether  this  is  the  plant  that  afforded  the 


PAL 

"thorns,"  or  whether  it  was  Zizyphus  spina- 
Christi,  for  both  of  which  the  distinction  has 
been  claimed.  It  is  commonly  used  for 
hedges  in  the  East,  and  its  seeds  are  consid- 
ered medicinal  by  Turkish  doctors,  and  are 
also  used  as  a  dye. 
Palm.  A  general  name  for  the  plants  belonging 
to  the  order  PalmacecB.  Also  popularly 
applied  to  Salix  caprea  Avhen  in  flower. 

Palm.     Australian  Feather.     The  genus  Ptycho- 

sperma. 
Bamboo.     Raphia  vinifera. 
Betel-nut.     Areca  Catechu. 
Bourbon.     The  genus  Latania. 
Broom.  Attalea  funifera,  and  Thrynax  argentea. 
Cabbage.     Oreodoxa  oleracea  and   Chamcerops 

Palmetto. 
Cabbage.     New  Zealand.     Cordyline  Auatralis. 
Catechu.     Areca  Catechu. 
Cocoa-nut.     Cocos  nucifera. 
Cocoa-nut,  Double  or  Sea.     Lodoicea  Seychel- 

larum. 
Coquito.     JuhcBa  spectabilis. 
Date.     Phoenix  dactylifera. 
Doom  or  Doum.     Hyphcene  thehaica. 
Dragon's  Blood.     Calamus  Draco. 
Fan.     A  name  applied  to  any  Palm  which  has 

fan-shaped  leaves. 
Fan,  European.     Chamjsrops  humilis. 
Fan,  Jamaica.   Sabal  Blackhurniana. 
Hemp.     ChamcerojiS  excelsa. 
Ivory-nut.     Phytelephas  tnacrocarpa. 
Jaggery.     Caryota  urens. 
New  Zealand.     Areca  Sapida. 
Norfolk  Island.     Kentia  Baueri. 
Oil.     EUeis  guineensis,  and  Cocos  buiyracea. 
Palmetto.     Sabal  {Chamcerops)  Palmetto. 
Palmyra.     Borassus  flabelliformis. 
Parlor.     Aspidistra  lurida. 
Peach.     Gulielma  speciosa. 
Pissiaba.      Attalea  funifera,  and  Leopoldinia 

Piassaba. 
Eaffia    or     Boffla.      Raphia    Ruffia,   and   R. 

tcedigera. 
Battan.     Calamus    rotang,    C.  rudentum,  and 

other  s])ecies. 
Sago.      Sagus  IcBvis,    S.  Rumphii,   and    Cycas 

circinalis. 
Talipot.     Corypha  umbraculifera. 
Thatch.     Sabal  Blackburnianq. 
Toddy.     Caryota  urens. 
Umbrella.     Kentia  Canterburyana. 
Wax.     Ceroxylon  or  Iriartea  andicola. 
Wax  of  Brazil.     Copernicia  cerifera. 
Wine,  Brazilian.     Mauritia  vinifera. 

Palma'ceae.  A  large  natural  order  pre-eminent 
in  the  whole  world  of  Plants  for  the  grandeur 
and  beauty  attained  by  many  of  the  species. 
They  are  arborescent  plants,  with  simple, 
rarely  branched  trunks,  marked  with  the 
scars  of  the  leaves,  which  are  terminal,  pin- 
nate, or  fan-shaped,  with  plicate  vernation 
and  parallel  simple  veins,  and  often  with 
spiny  petioles.  Natives  of  tropical  regions 
chiefly,  they  impart  to  them  much  of  their 
botanical  features.  The  greater  part  of  them 
have  unbranched  stems,  which  sometimes 
attain  a  height  of  a  hundred  feet,  and  send 
out  clusters  of  large  leaves,  from  the  axils  of 
which  bunches  of  flowers  proceed.  Although 
the  flowers  are  small,  the  inflorescence,  taken 
collectively,  very  often  has  a  most  imposing 
aspect.  Linnaeus  called  them  the  Princes  of 
the  Vegetable  Kingdom,  a  designation  which 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


299 


PAL 

they  well  deserve.  Martius  estimates  the 
species  at  nearly  six  hundred,  of  which  about 
one-sixth  have  fan-shaped  leaves.  They  have 
been  divided  by  him  into  various  tribes,  de- 
pending chiefly  on  the  nature  of  the  ovary 
ovules  and  fruit;  and  sections  are  formed 
according  as  the  leaves  are  pinnate  or  flabel- 
liform,  and  the  stems  spiny  or  not.  The 
properties  of  the  plants  of  this  order  are 
quite  various.  In  the  countries  in  which 
they  grow,  they  are  used  for  supplying  food 
and  for  forming  habitations.  The  fruit  of 
some  is  edible.  Many  supply  oil,  wax, 
starchy  matter,  and  sugar,  the  last  being  fer- 
mented so  as  to  form  an  intoxicating  drink. 
Their  fibres  are  employed  for  ropes,  and  the 
reticulum  surrounding  their  leaves  is  some- 
times manufactured  into  brushes  and  brooms. 
These  products  also  enter  largely  into  com- 
merce, and  are  sources  of  very  considerable 
wealth.  The  Palm  of  the  Bible  seems  to  be 
PhcE,nix  dactyiifera,  or  Date  Palm,  the  drupa- 
ceous fruit  of  which  supplies  food  to  many  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Arabia  and  Africa,  and  is 
largely  exported  to  different  parts  of  the 
world,  the  United  States  receiving  a  large 
share.  Cocos  nucifera,  the  Cocoanut  Palm,  is 
one  of  the  most  useful  of  the  family,  supply- 
ing food,  clothing,  materials  for  houses,  and 
utensils  of  various  kinds,  besides  ropes  and 
oil.  The  Cocoanuts  form  an  important  item 
of  commerce,  and  are  now  "dessicated"  or 
dried  in  very  large  quantities  in  New  York 
and  other  places.  The  Palm  Oil  imported 
from  the  west  coast  of  Africa  is  obtained  by 
bruising  the  fruits  of  Elceis  Guineensis  and  E. 
melanococca.  The  Betel  Nut  is  the  produce  of 
Areca  catechu,  and  from  it  an  extract  is  pre- 
pared of  an  astringent  nature  resembling 
Catechu.  Fine  Sago  is  said  to  be  procured 
from  Sagns  IcBvis  and  S.  Rumphii,  found  in  the 
eastern  islands  of  the  Indian  Ocean.  Sago, 
sugar,  and  a  kind  of  Palm  wine  are  procured 
from  Caryota  urens.  The  date  sugar  of  Ben- 
gal IS  the  produce  of  Phae,nix  sylvestris.  Ce- 
roxylon  or  Iriartea  andicola  yields  wax,  which 
forms  a  coating  over  its  trunk.  Copercinia 
cerifera  is  another  wax-producing  Palm.  Cal- 
amus  Rotang  is  used  as  cane  under  the  name 
of  Rattan,  and  has  a  variety  of  uses  in  the 
mechanic  arts.  Calamus  rudentum,  the  Cable 
Cane,  a  native  of  the  East  Indies,  Cochin- 
China,  and  the  Moluccas,  grows  sometimes  to 
the  length  of  five  hundred  feet.  The  fruit  of 
Attalea  funifera  is  known  by  the  name  of  Co- 
quilla  Nut,  and  its  hard  pericarp  is  used  for 
ornamenting  umbrella  handles,  etc.  The 
spathe  of  Manicaria  saccifera  comes  off  in  the 
form  of  a  conical  cap,  and  is  used  as  a  cover- 
ing for  the  head  in  the  West  Indies.  Cha- 
mcerops  humilis  is  the  only  European  species 
of  Palm.  HyphcEne  Thebaica,  the  Doom  Palm 
of  Egypt,  has  a  trunk  which  divides  in  a 
dichotomous  manner ;  its  pericarp  is  used  as 
food,  and  has  the  taste  of  gingerbread.  In 
the  parched  districts  between  the  rivers 
Dande  and  Zenza,  in  tropical  Africa,  Wel- 
witsch  came  upon  a  Palm  forest  five  leagues 
in  length,  which  consisted  exclusively  of  the 
crowded  stems  of  a  branched  Palm  belonging 
probably  to  Hyphcene.  Like  most  African 
Palms,  it  yields  an  excellent  wine.  Raphia 
has  given  the  gardener  his  best  tying  ma- 
terial. Other  examples  might  be  added  of  the 
usefulness  of  this  noble  family  of  plants ;  but 


PAN 

the  above  condensed  view  will  probably  suf- 
fice to  give  the  reader  some  proper  concep- 
tion of  the  utility  of  a  class  of  plants  that  are 
now  largely  used  for  ornamental  and  decora- 
tive purposes.  Bentham  and  Hooker,  in 
"Genera  Plantarum,"  recognize  one  hundred 
and  thirty-two  genera,  and  there  are  from 
eleven  to  twelve  hundred  species  recorded, 
though  a  considerable  number  of  these  are 
not  well  known. 

Palma  Christi.     Ricinus  communis. 

Palmate.  Having  five  lobes,  the  mid-ribs  of 
which  meet  in  a  common  point,  so  that  the 
whole  bear's  some  resemblance  to  the  human 
hand. 

Palmatifid.  Cut  half-way  to  the  base  in  a 
Palmate  manner. 

Palmetto.  See  Sabal  Palmetto  and  Chamcerops 
Palmetto. 

Palmetto.     Saw.     Seranoa  serrulata. 

Pa'lmia.  Named  after  L.  H.  Palm,  author  of  a 
work  on  "  The  Climbing  of  Plants,"  Stuttgart, 
1827.     Nat.  Ord   Convolvulacece. 

P.  bicolor,  the  only  species,  is  a  beautiful 
pubescent,  twining  plant,  a  native  of  tropical 
Asia  and  Africa.  The  flowers  are  white  or 
pale  yellow,  with  a  dark  purple  centre.  Prop- 
agated by  seeds  in  spring.  Syn.  Convolvulus 
bicolor. 

Palm  Oil.     See  EUbLh. 

Palm-veined.  Having  the  main  vein  radiating 
from  a  common  point. 

Palmyra  Palm.     See  Borassus. 

Paludosus.    See  Palustris. 

Palumbi'na.  Named  from  palumba,  a  dove. 
Nat  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

P.  Candida,  the  only  species,  is  a  beautiful 
little  epiphytal  Orchid  from  Mexico.  It  was 
formerly  known  as  Oncidium  candidum.  The 
flowers,  which  are  produced  on  delicate 
stems,  are  waxy  white,  with  yellow  centre. 
This  plant  succeeds  well  grown  in  a  green- 
house, and  is  increased  by  division. 

Palustris.     Growing  in  marshy  places. 

Pampas  Grass.    See  Gynerium. 

Pampas  Rice.     See  Sorghum  cernuum. 

Panama  Hat  Palm.    See  Carludovica. 

Pa'nax.  Ginseng.  From  pan,  all,  and  akos, 
remedy;  referring  to  the  stimulant  drug 
Ginseng,  to  which  miraculous  virtue  is  as- 
cribed by  the  Chinese.  Nat.  Ord.  Araliacem. 
A  genus  of  glabrous,  rarely  tomentose  trees 
or  shrubs  widely  dispersed  over  Asia,  tropical 
Africa,  the  Pacific  Islands,  Australia,  and 
America.  Many  of  the  species,  such  as  P. 
ornatum,  P.  dissectum,  P.  Victorice,  P.  pluma- 
tum,  etc.,  are  cultivated  as  ornamental  green- 
house plants ;  P.  lepidum,  a  late  introduction 
from  Brazil,  is  a  very  distinct  and  ornamental 
plant  of  dense,  compact  habit,  and  deeply  in- 
cised, spinosely-toothed  leaves.  They  are  all 
of  free  growth  and  may  be  propagated  by  cut- 
tings of  the  roots.  They  are  often  found  in 
cultivation  under  the  name  of  Aralia. 

The  root  of  the  P.  Schinseng  or  Ginseng,  is 
highly  esteemed  by  Chinese  physicians,  who 
affirm  that  it  is  able  to  ward  off  or  remove 
fatigue,  to  restore  exhausted  animal  powers, 
to  make  old  people  young ;  in  a  word,  to  make 
man  immortal,  if  anything  on  earth  can  do  so. 
At  Pekin  it  is  said  sometimes  to  have  been 


300 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PAN 

worth  its  weight  in  gold.  The  genuine  Man- 
churian  Ginseng  consists  of  a  stem  from 
which  the  leaves  spring,  of  a  centre  root,  and 
of  two  roots  branching  off  at  the  same  point 
from  each  side  of  the  centre  root;  the  stem 
somewhat  resembles  the  head  and  necl£ ;  the 
side  roots  the  shoulders  and  arms  of  a  man ; 
the  main  root  represents  the  body,  and  a 
fork  which  the  main  root  frequently  forms, 
supplies  the  legs.  The  Chinese,  with  a  not 
ungraceful  feeling,  believe  that  a  plant  which 
thus  expands  into  the  human  form,  amid 
thicket  and  jungles  on  which  the  foot  of  man 
never  trod,  must  be  intended  to  alleviate  the 
sufferings  of  the  human  race.  It  is  now  so 
scarce  that  the  collection  of  the  wild  root  is 
prohibited  by  imperial  edict.  The  roots  of  P. 
quinquefolium,  a  native  species  found  in  most 
of  the  United  States,  is  collected  and  exported 
to  China  in  large  quantities,  though  it  is  not 
so  highly  valued  as  the  indigenous  plant.  It 
is  now  being  largely  gathered  by  Chinamen  in 
some  of  our  western  States,  who  sell  it  in 
large  quantities  to  wholesale  druggists  for 
shipment  to  China,  which  we  believe  is  the 
only  market  for  it.  It  is  always  sold  by 
weight,  and  is  collected  mostly  by  American- 
ized Chinese,  who,  to  make  it  weigh  well, 
often  carefully  drill  holes  in  the  largest  roots 
into  which  they  run  melted  lead,  and  cover  it 
in  so  ingeniously  that  it  can  only  be  dis- 
covered by  handling  and  weighing  each  root 
individually ;  so  in  this  case,  as  well  as  in 
card  playing :  "  For  ways  that  are  dark,  and 
tricks  that  are  vain,  the  heathen  Chinee  is 
peculiar." 

Pancra'tium.  From  pa7i,  all,  and  kratyfi,  potent ; 
supposed  medicinal  qualities.  Nat.  Ord. 
A  maryllidacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  half-hardy  and  green- 
house, lily-like,  bulbous  plants,  with  long 
strap-like  leaves,  mostly  deciduous,  a  few 
only  being  persistent.  The  flowers  are  white 
or  greenish-white,  produced  in  an  umbel  on  a 
solid  scape  about  two  feet  high.  The  species 
are  found  in  the  south  of  Europe,  north 
Africa,  SjTia,  Arabia,  and  in  several  of  the 
more  southern  of  the  United  States.  P.  mar- 
itimum  is  the  Sea  Daffodil,  common  in  the 
sands  on  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean.  Its 
flowers  are  pure  white  and  delightfully  fra- 
grant. P.  Carolinianum  is  common  in  salt 
marshes  from  South  Carolina  to  Florida. 
Chapman,  in  his  "  Southern  Flora,"  makes  no 
distinction  in  the  two  species.  There  are 
several  other  species  noticed  in  his  Flora,  but 
these  are  the  best  representatives  of  the 
genus.  P.  ovatum  is  a  most  shoAvy  species, 
bearing  an  umbel  of  fifteen  to  twenty-five 
pure  white,  sweet-scented  flowers.  It  is  an 
exceedingly  attractive  plant  and  can  be  had 
in  bloom  twice  a  year.  P.  calathinum,  a 
native  of  Brazil,  with  pure  white  fragrant 
flowers,  placed  under  Hymenocallis  by  some 
botanists,  is  often  found  in  cultivation  as 
Ismene  Knightii  (see  Ismene).  They  all  require 
green-house  treatment,  and  should  be  grown 
in  light  loam  and  leaf-mould,  and  allowed  a 
season  of  rest.  They  are  propagated  by  off- 
sets. 

Pandana'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  curious  trees 
or  bushes,  sometimes  with  adventitious  roots, 
long  imbricated,  amplexicaul  leaves,  usually 
with  spiny  margins  and  backs,  and  unisexual 


PAN 

or  polygamous  flowers,  covering  the  whole 
spadix.  They  are  mostly  natives  of  the  Ma- 
layan Archipelago,  and  Seychelles,  a  few  being 
found  in  Asia,  Africa,  tropical  Australia, 
and  the  West  Indies.  The  species,  number- 
ing about  eighty,  have  no  great  economic 
value,  and  are  classed  under  two  genera, 
Freycinetia  and  Pandanus. 

Pandanophy'Uum.  Derivation  of  name  ob- 
scure.    Nat.  Ord.  Cyperacece. 

P.  humile,  the  only  described  species,  is  a 
very  ornamental  plant,  having,  as  its  name 
would  imply,  very  much  the  appearance  of 
the  Pandanus.  It  is  a  native  of  Java,  and  has 
glossy,  deep  green,  arching  leaves,  which  are 
furnished  with  two  secondary  ribs,  giving  the 
surface  of  the  foliage  a  peculiar  channeled  ap- 
pearance. The  end  of  the  leaf,  which  is  from 
six  to  nine  feet  long,  and  about  two  inches 
broad,  is  suddenly  narrowed  down  into  a  long 
thread-like  termination.  This  is  the  only 
species  under  cultivation,  though  five  or  six 
others  have  been  found. 

Pandanus.  Screw  Pine.  From  pandang,  a 
word  in  the  Malay  language,  signifying  con- 
spicuous.    Nat.  Ord.  Pandanacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  exceedingly  orna- 
mental, dwarf-growing  trees,  common  in  the 
East  Indian  Islands.  The  leaves  are  imbri- 
cated, and  embrace  the  stem,  bearing  some 
resemblance  to  those  of  the  Pine-apple.  They 
are  from  three  to  five  feet  long,  and  are  placed 
in  three  spiral  rows  round  the  extremities  of 
the  branches.  The  most  remarkable  peculi- 
arity of  the  Screw  Pine  is  its  singular  method 
of  propping  itself  in  the  soil,  by  means  of 
aerial  or  adventitious  roots,  which  are  pro- 
jected from  the  sides  of  the  trunk  at  an  angle 
suited  for  its  mechanical  support.  This  is  a 
beautiful  provision  for  the  exigencies  of  the 
plant,  which  acquires  an  enormous  top  weight 
by  the  accumulation  of  its  thick,  fleshy  leaves, 
and  would  lose  its  balance  but  for  its  power 
of  throwing  down  new  roots  when  they  are 
required.  The  flowers  of  P.  odoratissimus 
yield  a  most  delightful  fragrance,  for  which  it 
is  largelj'  cultivated  in  Japan.  P.  utilis, 
which  best  deserves  the  name  of  Screw  Pine, 
is  the  species  most  frequently  met  in  our 
green-houses,  and  is,  perhaps,  the  most  valu- 
able of  any  plant  used  in  decoration,  as  it 
withstands  gas,  dust,  and  ill  usage  generally 
better  than  almost  any  known  plant.  It  is 
the  most  useful  in  its  native  country,  the 
Mauritius,  where  it  is  not  only  common,  but 
is  cultivated  for  the  sake  of  its  leaves,  which 
are  extensively  used  in  the  manufacture  of 
the  bags  or  sacks  in  which  sugar  is  exported. 
They  are  increased  by  seed,  or  may  be  propa- 
gated by  cuttings,  the  former  being  the 
method  by  which  a  stock  is  usually  obtained 
in  this  country.  There  has  lately  been  intro- 
duced into  the  green-house  two  very  orna- 
mental kinds,  P.  Javanicus  variegata  and  P. 
Veitchii,  both  with  foliage  striped  green  and 
white.  As  decorative  plants  they  are  exceed- 
ingly valuable,  both  for  the  green-house  and 
parlor.  They  are  increased  by  offshoots  or 
suckers,  which  root  rather  slowly.  The  tem- 
perature in  which  they  are  propagated  should 
not  be  less  than  75°. 

Pandurate  or  Pandurifonn.  The  same  as  Fidr 
die-shaped. 

Panic-Grass.     See  Panicum. 


PANSIfcti   (TYPES  OF>. 


PAPAVEK  BKACTEATUM. 


PANICUM   GEllMVNH  I'M    (MILLET). 


PAPAVEB  (JAPANESE   POMPONE  POPPY). 


^^^^'^^K^  ;rT^)    . 


PAPAVER   (ICELAND  POPPY). 


PAPAVER  (TYPE  OF  LARGE  FLOWERED   POPPY). 


PANICUM  PLICATUM  VAEIEGATUM. 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


301 


PAN 
Panicle.     A  compound  raceme. 

Pa'nicum.  Panic  Grass.  From  panicula,  a 
panicle  ;  form  of  flowering.  Nat.  Ord.  Gram- 
inacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  grasses,  mostly  used 
as  fodder  plants.  P.  Germanicum  is  the  well- 
known  Hungarian  Grass.  P.  pUcatum  niveo- 
viUatum  is  a  beautiful  species  for  green-liouse 
culture,  suitable  for  baskets  and  vases.  It  is 
propagated  freely  by  division,  and  will  grow 
in  almost  any  position  given  it.  The  elegant 
drooping  variegated  grass,  known  in  cultiva- 
tion as  P.  viiriegutam,  is,  according  to  modern 
botanists,  now  named  Oplismenu^  Burmanni 
variegatus,  which  see.  The  common  Crab 
Grass,  P.  sanguinale,  an  annual  species  intro- 
duced from  Europe  and  now  thoroughly 
naturalized,  though  spoken  of  as  a  good 
pasture  grass  in  Tennessee  and  Mississippi, 
etc.,  is  a  great  pest  when  it  gets  foot-hold  on  a 
lawn  or  grass  plot,  as  it  bends  before  the 
mowing  machine,  and,  of  course,  when 
allowed  to  seed,  spreads  more  and  more 
every  year.  Probably  the  best  plan  to  get 
rid  of  it  is  to  loosen  it  up  with  a  sharp  rake 
before  it  ripens  its  seed,  and  use  the  scythe  for 
a  few  times,  cutting  both  ways  so  as  to  cut  all 
the  seeding  stems,  and  in  fall  giving  each 
spot  a  good  scarifying  with  a  rake,  sowing  it 
over  with  lawn  grass  seed  mixed  with  white 
clover,  and  finishing  witli  a  liberal  dressing 
of  a  good  lawn  enrieher.  A  year  or  two  of 
this  treatment  will  eradicate  the  pest. 

Pa'nsy.  Viola  tricolor.  The  almost  innumerable 
varieties  of  Pansies,  embracing  every  color, 
from  white  to  black,  maroon,  yellow,  purple, 
blue,  self-colored,  and  those  with  the  most 
delicate  markings,  as  well  as  the  bold  and 
showy  faces  of  others,  are  all  hybrids  between 
the  annual  species,  V.  tricolor,  a  weed  in 
English  fields  and  gardens,  and  the  perennial 
kinds,  V.  Altaica,  ivoiuTiirtnvy,  V.grandiflora, 
a  native  of  Switzerland,  V.  lutea,  of  Great 
Britain,  V.  Rothomagensis,  of  France,  and  V. 
pedata  var.  bicolor,  of  this  country.  The  first 
attention  paid  to  the  cultivation  of  the  Pansy, 
and  that  which  resulted  in  making  it  a  florist's 
flower,  was  given  by  Mary  Bennet,  who  had  a 
little  flowei'-garden  in  the  grounds  of  her 
father,the  Earl  of  Tankerville.  at  Walton-upon- 
Thames,  England.  She  had  prepared  a  little 
bed,  in  which  were  placed  all  the  varieties  of 
Pansies  which  shQ  accidentally  discovered  in 
her  father's  garden.  Aided  by  tlie  industry 
and  zeal  of  the  gardener,  Mr.  Richardson, 
several  new  varieties  were  raised  from  seed 
and  transplanted  to  this  little  bed.  From 
this  small  beginning  in  1810  may  be  traced 
the  rage  which  has  since  prevailed  in  the 
cultivation  of  this  popular  flower.  The 
English,  French,  and  German  horticultural 
societies  offered  great  inducements  to  the 
florist,  in  the  way  of  premiums,  for  the  best 
flowers,  and  as  the  race  was  free  to  all,  the 
interest  awakened  was  of  a  most  lively 
character,  one  which  every  gardener  of 
importance  helped  to  keep  alive.  The  result 
has  been,  the  Pansy  of  to-day  in  contrast  with 
the  little  V.  pedata  and  V.  tricolor,  the  parent s, 
so  common  in  our  woods  and  roadsides.  Our 
seedsmen  and  florists  have  been  so  much 
absorbed  in  watching  the  race  for  supremacy 
in  the  production  of  seed  of  this  flower,  that 
that  they  did  not  stop  to  consider  whether 


PAP 

we  could  compete,  and  were  only  anxious  to 
know  which  country  liad  merited  the  honor, 
in  order  to  send  to  her  for  our  supply. 
Our  success  m  other  things  encouraged 
us  to  try  this,  and  the  first  trial  was 
sufficient  to  assure  us  what  we  have  since 
proven,  viz..  that  the  very  best  Pansies 
grown  in  this  country  were  from  seed  of 
our  own  growing.  Pansies  require  to  be 
grown  in  a  rich,  moist  loam,  and  protected  as 
far  as  possible,  from  the  midday  sun,  and 
from  winds,  and  during  the  warmer  summer 
weather  should  not  be  allowed  to  get  dry.  In 
England  special  varieties  of  Pansies  are  grown 
from  cuttings  for  many  years  by  name.  In 
the  climate  of  the  United  States  this  plan  is 
hardly  practicable,  even  if  desirable,  as  the 
ravages  of  the  Red  Spider  during  the  summer 
months  on  this  plant  virtually  destroy  it,  and 
cause  it  always  to  be  treated  as  a  plant 
never  to  be  carried  over  the  second  season 
after  flowering.  For  this  reason  it  is  here 
raised  oiily  from  seed.  This  is  usually  first 
sown  in  August,  which  gives  plants  large 
enough  to  be  priclved  away  in  cold  frames 
during  winter.  Such  plants  give  a  profuse 
and  continuous  bloom  from  March  to  June,  or, 
if  sown  earlier  than  August — say  July  1st — 
they  will  bloom  from  October  throughout  the 
entire  Avinter  and  spring  months,  if  grown  in 
a  temperature  averaging  45=^  at  night.  For 
succession,  for  late  spring  and  summer 
fiowering,  we  find  the  best  date  to  sow  is  the 
first  week  in  January,  and  if  carefully  handled, 
by  growing  in  a  low  temperature  (average 
not  to  exceed  50"  at  night),  they  will  begin  to 
flower  in  April,  and  will  continue  to  flower 
longer  than  those  sown  in  August,  which 
get  exhausted  by  June,  while  the  January 
crop  flowers  right  through  the  hottest  summer 
months.  A  numberof  years  ago  a  fine  collec- 
tion of  Double  Pansies  originated  with  us, 
but  we  failed  to  perpetuate  them  successfully 
by  cuttings,  and  they  were  ultimately  lost ; 
but  they  had  no  merit  except  novelty,  as  they 
were  far  inferior  in  beauty  to  the  single 
kinds. 

Papaver.  From  papa,  pap,  or  thick  milk ;  the 
juice  of  the  poppy  was  formerly  used  in  chil- 
dren's food  to  make  them  sleep.  Nat.  Ord. 
PapaveracecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy,  or  half-hardy 
annual  or  perennial  herbs,  with  a  milky  Juice, 
widely  distributed  through  Europe,  Asia  and 
Africa;  one  species  is  found  in  Australia. 
The  flowers  are  red,  violet,  white  or  yellow, 
and  are  very  showy  and  transient,  many 
dropping  the  day  they  expand.  Many  exceed- 
ingly showy  annual  varieties  are  now  in 
cultivation,  and  come  true  from  seed,  which 
only  requires  to  be  sown  where  desired,  as 
earlj'  in  the  season  as  practicable.  P.  orientate, 
one  of  the  showiest  of  hardy  perennials  intro- 
duced from  Armenia  in  1714,  has  large  thistle- 
like leaves  about  a  foot  long,  clothed  with 
white  bristly  hairs.  Its  deep  scarlet  flowers, 
more  than  six  inches  in  diameter,  have  a  dark 
puri)le  spot  at  the  base  of  each  petal.  Its 
A'aricty,  P.  O.  hractpuluin,  is  uiueh  superior  in 
size  and  attractivenesss.  This  variety  forms 
huge  masses  of  handsome  foliage,  the  flowers 
are  carried  on  stiff  stalks,  with  leafy  bracts 
at  intervals,  and  one  well-developed  bract 
under  each  flower,  which  is  six  to  nine  inches 


302 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PAP 

across,  and  brilliant  scarlet.  There  are  several 
other  varieties  all  highly  ornamental  plants. 
P.  nudicaule,  the  Iceland  Poppy,  a  native  of 
Siberia  and  the  northern  parts  of  America, 
has  large,  rich,  yellow  flowers  on  naked  stems, 
and  is  a  handsome  plant  for  borders  or  rock- 
work.  P.  umbrosum  is  a  strikingly  brilliant 
hardy  annual  from  the  Caucasus,  and  there- 
fore perfectly  hardy.  The  color  of  the  flower 
is  a  dazzling  scarlet  with  a  jet-black  blotch 
on  the  inner  base  of  each  petal,  which  is 
sometimes  margined  with  ashy-gray.  The 
varieties  known  as  the  Carnation,  Picotee,  and 
Ranunculus  Poppies  are  double  varieties  of 
Papaver  RhcBos,  the  common  Corn  Poppy,  and 
possess  almost  every  shade  of  color  except 
blue  and  yellow.  They  are  also  known  as 
French  and  German  Poppies,  and  are  exceed- 
ingly showy.  P.  somniferum  is  a  beautiful 
and  most  variable  Poppj'.  It  generally  grows 
about  two  feet  iu  height  and  varies  in  color 
from  white  to  deep  crimson.  By  selec- 
tion a  type  called  the  Pteony-flowered,  with 
very  double  broad-petaled  flowers  of  many 
colors,  from  pure  white  to  deep  crimson,  varie- 
gated, etc.,  has  been  obtained,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  showy  annuals  for  summer  decoration. 
The  original  species,  P.  somniferum,  is  the 
plant  especially  cultivated  in  India,  Persia, 
Asia  Minor,  Egypt,  etc.,  for  the  production  of 
Opium,  which  is  the  inspissated  milky  juice 
obtained  by  making  incisions  in  the  capsule. 
The  seeds  are  destitute  of  any  narcotic  quality 
and  may  be  eaten.  White  Oil  or  Oleum  is 
manufactured  from  them  in  France,  and  they 
are  sold  as  birds'  food,  under  the  name  of 
Maw. 

Papavera'ceae.  A  natural  order  consisting  of 
herbs  or  shrubs,  usually  with  milky  or  colored 
juice,  having  alternate,  exstipulate  leaves, 
and  long,  one- flowered  peduncles.  The  species 
are  chiefly  European,  but  they  are  found 
pretty  generally  distributed  over  the  world. 
The  order  possesses  well-marked  narcotic 
properties.  Opium  is  the  concrete  milky 
juice  procured  from  the  unripe  capsules  of 
Papaver  somniferum  and  its  varieties.  There 
are  about  twenty  genera,  as,  Papaver,  Esch- 
scholtzia,  Argemone,  Fumaria,  and  nearly  one 
hundred  and  fifty  species. 

Papa-w  Tree.    See  Asimina. 

Paper  Mulberry.     See  Broussonetia  papyrifera. 

Paper  Narcissus.  (See  Narcissus  Tazetta  var. 
papyraceus.)  This,  like  the  Roman  Hyacinth, 
Lily  of  the  Valley  and  other  bulbs,  is  largely 
forced  for  cut  flowers  in  all  the  principal 
cities  of  the  United  States.  The  manner  of 
doing  this  is  exactly  like  that  practiced  with 
the  Roman  Hyacinth,  which  see,  under  Hya- 
cinth. 

Paper  Plants.  Few  persons  imagine  how  many 
different  plants  have  of  late  years  been  util- 
ized in  the  manufacture  of  paper.  Rags  of 
course  still  furnish  the  bulk  of  our  paper,  but 
large  quantities  are  also  made  of  wood,  straw, 
and  Esparto-Grass  Stipa  (Macrocloa)  tena- 
cissima,  and  Lygeum  Sjjartium,  and  in  various 
parts  of  the  world  successful  experiments 
have  been  made  with  a  multitude  of  materials 
that  have  not  3-et  been  brought  into  general 
use.  In  France  paper  has  been  manufactured 
out  of  leaves  which  are  cut,  pressed  into 
blocks,   and  then  steeped    in    lime-water    to 


PAP 

reduce  them  to  pulp.  In  Ireland  the  Mallow, 
the  Hop-vine,  the  Yellow  Iris,  and  even  the 
Red  Clover  have  furnished  paper  pulp,  and  in 
Scotland  the  stems  of  the  Hollyhock,  Bracken, 
Flags  and  Rushes  of  several  kinds,  and  even 
Peat  have  been  utilized.  Sea-weed  and  Tan 
have  also  been  used  in  Europe  and  the  East, 
Ramie  Pine-apple  fibre.  Bamboo  stalks,  and 
the  refuse  of  Sugar-cane. 

Paper  Reed.     See  Papyrus. 

Paper  Tree.     Trophis  aspera. 

Paphi'nia.  From  Paphia,  a  surname  of  Venus. 
Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

The  only  species  known,  P.  crislata,  was 
formerly  included  in  the  genus  Maxillaria, 
but  on  a  revision  of  that  genus  was  separated 
by  Dr.  Lindley,  as  above.  It  is  a  splendid 
plant,  bearing  richly-colored  flowers,  and  is 
rather  difficult  to  cultivate.  The  best  manner 
of  managing  it  is  to  pot  it  in  a  mixture,  turfy 
peat  and  sphagnum  moss,  elevating  it  con- 
siderablj'  above  the  rim  of  the  pot,  allowing 
it  to  stand  in  the  warmest  part  of  the  iiot- 
house,  and  being  careful  to  avoid  over- water- 
ing at  any  time.  It  delights  in  a  high,  moist 
temperature  while  growing,  but  should  be 
kept  nearly  dry  when  at  rest.  Tlie  young 
shoots  which  spring  from  the  base  of  the 
pseudo-bulbs  are  veiy  impatient  of  stagnant 
moisture,  and  should  therefore  be  kept  clear 
of  the  surrounding  surface.  It  is  now  inclu- 
ded by  some  botanists  under  Lycaste. 

Papiliona'ceae.  A  sub-order  of  Leguminosce, 
spread  over  the  whole  world,  but  principally 
inhabiting  the  north  temperate  Hemisphere. 
There  are  some  two  hundred  and  ninety-five 
genera,  and  about  forty-seven  hundred 
species. 

Papilionaceous.  Having  such  a  corolla  as  that 
of  the  Pea ;  butterfly-shaped  flowers. 

Pappoose  Root.  The  popular  name  of  Caulo- 
phyllum. 

Pappus.  Thistle-down.  The  down  crowning 
tlie  achenium  of  the  Thistle,  and  other  Com- 
positae  represents  the  calyx,  so  the  scales, 
teeth,  chaff,  as  well  as  bristles,  or  whatever 
takes  the  place  of  the  calyx  in  this  family, 
are  called  pappus. 

Papyraceous.  Of  a  texture  or  the  consistency 
of  writing  paper. 

Papy'rus.  From  the  Syrian  babeer,  pronounced 
papeer^  wiient-e  the  Egj'ptian  word  papyrus, 
paper.     Nat  Ord.  CyperacecB. 

A  small  species  of  aquatic  plants,  mostly 
inhabitants  of  tropical  countries.  P.  anli- 
quorum,  the  Egyptian  Paper  Reed,  is  the  plant 
which  yielded  the  substance  used  as  paper  by 
the  ancient  Egj'ptians.  The  underground 
root-stalks  spread  horizontally  under  the 
mud  where  the  plant  grows,  continuing  to 
throw  up  stems  as  they  creep  along.  Those 
stems  are  from  eight  to  ten  feet  high,  a  por- 
tion of  them  being  above  the  water.  The 
largest  portion  of  the  stalk  was  chosen  and 
was  split  down  one  side  ;  the  soft  centre  was 
removed,  and  the  sheath,  about  eight  inches 
in  breadth,  was  pressed,  polished,  and  rubbed 
with  oil  of  Cedar  to  preserve  it  from  decay. 
Two  sheets  were  then  gummed,  one  upon  the 
other,  in  such  a  way  that  the  fibres  of  one  run 
at  right  angles  to  those  of  the  second,  In 
order  that  sufficient  consistency  might    be 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


303 


PAR 

obtained ;  and  then  these  doubled  sheets  were 
attached  to  one  another  to  form  rolls  of  any 
desired  length.  Papyrus  was  so  generally 
used  even  in  the  later  Roman  period  that 
Cassiodorus,  says  a  recent  writer  in  the  Revue 
Horticole,  wrote  an  epistle  congratulating  the 
whole  human  race  upon  the  fact  that  tiie  im- 
port duty  laid  upon  it  by  Theodoric  had  been 
decreased.  In  the  time  of  Xerxes  an  immense 
number  of  Papyrus  cables  were  manufactured 
in  Egypt  for  use  in  his  fleets  and  in  his  bridge- 
building  enterprises.  The  stems  were  like- 
wise used  for  ornamenting  the  Egyptian 
temples  and  crowning  the  statues  of  their 
gods.  It  is  usually  cultivated  as  an  aquatic, 
and  may  be  grown  in  a  pot  of  rich  loam,  if 
kept  standing  in  a  pan  or  tub  of  water.  It 
forms  a  very  prominent  and  intereeting  plant 
in  an  aquarium  or  a  warm  sheltered  corner  of 
the  sub-tropical  garden.  It  is  easily  propa- 
gated by  division  of  the  creeping  rhizomes. 
The  stems  of  P.  corymbosus,  form  the  Indian 
matting,  of  which  large  quantities  are  impor- 
ted. This  genus  of  sedges  has  been  replaced 
under  Cyperus,  by  Bentham  and  Hooker. 

Paraoa'ryum.  From  para,  beside,  and  karyon, 
a  nut ;  in  reference  to  the  position  of  tlie  nut- 
lets.    Nat.  Ord.  BoraginacecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  biennial  or  perennial 
herbs,  natives  of  southern  Europe  and  central 
Asia.  Several  species  of  Cynoglosnum  and 
Omphalodes  are  now  included  under  this 
genus. 

Paradisa  Idliastrum.  This  is  given  as  the  cor- 
rect name  of  Anthericum  HUastrum. 

Paradise.  Gi'ains  of.  A  common  name  applied 
to  the  seeds  of  Amomum  Melegueta. 

Paradise  Nut.    The  fruits  of  Bertholletia  excelsa. 

Paraguay  Tea.     See  Ilex  Paraguariensis. 

Para  Nuts  or  Brazil  Nuts,  are  the  fruits  of 
Bertholletia  excelsa. 

Parasite.  A  plant  which  obtains  its  nourish- 
ment directly  from  the  juices  of  some  other 
plant  to  which  it  is  attached. 

Parasol.     Chinese.     Sterculia  platanifolia. 

Parchment  Bark.    Pittosporum  crassifolium. 

Parda'nthus.  Blackberry  Lily.  From  pardos, 
a  leopard,  and  anthos,  a  flower;  referring  to 
the  spotted  flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacem. 

P.  Chinensis,  the  only  species,  is  a  hand- 
some, hardy  herbaceous  plant,  with  orange - 
colored  flowers,  spotted  with  purple.  It  has 
branching  flower  stems,  and  continues  to  pro- 
duce its  lily-like  flowers  for  several  weeks. 
The  seed-pods  have  the  appearance  of  a 
Blackberry,  whence  the  common  name.  The 
seeds  will  not  drop  for  a  long  time  after  the 
branches  have  been  cut,  and,  when  dried,  are 
useful  to  mix  with  grasses,  in  arranging  dried 
bouquets.  It  was  introduced  originally  from 
China  and  Japan,  about  1825,  but  is  now  found 
naturalized  on  East  Rock.  New  Haven,  on  Long 
Island,  and  many  places  southward.  It  is 
easily  propagated'  by  seeds  or  division  of  the 
roots  in  spring. 

Parenchyma.  The  soft  cellular  tissue  of  plants, 
like  the  green  pulp  of  leaves. 

Pariera  Brava.  A  name  given  to  Cissampelos 
Pariera. 

Pariera  Brava.  White.  A  common  name  in 
Cayenne  for  Ahuta  rufescrrifi. 


PAR 

Parietal.  Growing  to  the  walls  or  interior  sur- 
faces of  any  ovary. 

Pariiia'rium.  From  Parinari,  the  native  name 
of  the  plant  in  Brazil.     Nat.  Ord.  RosacecB. 

A  genus  of  shrubs  or  trees,  natives  of 
Australia,  the  Pacific  Islands,  tropical  Africa, 
Brazil,  and  Guiana.  But  few  of  the  species 
are  in  cultivation.  P.  excelsum,  the  Guinea 
Plum,  and  P.  macrophyllum,  the  Gingerbread 
Plum,  are  noble  plants  bearing  large  terminal 
bunches  of  flowers,  but,  owing  to  their  size, 
they  are  seldom  found  in  cultivation  except 
in  botanic  gardens. 

Pari-pinuate.     Equally  or  abruptly-pinnate. 

Paris.  From  par,  equal ;  alluding  to  the  regu- 
larity of  the  parts.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

Herbaceous  perennials  with  creeping  rhi- 
zomes, natives  of  Europe  and  temperate  and 
mountainous  Asia.  P.  quadrifolia  (Herb- 
Paris)  sends  up  a  simple  stem  a  foot  high, 
bearing  at  its  summit  four  whorled,  large 
oval,  acute  leaves,  and  a  single  terminal  large 
green  flower.  The  leaves  and  stem  were 
formerly  used  in  medicine,  and  the  juice  of 
the  berry  is  considered  poisonous. 

Paris  Daisy.     Chrysanthemum  frutescens. 

Pari'tium.  From  pariti,  the  Malabar  name  of 
one  of  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Malvacece. 

P.  elatum,  the  only  species  of  this  genus,  is 
an  evergreen  tree  found  only  in  Cuba  and 
Jamaica,  where  it  is  called  Mountain  Mahoe. 
It  affords  tlie  beautiful  lace-like  inner  bark 
called  Cuba  Bast,  formerly  only  used  for  tying 
around  bundles  of  Havana  cigars,  and  once 
extensively  used  by  nurserymen  and  gardeners 
for  tying  up  trees  and  plants,  more  particu- 
larly in  budding.  It  is  not  so  valuable,  how- 
ever, for  this  purpose  as  the  more  ree<mtly 
introduced  tying  material  known  as  Raffia. 
This  genus  is  now  placed  under  Hibiscus, 
which  see. 

Pa'rkia.  Named  in  honor  of  Mungo  Park,  the 
celebrated  African  traveler.  A  small  but 
widely  spread  genus  of  Leguminosce,  found  in 
Africa,  India,  Java,  Surinam,  and  Brazil.  P. 
Africana,  the  African  Locust  tree — Netta,  or 
Nutta,  of  the  negroes— is  a  large  tree,  bearing 
bi-globular  heads  of  scarlet  flowers  at  the  end 
of  long  stalks,  followed  by  clusters  of  flat, 
leathery  pods,  containing  a  number  of  seeds 
enveloped  in  a  farinaceous  pulp,  from  which 
an  agreeable  beverage  is  made. 

Parkinso'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  John  Parkirt- 
son,  author  of  "Theatrum  Botanicum,"  pub- 
lished in  1629.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminosoB. 

An  ornamental  spiny  shrub,  common  to 
Lower  California  and  Mexico.  It  is  grown  in 
the  West  Indies  for  a  hedge  plant,  and  called 
Jerusalem  thorn. 

Parlor  Gardening.  In  parlor  gardening,  or 
the  keeping  of  plants  in  private  rooms,  one 
of  the  most  essential  things,  for  satisfaction 
to  the  owner,  is  to  start  with  young,  health}- 
plants,  rather  than  old  matured  specimens. 
One  of  the  most  common  errors  in  keeping 
plants  in  rooms  is  that  of  keeping  the  temper- 
ature too  high.  Very  few  plants  suitable  for 
the  parlor  grow  well  in  a  temperature  of  less 
than  50  degrees  at  night.  To  be  sure,  there  are 
quite  a  number  of  plants  grown  in  private 
rooms,  that  require  a  much  higher  temper- 
ature ;  but  to  have  satisfactory  results,  the 
two    divisions   should  be    kept  in    separate 


304 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PAE 

rooms  at  the  different  temperatures,  say  50 
degrees  at  night  for  the  so-called  green-house 
plants,  and  65  degrees  at  night  for  the  tropical 
or  hot-house.  A  few  of  the  best  green-house 
plants  suited  for  parlor  culture,  the  average 
temperature  at  night  being  50  degrees  are  as 
follows:  Azaleas,  Abutilons,  Ageratums, 
Callas,  Cinerarias,  Carnations,  Cyclamen, 
Camellias,  Eeheverias,  Ferns  (green-house 
and  Climbing),  Feverfews,  Fuclisias,  Ger- 
aniums (Pelargoniums),  Hoyas  (Wax  Flow- 
er), Holland  bulbs  of  all  kinds.  Ivies  (Pai'lor 
and  Hardy),  Lobelias,  Passifloras,  Roses,  etc. 
A  limited  list  of  the  best  suited  tropical  or  hot- 
house plants  for  parlor  culture,  the  temper- 
atui'e  at  night  to  average  65  degrees  is  as 
follows :  Allmandas,  Begonias,  Bouvardias, 
Caladiums,  Cissus,  Crotous,  Coleus,  Dracaenas, 
Ferns  (tropical),  Heliotropes,  Hibiscus,  Poin- 
settia,  Torenias,  Tropeeolums,  Palms,  etc. 
The  instructions  for  propagating,  watering, 
potting,  killing  of  insects,  soil,  mulching,  and 
all  other  operations  given  for  culture  of 
plants,  will  be  found  under  these  different 
heads,  and  will  be  found  equally  applicable  to 
the  culture  of  plants  in  rooms  as  in  green- 
house or  hot-house  culture.  Saucers  in 
which  to  place  the  pots  are  sometimes  a 
necessity  in  rooms  to  save  the  floors  from 
getting  wet ;  but  care  must  be  taken  not  to 
allow  the  water  to  stand  for  any  length  of 
time  in  the  saucers.  Plants  in  rooms  during 
the  winter  months,  when  grown  in  a  temper- 
ature of  50  degrees,  will  not  usually  require 
water  more  tlian  twice  a  week,  and  in  the 
temperature  of  65  degrees  perhaps  thrice 
a  week ;  but  in  no  case  water  unless 
the  lightness  of  the  color  of  the  soil  on  the 
top  gives  indications  that  the  plant  is  dry, 
and  then  water  sufficiently  to  go  tlirough  the 
pots ;  those  that  seena  less  dry,  water  more 
sparingly,  and  those  that  are  wet,  give  none 
whatever  until  they  become  dry,  no  matter 
how  long  the  time  may  be.  As  plants  grown 
in  rooms  have  only  one  side  to  Wie  light,  it 
will  conduce  to  the  health  and  symmetry  of  the 
plant  to  turn  it  around  at  least  once  a  week, 
so  that  each  side  will  have  a  like  proportion  of 
light. 

Parmentie'ra.  Named  after  A.  Parmentier,  a 
French  writer  on  edible  plants.  Nat.  Ord. 
Bignoniacece. 

P.  cereifera,  the  only  introduced  species,  has 
large  white  flowers,  followed  by  waxy-yellow 
fruits  two  to  three  feet  long,  hanging  down, 
and  much  resembling  candles,  hence  the  com- 
mon name  "Candle  Tree."  Introduced  from 
Panama  in  1866. 

Parna'ssia.  Grass  of  Parnassus.  Named  after 
Mount  Parnassus,  where  they  were  fabulously 
said  to  have  first  sprung.  Nat.  Ord.  Sax- 
ifragacecB. 

A  genus  of  swampy,  herbaceous  perennials. 
Several  of  the  species  are  common  throughout 
the  United  States  in  marshy  places.  P.  Carolin- 
iana.  Grass  of  Parnassus,  flowering  from  July 
till  September,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the 
species,  bears  from  the  root  several  bright 
green, smooth,  roundish  leaves,heart-shaped at 
the  base,  among  which  rises  to  the  height  of 
about  a  foot  a  simple  angular  stem,  terminating 
with  a  simple  large  flower  of  a  creamy  white 
color  delicately  veined  with  green.  P.  fimbri- 
ata,  found  from  Colorado  to  California,  and 


PAR 

northward  to  British  America  is  even  more 
attractive,  as  it  has  larger  flowers,  with 
peculiar  fringe-like  appendages  to  the  petals. 
It  has  kidney-shaped  root  leaves,  resembling 
those  of  P.  asarifolia,  another  native  species 
which  bears  similar  white  flowers,  but  with- 
out the  singular  fringes  to  the  petals.  P.  pa- 
lustrls,  common  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Supe- 
rior and  northward,  is  not  so  showy  as  the 
former,  but  is  very  beautiful,  and  is  the  only 
European  species. 
Paro'chetus.  From  para,  near,  and  ochetos,  a 
brook  ;  its  habitat.      Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  small  genus  of  prostrate  herbaceous 
plants  widely  distributed  over  the  mountain- 
ous regions  of  tropical  Asia,  and  in  some 
portions  of  Africa.  P.  communis  the  Sham- 
rock Pea,  the  only  cultivated  species,  is  a 
trailing  clover-like  plant,  with  bright-green, 
■  slightly  blotched  leaves,  growing  freely  dur- 
ing summer,  and  producing  its  solitary  bright- 
blue  flowers  of  amethyst  tint,  in  autumn, 
admirably  adapted  to  trail  down  the  face  of  a 
rockery.  Although  it  is  considered  a  hardy 
perennial,  yet  it  will  occasionally  get  winter- 
killed ;  therefore,  for  the  purpose  for  which 
it  is  adapted,  a  few  plants  should  always  be 
held  in  reserve  to  fill  any  vacancy  there  may 
be  in  spring. 

Parony'chia.  Nail-wort.  A  genus  of  the  Nat. 
Ord.  Illecehracece,  containing  about  forty 
species  of  but  little  interest  except  P.  serpyl- 
lifolia  which  makes  a  pret-ty  covering  for 
beds,  or  amongst  taller  growing  plants,  and 
is  much  used  in  carpet  bedding. 

Parro'tia.  Iron -tree.  Named  after  F.  Parrot, 
a  German  naturalist  and  traveler.  Nat.  Ord. 
HamamelidacecE. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  trees  or  shrubs, 
natives  of  northern  Persia  and  the  Caucasus. 
P.  Persica,  the  only  species  yet  in  cultivation, 
is  a  very  ornamental  tree  for  the  lawn ;  its 
yellowish  flowers  are  not  particularly  showy, 
but  its  ovate-oblong  deep  green  leaves  are 
verj'  striking  wdien  they  assume  their  au- 
tumnal tints  of  orange  and  scarlet.  It  is 
closely  allied  to  the  Liquidambar,  and  is 
increased  by  seeds  or  by  layers.  Introduced 
from  Persia  in  1848. 

Parrot's  Bill.      A   popular   name   of   Clianthu8 

pimiceus. 

Pa'rrya.  Named  in  honor  of  Capt.  W.  E.  Parry, 
the  Arctic  navigator.     Nat.  Ord.  CrucifercB. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  dwarf  pilose  plants,  all 
Arctic,  or  natives  of  the  highest  mountains  of 
northern  Asia.  P.  nudicaulis,  with  lilac  flow- 
ers, P.  integerrima,  bright  purple,  and  P. 
Artica,  pale  purple,  are  all  beautiful  plants  for 
the  rock-garden  or  rock-work.  P.  Arabidi- 
jlorum  is  a  synonym  of  Neuroloma  or  Arabis 
Arabidijiora. 

Parsley.  Apium  {Carum)  Petroselinum.  This 
well-known  seasoning  herb  is  a  hardy  bien- 
nial, a  native  of  Sardinia,  whence  it  was  intro- 
duced into  England  in  1548.  Its  uses  for 
culinary  purposes,  such  as  sauces,  soups,  and 
in  garnishing  various  dishes,  has  become 
very  general,  and  several  varieties  of  it  are 
offered  by  seedsmen.  Among  the  ancient 
Greeks  and  Romans,  Parsley  always  formed  a 
part  of  their  festive  garlands,  on  account 
of  retaining  its  color  so  long;  and  Pliny 
states  that,  in  his  time,  there  was  not  a  salad 


AND  GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


305 


PAR 

or  sauce  presented  at  the  table  without  it. 
The  ancients  supposed  it  absorbed  the  inebri- 
ating fumes  of  wine,  and  by  tliat  means  pre- 
vented intoxication.  Of  the  several  varieties, 
the  double  curled-leaved  is  preferred  for  use, 
as  being  more  ornamental  than  the  common 
sort,  of  which  it  is  nothing  more  than  a 
variety,  obtained  and  continued  by  careful 
selection.  We  have  ourselves  gathered,  for 
botanical  specimens,  plants  of  Parsley  from 
the  ruined  walls  of  Craigmiller  and  Crichton 
Castles,  near  Edinburgh,  evidently  the  origi- 
nal species,  as  the  leaves  were  perfectly  plain, 
having  no  trace  of  the  cui-1  that  makes  it  now 
so  attractive  for  garnishing,  showing  that  the 
warrior  lords  of  these  ancient  battlements 
had  not  troubled  themselves  to  make  any 
advance  in  the  ornamental  qualities  of  this 
vegetable.  Parsley  is  now  grown  in  immense 
quantities  for  spring  and  winter  use,  usually, 
in  cold  frames,  where  it  is  sown  in  February 
or  March,  at  the  time  the  Lettuce  is  planted. 
It  is  sown  between  the  rows  of  Lettuce, 
which  is  planted  six  inches  apart.  As  the 
seed  is  slow  to  germinate,  and  grows  slowly 
at  that  season  of  the  year,  the  Lettuce  crop 
is  cut  off  before  the  Parsley  gets  large  enough 
to  be  Injured.  It  develops  so  as  to  cover  the 
ground  usually  about  June  1st,  and  is  then 
cut  off  and  marketed.  It  soon  starts  to  grow, 
but  is  usually  of  little  value  until  the  late  fall 
months.  To  get  a  late  fall  crop,  it  is  cut  off 
and  thrown  away  by  about  September  15th. 
which  gives  a  full  and  heavy  crop  of  leaves 
by  November.  It  is  then  covered  with  sashes, 
which  are  raised  up  for  ventilation  in  mild 
weather;  and  thus  retarded,  a  full  crop  is 
easily  obtained  for  the  holidays,  when  it  is  in 
its  greatest  demand.  Another  plan  is  to  sow 
Parsley  in  shallow  boxes,  say  four  inches 
deep,  made  of  such  width  and  length  as  will 
fit  in  under  the  front  bench  of  the  green- 
house stage ;  far  enough  under  to  get  a  fair 
proportion  of  light,  say  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
inches.  In  this  position  it  will  grow  finely, 
and,  with  a  liberal  use  of  liquid  manure,  can 
be  cut  four  or  five  times  during  the  winter  in 
any  green-house  averaging  65°.  For  this  pur- 
pose the  seed  can  be  sown  in  the  boxes  as  late 
as  August. 

Hamburg  or  Turnip-rooted  Parsley  is  a 
variety  grown  only  for  the  use  of  its  fleshy 
roots,  which  are  cooked  and  eaten  like  Pars- 
nips. The  roots  may  be  stored  in  winter 
until  required  for  use. 

Neapolitan  or  Celery-leaved  Parsley  is 
sometimes  grown  for  the  use  of  the  leaf- 
stalks, which  are  blanched,  and  eaten  like 
those  of  Celery. 

Parsley  Fern.     See  Allosorus. 

Parsnip.  Peucedanum  sativum  (syn.  Pastinaca). 
The  common  garden  Parsnip  is  a  hardy  bien- 
nial, a  native  of  Great  Britain  and  the  south 
of  Europe.  It  has  also  become  naturalized 
to  a  considerable  extent  in  the  United  States. 
The  leaves  of  the  wild  kind  are  hairy  and  dark 
green  ;  in  the  cultivated  Parsnip,  smooth,  and 
of  a  light,  yellowish  gx"een.  The  Parsnip  has 
long  been  cultivated  as  an  esculent  ix)ot. 
According  to  Pliny,  they  were  held  in  such 
repute  by  the  Emperor  Tiberius  that  he  had 
them  annually  brought  to  Rome  from  the 
banks  of  the  Rhine,  where  they  were  then 
successfully  cultivated,    A  deep,  rich,  loamy 


PAS 

soil,  free  from  stones,  is  requisite  for  the 
favorable  growth  of  the  Parsnip ;  but  when 
grown  upon  poor  land,  it  loses  much  of  the 
rank  flavor  which  it  acquires  if  cultivated  in 
rich  soils,  and  though  not  nearly  so  abun- 
dant, is  far  more  sweet  and  agreeable.  Pars- 
nip seed  is  almost  useless  at  two  years  old, 
and  fresh  seed  is  even  slow  of  germination, 
and  is  one  of  the  seeds  which  should  always 
be  trodden  in  with  the  feet  or  firmly  rolled 
after  sowing.  Sow  in  drills  three  inches  aeep 
and  twelve  inches  apart.  In  England  the 
roots  are  used  to  make  a  domestic  wine. 

Parso'nsia.  In  memory  of  James  Parsons, 
M.D.,  a  Scotch  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Apocy- 
nacece. 

A  genus  of  twining  shrubs,  natives  of  Aus- 
tralia, New  Zealand,  and  tropical  Asia.  P. 
albiflora  bears  its  fragrant  white  flowers  in 
many-flowered  panicles.  But  few  of  the  spe- 
cies are  in  cultivation. 

Parterre.  A  French  term  used  to  denote  a 
small  enclosure  or  flower-gai'den,  laid  out  in 
different  sizes  and  shapes. 

Partial.  Secondary ;  partial  petiole,  a  division 
of  a  main  leaf-stalk,  or  the  stalk  of  a  leaflet ; 
partial  peduncle,  a  branch  of  a  peduncle,  etc. 

Partite.  Divided  into  a  number  of  segments, 
which  extend  almost  as  far  as  the  base  of  the 
part  to  which  they  belong,  as  Tripartite, 
three-parted ;  Quadripartite,  four-parted,  etc. 

Partridge  Berry.     See  Gaultheria  and  Mitchella. 

Partridge  Pea.     See  Cassia  chamxBcrista. 

Partridge  Wood.  The  wood  of  certain  South 
American  and  West  Indian  trees,  one  of 
which  is  Andira  mermis. 

Paspalum.  From  paspalos,  one  of  the  Greek 
names  for  Millet.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

P.  dilitatum  (syn.  P.  ovatum)  and  P.  platy- 
caule,  sometimes  called  Louisiana  Grass, 
natives  of  Virginia  and  southward,  are  men- 
tioned in  Dr.  George  Vasey's  report  to  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  1887,  as  valuable 
forage  grasses  for  the  South,  especially  P. 
dilatatum,  "  which  has  very  strong  roots,  and 
grows  in  the  longest  drought  almost  as  fast 
as  when  it  rains." 

Pasque  Flovs'er.     See  Anemone  Pulsatilla. 

Passeri'na.  From  passer,  a  sparrow,  in  allusion 
to  tlie  beaked  seeds.     Nat.  Ord.  Thymelacece,. 

A  genus  of  heath-like  shrubs,  natives  for 
the  most  part  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
Several  species  are  in  cultivation.  P.  tinctoria 
is  employed  in  dying  wood  yellow.  Cuttings 
of  the  young  wood  root  freely  in  sand. 

Passiflo'ra.  Passion  Flower.  From  passio,  suf- 
fering, and^os,  a  flower;  referring  to  the  fila- 
ments, or  rays,  and  other  parts,  being  likened 
to  the  circumstances  of  Christ's  crucifixion. 
Nat.  Ord.  PassiJloracecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy,  half-hardy, 
and  green-house  climbers,  mostly  natives  of 
tropical  America,  a  few  only  being  indigenous 
to  Asia.  The  name  was  applied  from  the 
resemblance  afforded  hy  the  parts  of  the  plant 
to  the  instruments  of  our  Lord's  Passion  and 
its  attendant  circumstances :  thus  the  three 
nails — two  for  the  hands  and  one  for  the  feet 
— are  represented  by  the  stigmas ;  the  five 
anthers  indicate  the  five  wounds ;  the  rays  of 
glory,  or,  as  some  say,  the  crown  of  thorns, 
are  represented  by  the  rays  of  the  "corona;" 


306 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PAS 

the  ten  parts  of  the  perianth  represent  the 
Apostles,  two  of  them  absent  (Peter,  who 
denied,  and  Judas,  who  betrayed  our  Lord.; 
and  the  wicked  hands  of  His  persecutors  are 
seen  in  the  digitate  leaves  of  the  plant,  and 
the  scourges  in  the  tendrils.  Had  this  genus 
been  named  by  modern  scientists,  it  is  proba- 
ble their  imagination  would  have  taken  a 
somewhat  different  direction.  All  the  Passion 
Flowers  are  handsome,  fast-growing  and  free- 
flowering  plants.  They  are  best  adaptt^d  for 
large  structures ;  in  small  houses  close  prun- 
ing becomes  necessary,  and  the  plants  conse- 
quently cannot  develop  their  true  characters. 
The  flowers  are  very  beautiful  in  som*^ 
species;  in  all,  they  are  of  singular  form  and 
very  interesting.  The  deep  red  or  scarlet 
P.  racemosa  (syn.  P.  princeps)  and  its  many 
hybrids,  P.  Raddiana  (syn.  P.  Kermesina),  and 
others  produce  their  flowers  in  long  pendulous 
racemes  and  are  unsurpassed  for  green-house 
decoration.  P.  quadrnngidaris.  and  its  varie- 
gated-leaved variety,  P.  q.  acubifolia,  P.  Decain- 
neana,  P.  alata,  etc.,  have  very  large  sweet- 
scented  flowers,  the  upper  side  of  the  calj'x 
and  petals  deep  crimson,  and  the  rays  varie- 
gated with  purple,  white,  and  crimson.  P. 
ccerulea  and  its  white  sweet-scented  variety, 
Constance  Elliott,  as  well  as  the  beautiful  hybrid, 
forms  P.  c.  Colvillei,  P.  c.  racemosa,  etc.,  are 
favorite  sorts  for  covering  arbors,  trellises, 
etc.,  and  are  often  used  as  drooping  plants  in 
large  vases  or  hanging  baskets.  They  are 
nearly  hardy  with  us  and  with  P.  incarnata  (the 
Maypops  of  the  Southern  States)  are  entirely 
so  south  of  "Washington.  Beautifully  golden- 
variegated  varieties  of  the  white,  P.  C.  Con- 
stance Elliott  and  P.  Pfordtii  have  been  pro- 
duced by  Mr.  John  Spalding,  of  New  London, 
Conn.,  by  grafting  them  on  the  golden-spotted 
P.  q.  acubifolia.  They  are  great  acquisitions 
to  our  list  of  variegated  climbers,  and  grow  and 
flower  as  freely  as  the  types.  P.  edulis  is 
sometimes  growm  for  its  edible  fruit  which  is 
purple  when  ripe,  the  pulp  orange-colored  and 
of  a  pleasant  sub-acid  taste  with  a  flavor  some- 
thing like  an  orange.  Several  other  species 
produce  edible  fruits,  which  are  greatly 
esteemed  in  their  native  countries.  All  of 
the  species  are  easily  increased  by  cuttings, 
except  P.  racemosa.  and  its  hybrids,  which 
grow  much  better  when  grafted  on  any  of  the 
free-growing  sorts. 

Passiflora'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbs  or 
shrubs,  often  climbing;  natives  chiefly  of 
warm  climates,  but  most  numerous  in  South 
America,  and  the  West  Indies.  Several 
species  are  of  economic  value,  some  of  them 
having  edible  fruit.  The  order  comprises 
nineteen  genera,  including  Tacsonia,  Passi- 
flora,  and  Carica,  and  upward  of  two  hundred 
species. 

Passion  Flower.  See  Passijlora.  The  name  is 
also  applied  to  the  species  of  Tacsonia. 

Pastina'ca.  Parsnip.  From  pastinum,  a  dibber ; 
referring  to  the  shape  of  the  root.  Nat.  Ord. 
UmbellifercB. 

A  genus  of  uninteresting  plants  with  the 
exception  of  P.  saliva,  the  Parsnip,  which 
see.  This  genus  is  now  included  under 
Peucedanuni. 

Patchouli  Plant.  The  common  name  of  Pogos- 
temon  Patchouli,  which  see. 


PAU 

Patens,  Patent.  Spreading  wide  open,  as  petals 
from  the  calyx. 

Patarso'nia.  Named  after  Col.  William  Pater^ 
son,  an  excellent  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  IridacecB. 
A  small  genus  of  green-house  herbaceous 
perennials  from  New  Holland,  with  purple. 
Iris-like  flowers,  very  showy,  but  of  so  short 
duration  that  the  plant  is  not  worth  cultivat- 
ing. 

Patience.  Patience  Dock,  or  Herb  Patience. 
Rumex  Patientia.  The  leaves  were  formerly 
much  used  in  France  and  England,  and  to 
some  extent  in  this  country  as  a  pot-herb, 
now  almost  entirely  superseded  by  Sjjinach. 

Patri'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  E.  L.  Patrin,  a 
Fi-ench  traveler  in  Siberia.  Nat.  Ord.  Valerian- 
aceoB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  perennial  herbs,  natives 
of  central  and  eastern  Asia.  Their  yellow 
flowers  are  borne  in  corymbose-paniculate 
cymes,  well  above  the  foliage.  They  will 
succeed  in  any  light,  rich  soil,  and  may  be  in- 
creased by  f-eeds.  Generally  cultivated  under 
the  name  of  Valeriajia. 

Patulous.     Moderately  spreading. 

Pauciflorus.     Few-flowered. 

Paulli'nia.  Named  after  Ch.  Fr.  Paullia,  a 
Danish  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Sapindacem. 

An  extensive  genus  of  South  American 
evergreen  climbers,  with  divided  compound 
leaves.  P.  thalictrifolia,  bears  clusters  of  pale 
pink  flowers,  but  is  cultivated  more  for  its 
beautiful  fern-like  foliage,  and  forms  a  very 
beautiful  climber  for  the  warm  green-house. 
It  was  introduced  fi'om  Rio  Janiero  in  1871, 
and  is  easily  increased  by  cuttings. 

The  seeds  of  P.  sorbilis  is  the  Guarana  of 
Brazil,  of  which  the"  Treasury  of  Botany " 
says :  "  The  Guarana  is  extensively  used  in 
'  Brazil,  Guatemala,  Costa  Rica,  and  other  parts 
(if  South  America,  as  a  nervous  stimulant  and 
restorative.  The  pounded  seeds  constitute 
Guarana.  It  is  used  both  as  a  remedy  for 
various  diseases,  and  also  as  a  material  for 
making  a  most  refreshing  beverage.  Not  only 
is  the  active  principle  of  Guarana  identical 
with  Theino,  but  as  far  as  is  known,  no  other 
substance  yields  it  so  abundantly,  the  amount 
being  5.07  per  cent.,  as  against  gond  Black 
Tea,  which  yields  2.13,  and' Coffee  from  .08  to 
1.00.  The  mode  of  using  the  Guarana  is 
curious  and  interesting.  It  is  carried  in  the 
pocket  of  almost  every  traveler,  and  with  it 
the  palate-bone  or  scale  of  a  large  fish,  the 
rough  surfaces  of  which  form  a  rasp,  upon 
which  the  Guarana  is  grated ;  and  a  few  of  the 
grains  of  the  powder  so  formed  are  added  to 
Avater,  and  drank  as  a  substitute  for  Tea.  The 
effect  is  said  to  be  very  agreeable." 
Paulo'wnia.  Named  after  the  hereditary  Prin- 
cess of  the  Netherlands,  daughter  of  the 
Emperor  of  Russia.  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulari- 
acece. 

P.  imperialis  comprises  this  genus.  It  is  a 
splendid  hardy  tree,  both  for  foliage  and 
flowers ;  in  habit  and  general  appearance  re- 
sembling the  Catalpa,  though  less  hardy. 
The  j'oung  shoots  are  liable  to  be  killed  by 
frost  in  this  latitude,  but  if  protected  for  one 
winter,  they  will  not  require  further  atten- 
tion, and  its  rapid  growth  afterwards  will  well 
repay  for  that  little  trouble,  with  a  beautiful 
flowering  shade  tree.    The  flowers,  which  re- 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


307 


PAU 

semble  the  Gloxinia  in  shape,  are  blue  when 
first  expanded,  gradually  turning  to  bluish 
lilac,  about  two  inches  in  length,  and  are  pro- 
duced in  terminal  panicles  or  from  seeds. 
The  branches  become  very  brittle  with  age, 
and  are  easily  broken  by  strong  winds ;  and 
this  has  been  a  gieat  objection  to  its  use  as 
an  ornamental  tree  for  the  lawn,  for  which  it 
is  otherwise  admirably  suited.  Introduced 
from  Japan  in  1840,  and  propagated  by  root 
cuttings  or  by  seeds. 

Pauperitioiis.  Poor ;  having  a  starved  appear- 
ance. 

Pave'tta.  The  name  of  one  of  the  species  in 
Malabar.     Nat.  Ord.  RuhiacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house,  white- 
flowered  evergreens,  allied  to  the  Ixora,  and 
requiring  the  same  treatment.  P.  borbonica, 
a  handsome  species,  is  the  one  chiefly  grown 
in  our  green-houses. 

Pavia.  Buck-eye.  Named  in  honor  of  Peter 
Faiv,  a  Dutch  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Sapin- 
dacecB. 

A  division  of  the  genus  ^sculus,  includ- 
ing the  dwarf  smooth-fruited  varieties.  See 
^sculus. 

Pavo'nia.  Named  after  Josef  Pavon,  M.D.,  a 
Spanish  botanist,  and  traveler  in  Peru.  Nat. 
Ord.  MalvacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  low-growing  shrubs  and 
herbaceous  perennials,  natives  of  South 
America.  They  are  allied  to  the  Mallow,  and 
have  showy  scarlet  flowers.  The  beautiful 
green -house  species  known  as  P.  Makoyana, 
and  P.  Wjjoti,  are  now  placed  under  Goethea, 
which  see. 

Paxto'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Sir  Joseph 
Paxton,  author  of  several  works  on  botany 
and  gardening.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  Orchids  now  included 
under  Spathoglottis. 

Pea.  A  common  name  for  various  members  of 
the  Nat.  Ord.  Papilionacece 

Pea.     Angola.     Cajanus  Indicus. 

Black-eyed.    A  West  Indian  name  for  Dolichos 

sphcerospermus. 
Black-rooted.     Orobus  niger. 
Butterfly.       The  popular    name    for  Clitoria 

Mariana. 
Chick.      See  Cicer  arietinum.      The  name  was 

formerly  written  Cich  or  Ciclie,  sometimes 

Rammes  Ciches. 
Earth,     Lathi/rus  amphicarpus. 
Earth-nut.     Lathyrus  tuberosus. 
Egyptian.     Cicer  arietinum. 
Everlasting.      Lathyrus  platyphyllus  (syn.  L. 

latifolius). 
Field  or  Gray.     Pisum  .sativum  var.  arvense. 
Glory.     See  Clianthus  Dampieri. 
Heart.     Cardiospermum  Halicacabum. 
Heath.     Lathyrus  macrorhizus. 
Hoary.     The  genus  Tephrosia. 
Lord  Anson's.   See  Lathyrus  Magellanicus. 
Milk.     The  genus  Galactea. 
No-eye.     Cajanus  indicus  fiavus,  which  see. 
Orange.      The  small  immature  fruit  of  the 

Cura^oa  Orange  used  for  flavoring  wines. 
Partridge.       Heisteria    coccinea    and     Cassia 

ChamcBcrista. 
Pigeon.     Ervum  Ervilia. 

Pigeon.     Of  the  West  Indies.      Cajanus    In- 
dicus. 
Poison  of  Australia.     The  genus  Swainsonia. 


PEA 

Rosary.     The  seeds  of  Abrus   precatorius. 

Sea-side.     Lathyrus  marilimus. 

Sensitive.      A  common  name  for  Cassia  nic- 

titans. 
Shamrock.     Parochetus  communis. 
Sugar.      A  name  given  to  some  varieties  of 

Pisum  sativum,   which  have  tender   edible 

pods. 
Sweet.     Lathyrus  odoratus. 
Tangier.     Lathyrus  Tingitanus. 
Wood.     Lathyrus  sylvestris,  and  Orobus  sylva- 

ticus. 

Pea.  Pisum  sativum.  The  varieties  of  the  com- 
mon Pea  are  numerous,  and  differ  widely, 
some  not  growing  more  than  one  foot  high, 
others  growing  ten  to  twelve.  The  difference 
in  the  seed  contrasts  as  strangely,  some  being 
small,  hard,  and  nearly  tasteless,  while  otliers 
are  large,  rich,  and  luscious.  The  history  of 
the  Pea,  like  many  of  our  most  familiar  gar- 
den vegetables,  and  even  its  native  country, 
are  involved  in  obscurity.  It  is  generally 
supposed  to  be  a  native  of  the  south  of 
Europe,  and  to  have  been  introduced  into 
English  gardens  at  a  very  early  period.  It  is 
recorded  in  English  history,  that  when  the 
English  forces  were  besieging  a  castle  in 
Lothian,  in  the  year  1299,  their  supply  of  pro- 
visions was  exhausted,  and  their  only  resource 
was  in  the  Peas  and  Beans  of  the  surrounding 
fields.  This  circumstance  would  warrant  the 
belief  that  the  Pea  was  one  of  the  staple 
articles  of  produce  for  human  food.  The 
more  delicate  kinds,  however,  do  not  appear 
to  have  been  cultivated  until  a  much  later 
period.  Mention  is  made  of  Peas  being 
brought  from  Holland  in  the  time  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  that  were  "fit  dainties  for  ladies, 
they  came  so  far  and  cost  so  dear."  In  the 
reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  too,  the  Pea  appears  to 
have  been  somewhat  of  a  rarity,  as  in  the 
privy  purse  expenses  of  that  king  is  an  entry : 
"Paied  to  a  man  in  rewarde  for  bringing 
pescodds  to  the  king's  grace,  iiij«.  viiid." 
The. varieties  and  sub-varieties  of  this  vege- 
table are  almost  innumerable,  and  are  being 
constantly  brought  forward.  That  there  has 
been  a  steady  improvement  in  the  quality  of 
the  Pea,  every  one  that  has  given  its  cultiva- 
tion the  least  attention  must  admit,  and  that 
we  are  indebted  to  the  English  gardeners  and 
amateurs  for  these  improvements,  must  also 
be  admitted.  Our  own  seedsmen  are  beginning 
to  realize  the  fact,  that  it  is  discreditable  to 
themselves  and  their  country  to  be  o.itdone. 
even  in  Peas,  and  have  produced  some  new 
varieties  of  superior  merit.  Peas  for  seed  are 
now  grown  largely  in  New  York  State  and 
Canada ;  previously  they  were  nearly  all  im- 
ported. 

Peach.  Persica  vulgaris.  Persia  is  credited 
with  being  the  native  country  of  the  Peach, 
and  to  have  disseminated  it  largely.  Colu- 
mella says  the  Peach,  when  first  brought  into 
the  Roman  empire  from  Persia  was  poisonous, 
an  opinion  that  has  been  questioned  by  other 
writers.  It  was  early  introduced  into  Greece, 
but  at  what  period  is  uncertain.  The  Romans 
brought  it  direct  from  Persia  during  the  reign 
of  the  Emperor  Claudius.  It  was  first  men- 
tioned by  Columella,  and  afterward  described 
by  Pliny.  From  the  best  information  we  can 
obtain,  the  natural  fruit,  or  wild  Peach,  was 
much  inferior  to  the  first  introduced  into  the 


308 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PEA 

United  States  in  1680.  "When,  where,  or  by 
whom  the  improvements  were  made,  is  not 
even  a  matter  of  conjecture.  What  is  posi- 
tively Ivnown  of  the  Peach  at  the  present  day 
is,  that  the  United  States  and  China  produce 
the  finest  in  the  world.  English  gardeners, 
on  coming  to  the  United  States,  are  at  a  loss 
to  understand,  that  while  in  latitudes  here 
where  the  thermometer  falls  15"  below  zero, 
orchards  of  Peach  ti-ees  stand  unprotected  in 
the  open  field,  while  in  England,  where  the 
thermometer  rarely  reaches  zero,  the  Peach 
must  have  the  protection  of  a  brick  wall,  or 
it  fails  to  prove  hardy.  The  reason  is,  that 
our  hotter,  drier  summer  and  fall  months 
better  ripen  the  young  shoots  than  the  colder 
and  moister  climate  of  Britain.  The  Peach 
tree  is  short-lived  in  most  sections  of  this 
country,  attaining  its  best  fruiting  condition 
usually  from  six  to  ten  years  old.  It  pi-efers 
a  light,  warm  soil,  and  is  much  benefited  by 
an  occasional  dressing  of  wood  ashes.  In 
planting,  the  trees  should  be  cut  back  severely, 
the  main  stem  reduced  about  one  third,  and 
the  side  branches  cut  back  to  one  bud.  This 
lessens  the  demand  upon  the,  roots,  and 
enables  the  remaining  buds  to  push  more 
vigorously.  The  heads  should  be  kept  low, 
the  trunks  not  to  exceed  three  feet  in  height, 
and  as  the  fruit  is  produced  on  the  wood  of  last 
season's  growth,  the  necessity  for  keeping  up 
a  good  supply  of  annual  shoots  all  over  the 
tree  is  obvious.  Regular  spring  pruning 
should  therefore  be  attended  to,  the  weak 
shoots  being  shortened  one  half,  and  the 
strong  ones  one  third,  care  being  taken  to 
leave  a  sufficient  supply  of  flower  buds. 
This  keeps  the  head  round,  full,  and  well  fur- 
nished with  bearing  wood,  reduces  the  chances 
of  wind-falls  to  a  minimum,  and,  if  annually 
followed,  will  give  them  compact  heads  in- 
stead of  open,  straggling  ones,  the  branches 
of  which  break  down  with  the  first  full  crop 
of  fruit.  In  the  Peach-growing  1 1 i>^tiicts  the 
cultivators  do  not  expect  more  than  three 
crops  in  five  years ;  and  if  they  get  two  full 
crops  in  that  time  they  are  content,  and  ama- 
teurs should  expect  no  more.  When  a  crop 
sets  at  all  there  is  usually  more  fruit  than  the 
tree  can  carry  and  ripen.  No  fruit  needs 
severe  thinning  more  than  the  Peach.  In 
bearing  seasons  half  or  two-thirds  of  the 
Peaches  which  set  may  be  removed  with 
benefit  to  the  rest.  The  fruit  should  be 
a-eraoved  when  about  the  size  of  Hazel-nuts. 
"Two  maladies  affect  the  Peach  Tree,  and, 
because  they  are  little  understood,  have  ren- 
dered this  fine  fruit  tree  comparatively  short- 
lived, and  of  little  value  in  some  sections  of 
the  country.  These  are  the  Yellows  and  the 
Peach-borer.  The  former  appears  to  be  a 
constitutional  disease,  no  external  cause  being 
assigned  for  it,  and,  as  yet,  there  appears  to 
be  no  remedy 'for  it,  but  by  exterminating, 
root  and  branch,  every  tree  which  is  infected 
with  it.  The  eggs  which  produce  the  borer 
are  deposited  in  the  soft  portion  of  the  bark 
just  at  the  surface  of  the  earth.  If  a  quantity 
of  leached  ashes  or  common  soil  be  heaped  to 
the  height  of  one  foot  around  the  trunk  in 
May  and  suffered  to  remain  until  October,  the 
borer  will  not  attack  it.  Another  simple 
remedy  is,  in  spring,  to  wrap  the  stem  in 
strong  coarse  or  tar  paper  about  a  foot  high, 
securely  tying  it  and  protecting  the  lower  part 


PEA 

with  earth." — Downing's  Fruits  and  Fruit 
Trees  of  America.  The  distance  the  trees 
should  be  set  apart- may  be  from  ten  to 
twelve  feet.  Among  the  favorite  varieties 
for  garden  culture  may  be  named  the  follow- 
ing, for  the  descriptions  of  which  see  nursery 
catalogues :  Alexander,  Hale's  Early,  Yellow 
Hare-ripe,  Early  Louise,  Crawford's  Early, 
George  the  Fourth,  Early  Silvei",  Large 
Early  York,  Coolidge's  Favorite,  Haine's 
Early,  Stump  of  the  World,  Noblesse,  Morris 
White,  Surpasse  Melocoton,  Crawford's  Late, 
etc. 

The  Double-Blossomed  Peach  is,  when 
in  full  bloom,  one  of  the  gayest  and 
most  beautiful  of  fruit  trees,  and  bloom- 
ing with  its  lovely  companion  the  Double- 
Flowering  Cherry,  finds  a  place  in  all  our 
pleasure-grounds  and  ornamental  plantations. 
Its  flowers  are  of  a  lively  red  color,  nearly 
full  double,  and  so  thickly  disposed  on  the 
branches  as  to  be  very  striking  and  showy. 
This  sort  is  rendered  more  dwarf  for  shrub- 
beries by  budding  it  upon  the  Mirabelle  or 
the  Cherry  Plum  stock.  The  fruit,  which  is 
sparingly  produced,  is  roundish  oval,  pale 
greenish-yellow,  tinged  with  red,  and  is  of 
indifferent  flavor.  The  Crimson  or  Camellia- 
flowered,  with  large  double  flowers  of  a  rich 
crimson  hue,  especially  attractive  and  showy, 
the  Carnation-flowered  with  flowei's  striped 
like  a  Carnation,  the  Variegated-flowered 
with  flowers  of  different  hues  on  the  same 
tree,  and  the  White-flowei-ed  with  pure  white 
very  double  flowers,  are  among  the  more 
recent  introductions,  and  grouped  with  the 
older  varieties  are  very  effective,  and  planted 
either  singly  or  in  groups  produce  most 
charming  effects  in  the  early  spring. 

Peach  Myrtle.  A  common  name  for  Hypo- 
calymna  robustum. 

Peach  Palm.  The  popular  name  for  Gulielma 
speciosa. 

Peacock  Flo^wer.  The  common  name  for  Poin- 
ciana  regia. 

Peacock  Flow^er  Fence.  A  common  name  for 
Adenanthera  pavonina. 

Peacock  Iris.  See  Vieiisseuxia.  Syn.  Iris 
pavonia. 

Peacock  Treasure  Flower.  A  name  given  to 
Gaztinia  pavonia. 

Pea  Nut.     See  Arachis. 

Pear.  Pynis  communis.  The  Pear,  like  the 
Apple,  is  indigenous  to  most  parts  of  Europe. 
Historically  speaking,  it  is  not  so  ancient  as 
the  Apple.  At  what  period  it  became  amelior- 
ated, or  removed  from  its  wild  state,  is  un- 
known. In  regard  to  its  hardiness  and  longev- 
ity, it  is  greatly  superior  to  the  Apple  or  any 
other  of  our  fruits.  There  are  trees  exis^ting, 
and  in  bearing  condition,  over  three  hundred 
years  old.  The  Romans  cultivated  thirty-six 
varieties  in  the  days  of  Pliny  ;  and  Parkiiistm, 
in  his  Herbal  (1629)  speaks  of  sixty-four  sorts 
in  the  London  nurseries.  The  history  of  the 
cultivated  Pear  has  never  been  written.  It 
was  at  an  early  period  common  in  Syria, 
Egvpt,  and  Greece ;  whence  it  was  imported 
into  Italy, France, Germany,  and  Great  Britain. 
Pear  culture  in  France  has  been  carried 
on  to  a  most  wonderful  extent,  thirty-six 
hundred  varieties  having  been  offered  from 
one  nursery.  The  Pear,  though  not  indigenous 


> 


m^ 


PAbSIFLORA   (JOHN   bPALDING) 


PEAB  (SPECIMEN  DWABF). 


PENNIBEXUM  LAIIPOLIUM  (GYMNOTHEH). 


PELABGONTUM  ECHTNATUM. 


PELAEGOKItTM  (DOUBLE  IVY). 


PELAEGONIUil    (UOLDEN   TBICOLOB). 


PELAfiOONIUM  (SHOW  OK  BEOAL). 


PENCHXABIA  (pearl  MTT.T.gT) 


309 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


309 


PEA 

to  the  United  States,  grows  here  to  the  great- 
est perfection,  both  as  regards  quality  and 
quantity."  The  leading  horticulturists  of  the 
country  having  made  a  speciality  of  its  cul- 
tivation, aided  by  congenial  soil  and  climate, 
their  efforts  for  the  production  of  perfect  fruit 
have  been  happily  rewarded.  The  Seckel,  the 
recognized  standard  of  perfection  wherever 
the  Pear  is  grown,  is  of  American  origin,  hav- 
ing originated  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Seckel, 
about  four  miles  from  Philadelphia.  The  fol- 
lowing extract  from  Downing's  "Fruits  arid 
Fruit  Trees  of  America"  may  prove  interesting 
to  many:  "The  precise  origin  of  the  Seckel 
Pear  is  unknown.  The  first  pomologists  of  Eu- 
rope have  pronounced  that  it  is  entirely  distinct 
from  any  European  variety,  and  its  affinity  to 
the  Rousselet,  a  well-known  German  Peai", 
leads  to  the  supposition  that  the  seeds  of  the 
latter  Pear,  having  been  brought  here  by  some 
of  the  Germans  settling  near  Philadelphia, 
by  chance  produced  this  superior  seedling. 
However  this  may  be,  the  following  morceau 
of  its  history  maybe  relied  upon  as  authentic, 
it  having  been  lelated  by  the  late  venerable 
Bishop  White,  whose  tenacity  of  memory  is 
well-known.  About  eighty  years  ago,  when 
the  Bishop  was  a  lad,  there  was  a  well-known 
sportsman  and  cattle-dealer  in  Philadelphia, 
who  was  familiarly  known  as  "  Dutch  Jacob." 
Every  season,  early  in  the  autumn,  on  return- 
ing from  his  shooting  excursions,  Dutch  Jacob 
regaled  his  neighbors  with  Pears  of  an  un- 
usually delicious  flavor,  the  secret  of  whose 
place  of  growth  however,  he  would  never 
satisfy  their  curiosity  by  divulging.  At  length 
the  Holland  Land  Company,  owning  a  consid- 
erable tract  south  of  the  city,  disposed  of  it  in 
parcels,  and  Dutch  Jacob  then  secured  the 
ground  on  which  his  favorite  pear  tree  stood, 
a  fine  strip  of  land  near  the  Delaware.  Not 
long  afterwards  it  became  the  farm  of  Mr. 
Seckel,  who  introduced  this  remarkable  fruit 
to  public  notice  and  it  received  his  name, 
*  *  *  The  original  tree  still  exists  (or  did  a 
few  years  ago),  vigorous  and  fruitful.  Speci- 
mens of  its  pears  were  quite  lately  exhibited 
at  the  annual  shows  of  the  Pennsylvania  Hor- 
ticultural Society." 

The  Pear  is  a  peculiar  fruit  in  one  respect, 
which  should  always  be  kept  in  mind, 
viz. :  that  most  varieties  are  much  finer 
in  flavor  if  picked  from  the  tree  and  ripened 
in  the  house,  than  if  allowed  to  become  fully 
matured  on  the  tree.  There  are  a  few  excep- 
tions to  this  rule,  but  they  are  very  few ;  and 
on  the  other  hand  we  know  a  great  many  varie- 
ties that  are  only  second  or  third  rate  when 
ripened  on  the  tree,  but  possess  the  highest 
and  richest  flavor  if  gathered  at  the  proper 
time  and  allowed  to  mature  in  the  house. 
This  proper  season  is  easily  known,  first,  by 
the  ripening  of  a  few  full  grown,  but  worm- 
eaten  specimens,  which  fall  soonest  from  the 
tree ;  and  secondly,  by  the  change  of  color 
and  the  readiness  of  the  stalk  to  part  from  its 
branch  on  gently  raising  the  fruit.  Pears 
are  grown  as  dwarfs  and  standards;  the 
former  being  planted  from  eight  to  ten  feet 
apart,  the  latter  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet.  The 
dwarfs,  budded  on  the  quince  stock,  are 
mostly  used  for  garden  culture,  as,  from  their 
habit,  they  are  more  suitable,  besides  having 
the  invaluable  quality  of  coming  quicker  into 
bearing.    Time  was  when  the  adage  went. 


PEA 

"  He  that  plants  Pears,  plants  for  his  heirs ;  " 
but  this  is  now  no  more  applicable  to  the  Pear 
than  to  the  Peach  ;  for  we  can  have  fine  crops 
of  Pears  budded  on  the  Quince  in  three  to 
five  years  from  the  time  of  planting.  The 
following  varieties  are  recommended  for  cul- 
tivation on  the  Quince.  All  are  hardy,  vigor- 
ous and  handsome  growers,  and  bear  well. 
(For  descriptions,  see  nursery  catalogues.) 
Bartlett,  Brandywine,  Margaret,  Duchess 
d'Angouleme,  Belle  Lucrative,  Doyenne  Bous- 
sock,  Beurre  Hardy,  Howell,  Louise  Bonne  of 
Jersey,  Beurre  Superfin,  Beurre  d'Anjou, 
Easter  Beurre,  and  Lawrence.  In  addition  to 
the  above  the  following  well-known  sorts  will 
be  found  to  succeed  admirably,  grown  as 
standards.  Clapp's  Favorite,  Souvenir  du 
Congres,  Tyson,  Beurre  Bosc,  Flemish  Beauty, 
Hoosic,  Seckel,  Urbaniste,  Beurre  Clairgeau, 
Dana's  Hovey,  Winter  Nelis,  Josephine  of 
Malines,  etc. 

Pear,  Avocado  or  Alligator.      Peraea  gratis- 
sinia. 

Pear.    Prickly.     See  Opuntia. 

Pear.    Strawberry.     Cereus  triangularis. 

Pearl  Bush.      The  popular  name  of  Exochorda 
grandijlora. 

Pearl  Millet.  Pencillaria  spicata.  This  fodder 
plant  has  been  largely  grown  during  the  past 
few  years,  and  promises  to  be  most  valuable 
for  that  purpose,  particularly  in  the  Southern 
States.  It  is  a  tender  plant ;  that  is,  being  of 
tropical  origin  it  will  not  grow  until  the  soil 
and  atmosphere  are  in  the  condition  to  grow 
Corn,  Tomatoes,  Melons,  or  such  plants  as 
require  a  high  temperature  for  growth.  Like 
all  plan^  grown  for  fodder,  the  richer  the  soil 
the  greater  the  product.  We  quote  from  our 
published  article  on  the  subjectin  the  "Ameri- 
can Agriculturist,"  November,  1878,  the  local- 
ity of  the  experiment  being  on  our  grounds  in 
Jersey  City, N.  J.  :  "Pearl  Millet  has  been  cul- 
tivated for  some  years  as  a  forage  plant  in 
some  of  the  Southern  States,  as  '  African 
Cane,'  'Egyptian  Millet,'  'Japan  Millet,'  and 
in  some  places  as  '  Horse  Millet,'  and  '  Cat-tail 
Millet.'  But  little  was  known  of  it  at  the 
North  before  last  year,  and  then  only  in  such 
small  quantities  as  to  hardly  allow  of  a  fair 
trial.  From  what  we  saw  of  it  in  1877,  we 
determined  to  give  it  a  thorough  trial  this 
season.  A  piece  of  good,  strong,  loamy  ground 
was  prepared  as  if  for  a  Beet  or  Turnip  crop, 
by  manuring  with  stable  manure  at  the  rate 
of  ten  tons  to  the  acre,  plowing  ten  inches 
deep,  and  thoroughly  harrowing.  The  Millet 
was  then  sown  in  drills  eighteen  inches  apart, 
at  the  rate  of  eight  quarts  to  the  aci-e.  We 
sowed  on  the  15th  of  May,  about  the  date  we 
sow  corn,  and  in  twelve  days  the  plants  were 
up  so  that  a  cultivator  could  be  run  between 
the  rows,  after  which  no  further  culture  was 
necessary,  for  the  growth  became  so  rapid 
and  luxuriant  as  to  crowd  down  every  weed 
that  attempted  to  get  a  foothold.  The  first 
cutting  was  made  July  1st,  forty-five  daj's 
after  sowing.  It  was  then  seven  feet  high, 
covering  the  whole  ground,  and  the  crop,  cut 
three  inches  above  the  ground,  weighed,  grreen, 
at  the  rate  of  thirty  tons  per  acre;  this,  when 
dried,  gave  six  and  a  half  tons  per  acre, 
as  hay.  After  cutting,  a  second  growth 
started,  and  was  cut  August  15th,  forty-five 
days  from   the   time   of   the   first   cutting. 


310 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PEA 

Its  height  was  nine  feet.  It  weighed  this 
time  at  the  rate  of  fifty-five  tons  to  the  acre, 
green,  and  eiglit  tons  dried.  Tlie  third  crop 
started  as  rapidly  as  the  second,  but  the  cool 
September  nights  lessened  its  tropical  luxuri- 
ance, so  that  this  crop,  which  was  cut  on 
October  1st,  only  weighed  ten  tons  green,  and 
one  and  a  half  tons  dried.  The  growth  was 
simply  enormous,  thus:  First  crop  in  forty- 
five  days  gave  thirty  tons  green,  or  six  and 
a  half  tons  dry ;  second  crop  in  forty-five  days, 
gave  fifty-five  tons  green,  or  eight  tons  dry ; 
third  crop  in  forty-five  days,  gave  ten  tons 
green,  or  one  and  a  half  tons  dry ;  the  aggre- 
gate weight  being  ninety-five  tons  of  green 
fodder  in  135  days  from  tlie  date  of  sowing, 
and  sixteen  tons  when  dried  to  hay.  This 
exceeds  the  Clover  meadows  of  Mid-Lothian, 
which,  when  irrigated  by  the  sewage  from  the 
City  of  Edinburgh,  and  cut  every  four  weeks, 
gave  an  aggregate  of  seventy-five  tons  of 
green  Clover  per  aero.  There  is  little  doubt 
that  Pearl  Millet  is  equally  as  nutritious  as 
Corn  fodder,  which  it  resembles  even  more 
than  it  does  any  of  the  other  Millets.  We  found 
that  all  our  horses  and  cattle  ate  it  greedily, 
whether  green  or  dry.  If  sowing  in  drills  is 
not  practicable,  it  may  be  sown  broadcast, 
using  double  the  quantity  of  seed,  say  sixteen 
quarts  per  acre.  The  ground  should  be 
smoothed  by  the  harrow,  and  again  lightly 
harrowed  after  sowing.  If  rolled  after  har- 
rowing, all  the  better.  I  know  of  no  farm 
crop  that  will  better  repay  high  manuring, 
but,  so  great  is  its  luxuriance,  that  it  will  pro- 
duce a  better  crop  witiiout  manuie  than  any 
other  plant  I  know  of.  In  those  parts  of  the 
Southern  States  where  hay  cannot  4>e  raised, 
this  is  a  substitute  of  the  easiest  culture  ;  and 
being  of  tropical  origin,  it  will  luxuriate  in 
their  long  hot  summers.  Even  though  our 
Northern  seasons  may  be  too  short  to  mature 
the  seeds,  our  experiments  in  New  Jersey  this 
summer  show  what  abundant  crops  may  be 
expected  if  similar  conditions  are  secured. 
Pearl  Millet  as  a  fodder  plant  presents  a  new 
feature  in  our  agriculture,  and  I  feel  sure  that 
within  ten  years  we  shall  wonder  how  we 
ever  got  on  without  it.  As  we  have  had 
many  inquiries  as  to  the  best  manner  of  dry- 
ing Pearl  Millet  for  'Hay,'  we  would  state 
that  our  crop  was  sown  in  a  solid  block,  so 
that  when  cut  it  had  to  be  removed  from  the 
land  where  it  grew,  tied  in  sheaves,  and 
hung  up  on  an  extemporized  rail  fence.  This 
plan,  of  course,  would  not  answer  when  grown 
on  a  large  scale,  as  the  crop  is  so  enormous 
that  such  an  expedient  for  drying  would  be 
too  expensive  both  for  labor  and  rails,  and  as 
it  is  too  heavy  and  succulent  to  be  dried,  like 
Timothy  and  Clover,  on  the  ground  where  it 
is  cut,  it  must  be  removed,  for  to  attempt  to 
dry  it  where  it  grows  would  destroy  the 
second  crop.  Circumstances,  of  course,  must 
in  a  great  measure  be  the  guide,  but  we  would 
suggest  that,  when  grown  for  the  purpose  of 
being  dried,  it  be  sown  in  beds,  say  twelve 
feet  wide,  with  alleys  six  feet  between,  where 
it  may  be  dried;  this,  of  course,  would  be  a 
loss  of  one-third  of  the  land  for  the  first  crop, 
but  it  would  be  little  or  no  loss  of  crop  in  the 
second,  for  the  Millet  would  spread  so  as  to 
fill  up  all  the  six  feet  of  alley." 

Pearl-Plant.     Lithoapermum  officinale. 


PED 

Pearls  of  Spain.  Muscari  botryoides,  var. 
album. 

Pearl  Weed  or  Pearl  Wort.     See  Sagina. 

Pearly  Everlasting.     See  Antennaria. 

Pecau  Nut  {Carya  olivceformis). 

The  Pecan  is  cultivated  quite  extensively 
now  in  the  Southern  States,  and  it  may  be- 
found  growing  on  river-banks  from  Indiana  to 
Texas.  Although  the  tree  is  well  known  for 
its  delicious  nuts,  which  constitute  an  article 
of  considerable  commerce,  it  has  not  been 
cultivated  systematically  for  profit  until  re- 
cently, except  in  a  few  localities  in  Texas  and 
Mexico.  The  demand  for  Pecan-nuts  both  in 
this  country  and  in  Europe,  far  exceeds  tlie 
supply,  and  owners  of  land  in  the  South,  bor- 
dering on  river  bottoms,  would  do  well  to 
plant  it  with  the  thin  or  paper  shelled  variety. 
In  Florida  there  are  many  acres  of  low  rich 
land,  aptly  called  there  "flat  woods,"  which 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  drain,  and  which,  as 
the  trees  do  not  seem  to  mind  an  overflow  of 
water  occasionally,  would  be  just  the  place  foi- 
Pecan  groves.  Land  along  the  bayous  and 
river-bottoms  all  over  the  Southern  States, 
being  comparatively  cheap,  owing  to  destruc- 
tive overflows  of  water,  the  prot^pcct  is  that 
much  of  this  waste  land  will  be  taken  up  by 
Pecan-groves,  which  will  well  repay  the 
planter  in  eight  or  ten  years  at  most.  Young 
groves  planted  some  few  years  ago  in  a  low 
flat-W'Ood  as  an  experiment,  are  now  doing 
finel3^  As  they  increase  in  size  and  age  their 
growth  becomes  rapid  and  their  bearing  in- 
creases, the  crop  nearly  doubling  itself  every 
year  or  two. 

Pectinate.  Pinnatifid,  or  pinnately  divided  into 
narrow  and  close  divisions,  like  the  teeth  of  a 
comb. 

Pe'otis.  From  pecten,  a  comb ;  referring  to  the 
pappus.     Nat.   Old.  Compositce. 

A  large  genus  of  green-house  or  half-hardy 
annual  or  perennial  herbs,  natives  of  the 
warmer  parts  of  America,  from  Brazil  or 
Bolivia  as  far  as  Mexico.  P.  angustifolia  is  a 
charming  annual,  well  suited  for  bedding  pur- 
poses. It  ranges  in  height  from  six  to  ten 
inches,  and  the  flowers  are  of  rich  golden  yel- 
low, and  so  freely  produced  as  to  form  dense 
cushions.  It  was  introduced  to  cultivation  in 
1865. 

Pedalia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbaceous 
perennial,  rarely  annual  plants,  natives  of 
tropical  countries,  principally  Africa.  The 
order  is  allied  to  Bignoniacece,  but  differs  in 
the  divisions  of  the  seed  pod  and  the  wingless 
seeds.  The  seeds  of  Sesarnum  indicum  and  S. 
orientale  yield  an  abundance  of  fixed  oil  of  good 
quality,  known  as  Sesamum  or  Gingile  Oil. 
The  young  seed- pods  of  Martynia,  the  Unicorn 
plant,  are  used  for  pickling.  Martynia,  Unca- 
ria  and  Sesamum,  are  examples  of  the  genera, 
which  number  about  a  dozen. 

Pedate.  Resembling  a  bird's  foot ;  a  modifica- 
tion of  the  palmate  leaf,  when  its  lower  lobes 
are  again  divided  and  directed  downwards,  as 
in  Saxifraga  pedatijida. 

Pedicel.  The  stalk  of  each  particular  fiower  in 
a  cluster. 

Pedicula'ris.  From  pediculus,  a  louse  ;  the  sup- 
posed effect  on  sheep  eating  it.  Nat.  Ord. 
Scrophulariacece. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


311 


FED 

A  genus  of  plants  popularly  known  as 
Louse-worts.  P.  sylvatica  and  P.  palustris, 
indigenous  to  Great  Britain,  were  formerly 
supposed  to  produce  in  sheep  eating  ttiem  the 
disease  which  gave  name  to  the  genus ;  but 
there  is  no  good  reason  for  such  belief.  Some 
of  the  species  are  beautiful  little  plants,  with 
very  regular,  finely  cut  leaves.  P.  Canadensis, 
the  Wood  Betony,  is  a  rather  showy,  native 
perennial,  with  spikes  of  greenisli-yellow  and 
purple  flowers,  common  in  open  woods  and  on 
banks,  flowering  from  May  till  July.  P.  lan- 
ceolata  is  brighter  in  color,  from  one  to  three 
feet  high,  and  is  found  in  swamps  from  Con- 
necticut to  Virginia  and  Wisconsin.  It  flowers 
during  August  and  September. 

Pedilau'thus.  From  pedilon,  a  slipper,  and 
anthos,  a  flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Euphorbiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  curious  plants,  resembling 
in  habit  and  general  appearance  the  Euphorbia, 
to  which  genus  they  may  be  referred  for  culti- 
vation. 

Peduncle.  A  flower-stalk,  whether  of  a  single 
flower,  or  of  a  flower  cluster. 

Peg-wood.  A  name  applied  to  Cornus  sanguinea, 
and  Euonymus  EuropcBvis. 

Pelargo'nium.  Stork's  bill.  From  pelargos,  a 
stork ;  referring  to  the  beak-like  formation  of 
the  seed-pod.     Nat.  Ord.  GeraniaceoB. 

A  very  extensive  genus  of  green-house  ever- 
green-shrubs, and  a  limited  number  of  bien- 
nials and  annuals.  They  are  mostly  natives 
of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope ;  a  few  occur  in 

'  Australia,  one  in  the  Canary  Islands  and  one 
in  Asia  Minor.  The  Scarlet  kinds  are  popu- 
larly called  Geraniums,  though  very  different 
from  the  genus  of  that  name,  when  viewed  in 
a  botanical  sense.  The  greater  number  of 
kinds  cultivated  in  the  green-house  and  garden 
are  hybrids,  which  are  produced  with  great 
facility  in  this  genus.  The  number  of  varieties 
already  produced,  embracing  a  great  range  of 
form  and  color,  is  truly  astonishing,  and  every 
year  adds  to  the  number  new  varieties  in  some 
respect  superior  to  any  before  introduced. 
The  improvements  in  the  foliage  even  has 
been  almost  as  marked  as  in  the  flower.  We 
have  now  a  sufficient  number  of  varieties  with 
ornamental  foliage  to  constitute  a  distinctive 
feature  in  the  green-house,  and  which  are  use- 
ful to  the  florist  in  making  up  his  bouquets, 
baskets,  and  ornamental  designs  All  this 
is  due  to  the  untiring  zeal  of  the  florist.  We 
cannot  follow  up  the  history  of  the  introduc- 
tion of  these  choice  hybrids,  but  must  be 
content  with  giving  a  brief  account  of  the 
species  to  which  the  various  classes  belong. 
All  the  species  noted  are  natives  of  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope,  unless  otherwise  mentioned. 
The  Fancy  and  Show  Pelargoniums,  strictly 
green-house  varieties,  and  unsuitable  for  the 
border,  are  descendants  of  P.  grandiflorum, 
introduced  in  1794.  One  of  the  hybrids  was 
called  "Lady  Washington,"  which  gave  the 
whole  class  the  popular  name,  "  Lady  Wash- 
ington Geraniums."  Some  division  of  this 
class  also  liave  the  distinctive  appellation  of 

.  French  Pelargoniums,  probably  because  they 
had  their  origin  with  the  French  hybridists. 
As  specimen  plants  for  green-house  or  con- 
servatory decoration,  these  have  decided 
merit.  There  are  few  cultivated  plants  that 
make  a  more  beautiful  display,  when  they 
receive  the  care  and  attention  they  need.     P. 


PEL 

inquinana.  Scarlet  Pelargonium,  is  one  of  the 
parents  of  that  large  and  important  class  now 
known  as  Bedding,  Scarlet,  or  Zonal  Gera- 
niums, and  formerly  very  generally  called  Fish 
and  Horseshoe  Geraniums,  and  of  which  we 
now  have  an  immense  variety  of  double  and 
single,  embracing  every  shade  of  scarlet, 
crimson,  rose,  carmine,  violet,  white,  etc. 
This  species  has  a  splendid  habit,  being  dwarf 
and  compact,  the  flowers  are  intense  scarlet, 
of  good  form  and  substance ;  it  has  large  reni- 
form,  indistinctly  zoned  leaves,  soft  to  the 
touch,  and  exhaling,  when  rubbed,  an  aromatic 
odor,  which  is  unpleasant  to  most  persons. 
P.  zonale.  Zonal  Geranium,  or  Horseshoe 
Geranium,  so-called  from  a  dark,  discolored 
zone  on  the  surface  of  the  leaf,  is  a  smaller 
species  than  the  preceding,  and  has  the  leaves 
more  strongly  marked.  The  petals  of  the 
flower  are  narrower,  and  of  a  deep  carmine 
color.  A  variety  of  this,  P.  marginatum,  is 
the  well-known  Silver-leaved  Geranium.  All 
the  "Tricolors,"  such  as  Mrs.  Pollock,  Sunset, 
Golden  Tricolor,  etc.,  have  originated  from 
the  above  few  species.  It  must  not  be  su|i- 
posed  that  all  these  beautiful  colors,  both  in 
foliage  and  flower,  have  been  produced  hastily, 
or  that  they  ai"e  in  the  true  sense  hybrids. 
Persistent  cross  fertilization  of  the  many 
varieties,  that  has  been  carried  on  for  the 
last  thirty  years,  has  given  us  the  rare  sorts 
enumerated  in  florists'  catalogues.  We  think 
it  is  not  to  be  doubted,  however,  that  some 
of  the  "  Tricolors  "  are  simply  "Sports."  P. 
peltatum  is  the  Ivy-leaved  Geranium.  Of  this 
species  there  are  two  varieties  that  were 
introduced  in  1701,  and  from  these  have 
sprung  many  beautiful  sorts,  which  grow 
rapidly  and  flower  freely.  From  their  grace- 
ful, trailing  habit  they  are  useful  for  window 
gardening  and  rustic  work.  Many  of  the  Ivy- 
leaved  have  handsome  double  flowers.  Of 
the  species,  besides  those  noted  above,  we 
will  briefly  mention  P.  echinatum,  introduced 
into  England  in  1797,  but  mostly  lost  sight  of 
until  recently,  except  in  collections  of  old 
plants.  It  is,  indeed,  an  entirely  distinct  spe- 
cies, and  one  of  the  best  for  general  cultiva- 
tion for  cut  flowers.  The  foliage  is  covered 
with  a  white,  silvery  down ;  the  lower  petals 
of  the  flowers  are  pure  white,  and  the  upper 
ones  marked  or  blotched  with  dark  purple  or 
maroon.  In  their  habitat  several  variations 
in  color  appear,  but  are  all  of  the  same  general 
character.  P.  capitatum  is  the  popular  Rose 
Geranium,  which  was  introduced  in  1690.  P. 
querdfolium  is  the  larger  Oak-leaved  Geranium, 
introduced  in  1774.  P.  graveolens  is  the  Lemon- 
scented  Geranium ;  P.  vitifolium  is  the  Balm- 
scented  Geranium,  receiving  its  specific  name 
from  the  resemblance  of  its  leaves  to  those  of 
the  Vine ;  P.  fragrans  is  the  Nutmeg-scented 
Geranium,  introduced  in  1731 ;  P.  tomentosum 
is  the  Pennyroyal  Geranium  ;  P.  gratum  is  the 
Citron-scented  Geranium ;  P.  odorata  is  the 
Apple-scented  Geranium.  Between  some  of 
the  above  species  hybrids  have  been  produced, 
but  we  cannot  trace  them  with  any  degree  of 
confidence,  and  therefore  make  no  mention  of 
them. 

Pelecy'phora.  Hatchet  Cactus.  From  pelaky- 
phoros,  hatchet-bearing,  referring  to  some 
fancied  resemblance  in  the  tubercles  to  a 
hatchet.     Nat.  Ord.  Cactacea. 


312 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PEL 

P.  Aselliformis,  the  only  described  species, 
has  white  and  rose  colored  flowers,  borne 
near  the  summit  of  the  stem.  It  is  very 
nearly  allied  to  theMammillarias,  but  in  place 
of  the  spines  of  that  genus  it  bears  two  rows 
of  flat  horny  scales,  which  ovei'lap  like  the 
tiles  on  a  roof.  It  was  introduced  from  Mex- 
ico in  1843. 

Pele'xia.  From  pelex,  a  helmet,  referring  to  the 
sha{)e  of  the  back  sepals.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchid- 
ccece. 

A  small  genus  of  terrestrial  orchids,  natives 
of  tropical  America.  The  species  are  not  very 
ornamental,  and  are  seldom  seen  in  cultiva- 
tion. 

Pelican-Flower.  A  common  name  for  Aristo- 
lochia  grandiflora. 

Pe'Uaea.  An  extensive  genus  of  Ferns,  both 
native  and  exotic,  many  of  them  very  hand- 
some. P.  gracilvi,  and  P.  atropurpurea,  are 
our  best  known  native  species.  According  to 
later  authorities  many  of  the  species  formerly 
placed  under  Plalyloma,  Allosorus,  Pteris,  etc., 
are  now  classed  with  this  genus.  As  consti- 
tuted at  present  it  contains  upwards  of  sixty 
species. 

Pellicle.  A  thin  skin  that  envelopes  certain 
seeds. 

Pellio'nia.  Named  after  A.  A.  Pellion,  an  officer 
in  Freycinet's  voyage  round  the  world.  Nat. 
Ord.  UrticacecB, 

A  genus  of  stove-house  plants,  often  creep- 
ing at  the  base  ;  natives  of  tropical  and  eastern 
Asia,  as  far  as  Japan  and  the  Pacific  Islands. 
P.  Daveauana  is  by  its  pendant  habit  admir- 
ably adapted  for  basket-work  for  the  green- 
house. The  leaves  much  resemble  Trades- 
cantia  zebrina  in  shape,  but  are  much  more 
handsome.  The  centre  of  the  leaves  is  light 
green,  with  a  broad  band  around  the  margin  of 
dark  brown  or  chocolate.  At  first  sight  it 
would  easilj-  be  mistaken  for  one  of  the  fine- 
foliaged  Begonias  but  it  is  quite  distinct  from 
that  genus.  Introduced  from  Cochin  China  in 
1880. 

Pellitory  of  Spain.     See  Anthemis. 

Pellitory  of  the  Wall.     Parietaria  officinalis. 

Pelo'ria.  An  irregular  flower,  become  irregular 
by  a  monstrous  development  of  complemen- 
tary irregularities  (Prof.  Asa  Gray). 

Pelta'ndra.  From  pelte,  a  buckler,  and  aner,  a 
man.     Nat.  Ord.  AroideoB. 

P.  Virginica,  formerly  called  Arum  Virgini- 
cum,  is  a  common  aquatic  plant,  in  shallow 
waters,  from  New  York  southward.  The 
root-stock  contains  a  considerable  amount 
of  starch. 

Peltate.  Target-shaped,  shield-like ;  attached 
by  the  middle,  as  the  leaf  of  Tropmolum. 

Peltatifid.     When  a  peltate  leaf  is  sub-divided. 

Pelviform.     Shallowly  cup-shaped ;   basin-like. 

Penang  Lawyers.     See  Licuala. 

Pencil  Flower.    The  genus  Styloaanthes. 

Pendulous.    Drooping ;  hanging  down. 

Penicilla'ria.  From  penicillua,  a  pencil ;  in  allu- 
sion to  the  spikes.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  genus  of  grasses  now  included  under 
Pennisetum. 

Penicillate,  Penicilliform.  Resembling  a 
camel's-hair  pencil ;  consisting  of,  or  covered 


PEN 

with  hairs,  which  are  nearly  parallel  with  each 
other.  Sometimes  marked  with  color,  as  if 
laid  on  in  streaks  w^th  a  camel's-hair  pencil. 
Penniform.  Having  the  ribs  of  a  leaf  arranged 
in  a  pinnated  leaf,  but  confluent  at  the  point 
as  in  the  Date  Palm. 

Penninerved,  Penniveined.  Having  main  veins 
or  ribs,  running  straight  from  the  margins,  at 
equal  distances. 

Penuise'tum.  From  penna,  a  feather,  and  seta, 
a  bristle ;  referring  to  the  long  feathered 
bristles  of  the  flower  spikes.  Nat.  Ord. 
Graminacece. 

A  small  genus  of  grasses  of  no  agricultural 
value,  but  affording  one  or  two  species  that 
are  highly  prized  in  the  ornamental  garden, 
and  for  their  uses  as  dried  grasses  in  the 
various  forms  in  which  they  are  employed. 
One  of  the  most  beautiful  species  is  Pennisetum 
longyslylum,  and  for  a  low  growing  grass  there 
is  none  more  to  be  desired.  The  heads  are 
cj'lindrical  in  form  and  their  weight  bends 
down  their  slender  culms  into  every  variety  of 
the  line  of  beauty ;  the  glumes  and  paleae  are 
of  delicate  whiteness,  and  the  styles  so  long 
and  feathery  that  they  resemble  tassels  of 
white  chenille.  It  grows  from  two  to  three 
feet  high  and  forms  a  very  handsome  clump. 
P.  latifolium  (syn.  Gymnothrix  latifolium), 
introduced  from  Montevideo  in  1869,  is  also 
a  very  ornamental  perennial  species,  with 
beautiful  nodding  spikes.  It,  as  well  as  P. 
longyslylum,  should  be  taken  up  at  the  approach 
of  winter  and  placed  under  cover. 

Pennyroyal.  The  common  name  of  Mentha 
Pulegium. 

Pennyroyal.  American.  The  popular  name  of 
Hedeoma  pulegeoides. 

Pennyroyal.  Bastard.  Trichoatema  dichoto- 
mum. 

Pennyroyal.     False.     Isanthus  cceruleus. 

Pennyroyal.     Tree.     Satureja  viminea. 

Pennywort.  Sibthorpea  Europcea;  also  Coty- 
ledon Umbilicus,  and  Linaria  Cymbalaria. 

Pennywort.     Marsh.     Hydrocotyle  vulgaris. 

Pennywort.     Water.  Hydrocotyle  Americana. 

Pentade'sma.  From  pente,  five,  and  desma,  a* 
bundle  ;  the  stamens  are  disposed  in  bundles 
of  five.     Nat.  Ord.   GuttiferoB. 

P.  butryacea,  the  Butter  and  Tallow  Tree 
of  Sierra  Leone,  is  a  large  tree,  yielding  in 
several  parts,  especially  in  the  fruit,  when  cut, 
a  yellow  greasy  juice,  whence  is  derived  its 
popular  name.  The  leaves  are  large,  leathery, 
beautifully  marked  with  numerous  parallel 
veins ;  the  flowers  large  and  handsome,  soli- 
tary and  terminal.  The  fruits  are  said  to  be 
edible.  It  was  introduced  in  1H22  and  may  be 
propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  ripened  wood. 

Pentape'ra.  From  pente,  five,  and  pera,  a  bag; 
referring  to  the  five-celled  ovary.  P.  sicula, 
the  only  described  species,  is  a  low,  much- 
branched,  Heath-like  shrub,  a  native  of 
Sicily,  Cyprus,  and  Barca,  distinguished 
from  the  true  Heaths  by  its  pentamerous 
flowers  (which  Sir  Joseph  Hooker  points  out 
is  not  a  constant  character),  by  its  large 
sepals  and  pubescent  ovary.  The  flowers  are 
larger  than  those  of  the  other  European 
Heaths,  and  are  pure  white. 


AND   GENEKAL  HOKTICULTURE. 


313 


PEN 

Pentaptery'gium.  From  pente,  five,  and  ptery- 
gion,  a  small  wing.     Nat.  Ord.   VacciniacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  shrubs.natives 
of  the  temperate  Himalayas  and  the  Khasia 
Mountains.  The  flowers  are  red,  yellow,  or 
white  bedewed  with  red,  rather  large  and 
showy.  P.  flavum,  flowers  yellow,  margined 
with  red ;  P.  rugosum,  flowers  nearly  white, 
beautifully  marbled  with  purple  or  b)ood-red 
bands,  and  P.  serpens,  with  bright  red  flowers, 
are  the  best  known  species,  and  are  all  neat 
and  attractive  plants.  As  they  are  naturally 
epiphytal  in  their  habits,  they  can  be  grown 
in  hanging-baskets  or  pots  as  desired,  and 
are  propagated  by  cuttings. 

Pentarha'phia,  From  pen/e,  five,  and  raphis,  a 
needle ;  referring  to  the  form  of  the  open 
calyx.  A  genus  of  GesneracecE,  composed  of 
shrubby  or  half-shrubby  plants  inhabiting  the 
West  India  Islands,  a  few  being  also  found  in 
Central  America.  Several  species  with  bright 
red,  or  scarlet  fiowers  are  in  cultivation.  For 
culture,  etc.,  see  Gesnera. 

Pe'ntas.  From  pente,  five ;  referring  to  the 
number  of  petals  and  stamens.  Nat.  Ord. 
RubiacecB, 

P.  camea,  the  best  known  species,  is  a  very 
handsome  green-house  plant  with  delicate 
flesh-colored  flowers,  copiously  produced  in 
dense  corymbs  or  cymes.  It  is  valuable,  not 
only  for  the  richness  of  its  flowers,  but  also 
for  the  lengthened  period  during  which  they 
are  produced,  and  although  it  requires  a  hot- 
house to  flower  freely  in  winter,  yet  it  may  be 
kept  in  a.  green-house,  and  will  then  bloom 
from  April  till  the  following  October.  Propa- 
gated by  cuttings  of  young  shoots  in  sandy 
soil  in  the  hot-bed  or  green-house  in  spring; 
the  young  plants  will  bloom  freely  during  the 
summer.  Introduced  from  South  Africa  in 
1842. 

Pentla'ndia.  Named  after  J.  B.  Pentland,  an 
English  consul-general  in  Peru.  Nat.  Ord. 
AmaryllidacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  showy  green-house 
bulbous  plants  from  Peru.  P.  miniata,  the 
most  beautiful  of  the  species,  bears  a  solitary 
lanceolate  leaf,  appearing  before  the  flowers, 
which  are  borne  on  a  solid  scape  supporting 
an  umbel  of  about  half  a  dozen  drooping  ver- 
milion colored  flowers.  They  flower  in  early 
autumn,  and  should  rest  during  winter,  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  Amaryllis.  They 
were  first  introduced  in  1836,  and  are  propa- 
gated by  offsets.  This  genus  is  included 
under  Urceolina  by  some  authors. 

Pentste'mon.  From  pente,  five,  and  stemon,  a 
stamen ;  there  are  four  perfect  stamens  and 
one  imperfect.     Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  and  half-hardy 
herbaceous  plants.  Several  of  the  species  are 
common  from  North  Carolina  to  Florida.  The 
more  showy  species,  those  usually  cultivated, 
are  natives  of  Texas,  Oregon,  Colorado, 
Rocky  Mountains,  etc.,  and  Mexico.  Those 
introduced  into  the  garden  are  beautiful 
plants,  growing  from  one  to  three  feet  high, 
with  white,  pink,  scarlet,  blue,  or  purple 
flowers,  produced  freely  from  April  until 
October.  Within  the  past  few  years  great 
improvements  have  been  made  in  the  garden 
varieties  or  so-called  hybrids  of  the  Pent- 
stemon,  by  judicious  selection  of  seminal 
varieties  of  P.   Hartwegii,  P.  Cobcea,  and  P. 


PEP 

Gentianoides,  which,  though  they  possess  a 
wide  variation  in  color,  lack  the  beautiful 
clear  blue  which  we  find  in  some  of  the  spe- 
cies. Most  of  them  grow  well  in  a  light  loam. 
They  should  have  as  dry  a  situation  as  the 
garden  affords,  as  they  suffer  more  from  wet 
than  cold,  and  are  the  better  of  the  protection 
of  a  cold  frame  during  winter.  Several  of  the 
Californian  species,  of  late  introduction,  are 
very  difficult  to  winter  over  in  the  border ; 
being  found  in  a  coarse,  sandy  soil,  and  their 
period  of  rest  being  the  dry  season,  they 
seem  little  inclined  to  adapt  themselves  to 
our  climate.  The  beauty  and  profusion  of 
the  flowers  will,  however,  pay  for  the  protec- 
tion they  may  need  against  the  elements. 
Many  of  the  species  will  flower  the  first 
season  from  seed,  if  sown  in  the  green-house, 
or  on  an  early  hot-bed,  and  once  transplanted 
before  being  transferred  to  the  open  border. 
The  following  species  are  all  desirable :  P. 
azureus,  P.  barbatus,  P.  campanulatus,  P.  Cobma, 
P.  diffitsus,  P.  Fendleri,  P.  heterophyllus,  P. 
Jaffrayamis,  P.  Murrayanus,  P.  procerus,  P. 
Scouleri,  etc. 

Peo'ny.     See  Pceonia. 

Pepero'mia.  From  piper,  pepper,  and  omoios, 
similar.    Nat.  Ord.  Piperacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  green-house  ever- 
green and  herbaceous  ornamental-leaved 
plants,  abundant  in  Central  and  South 
America,  the  Sandwich  Islands,  southern 
Africa,  and  the  East  Indies.  The  majority 
are  small  creeping  plants  with  fleshy  leaves, 
growing  on  trunks  of  trees,  or  on  damp  rocks ; 
others  are  more  erect,  of  a  shrubby  character, 
and  are  terrestrial  in  their  habits.  Several  of 
the  species  have  been  introduced  into  the 
green-house  for  the  sake  of  their  foliage; 
prominent  among  them  is  P.  maculosa,  a  dwarf- 
growing  species,  with  inconspicuous  flowers, 
but  very  beautiful  foliage.  This  species  is 
readily  increased  by  leaf  cuttings,  treated  in 
the  same  manner  as  Begonia  Rex.  It  is  a 
native  of  St.  Domingo.  First  introduced  in 
1790.  P.  resedcBjlora,  or  Mignonette  flowered, 
introduced  from  New  Grenada  in  1870,  bears 
small,  spire-like  spikes  of  white  flowers  at  the 
apex  of  pink  stems,  the  lower  portions  of 
which  are  furnished  with  small  velvety  leaves. 
It  is  used  for  button-hole  bouquets,  and  is 
suitable  for  florists'  work  generally.  P.  brevi- 
pes  (syn.  P.  prostrata),  introduced  in  1880,  has 
round,  thick,  fleshy  leaves,  variegated  with 
light  and  dark  shades  of  green,  and  a  brown- 
ish tinge.  They  are  borne  on  long  slender 
stems,  which  appear  to  the  best  advantage 
when  pendulous,  grow  rapidly,  and  may  be 
readily  increased  by  pegging  small  portions  of 
the  stem  down  on  the  soil.  It  is  admirably 
adapted  for  basket  culture,  well-grown  speci- 
mens furnishing  beautiful  drooping  sprays 
four  to  five  feet  long. 

Pepo.  "  A  one-celled,  many-seeded,  inferior 
fruit,  with  parietal  placentsB,  and  a  pulpy 
interior,  as  a  Gourd." — Lindley. 

Pepper.    See  Piper. 

Pepper.    Bird.     Capsicum  baccatum. 

Pepper-bush.  Sweet.  A  common  name  for 
Clelhra  alnifolia. 

Peppergrass.    See  Lepidium. 

Pepperidge.     See  Xyssa. 


314 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


PEP 

Peppermint.     Mentha  piperita. 

Pepper-root.     See  Denlaria. 

Pepper  Slirub.     See  Schinus. 

Pepper  Viue.  A  popular  name  of  Ampelopsis 
bipinnata. 

Pepper.  White,  is  Piper  nigrum  with  the  black 
hur,ks  removed. 

Pepperwort.     See  Lepidium. 

Peppermint-Tree.  A  common  name  for  several 
species  of  Eucalyptus. 

Perennials.  Plants  which  last  for  several  years 
are  termed  Perennials.  This  term  is  most 
generally  applied  to  hardj'  herbaceous  plants 
of  this  character,  when  it  is  necessary  to  dis- 
tinguish between  those  which  are  perennials, 
and  those  which  are  of  only  annual  or  biennial 
duration.  For  a  selection  of  which,  see  "  Her- 
baceous Plants." 

Perennis.    Lasting  from  year  to  year. 

Pere'skia.  Barbadoes  Gooseberry.  Named  after 
Nicholas  F.  Pieresk,  a  French  patron  of  botany. 
The  generic  name  is  sometimes  written  Pier- 
escia.     Nat.  Ord.  Cactacem. 

This  genus  consists  of  about  a  dozen  species, 
and  is  allied  to  the  Cactus.  Some  are  tree- 
like and  have  woody  stems,  but  they  are 
mostly  shrubs  with  fleshy  stems,  flat  leaves, 
and  round  branches  armed  with  tufts  of 
spines,  and  bearing  terminal  solitary  or  clus- 
tered flowers,  generally  on  short  stalks.  P. 
aculeata  is  indigenous  in  the  West  Indies, 
where  it  is  commonly  known  as  the  Barbadoes 
Gooseberry  or  Gooseberry  Shrub.  It  grows 
about  fifteen  feet  high,  the  stem  armed  with 
bundles  of  straight  spines,  and  having  trailing 
branches  bearing  oblong,  elliptical  leaves  and 
clusters  of  beautiful  white  flowers,  and  yellow, 
eatable,  and  pleasant-tasted  fruit,  which  is 
used  in  making  preserves,  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  the  common  garden  Gooseberry  is 
used.  This  species  is  an  excellent  subject  to 
graft  Epiphyllums,  etc.,  on,  and  is  much  used 
for  that  purpose.  P.  Bleo  is  called  Bleo  by  the 
natives  of  New  Grenada,  where  it  is  indigen- 
ous. It  is  a  shrub  growing  eight  or  ten  feet 
high,  with  rather  soft,  fleshy  leaves,  five  or  six 
inches  long,  of  an  elliptical  form,  sharp  pointed 
at  the  top,  and  tapering  to  the  base.  It  bears 
handsome  rose-colored  flowers,  with  ten 
petals  in  two  series,  the  inner  of  which  are 
the  largest  and  deepest  colored.  The  leaves 
are  eaten  as  a  salad  in  Panama.  Propagated 
by  cuttings. 

Perfect.     Complete  in  all  the  usual  parts. 

Perfoliate.  When  the  two  basal  lobes  of  an 
amplexicaul  leaf  are  united  together,  the  leaf 
completely  surrounding  the  stem,  so  that  the 
stem  seems  to  pass  through  the  leaf,  as  in 
Eupatorium  perfoliatum  (Boneset). 

Perforate.  Pierced  with  holes,  or  with  trans- 
parent dots  resembling  holes,  as  an  Orange 
leaf. 

Pergula'ria.  From  pergula,  trellis-work  ;  refer- 
ring to  its  quick  climbing  growth.  Nat.  Ord. 
AsclepiadacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
climbers,  allied  to  Stephanotis.  Some  of  the 
species  are  remarkable  for  their  sweet-scented 
greenish  white  flowers.  They  are  natives  of 
the  East  Indies  and  Java,  but  are  very  little 
cultivated. 


PEE 

Perianth.  The  calyx  and  corolla  combined ; 
that  is  to  say,  when  they  look  so  much  alike 
that  they  cannot  be  readily  distinguished,  as 
in  a  Hyacinth. 

Pericarp.  The  shell  or  rind  of  all  fruits  taken 
as  a  whole.  When  it  separates  into  layers, 
each  layer  may  have  a  different  name,  but  the 
w^hole  is  still  the  pericarp. 

Pericladium.  The  sheathing  base  of  a  leaf  when 
it  expands  and  surrounds  the  supporting 
branch ;  the  dilated,  sheathing  base  of  home 
petioles,  especially  among  Umbellifers. 

Periclinium.  The  involucre  of  the  flower-heads 
of  Composites. 

Periderm,  Peridermis.  The  outer  cellular  layer 
of  bark  below  the  epidermis. 

Peri§ynous.  Growing  upon  some  part  which 
surrounds  the  ovary,  usually  the  calyx,  though 
sometimes  the  corolla  is  also  included  within 
the  meaning. 

Peri'lla.  Derivation  of  name  unknown.  Nat. 
Ord.  Labiatce. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  annuals,  natives  of 
China  and  East  Indies.  P.  ocymoides  crispa 
(syn.  P.  Naiikinensis)  has  deep  purple  leaves, 
and  at  one  time  was  much  used  as  an  orna- 
mental border  plant,  but  from  its  somewhat 
weedy  appearance  and  wonderful  productive- 
ness, it  has  been  pretty  generally  discarded. 

Periplo'ca.  From  periploke,  an  intertwining; 
referring  to  the  habit  of  the  plant.  Nat.  Ord. 
Asclepiadacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  deciduous  and 
green-house  evergreen  twiners,  inhabiting 
southern  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa.  P.  Grceca, 
an  ornamental  species,  has  long  been 
known  in  cultivation,  and  is  very  common  in 
the  hedge-rows  of  southern  Europe.  It  has 
purplish  flowers,  arranged  in  axillary  clusters. 
The  juice  of  this  species  is  exceedingly 
poisonous,  and  is  used  in  the  East  for 
destroying  wolves.  Propagated  by  layers  or 
cuttings. 

Peri'ptera.  From  periptera,  a  shuttlecock ;  al- 
luding to  the  resemblance  in  the  form  of  the 
flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Malvacem. 

M.  punicea  is  a  pretty  little  shrub  with 
crimson  flowers,  introduced  from  Spain  in 
1814.  It  grows  freely  in  a  compost  of  loam 
and  peat,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  or 
seeds. 

Periste'ria.  From  perister a,  a  dove ;  in  allusion 
to  the  dove-like  appearance  of  the  column. 
Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  splendid  terrestrial  Or- 
chids. The  best  known  and  most  beautiful  of 
the  species  is  P.  elata,  a  native  of  Panama, 
where  it  is  known  as  El  Spirito  Santo,  the 
Holy  Ghost  Plant;  the  reason  of  this  name  is 
obvious  on  lot)king  at  the  flower;  the  central 
member  exhibits  a  column,  which,  with  its 
summit  and  the  projecting  gland  of  the  pollen 
masses,  together  with  the  erect  wings,  bears 
a  very  striking  resemblance  to  the  figure  of  a 
dove  ;  hence  the  English  name  of  Dove  Flower. 
Its  flower  stem  rises  from  the  base  of  the 
pseudo-bulbs,  and  attains  a  height  of  from 
four  to  six  feet,  its  upper  portion,  for  about 
one-third  of  the  length,  being  covered  with 
nearly  round,  very  sweet-scented  flowers,  each 
about  an  inch  and  a  half  across,  and  of  a 
creamy  white,  with  small  lilac  specks  on  the 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


315 


PER 

base  of  the  lip.  They  should  be  grown  in 
well-drained  pots  of  light,  rich,  fibrous  loam, 
with  a  liberal  mixture  of  fine  sand  and  broken 
charcoal.  They  succeed  well  in  an  ordinary 
green-house,  but  are  impatient  of  much  water, 
particularly  when  at  rest.  They  flower  during 
the  summer  months,  and  remain  in  bloom 
several  weeks.  It  is  propagated  by  division, 
and  was  introduced  in  1826. 

Peristro'phe.  From  peristrophe,  turning  round, 
in  reference  to  the  corolla,  which  is  twisted 
so  as  to  be  upside  down.  Nat.  Ord.  Acan- 
thacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  herbaceous 
plants,  natives  of  India,  with  small  purple 
flowers  produced  in  winter,  and  continuing  in 
full  beauty  for  several  weeks.  P.  angustifolia 
variegata,  an  ornamental  plant,  with  foliage 
variegated  with  yellowish-white  and  green  ;  it 
is  a  very  useful  plant  in  window  gardening  or 
rustic  work,  and  is  propagated  readily  by  cut- 
tings. 

Peri'toma.  From  peritome,  a  cutting  x'ound 
about ;  referring  to  tlie  base  of  the  calyx.  Nat. 
Ord.  Capparidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  annual  herbs  now 
included  by  Bentham  and  Hooker  under 
Cleome.  P.  aurea  is  the  only  species  of  inter- 
est. 

Periw^inkle.     See  Vinca. 

Perne'ttya.  Named  after  Don  Pernetty,  author 
of  •'  A  Voyage  to  the  Falkland  Islands."  Nat. 
Ord.  EricaceoB. 

A  genus  of  half-hardy  evergreen,  white 
flowering  shrubs,  natives  of  Mexico  and  Peru. 
They  are  not  sufficiently  hardy  to  endure  our 
winter  without  protection,  and  liave  no  merits 
that  entitle  them  to  a  place  in  the  green-house. 

Perono'spora.  A  genus  of  minute  Fungi,  all 
growing  in,  or  upon  living  plants.  The  species 
that  has  done  most  harm  and  is  most  to  be 
dreaded  is  the  Potato  disease  Fungus,  P.  infes- 
tans,  known  also  as  PhytopMhora  infestans. 
There  are  many  other  species  that  attack 
various  vegetables  such  as  Parsley,  Carrots, 
Turnips,  Cabbages,  Peas,  Spinach,  etc.,  and 
are  frequently  most  injurious  to  these  plants. 
As  it  is  now  well  understood  that  these  Fungi 
live  inside  the  host-plants,  and  that  it  is 
impossible  to  destroy  the  parasite  without 
destroying  the  plant,  all  efforts  should  be 
directed  against  the  spread  of  the  disease, 
since  a  cure  of  the  diseased  plant  is  practi- 
cally hopeless.  All  diseased  plants  are  liable 
to  communicate  the  disease  to  healthy  plants 
a!id  should,  if  possible,  be  burned,  that  being 
the  only  certain  means  of  preventing  the 
spread  of  the  disease. 

Perse'a.  Alligator  or  Avocado  Pear.  A  name 
applied  by  Theophrastus  to  an  Egyptian  tree. 
Nat.  Ord.  Lauracece. 

The  Alligator  Pear,  a  native  of  the  West 
Indies,  grows  upon  a  tree  about  the  size  of 
the  Apple-tree.  The  tree  has  oblong,  veinj- 
leaves,  and  yellowish-green  flowers.  The  fruit, 
which  is  the  size  of  a  large  Pear,  is  considered 
by  the  natives  one  of  the  most  delicious  in  the 
world,  though  strangers  do  not  at  first  relish 
it.  It  contains  a  large  quantity  of  firm  pulp, 
possessing  a  buttery  or  marrow-like  taste. 
and  is  therefore  frequently  called  Vegetable 
Marrow  or  Midshipman's  Butter.  It  is  usually 
«aten  with  spice,  lime-juice,  or  pepper  and 


PET 

salt.     The  trees  cannot  be  induced  to  grow 
excepting  in  tropical  or  sub-tropical  countries. 

Persian  Powder.  A  valuable  insecticide  manu- 
factured from  the  flowers  of  Pyrethrum  roaewm 
and  other  species. 

Pe'rsica.  The  Peach.  So  named  from  Persia, 
its  supposed  native  country.  Nat.  Ord. 
RosacecR. 

A  small  genus  now  included  by  Bentham 
and  Hooker  under  Prunus.  P.  vulgaris  and 
its  variety  P.  V.  Imvis  are  well  known  and 
much  esteemed  fruits;  for  culture  and  descrip- 
tion of  which,  see  Peach  and  Nectarine. 

Persica'ria.  A  common  name  for  Polygonum 
Persicaria. 

Persimmon.     See  Diospyros  Virginiana. 

Persimmon.     Japanese.     See  Diospyros  Kaki. 

Persistent.  Remaining  beyond  the  period 
when  such  parts  commonly  fall,  as  the  leaves 
of  evergreens,  and  the  calyx,  etc.,  of  such 
flowers  as  remain  during  the  growth  of  the 
fruit. 

Personate.  Masked ;  a  bilabiate  corolla,  with  a 
projection  or  palate  in  the  throat,  as  of  the 
Snapdragon. 

Perso'onia.  Named  after  C.  H.  Persoon,  author 
"  Synopsis  Plantarum  "  and  otlier  botanical 
works.  An  extensive  genus  of  Proteacece,  com- 
prising some  sixty  species  of  green-house 
ornamental  shrubs  found  in  most  parts  of 
Australia.  One  species,  P.  Toro,  a  lofty  tree, 
is  found  in  New  Zealand.  A  number  of 
species  are  in  cultivation,  and  are  admir- 
able for  large  conservatories.  They  are 
propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  ripened  shoots. 

Pertuse.      Having  slits  or  holes. 

Peru.     Balsam  of.    Myroxylon  Peruiferum. 

Peru.     Mars'el  of.     See  Mirabilis  Jalapa. 

Peruvian  Bark.     See  Cinchona. 

Peruvian  Daffodil.  A  common  name  for  Hymen- 
ocallis  {Ismene)  Calathina. 

Pes.  The  Latin  for  the  foot  or  stalk ;  as  in  com- 
pounds, Brevipes,  short-stalked ;  Longipes, 
long-stalked,  etc. 

Pescato'rea.  A  genus  of  Orchids  now  included 
under  Zygopetalum. 

Petaloste'mon.  Prairie  Clover.  From  petalon, 
a  petal,  and  stemon,  a  stamen,  referring  to  the 
peculiar  union  of  these  organs  in  this  genus. 
Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  or  half-hardy  perennial 
herbs  closely  allied  to  Dalea,  natives  of  the 
southern  United  States.  The  flowers  are  rose- 
colored,  purplish  violet,  or  white.  P.  candidus, 
and  P.  violaceus  are  both  good  subjects  for  the 
herbaceous  border. 

Petaloid.      Similar    to    a    petal  in  color  and 

texture. 
Petals.      The  division  of  the  corolla,  or  flower 

when  they  are  not  united  to  each  other  by 

their  edges. 

Petasi'tes.  From  petasos,  an  umbrella ;  alluding 
to  the  size  of  the  foliage.  A  genus  of  Com- 
positcB,  natives  of  Europe,  Asia  and  North 
America.  Many  of  the  species  formerly 
included  under  Tussilago,  have  now  been 
referred  to  this  genus.  They  are  principally 
coarse-growing  weeds  though  some  of  the 
species  being  very  early  flowering  are  worth 


316 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PET 

cultivation.      P.  vulgaris  is  the  Bog  Khubaxb, 
or  Butter  Bur. 

Petiole.     The  foot-stalk  of  a  leaf. 

Petiole.  Common.  The  first  and  principal 
leaf-stalk  in  compound  leaves. 

Petive'ria.  Named  after  James  Petiver,  a  dis- 
tinguished botanist  of  London,  1665-1718.  Nat. 
Ord.  Phytolacacece. 

P.  Alliacea,  or  Guinea  Hen  "Weed,  the  only 
cultivated  species,  is  an  ornamental,  slender, 
erect  green-house  plant,  with  an  onion-like 
smell.  It  is  found  from  Mexico  to  Brazil,  and 
is  seldom  seen  in  cultivation. 

Petrae'a.  Linnajus  dedicated  this  genus  to 
Eobert  James,  Lord  Petre,  a  celebrated  patron 
of  botany,  who  died  in  1742.  Nat.  Ord.  Verben- 
acecB. 

A  genus  of  twining  shrubs  or  small  trees, 
natives  of  Mexico  and  South  America.  P. 
volubilis  and  some  of  the  other  species  are 
very  beautiful  flowering  climbers.  The  flowers 
are  large,  of  a  deep  violet  color,  and  pro- 
duced in  graceful  racemes,  and  are  increased 
by  cuttings  in  spring.  They  were  first  intro- 
duced in  1834. 

Petraeus,  Petrosus.  Growing  in  rocky  or  stony 
places. 

Petro'bium.  From  petros,  a  rock,  and  bio,  to 
live,  alluding  to  the  habitat  of  the  species. 
Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

P.  arboreum,  the  only  described  species,  is 
an  ornamental  green-house  shrub  with  yellow 
flowers.  Introduced  from  St.  Helena  in  1816, 
it  succeeds  well  in  sandy  loam,  and  is  readily 
increased  by  cuttings. 

Petroca'lUs.  From  petros,  a  rock,  and  kaios, 
beautiful;  the  plant  adorns  the  rocks  on 
which  it  grows.     Nat.  Ord.  Cruciferce. 

p.  Pyrenaica,  the  only  species,  is  a  pretty 
little  tufted  plant,  peculiar  to  Alpine  places  in 
the  Pyrenees,  and  growing  in  dense  patches, 
like  many  of  the  Saxifragas.  The  stems,  an 
inch  or  two  high,  are  densely  clothed  with 
wedge-shaped,  lobed  leaves,  and  terminate  in 
a  raceme  of  rather  large,  purplish  flowers, 
which  are  followed  by  small,  oval,  swollen, 
two-celled  seed-pods.  It  is  a  very  interesting 
plant  for  a  rockery,  but  must  be  given  but  lit- 
tle soil  and  the  most  complete  drainage.  Syn. 
Draba. 
Petroco'smea  Sinensis.  A  new  genus  of  Ges- 
neracew,  of  which  the  present  species  is  the 
only  one  so  far  described.  It  is  a  beautiful 
little  plant  with  violet  or  blue  flowers  and 
resembling  a  Violet  in  habit.  It  was  found 
by  Dr.  Henry  (1888)  growing  on  the  surface  of 
a  rock  in  the  bottom  of  a  small  cave  near 
Ichang  (China)  with  the  leaves  closely  pressed 
against  the  rock. 
Petro'pMla.  From  petros,  a  rock,  and  phileo, 
to  love ;  in  allusion  to  the  place  of  growth. 
Nat.  Ord.  Proteacece. 

A  genus  of  about  twenty-five  species  of 
green-house  shrubs,  natives  of  Australia, 
with  white  or  yellow  flowers  in  dense,  termi- 
nal spikes  or  cones.  They  are  seldom  culti- 
vated except  in  large  conservatories. 
Petroseli'num.    A  synonym  for  Apium  Petroseli- 

num,  which  see. 
Pettigree,  or  Pettigrue.     A  common  name  for 
Ruscus  aculeatus. 


PET 

Pettiwhin.  A  popular  name  for  Genista  Anglica 
and  Ononis  arvensis. 

Petu'nga.  Peetunga  is  the  name  of  P.  Rox- 
burghii  in  Bengal.     Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental  plant-stove 
shrubs,  natives  of  eastern  Bengal,  the  Malay 
Peninsula  and  the  Indian  Archipelago.  P. 
Roxburghii,  the  only  cultivated  species,  is  a 
very  ornamental  plant,  with  white  flowers; 
easily  increased  by  cuttings  in  heat. 

Petu'nia.  From  petun,  Brazilian  name  for 
tobacco,  to  which  the  Petunia  is  allied.  Nat. 
Ord.  SolanacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  half-hardy  herbaceous  per- 
ennials, all  natives  of  South  America,   and 
mostly  confined  to   Brazil.     Though  coming 
from    a    tropical    country,    where    they    are 
strictly  perennial,    they    may  be    grown    as 
hardy  annuals.     In  the  whole  range  of  what 
are  called  "bedding  plants,"  there  is  not  an 
individual  that  can  be  said  to  exceed  in  gen- 
eral usefulness  the  Petunia.    They  are  of  the 
easiest   culture,    seeding    themselves    when 
once  planted,  growing  in  any  soil  that  will 
sustain  plant  life,  and  producing  the  most 
sho\\'y    flowers    in    the    greatest    pi-ofusion. 
Few,  if  any,  plants  have  come  so  rapidly  into 
popular  favor,  or  have  been  so  much  improved 
by  hybridization  and  cultivation.    Only  a  few 
years  ago  they  were  comparatively  unknown, 
and  now  there  is  not  a  garden,  either  large  or 
small,  where  they  are  not  grown ;  nor  are  they 
confined  to  the  garden,  as  the  windows  of  the 
workshop  and  the  humble  tenement  so  cheer- 
ily testify.      P.  nyctaginiflora,    the    common 
White  Petunia,  was  first  introduced  into  Eng- 
land from  Brazil  in  1823.   It  was  but  little  culti- 
vated, and  only  in  the  green-houses  as  a  peren- 
nial, until  1830.  At  this  period  P.  violacea  or  P. 
Phoenicia,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  was  intro- 
duced from  Buenos  Ayres  by  a  Mr.  Tweedie, 
a  botanical  collector,  who  sent  seeds  of  it  to 
the  Botanic  Garden  at  Glasgow.    It  was  soon 
found  that  it  would  propagate  freely  from 
seed,  and  in  a  short  time  it  became  widely 
disseminated.     It  was  figured  and  sent  out 
first  as   Salpiglossis  integrifolia  and  Niereiri- 
bergia  Phcenicia.     From  these  two  species  all 
our  garden  varieties  have  been  produced.    To 
Isaac  Buchanan,  of  New  York,  belongs  the 
credit  of  having  first  hybridized  these  species, 
the  result  being  the  magnificent  blotched  and 
striped  varieties    now  so    extensively  culti- 
vated.    His  first  effort  was  crowned  with  the 
most  complete  success,  the  hybrids  being  as 
perfectly  and  distinctly  marked  as  any  since 
produced.     These  were  for  a  number  of  years 
offered  in  seedsmen's  catalogues  as   "Bucha- 
nan's Hybrids."    Many  other  splendid  sorts 
have    been    produced    in    this  country,   and 
among  them  the   "Fringed   Petunia,"  from 
which  the  Germans  have  succeeded  in  getting 
a  double  variety,  finely  fringed.   Many  double 
varieties  are  now  sent  out  each  season,  claim- 
ing special  merit.    They  are  well  adapted  for 
green-house  culture,  but  for  massing  or  ex- 
tended borders,  the  best  marked  single  varie- 
ties are  far  superior,  because  they  produce 
their  flowers  in  greater  abundance.    Where  a 
mass  of  any  particular  color  is  desired,  it  is 
better  to  strike  cuttings  of  the  favorite  kinds 
in  the  fall.     For  the  mixed  border,  the  seeds 
may  be  sown  where  wanted  to  grow ;    or,  if 
wanted  to  flower  early,  seed  may  be  sown  in. 


PHAL^NOPSIS   SCHIXLEKIAiJA. 


FETUNIA  (double  FETNGED). 


PETUNIA  (LABGB  IXOWEEINa,   BINGLS). 


PHLOX  DBUMMONDI   (LABGE  FLOWERING). 


PHa^DBANASSA  CHLOEACEA. 


PENXSTEMON. 


PHLEUM  PKATENSE  (TIMOTHT  GBAfiS). 


PHLOX  DEtlMMONDI  (DOUBLE  ■WHITE). 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


317 


PEU 

the  green-house  or  in  a  hot-bed,  and  trans- 
planted into  the  border.  If  the  soil  is  rich, 
the  plants  should  be  set  three  feet  apart  each 
way.  A  peculiarity  of  the  blotched  varieties, 
particularly  among  the  double  ones,  is  that, 
when  propagated  from  cuttings  for  a  few 
years,  the  tendency  is  to  run  back  to  the  dark 
color,  all  white  markings  being  obliterated. 
Plants  from  cuttings  will  flower  from  June 
until  after  they  have  had  several  degrees  of 
frost. 

Peuce'danum.  The  old  Greek  name  used  by 
Hippocrates.     Nat.  Ord.  Umbelliferie. 

A  large  genus  of  perennial,  rarely  annual, 
herbs,  or  shrubs,  dispersed  over  the  Northern 
Hemisphere,  the  Andes  of  tropical  America, 
and  tropical  and  southern  Africa.  The  species 
are  of  Jiittle  horticultural  value.  Pastinaca 
sativa,  the  Parsnip,  is  by  some  authors  placed 
under  this  genus. 

Peu'mus.  Said  to  be  the  native  name  in  Chili. 
Nat.  Ord.  Monimiacece. 

P.  Boldus,  the  only  described  species,  is  a 
small  evergreen,  fragrant  green-house  shrub, 
bearing  its  terminal  cymes  of  white  flowers  in 
May.  The  leaves  are  used  in  medicine,  the 
fruit  is  edible,  and  the  bark  is  used  in  tanning. 

Peyrou'sia.  A  synonym  of  Lapeyrousia,  which 
see. 

Pfa'ffia.  Named  in  honor  of  C.  H.  Pfaff,  Profes- 
sor of  Chemistry  at  Kiel,  1774-1852.  Nat.  Ord. 
AmaranthacecR. 

A  genus  of  erect,  slender,  plant-stove  herbs, 
natives  of  Brazil.  P.  Gnaphaloides,  the  only 
introduced  species,  has  white  flowers,  borne 
in  dense  spikes  or  heads.  It  is  seldom  met 
with  in  cultivation.    Syn.  Celosia. 

Pha'ca.  Bastard  Vetch.  From  p/iagro,  to  eat ;  a 
name  adopted  by  Dioscorides.  Nat.  Ord. 
Leguminosm. 

A  genus  of  showy,  hardy,  herbaceous,  per- 
ennial plants,  suitable  for  the  front  of  shrub- 
bery borders.  Their  flowers  are  of  many 
shades  of  white,  yellow,  rose,  or  purple.  The 
species  are  common  throughout  the  States. 
This  genus  is  now  included  by  Bentham  and 
Hooker  under  Astragalus. 

Phace'lia.  From  phakelos,  a  bundle ;  in  refer- 
ence to  the  disposition  of  the  flowers.  Nat. 
Ord.  HydrophyllacecB. 

Very  curious  plants,  which  produce  their 
flowers  in  one-sided  fascicles,  which  unroll 
themselves  slowly  The  flowers  are  rather 
pretty  in  themselves,  but  are  half-hidden  by 
their  bracts  and  coarse-growing  leaves.  Some 
of  the  species  are  perennials,  and  others  bien- 
nial or  annual.  The  Californian  species  are 
annuals  with  blue  flowers,  but  the  South 
American  kinds  are  biennials  or  perennials 
with  pink  flowers.     Syn.  Cosmanthus. 

Phaedrana'ssa.  Queen  Lily.  From  phaidros, 
gay,  and  anassa,  queen.  Nat.  Ord.  Amarylli- 
dacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  bulbs,  natives  of  Peru  and 
Quito.  They  are  found  at  an  elevation  of 
9,000  feet  above  the  sea,  growing  among  the 
rocks,  where  there  is  not,  seemingly,  suffi- 
cient earth  to  sustain  vegetable  life.  They  are 
handsome,  though  not  very  showy  plants. 
The  flowers  are  about  two  inches  long,  in  the 
form  of  a  slender  tube,  of  a  light  pea-green 
color,  tipped  with  pink.  The  bulbs  require  a 
long  season  oi  rest  after  flowering,  which  is 


PHA 

usually  in  winter.  They  are  easily  grown  in 
a  cool  green-house  with  the  most  ordinary 
care,  and  are  increased  by  offsets.  Intro- 
duced in  1844. 

Phaenoco'ma.  Trom  phaino,  to  shine,  and  home, 
hair ;  referring  to  the  color  and  nature  of  the 
involucre.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

P.  prolifera,  the  only  species,  is  an  exceed- 
ingly handsome,  small,  hard-wooded,  ever- 
green shrub,  which  has  a  most  interesting  and 
peculiar  hoary  appearance  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year.  The  plant  commences  to  produce 
its  bright  pink,  everlasting  blossoms  when  in 
a  small  state,  and  remains  in  full  beauty  for 
nearly  three  months.  It  is  a  great  favorite  in 
Europe  in  all  collections  of  hard-wooded 
plants,  but,  though  many  attempts  have  been 
made,  we  are  not  aware  that  it  has  been  suc- 
cessfully imported  to  this  country.  It  is  a 
native  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  was 
introduced  in  1789.  Syn.  Elichrysum  and 
Xeranthemum  proliferum. 

Phaeno'gamous.  A  term  applied  to  such  plants 
as  are  visibly  furnished  with  sexual  organs. 

Phaenospe'rma.  From  phaino,  to  shine,  and 
sperma,  a  seed ;  alluding  to  the  glistening 
seeds.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

P.  globosum,  introduced  from  China  in  1874,  is 
the  only  described  species.  It  is  a  tall,  hardy, 
ornamental  grass,  easily  increased  by  seeds 
sown  in  spring. 

Phai'us.  From  phaios,  shining;  in  allusion  to 
the  beauty  of  the  original  species.  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidacece. 

An  interesting  genus  of  Orchids,  generally 
terrestrial  natives  of  tropical  Africa,  Aus- 
tralia, the  Pacific  Islands,  China  and  Japan. 
The  species  are  free-flowering  and  are  of  easy 
management.  They  thrive  best  in  a  compost 
of  turfy  loam,  leaf-mould  and  well  rotted 
cow  dung ;  plenty  of  heat  and  moisture  are 
essential  dui'ing  the  growing  season,  but  in 
winter,  or  when  at  rest,  they  should  be 
kept  in  a  low  temperature,  such  as  that  of 
the  green-house,  and  while  there  should  be 
nearly  dry.  In  early  spring  re-pot  them, 
and  replace  them  in  the  hot-house,  where 
they  soon  grow  and  ultimately  flower.  P. 
Wallichii,  P.  Bensonce  (syn.  Thunia),  P.  albus 
(syn.  Thunia)  and  P.  grandifolius,  are  all  desir- 
able species,  and  should  be  in  every  collection. 
The  latter  is  often  grown  under  the  name  of 
Bletia  TankermlUoe.    See  Orchids. 

Phalaeno'psis.  Moth  Orchid.  Sometimes 
called  the  East  Indian  Butterfly  Orchid. 
From  phalaina,  a  moth,  and  opsis,  like ;  in 
allusion  to  the  appearance  of  the  flowers, 
which  bear  a  striking  resemblance  to  that 
insect ;  whence  the  common  name.  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidacece. 

The  various  species  of  Phalcenojjsis  are 
prized  by  growers  as  among  the  most  beauti- 
ful of  cultivated  Orchids.  The  flowers,  which 
are  nearly  circular  in  outline  and  about  two 
inches  and  a  half  in  diameter,  vary  from  pure 
white  to  a  beautiful  rose-color,  the  central 
portion  being  marked  with  delicate  streaks  of 
crimson  ;  the  sepals  and  petals  are  thick  and 
leathery,  and,  as  the  name  implies,  a  fancied 
resemblance  may  be  traced  between  the  flow- 
ers of  this  plant  and  a  large  white  moth.  In 
culture  the  species  requires  a  very  high  tem- 
perature ;  it  should  be  grown  in  the  hottest 


318 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OP  PLANTS 


PHA 

part  of  the  hot-house,  with  an  abundant  sup- 
ply of  moisture,  especially  in  the  form  of 
vapor,  while  in  an  active  state ;  but  at  other 
times  the  quantity  of  each  should  be  mod- 
erately reduced.  In  summer,  when  the  plant 
is  growing,  the  thermometer  should  range 
between  70"  and  90'',  when  it  will  grow  rap- 
idly, and  consequently  flower  in  perfection. 
It  may  be  regarded  as  a  very  liberal  bloomer. 
The  genus  consists  of  over  twenty  species,  a 
number  of  which  are  of  recent  introduction. 
They  are  all  natives  of  the  islands  of  the 
Indian  Archipelago,  and  the  eastern  provinces 
of  India,  and  were  first  introduced  in  1836.  P. 
amabilis,  P.  Esmeralda,  P.  Luddemannia,  P. 
Schilleriana,  aijd  P.  Stuartiana,  are  well  known 
and  superior  si^ecies.     See  Orchids. 

Phala'ngium.  A  synonym  of  Anthcricum,  St. 
Bruno's  Lily. 

Pha'laris.  Canary  Grass.  From  phalaros, 
siiining ;  referring  to  the  shining  seeds.  Nat. 
Ord.  GraminacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  Grasses,  mostly  natives  of 
Central  Asia.  P.  CanarienHls  produces  the 
Canary  seed  of  commerce.  Gardener's  Garters 
is  a  beautiful,  variegated  variety  of  P.  arund- 
inacea  very  common  in  English  gardens,  and 
has  been  long  introduced  here.  It  is  an 
excellent  plant  for  shrubberies  and  is  propa- 
gated by  division. 

Phale'ria.  From  phnlaros,  shining  white ; 
alluding  to  the  color  of  the  flowers.  Nat. 
Ord.  ThymeleaceoB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  trees  or  shrubs, 
natives  of  Australia,  the  Malayan  Archipelago 
and  Ceylon.  P.  laurifolia,  the  only  species 
in  cultivation,  has  beautiful  white  flowers, 
remarkable  for  their  delicious  Daphne-like 
fragrance.  It  was  introduced  from  Ceylon  in 
1869,  and  is  propagated  by  seeds  or  cuttings. 

Phaloca'llis.  From  phalos,  a  cone,  and  kallos, 
beautiful;  beautifully  cone-crested.  Nat.  Ord. 
Iridacece. 

P.  plumbea.  the  only  known  species,  is  a 
half-hardy  Mexican  bulb,  producing  singular 
lead  colored  flowers,  tinged  with  yellow  in  the 
centre,  about  three  inches  across,  lasting  only 
a  few  hours.  They  expand  before  sunrise  and 
close-  before  noon.  This  was  formerly  in- 
cluded in  the  genus  Chjpdla,  but  was  separated 
by  Dean  Herliert.  It  requires  the  same  treat- 
ment and  care  as  the  Tigridia,  and  is  in- 
creased by  offsets.     Introduced  in  1837. 

Phanerogamous.  The  same  as  Pheenogamous, 
which  see. 

Pharbi'tis.  One  of  the  divisions  of  the  genus 
Ipumcea. 

Pha'rus.  From  pharos,  a  covering ;  the  leaves 
are  used  for  thatching  and  other  purposes. 
Nat.  Ord.   Graminacece. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  grasses  natives  of 
tropical  America,  from  Brazil  to  Mexico,  and 
Florida.  P.  ia<i/bh'MS,  introduced  from  Jamaica 
in  1796,  is  a  showy  species  requiring  the  same 
treatment  as  the  stove  species  of  Bambusa. 
A  finely  variegated  form,  P.  I.  vittahis,  the 
foliage  banded  with  white  and  flushed  with 
rose,  is  in  cultivation. 

Pha'seolus.  Kidney  Bean.  From  phaselus,  a 
little  boat;  fancied  resemblance  of  the  pods. 
Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

This  genus  contains  a  few  ornamental 
plants,  the  remainder   being  agricultural  or 


PHI 

culinary  vegetables.  Of  the  former,  P.  Cara,- 
calla  is  the  most  remarkable,  on  account  of  its 
singularly  twisted  vexillum  and  keel,  the 
appearance  of  which  has  induced  the  popular 
name.  Snail  Flower.  It  is  a  climber  and  may 
be  grown  out  of  doors  in  summer  and  in  the 
green-house  in  winter.  It  is  propagated  by 
cuttings  and  from  seed.  The  seed  should  be 
sown  in  spring  in  the  green-house,  with  a 
slight  bottom  heat,  and  afterwards  the  plants 
may  be  placed  in  the  borders  of  the  house 
where  they  are  to  bloom,  or  they  may  be 
grown  in  pots.  Its  flowers  are  bluish  lilac, 
and  are  valued  by  florists  for  their  delicious 
fragrance  and  for  their  resemblance  to  Orchids. 
There  are  several  other  ornauienlal  green- 
house kinds  requiring  the  same  treatment. 
P.  lunatus  is  the  origin  of  the  well  known  Lima 
and  Sieva  pole  Beans.  A  new  dwarf  variety 
of  the  latter,  "Henderson's  Bush  Lima,"  has 
been  lately  introduced  (1889),  and  will  prove 
most  acceptable  to  many.  It  grows  about 
eighteen  inches  in  height  (thus  doing  away 
Avith  the  unsightly  bean  poles  in  the  garden) 
and  produces  enormous  crops  that  can  be  gath- 
ered as  easily  as  the  common  garden  Bush 
Beans.  It  is  at  least  two  weeks  earlier  than  any 
of  the  climbing  sorts  ;  the  beans  are  of  the  size 
of  the  Sieva  or  Small  Lima,  and  of  that  deli- 
cious quality  that  has  made  the  Southern 
Limas  so  famous.  Like  all  Limas  it  is  very 
tender  and  should  not  be  planted  until  end 
of  May  in  the  latitude  of  New  York.  South 
of  Richmond,  however,  two  crops  a  year 
may  be  readily  obtained,  the  first  crop 
ripening  in  time  to  allow  of  a  second  planting 
for  the  fall  months. 

P.  muUiJlorus,  the  common  Scarlet  Runner  of 
our  gardens,  is  a  native  of  Mexico  and  South 
America.  There  is  a  variety  with  white  flow- 
ers. They  are  very  showy  when  in  flower, 
independent  of  their  value  as  "  String  Beans." 
P.  vulgaris,  is  our  common  Kidney  or  String- 
Bean,  the  origin  of  which  is  very  uncertain. 
Pheasant's  Eye.  A  common  name  for  Adonia 
cestivalis,  A.  autumnal  is;  also  tor  Dianthusplum- 
arius. 

Pheba'lium.  Frova  Phibale,  a  myrtle;  alluding 
to  the  appearance  of  the  species.  Nat.  Ord. 
Rutacem. 

A  genus  of  nearly  thirty  species  of  green- 
house shrubs,  natives  of  Australia  and  New 
Zealand;  P.  Billardieri,  P.  squamulosum,  and 
one  or  two  other  species  are  in  cultivation  and 
are  showy  ornamental  plants,  growing  freely 
in  a  compost  of  sandy  peat  and  loam,  and  are 
increased  by  cuttings  of  the  young  wood. 

Phego'pteris.  A  genus  of  Ferns,  now  included 
under  Polypoaium. 

Phe'llodendron.  P.  amurense,  is  a  small  hardy 
tree  from  northeastern  Asia,  commonly  called 
Chinese  Cork  Tree.  It  is  a  medium  sized  tree, 
pj'ramidal  in  form,  and  in  general  appearance 
not  unlike  the  Ailantus.  Its  foliage  is  bright 
red  in  autumn,  and  remains  very  late  on  the 
tree. 

Philabe'rtia.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  C.  Philibert, 
author  of  some  works  on  elementary  botany. 
Nat.  Ord.  Asclepiadacem. 

A  genus  of  interesting  climbing  shrubby 
plants,  natives  of  tropical  and  sub-tropical 
America.  P.  grandijlora,  introduced  from 
Buenos  Ayres  in  1836,  has  yellow  and  white 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


319 


\ 


PHI 

flowers,  and  is  aa  interesting  plant  for  tlie 
green-iiouse  or  for  planting  out  in  summer. 

Philadelphia'ceae.  A  natural  order  now  in- 
cluded under  SaxifragacecB. 

Philade'lphus.  Syringa  or  Mock  Orange.  An 
ancient  name  applied  by  LinnsBus  ior  no 
obvious  reason.     Nat.  Ord.  SaxifragacecB. 

A  genus  of  about  twelve  species  of  orna- 
mental shrubs  natives  of  central  Europe  and 
North  America,  Japan,  and  the  Himalayan 
mountains,  the  flowers  of  which  smell 
like  those  of  the  orange,  and  the  leaves  taste 
like  Cucumbers.  It  is  rather  remarkable  that 
one  of  the  English  names  of  these  plants  is  Sy- 
ringa, which  is  the  botanical  name  of  the  Lilac, 
to  which  they  have  not  the  slightest  afiinity. 
There  are  many  species,  some  of  which  have 
very  large  and  handsome  flowers,  and  some 
bear  flowers  without  any  fragrance.  They 
are  all  quite  hardy,  and  may  be  propagated  by 
seeds,  layers,  cuttings,  or  division.  The 
species  are  common  in  the  mountains  of  Vir- 
ginia and  southward. 

Philage'ria  Veitchii.  A  combination  of  parts  of 
the  generic  names  of  the  two  parents.  Nat. 
Ord.     Liliacem. 

A  hybrid  between  Lapageria  rosea  and  Phil- 
esia  Buxifolia,  raised  by  the  Messrs.  Veitch,  of 
England.     See  Philesia. 

PMle'sia.  From  philesios,  lovely.  Nat.  Ord. 
Liliace<je. 

P.  Buxifolia  is  the  only  species  of  this  genus. 
It  is  a  dwarf  shrub,  native  of  the  extreme 
southern  part  of  South  America,  being  found 
from  Valdivia  to  the  Straits  of  Magellan.  It  is 
an  evergreen  with  small  leaves,  and  large, 
bell-shaped,  drooping  flowers,  of  a  beautiful 
bright  red  color.  It  is  allied  to  Lapageria  rosea, 
from  the  same  region.  Messrs.  Jas.  Veitch  & 
Son,  of  Chelsea,  Eng.,  succeeded  in  raising  a 
hybrid  between  the  two  plants,  which  has 
been  named  Philageria  Veitchii.  It  is  proper 
to  state  that  the  plant  is  inferior,  in  point  of 
beauty,  to  either  parent.  We  do  not  know  of 
its  introduction  to  this  country.  It  would  do 
well  out  of  doors  in  the  Southern  States,  or  in 
the  green-house,  north. 

Philesia'ceae.  A  natural  order,  now  included 
under  LiliacecB. 

>•  Philly'rea.  Jasmine  Box,  Mock  Privet.  From 
Philyra,  the  old  Greek  name  used  by  Theo- 
phrastus,  for  the  Privet.   Nat.  Ord.  Oleacem. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental,  compact-grow- 
ing, hardy,  evergreen  shrubs,  natives  of  the 
Mediterranean  region  and  the  Orient.  P. 
decora,  better  known  under  the  name  of  P. 
Vilmoriniana,  and  P.  laurifolia,  the  most 
hardy  of  the  genus,  is  a  strikingly  handsome 
shrub,  with  bright-green,  coriaceous  leaves 
and  axillary  clusters  of  white  flowers,  which 
are  followed  in  the  autumn  by  Olive-shaped, 
reddish-purple  fruit.  It  is  a  late  introduction 
(1885)  from  the  shores  of  the  Black  Sea,  and  in 
common  with  the  rest  of  the  genus,  is  most 
valuable  for  its  adaptation  to  sea-side  plant- 
ing, and  it  is  specially  recommended  for  plant- 
ing in  cities,  as  smoke  and  dust  do  not  affect 
it  seriously. 

Philode'ndron.  From  phileo,  to  love,  and  den- 
dron,  a  tree  ;  referring  to  the  habit  of  the  plants 
of  this  genus  to  overrun  trees  in  the  South 
American  forests.    Nat.  Ord.  Aroidetz. 


PHO 

A  singular  genus  of  South  American  tropical 
plants,  mostly  with  scrambling  stems,  which 
attach  themselves  to  the  trunks  of  trees, 
whence  the  name  of  the  genus.  They  are  all 
green-house  evergreen  perennials,  with  large, 
irregular,  singular  leaves,  and  showy  flowers, 
some  of  which  are  pure  white,  others  white 
and  bright  rose.  They  were  introduced  in 
1835,  and  are  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
side  shoots,  and  from  seeds.    See  Monstera. 

Phinae'a.  An  Anagram  of  Niphma,  to  which  this 
genus  is  closely  allied.  A  genus  of  Gesnera- 
cecB,  comprising  a  few  species  of  dwarf,  villous 
stove-plants,  with  the  habit  of  Niphma  (under 
which  they  have  until  i-ecently  been  included), 
natives  of  Columbia.  The  flowers  are  white 
or  pale  lilac  ;  borne  on  axillary,  umbellate 
peduncles.     Introduced  in  1845. 

Phlebo'dium.  From  phleps,  a  vein.  Nat.  Ord. 
PolypodiacecB. 

A  genus  of  net-veined  Ferns,  separated  from 
Polypodium.  P.  aureum,  typical  of  the  genus, 
is  a  bold,  glaucous  tinted  Fern,  with  strong, 
rhizomes,  which  run  upon  the  surface.  It  is 
a  handsome  species,  and  will  grow  luxuriantly 
in  a  cool  green-house.  It  is  increased  by 
division  or  from  spores.  The  species  have 
long  been  under  cultivation. 

Phle'um.  Supposed  to  be  the  Greek  name  for 
Typha. .  Nat.  Ord.  OrarninacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  grasses.  P.  pratense  is  the 
well-known  Timothy,  or  Herds  Grass,  of  New 
England  ;  it  is  also  known  as  Cat's-tail  Grass. 

Phlogaca'nthus.  From  phlox,  phlogos,  flame,  and 
acanthus,  the  type  of  this  family  ;  in  allusion  to 
the  long  spike  of  yellow  or  flame-colored 
flowers.    Nat.  Ord.  AcanthacecB. 

A  genus  of  East  Indian  green-house  ever- 
green shrubs,  allied  to  Justicia,  and  from 
which  genus  a  few  species  have  been  sepa- 
rated. They  are  all  ornamental  winter-bloom- 
ing plants,  with  bright  orange  or  yellow 
flowers.  They  are  increased  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  Justicia,  and  require  the  same 
general  treatment. 

PMo'mis.  Jerusalem  Sage.  The  old  Greek 
name  used  by  Dioscorides.  Nat.  Ord.  Labi- 
atcB. 

A  genus  of  herbaceous  perennial,  and  shrubby 
plants,  ranking  amongst  the  finest  of  hardy 
plants  belonging  to  the  Sage  family.  There 
are  about  a  dozen  species  and  varieties  of  the 
genus  in  cultivation,  and  amongst  them  a 
great  diversity  of  size  and  habit.  Some,  such 
as  P.  fruticosa,  are  shrubs,  others  are  noble 
herbaceous  plants,  while  others,  again,  such 
as  P.  Armeniaca,  are  sufficiently  alpine  in 
character  to  allow  of  their  being  grown  in  the 
rock-garden.  They  are  natives  principally  of 
the  mountainous  regions  of  temperate  Asia 
and  southern  Europe ;  the  shrubby  species 
are  increased  by  seeds  or  cuttings,  and  the 
herbaceous  kinds  by  division.  The  most 
desirable  of  the  shrubby  species  is  P.  fruti- 
cosa, with  rich  yellow  flowers,  very  attractive 
during  June,  July  and  August.  Of  the  her- 
baceous kinds  the  best  is  P.  Herba-venti,  rich 
purplish  violet,  P.  purpurea,  purple,  P. 
tuberosa,  purple,  and  P.  Russeliana,  and  P. 
Samia,  with  yellow  flowers. 

Phoraden'dron.  From  phor,  a  thief,  and  den- 
dron,  a  tree ;  because  these  plants  steal  their 


20 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PHL 

food  from  the  trees  they  grow  upon.  Nat.  Ord. 
LoranthacecB. 

A  genus  of  shrubVjy  plants  with  coriaceous 
greenish  foliage  and  small,  white,  pulpy,  one- 
seeded  berries.  P.  flavescens,  the  American 
Mistletoe,  found  parasitic  on  various  decid- 
uous-leaved trees  from  New  Jersey  to  Illinois 
southward  and  westward,  has  in  many 
instances  proved  destructive  to  the  forest 
trees  upon  which  it  fastens  itself,  more 
especially  to  the  Elms,  Hickories,  and  Wild 
Cherries.  Though  not  so  ornamental  as  the 
English  Mistletoe,  it  is  largely  used  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  it  during  the  holidays. 

Phlox.  From  phlox,  a  flame ;  in  reference  to 
the  brilliancy  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Pole- 
moniacecB. 

This  extensive  and  interesting  genus  is  ex- 
clusively North  American,  and  contains  many 
of  our  most  valuable  hardy  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, and  one  invaluable  hardy  annual.  What 
are  commonly  termed  Perennial  Phloxes  are 
seedlings,  varieties  from  P.  paniculata,  which 
is  common  from  Pennsylvania  to  Illinois  and 
southward.  Of  this  species  there  are  several 
varieties,  all  of  the  same  general  character, 
producing  immense  terminal  clusters  of  white, 
pink,  purple,  and  crimson  flowers.  From 
this  species  and  from  P.  maculata,  a  lower 
growing  species,  common  in  the  Middle  and 
Western  States,  have  originated  the  many 
rare  and  beautiful  varieties  that  are  now 
attracting  such  universal  attention.  The 
hybridizing  of  this  class  has  chiefly  been  done 
by  European  florists ;  a  pleasant  and  profit- 
able work  that  should  not  have  passed  out  of 
our  own  hands,  and  would  not  but  for  the  too 
common  error,  that  plants,  as  well  as  all  other 
commodities,  to  be  truly  valuable,  must  be 
stamped  with  a  foreign  seal.  It  is  claimed  by 
some  of  the  foreign  hoi-ticulturists  that  the 
finer  hybrids  are  crosses  between  the  annual 
and  perennial  species,  and  the  brilliant  color 
so  characteristic  of  them  gives  some  credence 
to  the  assertion.  Many  of  the  species  have 
long  been  cultivated,  and  regai-ded  as  the 
most  valuable  plants  for  the  border.  A  few 
of  the  more  valuable  ai-e  worthy  of  special 
mention.  P.  siibulata.  Moss  Pink  or  Ground 
Pink,  is  a  beautiful  dwarf-growing  species, 
rarely  exceedingsixinches in  height, andgrow- 
ing  in  dense  tufts,  and  producing  its  pink, 
purple,  or  white  flowers,  which  usually  have 
a  dark  centre,  in  great  profusion  in  early 
spring.  This  species  is  very  common  from 
New  York  to  Michigan  and  southward.  P. 
reptaiis,  ovsfolonifera,  is  another  dwarf  species, 
of  a  rambling  habit,  with  neat  foliage  and 
numerous  clusters  of  bright  crimson  flowers. 
It  is  one  of  our  most  showy  early  spring  flow- 
ering plants,  blooming  early  in  May.  The 
flowers  are  nearly  as  large  as  the  late,  tall- 
growing  species.  P.  divaricata,  produces  blu- 
ish-lilac flowers  from  Ajjril  to  June,  and  grows 
about  the  same  height  as  the  former  species. 
This  species  is  found  in  moist,  rocky  woods 
in  the  MiddBe  States,  north  and  west.  P. 
pilosa  grows  about  one  foot  high,  and  pro- 
duces its  lovely  pink  flowers  in  May  and  June. 
P.  Drummondii,  the  only  annual  species,  is  a 
native  of  Texas,  where  it  was  discovered  in 
1835  by  Mr.  Drummond,  a  botanical  collector 
sent  out  by  the  Glasgow  (Scotland)  Botanical 

•    Society.    The  seeds  of  this  were  sent  home, 
and  soon  after  the  discoverer  fell  a  victim  to 


PHGE 

the  fever  in  Cuba,  and  died.  For  this  reason 
Sir  W.  J.  Hooker  named  the  plant  Phlox 
Drummondii,  that  it  might  "  serve  as  a  fre- 
quent memento  of  its  unfortunate  discov- 
erer." There  can  be  no  stronger  proof  of  the 
value  and  beauty  of  this  species  than  the 
extent  to  which  it  is  grown.  Each  year  new 
varieties  are  added  to  the  list,  and,  thus  far, 
each  year  shows  a  marked  improvement  over 
the  past,  both  in  size  and  color  of  the  flower, 
and  in  their  extraordinary  markings  and 
variations.  The  varieties  now  include  white, 
pink,  rose,  purple,  and  scarlet  colors,  and  a 
near  approach  to  yellow.  Some  of  the  scar- 
lets have  pure  white  eyes,  and  many  of  the 
others  have  the  same  distinctive  marking. 
The  only  treatment  required  for  this  species 
is  to  sow  the  seed  in  early  spring,  where  the 
plants  are  wanted  to  grow ;  and  for  perfection 
of  flower  the  plants  should  be  thinned  out  to 
one  foot  apart  each  way.  They  may  also  be 
started  in  the  green-house  or  in  a  hot-bed, 
and  pricked  out  in  pots  and  boxes,  and 
earlier  flowers  thus  secured.  The  perennial 
species  are  increased  by  cuttings  or  by  divis- 
ion of  roots  in  spring.  They  should  in  no 
case  be  allowed  to  stand  undivided  more  than 
three  years,  and  they  produce  larger  and  finer 
flowers  if  separated  every  spring. 

PhcBniceus.      Deep  red,  with  an  admixture  of 
scarlet  or  carmine. 

Phoeiiicopho'rium.      From  PhoE,nix,  date,   and 
phoreo,  to  bear.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacem. 

A  genus  of  rare  and  beautiful  Palms,  natives 
of  the  Seychelles  Islands.  P.  Seychellamm, 
the  only  representative  of  the  genus,  was 
formerly  called  Stevensonia  grandifolia.  It  is 
a  stemless  species,  from  whose  base  spring 
numerous  leaves  with  copper-colored  stalks 
studded  with  black  spines.  The  blade  of  the 
leaf  is  wedge-shaped,  and  of  a  bronzy  hue. 
The  young  leaves  are  of  a  rich  cinnamon- 
brown  color.  This  Palm  is  now  cultivated  for 
decorative  purposes,  and  is  one  of  the  hand- 
somest and  most  admired  plants  for  that 
purpose.  Young  plants  are  obtained  from 
seed. 

Phoe'nix.     Date  Palm.     The  Greek  name  of  the 
Date.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacem. 

This  genus,  though  not  extensive,  is  one  of 
the  most  interesting  of  the  order.  The  spe- 
cies are  chiefly  confined  to  northern  Africa 
and  tropical  Asia.  Some  of  the  species  are 
dwarf-growing,  but  they  mostly  attain  the 
height  of  from  fifty  to  sixty  feet.  "  The  Date 
Palm,  P.  dactylifera,  is  cultivated  in  immense 
quantities  all  over  the  noi'thern  parts  of 
Africa,  and  more  sparingly  in  western  Asia 
and  southern  Europe ;  and  in  some  of  these 
countries  its  fruit,  though  only  known  by  us 
as  a  preserved  fruit,  affords  the  principal 
food  of  a  large  proportion  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  likewise  of  the  various  domestic  animals, 
dogs,  horses,  and  camels  being  alike  partial 
to  it.  The  tree  usually  grows  about  sixty  or 
eighty  feet  high,  and  lives  to  a  great  age, 
trees  of  from  one  to  two  hundred  years  old 
continuing  to  produce  their  annual  crop  of 
Dates.  The  fniit,  however,  is  not  the  only 
valuable  part  of  this  widely  dispersed  tree ; 
for,  as  with  the  Cocoanut  tree,  nearly  every 
part  is  applied  to  some  useful  purpose.  The 
huts  of  the  poorer  classes  are  entirely  con- 
structed of  its  leaves ;   the  fibre  surrounding 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


321 


PHO 

the  bases  of  their  stalks  is  used  for  making 
ropes  and  coarse  cloth,  the  stalks  themselves 
for  crates,  baskets,  brooms,  walking-sticks, 
etc.,  and  the  wood  for  building  substantial 
houses;  the  heart  of  the  young  leaves  is 
eaten  as  a  vegetable ;  the  sap  affords  an  in- 
toxicating beverage,  though  to  obtain  it  the 
tree  is  destroyed ;  and  even  the  hai'd  and 
apparently  useless  pits  or  seeds  are  ground 
into  food  for  camels."  This  tree  is  very  inter- 
esting to  botanists,  because  it  was  the  first 
that  drew  their  attention  to  the  sexes  of 
plants.  It  is  a  dioecious  tree,  that  is,  the 
male  flowers  are  on  one  plant  and  the  female, 
or  fruiting  ones,  on  another.  The  male 
flowers  are  considerably  larger  than  the 
female ;  and  the  latter,  instead  of  stamens, 
have  in  the  centre  the  rudiments  of  the 
Dates,  about  the  size  of  small  Peas.  The 
two  distinct  sexes  of  the  Date  tree  appear  to 
have  been  known  from  the  remotest  antiquitj', 
as  they  are  noticed  by  all  the  ancients  who 
describe  the  tree.  It  is  not  a  Utile  remark- 
able that  there  is  a  difference  in  the  fructifi- 
cation of  the  wild  Date  and  the  cultivated, 
though  both  are  precisely  the  same  species. 
Wild  Dates  impregnate  themselves,  but  the 
cultivated  ones  do  not  without  the  assistance 
of  art.  Theophrastus  and  Pliny  mention  this 
fact ;  and  in  every  plantation  of  Dates  one 
part  of  the  labor  of  the  cultivator  consists  in 
collecting  the  flowers  of  the  male  Date,  climb- 
ing to  the  top  of  the  female  with  them,  and 
dispersing  the  pollen  on  the  gei'ms  of  the 
Dates.  Ho  essential  is  this  operation,  that 
though  the  male  and  female  trees  are  grown 
in  the  same  plantation,  the  crop  fails  if  it  be 
not  x>erformed.  These  trees  do  not  succeed 
well  where  the  mean  temperature  falls  below 
80*^ ;  hence,  they  require  the  warmest  of  our 
hot-houses.  Young  plants  may  be  grown 
from  the  seeds  taken  from  the  Dates  sold  in 
the  fruit  stores. 

Pholido'ta.  Eattlesnake  Orchid.  From  pholis, 
a  scale,  and  ous,  otos,  an  ear ;  flowers  arranged 
like  an  ear  of  wheat,  with  scaly  b)'acts,  as  the 
tail  of  a  rattlesnake.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  East  Indian  epiphytal  Or- 
chids, of  easy  culture,  mainly  requiring  to  be 
grown  on  blocks  of  wood  or  cork,  in  a  warm, 
moist  house.  They  must  have  frequent  water- 
ings when  growing.  Flowers  white,  or  white 
and  brown,  produced  in  imbricated  and  two- 
ranked  drooping  flower  spikes.  Propagated 
by  division. 

Pho'rmium.  Flax  Lily,  or  New  Zealand  Flax. 
From  phormos,  a  basket ;  referring  to  the  use 
made  of  the  plant  in  its  native  country.  Nat. 
Ord.  LiliacecB. 

P.  tenax  is  a  native  of  New  Zealand,  where 
it  is  extensively  used  by  the  natives  instead 
of  Flax.  This  plant  is  handsome,  has  stiff, 
sword-shaped  leaves,  and  oi'ange-colored 
flowers,  produced  on  strong  spikes,  alter- 
nately branched,  and  growing  from  ten  to  fif- 
teen feet  above  the  leaves,  making  it  an 
exceedingly  handsome  and  curious  plant  for 
green-house  culture.  P.  tenax  variegata,  more 
recently  introduced,  is  a  very  beautiful  varie- 
gated-leaved variety,  which  makes  a  magnifi- 
cent plant  for  lawn  decoration,  or  for  the 
green-house  and  conservatory.  It  requires  a 
light  rich  soil,  and  is  propagated  by  division. 
Introduced  in  1798.    P.  Cookiunum  (syn.  P.  Col- 


PHY 

ensoi),  of  which  there  is  also  a  beautifully 
variegated  variety  is  like  the  above  only 
neater  and  smaller  in  all  its  parts.  Intro- 
duced in  1868. 
Photi'nia.  From  photeinos,  shining;  in  refer-' 
ence  to  the  leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Rosacece. 

P.  serrulata,  the  Chinese  Hawthorn,  is  a 
very  beautiful  evergreen  shrub  or  low  tree, 
formerly  called  Cratcegus  glabra.  It  is  nearly 
hardy,  but  thrives  best  when  trained  against 
a  wall  in  a  sheltered  situation.  The  plants 
are  propagated  sometimes  by  cuttings  of  the 
ripened  wood,  but  more  frequently  by  graft- 
ing or  inarching  on  some  of  the  hardy  kinds 
of  CratfBgus.  P.  Japonica,  the  Japan  Medlar, 
Japan  Quince,  or  Loquat  (better  known  in  cul- 
tivation as  Eriobotrya  Japonica),  bears  showy 
white  flowers  in  pendulous  racemes,  succeeded 
by  large  bunches  of  pale,  orange-red,  downy, 
edible  fruit.  The  few  species  that  constitute 
this  genus  are  natives  of  northern  India, 
China,  and  Japan,  with  one  species  from  Cali- 
fornia. 

Phragmi'tes.  Eeed.  From  phragmos,  a  hedge ; 
forming  hedges.     Nat.  Ord.  GraminacecB. 

P.  communis,  the  only  species,  is  a  tall- 
growing,  reed-like  plant,  common  in  the 
swamps  and  marshes  on  the  south  side  of 
Long  Island,  and  in  New  Jersey,  and  extend- 
ing to  Florida.  The  plumes  are  gathered  in 
great  quantities  in  the  fall,  and  used  with 
ornamental  grasses  for  dried  bouquets  and 
decorations. 

Phry'ma.  Lop-seed.  A  Linnean  name  of  un- 
known meaning.  P.  Leptostachys,  the  only 
species,  grows  two  to  three  feet  high,  with 
purplish  or  pale  rose-colored  flowers.  It 
flowers  in  July,  and  is  common  in  woods  and 
copses. 

Phyce'lla.  A  diminutive  of  phykos,  red  Alka- 
net ;  alluding  to  the  color  of  the  flowers.  Nat. 
Ord.  AmaryUidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  half-hardy  bulbous  plants, 
from  the  mountain  regions  of  Mexico  and 
South  America.  The  several  species  have  the 
same  general  character,  the  flowers  being  red 
or  scarlet,  marked  with  yellow,  produced  in 
early  summer.  They  should  be  planted  as 
early  in  spring  as  possible,  in  light,  well- 
drained  soil.  After  flowering,  and  as  soon  as 
they  show  signs  of  ripening,  take  up  and 
store  in  the  same  manner  as  Hyacinths.  They 
were  introduced  in  1825,  and  may  be  increased 
by  offsets.  Now  included  under  Hippeastrum 
by  some  botanists. 

Phyge'lius.  Cape  Fig-wort.  From  phyga,  flight, 
and  helios,  the  sun ;  said  to  love  shade.  Nat. 
Ord.  Scrophulariacece. 

N.  capensis,  the  only  species  yetititroduced, 
and  a  close  ally  of  the  Pentstemon,  grows 
from  eighteen  to  twenty-four  inches  high,  and 
produces  late  in  autumn  tubular  chocolate- 
crimson  flowers  in  branching  panicles.  It 
was  introduced  in  1850,  and  may  be  increased 
by  cuttings  or  by  seeds. 

Phy'lica.  From  phyllikos,  leafy ;  in  allusion  to 
the  abundant  evergreen  foliage.  Nat.  Ord. 
RhainnacecB. 

Pretty  little  heath-like  plants,  natives  of 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  with  narrow  leaves, 
and  little  terminal  heads  of  fragrant  white 
flowers,  which  begin  to  appear  in  autumn,  and 
continue    during    winter    and    early   spring. 


322 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


PHY 

They  are  generally  grown  in  a  green-house, 
and  require  the  same  treatment  as  the  Cape 
Heaths.  P.  ericoides,  the  best  known  species, 
has  been  thoroughly  naturalized,  and  covers 
large  tracts  of  land  about  Lisbon,  Portugal. 

Phylla'gathis.  From  phyllon,  a  leaf,  and  aga- 
theos,  divine ;  referring  to  the  beauty  of  the 
foliage.     Nat.  Ord.  MelastomacecE. 

P.  rotundifolia  is  grown  chiefly  for  its  large, 
beautiful  leaves,  which  are  a  rich,  glossy, 
metallic  green  on  the  upper  side,  the  under 
being  bright  red  in  color,  with  very  prominent 
ribs.  It  was  introduced  from  the  Malayan 
Peninsula,  and  requires  a  moist,  warm  atmos- 
phere to  grow  it  well.  It  is  propagated  by 
leaf-cuttings. 

Phylla'nthus.  Fromphyllon,  a  leaf,  and  anthos, 
a  flower ;  the  flowers  are  produced  on  the 
edges  of  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord.  EuphorbiacecB. 
A  large  and  very  interesting  genus  of  tropi- 
cal plants.  The  species  include  low,  creeping 
annuals,  and  moderate-sized  trees.  They  are 
remarlvaljle  for  the  neatness  of  the  foliage  and 
general  aspect.  Several  species  are  frequently 
cultivated  on  account  of  the  pretty,  and  at 
the  same  time,  singular  appearance  of  its  leaf- 
less, leaf-like  branches,  covered  over  at  the 
edges  with  multitudes  of  pink  flowers.  P. 
nivosus,  and  P.  roseo-pictus,  are  very  desirable 
shrubs  for  the  stove-house ;  when  well  grown 
they  have  the  appearance  of  a  sheet  of  snow. 
They  were  introduced  from  the  South-Sea 
Islands  in  1873,  and  are  propagated  by  root 
cuttings,  or  by  cuttings  of  the  ripened  wood. 

Phylla'rthron.  From  phyllon,  a  leaf,  and  arth- 
ros,  a  joint ;  leaves  supposed  to  be  joined,  or 
articulated  on  the  leaf-stalks.  Nat.  Ord. 
Bigyioniacece. 

A  small  genus  of  shrubs  or  small  trees,  con- 
fined to  the  islands  of  eastern  Africa,  remark- 
able for  their  peculiar  jointed  leaves.  The 
flowers  are  pink,  and  appear  in  terminal  and 
axillary  racemes,  producing  a  fruit  much  used 
in  jellies.  They  require  the  same  treatment 
as  the  Bignonias,  to  which  they  are  allied. 
Syn.  Artkrophyllum. 

Phy'llis.  From  phyllon,  a  leaf ;  the  beauty  of 
the  species  is  in  its  leaves.  Nat.  Ord.  Rubi- 
acece. 

P.  nobla,  Bastard  Hare's-ears,  is  an  oi'na- 
mental  shrub  growing  from  two  to  three  feet 
high,  and  producing  axillary  corymbs  of  green 
•flowers  in  abundance.  It  is  a  native  of  the 
Canary  Islands  and  Madeira,  and  is  propagated 
by  cuttings. 

Phylloca'ctus.  From  phyllon,  a  leaf,  and  Cactus. 
Nat.  Ord.  Cactacece. 

Several  species  and  varieties  of  this  genus 
of  Cactacece  are  cultivated  in  hot-houses  and 
green-houses  for  the  sake  of  their  fine  white 
or  crimson  flowers,  which  are  among  the 
largest  and  most  showy  of  the  order.  Some 
confusion  exists  in  their  nomenclature,  owing 
to  many  of  the  species  having  formerly  been 
referred  to  the  genera  Epiphyllum,  and  Cereus. 
They  are,  however,  distinguished  from  the 
latter  by  their  curious,  flat,  broad,  leaf-like 
branches  ;  and  from  the  former  by  their  flowers 
being  produced  from  the  notches  or  inden- 
tures along  the  edges  of  the  branches,  instead 
of  at  the  end,  and  having  small,  sepal-like 
segments  scattered  wide  apart  on  the  tube, 
and  the  numerous  long  petals  variously  ex- 


PHY 

panded,  so  as  to  form  a  rose-like  funnel, 
or  salver-shaped  corolla,  with  the  stamens 
attached  to  the  orifice  of  the  tube,  the  outer 
ones  being  longer  than  the  inner.  The  princi- 
pal species  described  by  botanists  are  found 
in  Mexico,  Central  America,  and  Brazil.  P. 
Ackermanni,  a  native  of  Mexico,  has  flowers 
measuring  as  much  as  seven  inches  across, 
and  of  a  rich  scarlet  color,  like  those  of  some 
varieties  of  Cereus  speciosissimits,  with  broad, 
very  sharp-pointed,  slightly  waved  petals.  Its 
stems  are  rounded  at  the  base,  and  bear  little 
tufts  of  short  bristles,  and  its  flat  branches 
are  from  two  to  two  and  a  half  inches  broad, 
and  waved  or  deeplj'  dented  along  the  margin. 
P.  anguliger  is  a  West  Mexican  species,  and  is 
remarkable  for  having  its  flat  branches  deeply 
and  sharply  lobed,  so  as  to  resemble  pinnately 
cut  leaves,  the  lobes  almost  forming  right- 
angled  triangles ;  its  flowers,  which  are  large 
and  fragrant,  have  brownish  petals,  and  pure 
white  inner  ones.  The  branches  and  stems 
of  P.  Hookeri  are  flat,  and  deeply  crenated ; 
they  grow  from  two  to  three  feet  high,  and 
bear  white,  agreeably  fragrant  flowers  on  the 
margins  of  the  stems.  P.  Phyllanthus,  often 
erroneously  called  the  Night-blooming  Cereus, 
bears  large,  creamy-white  flowers,  nine  to 
twelve  inches  in  length,  opening  at  night  and 
exhaling  a  peculiar  odor.  P.  Phyllanthoides, 
resembling  the  latter,  has  much  smaller 
flowers,  the  petals  being  colored  rose  and 
white  in  irregular  streaks.  It  is  a  very 
beautiful  species,  and  one  of  the  most  florif- 
erous  of  the  family.  Many  other  forms  are 
well  worthy  of  cultivation  ;  all  the  species  are 
readily  increased  by  cuttings,  which  should 
be  allowed  to  dry  a  day  or  two  after  being 
taken  off. 

PhyUoola'dus.  From  phyllon,  a  leaf,  and  klor 
dos,  a  branch  ;  alluding  to  the  phyllodia  which 
are  characteristic.  A  small  genus  of  Coniferoe, 
consisting  of  trees,  natives  of  Australia.  New 
Zealand,  and  Borneo.  The  characters  of  the 
foliage  and  fruit  serve  to  distinguish  this  genus 
from  its  near  ally  Dacrydium.  P.  rhomboidalis, 
the  Celery-topped  Pine,  is  in  cultivation  as  an 
ornamental  tree,  as  is  also  P.  trichomanoides, 
the  bark  of  which  yields  a  red  dye. 

Phyllo'des.  Flattened  leaf-like  petioles  (with- 
out blades).  A  large  number  of  the  Australian 
Acacias  bear  no  true  leaves,  but  Phillodes, 
which  perform  the  same  functions. 

Phyllo'doce.  From  phyllon,  a  leaf,  and  dokein, 
to  shine ;  in  allusion  to  the  shining  leaves. 
Nat.  Ord.  EricacecB. 

A  genus  of  small  heath-like  shrubs  inhabit- 
ing the  mountainous  regions  of  Europe,  Asia, 
and  North  America.  Flowers,  blue,  pink,  or 
purple,  usually  nodding  on  solitary  or  um- 
belled  peduncles  at  the  summit  of  the 
branches.  Our  native  species,  P.  taxifolia,  is 
found  on  the  alpine  summits  of  the  mountains 
of  New  Hampshire,  Maine,  and  northward. 

Phyllo'ma.  From  phyllon,  a  leaf,  and  loma,  a 
fringe ;  in  reference  to  the  colored  edges  of 
the  leaves  of  the  first  discovered  species. 
Nat.  Ord.  lAliacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  succulent 
plants,  allied  to  Aloe.  They  grow  well  in 
sandy  loam,  and  are  readily  increased  by 
suckers.     Syn.  Lomatophyllvm. 


AND   GENEEAL   HOETICULTUEE. 


323 


PHY 

Phyllo'stachys.  From  phyllon,  a  leaf,  and 
stachys,  a  spike ;  alluding  to  the  branchlets 
being  furnished  with  leaves.  Nat.  Ord. 
Graminacece. 

A  genus  of  tree-like  Chinese  and  Japanese 
grasses,  with  half-round  stems,  prominent 
lobes  and  leaf-bearing  branchlets  in  fascicles 
or  tufts.  P.  Nigra,  produces  the  Whangee 
Canes,  which,  "  although  slender,  are  nearly 
solid,  and  appear  to  be  generally  used  for 
such  purposes  as  require  great  strength  and 
toughness.  Chairs,  pipe-stems,  and  walking- 
sticks  are  often  seen  in  England  made  from 
the  culms  of  this  species."  P.  bambusoides 
grows  from  ten  to  twelve  feet  high,  the 
yellow  reed-like  culms,  being  unarmed,  very 
smooth  above,  and  with  very  prominent  nodes. 

Phyllo'ta.  From  phyllon,  a  leaf,  and  ous,  otis, 
an  ear ;  referring  to  the  shape  of  the  leaves. 
Nat.  Old.  LeguminoscR. 

A  genus  of  Australian  shrubs,  closely  allied 
to  Dillwynia  and  Aotiis,  and  requiring  the 
same  general  treatment.  P.  Philicoides  with 
yellow  flowers  forming  leafy  heads  or  spikes 
is  the  only  species  in  cultivation.  Syns.  P. 
aspera,  P.  comosa,  and  P.  squarrosa. 

PhyJlotae'niuni.  A  genus  of  Aroidete,  estab- 
lished on  a  Now  Grenadian  species,  formerly 
called  Xanthosma.  It  resembles  the  Caladium, 
but  differs  in  its  persistent  leaves,  acrid, 
milky  juice,  and  the  absence  of  rudimentary 
organs.  P.  Lindpni  has  large  hastate-oblong, 
deep  green  leaves;  the  mid-rib  and  tlie 
numerous  well  deiined  veins  of  which  are  clear 
ivory  white.  It  is  a  most  showy  variegated 
plant  for  the  warm  green-house.  Introduced 
from  New  Grenada  in  1871. 

Phyllo'xera.     See  Insects. 

Phy'llum.  A  sepal.  In  Greek  compound,  a 
leaf,  as  Diphyllous ;  two-leaved,  Triphyllous, 
three-leaved,  etc. 

Phymato'des.  A  genus  of  Ferns,  now  included 
under  Polypodium. 

Phy 'sails.  Ground  Cherry,  Strawberry  Tomato. 
From  physa,  a  bladder;  alluding  to  the 
inflated  calj'x.     Nat.  Ord.  Solanaeece. 

A  genus  of  American,  principally  Mexican 
plants,  several  species  of  which  are  in  culti- 
vation. P.  Alkekengi  is  the  Strawberry  To- 
mato common  in  cultivated  grounds  and  waste 
places,  having  become  naturalized  from 
Europe.  P.  Peruviana  edulis,  the  Cape  Goose- 
berry-, a  native  of  South  America,  is  occasion- 
ally grown  as  a  dessert  fruit,  some  people 
liking  its  peculiar  flavor. 

Physia'nthus.  From  physa,  a  bladder,  and 
anthos,  a  flower ;  alluding  to  the  corolla  being 
inflated  at  the  base.  Nat.  Ord.  Asclepiada- 
cecR. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  climbing  plants, 
natives  of  Brazil  and  Buenos  Ayres.  P.  albens 
bears  immense  quantities  of  pure  white,  fra- 
grant flowers,  in  axillary  clixsters,  very  much 
like  a  single  Tuberose,  which  are  much  used 
in  the  formation  of  bouquets  during  the  sum- 
mer months.  It  is  well  adapted  for  covering 
trellises,  or  for  any  situation  where  a  climber 
is  required,  and  succeeds  best  in  the  Avarmest 
situation.  It  has  lai'ge  and  handsome  seed- 
vessels  which  look  like  oval  gourds,  and 
which,  when  opened,  are  found  to  contain  the 
seeds,  enveloped  in  a  quantity  of  fine,  silky 
substance,  which  looks  like  the  cocoons  of 


•     PHY 

silk-worms  afte^*tlie  fine  silk  has  been  spun 
off.  They  ai'ff  ..rapid  growers,  sometimes 
growing  twenty 'feet  in  a  summer.  They 
require  the  protection  of  the  green-house  dur- 
ing winter.  A  wonderful  peculiarity  of  this 
plantis  its  powerto  trap  insects.  Forthis  rea- 
son Professor  George  Thurber  has  well  named 
it  "  The  Cruel  Plant,"  and  describes  the  trap 
contrivance  thus:  "Tlie  anthers  are  so 
placed  that  their  spreading  cells  form  a  series 
of  notches  in  a  ring  around  the  pistil.  The 
insect,  in  putting  its  proboscis  down  for  the 
honey,  must  pass  it  into  one  of  these  notches, 
and  in  attempting  to  withdraw  it,  the  end  is 
sure  to  get  caught  in  a  notch,  boot-jack 
fashion,  as  it  were,  and  the  more  the  insect 
pulls,  the  more  its  trunk  is  drawn  towards 
the  point  of  the  notch."  Thus  caught,  the 
insect  starves  to  death ;  hence,  the  well- 
deserved  name  of  "Cruel  Plant."  It  was 
introduced  in  1830,  and  is  propagated  by  cut- 
tings or  by  seeds. 

Physic-nut-tree.     Curcas  {Jatropha),  purgans. 

Physi'dium.     A  synonym  for  Angelonia. 

Physochlai'na.  From  physa,  a  bladder,  and 
chlaina,  an  outer  garment;  alluding  to  the 
inflated  calyx.     Nat.  Ord.  SolanacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy,  erect,  herbaceous 
perennials,  natives  of  Central  Asia.  The 
three  introduced  species  produce  their  very 
elegant  flowers  early  in  the  season  and  are 
therefore  desirable  plants  for  the  herbaceous 
border.  They  thrive  in  any  light  garden  soil, 
and  ai'e  increased  by  seed  or  by  division.  Syn. 
Hyoscyamus. 

Physoste'gia.  From  physa,  a  bladder,  and 
stege,  a  covering;  alluding  to  the  calyx.  Nat. 
Ord.  LabiatcB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials, 
natives  of  North  and  South  America.  P. 
Virginiana,  P.  imbricata,  and  P.  denticulata,  are 
the  most  desirable  species,  and  produce  white, 
pink,  purple,  and  red  flowers,  in  terminal, 
leafless  clusters.  They  are  nearly  allied  to 
Dracocephalum,  and  require  the  same  treat- 
ment. 

Physoste'lnia.  From  physa,  a  bladder,  and 
stelma,  a  girdle ;  alluding  to  the  shape  of 
corona  scales.     Nat.  Ord.  Asclepiadiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  plant-stove,  climbing, 
glabrous  slirubs,  natives  of  the  Malayan 
Archipelago.  P.  Wallichii,  the  only  species  in 
cultivation,  has  green  and  yellow  flowers  with 
coriaceous,  almost  veinless  leaves.  It  requires 
the  same  treatment  as  Hoya,  to  which  genus 
it  is  closely  allied. 

Physosti'gma.  Ordeal  Bean  of  Old  Calabar. 
From  physa,  a  bladder,  and  stigrna;  the 
bearded  style  is  terminated  by  a  large, 
oblique  hood,  covering  the  stigma.  Nat. 
Ord.  Leguminosce. 

P.  venenosum  is  a  climbing  plant,  the  seeds 
of  which  are  extremely  poisonous,  and  are 
employed  by  the  natives  of  Old  Calabar  as  an 
ordeal ;  persons  suspected  of  witchcraft  or 
other  crime  being  compelled  to  eat  them 
until  they  vomit  or  die — the  former  being 
regarded  as  a  proof  of  innocence — the  latter 
of  guilt. 

Physu'rus.  From  physa,  a  bladder,  and  oura,  a 
tail.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacem. 

A  small  genus  of  lovely  little  Orchids, 
both  epiphytal  and  terrestrial,     natives    of 


324 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


PHY 

South  America.  P.  pictus,  is  one  of  the  most 
deiicately-beautiful  objects  which  the  re- 
searches of  modern  botanists  have  furnished 
to  our  collections.  Its  leaves  are  a  rich, 
tender  green,  reticulated  with  numberless 
silvery-looking  veins,  of  the  most  exquisite 
markings,  having  the  appearance  of  a  net- 
work of  silver  oh  a  ground  of  bright  green 
velvet.  It  requires  the  same  treatment  as 
AncBctochilus,  to  which  it  is  nearly  allied. 

Phyte'lephas.  Vegetable  Ivory  Nut.  From 
phyton,  a  plant,  and  elephas,  ivory ;  buttons 
and  toys  are  made  from  the  hard  albumen  of 
the  nuts.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

P.  macrocarpa,  the  Ivory  Plant  of  South 
America,  is  the  representative  of  a  curious 
genus  closely  allied  to  the  Palms,  and  having 
their  habit;  but  they  differ  from  them  in 
having  an  indefinite  number  of  stamens,  and 
on  that  account  are  regarded  by  some  bota- 
nists as  the  type  of  a  separate  natural  order, 
Phytelephantece.  The  separation,  however, 
has  not  yet  been  made.  There  are  two 
species,  similar  in  all  respects,  except  in  the 
size  of  the  fruit,  and  both  inhabit  the  same 
locality.  P.  macrocarpa,  the  large-seeded 
species,  is  a'  native  of  the  northern  parts  of 
South  America,  and  was  known  to  botanists 
long  before  the  nuts  had  a  commercial  value. 
It  inhabits  damp  localities,  such  as  valleys 
and  banks  of  rivers,  and  is  found  not  only  on 
the  coast  regions,  as  at  Darien,  but  also  on 
mountains  rising  3,000  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  sea.  It  is  generally  found  in  detached 
groves,  seldom  intermixed  with  other  trees. 
The  trunk  is  always  pulled  down,  partlj' 
by  its  own  weight,  and  partly  by  its 
aerial  roots,  which  it  possesses  in  common 
with  the  Pandanus,  to  which  it  is  allied.  It 
thus  forms  a  creeping  stem,  which  is  fre- 
quently twenty  feet  long,  but  is  seldom 
higher  than  six  feet.  The  top  is  crowned 
with  from  twelve  to  twenty  leaves,  from 
twelve  to  eighteen  feet  long.  The  male  and 
female  flowers  are  on  separate  trees,  and  the 
trunk  of  the  male  plant  is  always  more  erect 
and  taller  than  that  of  the  female.  The  flow- 
ers are  produced  in  axillary  clusters,  and 
emit  a  powerful  perfume.  The  fruit,  a  col- 
lection of  six  or  seven  drupes,  forms  clusters, 
which  are  as  large  as  a  man's  head,  at  first 
erect,  but  ultimately  hanging  down  when  the 
weight  increases.  A  plant  bears  at  one  time 
from  six  to  eight  of  these  heads,  each  weigh- 
ing, when  ripe,  about  twenty-five  pounds. 
Each  drupe  contains  from  six  to  nine  seeds  or 
nuts.  The  seed  at  first  contains  a  clear, 
insipid  fluid,  with  which  travelers  allay  their 
thirst;  afterward  this  liquor  becomes  milky 
and  sweet.  When  matured,  it  is  almost  as 
hard  as  ivory.  These  nuts  are  gathered  in 
large  quantities  by  the  natives,  and  sold  to 
traders,  who  are  allowed  on  shore  only  suffi- 
ciently long  to  make  their  purchases,  and  are 
compelled  to  return  to  their  vessels  at 
night. 

Phyte'uma.  Horned  Eampion.  Linnaeus 
adopted  this  name  from  Dioscoi"ides ;  mean- 
ing unknown.     Nat.  Ord.  Campanulacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous 
plants,  the  majority  of  which  are  interesting 
aids  in  the  embellishment  of  rock  work  or 
similar  places,  where  they  speedily  extend 
themselves.    They  are  mostly  natives  of  tlie 


PIE 

temperate  parts  of  Europe  and  Asia,  and  have 
long  been  under  cultivation.  Propagated  by 
seeds  or  by  division. 

Phytola'cca.  Poke  "Weed,  or  Scoke-berry. 
From  phyton,  a  plant,  and  lacca,  lac;  the  crim- 
son color  of  the  fruit.  Nat.  Ord.  Phytolac- 
cacece. 

P.  decandria,  our  common  Virginia  Poke 
Weed,  is  the  type  of  the  genus.  At  home  it 
is  a  rank  weed.  In  Portugal  it  is  said  to  be 
cultivated  for  the  berries,  the  juice  of  which 
is  used  to  color  Port  wine.  The  root  has 
medical  qualities.  The  young  shoots  in 
spring  are  often  used  by  country  people  as  a 
substitute  for  Asparagus. 

Phytolacca'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  under- 
shrubs  or  herbs,  with  alternate,  entire,  often 
dotted  leaves,  natives  of  America,  Asia,  and 
Africa.  There  is  frequently  much  acridity  in 
the  plants  of  this  order,  and  some  of  them 
act  as  irritant  emetics,  and  purgatives.  The 
order  which  was  long  confounded  with 
ChenopodiacecB,  contains  twenty  known 
genera,  including  Phytolacca,  and  Rivinia,  and 
about  eighty  species. 

Piassaba  or  Picaba  Fiber.     See  Leopoldinia. 

Pi'cea.  Silver  Fir.  From  pix,  pitch  ;  the  trees 
produce  abundance  of  resin.  Nat.  Ord.  Gon- 
ifercB. 

A  genus  of  mostly  hardy  evergreen  trees 
formerly  included  in  the  genus  Abies.  The 
difference  in  the  genera  is  very  slight,  con- 
sisting only  in  the  shape  of  their  cones,  and 
the  bracts  not  falling  away  from  the  axis  at 
maturity,  as  in  Abies.  As  no  two  works  on 
ConifercB  agree,  and  the  genera  Abies  and 
Picea,  are  generally  transposed,  we  follow  the 
names  generally  accepted  by  nurserymen  in 
this  country  and  England.  P.  pectinata,  the 
Silver  Fir,  has  rich  green  foliage,  silvery 
underneath.  It  is  a  vigorous  grower  and 
stands  pruning  well.  P.  Cephalonica,  bush- 
like when  young,  but  eventually  pyramidal,  is 
a  beautiful  species,  and  generally  hardy.  P. 
firma,  the  Japanese  Silver  Fir,  is  one  of  the 
most  vigorous  and  hardy,  and  is  a  distinct 
and  interesting  species.  P.  Nordmanniana, 
introduced  fi-om  the  Crimea  in  1848,  is  one 
of  the  most  stately  and  symmetrical  as  well 
as  effective  of  evergreen  trees.  It  is  of  slow 
growth,  with  dark-green,  massive  foliage, 
silvery  underneath  ;  the  contrast  between  its 
old  and  new  gi'owth  being  most  charming. 
P.  Pichta,  the  Siberian  Silver  Fir,  has  very 
dark  green  leaves,  soft  and  rich  to  the  touch. 
P.  Pinsapo,  is  a  very  handsome  densely- 
branched  species,  resembling  P.  Cephalonica, 
but  not  entirely  hardy  in  this  latitude.  There 
are  many  other  desirable  species,  such  as, 
P.  Veitchii,  P.  nobilis,  P.  amabilis,  P.  pec- 
tinata compacta,  etc.,  for  descriptions  of  which 
see  nursery  catalogues. 

Piceus.     Black,  changing  to  brownish  black. 

Pickerel  Weed.     See  Pontederia. 

Picotee.  One  of  the  florist's  varieties  of  I)ian- 
thus  Caryophyllus.     See  Dianthus. 

Picrorhi'za.  From  pikros,  bitter,  and  rhiza,  a 
root ;  in  allusion  to  the  bitterness  of  the  root. 
Nat.  Ord.  ScrophulariacecB. 

P.  Kurrova  is  a  hardy  perennial  plant,  a 
native  of  the  Himalayas,  the  thick  root  of 
which  is  used  in  Hindoo  medicine. 

Pie'rcea.     A  synonym  of  Rivinia. 


PHCENIX  BDPICOLA. 


PHYLLANTHU6  ROBEO-PICTDS. 


PHCENIX  BECLINATA. 


PICEA   PEC  TrSATA    (8ILVKB  FEE). 


PILOCEBEU8  SENILIS  (OLD  MAN  CACTTJS).  32$ 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


325 


PIE 

Pi'eris,  A  name  applied  to  the  Muses  from  their 
supposed  abode  at  Pieria,  in  Thessaly.  Nat. 
Ord.  EricacecB. 

A  genus  of  low-growing  trees  or  shrubs, 
natives  of  the  Himalayas,  Japan,  and  north- 
western America.  The  flowers  are  white, 
rarely  red,  borne  in  terminal  racemes  very 
much  resembling  the  Andromeda,  from  which 
genus  they  have  been  separated.  P.  Japonica 
elegant issitna,  is  a  very  elegant  shrub,  its  leaves 
being  beautifully  margined  with  wliite.  Syn. 
Andromeda  Japonica  variegata. 

Pigeon  Berry.     Phytolacca  decandra. 

Pigeon  Pea.     See  Cajanus  Indicus. 

Pig-weed.  The  popular  name  of  Chenopodium 
album. 

Pig-nut.  A  common  name  for  the  fruit  of  a 
species  of  Hickory,  Carya porcina. 

Pi'lea.  Yvom. pileos,  a  cap ;  alluding  to  the  shape 
of  one  of  the  divisions  of  the  perianth.  Nat. 
Ord.  UrticacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  annual  or  perennial 
herbaceous  plants,  most  of  which  may  be  de- 
scribed as  mere  weeds.  P.  microphylla,  known 
as  the  Artillery  Plant  (syn.  P.  muscosa), 
is  a  native  of  the  West  Indies  and  is  a 
useful,  low-growing,  mossy-looking  plant, 
remarkable  for  the  manner  in  which  it  dis- 
charges its  pollen  grains.  When  the  flowers 
are  i-eady  to  expand  the  least  moisture 
causes  the  calyx  to  expand,  and  the  pollen 
is  thrown  out  with  great  force  to  the  dis- 
tance of  nearly  a  foot.  By  putting  a  plant 
when  in  flower  quickly  in  a  vessel  of  warm 
water,  these  discharges  will  be  rapidly  kept 
up  for  some  minutes,  a  perfect  representa- 
tion of  miniature  artillery,  both  in  sound 
and  smoke.  The  plants  are  well  adapted  for 
baskets,  stands,  or  rockeries,  and  are  exten- 
sively used  for  massing  with  Echeverias  and 
other  plants  used  in  "  carpet  bedding."  P. 
reticulata,  P.  herniarcefolia,  P.  serpyllifolia,  and 
other  species,  are  used  for  hanging-baskets, 
vases,  etc. ;  they  all  have  the  same  peculiar- 
ities and  are  easily  increased  by  cuttings. 

Pileus.  The  name  given  to  the  broad  expanded 
part  in  Mushrooms  and  allied  groups  of  tlie 
larger  Fungi. 

Pili.     Hairs. 

Piliferous.    Tipped  with,  or  bearing  hairs. 

Pillwort.  The  common  name  of  the  genus 
Pilularia. 

Piloca'rpus.  From  pilos,  a  cap,  and  karpos,  a 
fruit ;  referring  to  the  shape  of  the  berries. 
Nat.  Ord.  Rutacece. 

A  genus  of  shrubby  green-house  plants, 
natives  of  tropical  America  and  the  West 
Indies.  P.  pennatifolius,  has  purple  flowers 
in  crowded  racemes  eighteen  inches  long ;  it 
is  one  of  the  plants  which  furnishes  the  Jabo- 
randi  of  commerce.  They  are  propagated  by 
cuttings  of  the  ripened  wood. 

Piloce'reus.  From  pilos,  wool,  and  Cereua; 
alluding  to  the  long  hairs  upon  the  spine 
cushions.    Nat.  Ord.  Cactacew. 

The  well-known  Old  Man  Cactus,  and  a  few 
allied  species,  have  been  separated  under  this 
name  from  the  genus  Cereus,  but,  as  in  other 
genera  of  CadacecB,  the  distinguishing  charac- 
ters are  scarcely  of  generic  importance.  All 
the  species  are  natives  of  Mexico  and  tropical 
America.  P.  senilis,  the  Old  Man  Cactus,  the 
one  met  in  our  green-houses,  but  by  no  means 


PIM 

common,  is  usually  seen  from  one  to  two  feet 
high,  and  rarely  three,  but  in  Mexico,  its 
native  country,  it  attains  a  height  of  from 
twenty  to  twenty-five  feet,  with  a  diameter  of 
nine  or  ten  inclies,  and  its  fluted  character 
gives  it  somewhat  the  appearance  of  an  archi- 
tectural column.  The  stem  is  divided  into 
thirty  or  forty  narrow  furrows,  with  corre- 
sponding ridges,  which  are  furnished  at  very 
short  distances  with  tufts  of  white  spines, 
surrounded  by  numerous  long,  flexible  white 
bail's,  resembling  the  gray  hairs  of  an  old 
man's  head ;  hence  has  arisen  not  only  the 
common  name  of  the  plant,  but  al&o  its  scien- 
tific appellation.  When  young  the  stems  are 
fleshy  and  succulent,  but  when  they  get  old 
their  tissue  becomes  filled  with  an  extraordi- 
nary quantity  of  small  sand-like  grains,  com- 
posed of  oxalate  of  lime,  not  less  than  from 
sixty  to  eighty  per  cent,  having  been  found  in 
individual  stems.  This  genus  requires  the 
same  culture  as  other  Cacti,  and  is  increased 
in  the  same  manner. 

Pilo'gyne  suavis.  A  very  beautiful  climbing 
plant  belonging  to  the  Nat.  Ord.  CucurbitacecB. 
It  is  a  rapid-growing  plant,  with  small, 
glossy  green  leaves,  rendering  it  desirable  for 
covering  verandas  or  trellises.  It  is  also  a 
splendid  house  plant.  The  flowers  are  yel- 
lowish-white, and  quite  fragrant.  This  plant 
was  introduced  into  the  United  States  about 
1875  from  South  Africa,  by  way  of  Germany, 
and  is  easily  increased  by  cuttings.  It  is 
described  in  "Nicholson's  Dictionary"  under 
the  name  of  Zehneria,  and  the  correct  name  is 
given  as  Melothria  punctata. 

Pilose.    Covered  with  long,  soft  hairs. 

Pilot-weed.     Silphium  laciniatum. 

Piliila'ria.  From  pilula,  a  little  ball  or  pill; 
alluding  to  the  shape  of  the  heads  of  the 
reproductive  organs.  Nat.  Ord.  Marsileacece. 
A  small  genus  of  aquatic  plants  found  in 
temperate  Europe  and  Asia,  Australia  and 
North  America.  They  are  often  cultivated  in 
aquaria. 

Pilu'mna.  From  pilos  or  pileos,  a  cap;  shape  of 
the  flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  Peruvian  epiphytal  Or- 
chids. They  have  medium-sized  flowers,  of  a 
white,  or  greenish-white  color,  which  are  pro- 
duced in  spikes  of  from  three  to  five.  They 
are  remarkable  for  their  delicious  fragrance. 
They  succeed  well  in  a  cool  house,  and  should 
be  grown  in  leaf  mould  and  sphagnum  moss. 
They  were  introduced  in  1843,  and  are 
increased  by  division. 

Pimelea.  From  pimele,  fat;  referring  to  the 
viscid  matter  on  the  leaves  of  some  species. 
Nat.  Ord.  Thymelacem. 

An  extensive  genus  of  green-house  ever- 
green shrubs,  natives  of  Australia,  Tasmania 
and  New  Zealand.  They  make  handsome 
plants  in  English  green-houses,  and  produce 
many  terminal  clusters  of  white,  rose,  or  yel- 
low flowers  of  great  beauty,  but  our  hot,  dry 
summers  are  not  congenial  to  them.  They 
were  introduced  in  1824,  and  are  propagated 
by  cuttings. 

Pime'nta.  Allspice  Tree.  From  pimento,  the 
Spanish  name.     Nat.  Ord.  Myrtacem. 

P.  vulgaris,  the  only  species,  is  an  extremely 
handsome  tree,  a  native  of  South  America 
and  the  West  Indies,  especially  of  the  island 


320 


HENDERSONS   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PIM 

of  Jamaica,  whence  the  berries  or  Pimento  of 
commerce  are  exported  in  large  quantities. 
This  tree  grows  to  tin;  height  of  about  tliirty 
feet,  with  a  smooth  brown  trunk  and  shining 
green  leaves,  resembling  those  of  the  Bay ; 
the  branches  coming  out  on  all  sides,  the 
trees  are  clothed  in  the  most  luxuriant 
foliage.  The  great  profusion  of  white  flowers 
contrasts  pleasingly  with  the  dark  green 
leaves,  the  whole  forming  an  object  of  vege- 
table beauty  rarely  surpassed  ;  wliile  the  rich 
perfume  which  the  flowers  exhale  renders  an 
assemblage  of  these  trees  one  of  the  most 
delicious  plantations  of  even  a  tropical  clime. 
The  Pimento  tree  grows  spontaneously  in 
many  parts  of  Jamaica,  but  abounds  more 
particularly  on  the  northern  side  of  the 
island,  in  elevated  spots  near  the  coast. 
When  a  new  plantation  is  to  be  formed,  no 
regular  planting  or  sowing  takes  place.  It  is 
usual  to  appropriate  a  piece  of  land  either  in 
the  neighborhood  of  a  plantation  already 
formed,  or  in  a  part  of  the  woodlands  where 
these  trees  are  scattered  in  a  native  state. 
The  land  is  then  cleared  of  all  wood  except 
these  trees,  which  are  left  standing,  and  the 
felled  timber  is  allowed  to  remain,  where  it 
falls  to  decay.  In  the  course  of  a  year  young 
Pimento  plants  are  found  springing  up  in  all 
parts  of  the  land.  At  the  end  of  two  years  the 
land  is  thoroughly  cleared,  only  those  plants 
being  left  that  promise  a  vigorous  growth  ; 
these  arrive  at  maturity  in  from  five  to  seven 
years.  Plantations  are  thus  formed  with 
apparently  little  trouble ;  this,  however,  can 
only  be  done  in  those  parts  where  the  tree  is 
of  spontaneous  growth.  This  tree  is  purely 
a  child  of  Nature,  and  seems  to  mock  all  the 
labors  of  man  in  his  endeavors  to  extend  or 
improve  its  growth  ;  not  one  attempt  in  fifty 
to  propagate  the  young  plants  or  to  raise 
them  from  the  seed,  in  parts  of  the  country 
where  it  is  not  found  growing  spontaneously, 
having  succeeded.  The  berries  have  to  be 
gathered  very  soon  after  the  flowers  fade ;  if 
left  to  ripen  on  the  tree  they  lose  their  pun- 
gency, and  become  valueless.  When  picked 
they  are  spread  out  thinly  on  floors,  exposed 
to  the  full  heat  of  the  sun,  for  about  a  week, 
or  until  fit  for  exportation. 
Pime'nto.  The  dried  berries  of  the  West  Indian 
Eugenia  Pimenta,  and  E.  acris. 

Pimpernel.     See  Anagallis. 
Pina'ceae.     A  natural  order  now  included  under 
Conifer  ce. 

Pina'nga.     A  local  Malayan  name.     Nat.  Ord. 
Palmacew. 

A  genus  of  stove-house  Palms,  usually  low 
and  slender-stemmed,  natives  of  India  and 
the  Malayan  Archipelago.  They  are  very 
ornamental  plants,  and  are  closely  allied  to 
Seaforthia,  and  Areca,  under  which  genera 
some  of  the  species  are  placed  by  botanists. 
P.  spectabilis,  is  a  very  choice  and  beautiful 
species,  the  dark  green  leaves,  mottled  with 
light  green,  and  the  nerves  prominently 
raised  on  the  upper  surface,  the  under  sur- 
face having  a  light  silvery  appearance.  P. 
lepida,  is  another  elegant-growing  Palm,  the 
young  leaves  having  a  brown-crimson  tint, 
gradually  changing  as  the  foliage  matures. 

Pincenecti'tia.     Lindley  says  this  is  ''a  name 
under  which  some  plants  allied  to  Cordyline, 


PIN 

and  Dasylirion,  have  been  sent  out  by  Belgian 
horticulturists.  It  is  supposed  to  have  arisen 
from  the  blunders  of  ignorant  gardeners,  who 
mistook  the  plant  for  a  Freycinetia,  but  who 
wrote  the  name  so  badlj'  that  it  was  read  as 
above."  The  species  are  described  as  a  genus 
of  Liliacece,  under  the  name  of  Beaucamia, 
which  see. 

Pi'nckneya.  A  genus  of  small  trees,  natives  of 
the  Southern  States  from  Carolina  to  Florida, 
and  belonging  to  the  Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacece. 

P.  pubens,  the  Bitter-bark  Tree,  is  quite  a 
handsome  tree,  with  red  downy,  purplish- 
spotted    flowers,    and    large,    downy,    ovate 

•  leaves,  rendered  still  more  conspicuous  by 
reason  of  the  large  pink  bracts  underneath 
the  inflorescence. 

Pincushion  Flo-wer.     The  genus  Scabiosa. 

Pine-apple.     See  Ananassa. 

Pine-barren  Beauty,  or  Little  Pixie.  Pyxidan- 
thera  barbulata. 

Pine-tree.    The  popular  name  for  Pinus;   the 

name  is  also  applied  to  several  other  genera. 
Aleppo  or  Jerusalem.     Pinus  Halepensis. 
Amboyna.     Damarra  orientalis. 
Austrian.     Piniis  Aiistriaca. 
Bhotan.     Piniis  excelsa. 
Black.     Pinus  Austriaca. 
Black,  of  New  Zealand.  Podocarpvs  ferruginea, 

and  P.  spicata. 
Brazilian.     Araucaria  Braziliensis. 
Calabrian.     Pinus  Laricio. 
Californian  Giant.     Pinus  Lambertiana. 
Celerj'-leaved,  of  New  Zealand.     Phyllocladus 

trichotnanoides. 
Celerj'-leaved,     of     Tasmania.       Phyllocladus 

rhomboidalis. 
Chili.     Araucaria  imbricata. 
Chinese.     Pinus  Sine7isis. 
Chinese  Lace-bark.     Pin^is  Bungeana. 
Cowrie  or  Kauri.     Damarra  A'uslralis. 
Crimean.     Pinus  Pallasiana. 
Cluster.     Pinus  Pinaster. 
Cypress.     Frenella  verrucosa. 
Frankincense.     Pinus  Tceda. 
Georgia.     Pinus  australis. 
Golden.     Pinus  Knempferi. 
Hickory.     Pinus  Balfouriana. 
Highland.     Pinus  sylvesirm,  var.  horizontalis. 
Hudson's  Bay.     Pinus  Banksiana. 
Italian  Stone.     Pinus  Pinea. 
Kauri  or  Cowrie.     Damarra  Australis. 
King.     Abies  Webbiana. 
Labrador  or  Banksian.     Pinus  Banksiana. 
Loblolly.     Pinus  Tce^da. 
Mahogany.     Podocarpus  Totara. 
Monterey.     Pinus  insignis. 
Moreton  Bay.     Araucaria  Cunninghami. 
Mountain.     Pinus  Monficola  and  P.  pumula. 
Nepal.     Pinus  Gerardiana. 
New   Caledonian.    Aravu:aria    Cookii,  and    A. 

Rulei. 
New  Jersey  Scrub.     Pinus  inops. 
New  Zealand.     Dacridium  cupressinum. 
Norfolk  Island.     Araucaria  excelsa. 
Norway.     Abies  excelsa. 

"Norway,"  of  North  America.  Pinus  resinosa. 
Nut.     Pinus  edulis  and  P.  monophylla. 
Pitch.     Pinus  rigida. 
Pitch,  of  Georgia.     Pinus  aiuitralis. 
Red.     Pinus  resinosa  and  abies  rubra. 
Red,  of  New  Zealand.  Dacrydium  cupressinum. 
Screw.     The  genus  Pandanus. 


AND    GENERAL    HOETICULTURE. 


327 


PIN 

Screw,  Australian.     Pandanus  pedunculatus. 
Sea- side.     Pinus  maritima. 
Siberian.     Pinus  Cembrn,  var.  Siberica. 
Snow  or  White   Wt-ymouth.     Pinus  Slrobvs, 

var.  nirea. 
Soutli  African.     Leucadendron  argenteum. 
Southern.     Pinus  australis. 
Stone.     Pinus  Pinea. 
Stone,  Swiss.     Pimis  Cembra. 
Sugar.     Pinus  Lambertiana. 
Table-mountain.     Pinus  pungens. 
Umbrella.     The  genus  Sciadopilys. 
Virginian.     Pinus  australis  {P.  palustris). 
Water.     Glyplontrobus  helerophyllus. 
Wax.  .  The  genus  Damarra. 
Weymouth.     Pinus  Slrobus. 
White.     Pinus  Strobus,  and  P.  Jlexilis. 
Yellow.      Pinus  australis,    P.    milis,    and    P. 
ponderosa. 

Pine-^vvreed.     Hypericum  Sarothra. 

Pingui'cula.  Butter  wort.  From  pinguis,  fat ; 
referring  to  the  greasiness  of  the  leaves. 
Nat.  Ord.  Lentibulacew. 

Curious  and  beautiful  little  plants,  very  dif- 
ficult to  keep  in  an  artificial  state,  although 
some  of  them  are  indigenous.  They  are 
marsh  plants,  and  refuse  to  exist  out  of  their 
native  position ;  but  when  seen  in  health, 
their  beautiful  white,  yellow,  lilac,  or  violet- 
colored  flowers  are  the  admiration  of  every 
beholdt^r.  P.  Vallisnerimfolia,  a  native  of  the 
mountains  of  Spain,  differs  from  all  others  of 
the  genus  in  its  clustered  habit  of  growth,  a 
number  of  crowns  being  often  massed  to- 
gether in  one  clump.  The  flowers  are  large, 
and  of  a  soft  purple  or  pale  lilac-purple,  with 
conspicuous  white  or  pale  centres.  It  requires 
very  free  drainage,  continuous  moisture,  and 
a  humid  atmosphere  in  cultivation.  The 
native  species  are  common  from  New  York  to 
Florida. 

Pink.     See  Dianihus. 

Pink-root.     See  Spigelia. 

Pinnae.  The  primary  divisions  of  a  pinnated 
leaf — its  leaflets. 

Pinnate.  When  simple  leaflets  are  arranged  on 
each  side  of  a  common  petiole ;  a  compound 
leaf. 

Pinnatifid.  A  leaf  deeply  cut  into  segments 
nearly  to  the  midrib. 

Pinnules.  The  secondary  divisions  of  a  pinnate 
leaf. 

Pi'nus.  Pine  Tree.  From  pinos,  a  Greek  word 
used  by  Theophrastus,  to  designate  a  Pine 
tree ;  and  some  authors  derive  it  from  the 
Celtic  pin,  or  pyn,  a  mountain  or  rock ;  allud- 
ing to  the  habitat  of  the  tree.  Nat.  Ord.  Coni- 
fercB. 

This  genus  is  very  extensive,  and  contains 
some  of  our  most  useful  trees  for  economic 
purposes,  besides  a  number  of  species  of  an 
ornamental  character.  The  genus  is  confined 
solely  to  the  northern  hemisphere,  and  the 
more  useful  and  gigantic  to  the  United  States. 
Pinus  australis  is  the  Yellow  or  Pitch  Pine  of 
the  Southern  States,  This  species  seems  to 
be  especially  assigned  to  dry,  sandy  soil,  and 
it  is  found  without  interruption  from  Virginia 
to  Florida,  covering  a  tract  of  more  than 
six  hundred  miles  long  from  northeast  to 
southwest,  and  more  than  one  hundred 
miles  broad  from  the  sea  toward  the  moun- 
tains of  the  Carolinasand  Georgia.    The  aver- 


PIN 

age  height  of  the  trees  is  from  sixty  to  seventy 
feet,  with  a  diameter  of  from  fifteen  to  eighteen 
inches.     In  Virginia,  where  this  species  first 
makes  its  appearance,  it  does  not  grow  so 
large ;  but  in  Georgia  and  Florida  it  greatly 
exceeds  these  dimensions.     Besides  the  valu- 
able  timber  it  affords,   it  also  produces  the 
pitch,  tar,  turpentine,  and  rosin  of  commerce. 
The  leaves  are  about  a  foot  long,  of  a  beauti- 
ful brilliant  green,  and  produced  in  bunches 
at  the  extremity  of  the  branches.     P.  inops  is 
the  Jersey  or  Scrub  Pine,  a  species  that  grows 
from  fifteen  to  forty  feet  high,  with  a  diameter 
of  from  six  to  fifteen  inches ;  its  habit  is  stran- 
gling and  rough.     Its  only  use  is  for  fuel.    P. 
mitis.  Yellow  Pine,  is  a  fine  tree,  growing  from 
fifty  to  sixty  feet  high,   furnishing    a    fine- 
grained,  lasting  timber,  which  is  especially 
used  for  fiooring.     Common  from  New  Jersey 
to   Wisconsin    and    southward.     P.    pungens. 
Table  Mountain  Pine,   is  a  large  tree,  with 
short,   compact,   pale  green  leaves,   and  re- 
sembles the  European  Pines.     Its  cones  are 
borne  in  large  clusters,  and  remain  upon  the 
trees  for  many  years.     It  is    valuable  as  a 
timber  tree.    It  is  found  upon  the  Blue  Eidge 
in  Virginia  and  southward.     P.  rigida  is  com- 
monly known  as  Pitch  Pine,  and  is  common 
throughout  the  Middle  and  Northern  States, 
frequently  growing  in  swamps  with  the  Red 
Cedar.     It  is  a  species  of  medium  growth,  and 
of  but  little  value.     P.  resinosa,  or  Red  Pine, 
commonly    and    improperly    called     Norway 
Pine,  is  found  in  most  of  the  Northern  States. 
It  is  a  tall-growing,  erect,  symmetrical  tree, 
with  light-green  leaves  and  short  cones.    The 
wood  is  dark,  compact,  and  much  esteemed 
for  its  durability.     P.  edulis,  the  Edible  Pine, 
or  "  Nut  Pine  "  of  California  and  New  Mexico, 
is  an  interesting  species,  growing  from  fifty  to 
sixty  feet  high,  producing  great  quantities  of 
thin-shelled  seeds,   about  the  size  of  Peas, 
very  nutritious,  and  of  a  pleasant  flavor.     P. 
monophyllus  is  another  nut- bearing  Pine,  dis- 
covered  by  Col.   Fremont  in  northern  Cali- 
fornia, where  it  is  extensively  diffused  over 
the  mountains  for  a  distance  of  about  600 
miles.     In  some  places  it  makes  considerable 
growth,  but  is  usually  a  sniall,  slow-growing 
tree,  of  but  little  value  for  its  timber.  P.  ta^,da, 
the  Loblolly  Pine  of  the  Southern  States,  is  a 
tree  that  grows  from  eighty  to  100  feet  high 
in  the  forests;  in  open  grounds  its  trunk  is 
low  and  branches  spreading.      This  species 
immediately  takes  possession  of    and  com- 
pletely covers  lands  that  are  thrown   out  of 
cultivation.     P.   Sabiniana,  Sabine's  Pine,  is 
one  of  the  noblest  California  species,  with  a 
trunk  140  feet  high,  and  is  remarkable  for  its 
large,   heavy  cones,  the  scales  of  which  are 
produced  into  long,  recurved  points.     Its  nut 
is  large  and  edible.     This  tree  occurs  on  the 
western  slopes  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  and  is 
one  of  the  California  White  Pines.    Its  foliage 
is  thin  and  of  a  very  light  green,  which  gives 
it  a  peculiar  aspect,   different  from  all  the 
other  Pines  of  that  country.     Its  timber  is 
very  tough,  and  highly  esteemed.     P.  Lam- 
bertiana is  called  Sugar  Pine  from  the  sweet- 
ness of  its  resinous  juice,  which  exudes  plenti- 
fully from  this  tree.     This  species  was  dis- 
covered by  the    intrepid    Douglas,   growing 
upon  the  most  sterile,  sandy  plains,   on  the 
western  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  in 
California.     He  describes  it  as  a  tree  of  great 


328 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK  OF   PLANTS 


PIN 

size,  attaining  a  height  of  200  feet,  and  a  cir- 
cumference of  about  sixty  feet.  Its  branches 
are  pendulous,  and  form  an  open,  pyramidal 
head  ;  the  leaves  are  from  four  to  five  inches 
long ;  the  cones  pendulous  from  the  extremi- 
ties of  the  branches,  and,  when  ripe,  about 
sixteen  inches  in  length.  The  seeds  are  large, 
sweet,  and  nutritious,  and  form  an  important 
article  of  food  to  the  Indians,  who  collect 
them.  The  most  valuable  and  useful  of  the 
many  species  is  P.  Strobus,  our  common  North 
American  White  Pine.  This  is  a  handsome, 
slender  tree,  growing  from  100  to  200  feet 
high,  and  with  a  circumference  of  from  three 
to  twelve  feet. .  This  tree  is  diffused,  though 
not  uniformly,  over  a  vast  extent  of  country, 
from  Maine  westward  to  the  Kocky  Mountains. 
For  economical  pui'poses,  its  value  is  greater 
than  all  other  timbers  combined.  There  are 
many  species  cultivated  for  their  beauty  as 
ornamental  trees  for  the  lawn,  and  they  are 
entitled  to  more  consideration  than  they  have 
thus  far  received.  They  thrive  well  in  a  sandy 
or  light  loamy  soil,  and  may  be  transplanted 
from  the  nursery  rows  with  perfect  safety. 
Numerous  other  species,  grown  mainly  for 
lawn  decoration,  are  given  in  nurserymen's 
catalogues. 

Pinxter  Flo-wrer.  A  local  name  of  Azalea  nudi- 
Jlora,  common  in  the  swamps  of  the  Middle 
and  New  England  States. 

Pi'per.  Pepper.  From  pepto,  to  digest ;  refer- 
ring to  the  stimulating  power.  Nat.  Ord. 
Piperacece. 

"  P.  nigrum  yields  the  Pepper  of  commerce, 
a  condiment  that  has  been  held  in  high  esteem 
from  the  earliest  times.  It  is  frequently  men- 
tioned by  Roman  writers  of  the  Augustin  age, 
and  it  is  related  that  in  the  fifth  century 
Attila  demanded,  among  other  things,  3,000 
pounds  of  Pepper  in  ransom  for  the  City  of 
Home.  Pepper  is  cultivated  in  the  East  and 
"West  Indies,  Sumatra,  Java,  etc.,  but  that 
which  comes  from  Malabar  is  held  in  the 
highest  esteem.  The  Pepper-vine  will,  if  left 
to  itself,  attain  a  height  of  twenty  or  more 
feet ;  but  in  cultivatioh  it  is  found  more  con- 
venient not  to  allow  it  to  exceed  the  height  of 
twelve  feet.  The  plants  are  placed  at  the 
base  of  trees  that  have  rough  or  prickly  barks. 
In  order  that  they  may  more  readily  attach 
themselves  to  the  trunk.  In  three  years  they 
■produce  their  spikes  of  fruit,  and  continue  to 
do  so  for  some  seven  or  eight  years,  after 
which  time  they  become  less  productive.  The 
fruit,  when  ripe,  is  of  a  red  color.  It  is 
gathered  before  it  is  fully  ripe,  and  spread  on 
mats  in  the  sun,  when  it  loses  its  red  color 
and  becomes  black  and  shriveled,  as  when 
offered  in  the  market.  This  is  Black  Pepper. 
White  Pepper  is  the  same  fruit,  freed  from  its 
outer  skin  by  maceration  in  water  and  subse- 
quent rubbing.  P.  trioicum,  a  nearly  allied 
species  to  P.  nigrum,  yields  also  some  little  of 
the  Pepper  of  commerce.  There  are  several 
other  species  under  cultivation,  but  all  of  the 
same  general  character. 

"P.  Betle  furnishes  the  Betel-leaf  of  the 
southern  Asiatics,  in  which  they  enclose  a  few 
slices  of  the  Areca-nut  and  a  little  shell-lime  ; 
this  they  chew  to  sweeten  the  breath  and  to 
keep  off  the  pangs  of  hunger,  and  such  is  the 
immense  consumption  of  this  luxury  in  the 
East,   that  it  nearly  forms  as  extensive  an 


PIS 

article  of  commerce  as  that  of  tobacco  in  the 
West." — Paxton's  Bot.  Diet. 

Pipera'ceas.  A  natural  order  of  shrubs  or  herbs 
with  articulated  stems,  and  alternate,  some- 
times whorled  leaves.  They  are  natives  of 
the  hottest  portions  of  the  globe,  and  occur 
commonly  in  South  America  and  India.  They 
have  pungent,  acrid,  and  aromatic  properties ; 
some  are  narcotic  and  astringent.  Among 
the  most  important  products  of  the  order  are 
Pepper  and  Betel.  There  are  about  twenty 
genera  and  upwards  of  600  species,  Artanthe, 
Piper,  and  Peperomia,  affoi'ding  the  best  known 
examples. 

Pipe-Tree.     See  Syringa  vulgaris. 

Pipe  Vine.     Aristolochia  sijjho. 

Pipe-wrort.     Eriocaulon  septangulare. 

Pipsissewa.     See  Chimaphila. 

Pipta'nthus.  From  pipto,  to  fall,  and  anthos,  a 
flower ;  the  teeth  of  the  calyx,  as  well  as  the 
petals  and  stamens,  very  soon  fall  off.  Nat. 
Ord.  Leguminosce. 

P.  Nepalensis,  the  only  described  species,  a 
native  of  the  temperate  Himalayas,  forms  a 
very  handsome,  hardy,  or  nearly  hardy  ever- 
green shrub,  bearing  its  large  yellow  flowers 
in  terminal  bracteate  racemes.  It  was  intro- 
duced in  1821,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings 
of  the  ripened  wood,  or  by  seeds.  It  is  known 
also  as  Baptisia  Nepalensis. 

Piptathe'rum.  From  pipto,  to  fall,  and  ather, 
an  awn.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

P.  multiflorum  is  a  large  perennial  grass 
worth  growing  for  its  elegant  feathery  pani- 
cles, which  are  useful  for  arranging  with  cut 
flowers.  It  grows  vigorously  in  any  soil,  and 
is  pei'fectly  hardy. 

Pique'ria.  Named  after  A.  Piqmria,  a  Spanish 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  genus  of  hardy  shrubs,  and  annual  or 
perennial  herbs,  mostly  natives  of  Mexico  and 
western  South  America.  P.  latifolia,  is  an 
annual,  with  purplish  flower-heads,  known  in 
cultivation  as  Ageratum  latifolium.  P.  trinervia, 
a  hardy  herbaceous  species,  has  white  flowers 
disposed  in  loose,  corymbose,  manj'-flowered 
panicles.     It  is  increased  by  division. 

Pisci'dia.  Jamaica  Dogwood.  From  piscis,  a 
fish,  and  ccedo,  to  kill ;  the  leaves,  twigs,  and 
bark  are  used  to  stupefy  fish.  Nat.  Ord. 
Leguminosce. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen,  white-flowered 
trees,  fiom  the  West  Indies.  All  that  is  of 
interest  in  this  genus  is  included  in  the  deri- 
vation of  the  name. 

Piso'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Nillem  Piso,  of 
Amsterdam,  an  eminent  physician  and  natur- 
alist.    Nat.  Ord.  Nyctaginacece. 

A  somewhat  large  genus  of  trees  and  shrubs, 
mostly  natives  of  tropical  America;  a  few 
being  found  in  Asia,  the  Pacific  and  Mascarene 
Islands.  A  few  of  the  species  are  in  cultiva- 
tion, but  are  of  little  interest. 

Pistachio  Nuts.     See  Pistacia. 

Pista'cia.  Altered  from  Foustaq,  its  Arabic 
name.     Nat.  Ord.  AnacardiacetB. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  deciduous  trees, 
indigenous  to  Asia  Minor,  and  which  are 
particularly  abundant  in  Syria.  P.  Lentiscus 
yields  the  Gum  Mastic  which  is  used  by  the 
Turks  for  chewing  to  sweeten  the  breath  and 
strengthen  the  gums.      In  this  country  it  is 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


329 


PIS 

used  for  varnishing  pictures,  and  by  dentists. 
P.  Terebinthus,  the  Turpentine  tree,  forms  a 
very  beautiful  and  desirable  tree  where  it  is 
hardy.  It  is  deciduous,  and  grows  in  the 
south  of  Europe  to  the  height  of  thirty  feet. 
Tlae  i-ed  hue  of  the  young  leaves  of  this  species 
is  exceedingly  beautiful.  The  Chean  or  Cyprus 
turpentine  is  obtained  from  this  tree,  the 
liquid  flowing  from  incisions  made  in  the 
trunk  soon  becomes  thick  and  tenacious,  and 
ultimately  hardens.  P.  vera,  the  Pistachia 
tree,  which  yields  the  eatable  Pistachio-nuts, 
is  a  native  of  Western  Asia,  whence  it  has  been 
introduced  into,  and  is  greatly  cultivated  in 
southern  Europe.  They  are  much  used  either 
dried  like  Almonds,  or  made  into  articles  of 
confectionery.  The  species  are  rarely  culti- 
vated except  in  botanical  collections. 

Pi'stia.  Name  probably  derived  from  pistos, 
watery,  in  reference  to  the  habitat.  Nat.  Ord. 
Aroidece. 

A  genus  of  tropical  aquatic  plants.  P.  strati- 
o<esis  very  common  in  the  Westlndies, where  it 
is  known  as  Water  Lettuce.  It  propagates 
itself  with  great  rapidity,  and  frequently  com- 
pletely covers  tropical  ponds  and  water  tanks 
with  a  coating  of  verdure,  keeping  the  water 
beneath  fresh  and  cool.  Each  plant  sends  out 
several  runners,  and  upon  the  ends  of  these 
other  similar  plants  are  formed,  which, 
again,  send  out  runners  until,  in  a  short 
time,  the  surface  of  the  water  is  covered. 
The  flowers  are  very  small,  and  borne  in  little 
spathes  at  the  base  of  the  leaves.  The  plant 
is  well  adapted  for  the  aquarium. 

Pistil.  The  female  part  of  a  flower,  consisting 
of  ovary,  style,  stigma,  and  ovules. 

Pi'sum.  Pea.  From  pis,  the  Celtic  for  Pea, 
whence  the '  Latin  name  pisum.  A  genus  of 
diffuse  or  climbing  annual  plants,  one  of 
which,  P.  elatius,  having  pale  red  flowers,  is 
a  native  of  the  Taurian  Mountains,  the  other, 
P.  sativum,  the  cultivated  Pea,  is  naturalized 
in  the  Mediterranean  region  and  Western 
Asia.  For  a  description  and  history  of  this 
species  see  "Pea." 

Pita.      Agave  Americana,  and  the  allied  species. 
Pita-fibre  and  Pita-thread  are  names  for  the 
fibre,  called  also  Aloe-fibre,  obtained  from  the 
*  leaves  of  the  larger  Agaves  such  as  A.  Ameri- 
cana and  A.  Mexicana. 

Pitca'irnia.  In  honor  of  William  Pitcairn,  a 
physician  of  London.  Nat.  Ord.  Bromeliacece. 
A  handsome  genus  of  green-house  her- 
baceous plants,  remarkable  for  their  long 
panicles  of  bright  red  flowers,  and  for  their 
long,  narrow,  prickly,  green  leaves.  They 
are  natives  of  the  West  Indies  and  South 
America.  They  will  grow  freely  in  rich  sandy 
loam,  but  require  partial  rest  after  having 
made  their  new  growth  previous  to  flowering. 
They  are  increased  by  division  or  from  seed. 
Introduced  in  1820. 

Pitch.  The  residuum  obtained  in  the  distillation 
of  wood-tar  from  Pinu8  sylvestris  and  P.  Pin- 
aster; the  resin  of  Pine,  extracted  by  fire  and 
inspissation.  It  is  commonly  known  as  Black 
Pitch. 

Pitcher.  A  hollowed-out  leaf,  so  called,  as  in 
Nepenthes,  Sarracenia,  etc. 

Pitch  of  Amboyna.  The  resin  of  Dammara 
Avstralis. 


PLA 

Pitch.  Burgundj'.  The  purified  resinous  sap 
of  Abies  excelsa. 

Pitcher  Plant.  See  Nepenthes,  and  Sarracenia. 
Australian  or  New  Holland.      Cephalotus  folli- 

cularis. 
Californian.     Darlingtonia  Californica. 

Pitcher-shaped.  The  same  as  Campanulate, 
but  more  contracted  at  the  orifice,  with  an 
erect  limb,  as  the  coi'olla  of  the  Vacciniuma  or 
many  of  the  Ericas. 

Pitch  Pine.     See  Pinus. 

Pith.  The  central  cellular  part  of  a  stem ;  the 
same  as  Medulla. 

Pith-hat  Plant.     .Mschynomene  aspera. 

Pith-tree.     Herminiera  Elaphroxylon. 

Pithecolo'bium.  Curl  Brush  Bean.  From 
pithecos,  an  ape,  and  lobos,  the  lobe  of  the 
ear ;  in  allusion  to  the  native  name.  Monkey's 
earring.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  large  genus  of  trees  and  shrubs  natives  of 
the  ti'opical  regions  of  the  western  hemi- 
sphere, tropical  Asia,  and  Australia.  P.  dulce, 
a  native  of  Mexico,  produces  cylindrical  pods 
containing  a  sweet  edible  pulp  which  the 
Mexicans,  who  call  the  tree  Guamuchil,  boil 
and  eat.  The  Spaniards  introduced  it  into 
the  Philippine  Islands,  whence  it  has  been 
carried  to  India ;  and  it  is  now  planted  along 
the  lines  of  railway  in  the  Madras  Presidency 
where  the  fruit  is  known  as  Manilla  Tamarinds. 
P.  Saman  yields  edible  pods,  which,  in  Vene- 
zuela and  Brazil  are  fed  to  the  cattle,  like  the 
Carob  pods  of  Europe.  P.  pruinosum,  intro- 
duced from  Queensland  in  1869  forms  a  beauti- 
ful green-house  shrub,  the  white  flowers  with 
long  exserted  stamens  growing  in  globular 
umbels  from  the  axils  of  the  upper  leaves. 
The  young  branches,  foliage,  and  inflorescence 
are  covered  with  a  rusty  pubescence.  The 
genus  is  closely  allied  to  Inga,  and  the  species 
i-equire  the  same  general  treatment. 

Pitted.  Having  numerous  small  shallow  de- 
pressions or  excavations. 

Pittospora'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  or 
shrubs,  with  simple,  alternate,  exstipulate 
leaves,  and  regular  symmetrical  white,  blue,  or 
yellow  flowers,  found  chiefly  in  Australia. 
Many  of  them  are  resinous,  and  in  some 
instances  the  "berries  are  edible.  Sollya,  Pitto- 
sporum,  and  Billardiera  are  representative 
genera,  of  which  there  are  nine,  including 
eighty  or  more  species. 

Pitto'sporum.  From  pitto,  to  tar  or  pitch,  and 
sporos,  seed ;  the  seeds  are  covered  with  a 
resinous  pulp.     Nat.  Ord.  Piltosporacece. 

An  extensive  genus  oi  half-hardy  evergreen 
shrubs,  natives  of  China,  Australia,  the  Cana- 
ries, and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  Most  of 
the  species  have  terminal  clusters  ot  white, 
fragrant  flowers,  and  broadish,  shining,  dark 
green  leaves,  and  they  are  all  very  ornamen- 
tal. They  require  the  protection  Of  a  cellar 
or  cool  house  during  the  winter.  They  were 
first  introduced  in  1789,  and  are  propagated 
by  cuttings. 

Pla'cea.  Derivation  of  name  unknown.  Nat. 
Ord.  Amaryllidacece. 

P.  ornata,  the  best  known  species,  is  a 
delicate  bulb  from  Chili,  producing  on  a 
slender  scape,  about  six  inches  high,  four  to 
seven  fiowers,  which  are  snow  white  on  the 
outside,  and  striped  with  brilliant  vermilion 


330 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


PLA 

lines  within.  It  requires  cool  green-liouse 
treatment.  Wliile  flowering,  and  until  it 
shows  symptoms  of  rest,  it  needs  a  wanu  and 
humid  atmosphere,  after  which  it  can  be  put 
under  a  bench  until  January,  when  it  should 
be  re-potted  and  moderately'  watered,  and  it 
will  flower  in  May.  It  was  introduced  in 
1840,  and  is  propagated  by  offsets. 

Placenta.  The  place  or  part  on  which  ovules 
originate. 

Placentiform.  Quoit-shaped,  or  like  a  flat  cake 
in  foi-m. 

Plagia'nthus.  From  plagios,  oblique,  and 
anthos,  a  flower;  referring  to  the  usually 
unequal-sided  petals.     Nat.  Ord.  Malvacem. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  or  half-hardy 
shrubs,  natives  of  southern  Australia  and 
New  Zealand.  P.  Lyallii,  is  the  most  orna- 
mental species,  and  forms  a  handsome  green- 
house plant,  witli  drooping,  axillary,  white 
flowers.  It  was  introduced  from  New  Zealand 
in  1871,  and  is  easily  increased  by  cuttings. 

Plagioli'rion.  From  plagios,  oblique,  and 
lierion,  a  lily ;  in  allusion  to  the  shape  of  the 
perianth.     Nat.  Ord.  AmaryUidacece. 

P  Horsmanni,  the  only  described  species  is 
a  very  pretty  stove-house  bulb,  introduced 
from  Columbia  in  1883.  Its  pure  white  flow- 
ers are  disposed  in  a  ten  to  twelve  flowered 
umbel,  which  though  smaller  than  those  of 
the  Eucharis,  to  which  it  is  closely  allied,  are 
quite  show}'  and  ornamental. 

Plagiolo'bium.  From  plagios,  transversa,  and 
lohos,  a  pod  ;  alluding  to  the  shape  of  the  pod. 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful  green-house 
plants,  now  placed  under  Hovea,  by  many 
botanists. 

Plaited.  Folded  lengthwise,  like  the  plaits  of 
a  closed  fan. 

Plane.    Flat,  level. 

Plane'ra.  Named  in  honor  of  /.  J.  Planer,  a 
German  botanist  who  published  a  "Flora  of 
Erfurt  "  in  1788.     Nat.  Ord.   UrticacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  trees,  natives  of  Asia  and 
North  America,  closely  allied  to  the  Elms.  P. 
Richardi,  the  Zelkona  tree,  the  wood  of  which 
is  exceedingly  hard,  and  takes  a  fine  polish, 
forms  a  large  and  very  ornamental  tree  in  its 
native  country,  and  has  smooth  bark,  and  a 
much  branched  crown,  like  an  erect  growing 
Beech.  P.  aquatica,  the  Planer  Tree  (syn.  P. 
Gmelina),  our  only  native  species  is  found  in 
the  Southern  States,  and  is  a  small  tree,  to 
which  no  particular  value  is  attached.  Either 
of  the  species  can  be  grafted  on  the  Elm. 

Planer  Tree.     See  Planera  aquatica. 

Plane  Tree.     See  Platanus. 

Plane  Tree,  Scotch.  A  common  name  in  Scot- 
land for  Acer  Pseudo-platantus. 

Plantagina'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  annual  or 
perennial  herbs,  natives  of  the  temperate 
regions  of  both  henuspheres,  especially  in 
Europe  and  North  America.  Several  of  the 
species  are  employed  in  medicine.  The  order 
comprises  only  three  genera,  Bougueria,  Lit- 
torella,  and  Plantago,  and  about  two  hundred 
species. 

Planta'go.  Plantain.  The  old  name  of  the 
genus,  used  by  Pliny.  Nat.  Ord.  Plantagin- 
acecB. 


PLA 

P.  lanceolata  (Rib-grass),  is  sometimes  sown 
with  grasses  as  a  condiment  for  sheep  pasture 
or  for  a  rabbit  waiTen.  P.  major,  the  common 
Plantain  of  the  door-yard,  and  grass-plots,  is 
found  near  the  abode  of  civilized  man  in  all 
parts  of  the  world. 

Plantain  Tree,     See  Musa. 

Plantain.     See  Plantago. 

Plantain  Lily.  A  popular  name  for  the  genus 
Punkia. 

Plantain.  Water.  The  common  name  of  Alisma 
Plantago,  once  regarded  as  a  specific  against 
Hydrophobia. 

Pla'ntia.  Named  by  Dr.  Herbert  in  honor  of 
Mr.  Plant,  a  zealous  and  industrious  experi- 
mental cultivator  and  nurseryman  at  Cheadle, 
England,  who  raised  some  interesting  hybrids 
among  this  race  of  plants.  Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 
P.  fiava,  the  only  species,  is  a  beautiful 
yellow-flowering  bulb  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  It  is  a  delicate  growing  plant,  bearing 
numerous  pretty  little  flowers  on  a  slender 
scape  about  one  foot  high.  It  is  propagated 
by  offsets  and  requires  the  same  treatment  as 
the  tender  species  of  Iris.  Introduced  in  1842. 
This  genus  is  now  included  with  Hcvaglottia 
by  some  botanists. 

Plant  Lice.     See  Insects. 

Planting.  This  is  an  operation  performed  by 
the  fingers,  dibber,  trowel,  or  by  the  spade. 
The  condition  of  soil  for  planting  should  be 
similar  to  that  for  Sowing  (which  see).  And 
here,  too,  as  in  sowing,  the  same  necessity  for 
moderately  firming  the  soil  to  the  roots  is  as 
important  as  in  firming  tlie  soil  over  seeds, 
and,  as  advised  in  seed  sowing,  no  better 
method  can  be  used  in  firming  the  soil  after 
planting  than  by  the  feet.  In  the  driest 
weather  in  July  hundreds  of  acres  of  Celerj', 
Cabbage,  etc.,  are  planted  by  our  market 
gardeners  on  newly  plowed  ground,  without 
using  a  particle  of  water,  by  the  system  of 
firming  the  plants  with  the  foot  after  planting. 
The  planter  sets  the  plant  with  the  dibber, 
and  on  finishing  the  row,  returns  on  it,  press- 
ing the  soil  to  each  plant  firmly  with  the  side 
of  his  foot.  This  prevents  the  dry  aii  pene- 
trating the  loose  soil,  and  plants  so  set  will 
strike  out  new  roots  in  thirty  or  forty  hours, 
after  which  they  are  safe.  The  same  rule 
should  be  adopted  in  setting  out  all  plants, 
shrubs,  trees,  or  anything  else,  particularly  if 
the  weather  is  hot  and  dry.  Countless 
millions  of  plants  are  lost  every  season  by 
want  of  the  simple  operation  of  firming  the 
roots  after  planting.  In  setting  out  plants 
that  have  been  growing  in  pots,  there  is 
perhaps  not  so  much  necessity,  as  the  roots 
are  not  mutilated,  and  hence  make  a  quicker 
start;  still  circumstances  must  be  the 
guide  in  the  operation ;  and  if  the  soil  is  very 
dry  and  the  weather  warm,  a  moderate 
amount  oi  pressure  around  the  ball  of  earth 
Avill  be  necessary.  So)netimes  in  setting  out 
plants  from  pots,  the  ball  is  so  hard  as  to  pre- 
vent the  inner  roots  getting  easily  to  the 
surface ;  in  such  cases  the  ball  should  be 
crushed  or  beaten  so  as  to  render  it  partially 
loose,  which  greatly  conduces  to  the  growth  of 
the  plant. 

Plantmg.  Eviii  oF  Deep.  More  than  half  the 
losses  in  tree  planting  and  fruit  trees  especially 
arise  from  their  being  planted  too  deep.     No 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


331 


TLA 

tree  should  be  planted  deeper  than  it  formerly 
grew,  as  its  roots  are  stifled  for  the  want  of 
air,  or  starved  by  the  poverty  of  the  soil  at  the 
depth  where  they  are  placed.  It  is  much  the 
better  and  more  natural  process,  to  plant 
the  tree  so  that  it  shall,  when  the  whole 
is  complete,  appear  just  as  deep  as  before,  but 
standing  on  a  little  mound  two  or  three 
inches  higher  than  the  ground  round  about. 
This,  when  the  mound  settles,  will  leave  it 
nearly  on  a  level  with  the  previous  surface. 

Plant  Protectors,  This  term  is  applicable  to 
anything  which  acts,  if  only  temporarily,  to 
preserve  plants  from  injury.  Bast-mats,  straw 
mats,  hand  lights,  bell  glasses,  small  movable 
frames,  covered  either  with  glass  or  water- 
proof protecting  cloth,  or  waterproof  fibre, 
may  all  be  termed  appliances  for  this  purpose. 
This  protecting  cloth,  while  being  no  cheaper 
than  ordinary  grades  of  cotton  cloth,  has  the 
advantage  in  being  so  prepared  that  it  is  mil- 
dew-proof, and  will  last  fi'om  five  to  ten  years, 
according  to  the  care  given  it.  It  is  made  in 
yard  widths  and  can  be  shaped  for  use  accord- 
ing to  circumstances.  Probably  the  simplest 
plan  is  to  tack  it  to  a  light  frame  three  by 
six  feet  and  use  it  just  as  sashes  are  used. 
Such  "sashes,"  made  of  protecting  cloth, 
would  cost  not  more  than  twenty  cents  each, 
while  glass  sashes  cost  (to  say  nothing  of  ex- 
pense in  freighting)  $2  each.  Besides,  in  the 
hands  of  inexperienced  cultivators,  the  pro- 
tecting cloth  is  safest,  for,  if  this  covering  is 
left  on  in  the  daytime  when  the  sun  is  shining 
thei'e  is  comparatively  little  rise  of  tempera- 
ture underneath  it,  while  it  is  well  known 
that  if  ventilation  of  frames  covered  by  glass 
sashes  is  not  carefully  attended  to,  the  crop 
beneath  may  be  quickly  ruined  by  the  sun's 
rays  acting  on  the  glass  and  i-aising  the  tem- 
perature. It  can  also  be  procured  on  galvan- 
ized iron  folding  frames,  and  is  invaluable  for 
the  early  forwarding  of  plants,  protecting  from 
frosts,  insects,  etc.  It  is  also  useful  for  cover- 
ing hot-bed  frames  in  spring,  in  lieu  of  glass, 
after  excessive  freezing  weather  is  over,  and 
also  for  throwing  over  bedding  plants  at  night, 
in  fall,  when  there  is  danger  of  frost.  By  this 
means  beds  of  Coleus,  Achyranthes,  and  other 
plants  may  be  retained  in  their  beauty  for 
weeks,  after  similar  plants  have  been 
blackened  and  destroyed  in  unprotected  beds 
by  one  night's  untimely  frost.  It  is  admirably 
adapted  for  the  temporary  green-houses,  or 
structures  now  so  much  used  to  protect  and 
flower  Chrysanthemums  in  the  fall. 

Plants  in  Rooms — Ake  they  Injukioxts  to 
Health?  The  question  whether  plants  may 
be  safely  grown  in  living  rooms  is  now  settled 
by  scientiflc  men  who  show  that,  whatever 
deleterious  gases  may  be  given  out  by  plants 
at  night,  they  are  so  minute  in  quantity  that 
no  injury  is  ever  done  by  their  presence  in  the 
rooms  and  by  being  inhaled.  Though  we  were 
glad  to  see  the  question  disposed  of  by  such 
authority,  experience  had  already  shown  that 
no  bad  effects  ever  resulted  from  living  in 
apartments  where  plants  were  grown.  Our 
green-houses  are  one  mass  of  foliage,  and  I 
much  doubt  if  any  healthier  class  of  men  can 
be  found  than  those  engaged  in  the  care  of 
plants.  But  timid  persons  may  say  that 
the  deleterious  gases  are  given  out  only  at 
night,  while  our  green-house  operators  are 


PLA 

only  employed  in  daylight.  This  is  only  true 
in  part.  Our  watchmen  and  men  engaged  in 
attending  to  fires  at  night  make  the  warm 
green-houses  their  sitting-room  and  their 
sleeping-room,  and  I  have  yet  to  hear  of  the 
first  instance  where  the  slightest  injury 
resulted  from  this  practice.  Many  of  our 
medical  practitioners  run  in  old  ruts.  Some 
Solomon  among  them  probably  gave  out  this 
dogma  a  century  ago;  it  was  made  the  con- 
venient scapegoat  of  some  other  cause  of 
sickness,  and  the  rank  and  file  have  followed 
in  his  train.  A  belief  in  this  error  often 
consigns  to  the  cellar,  or  to  the  cold  winds  of 
winter,  the  ti-easured  floral  pets  of  a  house- 
hold. 

Plants  for  Shady  Places.  There  are  few  plants 
that  will  flower  in  places  from  which  sunshine 
is  entirely  excluded.  Some  plants  will  grow 
well  enough,  developing  shoots  and  leaves, 
hutflotvers  of  nearly  all  kinds  must  have  some 
sunshine.  Of  those  that  do  well  and  flower 
when  planted  out  in  the  open  ground  where 
sunlight  only  comes  for  two  or  three  hours 
during  the  day,  may  be  named  the  following  : 
Calceolarias,  Fuchsias,  Lobelias,  Herbaceous 
Phloxes,  Pansies,  Forget-me-nots,  Lily  of  the 
Valley,  and  other  herbaceous  plants  and 
shrubs  whose  native  habitat  is  shady  woods. 
A  better  effect,  however,  is  produced  in  such 
situations  by  ornamental-leaved  plants,  such 
as  Coleuses  of  all  kinds.  Amaranths,  Achy- 
ranthes, Caladiums,  Cannas,  and  other  plants 
with  highly-colored  or  ornamental  leaves. 
With  these  may  be  combined  the  different 
styles  of  white  or  gray-leaved  plants,  such  as 
Centaureas,  Cinerarias,  and  Gnaphaliums, 
plants  known  under  the  general  popular  term 
of  "  Dusty  Millers."  This  is  just  the  situation 
also  for  many  of  the  hardier  Palms,  Ficus, 
Crotons,  or  other  exotic  plants  during  the 
summer  months,  to  recuperate  from  the 
effects  of  the  winter's  confinement  in  the 
house  or  conservatory.  For  a  shady  door- 
yard  in  the  city,  nothing  can  surpass  the 
white  and  blue  Periwinkle  ( Vinca  minor)  or 
Creeping  Charlie  (Lysimachia  nummularia)  for 
a  groundwork,  relieved  with  clumps  or  groups 
of  our  various  native  or  hardy  Ferns,  Plaintain 
Lilies  the  variegated  Calla,  or  plants  of  a  like 
nature. 

Plant  Stove.  The  name  generally  given  to  a 
structure  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  those 
plants  that  require  a  high  temperature  to 
grow  them  to  perfection.  As  many  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Plant  Stove  are  grown  for 
their  beautifully  colored  foliage  as  well  as  for 
flowers,  a  structure  that  admits  all  the  side 
light  possible  is  requisite,  thus  securing  to 
the  plants  a  brighter  coloring  as  well  as  a 
shorter  jointed  growth,  and  a  more  healthy 
development.  Ventilation  should  be  so  ar- 
ranged that  the  air  cannot,  on  entering,  come 
in  direct  contact  with  the  plants  ;  for  prevent- 
ing this,  it  is  better  to  place  side  ventilators 
in  the  walls  near  the  pipes,  and  to  only  use 
others  situated  near  the  top  when  there  is 
comparatively  little  difference  between  the 
internal  and  external  temperatures.  A  slight 
shading  is  necessary  during  the  summer 
months,  which  is  best  applied  as  described 
under  "Shading."  As  plenty  of  water  and  a 
moist  atmosphere  are  necessary  to  their 
proper  cultivation,  the  plants  must  therefore 


332 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PLA 

be  well  and  carefully  drained ;  cleanliness 
amongst,  plants  and  also  pots  is  most  import- 
ant, as  a  high  temperature  favors  the  multi- 
plication of  insect  pests. 

Plants,  Unhealthy.  The  Remedy.  Whenever 
plants  begin  to  drop  their  leaves,  it  is  certain 
that  their  health  has  been  injured.  This  may 
be  due  to  over-potting,  over-watering,  over- 
heating, too  much  cold,  or  the  application  of 
such  stimulants  as  guano,  or  to  some  other 
cause  which  has  destroyed  the  fine  root- 
lets by  which  the  plant  feeds,  and  induced 
disease  that  may  lead  to  death.  The  case  is 
not  usually  important  enough  to  call  in  a 
"  plant  doctor,"  so  the  amateur  begins  to 
treat  the  patient,  and  the  practice  is,  in  all 
probability,  not  unlike  that  of  some  of  our 
household  physicians  who  apply  a  remedy 
that  increases  the  disease.  Having  already 
destroyed  the,  so  to  speak,  nutritive  organs 
of  the  plant,  the  "stomach"  is  gorged  with 
food  by  applying  water,  or  with  medicine  by 
applying  guano  or  some  patent  "  plant  food." 
Now  the  remedy  is  nearly  akin  to  what  is  a 
good  one  when  the  animal  digestion  is  de- 
ranged— give  it  no  more  food  until  it  re-acts. 
"We  must  then,  if  the  roots  of  the  plant  have 
been  injured  from  any  of  the  above-named 
causes,  let  the  soil  in  which  it  is  potted 
become  nearly  dry;  then  i-emove  the  plant 
from  the  pot,  take  the  ball  of  soil  in  wiiich 
the  roots  have  been  enveloped,  and  crush  it 
between  the  hands  just  enough  to  allow  all 
the  hard  outer  crust  of  the  ball  of  earth  to  be 
shaken  off ;  and  then  re-pot  in  rather  dry  soil, 
using  a  new  flower-pot,  or  the  old  one,  thor- 
oughly washing  it,  so  that  the  moisture  can 
freely  evaporate  through  the  pores.  Be  careful 
not  to  over-feed  the  sick  plant.  Let  the  pot  be 
only  large  enough  to  admit  of  not  more  than  an 
inch  of  soil  between  the  pot  and  the  ball  of 
roots.  After  re-potting,  give  it  water  enough 
to  settle  the  soil,  and  do  not  apply  any  more 
until  the  plant  has  begun  to  grow,  unless,  in- 
deed, the  atmosphere  is  so  dry  that  the  mois- 
ture has  entirely  evaporated  from  the  soil, 
and  then,  of  course,  water  must  be  given,  or 
the  patient  may  die  from  the  opposite  cause — 
starvation.  The  danger  to  be  avoided  is,  in 
all  probability,  that  which  brought  on  the 
sickness,  namely,  saturation  of  the  soil  by  too 
much  water.  Other  causes  may  induce  sick- 
ness in  plants,  such  as  an  escape  of  gas  in  the 
apai'tment,  or  smoke  from  a  flue  in  the  green- 
house ;  but  in  all  cases,  when  the  leaves  fall 
from  a  plant,  withhold  water,  and  if  there  is 
reason  to  believe  that  the  soil  has  been 
poisoned  by  gas,  or  soddened  with  moisture, 
shake  it  from  tlie  roots  as  before  advised,  and 
re-pot  in  a  fresh  flower-pot. 

Platana'ceae.  A  small  natural  order  of  usually 
tall  trees,  of  which  two  are  natives  of  eastern 
Europe,  and  Asia,  and  the  rest  of  North 
America.  Platanus,  the  only  genus  of  the 
order,  compi'ises  five  or  six  species,  valuable 
for  their  timber  as  well  as  for  their  ornamental 
appearance. 

Platanthe'ra.  Native  Orchids,  now  included  in 
the  genus  Habenaria,  which  see. 

Pla'tanus.  Plane  Tree,  Button-wood,  or  Syca- 
more. From  platys,  broad  or  ample  ;  in  allu- 
sion to  the  spreading  branches  and  shady 
foliage.    Nat.  Ord.  Platanacecs. 


PLA 

P.  occidentalis  is  the  well-known  Button- 
wood  tree,  and  is  common  throughout  the 
United  States  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
P.  orientalis,  the  Oriental  or  Common  Plane, 
is  a  beautiful,  large,  spreading  tree  presenting 
a  great  variety  of  handsome  forms,  which 
differ  chiefly  in  the  shape  and  lobing  of  the 
leaves.  The  variety  P.  O.  Acerifolia  (maple- 
leaved)  is  the  commonest  in  cultivation,  fre- 
quently bearing  the  name  of  P.  occidentalis 
from  which  it  may  readily  be  distinguished 
when  in  fruit,  by  the  peduncles  bearing  more 
than  one  ball,  and  frequently  many.  P.  racem- 
osa,  a  California  species,  is  remarkable  for 
its  deeply  five-Iobed  leaves,  the  under  surface 
of  which,  even  when  they  become  old,  is 
copiously  clad  with  woolly  hairs.  This  spe- 
cies furnishes  a  hard  and  durable  timber,  and 
is  much  less  liable  to  warp  than  that  of  P. 
occidentalis.  P.  Wrightii,  found  on  the  banks 
of  rivers  in  the  valleys  of  New  Mexico,  Arizona, 
and  northern  Mexico,  forms  a  beautiful  tree 
forty  to  sixty  feet  in  height.  The  wood  is 
light,  soft,  very  close-grained  and  compact. 
Some  fine  specimens  of  this  genus  are  to  be 
seen  as  street  trees  in  "Washington,  D.  C. 

Platyca'rpum.  From  platys,  broad,  and  Karpos, 
a  fruit ;  alluding  to  the  shape  of  the  capsule. 
Nat.  Ord.  RubiacecE. 

P.  Orinocentie,  the  only  described  species, 
introduced  from  Orinoco  in  1813,  is  a  tall 
tree  with  robust,  opposite,  terete  branches. 
If  the  plants  are  kept  rather  dry  in  winter,  it 
will  tend  to  throw  them  into  flower. 

Platyce'rium.  Stag's  Horn  Fern.  From  platys, 
broad,  and  keras,  a  horn  ;  referring  to  the  form 
of  the  fronds.     Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

A  very  distinct  and  remarkable  genus  of 
Ferns,  formerly  grouped  with  Acrostichum, 
but  now  placed  by  themselves  in  a  separate 
genus  under  the  name  of  Platycerium,  because 
they  produce  their  sori  in  large  amorphous 
patches,  and  not,  as  in  the  true  Acrostichece,, 
over  the  whole  fertile  portions.  The  species 
are  few  in  number,  chiefly  Eastern  or  Austra- 
lian and  for  the  most  part  tropical.  "They 
have  hetermoi'phous,  coriaceous,  laciniate,  or 
lobate  fronds,  clothed  with  stellate  hairs,  and 
the  fertile  fronds  are  articulate.  The  broad 
fronds  are  traversed  by  several  furcate  ribs, 
between  which  there  is  a  close  network  of  finer 
buried  veins.  The  large,  shapeless  masses 
of  spore  cases  are  attached  to  the  plexus  of 
crowded  veins,  and  are  quite  naked.  In  P. 
biforme  they  occupy  a  separate  scutiform  lobe, 
but  in  the  other  species  they  are  variously 
situated  near  the  majgin." — Dr.  Moore  in  Bot. 
Treas.  P.  alcicorne  is  the  type  of  the  genus, 
and  was  introduced  in  1808.  It  is  best  known 
under  its  common  name  of  Stag's  Horn  Fern, 
so  called  because  of  the  striking  resemblance 
of  the  fronds  to  the  horns  of  a  stag.  This  is 
the  species  commonly  seen  in  our  green- 
houses. It  is  a  native  of  New  South  "Wales, 
and  was  introduced  in  1808.  P.  grande,  a 
native  of  Moreton  Bay,  was  introduced  into 
Europe  in  1828,  but  is  still  quite  rare  in  the 
United  States.  It  has  broader  and  larger 
fronds  than  P.  alcicorne,  is  a  plant  of  altogether 
grander  proportions.  To  this  species  has 
been  given  the  name  of  Elk's  Horn  Fern.  Mr. 
F.  "W  Burbidge,  a  well-known  botanist  and 
collector,  in  his  recent  book  of  travels  in 
Borneo,  etc.  ("  The  Garden  of  the  Sun  ")  thus- 


POA  ABACHNIFERA    (TEXAN  BLXJE  GBABS). 


PLATYCODON    GRANDIFLORUM. 


332  PHT8IANTHP6  ALBENS   (CEUEL  PLANT). 


PLATYCERIUM  ALCICORNK. 


POA  PRATEN8IS  (KESTUCKY  BLUE  GRASS). 


POA  NEMOBALIS   ('WOOD   MEADOW  GHA6S), 


POA  TKIVIALIS  (EOTJGH-STALKED  MEADOW  GBASS). 


POA  AQUATICA   (WATEB  MKADOW   GRABS).      333 


I 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


333 


PLA 

speaks  of  the  Elk's  Horn  Fern:  "I  resided 
for  some  time  in  a  house  which  had  been 
occupied  by  Mr.  Hugh  Low,  the  garden  and 
fruit  orchard  of  which  afforded  me  most 
delightful  walks  morning  and  evening.  I 
never  saw  the  Elk's  Horn  Fern  (Platycerium 
grande)  so  luxuriant  anywhere  as  it  was  on  the 
boles  of  some  large  Orange  trees  here.  The 
barren  fronds  were  broad,  like  the  horns  of 
the  giant  Irish  elk,  and  the  more  slender 
fertile  ones  drooped  on  all  sides  from  the  base 
of  the  nest  formed  by  the  leafy  expansions.  I 
measured  some  of  these  fertile  fronds,  and 
found  tluMn  fully  seven  feet  in  length.  These 
splendid  Ferns,  and  the  choicest  of  epiphytal 
Orcliiils,  which  had  been  planted  among  the 
branches  of  the  trees,  made  a  walk  among  them 
most  enjoyable."  This  species  is  still  quite 
rare  in  the  United  States.  Another  species, 
P.  ^thiopicum,  has  been  still  more  recently 
introduceil,  and  is  to  be  found  in  few  collec- 
tions as  yet.  The  fronds  of  this  species  are 
of  still  grander  proportions  than  the  preceding, 
and  has  received  the  common  name  of  Moose 
Horn  Fern.  The  above  with  P.  Wallichii, 
are  the  best  and  most  interesting  of  these 
grotesque  Ferns.  All  these  species  are 
worthy  of  a  place  in  any  collection,  however 
small.  It  is  supposed  by  many  that  they  are 
difficult  to  grow ;  but  this  is  not  so.  There 
are  very  few  plants  that  will  accommodate 
themselves  to  such  varying  conditions  of  heat, 
moisture  and  exposure.  They  are  admirable 
room  plants.  They  may  be  grown  in  pots  in  a 
porous  soil  composed  of  leaf-mold,  sand,  and 
plenty  of  potsherds  or  pieces  of  charcoal ;  or, 
better  still,  they  may  be  grown  on  cork  or  a 
piece  of  a  tree  log,  two  or  three  feet  long  and 
about  a  foot  in  diameter.  They  are  propa- 
gated by  division  and  by  spores,  the  latter, 
however,  being  an  uncertain  method  of  propa- 
gation, except  by  an  expert. 

Platyco'don.  From  platys,  broad,  and  kodon,  a 
bell ;  the  flowers  are  broad  and  bell  shaped. 
Nat.  Ord.  CampanulacecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials, 
with  large  white  or  purple  flowers,  natives  of 
China  and  Dahui'ia.  The  various  varieties  of  P. 
grandijiora  are  most  desirable  plants  for  the 
herbaceous  border.  A  new  dwarf  variety 
from  Japan,  P.  Mariesi,  is  a  distinct  and  most 
acceptable  border  plant.  In  the  Northern 
States  they  should  have  a  slight  protection  in 
winter. 

Platycra'ter.  From  platys,  broad,  and  krater,  a 
bowl;  alluding  to  the  expanded  calj^x  of  the 
barren  flowers.    Nat  Ord.  SaxifragacecB. 

P.  argula,  the  only  representative  of  the 
genus,  is  a  hardy  prostrate,  or  creeping  shrub, 
with  greenish-white,  scattered  flowers,  much 
larger  than  those  of  Hydrangpa.  It  was  intro- 
duced from  Japan  in  1866,  and  is  easily  propa- 
gated by  cuttings. 

Platylo'bium.  Flat  Pea.  From  platys,  broad, 
and  labos,  a  pod ;  in  reference  to  the  broad 
legumes.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome  evergreen 
shrubs  from  Tasmania  and  New  Holland. 
Like  other  New  Holland  plants,  these  require 
a  light  sandy  soil,  well  drained.  They  should 
be  carefully  watered,  and  have  plenty  of  fresh 
air  whenever  it  can  be  admitted.  A  shelf 
near  to  the  glass,  in  the  most  airy  part  of  the 
green-house  in  winter,  and  a  shaded  situation 


PLE 

out  of  doors  in  summer,  will  suit  them.  The 
slender  branches  of  all  the  species  require 
some  support  though  they  do  not  look  well 
when  trained  to  a  regular  trellis.  It  is, 
therefore,  better  to  use  slight  sticks,  where 
most  wanted,  allowing  the  points  of  the 
shoots  to  hang  in  a  graceful,  pendant  manner. 
The  prevailing  color  of  the  large  pea-shaped 
flowers  is  orange,  or  yellow  and  red. 
The  species  are  rarely  met  in  collections, 
though  deserving  of  general  cultivation.  They 
were  introduced  about  1800,  and  are  propa- 
gated by  cuttings  or  from  seed. 

Platylo'ma.  From  platys,  broad,  and  loma,  a 
fringe.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacew. 

A  genus  of  tropical  Ferns,  some  of  which 
are  very  beautiful.  They  require  to  be 
grown  in  a  shaded  house,  warm  and  moist. 
This  genus  is  included  under  Pellcea  by  some 
botanists. 

Platylo'phus.  From  platys,  broad,  and  lophos, 
a  crest ;  the  capsule  is  so  much  compressed 
at  the  apex,  as  to  appear  winged.  Nat.  Ord. 
SaxifragacecB. 

P.  trlfoliata.  White  Alder,  the  only  species 
is  a  beautiful  green-house  evergreen  tree 
with  white  flowers,  disposed  in  long,  axillary, 
many-flowered  panicles.  It  is  a  native  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  was  introduced  in 
1820.     Syn.  Wienmannia. 

Platys.  A  term  in  Greek  compounds,  signify- 
ing broad;  as  Platyphyllus,  broad-leaved. 

Platyste'mon.  From  platys,  broad,  and  stemon, 
a  stamen.     Nat.  Ord.  Papaveracece. 

Very  handsome  yellow-flowering  annuals, 
quite  hardy,  of  creeping  habit,  and  free 
flowering.  The  seed  should  be  sown  in  March, 
on  a  warm  border,  -where  the  plants  are 
required  to  bloom.  The  two  species  that 
compose  this  genus  are  natives  of  Cali- 
fornia and  Siberia. 

Platythe'ca  Galioides.  This  is  given  in 
"  Nicholson's  Dictionary  of  Gardening  "  as  the 
correct  name  of  Tetratheca  or  Tremandra 
verticillata. 

Platysti'gma.  From  platys,  broad,  and  stigma, 
the  female  organ.      Nat.  Ord.   Papaveracece. 

P.  lineare,  the  only  cultivated  species,  is  a 
hardy  annual,  found  in  California  in  1833.  It 
is  a  dwarf-growing  and  free-blooming  plant. 
The  flowers  are  yellow,  and,  from  their  pro- 
fusion, quite  showy.  It  requires  no  more 
care  than  any  other  hardy  annual. 

Platysty'Us.  From  platys,  broad,  and  stylos,  a 
style  ;  in  allusion  to  the  dilated  style.  Nat. 
Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  very  handsome  herbaceous 
border  plants,  now  included  by  many  botanists 
under  Lathyrus. 

Plectoco'mia.  From  pleclos,  plaited,  and  kome, 
leaves ;  probably  from  the  leaves  being  used 
in  plaiting. 

A  genus  of  Palmacem,  comprising  some  six 
species,  allied  to  Calamus,  and  aimed  with 
recurved  prickles.  The  loaves  are  large,  pin- 
nate, furnished  with  long  whip-like  tails,  beset 
on  the  under  side  with  very  strong  spines.  P. 
Assamica,  P.  Andersoni,  P.  Hunalayana,  and 
P.  elongata,  are  the  best  known  spei'ies.  They 
are  handsome  plants,  distinct,  and  graceful, 
and  are  freely  propagated  by  suckprs.  They 
are  natives  of  the  Malayan  Archipelago  and 


334 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


PLE 

India.     Handsome  plants  of  easy  culture,  first 
introduced  in  1840. 

Plectopo'ma.  A  group  of  hybrid  Gesneras, 
•which  some  writers  have  constituted  a  distinct 
genus.  They  are  a  strong,  erect-growing 
class,  with  but  little  to  distinguish  them  from 
others  of  this  interesting  order. 

Plectran'thus.  From  plektron,  a  cock's  spur, 
and  anthos,  a  flower ;  referring  to  the  shape  of 
the  flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiatm. 

Green-house  shrubs  and  herbaceous  plants, 
closely  allied  to  Colevs.  Natives  of  Africa, 
South  America,  and  Asia.  Tl|py  all  have 
purple  flowers,  produced  in  terminal  and 
axillary  racemes,  but  being  of  little  beauty 
or  interest,  they  are  rarely  cultivated. 

Plectri'tis.  From  plectron,  a  cock's  spur;  in 
reference  to  the  flowers  being  gibbous  in  front. 
Nat.  Ord.   ValerianacecB. 

A  genus  of  Californian  and  Chilian  annuals, 
with  pink  flowers  in  dense  capitate  cymes. 
They  require  the  same  treatment  as  other 
hardy  annuals.     Syn.   Valerianella. 

Plectro'nia.  From  plectron,  a  cock's  spur;  in 
allusion  to  the  large  spines  which  are  to  be 
found  on  some  of  the  species.  Nat.  Ord. 
RubiacecB. 

A  large  genus  of  ornamental  trees  or  shrubs, 
sometimes  climbing,  natives  of  tropical  Asia, 
Africa,  Australia  and  the  Paciflc  Islands. 
Few  of  the  species  have  been  introduced,  and 
are  of  hut  little  interest,  horticulturally.  Syns. 
Canthium,  Mitrastigma,  Phallaria,  etc. 

Plee'a.  NamedafterpZeios,  the  seven  stars;  in 
reference  to  the  disposition  of  the  flowers. 
Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecB. 

P.  tenuifolia,  the  only  species,  is  a  hardy 
perennial  plant  with  knotted-rush-like  stems 
or  rhizomes  and  greenish-white  flowers.  It  is 
a  native  of  the  Southern  United  States,  and  is 
increased  freely  by  seeds. 

Ple'ione.  A  mythological  name.  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  dwarf  epiphytal  Orchids, 
formerly  classed  with  Ccelogyne.  They  are 
found  growing  in  high  altitudes  in  the  moun- 
tains of  northern  and  northeastern  India. 
They  are  remarkable  for  their  dwarf  habit 
and  richly-colored  flowers.  The  flowers  are 
produced  in  autumn  or  early  winter,  after  a 
period  of  rest,  and  immediately  precede  the 
new  growth.  They  are  of  easy  culture, 
requiring  a  house  of  moderate  temperature, 
and  alternate  seasons  of  growth  and  rest. 
Pi'opagated  by  division.       Introduced  in  1864. 

Plenus.    Pleno.    Double,  as  in  double  flowers. 

Pleope'ltis.  From  pleos,  full,  and  pelte,  a  shield ; 
referring  to  the  covering  of  the  spores  or 
seed-cases.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

An  interesting  genus  of  tro|)ical  ferns  in- 
habiting some  portions  of  South  America  and 
the  South  Pacific  Islands.  P.  Xiphias  is  a 
beautiful  plant  for  the  green-house.  It  is  of 
considerable  size,  and  well  furnished  with 
sori;  firm,  but  not  leathery  in  texture,  and 
arched  and  somewhat  undulated  at  the  edge, 
which  is  otherwise  entire ;  the  venation  is 
strongly  marked  and  closely  reticulated.  This 
genus  is  now  included  under  Polypodium  by 
some  botanists. 

Plero'ma.  From  pleroma,  fullness  ;  referring 
to  the  cells  of  the  seed-vessel.  Nat.  Ord. 
Melastomacece. 


PLO 

A  small  genus  of  handsome  green-house 
evergreen  shrubs  from  Brazil.  They  are  free 
flowering  and  of  easy  culture.  A  rich  soil  and 
liberal  watering  during  the  summer  are  essen- 
tial, that  the  new  growth  may  be  strong ;  they 
will  then  produce  their  clusters  of  purple 
flowers  freely  in  autumn  and  winter.  P.  ele- 
gans  is  one  of  the  best  known  species,  and 
bears  beautiful  flowers  of  a  rich  purple  color. 
P.  macranthum  floribundum  is  also  a  very  free 
flowering  species,  producing  its  large  violet- 
blue  flowers  in  great  profusion  on  quite  young 
plants.  They  were  first  introduced  in  1821, 
and  are  increased  by  cuttings. 

Pleurisy  Root.  A  popular  name  of  Asclepias 
tuberosa,  from  its  supposed  medicinal  quali- 
ties. 

Pleuro'gyne.  From  pleuron,  a  side,  and  gyne, 
the  female  organ ;  referring  to  the  stigmas 
issuing  from  the  side  of  the  seed-vessel.  Nat. 
Ord.  Gentianacem. 

P.  rotata,  the  only  cultivated  species,  is  a 
low  growing  hardy  annual  from  Siberia. 

Pleurope'talum.  From  pleuron,  a  side,  ahd 
petalon,  a  petal;  in  allusion  to  the  shape  of 
the  corolla.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaranthacece. 

A  small  genus  of  slightly-branched  glabrous 
shrubs,  natives  of  Mexico,  Ecuador  and  the 
Galapagos  Islands.  P.  Costaricense,  the  only 
species  yet  introduced,  is  a  small  evergreen 
shrub  with  green  branches.  It  was  introduced 
from  Central  America  in  1883,  but  is  rarely 
found  in  cultivation. 

Pleurotha'Uis.  From  pleuron,  a  side,  and  thallo, 
to  flower;  in  allusion  to  the  one-sided  dispo- 
sition of  the  flowers  of  some  of  the  species. 
Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacem. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  genus  of 
Orchids,  comprising  nearly  three  hundred 
species,  all  epiphytes,  and  natives  of  the  West 
Indies  and  South  America.  Though  interest- 
ing botanically,  only  a  few  species,  such  as  P. 
omata,  P.  scapha,  P.  tridenfata,  and  P.  Barber- 
iana,  have  sufficient  merit  to  warrant  their 
introduction  into  the  Orchid  house. 

Plicate.  Plaited  or  folded  together  lengthwise, 
like  a  closed  fan. 

Plo'cama.  From  plocamos,  bent  hairs ;  alluding 
to  the  pendulous  branches.  Nat.  Ord.  Rubi- 
acecB. 

P.  pendula,  the  only  described  species,  is  an 
erect  shrub  with  very  slender,  pendulous 
branches.  The  flowers  are  white,  small  and 
terminal.  It  was  introduced  from  the  Canary 
Islands  in  1772,  and  is  readily  increased  by 
cuttings. 

Plocoste'mnia.  From  plokos,  curled,  and 
steinma,  a  crown ;  referring  to  the  crown  of 
the  stamens.     Nat.  Ord.  Asclepiadacece. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
twiners,  allied  to  Hoya,  and  requiring  the 
same  general  treatment.  They  inhabit  the 
forests  of  Borneo  and  Java.  Introduced  in 
1858. 

Ploughman's  Spikenard.  Baccharis  halimi- 
folia. 

Plowing.  Many  gardeners  yet  ignore  the  plow 
in  the  garden,  even  where  it  is  perfectly  prac- 
ticable to  use  it.  We  have  used  the  plow  and 
harrow  for  pulverizing  on  every  foot  that  it 
was  possible  to  use  them  in,  in  all  our  opera^ 
tions  in  the  ground,  whether  for  fruit,   flow- 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


336 


PLU 

ers  or  vegetables,  for  the  past  thirty  years, 
and  feel  convinced  that  their  use  for  that  pur- 
pose is  far  better  than  the  spade  or  digging 
fork,  besides  the  immense  saving  in  labor. 

Plum.  The  well-known  Prunus  domestica, 
and  its  varieties,  from  which  the  Plums 
of  our  gardens  have  originated,  are  found 
throughout  Asia  and  southern  Europe.  The 
early  history  of  the  cultivated  varieties  is 
quite  obscure.  They  were  introduced  into 
England  from  France  early  in  the  fifteenth 
century.  Both  the  French  and  the  English 
horticulturists  have  given  this  fruit  con- 
siderable attention.  New  York  has  the  credit, 
however,  of  having  produced  the  greatest 
Dumber  of  excellent  varieties.  Downing  says  : 
"That  the  soil  and  climate  of  the  Middle 
States  are  admirably  suited  to  this  fruit  is 
sufficiently  proved  by  the  almost  spontaneous 
production  of  such  varieties  as  the  Washington, 
Jefferson,  Lawrence's  Favorite,  etc. ;  sorts 
which  equal  or  surpass  in  beauty  or  flavor  the 
most  celebrated  Plumsof  France  or  England." 
There  are  several  species  indigenous  to  this 
country,  some  of  which  are  of  fair  flavor,  and 
are  now  being  cultivated  by  some  of  our 
nurserymen.  Chickasaw  Plum,  Prunus  Chic- 
asa,  is  a  native  of  Maryland  and  southwest- 
ward  to  Texas,  where  it  is  known  as  the  Dwarf 
Texas  Plum.  Tlie  Beach  Plum,  P.  mari- 
tima,  is  a  low,  straggling  tree  or  shrub, 
from  two  to  five  feet  high.  The  fruit  is  nearly 
round,  red  or  purple,  and  covered  with  bloom. 
It  is  common  in  sandy  places  on  the  sea-coast 
from  Maine  to  Virginia,  and  seldom  ripens  well 
elsewhere.  The  Wild  Red  or  Yellow  Plum  is 
P.  Americana.  This  species  grows  from  ten 
to  twenty  feet  high,  and  is  common  in  hedge- 
rows from  Canada  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The 
fruit  is  pleasant  tasted,  but  has  a  tough  skin. 
It  ripens  in  July  and  August.  The  great 
difficulty  in  the  cultivation  of  the  finer  varie- 
ties of  Plum  is  the  Curculio,  which  punctures 
the  fruit  in  the  green  state,  and  lays  its  eggs, 
which,  by  the  time  the  fruit  is  ripe,  develops 
to  the  larvse  state,  completely  destroying  the 
fruit.  The  only  effectual  remedy  thus  far  is 
that  so  strongly  recommended  and  practiced 
years  ago  by  Mr.  John  J.  Thomas,  and 
Dr.  Trimble,  and  so  successfully  practiced 
by  Ellwanger  and  Barry,  in  their  extensive 
Plum  Orchard — to  spread  sheets  under  the 
trees  and  jar  the  branches  so  as  to  shake  off 
the  insect.  This,  to  be  effective,  must  be 
begun  just  after  the  fruit  has  formed,  and 
continued  at  least  once  a  week  for  thirty  or 
forty  days.     See  Curculio. 

Plum.     American  Wild.     Prunus  Americana. 
Australian.       Cargilla  arborea,    and    C.   Aus- 

tralis. 
Beach.    Prunus  maritima. 
Californian  Wild.     Prunus  subcordata. 
Canada.     Prunus  Americana. 
Carolina.     Prunus  Caroliniana. 
Ceylon.     Flacourtia  sapida. 
Cherry.    Prunus  Myrobalana. 
Chicasaw.    Prunus  Chicasa. 
Cocoa.     Chri/sobulanus  Icaco. 
Damson.     Prunus  domestica  var.  damascena. 
Date,  American.     Diospyros  Virginiana. 
Date,  Chinese.     Diospyrus  Kaki. 
Date,  European.     Diospyrus  Lotus. 
Double-flowered,   Chinese.       Prunus  Sinensis 
fl.pl. 


POA 

E.   Indian.      Flacourtia    cataphracta,    and   F. 

Ramonchi. 
Gingerbread.     Parinarium  macrophyllum. 
(ireen-gage.     Prunus  Claudiana. 
Ground.    Astragalus  caryocarpus. 
Hog.     Various  species  of  Spondiaa,  etc. 
Jamaica.     Spondias  lutea. 
Japanese.     Prunus  Si^iensis. 
Mountain.     Ximenia  Americana. 
Myrobalan.     A  variety  of  Prumis  domestica. 
Myrobella.     Prunus  Myrobalana. 
Natal.     Arduina  grandiflora. 
Orleans.     A  variety  of  Prunus  domestica. 
Pigeon.     Coccoloba  Floridana. 
Queensland.     The  genus  Owenia. 
Sand.     Prunus  maritima. 
Sapodilla  or  Sapotilla.    Achras  Sapota, 
Sugar.     Malpighia  saccharina. 
Tamarind.     Dialium  Indicum. 
Weeping.     Prunus  cerasifera. 
Wild,  British.     Prunus  communis. 
Wild,   of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.      Pappea 

Capeusis. 
Wild-Goose.      An  improved  variety  of  Prunus 

Chicasa. 

Plumbagina'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  shrubs 
or  herbaceous  plants,  found  chiefly  on  the 
sea-shores  or  salt  marshes  in  temperate 
regions.  The  flowers  are  blue,  violet,  pink, 
yellow  or  white,  and  some  of  the  species 
possess  tonic  and  astringent  properties. 
Eight  genera,  including  Armeria,  Statice,  and 
Plumbago,  and  over  two  hundred  species  con- 
stitute the  order. 

Plumba'go.  Leadwort.  From  plumbum,  lead. 
Some  species  were  formerly  said  to  cure  Lead 
disease.     Nat.  Ord.  Plumbaginacece. 

A  genus  consisting  of  green-house  ever- 
greens and  hardy  herbaceous  plants,  natives 
of  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa.  Three  of  the 
species  are  well  worth  growing  in  the  green- 
house. P.  Capeusis,  with  lavender-blue 
flowers,  P.  rosea,  with  rose-colored  flowers, 
and  P.  alba,  with  white  flowers.  Each  will 
grow  well  with  ordinary  treatment.  The 
former  is  a  valuable  plant,  as  it  produces  its 
large  panicles  of  lavender  flowers  nearly  the 
whole  winter.  P.  Larpentce,  has  deep  azure- 
blue  flowers,  floAvering  from  August  to 
November,  and  is  perfectly'  hardj-.  The  name 
of  this  species  is  now  given  by  some  as  Valo- 
radin,  and  by  others,  Ceratostigma  Plumbagin- 
oides.  They  were  first  introduced  in  1818, 
and  are  easilj'  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
roots,  or  shoots,  and  by  division. 

Plum-bush.  Australian.  Asrotricha  ptero- 
carpa. 

Plume-Grass.     Gynerium  argenteum. 

Plume-Nutmeg.     Atherosperma  moschata. 

Plume-Thistle.  The  genus  Cirsium,  and  Cnicus; 

also  Carduus  lanceolata. 
Plume-Thistle,  yellow.     Cnicus  Acama. 
Plumose.     Feathery,  resemblin^eathers. 
Plumule.      The  bud  of  seed ;  the  youngest  bud 

in  a  plant ;  the  bud  or  growing  point  of  the 

embryo. 

Poa.  Meadow  Grass.  From  poa,  signifying 
grass  or  herbage.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  grasses,  containing 
some  that  are  valuable  for  hay  and  pasture. 
P.  pratensis  is  the  well-known  Kentucky  Blue 
Grass,   introduced    from    Europe,   and    now 


336 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


POC 

thoroughly  naturalized.  P.  arachnifera,  Texas 
Blue  Grass,  is  an  invaluable  hardy  winter 
Grass  for  the  south,  and  the  longest,  driest 
and  hottest  summer  fails  to  injure  it.  It  makes 
as  good  sod  as  the  Kentucky  Bhie  Grass  (P. 
pratensis),  and  if  sown  together  (not  too  deep) 
the  seeds  of  the  two  varieties  generally  come 
up  together  after  the  same  shower,  for  it  takes 
a  wet,  damp,  drizzly  spell  to  start  it.  It  can 
be  cultivated,  both  from  seed  and  sets,  and 
may  be  planted  either  in  the  fall  or  spring. 
P.  serotina,  the  Fowl  Meadow  Grass  or  False 
Red  Top,  and  P.  aquatica,  the  Water  Meadow 
Grass,  are  both  very  valuable  grasses,  more 
especially  for  damp  meadows,  low  banks  of 
streams,  etc.  They  grow  luxuriantly  in  such 
situations,  and  furnish  an  immense  quantity 
of  herbage,  which  may  be  cut  several  times 
a  season  if  desired.  They  are  also  excellent 
grasses  for  pasturage.  P.  annua  is  one  of 
the  worst  weeds  of  English  gardens. 
Poculiform.       Resembling  a   drinking-cup  or 

goblet  in  shape. 
Pod.      The  capsule  or  seed-case  of  leguminous 
and  cruciferous  plants,  those  of  the  former 
(Peas,  Beans,  etc.)  being  called  legumes,  and 
those  of  the  latter  (Cabbage,   Turnip,   etc.) 
siliques  and  silicules. 
Pod  Fern.     See  Ellohocarpua. 
Poda'nthes.     From  pous,   podos,  a  foot,   and 
anthos,  a  flower ;  alluding  to  the  flowers  being 
borne  on  long  pedicels.     Nat.  Ord.  Asclepia- 
dacecB. 

A  genus  comprising  about  eight  species  of 
shrubby  plants  closely  allied  to  Stapelia.  all 
natives  of  South  Africa.  They  are  but  little 
cultivated. 
Podium,  Podos.  In  Greek  compounds,  signify- 
ing a  stalk,  stipe,  etc.,  as  Podocephaliis, 
stalked-headed ;  Leptopodtis,  slender-stalked. 
Podoca'rpus,  Japan  Yew.  From  pous,  a  foot, 
and  karpos,  a  fruit ;  the  fruits  are  foot-stalked. 
Nat.  Ord.  Coniferce. 

A  genus  of  hardy  and  half-hardy  evergreen 
trees  and  shrubs,  indigenous  in  China,  the 
East  Indies,  and  New  Zealand.  P.  Japonica 
is  an  upright-growing  shrub,  with  dark,  shin- 
ing, green  leaves,  luxuriant  in  its  growth,  and 
in  form  resembling  the  Irish  Yew.  P.  cupres- 
sina  is  noted  as  one  of  the  best  timber  trees 
of  Java;  while  P.  <o<(tra,  a  New  Zealand  spe- 
cies, having  a  light,  durable  wood,  has  been 
frequently  the  subject  of  contention  and  strife 
among  the  natives ;  its  bark  is  made  use  of 
for  roofing  purposes,  and  its  fruits  are  eaten. 
Several  species  have  been  introduced  into 
conservatories,  and  one  or  two  Japanese  or 
Chinese  varieties  are  sufficiently  hardy  to 
stand  out  of  doors,  if  slightly  protected. 
Podola'sia.  From  pous,  podos,  a  foot,  and 
Lasia;  from  which  genus  it  differs  in  having  a 
long  stipe  to  the  spadix.  Nat.  Ord.  AroidecB. 
P.  stipitata,  the  only  introduced  species,  is 
a  slender  plant-stove  perennial,  with  a  short, 
erect  caudex,  and  sagittate  or  hastate  leaves, 
with  elongated,  narrow,  acuminate  lobes.  It 
was  introduced  from  Borneo  in  1882,  and  is 
easily  increased  by  division. 
Podo'lepis.  From  povs,  podos,  a  foot,  and  lepis, 
a  scale ;  flower-stalk  covered  with  scales.  Nat. 
Ord.  Compositm. 

Very  pretty   Australian   plants.     They  are 
all    nearly    hardy.     The    perennials    are    in- 


POG 

creased  by  dividing  the  root,  and  the  annuals 
(P.  gracilis,  etc.)  by  sowing  in  the  green-house 
or  on  a  hot-bed  in  February  or  Mai'ch,  and 
transplanting  into  the  open  border  in  May. 
Podolo'bium.  From  pous,  podos,  a  foot,  and 
lobos,  a  pod ;  the  seed-pod  stands  on  a  foot- 
stalk within  the  calyx.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumin- 
osce. 

A  small  genus  of  New  Holland  evergreen 
shrubs,  with  handsome  red  and  yellow  flowers. 
Ordinary  green-house  treatment  will  grow 
them  successfully.  They  were  introduced  in 
1822,  and  are  best  grown  from  seed.  This 
genus  is  now  included  by  some  botanists 
under  Oxylobium. 

Podophy'llum.  Duck's  Foot.  Abridged  From 
Anapodophyllum,  a  word  signifying  a  duck's 
foot;  the  leaves  bear  some  resemblance  to 
that ;  whence  the  English  name,  Duck's  Foot. 
Nat.  Ord.  Berberidacece. 

This  is  a  small  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous 
plants,  with  thick,  creeping  I'oot-stocks,  which 
send  up  in  spring  a  stem  bearing  two  leaves, 
with  a  solitary  flower  between  them.  P.  pelta- 
tum,  a  native  species,  is  common  in  moist, 
shady  woods,  and  is  distinguished  by  the 
stamens  being  double  the  number  of  the  pet- 
als. Its  leaves  are  from  five  to  nine-lobed ; 
its  flowers  large,  white,  and  nodding ;  and  its 
fruit  egg-shaped  and  yellowish,  somewhat 
resembling  a  small  lemon,  and  hence  some- 
times called  Wild  Lemon,  but  more  generally 
May  Apple,  or  Mandrake.  Its  foliage  is  nar- 
cotic and  poisonous,  but  the  acid  pulp  of  the 
fruit  is  eatable,  though  of  a  mawkish  flavor. 
The  roots  possess  active  medical  properties, 
highly  esteemed  by  the  Eclectic  practitioners. 
Podo'pterus.  From  povs,  podos,  a  foot,  and 
•  pteris,  a  wing ;  in  allusion  to  the  outer  peri- 
anth segments  being  winged.  Nat.  Ord.  Poly- 
gonacecB. 

P.  Mexicanus,  the  only  species,  is  a  hand- 
some green-house  shrub,  with  flexuous 
branches,  spiny  at  the  tips.  It  grows  freely 
in  a  compost  of  loam  and  peat,  and  is 
increased  readily  by  cuttings  of  the  young 
wood. 
Podosti'gma.  From  povs,  podos,  a  foot,  and 
sdgma;  alluding  to  the  stalked  stigma.  Nat. 
Ord.  AsclepiadacecB. 

P.  pubescens,  the  only  species,  a  native  of 
the  Southern  States  from  Florida  to  North 
Carolina,  is  a  Ioav  pubescent  perennial  herb, 
of  but  little  horticultural  interest. 
Podothe'ca.  From  pous,  podos,  a  foot,  and 
theke,  a  cell  or  capsule ;  alluding  to  the  stalk 
of  the  fruit.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositm. 

A  genus  of  Australian  hardy  annuals  of  no 
great  beauty ;  easily  raised  from  seed.  Syn. 
Podosperma. 
Poet's  Narcissus.  The  popular  name  of  Nar- 
cissus Poeticus. 
Pogo'gyne.  From  pogon,  a  beard,  and  gyne,  the 
female  organ ;  the  style  is  bearded.  Nat.  Ord. 
LabiatcB. 

P.  multiflora,  the  only  known  species,  is  a 
hardy  annual.  It  is  a  native  of  California,  and 
was  introduced  in  1836.  The  flowers  are  lilac, 
and  produced  in  great  numbers.  It  thrives 
with  the  simplest  garden  culture. 
Po'gon.  A  beard.  This  word  is  used  in  Greek 
compounds,  and  denotes  any  collection  of 
long  hairs. 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


337 


POG 

Pogo'nia.  From  pogon,  a  beard  ;  alluding  to  the 
fringed  lip  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchi- 
dacece. 

A  small  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids,  com- 
mon both  in  temperate  and  tropical  regions. 
They  are  small  plants,  with  drooping  flowers, 
on  slender  pedicels,  of  a  purple  or  greenish- 
yellow  color.  Several  of  the  species  are  found 
from  New  York  southward. 

Pogo'nopus.  From  pogon,  a  beard,  and  pous,  a 
food ;  in  allusion  to  the  shape  of  the  flower. 
Nat.  Ord.  RubiacetB. 

A  small  genus  of  trees  and  shrubs,  natives 
of  tropical  America.  P.  Garacasensis,  the 
only  cultivated  species,  has  showy  bright 
pink  flowers,  borne  in  terminal-branched  pani- 
cles. It  was  introduced  to  cultivation  in  1855, 
and  is  propagated  by  cuttings. 

Pogoste'mon.  From  pogon,  a  beard,  and  ste- 
mon,  a  stamen ;  the  stamen  filaments  being 
hairy.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiatoe. 

A  genus  of  tall  herbs,  found  principally  in 
India  and  Ceylon.  The  species  are  of  but  lit- 
tle interest  except  P.  Patchouli,  which  has 
dense  spikes  of  white  flowers,  tinged  with 
purple,  and  which  affords  the  celebrated 
Patchouli  perfume,  or  Pucha-pat  of  the  Hin- 
doos. The  odor  is  very  peculiar,  and  even 
disagreeable  to  many,  but  in  India  it  is  one  of 
the  most  common  perfumes  found  in  the 
bazaars. 

Poincia'na,  Flower  Fence.  Named  after  M.  de 
Poind,  once  Governor  of  the  Antilles.  Nat. 
Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  small  genus  of  very  beautiful  green-house 
evergreen  shrubs,  natives  of  South  America 
and  the  East  Indies.  P.  pulcherrima,  the  Bar- 
badoes  Flower  Fence,  is  a  really  beautiful 
object  when  well  grown,  as  is  also  P.  regia, 
the  former  having  large  red  and  yellow  flow- 
ers, and  the  latter  rich  crimson.  They  flower 
freely  if  grown  in  pots  and  plunged  in  a  warm, 
sunny  spot,  during  the  summer  season,  care 
being  taken  to  syringe  freely  to  keep  down 
red  spider.  They  were  first  introduced  in 
1788,  and  are  propagated  by  seeds  or  from 
cuttings  of  the  half-ripened  wood. 

Poinse'ttia.  Named  in  honor  of  Joel  R.  Poin- 
aette,  American  minister  to  Mexico,  who  dis- 
covered the  plant  in  Mexico  in  1828.  Nat. 
Ord.  EuphorbiacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs  from 
Mexico,  producing  large  terminal  bracts  of 
fiery  scarlet  leaves  from  December  until 
February ;  they  give  the  plant  a  most  splendid 
appearance.  There  is  a  variety  with  white 
bracts,  but  it  is  inferior  to  the  species.  Poin- 
settia  pulcherrima  plenissima,  a  new  and  double 
variety  of  recent  introduction,  is  a  magnifi- 
cent plant,  remarkable  for  the  distinct  charac- 
ter of  its  floral  bracts,  the  size  of  the  heads  in 
which  they  are  produced,  and  their  marvelous 
brilliancy  of  color.  Instead  of  the  bracts 
being  borne  in  a  single  head  and  spreading 
out  as  in  the  old  form,  in  the  new  double 
kind  they  are  gathered  into  clusters,  which 
fill  up  the  centre,  so  that  the  whole  inflo- 
rescence is  full  and  rosette-like  in  form.  The 
double  variety  was  discovered  by  Mr.  Roezl  in 
Mexico,  and  was  bought  by  Mr.  Isaac 
Buchanan,  of  New  York,  who  sold  it  to  an 
English  florist,  by  whom  it  was  distributed. 


POI 

This  plant  is  of  the  easiest  culture.  After 
flowering  cut  back  to  within  two  buds  of  the 
old  wood,  take  up  the  plants,  and  put  them  in 
a  convenient  place  under  a  bench,  and  cover 
the  roots  with  sand  or  earth,  and  keep  dry. 
Let  them  remain  until  it  is  time  to  plant  out 
ordinary  bedding  plants,  when  they  should  be 
put  out  in  the  open  air,  and  planted  in  boxes 
six  inches  deep  (say  six  plants  in  each  box),  a 
foot  or  so  apart,  giving  them  good  rich  soil. 
They  should  be  taken  into  the  house  before 
the  nights  begin  to  get  cool.  In  the  latitude 
of  New  York  they  should  be  housed  by  the 
middle  of  September.  They  may  be  grown  to 
flower  in  these  boxes  by  giving  them  plenty  of 
manure  water ;  although,  if  wanted  in  large 
quantity,  it  is  best  to  place  the  boxes  on  a 
green-house  bench,  knock  off  the  sides  and 
ends  of  the  boxes,  and  fill  up  to  the  level 
between  with  soil.  After  the  plants  have 
become  thus  established,  an  occasional  water- 
ing with  liquid  manure  will  add  greatly  to 
their  growth.  At  no  time  should  the  tem- 
perature in  the  house  fall  below  50°  at  night 
or  70"  during  the  day.  To  propagate,  allow 
the  cuttings  to  dry  a  day  or  two  after  they  are 
taken  from  the  plants ;  then  cut  them  into 
pieces  of  two  or  three  buds  each,  and  insert 
them  in  an  ordinary  propagating  bench.  Pot 
off  as  soon  as  they  are  rooted,  and  grow  on 
until  the  weather  will  permit  of  their  being 
put  out  of  doors,  when  they  may  be  given  the 
same  care  as  the  older  plants.  With  this 
treatment  the  plants  will  usually  be  done 
flowering  by  New  Year's,  and  may  be  taken 
up  to  make  room  for  other  plants.  This  genus 
is  now  by  many  botanists  reunited  with 
Euphorbia. 

Poison.  Arrow.  The  juice  of  Euphorbia  hepta- 
gona,  E.  virosa,  and  E.  cereiformis,  in  Africa, 
and  of  E.  cotinifolia,  in  Brazil.  Also  the  Nou- 
rali  or  Caruna  poison,  derived  from  Strychnos 
toxijera,  by  the  savages  of  Guiana,  and  the 
Tschittich  poison,  prepared  by  the  Javanese 
from  Strychnos  Tieute.  Also  the  poisonous 
juice  of  Hippomane  Mancinella. 

Poison-Bay.    See  Uliceum. 

Poison-Berry.   A  name  given  to  several  species 
of  Oestrum. 

Poison-Bulb.     Asiatic.     Crinum  Asiaticum. 
Poison-Bulb.     Cape.     See  Bitphane. 
Poison-Dog'wrood    or    Poison-Sumach.      See 

Rhus  venenata. 
Poison-Hemlock.     See  Conium. 

Poison-Ivy  or  Poison-Oak.  See  Rhus  toxico- 
dendron. 

Poison-Ocik.    Californian.     Rhus  diversiloba. 

Poison-Plant.     Vincetoxicum  officinale. 

Poison-Tree.    Jamaica.     Rhus  arborea. 

Poisonous  Plants.  Of  the  100,000  known  flower- 
ing plants  it  is  stated  that  10,000  may  be  con- 
sidered as  deleterious,  all  being  more  or  less 
energetic  in  their  action,  and  of  these,  probably 
fifty  are  deadly.  It  is  a  singular,  but  generally 
understood  fact,  that  all  plants  having  green 
flowers  are  poisonous,  either  in  their  leaves, 
stems,  seeds,  or  roots.  The  famous  Upas 
Tree  of  Java  does  not  affect  the  atmosphere 
as  is  commonly  supposed,  but  its  juice  is  the 
part  which  does  the  harm.  Large  tracts  of 
land  in  Java  are    barren  owing  to    certain 


338 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


POI 

poisonous  vapors  rising  out  of  tiie  earth,  and 
the  early  Dutch  settlers  attributed  the  barren- 
ness to  the  influence  of  the  Upas  Tree.  The 
Manchineel,  a  plant  of  the  West  Indies,  gives 
off  a  vapor  which  is  poisonous,  and  in  conse- 
quence it  is  never  found  in  cultivation.  The 
Dumb  Cane,  also  of  the  West  Indies,  is  very 
energetic  in  action,  and  will  produce  lockjaw 
on  being  applied  to  the  lips.  Many  other 
plants  such  as  Aconitum  napellus,  Atropa  Bella- 
donna, Veratrum  viride,  Paris  quadrifolia, 
Ridnvs  communis,  Manihot  utilissima,  Rhus 
Toxicodendron,  R.  venenata,  and  many  others 
are  poisonous.  These  dangerous  qualities 
are  generally  mentioned  in  this  work. 

Poi'vrea.  Named  after  M.  Poivre,  a  French 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Combretacece. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
climbers  of  great  beauty,  The  flowers  are 
white  or  scarlet,  produced  in  terminal  or  axil- 
lary panicles.  They  are  natives  of  Africa  and 
the  East  Indies,  and  they  require  the  warmer 
part  of  the  green-house  and  a  humid  atmos- 
phere. They  were  first  introduced  in  1820, 
and  are  propagated  by  cuttings.  This  genus 
is  included  by  Bentham  and  Hooker  under 
Combretum. 

Poke.    Indian.     See  Veratrum  viride. 

Poke-Root.  A  common  name  for  Veratrum 
viride. 

Poke  Weed.  Virginian.  See  Phytolacca  de- 
candra. 

Polani'sia.  From  polys,  many,  and  anisos, 
unequal ;  many  stamens  of  unequal  lengths. 
Nat.  Ord.  CapparidacetB. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  free-flowering  annuals, 
allied  to  Cleome,  chiefly  natives  of  the  East 
Indies.  P.  graveolens  is  common  in  the  New 
England  States.  None  of  the  species  has  suf- 
ficient beauty  to  warrant  its  introduction  into 
the  flower  border. 

Polar  Plant.     Silphium  laciniatum. 

Polemonia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  erect  or 
twining  plants,  found  chiefly  in  temperate 
countries,  and  abounding  in  northwestern 
America.  Most  of  them  have  showy  flowers. 
Phlox,  Cobma,  Gilia,  and  Polemonium,  are  exam- 
ples of  the  genera,  of  which  about  ten  are 
known,  comprising  upwards  of  one  hundred 
species. 

Polemo'nium.  Greek  Valerian.  From  polemos, 
war;  Pliny  says  this  plant  gained  its  name 
from  having  caused  a  war  between  two  kings, 
each  of  whom  claimed  the  honor  of  having 
first  discovered  its  virtues.  Nat.  Ord.  Pole- 
moniacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous 
perennials.  They  are  well-known  border 
plants,  that  have  long  been  under  cultivation. 
Flowers  are  mostly  blue  and  white,  produced 
in  large  terminal  heads.  The  species  are 
common  throughout  the  Northern  States  and 
northern  Europe.  P.  cce,ruleum,  derives  its 
common  name  of  Jacob's  Ladder  from  its  beau- 
tiful pinnately-cleft  leaves.  It  is  found  in 
moist  places  throughout  New  York  and  New 
Jersey,  and  is  a  favorite  border  plant.  P. 
confertum  is  Si  Isite  addition  to  the  cultivated 
kinds  from  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  is  one 
of  the  finest  of  the  genus.  The  color  is  a  deep 
blue,  very  attractive,  and  the  plant  is  quite 
distinct  from  any  other.  It  requires  plenty 
of    moisture   in    summer,   and    is    perfectly 


POL 

hardy.  All  the  species  are  propagated  readily 
by  division,  or  from  seed,  which  should  be 
sown  in  June  to  flower  the  coming  season. 
Polia'nthes.  The  Tuberose.  Froxa.  poly,  many ■. 
and  anthos,  a  flower ;  an  abundance  of  flowers. 
Nat.  Ord.  AmaryllidacecB. 

This  interesting  genus  is  composed  of  two 
species,  both  properly  green-house  evergreen 
perennials.  One  of  the  species,  P.  gracilis,  a 
native  of  Brazil,  with  pale  yellow  flowers,  is 
but  little  known,  and  has  but  little  merit. 
The  well-known  species,  P.  tuberosa,  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  East  Indies,  from  whence  it  was 
introduced  early  in  the  sixteenth  century. 
The  first  account  given  of  the  Tuberose  is  in 
L'Ecluse's  "  History  of  Plants,"  where  it  ap- 
pears that  it  was  brought  from  the  East 
Indies  by  Father  Theophilus  Minuti,  a  Catho- 
lic missionary,  about  the  j-ear  1530,  who  grew 
it  at  Boisgencier,  near  Toulon.  Bernard  Pal- 
udanus,  a  distinguished  physician  at  Eome, 
grcAv  it  in  159-i,  having  obtained  the  roots 
from  the  priests,  who  had,  previous  to  that 
date,  refused  all  applications  for  it.  This 
was  the  single  kind .  The  same,  with  varie- 
gated foliage  is  mentioned  at  nearly  as  early 
a  date.  Parkinson,  in  that  rare  old  book,  his 
"  Garden  of  Pleasant  Flowers,"  published  in 
1629,  gives  a  description  of  it  by  its  then 
known  name,  which  should  not  be  lost.  We 
quote  in  full,  as  it  is  quite  as  amusing  as  in- 
structive :  "Hyacinthus  Indicus  major  tuberosa 
radice,  'the  Greater  Indian  knobbed  Jacinth.' 
I  have  thought  fittest  to  begin  with  this  Ja- 
cinth [Hyacinth],  both  because  it  is  the  great- 
est and  highest,  and  also  because  the  flowers 
herof  are  in  some  likenesse  neare  unto  a  Daf- 
fodille,  although  his  roote  be  tuberous,  and 
not  bulbous,  as  the  rest  are.  This  Indian 
Jacinth  hath  a  thicke  knobbed  roote  (yet 
formed  into  several  heads,  somewhat  like 
unto  bulbous  roots),  with  many  thick  fibres 
at  the  bottom  of  them ;  from  the  divers  heads 
of  this  roote  arise  divers  strong  and  very  tall 
stalkes,  beset  with  divers  faire,  long  and 
broad  leaves,  joyned  at  the  bottome  close 
unto  the  stalk,  where  they  are  greatest,  and 
smaller  to  the  very  end,  and  those  that  grow 
higher  to  the  toppe,  being  smaller  and  smaller. 
The  toppes  of  the  stalkes  are  garnished  with 
many  faire,  large,  white  flowers,  each  wherof 
is  composed  of  six  leaves,  lying  spread  open 
as  the  flowers  of  the  white  Daifodille,  with 
some  short  threads  in  the  middle,  and  of  a 
very  sweet  scent,  or  rather  strong  and 
headee."  The  double-flowering  Tuberose  was 
obtained  from  seed  by  Mons.  Le  Cour,  of 
Leyden,  in  Holland  (date  unknown),  who  for 
many  years  would  not,  under  any  circum- 
stances, part  with  a  root,  even  after  propa- 
gating in  such  quantities  as  to  give  him  a 
surplus.  He  would  cause  every  tuber  to  be 
cut  in  pieces  and  destroyed,  in  order  to  have 
the  monopoly,  and  to  be  the  only  possessor  of 
the  flower  in  the  world.  The  recently  intro- 
duced variety,  known  as  the  Pearl,  is  a  sport, 
having  originated  on  the  grounds  of  Mr.  John 
Henderson,  of  Flushing,  L.  I.  Its  strong 
habit  of  growth  and  dark,  hea\'y  foliage  at- 
tracted Mr.  Henderson's  attention,  causing 
him  to  give  it  every  chance  for  perfect  devel- 
opment. The  result  was  a  variety  far  supe- 
rior to  the  parent,  both  in  size  and  number  of 
flowers,  with  a  marked  superiority  in  habit  of 
growth,  the  flower-stalks  not  being  so  tall  by 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


339 


POL 

nearly  a  foot  as  the  original,  a  feature  making 
it  invaluable  for  greeu-liouse  culture.  The 
Tuberose  delights  in  a  strong,  rich  soil,  deep 
and  moist.  Manure,  heat  and  water  are  essen- 
tial to  its  perfect  development.  For  cultiva- 
tion  in  the  open  border,  the  bulbs  should  be 
planted  about  the  first  of  June,  covering  the 
tuber  about  one  inch  with  light,  fine  soil.  No 
other  care  is  needed  than  that  usually  given 
garden  plants.  The  only  care  required  is  in 
the  selection  of  the  bulbs,  which,  if  kept 
moist  and  cool  during  the  winter,  are  liable 
to  rot  away  in  the  centre,  rendering  them 
worthless  for  fiowering.  Perfect  tubers  will 
always  be  green  at  the  top,  or  at  least  suffi- 
ciently i?o  to  show  signs  of  life  ;  and  in  choos- 
ing, all  others  should  be  rejected.  Forcing 
the  Tuberose,  so  as  to  have  tlie  flowers  from 
January  to  March,  is  an  exceedingly  difficult 
operation,  and  is  now  but  little  attempted 
here.  The  plant  being  of  tropical  origin,  to 
have  it  at  all  times  in  a  growing  state  requires 
a  high  temperature — not  less  than  an  average 
of  80*^ ;  consequently,  few  ordinarily-heated 
green-houses  or  private  sitting-rooms  are  at  a 
temperature  high  enough  to  insure  the  con- 
tinued and  uninterrupted  growth  necessary 
to  the  production  of  flowers  in  the  dark  winter 
months.  It  is,  however,  comparatively  easily 
forced  so  as  to  produce  flowers  during  April, 
May  and  June,  and  again,  by  retarding  the 
bulbs,  during  November  and  December.  By 
the  first  method  the  bulbs  are,  about  the  first 
of  January,  placed  closely  together  in  boxes 
three  inches  deep,  having  two  inches  or  so  of 
damp  moss  in  the  bottom.  These  boxes  are 
placed  in  some  warm  spot,  where  the  temper- 
ature will  average  75".  If  for  green-house 
culture,  the  best  place  is  on  the  hot  water 
pipes.  In  about  four  or  five  weeks  the  Tube- 
roses will  have  rooted  all  through  the  moss, 
and  they  should  then  be  potted  in  four  or  five 
inch  pots,  or  planted  in  a  bench  of  soil  four  or 
five  inches  deep,  and  kept  in  a  temperature  at 
no  time  less  than  75",  and  flowers  will  be  had 
in  abundance  in  April.  For  succession  crops, 
place  the  dry  bulbs  in  moss,  at  intervals  of 
three  or  four  weeks.  The  last  crops  will  usu- 
ally be  the  best,  as  by  May  and  June  the  tem- 
peratui'e  will  have  increased,  and  less  artificial 
heat  will  be  required.  If  flowers  are  wanted 
during  November  and  December,  the  retard- 
ing process  alluded  to  is  resorted  to.  This  is 
done  by  selecting  such  bulbs  as  are  wanted 
(care  being  taken  to  use  only  such  as  are 
sound  and  firm),  and  placing  them  in  some 
cool,  dry  i>lace  until  the  middle  of  August, 
when  the  first  crop  may  be  planted,  either  in 
pots  or  in  a  bench  of  the  green-house,  as 
described  above  for  the  spring  crop.  This 
planting  will  produce  a  crop  by  November. 
For  the  succession  crop  for  December,  plant- 
ing must  be  delayed  until  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember. The  same  high  temperature  is  indis- 
pensable as  in  the  spring  crop,  namely,  an 
average  of  75".  The  variety  best  for  forcing 
is  the  "Pearl."  which  grows  only  about  half 
the  height  and  has  fiowers  nearly  twice  the 
diameter  of  the  old  sort;  but  for  planting  in 
the  open  ground  in  the  ordinary  way,  when 
the  flowers  are  only  wanted  for  fall,  the  com- 
mon double  variety  is  the  best ;  as,  being  less 
full,  the  flowers  open  better  under  the  often 
unfavorably  dry  atmosphere  that  we  have  in 
October.     Tuberoses,  are  often  forwarded,  so 


POL 

as  to  be  got  in  flower  in  the  earlier  fall 
months,  in  sections  of  the  country  where  the 
season  is  too  short.  This  is  done  exactly  in 
the  way  recommended  for  the  spring  forcing — 
by  starting  the  bulbs  in  damp  moss  ;  but  for 
this  purpose  the  dry  bulbs  should  not  be 
placed  in  the  moss  until  the  middle  of  May. 
By  the  middle  of  June  when  the  weather  has 
become  warm,  and  they  are  set  out,  they  will 
start  to  grow  at  once,  and  will  in  this  way 
flower  from  three  to  four  weeks  earlier  than 
if  the  dry  bulb  had  been  put  in  the  open 
ground,  cold  as  it  is  in  most  of  the  Northern 
States  in  May.  Of  course  it  will  be  under- 
stood that  when  the  dry  bulbs  are  placed  in 
the  moss  to  start  it  must  be  in  a  green-house, 
or  in  some  place  where  the  thermometer  will 
average  75"  or  80",  or  they  will  not  start  at 
all,  or,  at  least,  very  feebly.  It  will  thus  be 
seen,  from  the  foregoing  remarks,  that  it  will 
be  utterly  useless  to  attempt  to  grow  Tube- 
roses at  any  season  unless  in  a  tropical  tem- 
perature, which  at  no  time  should  be  less  than 
75°.  Many  growers  of  this  flower  have  been 
sadly  disappointed  in  the  results,  their  flowers 
coming  single  instead  of  double,  and  they 
naturally  ask  the  cause.  We  can  only  say, 
there  is  a  tendency  in  all  sports  and  hybrids 
to  return  to  the  original  or  type,  and  this 
plant  is  no  exception  to  the  rule.  The  condi- 
tions of  growth  may  have  much  to  do  with  it. 
We  have  known  large  stocks  that  were  wholly 
double  one  year  to  come  nearly  all  single  the 
next.  We  cannot  satisfactorily  account  for 
it,  and  only  know  that  the  annoyance  is  com- 
mon in  every  place  where  they  are  grown. 
From  a  very  close  observation,  we  believe 
much  is  due  to  poor  cultivation,  and  the  best 
remedy  is  to  be  found  in  giving  them  a  very 
rich  soil  and  good  cultivation.  Like  many 
other  plants,  we  have  found  they  do  best 
when  given  a  rotation  of  soil.  The  beautiful 
variegated  variety  before  mentioned,  its  leaves 
beautifully  striped  white  and  green,  is  in  cul- 
tivation, and  is  •an  excellent  plant  for  groups 
in  the  mixed  border,  and  more  especially  as 
forming  a  distinct  variegated  row  in  a  ribbon 
border  in  contrast  with  Coleus,  etc. 

PoUtus.  Having  a  polished  appearance,  as  the 
coat  or  shell  of  many  seeds. 

Pollen.  The  powdery  or  other  matter  usually 
contained  in  the  cells  of  an  anther,  bj^  whose 
action  on  the  stigma  the  fertilization  of  the 
ovules  is  accomplished.  Pollen  cells  are 
the  cavities  of  an  anther,  in  which  the  pollen 
is  formed ;  Pollen  grains,  or  granules,  the 
separate  particles  of  pollen,  and  Pollen 
TUBES,  membraneous  tubes  emitted  by  pollen, 
and  conducting  the  fluid  which  the  pollen 
secretes  down  the  style. 

Pollinia.    Pollen-masses. 

PolUnation.  A  term  used  to  designate  the  dust- 
ing of  the  stigma  of  a  flower  with  the  pollen- 
grains,  as  distinguished  from  fertilization 
or  the  action  of  the  pollen  upon  the  ovule, 
which  gives  rise  to  the  development  of-  the 
seed  containing  an  embryo. 

Poly.  In  Greek  compounds  signifying  numer- 
ous. 

Polya'nthus.  An  umbellate-flowered  variety  of 
Primula  vulgaris,  probably  derived  from  a 
cross  between  the  Primrose  and  Cowslip; 
cultivated  as  a  garden  or  florist's  flower. 


340 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


POL 

Polya'nthus  Narcissus.    See  Narcissus. 

Polybo'trya.  From  poly,  many,  and  botrys,  a 
raceme ;  the  appearance  of  the  fertile  or  seed- 
bearing  frond.     Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  tropical  Ferns,  some 
of  which  are  very  ornamental,  and  all  requir- 
ing green-house  treatment.  They  are  mostly 
natives  of  the  West  Indies,  whence  they 
were  first  introduced  in  1823,  and  are  propa- 
gated by  division  or  by  spores.  By  some 
botanists,  this  genus  is  now  included^  under 
Acrostichum. 

Polycaly'mna.  From  poly,  many,  and  kalymna, 
a  covei'ing ;  in  allusion  to  the  numerous  series 
of  involucral  bracts.     Nat.  Ord.  CompositcB. 

P.  Stuartii,  the  only  species,  is  a  very  singu- 
lar low-growing  plant  with  flat,  roundish, 
white  flower  heads,  an  inch  or  more  in  diam- 
eter. It  is  a  native  of  Australia.  Bentham 
and  Hooker  include  this  plant  under  Myrio- 
cephalus. 

Poly'gala.  Milkwort.  From  poly,  much,  and 
gala,  milk;  reputed  effects  of  the  plant  on 
cattle  that  feed  upon  it.  Nat.  Ord.  Polygalacem. 
An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  annuals,  herba- 
ceous perennials,  and  green-house  perennials, 
found  inhabiting  nearly  all  countries.  P. 
Myrtifolia  grandiflora  (syn.  P.  Dabnasiana), 
and  P.  ojjpositifoUa,  are  valuable  spring-flow- 
ering green-house  shrubs,  while  P.  vulgaris 
and  its  varieties,  and  our  native  P.  paucifoUa 
are  beautiful  subjects  for  the  rock-garden. 
P.  Senega,  Seneca  Snake  Root,  is  a  species 
common  in  the  Middle  and  Western  States, 
and  has  considerable  reputation  for  its  medic- 
inal properties. 

Polygala'ceee.  A  natural  order  of  shrubs  or 
herbs,  occasionally  twining,  found  in  all 
quarters  of  the  globe.  The  flowers  have  a 
resemblance  to  Papilkmacem,  from  which  they 
are  distinguished  by  the  odd  petal  being 
inferior,  and  the  sepal  superior.  They  are 
generally  bitter,  and  their  roots  yield  a  milky 
juice.  Polygala,  Monnina,  and  Trigonia,  are 
examples  of  the  genera,  oi'  which  theie  are 
about  fifteen,  and  about  four  hundred  species 

Poly'gamous.  Having  on  the  same  plant  some 
flowers  that  are  male,  others  that  are  female, 
and  others  hermaphrodite  or  perfect. 

Polygona'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbaceous, 
rarely  shrubby  plants,  found  in  almost  all 
parts  of  the  world,  more  especially  in  the 
temperate  region  of  the  Northern  Hemisphere. 
Fagopyrumesculentum  (Buckwheat),  and  Rheum 
officinale  (Rhubarb),  are  both  important  eco- 
nomic plants  of  the  order,  which  contains 
thirty  genera,  and  about  six  hundred  species. 

Polygona'tum.  Solomon's  Seal.  From  poly, 
many,  and  genu,  a  joint  or  knee ;  referring  to 
the  numerous  joints  of  the  stem.  Nat.  Ord. 
LiliacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  handsome,  hardy 
herbaceous  plants,  of  easy  culture  and  grace- 
ful habit,  not  often  seen  in  the  borders,  but 
deserving  a  place  in  every  collection  of  hardy 
plants.  P.  muUiJlorum,  a  native  of  Great 
Britain,  grows  from  two  to  three  feet  high, 
and  has  a  stout  stem,  the  lower  part  bare  of 
leaves;  the  upper  gracefully  recurves,  and 
produces  from  the  axils  of  its  broad  leaves 
numerous  green  and  white  flowers,  in  clusters 
of  two  to  four.  P.  giganteum,  a  native  of  the 
Western  States,  is  a  species  of  similar  habit, 


POL 

but  with  smaller  flowers.  They  thrive  well  in 
almost  any  soil  or  situation,  but  prefer  one 
that  is  shady  and  moist.  They  are  I'eadily 
increased  by  root  division,  or  from  seeds. 

Polycarpae'a.  From  poly,  many,  and  karpos,  a 
fruit ;  alluding  to  the  numerous  seeds.  Nat. 
Ord.  Illecebracece. 

A  genus  of  annual  or  perennial  plants, 
natives  of  tropical  and  sub-tropical  regions, 
one  being  widely  dispersed  over  tropical 
America.  The  species  are  of  easy  culture, 
but  are  not  much  known  to  cultivation. 

Poly'gonum.  From  poly,  many,  and  gonu,  a 
joint  or  knee  ;  referring  to  the  numerous  joints 
of  the  stem.     Nat.  Ord.  PolygonacecB. 

A  very  extensive  and  widely-distributed 
genus  of  hardy  plants,  many  of  which 
may  be  properly  classed  as  weeds.  P.  hydro- 
piper  is  our  well-known  Smart  Weed.  P. 
orientale  is  the  Ragged  Sailor  or  Prince's 
Feather  of  the  old  gardens,  which  has  escaped 
from  the  garden  in  some  places  and  estab- 
lished itself  in  the  fields.  P.  cuspidatum  (syn. 
P.  Sieboldii)  and  P.  sachalinense,  both  hardy 
perennial  sorts,  are  very  ornamental,  especially 
when  grown  as  isolated  specimens.  P.  fili- 
forme  variegata,  is  also  a  favorite  hardy  sort, 
its  large,  drooping,  oblong  leaves  being  finely 
splashed  or  marbled  with  pale  green  and 
yellow.  It  is  a  comparatively  late  introduc- 
tion from  Japan.  P.  amplexicaule  var.  oxyphyl- 
lum,  happily  named  the  "East  Indian  Moun- 
tain Fleece,"  a  native  of  the  Himalayas,  intro- 
duced about  1879,  forms  a  beautiful  spreading 
bush  about  three  feet  high,  with  cordate, 
lanceolate  leaves,  and  very  numerous  small 
white  flowers  arranged  in  axillary  and  termi- 
nal panicled  racemes.  The  beautiful  little 
drooping  basket  plant  known  as  P.  complexum, 
is  now  placed  under  Muehlenbeckia,  which 
see.  P.  capitatum  is  a  charming  little  annual 
of  a  spreading  habit,  with  oval  grayish-green 
leaves,  with  a  dark  blotch  in  the  centre  of 
each,  and  numerous  globose  heads  of  pink 
flowers.  P.  alpinum,  a  native  of  the  Swiss 
Alps,  grows  three  to  four  feet  high,  with  an 
abundance  of  pure  white  flowers,  very  ser- 
viceable when  quantities  of  cut  flowers  are  in 
request.  Several  other  species  are  in  cultiva- 
tion and  are  much  esteemed  for  their  hardi- 
ness, graceful  habit,  and  general  useful  quali- 
ties.   Propagated  by  division  or  by  seeds. 

Poly'mnia.  A  genus  of  Composilce,  comprising 
about  a  dozen  species  of  rather  coarse  look- 
ing plants  with  yellow  flowers,  natives  of 
America.  Several  of  the  species  are  much 
used  for  sub-tropical  gardening  in  England. 
P.  edulis  is  cultivated  in  the  Andean  region 
for  the  sake  of  its  edible  tubers. 

Polymo'rphous.  Where  a  part  of,  or  an  entire 
species,  is  subject  to  considerable  diversity 
of  form ;  assuming  various  forms. 

Polype'talous.  Having  many  separate  or  dis- 
tinct petals. 

Polypodia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  Ferns 
comprising  nearly  all  that  are  known,  the 
other  orders,  MarattiacecE  and  OphioglossacecR, 
being  of  very  limited  extent.  Their  chief 
distinguishing  peculiai-ity  consists  in  the 
presence  of  an  elastic  jointed  ring  nearly  sur- 
rounding the  spore-cases,  hence  called  Annu- 
late   Ferns,   while    the    other  two    families, 


340  POLYGONUM   AMPLEXICATILE,    VAB.    OXTPHYLHIM   (MOUNTAIN   FLEECE), 


POLTGONATUM. 


fOXXNTILLA  (SINaiiE). 


POTENTILLA  (DOUBLE). 


POTHOS  AUKEA. 


POLYSTICHtTM  ABI6TATXTM  VAEIEGATUM. 


POKTULACA  GRANDIFLOBA  FL.  PL. 


POBTULACA  (single). 


34> 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


341 


POL 

Marattiacece,  etc.,  in  which  the  ring  is  abso- 
lutely wanting,  are  called  Exannulate. 

Polypo'dium.  Polypody.  From  poly,  many, 
andi)ous,  a  foot;  referring  to  its  numerous 
root-like  feet.     Nat.  Ord.  PolifpodiaceoR. 

A  very  extensive    and    interesting   genus 
containing  many  hardy  and  robust  growing 
native  species,  as  well  as  the  most  delicate 
and  choice  of  the  cultivated  Ferns.     It  in- 
cludes   plants    of     two    different    modes    of 
growth,   each    series   comprising  a    number 
of   species    of    different    kinds  of  venation, 
and  from  all  climates.      The  sori  is  round, 
rarely    oblong,    and    is    borne  on  the    back 
of  the  lobes  of  the  frond.      The  following 
may  be  selected  as  among  the  best  known  and 
most  largely  cultivated  of  the  green-house 
sorts.      P.  angiistatum,  P.  argulum,  P.  aureum 
(syn.   Phlebodium  aureum),   P.    Billardieri,  P. 
Brownii,    P.    Catharince,     P.    crenatum    (syn. 
Goniophlehium),  P.  Cyathemfolium,  P.  decurrens, 
P.dilitalum,P.  Fraxinifolium,  P.  glaucophi/llum, 
P.   Henchmanni,   P.  Juglandifolium,  P.   lingua 
(syn.   Niphobolus),   P.  lucidum,  P.  macrodon. 
Pi  morbillosum,  P.  Paradisece,  P.  pectinatum,  P. 
plumosum,  P.  Phyllitidis,  P.  subauriculatum,  P. 
vacciniifolium,  and  many  others.  Of  the  hardy 
species  tlie  following  will  be  found  most  use- 
ful for  the  Fernery  or  rock-garden,  especially 
as  some  of  them  are  evergreen.     P.  achrosti- 
choides,  P.  alpestre  (a  species  much  resemb- 
ling the  Lady-Fern,  Asplenium  FlUx-Fcemina), 
P.  Californicum,  P.  Dryopteris,  P.  Phegopteris,  P. 
irichodes   (syn.    Lastrma  tenericaulis),  and  P. 
vulgare,  wiih  its  many  elegant  varieties,  P. 
V.  cambricum,  P.  v.  elegantisHimum,  etc.      This 
genus  has  been  so  divided  up  by  various  bot- 
anists that  it  is  hard  to  tell  under  which 
genera  to  find  the  various  species.    The  fol- 
lowing genera,  with  some  others,  are  now  by 
many  botanists  included  under  Polypodium, 
Aglaomorpha,  Campyloneuron,  Cryptosorus, 
Dictymia,  Dictyopteris,  Drynai'ia,  Goniophle- 
bium,  Goniopteris,  Lepicystis,  Microgramme, 
Niphobolus,    Phegopteris,  Phlebodium,  Phy- 
matodes,     Pleopeltis,     Pseudathyriura,     etc. 
The  various  species  require  good  drainage 
and  plenty  of  water  while  growing,  with  a 
temperature    proportionate    to    that    of    the 
country  from  which  they  have  been  intro- 
duced.    They    are    all    easily   increased    by 
division,  or  from  spores. 

Polypody.     See  Polypodium. 

Polypo'gon.  Beard  Grass.  From  poly,  many, 
a.nd 2}ogon,  a  beard.     Nat.  Ord   Graminacece. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome  grasses, 
sparingly  met  in  the  older  settled  parts  of 
this  country,  having  become  naturalized  from 
Europe.     They  have  no  agricultural  value. 

Polyse'palous.     Having  many  separate  sepals. 

Polysta'chya.  From  poly,  many,  and  stachys,  a 
spike ;  alluding  to  the  inflorescence  of  some 
of  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  genus  of  about  forty  species  of  epiphytal 
Orchids,  natives  of  Africa,  India,  the  Malayan 
Archipelago,  and  tropical  America.  This  is 
an  interesting  genus  much  resembling,  and 
requiring  the  same  treatment  as  Burlingtonia. 
P.  bracleosa,  P.  hypocrita,  and  P.  rufinula,  are 
the  best  known  and  most  desirable  species. 

Poly'stiohum.  From  poly,  many,  and  sHchus,  a 
row :  numerous  rows  of  spore  cases.  Nat. 
Ord.  Polypodiacece. 


PON 

A  genus  of  Ferns,   formerly    included    in 
Aspidium,    and   requiring  the   same    general 
treatment. 
Poly'xena.    Named  after  Polyxena,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Priam.     Nat.  Ord.  LUiacecB. 

A  genus  of  South  African  bulbous  plants, 
now  included  by  some  as  a  section  of  Mas- 
sonia.  P.  odorata,  and  P.  pygmaea,  the  only 
species  of  interest,  have  small  white,  deli- 
ciously,  sweet-scented,  Hyacinth-like  flowers 
in  dense  corymbs.  They  are  cultivated  more 
for  curiosity  than  for  their  beauty. 
Poma'ceae.  A  natural  order  included  under 
Rosacece. 

Pomade'rris.  From  poma,  a  lid,  and  derris,  a 
skin ;  alluding  to  the  membraneous  covering 
of  the  capsule.     Nat.  Ord.  Rhamnacece. 

A  genus  of  erect,  branching,  woolly  shrubs, 
natives  of  Australia  and  New  Zealand,  witli 
star-like  hairs  and  alternate,  entire,  or  tooth- 
ed leaves.  Several  species  are  in  cultivation, 
producing  a  profusion  of  small  yellowish- 
brown  or  whitish  flowers.  M.  apetala,  forms 
a  small  tree,  and  yields  a  close-grained  wood, 
called  Cooper's  wood,  and  Victorian  Hazel. 

Poma'ria.  Named  after  Pomar,  a  Spanish  phy- 
sician.    Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  shrubs,  mostly 
South  American.  P.  glandulosa,  with  yellow 
flowers  in  axillary  racemes,  is  the  only  intro- 
duced species.  This  genus  is  now  included 
by  Bentham  and  Hooker  under  Caesalpinia. 

Po'max.  From  poma,  an  operculum  or  lid ; 
referring  to  the  operculum  of  the  fruit.  Nat. 
Ord.  Rubiacece. 

P.  umbellata,  introduced  from  Australia  in 
1826,  is  an  interesting  green-house  shrub, 
with  greenish  white  flowers.  It  is  often 
found  in  cultivation  under  the  name  of  P. 
hirta,  or  Opercularia  umbellata. 

Pome.  A  fleshy,  many-celled  fruit,  as  an  Apple. 

Pomegranate.     See  Punicagranatum. 

Pond  Lily.    See  NymphoBa. 

Pond  Weed.    The  genus  Potamogeton. 

Ponga'mia.  Pongam  is  the  Malabar  name  of 
P.  glabra.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

P.  glabra,  the  only  described  species,  is  an 
evergreen,  green-house  shrub  with  white 
flowers,  which  have  a  showy  red  calyx,  and 
are  borne  in  loose  axillary  racemes,  three  to 
five  inches  long.  From  the  seeds  of  this  tree 
an  oil  called  Kurungi  or  Poonga  Oil,  is  ex- 
tracted in  India,  Avhich  is  largely  used  by  the 
poor  classes  for  burning. 

Pontede'ria.  Pickerel  Weed.  Named  after  J. 
Pontedera,  Professor  of  Botany  at  Padua. 
Nat.  Ord.  Pontederiaceoe. 

A  genus  of  native  aquatic  plants,  common 
in  the  borders  of  ponds  or  creeks.  P.  cordata, 
our  common  Pickerel  Weed,  is  a  beautiful 
plant,  with  arrow-shaped  leaves,  producing, 
in  July,  long  spikes  of  intense  blue  flowers. 
This  species  can  be  grown  easily  in  tubs  on 
the  lawn,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  common 
Water  Lily  (Nymphcea  odorata).  This  genus  is 
now  placed  under  Eichhornea,  by  some 
authors. 

Pontederia'ceae.  A  small  natural  order  of  erect 
or  floating  aquatic  herbs,  mostly  natives  of 
America.  It  comprises  four  genera,  Eich- 
hornea, Heteranthera,  Monochoria,  and  Pont&- 
deria,  and  over  thirty  species. 


342 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PON 

Ponthei'va.  Named  in  honor  of  M.  de  Ponthieu, 
a  French  West  India  merchant  who  sent  a 
number  of  plants  to  Sir  Joseph  Banks.  Nat. 
Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  curious  genus  of  stove-house  terrestrial 
Orchids,  with  tufted  roots,  dispersed  over  the 
warmer  parts  of  America,  from  the  southern 
United  States  as  far  as  Brazil.  They  are  but 
little  cultivated  and  require  to  be  kept  dry 
when  not  in  a  growing  state. 

Poor-Man's  Weather-Glass.  Anagallia  arven- 
sis. 

Pop  Corn.     A  variety  of  Zea  Mays. 

Pope's  Head.  A  common  name  for  Melocactus 
communis. 

Poplar.    The  common  name  of  the  genus  Popu- 

lus. 
Athenian.     Populua  grcBca. 
Berry-bearing.    Populus  molinifera. 
Black.     Populus  nigra. 
Californian.    Populus  trichocarpa,  and  P.  Fre- 

montii. 
Carolina.     Populus  molinifera. 
Downy.     Populus  heterophylla. 
Gray.     Populus  alba,  var.  canescens. 
Lombardy.     Populus  fastigiata. 
Ontario.     Populus  balsamifera,  var.  candicans. 
Queensland.     Carumbium  populifolium. 
Kocky  Mountain.     Populus  angustifolia. 
Soft  or  Paper.     Populus  grandidentaia. 
Western.     Liriodendron   Tulipiferum. 
White.     Populus  alba. 
Willow-leaved.      Populus    nigra,    var.    Salici- 

folia. 
Yellow.     Liriodendron  TuUpiferum. 
Poppy.    The  popular  name  of  the  genus  Papa- 

ver. 
Alpine.     Papaver  alpinum. 
Blue  Himalayan.     Meconopsis  aculeata. 
Blue.     Wallich's.     Meconopsis  Wallichii. 
Californian.     Platystemon  Californicus,  and  the 

genus  Eschscholtzia. 
Carnation.     A  variety  of  Papaver  somniferum. 
Cathcart's.     Cathcartia  villosa. 
Caucasian.     Scarlet.     Papaver  umbrosum. 
Celandine.     Stylophorum  diphyllum,. 
Corn.     Papaver  RfuBos. 
"  Frothy. "     Silene  inflata. 
Golden.     Papaver  croceum. 
Horned.     Glaucium  luteum. 
Iceland.     A  variety  of  Papaver  nudicaule. 
Mexican  or  Prickly.     Argemxme  Mexicana. 
Opium.     Papaver  somniferum. 
Oriental.     Papaver  orientale. 
P«ony.     A  variety  of  Papaver  somniferum. 
Plume.     The  genus  Bocconia. 
Sea  Side.     Glaucium  luteum. 
Tree.     Dendronw.con  rigidum. 
Welsh.     Meconopsis  Cambrica. 
Yellow  Arctic.     Papaver  Nudicaule. 
Poppy-Mallow.    The  genus  Callirrhoe. 

Po'pulus.  Poplar.  Some  derive  the  word  Pop- 
ulus from  paipallo,  to  vibrate  or  shake ; 
others  suppose  it  obtained  its  name  from  be- 
ing used  in  ancient  times  to  decorate  the 
public  places  in  Rome,  where  it  was  called 
Arbor  Populi,  or  the  tree  of  the  people.  Nat. 
Ord.  Salicacece. 

A  genus  of  deciduous  trees  that  attain  a 
considerable  height,  natives  of  temperate 
climates  of  both  hemispheres.  They  are 
mostly  of  rapid  growth,  furnishing  timber  of 
a  soft,  inferior  quality.      Among    the    best 


FOR 

known  and  most  commonly  grown  for  orna- 
mental and  shade  trees  are  P.  fastigiata,  the 
Lombardy  Poplar;  P.  tremuloides,  American 
Aspen  ;  and  P.  balsaminifera  candicans.  Balm 
of  Gilead.  Of  this  species  there  is  a  very  old 
specimen  at  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  supposed  to  be 
one  of  the  largest  in  the  United  States.  It  is 
a  tree  of  magnificent  proportions.  It  is  over 
one  hundred  years  old,  and  the  trunk  is 
nearly  ten  feet  in  diameter.  It  is  one  of  the 
attractions  of  that  city.  The  Cotton  Wood  of 
the  Middle  and  Southern  States  is  P.  molini- 
fera; the  California  Cotton-wood  is  the  com- 
mon name  of  P.  Fremoniii. 

Pora'na.  Said  to  be  the  native  name  in  the 
East  Indies.    Nat.  Ord.  Convolvulacem. 

A  genus  of  twining,  slender  shrubs  or 
annuals,  natives  of  the  East  Indies,  the  Ma- 
layan Archipelago,  and  Australia.  Of  P. 
racemosa,  introduced  from  India,  in  1823,  C. 
B.  Clarke  says  :  "  This  is  the  '  Snow-creeper ' 
of  the  English,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of 
Indian  plants,  the  masses  of  dazzling  white 
flowers  resembling  snow-patches  in  the 
Jungle."    Syn.  Dinetus. 

Poranthe'ra.  From  poros,  a  pore  or  opening, 
and  anthera,  an  anther ;  the  anthers  open  by 
pores.    Nat.  Oi-d.  Eu/phorblacem. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  green-house  Aus- 
tralian plants,  onlj'  one  of  which,  P.  ericifolia, 
is  yet  in  cultivation.  Its  numerous  white 
flowers  are  borne  in  pedunculate  raceme.«, 
forming  a  dense,  terminal,  leafy  corymb.  It 
was  introduced  in  1824,  aud  is  increased  by 
seeds.  , 

Pores.  Apertures  in  the  cuticle,  through  which 
transpiration  takes  place,  or  apertures  in  the 
anthers  through  which  the  pollen  is  ejected. 

Porlie'ria.  Named  after  Andrew  de  Porlier,  a 
Spanish  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Zygophyllacece. 

A  small  genus  of  rigid  shrubs  with  spread- 
ing woody  branches,  natives  of  Texas,  Mexico, 
and  South  America.  P.  hygrometrica,  the  only 
introduced  species,  is  a  most  curious,  as  well 
as  ornamental  shrub,  the  leaves  of  which 
remain  open  in  serene  weather,  and  contract 
before  rain.  It  was  introduced  from  Peru  in 
1820,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings. 

Porophyllus.     Having  porous  leaves. 

Porphyreus.     Of  a  warm  reddish  color. 

Po'rtea.  A  genus  formed  to  include  a  few  spe- 
cies of  Bromeliacece,  formerly  placed  under 
Billbergia  and  uEchmea. 

Portenschla'gia.  This  genus  is  now  included 
with  ElcEodendron. 

Portla'ndia.  Named  after  a  Duchess  of  Port- 
land, a  distinguished  patroness  of  botany. 
Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
shrubs,  natives  of  the  West  Indies  and  Brazil. 
They  are  rarely  met  in  our  green-houses, 
which  is  to  be  regretted,  as  their  flowers  are 
splendid ;  they  are  long,  pure  white,  trumpet- 
shaped,  borne  in  axillary  clusters  of  from  two 
to  four  each.  P.  platantha,  with  pure  white 
flowers,  introduced  from  Brazil  in  1849,  is  of 
dwarf  habit,  and  is  nearly  a  constant  bloomer. 
They  all  require  a  warm  house,  and  are  pro- 
pagated by  cuttings  of  young  wood.  Several 
other  species  with  scarlet  or  white  flowers 
are  in  cultivation. 

Portugal  Laurel.     Cerasus  Lusitanica. 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


343 


FOR 

Portugal  Quince.     Cydonia  vulgaris  Lusitanica. 
Portula'ca.  From  i)orto,  to  carry,  and  lac,  milk  ; 
the  juicy  nature   of  the  plants.      Nat.  Ord. 
Portulacacece,. 

An    extensive    genus    of    hardy    annuals, 
mostly  natives  of  South  America.     Many  of 
them  are  exceedingly  showy  and  useful  plants 
for  the  border.  The  genus  also  contains  some 
of  our  most  troublesome  weeds,  among  which 
is  P.  oleracea,  common  Purslane.     P.  grandi- 
Jlora    is    the    parent    of    our    many    garden 
varieties.    It  is  a  native  of  Chili,  from  whence 
it  was  introduced  in  1827.     The  double  varie- 
ties are  of  German  origin.     We   quote  from 
"Hovey's  Magazine  "  an  excellent  article  on 
this    plant:     "The  double  varieties  are,   in 
fact,  charming  objects,  and  may  well  claim  a 
prominent  place  among  the  novel  things  of 
recent  introduction.  The  flowers  are  perfectly 
double,  about  the  size  of  a  silver  dollar,  and  a 
bed  of  them  in  full  bloom  presents  a  gay  ap- 
pearance, not  unlike  that  of    the  beautiful 
Ranunculuses,  or  the  little  Burgundy  Rose, 
so  that  the  Germans  call  them   '  Portulaca 
Roses.'    The  Portulacas  need  a  warm  and 
rather  light  soil  and  a  dryish   situation  to 
flower  well.    They  need  not  be  planted  early, 
unless  in  a  frame  or  hot-bed,  as  the  seed  will 
not  grow  freely  till  the  ground  is  warm.  About 
the  middle  of  June  the  plants  begin  to  appear 
in  the  open  ground,   and  grow  with    great 
rapidity,  soon  covering  a  large  bed,  and  mak- 
ing a  dazzling  display,  with  their  many-hued 
flowers,  from  July  to  frost.     The  seeds  saved 
from  double  varieties,  like  all  other  double 
flowers,  cannot  be  relied  upon  with  certainty 
to  produce  all  double  flowers,  but  the  largest 
part  of  them  will  be  double,  and  the  single 
sorts  may  be  pulled  up  and  thrown  away  or 
transplanted,   unless  it  is  desired  to  retain 
them  in  the  same  bed  with  the  double  kinds." 
Portulaca'ceae.    A  natural  order  of  more  or  less 
succulent  herbs  or  shrubs,  found  in  various 
parts  of  the  world,  chiefly,  however,  in  South 
America  and  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and 
generally  in  dry,  parched  places.    The  order 
contains  eighteen  genera,  of  which  Portulaca, 
Calandrina,     Claytonia,   and    Talinum,  are  ex- 
amples, and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  spe- 
cies. 
Portulaca'ria.    So  named  from  its  resemblance 
to  Portulaca.     Nat.  Ord.  Portulacacete. 

P.  Afra,  the  Purslane-tree,  introduced  from 
Africa  in  1732,  is  a  green-house  evergreen 
shrub,  with  small,  pink  flowers  and  opposite, 
obovate,  fleshy  leaves.  Young  cuttings  taken 
off  and  dried  for  a  few  days,  and  then  potted, 
will  root  freely. 
Posoque'rla.  Aymara  posoqueri  is  the  name  of 
P.  longiflora  among  the  natives  of  Guiana. 
Nat.  Ord.  RubiacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  shrubs  or  low-growing 
trees,  natives  of  the  West  Indies  and  Guiana. 
They  are  remarkable  for  their  very  long,  white, 
hanging  flowers,  the  corolla  of  which  is  funnel- 
shaped,  with  a  very  long  tube,  a  hairy  throat, 
and  a  five-parted  limb.  One  or  two  of  the 
species  are  to  be  found  in  collections  of  rare 
plants.  P.  revoluta  is  one  of  the  best,  and 
should  be  grown  in  the  hot-house.  P.  longi- 
flora, with  white  flowers  six  inches  long, 
borne  in  corymbs  six  to  twelve  flowered,  is 
also  a  very  showy  variety,  and  is  not  so  often 
met  with  as  it  deserves.    They  were  flrst  m- 


POT 

troduced  about  1820,  and  are  easily  increased 
by  cuttings. 
Potamo§e'ton.     Pond  Weed.     A  large  genus  of 
submersed  or  partially  floating  aquatics;  over 
twenty  of  which  are  natives  of  this-  country. 
They  are  of  no  horticultural  value. 
Potato.    Solanum  tuberosum.    The  early  history 
of  this  important  plant,  as  well  as  the  various 
stages  of  its  development  from  a  tuber  not 
much  larger  than  a  marble,  watery  and  com- 
paratively   tasteless,    to  the    present    great 
staple  of  food,  is  very  obscure.     The  most 
accurate  and  concise  account  we  flnd  in  the 
"Treasury  of  Botany,"  written  by  Mr.  W.  B. 
Booth,  from  which  we  quote:  "The  native 
country  of  the  Potato,  and  the  date  of  its  in- 
troduction into  Britain,  have  been  subjects  of 
much  discussion.     There  can  be  no  doubt  of 
its  being  indigenous  in  many  parts  of  South 
America,  plants  in  a  wild  state  having  been 
found  on  the  Peruvian  coast,  as  well  as  on  the 
sterile  mountains  of  Central  Chili  and  Buenos 
Ayres.     The  Spaniards  are  believed  to  have 
first  brought  it  to  Europe  from  Quito,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  sixteenth  century.     It  after- 
ward found  its  way  into    Italy,    and    from 
thence  it  was  carried  into  Mous,  in  Belgium, 
by  one  of  the  attendants  of  tlie  Pope's  legate. 
In  1598  it  was  sent  from  Mons  to  the  cele- 
brated botanist  Clusius  at  Vienna,  who  states 
that  in  a  short  time  it  spread  rapidly  through- 
out    Germany.      The     first    Potatoes    that 
reached  this  country  (England)  were  brought 
from  Virginia  by  the  colonists  sent  out  by 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh  in  A.  D.  1584,  and  who 
returned  in  1586.     They  were  planted  on  Sir 
Walter's  estate  near  Cork,  and  were  used  for 
food  in  Ireland  long  before  they  were  even 
known  or  cultivated  in  England.     Gerarde 
had  a  plant  in  his  garden  at  Holbom,  and  has 
given  a  figure  of  it  in  his  Herbal,  published  in 
1597,   under  the  name   of  Batata    Virginiana. 
He  recommends  the  roots  to  be  eaten  as  a 
delicate  dish,  and  not  as  common  food.    In 
the  times  of  James  the  First  they  were  so 
rare  as  to  cost    two  shillings    (sterling)    a 
pound,  and  are  mentioned  in  1619  among  the 
articles  provided  for  the  royal  household.    In 
1633,  when  their  valuable  properties  had  be- 
come   more     generally    known,   they    were 
deemed  worthy  of  notice  by  the  Royal  Society, 
which  took  measures  to  encourage  their  cul- 
tivation with  a  view  of  preventing  famine; 
but  it  was  not  until  nearly  a  century  after  the 
above  date  that   they  were    grown    to    any 
extent  in  England.    In  1725  they  were  intro- 
duced   into    Scotland,    and    cultivated    with 
much  success,  first  in  gardens  and  afterward 
(about  1760),  when  they  had  become  more 
plentiful,    in    the    open    fields.      Since    that 
period  the  prejudices  which  so  long  existed 
against  their  use,  both  in  England  and  Scot- 
land, have  gradually  vanished,  and  for  many 
years  past  the  Potato  crop  has  been  regarded 
as    a  most  valuable  addition  to  the  staple 
commodities  of  life,  only  second  in  importance 
to  the  cereals."    There  are  six  tuber-bearing 
Solanums  out  of  the  total  of  seven  hundred, 
which  Bentham  and  Hooker  estimate  as  dis- 
tinct species.    Mr.  Baker's  investigations  in 
England,   however,  led  him  to  believe  that 
"  all  the  numerous  varieties  had  originated 
from     S.     tuberosum.      *    *     *     As     far    as 
climate  is  concerned  it    cannot  be  doubted 
that  S.  Magelia  (or  the  Darwin  potato  as  we 


344 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


POT 

might  suitably  christen  it  in  English)  would 
be  better  fitted  to  succeed  in  England  and 
Ireland  than  S.  tuberosum,  a  plant  of  a 
comparatively  dry  climate.  We  have  indis- 
putable testimony  that  S.  Maglia  and  S.  Com- 
mersoni,  yield  I'eadily  an  abundant  supply  of 
eatable  Potatoes.  What  I  would  suggest  is, 
that  these  should  be  brought  into  the  econom- 
ic arena,  and  thoroughly  tested  as  to  their 
economic  value,  both  as  distinct  types,  and 
when  hybridized  with  the  innumerable  tuber- 
osum forms." — J.  G.  Baker,  in  Linn-Soc. 
Journal  of  Botany,  Vol.  XX.  The  Sweet 
Potato  is  the  root  of  Batatas  edulis,  of  the 
Nat.  Ord.  ConvolvulacetB,  and  its  history  is 
quite  as  obscure  as  that  of  the  common 
Potato.  The  first  mention  of  it  is  said  to  be 
by  an  author  named  Pigafetta,  who  went  to 
Brazil  in  1519,  and  found  it  in  use  as  an 
article  of  food  by  the  Indians.  It  was  soon 
afterward  introduced  into  Spain,  where  it  has 
been  extensively  cultivated  ever  since.  Of 
this  species  there  are  several  varieties  indi- 
genous to  both  the  East  and  West  Indies  and 
South  America.  Tlie  Sweet  Potato  is  exten- 
sively grown  in  the  United  States,  especially 
in  the  Southern  States. 

Potato  Oat.  The  popular  name  of  Avena 
nuda. 

Potato  Onion.     See  Onion. 

Potato,  Sweet.     See  Potato. 

Potato  Vine.  Wild.  A  common  name  for 
Ipomxjea  pandurata. 

Potenti'Ua.  Cinquefoil,  Five  Finger.  From 
potens,  powerful ;  supposed  medicinal  quality 
of  some  of  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  RosacecB. 

This  is  a  large  genus  of  very  desirable  hardy 
herbaceous  plants,  and  it  is  somewhat  re- 
markable, when  their  number  (upward  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  species  and  varieties) 
and  their  ornamental  character  are  considered, 
that  so  few  of  them  are  met  with  in  gardens. 
The  most  important,  however,  are  the  fine 
hybrid  varieties  that  have  been  obtained  of 
late  years  by  hybridizing  a  few  of  the  siiowy 
Himalayan  species,  such  as  P.  insifjnis  and  P. 
atrosanguinea.  These  two  species,  the  former 
with  clear  yellow  and  the  latter  with  deep, 
velvety-crimson  flowers  are  well  worth  grow- 
ing, as  is  also  the  beautiful  rosy-pink  P. 
colorata,  a  plant  that  flowers  throughout  the 
summer.  The  double-flowered  kinds  are 
most  showy,  and  they  possess  the  additional 
advantage  of  lasting  in  perfection  a  longer 
time  than  the  single  sorts,  both  on  the  plants 
and  in  the  cut  state.  Among  the  dwarf 
alpine  species  there  are  some  very  beautiful 
plants  that  are  indispensable  to  the  rock- 
garden.  P.  alba,  P.  alpestris,  P.  ambigua,  P. 
calabra,  P.  nitida,  and  P.  Pyrenaica,  are 
excellent  species  for  this  purpose.  They 
grow  without  trouble  in  any  tolerably  good 
soil,  and  produce  their  scarlet,  orange,  yel- 
low, crimson,  and  rose-colored  double  and 
single  flowers  in  great  abundance.  The 
species  are  common  to  both  hemispheres, 
and  are  propagated  readily  from  seeds  or  by 
division.  They  were  first  introduced  in 
1680. 

Pote'rium.  Bumet.  Name  from  poterium,  a 
drinking  cup,  as  its  herbage,  which  has  much 
the  flavor  of  Cucumber,  was  employed  in  the 


POT 

old  English  drink  known  as  "cool  tankard." 
Nat.  Ord.  Rosaceoe. 

P.  sanguisorba,  the  only  cultivated  species,  is 
a  hardy  perennial,  indigenous  to  the  dry, 
chalky  hills  of  Great  Britain.  It  grows  from  a 
few  inches  to  two  feet  high,  according  to  the 
situation.  In  some  parts  of  England  it  forms 
much  of  the  turf,  which  is  considered  excel- 
lent pasturage  for  sheep ;  it  was  formei'ly 
extensively  cultivated  as  a  fodder  plant,  but 
it  is  now  but  very  little  grown  in  that  way. 
It  is  now  used  occasionally  as  a  saUid  plant, 
the  leaves  having  somewhat  the  taste  and 
smell  of  Cucumbers.  A  variety  known  as 
Great  Burnet,  very  similar  in  form,  but  some- 
what larger,  and  with  oval  heads  of  purple 
flowers,  is  cultivated  to  a  considerable  extent 
in  Germany  for  fodder,  but  it  does  not  find 
much  favor  where  clover  will  grow. 

Po'thos.  From  Pothos,  the  name  of  a  species 
in  Ceylon.     Nat.  Ord.  Aroidece. 

A  genus  of  climbing  shrubs,  natives  of  India, 
China,  and  New  Holland.  They  are  epiphytal 
and  have  cord-like  stems,  sending  out  false 
roots  here  and  there,  and  attaching  them- 
selves to  trees.  A  few  of  the  species  have 
very  handsome  foliage,  and  are  grown  in  the 
green-house  for  the  sake  of  their  leaves.  The 
beautiful  variegated  species  known  in  culti- 
vation as  P.  aurea,  and  P.  argyrcea,  are  now 
placed  under  Scindapsus.  The  leaves  of  P. 
palmata  are  three  feet  long,  and  the  foot-stalks 
four.  They  were  first  introduced  in  1790,  and 
are  increased  by  cuttings. 

Pot  Marigold.     See  Calendula. 

Pottery  Tree.  A  common  name  applied  to 
Moquilea  ulilis. 

Potting,  The  first  operation  of  potting  is  whpn 
the  rooted  cutting  is  transferred  from  the 
cutting  bed,  or  the  seedling  from  the  seed 
box  to  the  pot. 

Almost  without  exception,  cuttings  or  seed- 
lings should  be  placed  in  pots  not  exceeding  two 
and  a  half  inches  in  diameter.  We,  in  our  own 
practice,  invariably  use  pots  two  and  a  quarter 
inches  in  diameter  at  the  top,  and  of  the  same 
depth.  Booted  cuttings  do  much  better  in 
the  smaller  size,  for  the  reason  that  the  small 
amount  of  soil  in  the  2i^-inch  pot  allows  the 
moisture  to  pass  off  quickly,  and  thus  prevents 
the  soil  from  becoming  sodden  for  want  of 
air,  which  would  be  the  case  if  the  cutting  had 
been  potted  in  a  3  or  4-inch  pot,  as  amateur 
gardeners  sometimes  do.  The  potting  of 
cuttings  is  very  simple,  and  in  commercial 
gardens  is  performed  with  great  rapidity, 
average  workmen  doing  300  plants  per  hour. 
One  of  our  workmen  obtained  almost  national 
fame  in  this  operation,  as  he  had  repeatedly 
potted  10,000  plants  in  ten  hours,  his  average 
being  6,000  per  day.  The  pot  is  filled  to  the 
level  with  soil,  a  space  made  with  the  finger 
in  the  centre  of  the  soil  of  sufficient  size  to 
admit  the  root,  which  is  placed  in  the  opening 
thus  made ;  the  soil  is  closed  in  again  by 
pressing  with  the  thumbs  close  to  the  neck  of 
the  cutting,  which  firms  the  soil  around  the 
root.  But  when  plants  are  required  to  be  grown 
as  specimens,  or  of  larger  size,  they  must  be 
repotted  at  intervals,  as  the  condition  of  their 
growth  demands.  For  example,  to  grow  a 
Geranium  of  a  height  of  three  feet  and  three 
feet  in  diameter,  a  pot  of  at  least  eight  inches 
across  at  top,  and  eight  inches  in  depth,  would 


AND  GENEKAL   HOKTICULTURE. 


345 


POT 

be  necessary,  but  it  would  not  do  to  move 
from  the  23^-inch  cutting  pot  to  ttiis  size  at 
once  ;  three  or  four  different  shifts  are  neces- 
sary. These  shifts  should  be  made,  as  a 
general  thing,  not  greater  than  from  a  2i^-inch 
size  to  a  3-inch,  and  so  on. 

The  time  to  shift  a  plant  from  a  smaller  to  a 
larger  pot  is  known  by  the  roots  beginning 
to  show  around  the  outer  surface  of  the  ball. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  shift  when  the  first 
roots  touch  the  side  of  the  pot ;  let  them  curl 
pretty  well  around  the  ball,  but  they  must  not 
be  allowed  to  remain  long  enough  to  become 
hard  or  woody.  They  must  be  of  that  condi- 
tion which  we  call  "  working  roots,"  a  condi- 
tion not  very  easy  to  describe,  unless  to  say 
that  the  appearance  of  such  roots  is  white, 
soft,  and  succulent.  In  most  cases  the 
slightest  tap  on  the  edge  of  the  pot  is  sufficient 
to  turn  out  the  ball  of  earth.  Soil,  in  depth 
according  to  the  size  of  the  plant,  should  be 
placed  in  the  bottom  of  the  pot,  the  ball 
placed  in  the  centre,  and  the  soil  packed 
moderately  firm  in  the  space,  either  by  the 
fingers  or  by  a  stick  made  of  suitable  size  for 
the  purpose.  When  plants  are  first  potted  off, 
or  shifted,  they  should  be  stood  with  the  pots 
touching  each  other,  if  the  diameter  of  the 
plant  is  less  than  that  of  the  pot ;  but,  as  they 
begin  to  develop  growth,  the  plants  should  be 
spread  an  inch  or  so  apart  to  admit  air  between 
the  pots ;  this  greatly  strengthens  the  plants, 
and  inclines  them  to  a  stocky  growth.  Though 
we,  in  our  own  practice,  use  drainage  in  few 
kinds  of  plants  except  Eoses,  yet  it  is  perhaps 
safer  to  the  unpracticed  cultivator  to  use  it. 
See  Drainage. 

The  amateur  is  warned  against  the  common 
practice  of  placing  [)lants  in  too  large  pots. 
As  a  general  thing,  when  plants  are  received 
from  the  florist  they  are  without  pots,  and  are 
usually  in  a  condition  requiring  them  to  be 
shifted  into  a  pot  larger  than  they  have  been 
growing  in.  For  example,  if  they  have  been 
grown  in  a  pot  of  three  inches  diameter,  place 
them  in  one  a  size  larger,  or  four  inches  in 
diameter ;  if  they  were  in  four-inch  pots,  give 
them  one  live  or  six  inches  across,  and  so  on. 
Florists,  as  a  rule,  do  not  practice  crocking 
or  draining  pots  until  the  pots  get  to  a  size 
over  four  inches,  and  not  often  then,  because, 
having  pots  of  all  sizes  on  hand,  they  do  not 
need  to  give  plants  any  larger  shift  than  nec- 
essary, and  hence  there  is  less  need  for 
drainage ;  but  often  the  amateur  has  to 
change  a  plant  that  has  been  grown  in  a  pot 
of  three  inches  diameter  into  one  of  six 
inches,  and  then  it  is  necessary  to  fill  up  one- 
third  of  this  too  large  pot  with  broken 
pots,  charcoal,  or  some  such  material,  to 
drain  off  the  surplus  moisture  that  would 
otherwise  be  injurious,  in  consequence  of  the 
pot  being  too  large  for  the  plant ;  but  if  the 
pot  into  which  it  is  shifted  is  properly  ad- 
justed to  the  wants  of  the  plant,  the  putting 
in  of  crocks  for  drainage  may  be  dispensed 
with.  The  need  of  a  larger  pot  is  shown  by 
the  earth  becoming  so  filled  with  roots  that 
they  will  cover  the  outside  of  the  ball ;  but 
shifting  into  a  larger  pot  should  be  done  while 
the  roots  are  yet  white.  If  left  until  the  roots 
get  thoroughly  matted,  brown  and  hard,  it  is 
too  late,  and  the  future  growth  will  be  seri- 
ously retarded.  If  the  plant  has  been  allowed 
to  reach  this  condition,  which  we  call  "  pot 


bound,"  it  is  best  to  lay  the  ball  of  roots  on 
one  hand  and  slap  it  smartly,  so  as  to  loosen 
it.  By  this  treatment  the  new  fibres  strike 
out  more  readily  from  the  hard  roots  than  if 
left  with  the  ball  still  compact.  After  shifting 
a  plant  give  it  one  good  watering,  so  that  the 
soil  will  be  thoroughly  soaked  to  the  bottom 
of  the  pot,  but  after  that  keep  rather  dry 
until  there  are  indications  of  new  growth. 
When  it  is  inconvenient  to  shift  winter-flow- 
ering plants  into  larger  pots,  they  will  be 
greatly  benefited  by  stirring  up  the  soil  on 
the  surface  of  the  pots  to  a  depth  of  an  inch 
or  so,  or  down  to  where  the  young  roots  ap- 
pear, taking  care  not  to  disturb  these  too 
much.  Throw  away  the  old  soil  and  replace 
by  rich,  fresh  soil,  in  which  one-twentieth 
part  may  be  bone-dust.  This  is  called  "  top- 
dressing."    See  "Winter-Flowering  Plants." 

Pouch.  A  little  sack  or  bag  at  the  base  of  some 
sepals  and  petals  ;  the  term  is  also  applied  to 
a  sillicle  or  short-pod,  as  of  the  Shepherd's 
Purse. 

Pounce.  The  powdered  gum  resin  procured 
from  Juniperus  communis. 

Pourou'ma.  The  native  name  in  Guiana.  Nat. 
Ord.  Urticacece. 

A  genus  of  about  thirty  species  of  trees, 
natives  of  tropical  South  America.  P.  edulia, 
the  only  species  of  interest,  has  leaves  green 
above  and  bluish-white  beneath,  as  large  as 
those  of  Wigandia  imperialis,  and  is  an  excel- 
lent plant  for  sub-tropical  decoration.  The 
fruit,  which  is  produced  in  clusters  like 
Hazel-nuts,  is  much  esteemed  by  the  natives 
of  Columbia.  The  genus  is  closely  related  to 
Artocarpjis. 

Pourre'tia.  In  honor  of  Abbe  Pourret,  a  French 
botanist  and  traveller  in  Spain.  Nat.  Ord. 
Bromeliacece. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  green-house  plants, 
differing  but  little  from  Billbergia,  and  requir- 
ing the  same  management.  All  the  species 
are  natives  of  South  America,  and  are  pro- 
pagated by  suckers.    Syn.  Dyckia. 

Pourthiae'a.  Named  in  memory  of  the  French 
missionary  Pourthie,  massacred  in  the  Corea 
in  1866.     Nat.  Ord.  Rosacece. 

A  genus  established  by  Decaisne  for  a 
number  of  plants  peculiar  to  the  Himalayas, 
China,  and  Japan,  long  confounded  with  the 
allied  genus  Photina,  which  they  resemble  in 
general  appearance.  P.  arguta,  a  native  of 
the  Himalayas  from  Sikkim  to  the  Kashya 
Hills  and  to  Burmah,  is  a  graceful  hardy  shrub 
with  slender  spreading  branches  and  lanceo- 
late, or  elliptical,  opposite  leaves,  pointed  at 
both  ends,  finely  and  sharply  serrate,  covered, 
when  young,  with  short  scattered  white  hairs, 
but  becoming  perfectly  glabrous  at  maturity. 
The  flowers  are  pure  white,  borne  in  flat,  few- 
flowered,  cyme-like  corymbs  followed  by  small, 
globose,  one  or  two  seeded  pomes.  The 
divergent  habit  of  the  branches  and  flower- 
bearing,  lateral  branchlets,  give  to  this  plant 
a  peculiar  and  striking  appearance.  It 
flowered  for  the  flrst  time  in  this  country  in 
the  Arnold  Arboretum  this  season  (1889). 

Poverty  Grass.     See  Ariatida. 

Praecox.     Early ;  appearing  or  flowering  earlier 

than  other  allied  species. 
Praemorse.     Ending  abruptly  as  if  bitten  off. 


.346 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


PRA 

Prairie  Clover.     The  genus  Petalostemon. 

Pratensis.  Belonging  to  or  growing  in  mea- 
dows. 

Pra'tia.  Named  after  M.  Prat-Bernon,  a  French 
naval  officer.  A  small  genus  of  Campanulaceoe, 
consisting  of  little  creeping  herbaceous  plants 
growing  usually  in  marshy  places,  natives  of 
the  southern  partof  South  America,  Australia, 
New  Zealand,  and  India.  P.  angulata,  intro- 
duced from  New  Zealand  in  1879,  is  an 
extremely  pretty  little  creeper  for  rockwork. 
P.  repens,  from  the  Falkland  Islands,  is  also 
well  adapted  for  a  like  situation. 

Pre'mna.  From  premnon,  the  stump  of  a  tree, 
in  allusion  to  the  low  stems  of  most  of  the 
species.     Nat.  Ord.  Verbenacece. 

A  genus  of  over  thirty  species  of  tropical 
shrubs  or  trees.  Few  of  the  species  are  in 
cultivation. 

Prena'nthes.  From  prenes,  drooping,  and 
anthos,  a  flower ;  on  account  of  the  drooping 
flower-heads.     Nat.  Ord.  CompositoR. 

A  genus  now  restricted  to  a  few  European 
and  Asiatic  herbs.  P.  purpurea,  the  only 
species  of  interest  common  in  mountainous 
or  hilly  woods  in  central  and  southern  Europe, 
is  a  tall  erect  herb,  with  oblong-lanceolate, 
stem-clasping  leaves,  and  a  large,  loose,  ter- 
minal panicle  of  elegantly  drooping  purple 
flower-heads.  It  may  be  increased  by  seeds 
or  by  division. 

Prepu'sa.  From  the  Greek  word,  prepo,  which 
means  "  I  am  handsome  ;"  on  account  of  the 
beauty  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  GentianaceoB. 
A  small  genus  of  erect,  slightly-branched 
green-house  plants,  natives  of  Brazil.  P. 
Hookeriana,  the  only  species  yet  in  cultivation, 
has  beautiful  large,  white  and  crimson  flowers, 
and  opposite,  slightly  fleshy  leaves.  It  was 
introduced  in  1839,  and  is  increased  by  seeds 
or  by  cuttings  of  the  young  shoots. 

Presco'ttia.  Named  after  John  D.  Prescott,  a 
botanist  of  St.  Petersburg.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchid- 
aceoe. 

A'  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids,  natives  of 
tropical  America.  Only  a  few  species  are  in 
cultivation  ;  they  are  more  interesting  botani- 
cally  than  they  are  beautiful. 

Pre'slia.  Named  in  honor  of  C.  B.  and  I.  S. 
Presi,  of  Prague,  authors  of  "  Flora  Sicula" 
and  other  works.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 

P.  cervina,  the  only  species,  is  a  hardy, 
prostrate,  perennial  herb,  with  pale,  purplish 
flowers,  allied  to  Mentha.  It  is  a  native  of  the 
western  Mediterranean  region,  is  of  easy 
culture  in  any  soil,  and  may  be  rapidly  in- 
creased by  division. 

Presto'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  C.  Preston, 
M.  D.,  a  correspondent  of  Ray.  Nat.  Ord. 
ApocynaceoR. 

A  genus  of  tall  climbing  or  twining  shrubby 
plants,  natives  of  tropical  America.  P.  venosa 
has  yellowish-green  flowers,  pale  in  the  centre, 
and  produced  in  drooping  racemes.  It  is  per- 
haps the  only  species  in  cultivation,  and 
forms  a  pretty  specimen  when  trained  upon 
pillars  or  on  a  balloon-trellis.  Syn.  Echites 
nutans. 

Pretty  Pace.     CalUprora  (Brodicea)  lutea. 

Pricking  off.  This  is  a  term  used  by  gardeners 
for  the  process  of  transplanting  small  seed- 
lings as  soon  as  they  are  fit  to  handle,  and 


PRI 

replanting  them  closely  together,  preparatory 
to  being  planted  in  pots  or  in  the  open  ground. 
It  is  distinguished  from  planting  proper,  inas- 
much as  tlie  "  pricking  off "  process  is  always 
preparatory  to  the  final  planting.  For  ex- 
ample, when  Tomatoes  come  up  thickly  in  the 
seed  bed,  they  must  be  pricked  off  at  a 
distance  of  an  inch  or  so  apart  in  a  hot-bed, 
again  to  be  planted,  either  wider  or  in  the 
open  air.  If  this  is  not  done  as  soon  as  they 
are  fit  to  handle,  the  plants  will  spindle  and 
get  weak,  and  often  will  die  off  altogether 
from  damping. 

Prickles.  Sharp  elevations  of  the  bark,  coming 
off  with  it,  as  of  the  Rose. 

Prickly  Ash.     See  Xanthoxylon  Fraxineum. 

Prickly  Cedar.     Cyathodes  Oxycedrus. 

Prickly  Comfrey.     See  Symphytum. 

Prickly  Pear.     See  Opuntia. 

Prickly  Poppy.     See  Argemone. 

Pride  of  Barbadoes.     Cce-salpina  pulcherrimu. 

Pride  of  Columbia.     Phlox  spedosa. 

Pride  of  India  or  China.     Melia  Azedarach. 

Pride-'wreed.     Erigeron  Canadensis. 

Prie'stleya.  Named  in  honor  of  the  celebrated 
Dr.  Priestly.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  handsome  Cape  plants,  with  bril- 
liant yellow  flowers.  They  grow  best  in  very 
sandy  loam,  which  must  be  well  drained. 
The  necessary  water  must  be  given  cautiously 
at  all  times,  especially  in  winter,  when  great 
care  must  be  taken  to  keep  the  leaves  dry,  for 
if  wetted  then  they  die  off,  and  thus  weaken 
the  plant.  The  ornamental  character  of  the 
genus  is  sufficiently  great,  however,  to  deserve 
all  the  necessary  attention.  Propagated  by 
cuttings  of  well-ripened  wood.  Introduced  in 
1800. 

Prim.     One  of  the  common  names  of  Ligustrum. 

Primrose.  Primula,  especially  the  popular  name 
of  Primula  vulgaris. 

Primrose.    Birds-eye.     Primula farinosa. 
Primrose.    Cape.     See  Streptocarpus. 
Primrose.      Chinese.      P.    Sinensis.      Syn.   P. 

prmnite7i8. 
Primrose.    Evening.     .Mnothera  biennis. 

Pri'mula.  Primrose.  From  primus,  the  first ;  in 
allusion  to  the'early  flowering  of  the  plants. 
Nat.  Ord.  Primulaceoe. 

This  extensive  genus  includes  three  of  the 
most  popular  and  beautiful  of  florist's  flowers, 
viz.,  the  Auricula,  the  Polyanthus,  and  the 
Primrose.  Of  each,  there  are  almost  innumer- 
able varieties.  The  Auricula,  Primula  Auricula, 
is  a  native  of  the  Alps  of  Switzerland,  and  the 
mountainous  countries  adjoining,  whence  it 
was  called,  when  first  introduced  in  1596,  the 
Mountain  or  French  Cowslip.  It  was  also 
called  Bear's  Ear  or  Oricola,  whence  the 
modern  name  of  Auricula.  Parkinson,  in  1629, 
enumerates  twenty  varieties,  which  he  says 
were  the  best,  though  '"  many  other  varieties 
were  to  be  found  with  those  who  are  curious 
conservers  of  these  delights  of  nature."  The 
alpine  Auriculas,  though  hardy  in  Britain,  will 
not.  however,  endure  the  rigor  of  our  winters 
without  protection,  and  as  much  care  is 
needed  to  protect  them  against  the  sun  as  the 
cold.  Notwithstanding  this  they  may  be 
grown  easily  in  pots  or  planted  out  in  cold 


AND   GENEKAL  HORTICULTURE. 


347 


PRI 

frames  or  in  a  cold  green-house  in  the  same 
manner  as  Pansies,  in  order  that  they  may  be 
better  protected  from  storms,  that  destroy 
the  powdery  bloom  upon  the  surface  of 
the  flower,  its  greatest  feature  of  beauty, 
and  also  to  enhance  its  commercial  value. 
The  Auricula  is  propagated  by  division 
of  the  root,  or  by  cutting  off  slips  with  a  por- 
tion of  the  root  attached ;  but  a  still  better 
plan  is  to  sow  seed  in  March,  which  make 
fine  flowering  plants  the  next  season.  We  use 
this  method  exclusively.  The  common  Prim- 
rose, P.  vulgaris  (syn.  P.  acaulis),which  grows 
wild  and  abundantly  in  Britain  and  on  the  con- 
tinent of  Eui'ope,  has  been  a  favorite  with 
American  planters  for  generations,  and  may  be 
found  taking  care  of  itself  in  old-fashioned 
gardens  for  years,  especially  north  of  Massa- 
chusetts where  it  is  protected  by  heavy  snows 
all  winter.  F.  L.  Temple,  of  Cambridge, 
Mass.,  in  a  communication  to  "Garden  and 
Forest,"  1888,  says  :  "  I  never  knew  it,  how- 
ever, to  establish  itself  outside  of  the  rich  soil 
and  limited  space  of  the  garden  where  it  was 
given  a  place  by  man,  until  the  past  season, 
when  I  was  shown  a  locality  in  Massachusetts 
where  it  took  possession  of  a  piece  of  pasture 
along  the  sides  of  a  brook,  and  among  scat- 
tered clumps  of  the  Barberry  and  other  shrubs. 
In  this  heavy,  clayey  soil  it  was  perfectly  at 
home,  and  thousands  of  vigorous  plants  were 
disputing  successfully  with  grasses  and  weeds 
for  a  chance  to  live.  This  spot,  in  spring, 
when  these  beautiful  blossoms  -are  like  a 
brilliant  carpet  of  crimson  and  yellow,  cover- 
ing many  square  rods  with  their  bloom,  and 
peeping  out  of  the  half-shaded  nooks  among 
the  wild  undergrowth,  is  a  sight  to  be  long 
remembered  by  anyone  who  knows  and  loves 
this  old  Primrose.  This  is  the  only  case,  as 
far  as  I  know,  in  which  the  English  Primrose 
has  become  really  established  and  capable  of 
propagating  itself  permanently  so  far  north, 
and  it  is  hoped  that  this  hardy  strain  of  these 
wholly  delightful  blossoms  may  hereafter  pro- 
vide us  with  a  race  of  these  Primroses  which 
will  be  really  hardy  throughout  a  considerable 
part  of  the  Northern  States."  The  Polyanthus, 
probably  derived  from  a  cross  between  the 
Primrose  and  the  Cowslip,  P.  officinalis  (syn. 
P.  veris)  has  been  in  cultivation  for  many 
years,  and  is  one  of  the  most  popular  of 
Florists'  flowers,  especially  in  Britain.  There 
are  a  great  number  of  varieties  from  light 
yellow  or  straw  color  to  deep  maroon,  with 
an  endless  variety  of  shades  and  markings. 
The  section  known  as  the  "Gold-laced"  is, 
however,  the  most  admired,  the  flowers  of 
which  are  distinguished  by  a  clear  even 
margin  or  lacing  of  gold,  then  a  ground  or 
body-color,  similarly  well  defined,  with  a 
stripe  passing  through  the  centre  of  each 
division  to  the  eye.  The  pip,  as  a  single  flower 
is  termed,  should  be  large,  flat  and  round, 
with  the  exception  of  five  or  six  small  divi- 
sions on  the  margin.  Besides  these  varieties 
there  are  others  designated  respectively. 
"Fancy"  and  "Hose  in  Hose."  Fancy 
varieties  are  of  various  hue,  the  plants  being 
of  vigorous  habit ;  and  some  of  the  Hose  in 
Hose  sorts  are  curious  and  very  uncommon. 
P.  obconica,  a  species  introduced  from  central 
China  in  1882  with  pale  lilac,  almost  white 
flowers,  is  a  much  admired  species  for  spring 
and  early  summer  flowering.     Unfortunately 


PRI 

its  leaves  and  flowers  have,  to  some  persons, 
poisonous  properties  similar  to  those  of  the 
Poison  Ivy,  and  persons  susceptible  to  plant 
poisons  should  handle  it  with  caution.  Many 
new  and  distinct  species,  among  them  several 
absolutely  different  from  anything  previously 
known,  have  of  late  years  been  introduced 
from  the  Himalayas,  China  and  Japan,  but 
which  have  not  yet  been  cultivated  enough  to 
show  if  they  are  suited  to  our  climate  or  not. 
P.  Sinensis  (syn.  prcBnitens),  and  its  varie- 
ties, are  extensively  grown  as  plants  for 
pot-culture  for  the  sitting-room  or  the 
green-house,  as  well  as  for  use  in  winter 
for  cut-flowers.  To  get  strong  plants  it 
is  best  to  sow  the  seeds  about  March  or 
April ;  the  English  plan  of  sowing  in  July  or 
August  will  not  answer  well  in  our  hot,  dry 
climate.  The  seed  should  be  sown  in  shallow 
boxes,  which  may  be  two  inches  or  so  in  depth ; 
the  soil  used  may  be  good  friable  loam,  which 
should  be  sifted  fine  and  pressed  down  nicely 
with  a  smooth  board,  so  that  it  is  perfectly 
level ;  on  this  smooth  level  surface  of  soil 
sow  the  seeds  thickly,  and  press  them  down 
into  the  soil,  which  will  sink  them  level  with 
the  smooth  surface.  Next  take  sphagnum 
moss  (dry  refuse  hops  or  leaf  mould  will  also 
do,  but  moss  is  best)  and  rub  it  through  a 
sieve  as  fine  as  a  mosquito-wire,  and  sift  this 
pulverized  moss  over  the  seed  just  thick 
enough  to  cover  the  seeds  up,  which  will  be 
something  about  the  one-sixteenth  part  of  an 
inch.  This  covering  is  light,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  its  spongy  character  keeps  the  seeds  in 
the  necessary  condition  of  moisture  for  ger- 
mination. We  have  found  that  this  method 
for  the  sprouting  of  all  seeds  that  are  diffi- 
cult of  germination  is  excellent,  so  that  if  the 
seeds  have  any  vitality  whatever,  germina- 
tion is  certain.  After  the  Primulas  have 
started  to  a  full  development  of  the  seed  leaf, 
they  are  "pricked  off"  in  the  same  sort  of 
shallow  box  that  the  seeds  were  started  in,  at 
a  distance  of  half  an  inch  or  so  apart.  If  this 
is  not  promptly  done  there  is  great  danger  of 
the  young  plants  being  attacked  by  a  species 
of  fungus,  which  is  quickly  fatal.  In  from 
four  to  six  weeks  after  the  young  Primulas 
have  been  growing  in  these  boxes  they  will 
be  of  sufficient  size  to  be  placed  in  two  and  a 
half  inch  pots ;  and  by  about  this  time  the 
weather  will  have  become  warm,  and  the 
plants  should  be  placed  in  the  coolest  place 
to  be  obtained  with  partial  shade.  If  the 
plants  will  remain  without  shifting  until  Sep- 
tember, do  not  shift  them,  as  our  experience 
has  shown  that  they  keep  best  through  the 
hot  summer  months  if  rather  cramped  for 
pot  room.  As  soon  as  cool  weather  comes  in 
fall  they  begin  to  grow  rapidly,  and  if  judi- 
ciously shifted  into  larger  pots  as  the  balls  be- 
come filled  with  roots,  they  will  make  beauti- 
ful plants  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  in 
diameter,  which  will  flower  in  profusion  from 
November  to  May.  Although  the  double 
varieties  are  also  raised  from  seed,  yet,  like 
nearly  all  double  flowers,  quite  a  proportion 
of  the  seed  saved  from  double  flowers  will 
come  single ;  and  though  many  fine  double 
flowers  are  thus  produced,  yet  exact  types 
can  never  be  depended  on  from  seed,  so  that, 
as  a  rule,  the  double  kinds,  particularly  the 
Double  White,  which  is  the  kind  most  valued 
for  winter  flowers,  are  grown  exclusively  from 


348 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PHI 

cuttings  or  by  division.  Tliis  variety  has  a 
tendency  to  breali  into  from  six  to  twelve 
crowns  or  slioots,  and  the  simplest  way  to 
divide  these  up  is  to  fill  up  to  the  lower  leaves 
with  moss,  which  quickly  induces  the  crowns 
or  shoots  to  root  into  it,  and  when  thus  well- 
rooted,  the  plant  is  pulled  apart  and  each 
shoot  or  crown  separately  potted.  This  moss- 
ing process  for  division  may  be  done  at  any 
season,  but  it  is  safest  during  the  spring  or 
fall  months :  say  during  April  and  May  in 
spring,  or  September  and  October  in  the  fall. 
As  the  Primrose  is  at  all  times  impatient  of 
heat  and  disturbance  of  the  roots,  this  divis- 
ion of  the  plant  had  better  be  avoided  during 
hot  weather.  The  first  Double  White  Prim- 
rose was  originated  by  John  Henderson,  now 
of  Flushing,  L.  I.,  but  of  London  in  1836, 
when  the  Double  White  was  raised.  Mr. 
Henderson  has  furnished  us  the  following 
brief  but  interesting  particulars  in  regard  to 
its  origin  :  "  I  raised  the  Double  White  Chi- 
nese Primrose  in  1836,  and  exhibited  it  at  the 
Horticultural  Society  of  London  in  January, 
1837,  and  was  awarded  the  Silver  Banksian 
Medal  for  it.  It  was  raised  in  this  way  :  In 
the  winter  of  1835-6  we  had  a  fine  strain  of 
fimbriated  Primulas;  and  in  order  to  preserve 
the  true  stock,  I  selected  the  finest,  and  placed 
them  on  a  shelf  near  the  glass,  and  during 
the  flowering  season  coastantly  impregnated 
the  flowers.  The  seeds  were  sown  in  June, 
and  among  the  seedlings  were  about  eighteen 
plants  that  came  with  double  flowers,  both 
purple  and  white,  some  plain-edged,  others 
fimbriated.  The  one  selected  as  the  best  is 
that  still  in  cultivation,  and  known  as  the 
Double  White."  A  double  purple,  in  the  same 
style  as  the  white,  was  also  raised  by  Mr. 
Henderson,  and  is  still  grown.  The  Japan 
Primrose,  Primula  Japonica,  is  a  noble  species 
of  recent  introduction,  bearing  flowers  of  a 
deep  crimson  rose,  arranged  in  from  three  to 
six  whorls  of  many  flowers  each,  on  a  strong, 
straight  stem  from  one  to  two  feet  high. 
This  plant  is  a  favorite  in  England,  but  is 
■worthless  in  our  di-y,  hot  climate.  Of  the 
genus  Primula  this  country  furnishes  but 
few  species,  and  they  are  of  little  interest  to 
its  flora.  Dr.  C.  C.  Parry  found  a  beautiful 
low-growing  species  in  the  Eocky  Mountains, 
with  purple  and  yellow  flowers.  It  finds  its 
home  in  very  high  latitudes,  where  it  is  con- 
stantly watered  from  the  melting  snow.  From 
this  peculiarity  it  cannot  be  successfully 
grown  in  our  houses  or  borders.  There  are 
many  other  species  included  in  this  genus, 
mostly  interesting,  but  not  of  special  import- 
ance. We  only  add  Primula  veria,  the  com- 
mon English  Cowslip,  and  P.  elatior,  the  com- 
mon Ox-lip. 

Primula'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  herbaceous 
plants  generally  with  a  perennial  rhizome, 
natives  chiefly  of  temperate  and  cold  regions 
in  the  Northern  Hemisphere ;  in  the  tropics 
occupying  lofty  situations.  The  species  are 
more  remarkable  for  their  beauty  than  for  the 
little  economic  value  they  possess.  Primula, 
Androsace,  Olaux,  and  Cyclamen,  occur  amongst 
the  genera,  which  are  over  thirty  in  number 
and  comprise  nearly  two  hundred  and  fifty 
species.  - 

Pilnceps.     Chief,  principal. 


PRO 

Prince's  Feather.  Amaranthus  hypochondria^ 
CMS,  also  a  common  name  for  Polygonum  orien- 
tale. 

Pri'nos.  Winter  Berry,  The  ancient  name  of 
the  Holly,  which  some  of  the  species  resem- 
ble.    Nat.  Ord.  AquifoliacecB. 

Very  handsome  berry-bearing,  hardy,  decid- 
uous shrubs,  common  from  Maine  to  Virginia 
and  southward.  P.  verticillata,  is  the  Black 
Alder  or  Winter  Berry.  It  is  covered  with 
glossy  red  berries  during  most  of  the  winter. 
P.  laevigata,  is  the  Smooth  Winter  Berry.  The 
fruit  is  larger  than  in  the  preceding,  and  rip- 
ens earlier  in  the  fall ;  but  the  berries  are  of 
the  same  glossy  red.  These  two  species  are 
beautiful  plants,  especially  in  the  winter,  and 
are  worthy  of  a  place  in  the  shrubbery  or  on 
the  lawn.  They  are  used  in  the  winter  for 
decorative  purposes.  P.  glabra  is  the  Ink 
Berry,  the  fruit  of  which  is  black.  It  is  a  less 
desirable  plant  than  the  species  named  above. 
Professor  Gray  has  placed  these  plants  in  the 
genus  Ilex. 

Prio'nium.  From  prionion,  a  small  saw  ;  allud- 
ing to  the  serrated  leaves.  Nat.  Ord.  Junca- 
cecB. 

P.  Palmita,  Palmiet,  the  native  name,  is  a 
veiy  remarkable  rush,  found  on  the  banks  of 
rivers  in  South  Africa.  It  often  increases  to 
such  an  extent  as  to  choke  the  rivers  in  which 
it  grows,  and  produces  a  network  of  strong, 
black  fibre,  suitable  for  brush  making;  the 
leaves  themselves  are  useful  for  plaiting  and 
thatching. 

Prismatic.  Prism-shaped  ;  having  several  lon- 
gitudinal angles  and  intermediate  flat  faces, 
as  the  calyx  of  Frankenia  pulverulenta. 

Prismatoca'rpus.  From  prisma,  prismatos,  a 
prism,  and  karpos,  a  fruit;  alluding  to  the 
long  prismatic  form  of  the  fruit.  Nat.  Ord. 
CampanulacecB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  or  hardy  perennial 
herbs  or  shrubs,  natives  of  South  Airica.  P. 
nitidus,  the  best  known  species,  has  white 
flowers,  two  to  four  in  a  cluster,  towards  the 
top  of  the  branches.  Better  known  in  culti- 
vation under  the  name  of  Campanula  prisma- 
tocarpus. 

Pritcha'rdia.  A  commemorative  name.  Nat. 
Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  genus  of  Palms  inhabiting  California 
and  the  Sandwich  Islands.  The  best  known 
is  P.  Pacijica,  a  spineless  tree  with  fan-shaped, 
deeply-cut  leaves,  covered  with  white  down 
when  young.  The  fruit  of  this  Palm  is  de- 
scribed as  almost  like  a  black-heart  Cherry. 
The  leaves  are  used  as  fans  and  umbrellas  by 
the  chiefs,  who  are  alone  permitted  to  use 
them.  In  a  shower  of  rain  the  leaves  are  so 
worn  on  the  back  of  the  head  as  to  send 
the  water  behind  the  wearer.  Some  of  the 
species  are  under  cultivation.  P.  filifcra,  is 
now  called  Waahingtoniajilifera,  which  see. 

Pri'va.  A  name  of  unknowameaning,  given  by 
Adanson.     Nat.  Ord.  VerbenacecB. 

A  genus  of  erect  perennial  herbs,  with  a 
w^oody  or  tuberous  rhizome ;  widely  distrib- 
uted through  tropical  America,  Africa  and 
India.  P.  IcBvis,  introduced  from  the  Argen- 
tine Republic  in  1833,  is  the  only  species  of 
interest,  but  it  is  not  much  cultivated. 

Privet.     See  Ligustrum. 

Proboscideus.     Trumpet-like ;  proboscis-like. 


VKDTUIiA  SINENSIS. 


FBIMITLA  OBCONICA. 


PRIMITLA  JAPONICA. 


PRIMULA  SINENSIS  FILICIFOUA. 


348 


FBimrLA  SINENSIS  FIMBBIATA. 


PRIMULA  YUIiaABia 


PROPAGATING  BY  LAYEKING 


POPPY  (double  white  tipped  ■with  rose). 


PROPAGATION  (SAUCEE) 


PRIMULA  AURICULA. 


PBIMULA  SINENSIS  FL.   PL. 


FBIMULA  SINENSIS  SEMI  PLENA 


349 


AND    GENERAL    HORTICULTURE. 


319 


PRO 

Procerus.     Very  tall. 

Process.  A  term  applied  to  any  projection  from 
the  surface  or  edge  of  a  body,  whether  natural 
or  monstrous. 

Procession  Flo-wer.  A  popular  name  for  Poly- 
gala  vulgaris. 

Pro'ckia.  A  commemorative  name.  Nat.Ord. 
LiliacecR. 

A  genus  of  two  or  three  described  species, 
probably  all  varieties  of  P.  crucis,  a  beautiful 
yellow-flowered,  very  fragrant  plant,  introduc- 
ed from  the  West  Indies  in  1825.  It  requires 
warm  green-house  treatment,  and  is  propa- 
gated by  cuttings  of  the  half  ripened  shoots. 

Procle'sia.  Commemorative  of  Procles,  king  of 
Sparta.     Nat.  Ord.  VacciniacecB. 

A  genus  of  handsome  evergreen  shrubs  or 
small  trees,  natives  of  the  mountains  of  trop- 
ical America.  P.  acuminata,  with  bright  red 
flowers,  covered  when  in  bud  by  scarlet 
bracts,  and  P.  cordifolia,  with  bright  red  flow- 
ers, white  on  the  margins,  are  the  two  best 
known  species,  and  were  introduced  from  New 
Grenada  in  1865.  They  are  sometimes  found 
in  cultivation  under  the  name  of  Thibaudia, 
but  Bentham  and  Hooker  now  place  this 
genus  under  Cavendishia. 

Procumbent.     Lying  flat  upon  the  ground. 

Proliferous.  A  plant  is  said  to  be  proliferous 
Avhen  it  forms  young  plants  in  abundance 
about  its  roots ;  also  when  buds  are  formed 
along  the  edges  of  the  leaves  or  otherwise. 

Promenae'a.  Derivation  of  name  unknown. 
Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  low-growing,  very  pretty 
Orchids  from  Brazil,  formerly  classed  with 
Maxillaria.  They  are  usually  grown  as  curi- 
osities rather  than  for  show;  their  height 
rarely  exceeds  three  inches. 

Pronay'a.  Named  after  M.  Pronay,  a  French 
naturalist.     Nat.  Ord.  PiitosporaceoR. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  climbers 
from  Swan  River.  P.  elegans,  the  best  known 
species,  is  a  showy  plant  with  terminal  clus- 
ters of  pale  lilac  flowers.  It  has  the  habit  of 
Sollya,  to  which  it  is  nearly  allied,  but  is  in- 
ferior in  beauty.  It  was  introduced  in  1837, 
and  is  propagated  by  cuttings.  Syn.  Spiran- 
thera  Fraseri. 

Prone.  Lying  flat,  particularly  face  down- 
wards. 

Propagation  by  Seeds.  The  most  natural  way 
of  increasing  plants  is  by  seeds ;  and  when- 
ever it  is  practicable  to  do  so,  it  is  preferable 
to  all  othei's,  so  that  in  our  own  practice,  any 
plant  of  which  we  can  procure  the  seed,  we 
rarely  increase  in  any  other  way,  unless,  of 
course,  in  cases  where  particular  varieties  are 
wanted  that  we  know  will  not  reproduce 
themselves  from  seed,  so  as  to  be  certain  of 
color  or  form ;  but  in  all  cases  where  seed 
taken  from  a  variety  or  species  will  reproduce 
itself  exactly,  or  in  cases  where  a  general 
variety  is  wanted,  the  propagation  by  seed  is 
invariably  practiced.  As  propagation  by 
seeds  refers  more  usually  to  ornamental 
plants  cultivated  under  glass,  we  will  briefly  re- 
late our  own  practice,  which  we  have  greatly 
improved  during  the  past  few  years,  and  in 
which  we  have  obtained  almost  unfailing  sat- 
isfactory results.  We  have  found  that  seeds 
sown  in  shallow  boxes,  from  one  and  a  half  to 


PRO 

two  inches  deep,  can  be  given  a  far  more  uni- 
form degree  of  moisture  than  when  sown  in 
earthern  flower-pots  or  earthen  seed-pans 
made  especially  for  that  purpose.  These  boxes 
are  made  from  the  ordinary  soap  box,  from 
four  to  five  being  made  from  each,  with  the 
bottom  boards  so  put  on  as  to  allow  free 
escape  of  moisture,  though,  of  course,  not  so 
wide  apart  as  to  allow  the  soil  to  wash 
through.  If  wanted  in  large  quantities  the 
boxes  in  which  sheet  tin  is  imported  is  ex- 
actly what  is  wanted.  These  boxes  are  filled 
with  finely  sifted  soil,  such  as  has  been  run 
through  a  sieve,  as  fine  as  mosquito  netting. 
This  surface  is  then  made  perfectly  level  and 
smooth,  and  the  seeds  sown  on  it  as  evenly 
as  possible,  and  in  thickness  corresponding 
to  the  variety  sowed,  though  it  must  be  here 
remembered  that  in  "union  there  is  strength," 
and  that,  if  sown  too  thin,  weak  seeds  may 
fail  to  press  up  the  soil  if  isolated  too  much. 
After  the  seeds  are  sown,  and  before  they  are 
covered,  they  are  pressed  down  by  a  snaooth 
board  into  the  soil,  so  that  the  surface  is 
again  smooth  and  level. 

The  seed  box  is  now  ready  for  its  covering. 
For  the  past  year  we  have  used  finely-sifted 
Moss  (Spaghuum)  exclusively  for  covering. 
To  prepare  this  it  is  rubbed  through  a  mos- 
quito wire  sieve  when  dry,  and  sifted  over  the 
seed  only  thick  enough  to  cover  it,  usually 
about  one-sixteenth  part  of  an  inch.  In  the 
absence  of  Moss,  dry  refuse  hops,  cocoanut 
fibre  or  leaves  will  answer,  prepared  in  the 
same  manner,  the  great  object  being  to  use  a 
material  light  in  weight,  having  non-conduct- 
ing properties,  and  that  will  thus  hold  the 
moisture  uniformly.  Of  all  these,  we  think 
Moss  the  best,  and  now  use  nothing  else  as  its 
sponge-like  character  keeps  just  the  right 
degree  of  moisture  wanted.  These  seed  boxes 
should  be  placed  in  the  open  sunlight,  in  the 
windows  of  the  dwelling  room,  in  the  hot-bed 
or  green-house,  and  never  shaded,  in  a  tem- 
perature running  from  55  degrees  to  65  de- 
grees at  night,  with  10  degrees  higher  during 
the  day ;  and  if  a  proper  degree  of  moisture 
is  applied,  say  a  slight  sprinkling  once  a 
week,  if  there  is  life  in  the  seed,  germination 
is  certain.  As  soon  as  the  seeds  are  grown 
so  as  to  attain  the  first  true  leaves  (that  is, 
the  first  leaves  that  show  after  the  seed- 
leavesj,  they  must  be  "  pricked  ( iff  "(which  see) 
carefully  in  soft,  light  soil,  similar  to  that 
used  for  the  seeds,  at  from  one  to  two  inches 
apart,  according  to  the  kind.  This  will  not 
only  prevent  them  from  damping  off,  as  many 
of  them  are  very  apt  to  do,  but  they  will  be 
much  stronger  and  suffer  less  when  put  into 
flower  pots  or  replanted  in  the  open  ground. 
We  prefer  to  replant  the  seedlings  in  the 
shallow  boxes  already  described.  And  here 
we  again  find  that  if  the  soil  is  mixed  with 
half  its  bulk  of  sifted  Sphagnum  we  get  a  far 
better  development  of  fibrous  roots.  They 
are  more  portable  thus  than  if  planted  again 
in  the  soil  of  the  hot-bed  or  bench  of  the 
green-house,  though,  of  course,  after  planting 
in  the  boxes  these  aie  put  again  in  the  hot- 
bed or  green-house.  After  the  seedlings  have 
been  planted  in  these  boxes,  lightly  water 
them  and  shade  for  two  or  three  days. 

To  such  as  have  not  the  convenience  of  a 
hot-bed  or  green-house,  vegetable  or  flower 
seeds  may  be  sown    in  the    shallow    boxes 


350 


HENDEESON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


PRO 

above  mentioned,  and  placed  in  the  window 
of  a  south  or  east  room,  where  the  thermom- 
eter does  not  average  less  than  sixty-five 
degrees.  Success  would  be  more  complete, 
however,  if  panes  of  glass  were  placed  over 
the  seeds,  resting  on  the  edge  of  the  box  an 
inch  or  so  from  the  soil.  This  would  prevent 
evaporation,  and  render  watering  less  neces- 
sary. 
Peopagation  of  Plants  by  Cuttings.  As  now 
understood,  this  is  a  simple  matter.  Formerly 
no  operation  in  horticulture  was  more  be- 
fogged by  ignorant  pretenders,  who,  in  writ- 
ing or  speaking  on  the  subject,  so  warped  the 
operation  with  troublesome  conditions  as  to 
discourage,  not  only  amateurs  in  horticulture, 
but  inexperienced  professional  gardeners  as 
well. 

One  of  the  first  necessary  conditions  in  the 
propagation  of  plants  by  cuttings  is,  that  the 
plant  from  which  the  cutting  or  slip  is  taken 
must  be  in  vigorous  health.  If  weak  or  tainted 
by  disease,  failure  is  almost  certain  to  result. 
If,  for  example,  we  wish  to  root  cuttings  of 
green-house  or  bedding  plants,  such  as  Bou- 
vardias.   Chrysanthemums,  Fuchsias,  Geran- 
iums, Heliotropes,    Salvias,   Verbenas,    etc., 
one  of  the  best  guides  to  the  proper  condition 
is  when  the  cutting  breaks  or  snaps  clean  off 
instead  of  bending  or  kneeing ;  if  it  snaps  off 
so  as  to  break,  then  it  is  in  the  condition  to 
root  freely ;  if  it  bends  it  is  too  old  and  though 
it  will  root,  it  will  root  much  slower,  and  make 
a  weaker  plant  than  the  slip  that  snaps  oft"  on 
being  bent.      With  exceptions  so   few,   and 
those  of  so  little  importance  that  it  is  hardly 
worth  while  to  allude  to  them,  cuttings  of  all 
kinds  root  freely  from  slips  taken  Irom  the 
young  wood,   tliat  is,  the   succulent  growth, 
before  it  gets  hardened,  and  when  in  the  con- 
dition indicated  by  the  "  snapping  test,"  as  it 
is  called.     We  believe  we  were  the  first  to  call 
attention  to  this  valuable  test  of  the  condition 
of  the  cutting  (snapping)  in  our  work,  "Prac- 
tical Floriculture,"  first  published  in  1868.     A 
very  general  idea  is  current,  that  cuttings 
must  be  cut  at  or  below  an  eye  or  joint.    The 
practice  of  this  system  leads  undoubtedly  to 
many  cases  of  failure  ;  not  that  the  cutting  at 
or  below  a  joint  either  hinders  or  assists  the 
formation  of  roots,  but  from  the  fact  that, 
when  a  slip  is  cut  at  a  joint,  the  shoot  often 
has  become  too  hard  at  that  point,  while  half 
an   inch    higher  up  or  above  the  joint,   the 
proper  condition  will  be    found.     We  know 
that  it  will  root  even  when  in  the  too  hard 
condition,  but  the  roots  emitted  will  be  hard 
and  slender,  and,  as  a  consequence,  will   not 
be  likely  to  make  a  plant  of  the  same  vigor  as 
that  made  from  the  cutting  in   the   proper 
state ;  besides,    as    the   hard    cutting   takes 
double  the  time  to  root,  its  chances  of  damp- 
ing off  from   unfavorable  atmospheric   con- 
ditions are  thus  increased.     With  these  in- 
structions for  the  proper  state  of  the  cutting, 
we  now  proceed    to  describe    the    medium 
wherein  it  is  to  be  placed,  and  the  conditions 
of  temperature,  moisture,  etc.     If  tiiese  are 
strictly  followed,  failure  is   an  impossibilty; 
for  the  laws  governing  the  rooting  of  a  slip 
are  as  certain  as  those  governing  the  germi- 
nation of  a  seed.      In  our  own  practice,  when 
these  conditions  are  strictly  followed,  failure 
is  unknown. 
The  most  proper  condition  of  temperature 


PRO 

to  root  cuttings  of  the  great  majority  of  green- 
house and  bedding  plants  is  sixty-five  degrees 
of  bottom  heat,  indicated  by  a  thermometer 
plunged  in  the  sand  of  the  bench,  and  an 
atmospheric  temperature  of  fifteen  degrees 
less.  A  range  of  ten  degrees  may  be  allowed, 
that  is,  five  degrees  lower  or  five  degrees 
higher,  but  the  nearer  the  heat  of  the  sand 
can  be  kept  to  sixty-five  degrees,  and  that  of 
the  rest  of  the  house  to  fifty  degrees,  the 
more  perfect  the  success  will  be. 

Sand  is  the  best  medium  in  which  to  place 
cuttings ;  color  or  texture  is  of  no  special 
importance.  What  we  use  is  the  ordinary  sand 
used  by  builders  ;  this  is  laid  on  the  hot-bed 
or  bench  of  the  green-house  to  the  depth  of 
about  three  inches  and  firmly  packed  down. 
When  "  bottom  heat"  is  wanted,  the  flue  or 
pipes  under  the  bench  of  the  green-house  are 
boarded  in  so  that  the  heat  strikes  the  bottom 
of  the  bench,  thus  raising  the  temperature  in 
the  sand. 

From  the  time  the  cuttings   are  inserted  in 
the  sand   until   they  are  rooted,  they  should 
never  be  allowed  to  get  dry  ;  in  fact,  our  prac- 
tice is  to  keep  the  sand  soaked  with  water,  the 
cutting  bench  being  watered  copiously  every 
morning,  and  often,  when  the  atmosphere  is 
dry,  again  in  the  evening.     Kept  thus   satur- 
ated, there  is  less  chance  of  the  cutting  getting 
wilted,  either  by  heat  from  the  sun  or  f  i-om  fire 
heat;   for  if  a  cutting  once  gets  wilted,   its 
juices  are  expended,  and  it  becomes  in  the 
condition  of  a  hard  cutting,  in  the  condition  in 
which,  when  bent,  it  will  not  snap  nor  break, 
which  has  already  been  described.     To  avoid 
this  wilting  or  flagging  of  the  cutting,  every 
means  that  will  suggest  itself  to  the  propa- 
gator is  to  be  used.      Our  practice  is  to  shade 
and  ventilate  in  the  propagating  house  or  hot- 
bed just  as  soon  in  the  forenoon  as  the  action 
of  the  sun's  rays  on  the  glass  raises  the  tem- 
perature of  the  house  to  sixty-five  degrees  or 
seventy  degrees.    This  practice  of  ventilating 
the  propagating  house  or  hot-bed  is,  we  are 
aware,   not  in  very  common   use  ;  many  con- 
tending that  the  place  where  the  propagating 
is  done  should  at  all  times  be  kept  close.    We 
have  tried  both  methods  long  enough  and 
extensively  enough   to   satisfy  us  beyond   all 
question,  that    ventilating  and    propagating 
at  a  low  temperature  is  capable  of  producing 
a  larger  number  of  plants  during  the  season 
than   at  a   high   temperature   and  in  a  close 
atmosphere.     There  need  be  no  failures ;  and 
it  has  the  important  advantage  of  producing 
a  healthy  stock,  which  the  close  or  high  tem- 
perature system  would  fail  to  do  in  the  case 
of  many  plants.     We  have  often  heard  propa- 
gators  boasting  of  rooting  cuttings   in  five 
days.     We  are  well   aware  that  this   may  be 
done,  but  we  are  also  aware  that  it  is  often 
done  in  damp  and  cloudy  weather  at  the  risk 
of  the  wliole  crop,  and  it  must  be  done   at  a 
high  temperature,  which   at  all  times  causes 
the  plants  to  draw  up  slender,  and  thus  impairs 
their  vigor. 

Permitting  a  moderate  circulation  of  air  in 
the  propagating  house  tends  to  prevent  the 
germination  of  that  spider-web-like  substance 
which,  for  want  of  a  better  term,  is  known 
among  gardeners  as  the  "  fungus  of  the  cut- 
ting bench."  Everyone  who  has  had  any  ex- 
perience in  propagating,  knows  the  baneful 
effects  of  this ;  how  that,  in  one  night,  it  will 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


351 


PRO 

often  sweep  off  thousands  of  cuttings  that  a 
few  hours  before  were  in  healthful  vigor.  But 
this  dangerous  enemy  of  the  propagator  re- 
quires, like  vegetation  of  higher  grades,  con- 
ditions suitable  to  its  development,  which 
evidently  are  a  calm  atmosphere  and  a  tem- 
perature above  fifty-five  or  sixty  degrees. 
Hence,  to  avoid  this  pest,  we  make  every 
effort  by  shading,  airing,  and  regulation  of 
tire  heat,  to  keep  the  atmosphere  of  the  house 
so  that  it  shall  not  exceed  sixty  degrees. 
This,  of  course,  is  not  practicable  when  the 
outside  temperature  in  the  shade  is  above 
sixty  degrees;  but  the  temperature  can  be 
reduced  considerably  by  dashing  water  on  the 
pathways  and  other  parts  of  the  house.  It  is 
rarely,  however,  that  the  outside  temperature 
ever  exceeds  sixty  degrees  in  the  shade  for 
any  length  of  time  in  the  district  of  New 
York,  before  the  middle  of  May,  and  all  propa- 
gating had  better  be  finished  previous  to 
that  time,  unless  of  tropical  plants.  In  the 
fall  months,  about  the  middle  of  September, 
operations  in  propagating  may  again  begin. 

The  temperature  is  prevented  from  rising 
in  the  house  in  various  ways,  some  using 
canvas,  or  bast-mats,  or  painting  the  glass 
with  lime  or  whitewash.  We  find  the  best 
and  most  convenient  shading  to  be  that 
formed  by  flexible  screens  made  of  common 
lath,  planed  and  attached  together  like 
Venetian  blinds,  the  laths  being  an  inch  or  so 
apart ;  these  can  be  quickly  rolled  or  unrolled, 
and  give  an  ever-varying  modified  shade,  suffi- 
ciently cooling  to  the  house,  yet  not  darken- 
ing the  cutting  enough  to  impair  its  vigor. 
These  are  not  unrolled  in  the  morning  until 
the  temperature  inside  indicates  it  to  be  nec- 
essary, and  are  rolled  up  in  the  afternoon  as 
scon  as  the  sun  ceases  to  shine  on  the  glass, 
for  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  the 
cuttings  receive  as  much  light  as  they  will 
bear  without  becoming  wilted.  The  time 
required  by  cuttings  to  root  varies  from  eight 
to  twenty  days,  according  to  the  variety,  con- 
dition of  the  cutting,  and  temperature.  Ver- 
benas, Fuchsias,  or  Heliotropes,  put  in  proper 
condition,  and  kept  without  ever  being  allowed 
to  wiltj  will  root,  in  an  average  bottom  heat 
of  sixty-five  degrees,  in  eight  days,  while 
Roses,  Pelargoniums,  or  Petunias  will  take  at 
least  double  that  time  under  the  same  condi- 
tions. 

It  is  best  to  pot-off  the  cuttings  at  once 
when  rooted,  no  mattor  how  small  the  roots 
may  be ;  half  an  inch  is  a  much  better  length 
for  them  to  be  when  potted  than  two  inches, 
and  the  operation  is  much  quicker  performed 
when  the  roots  are  short  than  when  long.  But 
the  main  evils  of  delaying  the  potting-off  of 
cuttings  are,  that  when  left  too  long  the  cut- 
tings grow  up  weak  and  spindling,  the  roots 
become  hard,  and  do  not  take  as  quickly  to 
the  pot.  The  same  care  is  required  in  shad- 
ing and  watering  after  potting,  nearly,  as  in 
the  cutting!  bench  ;  for  no  matter  how  care- 
fully taken  up,  in  the  operation  of  potting  the 
delicate  roots  get  less  or  more  injured  and 
until  they  begin  to  emit  roots  are  as  nearly 
liabletowiltas  the  unrooted  cuttings.  Cuttings 
should  always  be  placed  in  small  pots,  the 
best  size  being  from  two  to  two  and  a  half 
inches  wide  and  deep ;  if  placed  in  larger  pots 
the  soil  dries  out  too  slowly,  and  the  tender 
root,  imbedded  too  long  in  a  mass  of  wet  soil. 


PRO 

rots  and  the  plant  dies.  Though  we  gener- 
ally prefer  soil  to  be  unsifted  in  potting  large 
plants,  yet  for  newly  potted  cuttings  it  is 
better  to  be  sifted  fine,  not  only  that  it  is 
more  congenial  thus  to  the  young  roots,  but 
also  that  the  operation  is  quicker  done  with 
finely-sifted  soil.  After  potting,  the  cuttings 
are  placed  on  benches  covered  with  an  inch  or 
so  of  sand,  watered  freely  with  a  fine  rose 
watering  pot,  and  shaded  for  four  or  five 
daj's ;  by  that  time  they  will  have  begun  to 
root,  when  no  further  shading  is  necessary. 
These  methods  of  propagating  by  cuttings  are 
such  as  are  now  practiced  by  commercial 
fiorists,  but  for  amateurs  in  horticulture,  or 
gardeners  who  have  charge  of  private  green- 
houses, there  is  usually  no  necessity  for  a 
regular  propagating  house,  unless  the  require- 
ments for  plants  are  unusually  large,  as  the 

"  Satjceb  System  "  of  Propagation  avIU 
answer  evexy  purpose,  and  it  is  the  safest  of 
all  methods  in  inexperienced  hands.  We 
were,  we  believe,  the  first  to  introduce  this 
system  some  twenty  years  ago,  and  here 
repeat  the  directions  first  given  in  one  of  the 
horticultural  journals  at  that  time.  "Com- 
mon saucers  or  plates  are  used  to  hold  the 
sand  in  which  the  cuttings  are  placed.  This 
sand  is  put  in  to  the  depth  of  an  inch  or  so, 
and  the  cuttings  inserted  in  it  close  enough 
to  touch  each  other.  The  sand  is  then 
watex'ed  until  it  becomes  in  the  condition  of 
mud,  and  placed  on  the  shelf  of  the  green- 
house, or  on  the  window  sill  of  the  sitting- 
room  or  parlor,  fully  exposed  to  the  sun,  and 
never  shaded.  But  one  condition  is  essential 
to  success ;  until  the  cuttings  become  rooted 
the  sand  must  be  kept  continually  saturated,  and 
kept  in  the  condition  of  mud;  if  once  allowed  to 
dry  up,  exposed  to  the  sun  as  they  are,  the 
cuttings  will  quickly  wilt,  and  the  whole 
operation  will  be  defeated.  The  rules  previ- 
ously laid  down*  for  the  proper  condition  of 
the  cuttings  are  the  same  in  this  case,  and 
those  for  the  temperature  nearly  so ;  although, 
by  the  saucer  system,  a  higher  temperature 
can  be  maintained  without  injury,  as  the  cut- 
tings are  in  reality  placed  in  water,  and  will 
not  droop  at  the  same  temperature  as  if  the 
sand  was  kept  in  the  regular  condition  of 
moisture  maintained  in  the  propagating  bench. 
Still,  the  detached  slip,  until  rooted,  will  not 
endure  a  continuation  of  excessive  heat,  so 
that  we  advise,  as  we  do  in  the  regular  method 
of  propagating,  that  the  attempt  should  not  be 
made  to  root  cuttings  in  this  way,  in  this 
latitude,  in  the  months  of  June,  July,  or 
August,  unless  with  plants  of  a  tropical 
nature.  When  the  cuttings  are  rooted,  they 
should  be  potted  in  small  pots,  and  treated 
carefully  by  shading  and  watering  for  a  few 
days,  as  previously  directed. 

Pbopagation  by  Water.  This  is  an  old 
way  of  rooting  cuttings  and  is  a  very  simple 
and  satisfactory  way  for  amateurs  to  root 
many  plants  they  may  find  difficult  by  any 
other  process.  The  cuttings  should  be  of 
well  matured  growth  and  about  six  joints  or 
ej'es  long,  two  or  three  of  which  should  be 
kept  in  the  water  which  should  be  kept  fresh 
and  clean.  The  cuttings  should  show  signs 
of  callusing  in  from  two  to  three  weeks  and 
should  be  well  rooted  in  two  or  three  weeks 
more,  when  they  should  be  removed  and  pot- 
ted off  as  ordinary  cuttings,  care  being  taken. 


352 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


PRO 

however,  to  water  and  shade  them  well  for  a 
few  days.  The  following  plants  will  produce 
roots  freely  by  this  system  :  Ficus  elastica, 
Neriums.  Camellias, Cro tons,  Dracaenas,  Nepen- 
thes, and  many  others. 

Propagation  by  Layering.  Although  lay- 
ering may  be  done  with  the  ripened  wood  of 
vines  or  shrubs  of  the  growth  of  the  previous 
season,  yet  it  is  preferable  to  use  the  shoots 
of  the  present  year  in  its  half  green  state  ;  for 
example,  a  Rose  or  flowering  shrub  is  pruned 
in  the  usual  way  in  spring ;  by  June  or  July  it 
will  have  made  strong  shoots,  one,  two  or 
three  feet  in  length  from  or  near  the  base  of 
the  plant.  Take  the  shoot  then  in  the  left 
hand  (after  having  stripped  it  of  its  leaves 
for  a  few  inches  on  each  side  of  where  it  is  to 
be  cut),  keep  the  fingers  under  the  shoot,  and 
make  a  clean  cut  on  the  tipper  part,  an  inch  or 
so  in  length,  and  to  about  half  the  thickness 
ofthe  shoot,  then  slightly  twist  the  "  tongue" 
or  cut  part  to  one  side.  Having  opened  a  shallow 
trench,  fasten  tlie  branch  down  with  a  hook- 
peg,  and  cover  with  earth.  It  is  a  good  plan  to 
place  a  flat  stone  over  the  layer  to  prevent  the 
soil  from  drying  out.  This  plan  of  cutting  the 
shoot  on  the  upper  side  we  have  never  seen  in 
illustration  showing  the  manner  of  layering, 
it  being  usually  either  on  the  side  or  under; 
but  we  have  found  in  practice  that  it  is  much 
the  safest  plan,  as  the  "  tongue,"  when  cut 
on  the  top  part  of  the  shoot,  has  far  less 
chance  to  be  broken  off. 

Propagation  by  Layering  in  Pots  is  the 
process  of  layering  shoots  or  runners  of 
plants  in  pots,  so  that,  when  the  root  forms 
in  the  pot,  the  plant  can  be  detached  without 
injury  to  it,  as  the  roots  are  confined  exclus- 
ively to  the  soil  in  the  pot.  Layering  plants 
in  pots  can  be  done  with  Roses,  vines  or 
shrubs  of  any  kind,  with  always  more  certainty 
of  making  a  plant  quicker  than  by  the  ordin- 
ary way  of  layering  the  shoot  in  the  soil.  This 
system  of  propagating  Strawberries  has  been 
largely  practiced  during  the  past  ten  years  in 
the  United  States,  and  is  now  a  favorite 
method.     For  details,  see  Strawberry. 

Propagation  by  Layering  in  the  Air. 
About  twenty  years  ago  we  published  a 
method  of  propagating  Geraniums,  that  we 
believed  originated  with  us,  and  which  we 
called,  for  want  of  a  better  term,  "Layering 
in  the  Air."  It  consists  in  tonguing  the  shoots 
to  be  used  as  a  cutting  half  through  with  a 
knife,  as  in  the  ordinary  layering :  the  shoots 
so  treated  formed  granulations,  or  '-callus," 
on  the  cut  surface,  and  was  in  a  condition  to 
form  I'oots  immediately  on  being  detached 
and  put  into  the  earth.  A  year  or  two  ago  we 
bethought  ourselves  of  our  long  forgotten  plan 
of  "  layering  in  the  air,"  but  this  time  we  im- 
proved upon  the  former  way  of  doing  it. 
Instead  of  tonguing  the  shoot  to  be  used  for 
a  cutting,  as  before,  it  was  merely  snapped 
short  off  at  a  point  where  the  condition  ofthe 
shoot  or  slip  would  make  it  hang  on  to  the 
plant  by  the  merest  shred  or  bark.  Slight  as 
this  strip  of  bark  is,  it  is  sufficient  to  sustain 
the  cutting,  without  any  material  injury 
from  wilting  until  it  forms  the  "  callus," 
or  granulated  condition,  which  precedes 
the  formation  of  roots.  The  cutting,  or 
slip  may  be  detached  in  from  ten  to  twelve 
days  after  it  had  been  broken  in  the  manner 
described,  and  then  potted  in  two  or  three 


PRO 

inch  pots.  If  watered  and  shaded  rather  less 
than  required  by  ordinary  cuttings,  it  will 
form  roots  in  ten  or  twelve  days  more,  and 
not  more  than  two  per  cent,  will  fail.  Plants 
of  the  Tricolor  Geraniums,  which  all  know  are 
difficult  to  root  under  the  ordinary  modes  of 
propagation,  particularly  in  hot  weather,  do 
excellently  by  this  plan. 

The  advantage  of  this  method  is  not  only  that 
the  slips  root  with  far  greater  facility,  but  the 
injury  to  the  stock  or  mother  plants  is  far  less 
than  if  the  slips  had  been  cut  clean  off  instead 
of  being  only  partly  detached.  Many  other 
plants  can  be  thus  propagated  with  safety, 
notably  Begonias,  Petunias,  Poinsettias,  and 
such  plants,  the  cuttings  of  which  have  a 
tendency  to  damp  in  hot  weather. 

Propagation  by  Leaves.  Many  plants  are 
increased  rapidly  by  this  system  ;  young  plants 
appearing  on  themid  ribs,  and  along  the  edges. 
The  leaves  which  are  intended  for  this  purpose 
should  be  fully  grown,  and  what  florists  term, 
well  hardened  ;  place  the  leaf  on  clean  sand  and 
peg  it  down,  placing  a  little  sand  on  the 
top  of  the  leaf;  numerous  young  plants  will 
spring  up  in  the  course  of  three  to  four  weeks, 
when  they  can  be  taken  off  separately  and 
potted.  Another  mode  of  increasing  plants  by 
leaves  is  to  cut  the  leaf  in  triangular  pieces 
with  a  rib  or  two  of  the  leaf  included,  and 
place  in  sand  as  you  would  a  cutting.  The 
following  plants  are  easily  propagated  in  this 
manner :  Gloxinias,  Sedums,  Cactus,  Hoyas, 
Begonias,  and  many  others,  which  have  simi- 
lar leaves  to  the  above. 

Propagation  by  Root  Cuttings.  A  num- 
ber of  plants  can  be  more  easily  and  quickly 
increased  in  this  manner  than  by  cuttings 
or  even  seeds.  The  stronger  rocjts  are  cut 
into  pieces,  from  half  an  inch  to  an  inch  long, 
and  are  generally  sown  in  boxes  or  pots  and 
covered  slightly  with  soil.  They  form  young 
plants  in  a  very  short  time,  and  are  potted-off 
in  the  usual  manner.  Bouvardias,  Phyllanthus, 
Clerodendrons,  Aralias,  etc.,  are  often  propa- 
gated in  this  way.  Many  hardy  shrubs  and 
trees  such  as  Pyrus  Japonica,  Ailantus.  Pau- 
lownia,  as  well  as  a  number  of  hardy  herba- 
ceous plants,  as  Helianthus  multiflorus,  Eu- 
phorbia corollata,  etc.,  are  increased  in  this 
manner,  mention  of  which  is  generally  made 
under  their  respective  names. 

Propendent.  Hanging  forward,  and  downward. 

Prophet  Flower.     Arnebia  echioidea. 

Prosa'rtes.  From  prosartao,  to  hang  from  ;  in 
allusion  to  the  pendent  ovules  or  flowers. 
Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  native  plants,  with 
yellow,  drooping  flowers,  common  in  moist, 
rich  woods,  from  New  York,  west  and  south. 

Proserpina'ca.  Mermaid  "Weed.  From  proserpo, 
to  creep ;  alluding  to  the  creeping  habit  of  the 
species.     Nat.  Old.  HaloragaceoR. 

A  genus  of  two  species  of  hardy  aquatic 
plants,  natives  of  North  America,  and  the  West 
Indies.  They  are  sometimes  cultivated  in 
ponds  and  are  useful  plants  for  the  aquarium. 

Proso'pis.  From  prosopis,  a  mask ;  but  why 
applied  is  unknown.  Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 
A  genus  of  trees  or  shrubs  often  armed 
with  hooked  prickles,  widely  _  dispersed 
through  tropical  and  sub-tropical  regions.  P. 
siliquastrum,  introduced  from  Chili  in  1829,  is 
the  species  most  generally  found  in  cultiva- 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


353 


PRO 

tion.  It  is  hardy  in  the  Southern  States,  and 
is  propagated  by  cuttings  of  tlie  half-ripened 
wood.  P.  pubescens,  the  Screw  Bean  or  Tor- 
nillo,  and  P.  juliflora,  the  Mesquit,  Algaroba, 
or  Honey-pod  of  the  South,  are  both  found  in 
Texas,  west  through  NewMexico,  and  Arizona, 
to  tlif-  western  foot-hills  of  the  San  Bernar- 
dino Mountains,  California.  The  wood  of  the 
latter  is  very  heavy,  hard,  and  close-grained, 
and  being  almost  indestructible  in  contact 
with  the  soil,  is  notwithstanding  its  crooked 
timber,  much  used  for  railroad  ties,  and  ex- 
clusively for  the  beams  and  under-pinnings  of 
the  adobe  houses  of  New  Mexico,  etc.,  and 
for  posts,  fencing,  etc.  A  gum  resembling 
gum  arable  is  yielded  by  this  species,  the 
unripe  and  pulpy  pods,  rich  in  grape  sugar, 
are  edible,  furnishing  valuable  and  important 
fodder. 

Prostanthe'ra.  Australian  Mint-bush,  or  Mint- 
tree.  From  prostheke,  appendage,  and  anthera, 
anther;  connections  of  the  anthers  are 
spurred.     Nat,  Ord.  Labiatce. 

Green-house,  evergreen  shrubs  from  New 
Holland,  remarkable  for  the  strong  odor  they 
emit.  Their  flowers  are  produced  in  terminal 
racemes,  but  are  not  of  very  great  beauty. 
P.  rotundifoUa  has  long  been  under  culti- 
vation, quite  as  much  for  rarity  as  for  beauty. 
Propagated  by  seeds  or  from  cuttings. 

Pro'tea.  From  Proteus,  the  versatile  sea-god ; 
inallusionto  the  diversity  of  the  species.  Nat. 
Ord.  Proteacew. 

A  large  genus  of  shrubs  or  trees  almost 
all  natives  of  South  Africa.  They  are  still 
met  with  in  large  collections,  and  are  valued 
for  the  diversity  of  their  foliage,  and  the 
peculiarity  of  their  bottle-brush-like  flowers. 

Protea'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  shrubs  or 
small  trees,  natives  principally  of  Australia, 
and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  They  present 
great  diversity  of  appearance,  and  are  culti- 
vated for  their  handsome  habit  and  the  pecu- 
liarity of  their  flowers.  The  wood  of  some  of 
the  Australian  species  is  valuable  for  cabinet- 
making.  The  order  comprises  forty-nine 
genera,  and  about  nine  hundred  and  fifty 
species;  well  known  examples  are  Protea, 
Hakea,  Grevillea,  and  Banksia. 

ProthaUus.  A  term  intended  to  indicate  the 
first  results  of  the  germination  of  the  spores 
in  the  higher  Cryptogams. 

Protoplasm.  The  matter  which  is  deposited 
over  the  inside  walls  of  a  cell,  subsequent  to 
the  formation  of  the  cell  itself. 

Prou'stia.  Named  after  Proust,  a  Spanish 
chemist.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  small  genus  of  erect,  or  twining,  warm- 
green-house  plants,  natives  of  South  America 
and  Mexico.  P.  pyrifolia,  a  very  desirable 
green-house  climber,  has  white  flower-heads 
with  round,  cordate  or  oval  leaves,  densely 
tomentose  beneath.  It  was  introduced  from 
Chili  in  1865,  and  is  increased  by  cuttings  of 
the  half-ripened  wood. 

Pniinose.  Covered  Avith  glittering  particles, 
as  if  frosted  over. 

Prune'lla,  Self-heal.  Altered  from  Brunella; 
derived  from  tha  German  braune,  a  disease  of 
the  throat,  for  which  this  plant  was  a  reputed 
remedy.     Nat.  Ord.  LabiatcR. 

A  small  genus  of  low-growing  plants,  com- 
mon everywhere.  P.  v\dgari8  which  has  become 


PRU 

naturalized  from  Europe,  and  is  common  on 
roadsides,  grows  about  six  inches  high,  and 
has  pale-purple  flowers.  P.  grandiflora  is  a 
handsome  and  vigorous  plant,  readily  distin- 
guished by  its  large  flowers.  There  is  a  white 
as  well  as  a  purple  variety,  both  handsome 
plants  that  thrive  in  almost  any  ground,  but 
prefer  a  shaded  position.  P.  Pyrenaica  is  a 
still  larger  species,  with  beautiful  violet-pur- 
ple flowers. 

Prunes.    The  dried  fruit  of  certain  varieties  of 
the  Plum. 

Pruning.  In  pruning  we  remove  some  part 
of  a  tree,  shrub,  or  other  plant,  either  stem, 
branches,  or  roots,  with  a  view  to  repress 
growth  in  one  direction,  and  direct  the 
.  course  of  the  sap  for  the  benefit  of  that  which 
remains.  It  is  often  quite  as  necessary  to 
prune  trees  and  shrubs  cultivated  for  their 
flowers  and  foliage  as  those  grown  solely  for 
their  fruit,  and  whether  it  is  performed  upon 
a  branch  six  inches  through,  or  upon  a  shoot 
so  tender  as  to  be  cut  by  the  thumb  nail,  the 
object  is  essentially  the  same.  The  opera- 
tion, though  very  simple,  is  one  which  the 
amateur  often  fears  to  undertake  ;  and  having 
no  confidence  in  his  own  ability,  he  often 
emploj'S  some  jobbing  gardener,  who  has  no 
fears  on  this  or  any  other  gardening  matter. 
Pruning  is  done  for  various  ends,  and  unless 
one  has  a  definite  reason  for  doing  it,  he  had 
better  leave  it  undone.  Many  have  an  idea 
that  pruning  must,  for  some  reason,  be  done 
every  year,  just  as  it  used  to  be  thought 
necessary  for  people  to  be  bled  every  spring, 
whether  well  or  ill.  "We  prune  to  control  the 
shape  of  a  tree  or  shrub,  and  by  directing  the 
growth  from  one  part  to  another,  obtain  a 
symmetrical  form,  especially  in  fruit  trees, 
where  it  is  desirable  that  the  weight  of  fruit 
be  equally  distributed.  In  some  trees,  where 
the  fruit  is  borne  only  on  the  wood  of  the 
previous  season,  the  bearing  portions  are 
each  year  removed  further  and  further  from 
the  body  of  the  tree.  In  such  cases  a  shorten- 
ing of  the  growth  each  year  will  cause  the 
formation  of  a  compact  head  instead  of  the 
loose  straggling  limbs  that  result  when  this 
is  omitted.  .We  prune  to  renew  the  vigor  of 
a  plant.  The  inexperienced  cannot  under- 
stand how  cutting  away  a  third,  a  half,  or 
even  more  of  a  plant  can  improve  it  in  vigor 
and  fruitfulness,  or  abundance  and  size  of 
flowers.  Let  us  suppose  that  astern  which 
grew  last  year  has  twenty  buds  upon  it.  If 
this  is  allowed  to  take  its  own  course  in  the 
spring,  a  few  of  the  upper  buds  will  push 
with  great  vigor,  and  form  strong  shoots; 
while  those  below  will  make  gradually  weaker 
shoots,  and  for  probably  the  lower  third  of 
the  stem  the  buds  will  not  start  at  all.  In 
fruit  trees,  as  a  rule,  the  most  vigorous  growth 
is  at  the  top.  The  buds  there,  were  the  last 
formed  in  the  previous  summer,  are  the  most 
excitable,  and  the  soonest  to  grow  the  next 
spring,  and  getting  the  start  of  those  below 
them,  they  draw  the  nourishment  to  them- 
selves and  starve  the  others.  If,  instead  of 
allowing  this  stem  to  grow  at  will  in  this 
manner,  it  had  been,  before  any  of  the  buds 
had  started,  cutback  so  as  to  leave  only  a  few 
of  the  lower  ones,  those  having  an  abundance 
of  nutriment  would  push  forth  with  great 
vigor  and  be  nearly  equal  in  size,  while  the 


354 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PRU 

flowero  or  fruit  borne  upon  them  would  be 
greatly  superior  to  those  upon  the  unpruned 
stem.  Any  one  can  readily  be  convinced  of 
the  utility  of  pruning  by  taking  two  rose 
bushes  of  equal  size,  leaving  one  without  any 
pruning  to  take  care  of  itself,  and  each  spring 
cutting  the  other  back  severely,  pruning 
away  one-third  or  one-half  of  the  wood  that 
was  formed  the  previous  season.  The  result 
at  the  end  of  two  years  will  be  very  striking. 
No  general  rule  can  be  given  for  pruning. 
The  amateur  should  use  his  eyes,  and  notice 
the  habit  of  growth  of  his  trees  and  shrubs. 
He  will  find  that  many,  like  the  Rose,  produce 
their  flowers  upon  the  new  wood  of  the  pres- 
ent season,  and  that  such  plants  are  greatly 
benefited  by  cutting  back  more  or  less  each 
spring.  But  there  are  other  plants  for  which 
this  treatment  will  not  answer.  If  we  examine 
a  Horse-chestnut  tree,  or  a  Lilac  bush,  and 
many  other,  we  shall  find  that  the  flowers 
come  from  the  large  buds  that  are  formed  on 
the  end  of  last  season's  growth,  and  to  cut 
back  such  plants  would  be  to  remove  all  the 
flower  buds.  With  shrubs  of  this  kind,  all 
that  need  be  done  is  to  thin  out  the  branches 
where  they  are  too  crowded.  These  examples 
will  warn  the  novice  against  indiscriminate 
pruning ;  and  unless,  as  he  stands  before  his 
shrub  or  tree,  knife  in  hand,  he  knows  why 
he  is  to  prune,  and  how,  let  him  put  his  knife 
in  his  pocket,  and  give  the  plant  the  benefit 
of  the  doubt.  "While,  under  the  different  fruits, 
we  can  give  directions  foi  the  particular 
pruning  required  by  each,  the  proper  method 
of  treating  a  miscellaneous  collection  of  orna- 
mental shrubs  and  trees  can  only  be  learned 
by  observation. 

The  term  pruning  is  generally  applied  to  the 
cutting  awaj',  in  whole  or  in  part,  of  the 
ripened  wood ;  but  much  pruning  may  be 
done  by  the  use  of  the  thumb  and  finger. 
This  is  termed  pinching,  and  is  practiced  upon 
young  shoots  at  the  growing  season,  while 
they  are  yet  soft.  This  most  useful  form  of 
pruning  allows  us  to  control  the  form  of  a 
plant  with  the  greatest  ease,  and  is  applied 
not  only  to  soft-wooded  plants,  but  to  trees 
and  shrubs,  and  may  be  so  performed  on  these 
as  to  render  nearly,  if  not  quite,  all  pruning 
of  ripened  wood  unnecessa^J^  When  soft- 
wooded  plants,  such  as  Chrysanthemxims, 
Geraniums,  or  Coleus,  are  planted  out  or 
'  grown  in  pots,  and  left  to  themselves,  most 
kinds  will  grow  tall  and  straggling;  but  if 
judiciously  "pinched  back,"  as  it  is  called 
(that  is,  the  top  of  the  strongest  shoots 
pinched  out),  the  plants  can  be  shaped  into  a 
bushy,  rounded  form  at  will.  If  a  vigorous 
shoot  has  its  end  or  "  growing  point  "  pinched 
out  it  will  cease  to  elongate,  but  will  throw 
out  branches  below,  the  growth  of  which  may 
be  controlled  in  the  same  manner.  The 
Blackberry  illustrates  the  utility  of  this  kind 
of  pruning.  The  rampant  growing  shoot 
Avhich  springs  up  from  tlie  root  will,  if  left  to 
itself,  make  a  long  cane  six  or  eight  feet  high, 
and  with  a  very  few  branches  near  the  top. 
If,  when  this  shoot  has  reached  four,  or  at 
most  five  feet,  its  end  be  pinched  off,  it  will 
then  throw  out  numerous  branches ;  and  if  the 
upper  branch»>s,  when  they  reach  the  length 
of  eighteen  inches,  be  "stopped"  (as  it  is 
called),  in  a  similar  manner,  by  pinching,  the 
growth  will  be  directed  to  the  lower  ones,  and 


PRU 

by  the  end  of  the  season,  instead  of  a  long 
unmanageable  wand,  there  will  be  a  well- 
branched  bush,  which  will  bear  its  fruit  all 
within  reach.  The  grower  of  plants  in  pots 
is  usually  afraid  to  remove  even  a  single  inch 
of  the  stem,  and  the  result  is  usually  a  lot  of 
"leggy"  specimens  not  worth  the  care  that 
is  otherwise  bestowed  upon  them.  Plants 
may  be  prevented  from  ever  reaching  this 
condition,  if  their  growth  be  properly  con- 
trolled by  pinching;  but  if  they  have  once 
reached  it,  they  should  be  cut  back  severely, 
and  a  compact,  bushj^  form  obtained  from 
the  new  shoots  which  will  soon  start.  I 
may  state  here,  however,  that  if  it  becomes 
necessai-y  to  cut  back  a  plant  in  full  leaf,  care 
must  be  taken  to  withhold  water  until  it  again 
throws  out  shoots  below,  for  the  reason  that, 
being  robbed  of  the  foliage  and  shoots  that 
elaborated  the  top,  an  excess  of  moisture  given 
to  the  roots,  which  have  now  no  work  to  do, 
will  gorge  and  destroy  them. 

When  judiciously  pruned,  a  shrub  or  tree 
can  be  kept  at  almost  any  size,  or  changed  to 
almost  any  form;  and,  besides  this,  a  tree  or 
shrub  can  be  made  much  more  productive  of 
fruit  or  flowers.  On  the  other  hand,  improper 
pruning  will  not  only  weaken  the  vigor  of  a 
plant,  but  may  destroy  all  its  beauty  of  out- 
line, and  at  the  same  time  hinder  the  produc- 
tion of  flowers  and  fruit. 

If  we  prune  for  the  purpose  of  increasing 
the  flowers  of  a  shrub  or  tree,  we  must  prune 
different  species  and  varieties  at  different 
seasons  of  the  year;  but  surplus  wood  and 
suckers  can  always  be  thinned  out  during  the 
summer  season,  and  wounds  which  are  cut 
clean  in  midsummer  will  heal  more  quickly 
than  those  made  in  frosty  weather.  Maples, 
Birches,  Yellow-woods,  and  many  other  trees 
bleed  copiously  when  their  branches  are  cut 
in  the  spring,  but  they  heal  over  more  quickly 
if  pruned  while  in  full  leaf.  Again,  shrubs 
which  bloom  on  wood  made  the  previous  year, 
of  which  the  early  Spirceas,  Forsythias,  Honey- 
suckles,  Vibiimums,  Syringas,  Philadelphua, 
and  Deutzias,  are  examples,  should  receive 
their  chief  pruning  soon  after  the  flowers 
have  fallen.  This  will  encourage  a  growth  of 
young  wood  with  flower-buds  for  the  following 
year.  Of  course,  when  these  shrubs  are  cut 
back  in  early  spring  before  flowering,  the 
flower-buds  are  sacrificed.  On  the  other 
hand,  shrubs  like  Hydrangea  paniculata,  Des- 
modium  pcnduliflorum.  Hibiscus  Syriacus,  and 
others,  which  flower  on  the  new  growth, 
bloom  more  abundantly  when  cut  back 
severely  in  early  spring.  But  even  in  this 
case  the  surplus  wood  should  be  thinned  out 
during  the  summer. 

With  anj-thing  like  an  extensive  collection 
of  shrubs  constant  attention  must  be  given  to 
pruning  during  the  whole  growing  season, 
and  this  is  especially  true  where  coarse-grow- 
ing shrubs  and  those  of  delicate  habit  are 
planted  together.  If  this  is  neglected  the  less 
robust  plants  will  soon  be  smothered  out  by 
their  vigorous  neighbors.  Many  shrubs  are 
pruned  too  much.  If  a  healthy  young  plant 
is  carefully  pruned  at  the  outset,  allowed 
plenty  of  room,  with  all  the  cross  branches 
cut  away  to  admit  light  and  air,  and  all  the  old 
flowering  wood  shortened  in  after  bloom  and 
the  over-strong  shoots  stopped,  at  midsum- 
mer,  it  will  not  only  retain  all  its  natural 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


355 


PRU 

beauty,  but  this  beauty  will  be  increased,  and 
it  will  be  full  of  flowers  the  next  year.  After 
the  branches  of  large  shrubs  have  been 
thinned  out,  stronger  shoots  should  be 
pinched  back  with  the  thumb  and  finger,  for 
this  will  hasten  the  growth  of  flowering-buds. 
Many  trees  and  shrubs  can  be  made  to  pro- 
duce flowers  and  fruit  at  a  smaller  size  than 
if  they  were  left  to  themselves  or  pruned  only 
in  the  winter  or  spring.  This  summer  pinch- 
ing also  helps  to  ripen  up  the  wood,  and  leaves 
it  in  good  condition  to  withstand  the  cold. 
Apples,  Peaches,  Plums,  Filberts,  and  many 
other  trees  can  be  made  to  bear  when  quite 
small  if  the  new  growth  is  stopped  once  or 
twice  in  the  summer.  While  trees  are  grow- 
ing vigorously  the  flower-buds  do  not  form 
well,  but  by  this  summer  pinching  the  flow  of 
the  sap  is  checked  and  the  buds  are  developed. 
As  to  the  time  of  pruning,  about  which  there 
has  been  much  discussion,  it  may  be  done  on 
small  stems  at  any  time  after  the  fall  of  the 
leaf,  before  the  growth  starts  in  the  spring ; 
but  for  the  removal  of  large  branches,  late  in 
winter  i»  regarded  as  the  best  time.  It  is  a 
popular  idea  that  trees  should  not  be  pruned 
in  excessively  cold  weather,  a  very  sensible 
belief,  as  affecting  the  comfort  of  the  pruner ; 
but  rest  assured,  it  in  no  way  adds  to  the 
discomfort  of  the  tree,  either  present  or  pro- 
spective. Another  popular  fallacy  is  that 
Grape  Vines  and  similar  vigorous  plants  are 
injured  by  loss  of  sap  by  being  pruned  late  in 
spring.  We  have  repeatedly  pruned  vines 
when  the  sap  run  from  them  in  streams,  with- 
out any  apparent  injury,  though  of  course  it 
might  be  better  to  prune  before  the  sap 
begins  to  run. 

Pruno'psig  Lindleyi.  A  synonym  of  Prunus 
trilobata. 

Prunus.  The  ancient  Latin  name  of  the  Plum. 
Nat.  Ord.  RosacecB. 

This  genus,  as  arranged  by  Bentham  and 
Hooker,  includes  the  Plum,  Cherry,  Almond, 
etc.,  but  which,  for  easy  reference,  we  have 
described  separately.  The  species  ai'e  ever- 
green or  deciduous,  hardy  trees,  or  shrubs, 
mostly  natives  of  the  temperate  regions  of 
the  Northern  Hemisphere,  a  few  being  found 
in  tropical  America  and  Asia.  They  may  be 
increased  readily  by  seeds,  and  the  many  va- 
rieties now  in  cultivation,  by  budding  or  graft- 
ing. P.  cerasifera  is  well  adapted  for  hedges, 
as  is  also  the  Black-thorn  or  Sloe. 

The  Myrobalan  Plum  is  one  of  the  plants 
which  has  most  puzzled  botanists,  as,  al- 
though it  has  been  in  cultivation  for  cen- 
turies, it  is  nowhere  known  in  a  wild  state. 
It  is  probably  a  variety  or  form  of  the  com- 
mon Plum  (P.  domestica).  It  is  rarely  seen  in 
our  gardens,  although  now  that  the  purple- 
leaved  Persian  variety,  P.  Pissardi,  is  so 
generally  grown,  one  form  of  it  at  least  will 
be  in  cultivation.  The  latter  variety  is  a 
most  ornamental  sort,  and  is  exceedingly 
effective  when  planted  with  light-colored,  or 
yellow -leaved  shrubs.  The  green -leaved 
plant  is  far  the  handsomer  of  the  two,  how- 
ever, when  the  trees  are  in  bloom,  as  the 
leaves,  which  are  about  half-grown  when  the 
flowers  are  fully  expanded,  make  a  charming 
and  effective  setting  for  them,  and  afford 
what  most  fruit-trees  lack  when  in  flower 
— a  contrast  of  colors.     The  fruit  is  small, 


PSE 

depressed-globular,  scarlet  or  yellow,  and  of 
little  value  except  for  the  handsome  appear- 
ance which  it  presents  as  it  hangs  upon  the 
branches.  The  Myrobalan  is  one  of  the  best 
early  flowering  trees  to  plant  in  a  small  gar- 
den or  on  a  lawn ;  it  is,  moreover,  less  liable 
to  be  injured  by  borers  than  the  purple- 
leaved  Prunus  Phisardi. 

The  double-flowered  variety  of  P.  sinensis,  is 
a  very  desirable  and  early-flowering  shrub,  as 
is  also  its  congener,  P.  trilobata. 

Prurient.  Stinging ;  causing  an  itching  sensa- 
tion. 

Psa'mma.  From  psammos,  sand ;  alluding  to 
the  use  to  which  the  species  are  put.  Nat. 
Ord.  GraminacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  grasses.  P.  arenaria 
has  strong  perennial  creeping  root-stocks, 
and  is  often  planted  on  the  sea-coast  to  pre- 
vent the  sand  being  removed  by  wind  or 
tides. 

Psammi'sia.  Named  after  Psammis,  a  king 
of  Egypt,  B.  C.  376.     Nat.  Ord.  Vacciniacece. 

A  genus  of  shrubs,  sometimes  epiphytal, 
natives  of  South  America.  The  flowers  are 
large,  frequently  scarlet,  and  disposed  in 
axillary  racemes  or  corymbs.  Most  authors 
consider  the  species  of  this  genus  to  form  part 
of  the  genus  Thibaudia. 

Pseudo-bulb.  A  stem  having  the  appearance  of 
a  bulb,  but  not  its  structure;  seen  in  the 
thickened,  above-ground  stem  of  many  Or- 
chids. 

Pseu'dodraco'ntium.  From  pseudo,  false,  and 
Dracontium ;  in  allusion  to  its  resemblance  to 
that  plant.     Nat.  Ord.  Aroidece. 

A  small  genus  of  tropical  tuberous  herbs, 
natives  of  Cochin  China.  P.  Lacourii,  intro- 
duced in  1879,  has  trisected  leaves,  the  seg- 
ments being  cut  or  pinnate,  spotted  and 
mottled  with  yellow.  Syn.  Amorphophallus 
Lacourii. 

Pseu'dola'rix.  False  or  Chinese  Larch  ;  Golden 
Larch.  From  pseudo,  false,  and  Larix,  the 
Larch,  which  it  resembles.  Nat.  Ord.  Coni- 
ferce. 

P.  KcBmpferi,  the  only  species,  is  a  noble, 
hardy  tree,  introduced  from  China  iu  1777. 
It  forms  a  beautiful  ornamental  tree,  the 
leaves  being  light-green  when  young,  but 
becoming  golden-yellow  in  autumn.  It  is 
distinguished  from  the  Larch  by  the  cones 
having  deciduous  scales  with  divergent  points. 
Syn.  Larix  Kcempferi. 

Pseu'dopa'nax.  A  small  genus  of  AraliaceoR, 
represented  by  a  few  New  Zealand  and  Chilian 
species  of  shrubby  habit,  with  digitate  or  sim- 
ple leaves,  grown  for  their  ornamental  char- 
acter. P.  crassifolium,  is  known  in  cultivation 
as  Aralia  crassifolium,  and  the  well-known 
Aralia  trifoliata,  is  now  called  P.  Lessonii. 

Pseu'dotsu'ga.  From  pseudo,  false,  and  Tsuga, 
the  Japanese  name,     Nat.  Ord.  Coniferce. 

P.  Douglasii,  the  Red  Fir,  Yellow  Fir,  Ore- 
gon Pine,  and  Douglas  Fir,  is  the  most  gener- 
ally distributed  and  valuable  timber  tree  of 
the  Pacific  region,  growing  from  the  sea-level 
to  an  elevation  in  Colorado  of  nearly  10,000 
fefit,  often  forming  extensive  forests,  almost 
to  the  exclusion  of  other  species,  and  reaching 
in  western  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory 
its  greatest  development  and  value.  The 
wood  is  hard,  strong,  durable,  and  hard  to 


356 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


PSI 

work,  varying  greatly  with  age  and  conditions 
of  growth  in  density  and  quality.  The  bark 
is  valuable  in  tanning  leather.  A  large  num- 
ber of  sports,  forms,  or  seedling  variations  are 
grown  under  distinctive  names. 

Psi'dium.  Guava.  Derived  from  paidion,  the 
Greek  name  of  Pomegranate.  Nat.  Ord.  Myr- 
tacecR. 

An  extensive  genus  of  low-growing  ever- 
green trees,  confined  chiefly  to  the  West  In- 
dies and  South  America.  They  are  much  es- 
teemed for  their  fruit.  P.  Guaiava,  produces 
the  well-known  Guava  fruits,  so  largely  em- 
ployed in  the  preparation  of  jellies,  a  staple 
article  of  West  Indian  commerce.  The  fruit 
is  small,  yellow,  not  unlike  an  Orleans  Plum. 
It  is  juicy,  and  in  flavor  somewhat  resembles 
a  Strawberry.  P.  Cattleyanum,  the  Purple 
Guava,  though  originally  brought  to  Europe 
from  China,  is  most  probably  a  native  of  Bra- 
zil. The  fi'uits,  which  are  produced  in  great 
abundance,  and  are  readily  distinguished 
from  the  common  Guavas  by  their  deep, 
claret-colored,  pitted  rind,  are  filled  with  a 
juicy,  pale  flesh  of  a  very  agreeable  acid- 
sweet  flavor. 

Psilosa'nthus.     A  synonym  of  Liatris. 

Psilo'tum.  From  pnilos,  naked  ;  the  plants  are 
almost  destitute  of  leaves.  Nat.  Ord.  Lyco- 
podiacecB. 

A  genus  of  Club-mosses,  containing  numer- 
ous forms,  reducible,  however,  to  two  species. 
P.  triquetrum  grows  on  the  trunks  of  trees  in 
tropical  or  equable  climates,  and  extends 
through  Brazil  and  Central  America  to  the 
southern  United  States.  It  bears  cultivation 
well,  and  is  not  uncommon  in  green-houses. 
The  spores  burst  when  placed  in  water,  and 
emit  a  cloud  of  microscopic  particles. 

Psora'lea.  From  psoraleos,  warted  or  scurf  j' ;  in 
reference  to  the  plants  being  for  the  most 
part  sprinkled  all  over,  or  roughened  with 
glandular  dots  or  wart-like  points.  Nat.  Ord. 
Leguminosce. 

A  large  genus  consisting  of  nearly  one 
hundred  species  of  annual  and  perennial 
herbs,  and  shrubs,  found  in  great  abundance 
at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  and  America,  more 
sparingly  in  Asia,  northern  Africa  and  Aus- 
tralia. The  leaves  of  P.  glandulosa,  are  used 
in  Chili  as  a  substitute  for  tea,   under  the 

.  name  of  "Jesuits'  Tea."  P.  esculenta,  is  a 
native  of  Wisconsin,  Missouri,  and  other 
parts  of  the  Northwest,  where  its  tuberous 
roots,  known  as  Indian  or  Prairie  Turnips 
(Pomme  Blanche,  and  Pomme  de  Prairie,  of 
the  Voyageurs),  form  part  of  the  food  of  the 
indigenous  population.  It  is  a  roughish,  hairy 
plant,  with  roundish  heads  of  blue  flowers. 
Some  of  the  Cape  species  are  shrubs,  and  are 
in  cultivation  in  green-houses. 

Psycho'tria.  From  payche,  life;  referring  to 
the  powerful  medicinal  qualities  possessed  by 
several  of  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Ruhiacem. 

A  large  genus  comprising  about  five  hun- 
red  species  of  shrubs  or  small  trees,  erect, 
climbing,  or  twining,  found  in  tropical  coun- 
tries, especially  in  America.  The  flowers  are 
generally  unattractive,  but  P.  Jasminoides, 
known  better  as  Gloneria,  forms  a  beautiful 
green-house  plant,  covered,  when  in  bloom, 
with  terminal,  corymbose  panicles  of  snowy- 
white  tubular  flowers.  P.  Chontalensis,  and  P. 


PTE 

cyanococca,  are  both  very  ornamental  green- 
house plants,  bearing  clusters  of  deep  blue 
berries  (often  thirty  to  sixty  on  a  bunch),  very 
useful  as  decorative  plants  in  winter.  They 
are  both  natives  of  Nicaragua,  introduced  in 
1870,  and  are  propagated  by  cuttings  or  seeds. 

Pta'rmica.  A  genus  now  included  under 
Achillea. 

Pte'lea.  Shrubby  Trefoil.  Hop-tree.  The 
Greek  name  of  the  Elm,  here  applied  to  a 
genus  with  similar  fruit.  Nat.  Ord.  Rutacem. 
P.  trifoliata,  our  native  species,  is  a  small 
tree,  ten  to  fifteen  feet  high,  with  trifoliate 
leaves,  and  clustered  greenish  flowers,  fol- 
lowed by  curious  winged  seed-vessels.  The 
leaves  and  fruit,  when  bruised,  emit  a  strong 
odor  of  hops,  wiience  the  popular  name. 
When  properly  trained,  this  species  makes  a 
very  interesting  lawn-tree. 

Pteli'dium.  So  named  by  Thomas  from  its 
similarity  to  Plelea.     Nat.  Ord.  Celastracece. 

P.  ovatum,  the  only  described  species,  is  an 
ornamental  green-house  shrub,  with  opposite, 
coriaceous,  ovate  leaves  and  terminal  cymes 
of  light-green  flowers.  It  was  introduced 
from  Madagascar  in  1818,  and  is  propagated 
by  cuttings  of  the  ripened  wood. 

Pteridology.  That  branch  of  botany  which 
relates  to  the  study  of  Ferns. 

Pte'ris.  Brake.  From  pleron,  a  wing ;  the 
shape  of  the  fronds  or  leaves.  Nat.  Ord. 
Polypodiacece. 

A  very  extensive  genus  of  Ferns,  widely 
distributed  over  tlie  temperate  and  tropical 
regions,  and  differing  as  widely  in  character. 
Many  of  the  species  are  highly  valued  for 
green-house  and  house  decoration,  as  well  as 
for  cutting  to  use  with  cut  flowers.  P.  serru- 
lata  and  its  crested  varieties ;  P.  cretica,  and 
especially  its  variegated  form, P.  c.  albo-lineata, 
P.  tremula,  P.  scaberula,  P.  arguta,  and  many 
others,  are  all  invaluable  to  the  florist,  and 
are  grown  in  immense  numbers  near  all  our 
large  cities.  P.  quadriaurita,  var.  argyrcea, 
forms  a  noble  specimen  and  is  one  of  the  most 
valued  Ferns  for  green-house  decoration.  P. 
aspericaulis,  var.  tricolor,  is  a  very  attractive 
sort,  but  requiring  more  heat  and  moisture 
than  many  other  kinds,  is  seldom  seen  in 
good  form.  P.  aquilina,  is  the  common  Brake 
or  Bracken. 

Pteroca'rpus.  From  pteron,  a  wing  and  karpos, 
a  fruit ;  the  pods  are  girded  by  a  broad  wing. 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  trees  inhabiting  the  tropical 
parts  of  Asia,  Africa,  and  America.  They  bear 
generally  loose  panicles  of  yellow  flowers, 
rarely  violet  or  white,  and  are  often  very 
showy.  The  genus  comprises  about  fifteen 
species,  of  which  a  few  are  in  cultivation. 
Gum  Kino  is  obtained  from  various  trees  of 
this  genus.  P  Indicium,  furnishes  tlie  Burmese 
Rosewood,  and  P.  santalinus,  yields  the  deep 
red  dye-wood  known  as  Eed  Saunders,  large 
quantities  of  which  are  annually  exported 
from  India. 

Pteroca'rya.  From  pteron,  a  wing,  and  caryon, 
a  nut ;  winged  fruit.     Nat.  Ord.  juglandacem. 

A  small  genus  of  very  ornamental,  low- 
growing  trees,  inhabiting  China,  Japan  and 
the  Caucasus.  P.Caucasica,  has  pinnate  leaves, 
and  small  flowers,  which  are  borne  in  catkins, 
and  are  succeeded  by  winged  seed-vessels.  In 


PHLOXES  (GROUP  OF  HAHDY  PKBEKNIAX,). 


PBUNUS  TKILOBA, 


FOIiEMONinM  CCEBITLEUII. 


PULUiUM  (aUATA). 


PTRETHKUM  SELAGINOIDEB. 


QUAMOCIilT  (CTPBESS  'VINE). 


PYBETHBUM  PABTHENTFOLIUM  AtTBEDM 


FBUKKLLA  ORAMBIFXOKA. 


PX7NICA  GBANATUM  (POMEGBANATS). 


FYIIETHEUM  CINEKABr-EFOLTUM 

357 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


357 


PTE 

this  climate,  in  low  situations  and  in  rich  soil, 
it  does  not  sufficiently  ripen  its  wood  to  with- 
stand the  frosts,  and  the  tips  of  the  branches 
are  often  injured  in  winter. 

Pteroce'phalus.  From  pteron,  a  wing,  and 
kephale,  a  head  ;  in  allusion  to  the  receptacle 
of  the  flowers  being  villous.  Nat  Ord.  Dip- 
sacacece. 

A  genus  of  desirable  hardy  annual  and  per- 
ennial plants,  founded  on  Scabiosa  plumosa, 
and  some  others  from  the  Mediterranean 
region.  P.  Parnassi,  a  native  of  Greece,  is  a 
ScabLous-like  plant  of  dwarf,  compact  growth, 
forming  a  dense  rounded  mass  of  heavy 
foliage  in  summer,  with  mauve-colored 
flower-heads.  It  is  a  most  desirable  plant  lor 
the  ordinary  border  or  for  the  rock-garden. 
The  annual  species  merely  require  sowing  in 
the  open  border.  Syns.  Scabiosa  and  Cepha- 
laria. 

Pterodi'scus.  From  pteron,  a  wing,  and  discus, 
a  disk ;  referring  to  the  broad  wings  of  the 
disk  of  the  fruit.     Nat.  Ord.  PedaliacecB. 

P.  speciosus,  the  only  cultivated  species,  is 
a  very  handsome  herbaceous,  gre^n-house 
plant,  with  tuberous  roots  and  a  thick  succu- 
lent stem ;  a  native  of  South  Africa.  Its  flow- 
ers, which  are  of  a  beautiful  lilac  or  reddish 
color,  are  large,  with  a  funnel-shaped  tube 
and  a  spreading  five-lobed  limb.  Introduced 
in  1848 ;  propagated  by  seeds  or  by  dividing 
the  plant  in  spring. 

Pterolo'bium.  From  pteron,  a  wing,  and  lobos, 
a  pod.  The  pods  are  winged  at  the  extrem- 
ity.    Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  tall,  climbing  shrubs,  armed 
with  recurved  prickles,  natives  of  tropical 
Asia,  Africa,  and  America.  P.  Indicum,  the 
only  species  yet  introduced,  requires  culture 
similar  to  a  CcBsalpinia,  but  is  not  often  found 
in  cultivation. 

Pterolo'ma.  A  genus  now  included  under  Des- 
modium. 

Pteroneu'ron.  From  pteron,  a  wing,  and  neuron, 
a  nerve ;  referring  to  the  winged  placentas. 
Nat.  Ord.  CrucifercB. 

A  small  genus  of  rock-plants  now  included 
by  many,  under  Cardamine. 

Pterophy'llus.  A  synonym  of  Ginkgo,  the 
Maiden-hair  Tree. 

Ptero'stylis.  From  pteron,  a  wing,  and  stylis,  a 
column ;  alluding  to  the  broadly  winged  col- 
umn.    Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacfce. 

A  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids  with  small 
underground  tubers,  natives  of  New  Zealand 
and  Australia.  A  few  species  are  in  cultiva- 
tion, but  they  are  grown  more  for  curiosity 
than  for  their  beauty. 

Pterosty'rax.  The  name  applied  to  a  Japanese 
shrub  constituting  a  genus  of  StyracacecB.  It 
forms  a  medium-sized  shrub  or  low  tree,  cov- 
ered with  stellate  hairs ;  the  leaves  are  ovate, 
large  and  sharply  serrated,  and  the  creamy- 
white  fragrant  flowers  are  borne  in  axillary  or 
terminal  pendent  clusters  or  panicles.  It  is 
a  late  introduction  from  Japan  (1875'),  and  is 
a  valuable  acquisition  to  our  hardy  shrubs. 

Ptilo'meris.     From  ptilon,  a  feather,  and  meris, 

a  part ;  alluding  to  the  fringed,  chaffy  scales 

of  some  of  the  species.    Nat.  Ord.  Compositm. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  plants,  natives  of 

California.     P.  coronaria,  the  only  species  of 


PUL 

interest,  has  yellow  flower  heads,  pedunculate 
at  the  ends  of  the  branches,  and  grows  well 
treated  as  other  hardy  annuals. 

Ptychospe'rma.  Derivation  of  name  not  given. 
Nat.  Ord.  PalmacecB. 

A  genus  of  elegant  Palms  with  pinnate 
leaves,  natives  of  the  eastern  Archipelago. 
P.  Seemani  is  a  very  beautiful  dwarf  Palm, 
well  adapted  for  table  and  general  decorative 
purposes.  The  leaves  somewhat  resemble 
those  of  the  Caryota  in  appearance,  and  are  of 
a  bright  green  color.  This  Palm  never  attains 
large  dimensions ;  the  stem,  when  fully  de- 
veloped, is  about  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  is 
used,  on  account  of  its  strength  and  straight- 
ness,  for  spears  by  the  natives  of  New  Guinea, 
from  whence  it  was  received.  Propagated  by 
seed.  Seaforthia  elegans,  is  by  some  included 
in  this  genus  under  the  name  of  P.  Cunning- 
hamiana. 

Pube'rulous.     Minutely  pubescent. 

Pubescent.    Softly  downy,  or  hairy. 

Pucci'nia.  Named  after  an  Italian  botanist, 
Puccini. 

A  large  genus  of  parasitic  Fungi,  the  species 
of  which  are  more  or  less  destructive  to  the 
mother-plant,  unless  where  tht>y  tend  to  re- 
press over-luxuriance.  P.  graminis,  which 
occurs  in  almost  every  part  of  the  world  on 
grasses,  and  especially  on  cereals,  is  the  com- 
mon wheat  mildew,  one  of  the  most  formida- 
ble diseases  of  wheat,  and  one  for  which  no 
remedy  has  yet  been  found.  Were  it  even 
possible  to  devise  any  plan  which  might  de- 
stroy every  particle  of  wheat  mildew,  there 
would  still  be  a  supply  in  the  fields  from  the 
wild  grasses.  There  are  many  other  species 
which  are  very  destructive  when  they  get  a 
foothold,  as  those  that  attack  the  Barberry, 
Gooseberry,  Strawberry,  Mint,  etc.  P.  Mal- 
vaceum  nearlv  extirpated  the  Hollyhock  in 
many  districts  not  many  years  ago,  and  it  is 
still  a  pest  in  many  sections.  Other  species 
attack  the  Onion,  Carnation,  Currant,  Gentian, 
and  many  other  plants  for  which  there  ap- 
pears to  be  no  remedy  but  the  destruction  of 
the  diseased  plants. 

Puccoon,  Hairy.     Lithospermum  hirtum. 

Pucra'ria.   Named  in  honor  of  M.  M.  N.  Pucrari, 

a  professor  of  botany  at  Copenhagen.  Nat. 
Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  climbing  herbs  or  sub-shrubs, 
natives  of  tropical  Asia  and  Japan.  Only  three 
species  have  been  introduced,  of  which  P. 
Thunbergiana,is  the  most  interesting.  A  starch, 
largely  used  by  the  Chinese  and  Japanese,  is 
obtained  from  the  roots ;  and  a  fibre,  used  for 
textile  purposes,  from  the  stems. 

Pudding  Berries.  The  edible  fruits  of  Comua 
Canadensis. 

Pullus.     Dusky-brown,  or  blackish  colored. 

Pulmona'ria.  Lungwort.  So  named  from  the 
supposed  medicinal  properties  in  diseases  of 
the  lungs.     Nat.  Ord.  Bcn-aginacem. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardj'  herbaceous  per- 
ennials, common  in  the  temperate  regions  of 
both  hemispheres.  They  are  showy  border 
plants,  with  flowers  of  various  shades  of  blue. 
They  grow  freely  in  any  good  rich  soil,  and 
are  increased  by  seeds  or  root  division.  P. 
Virginica  is  now  placed  under  Mertenaia, 
which  see. 


358 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


PUL 

Pulsatilla.     See  Anemone  Pulsatilla. 

Pulse.  A  common  name  for  the  seeds  of  many 
cultivated  Leguminosoe,  such  as  Peas,  Beans, 
etc. 

Pultenae'a.  Named  after  W.  Pulteney,  M.D.,  a 
botanical  author.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  genus  of  green-house,  yellow-flowered, 
evergreen  shrubs  from  New  Holland.  Of  the 
fifty  or  sixty  species  that  make  up  this  genus, 
but  two  or  three  have  been  introduced  into  the 
green-house,  and  these  are  only  to  be  found 
in  the  more  extensive  collections. 

Pulverulent,  Pulverulentus.  Appearing  as  cov- 
ered with  a  powdery  substance. 

Pulvinate.    Cushion-shaped. 

Pulvinus.     A  cushion.    The  term  is  applied  to 

an  enlargement  or  swelling  at  the  base  of  a 

leaf,  or  at  the  apex  of  a  petiole. 
Pumilus.     Short,  dense,   or  close-growing,    as 

coaii>ared  with    other   species   of    the    same 

genus  or  family. 

Pumpkin.  Cucurbita  Pepo.  A  species  of  gourd, 
but  when,  where,  or  how,  our  present  varieties 
originated  is  past  finding  out.  Three  hun- 
dred years  ago  they  were  made  into  pies  by 
cutting  a  hole  in  the  side,  extracting  the  seeds 
and  filaments,  stuffing  the  cavity  with  apples 
and  spices,  and  baking  the  whole.   See  Squash. 

Punctate.     Dotted. 

Pungent.  Terminating  gradually  in  a  sharp, 
rigid  point,  as  in  the  lobes  of  a  Holly  leaf. 

Pungent.  Very  hard  and  sharp  pointed  ;  prickly 
pointed. 

Pu'nica.  Pomegranate.  From  punicus,  of 
"  Carthage,"  near  which  city  it  is  said  to  have 
been  first  found;  or  from  puniceun,  scarlet; 
referring  to  the  color  of  the  flowei-s.  Owing 
to  the  singular  structure  of  its  fruit  this 
genus,  "which  contains  only  one  species,  P. 
Granatum,  was  by  some  botanists  formed  into 
a  separate  order,  GranateoE.  It  was  after- 
wards placed  in  MyrtacecE,  but  Bentham  and 
Hooker  consider  it  allied  to  LythracrcB.  P. 
granatum,  the  Pomegranate,  is  a  very  hand- 
some deciduous  shrub  or  low-growing  tree,  a 
native  of  northern  Africa  and  Western  Asia. 
It  thrives  remarkably  well  in  the  Southern 
States,  where  it  is  extensively  grown  for 
ornamental  purposes.  In  the  Middle  and 
Northern  States  it  is  grown  in  pots  and  tubs, 
and  used  in  summer  for  ornamenting  the 
border  or  lawn.  Tliere  are  several  varieties, 
the  double-flowered  scarlet  being  the  most 
desirable.  P.  nana,  a  dwarf  double-flowered 
variety,  is  a  favorite  green-house  plant,  suit- 
able for  lawn  decoration  during  summer, 
requiring  the  protection  of  a  cool  house  or 
cellar  during  the  winter.  This  species  is  a 
native  of  the  East  Indies,  from  whence  it  was 
introduced  into  England  in  1723.  It  has  since 
become  naturalized  in  the  West  Indies  and  the 
Southern  States.  The  fruit  of  the  Pome- 
granate has  been  highly  esteemed  for  its 
quality  and  form  from  the  earliest  ages.  It 
■was  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  ornaments 
directed  to  be  used  in  the  construction  of 
Solomon's  Temple,  and  is  frequently  men- 
tioned in  the  Bible.  All  the  varieties  are  of 
easy  culture,  and  are  readily  propagated 
from  cuttings  of  the  young  wood. 

Puniceus.     Pure  red. 


PUY 

Purification  Flower.  A  common  name  for  Gor- 
lanthtcs  7iivalis. 

Purple  Cone  Flower.     See  Echinacea. 

Purple  Fringe.  A  common  name  for  Rhus 
Cotinus. 

Purple  Wreath.     Petrceavolubilis. 

Purpurascens.     Having  a  purplish  color. 

Pu'rshia.  Named  after  Frederick  Pursh,  author 
of  "Flora  AmericaB  Septeutrionalis "  (1817). 
Nat.  Ord.  Rosacem. 

P.  tridenlata.  the  only  species  is  a  much- 
branelied,  hardy,  evergreen  shrub  with  scaly 
buds,  and  nearly  sessile  yellow  flowers.  It  is 
a  native  of  Oregon,  and  is  increased  by  cut- 
tings of  the  young  shoots.  Syns.  Kunzia,  and 
Tigarea. 

Purslane.      The  popular  name  of    the    genus 
Portulaca. 
Common  Garden.     Portulaca  ohracea. 
Milk.     Euphorbia  maculata. 
Rock.     Calandrina  umbellata. 
Sea.     Arenaria  peploides,  and  Atriplex  portula- 

coicles. 
Sea,  American.     Sesuvium  Portulacaatrum. 
Siberian.     Claytonia  Sibirica. 
Water.     Peplis  portula,  Isnardia  palustris,  and 

Ludwigia  2^alustris. 
Winter.     Claytonia  perfoliata. 

Purslane  Tree.     Portulacaria  afra. 

Puschki'nia.  Named  after  Count  M.  Puschkin, 
a  Prussian  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

P.  scilloides,  the  best  known  species,  is 
a  beautiful  little  bulbous  plant,  with  light 
purple  flowers,  like  a  small-flowered  Scilla, 
as  its  specific  name  indicates.  The  leaves 
grow  from  the  bulb,  and  stand  erect  round 
the  stem,  as  though  protecting,  the  flower. 
It  is  a  native  of  Eussia,  and  perfectly  hardy, 
and  is  propagated  by  offsets.  Introduced 
in  1819. 

Pusillus.     Very  small ;  weak  and  slender. 

Pustular,  Pustulate.  Covered  with  glandular 
excrescences,  like  blisters. 

Puto'ria.  From  putor,  a  strong  smell ;  in  allu- 
sion to  the  smell  of  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord. 
Rubiaceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  dwarf  branching  shrubs, 
natives  of  the  Mediterranean  region.  P.  Cala^ 
brica,  the  only  species  in  cultivation,  is  a  Aery 
pretty  plant  with  red  flowers  in  terminal 
clusters.  It  thrives  best  in  a  gravelly  or 
sandy  soil,  and  is  propagated  by  division. 

Putty-root.     See  Aplectrum. 

Pu'ya.  Native  name.  This  genus  is  the  same 
as  Potirretia.  Puya  has  been  substituted  for 
Pourretia,  as  being  the  older  name.  Nat.  Ord. 
Bromeliace<B. 

A  genus  of  green-house  herbaceous  peren- 
nials and  epiphytes,  with  spikes  of  white  and 
yellow  flowers,  like  the  Pitcaimia,  which  they 
resemble.  They  are  natives  of  Mexico  and 
South  America.  P.  heterophylla,  is  a  very  pretty 
and  curious  plant,  bearing  two  distinct  kinds 
of  leaves  :  one  with  tough,  broad,  horny  kinds 
of  leaves,  which  overlie  each  other,  forming  a 
kind  of  bulb,  extended  into  narrow,  serrated 
processes  about  two  inches  long ;  the  others, 
which  are  last  formed,  are  thin,  bright  green, 
and  lanceolate,  more  than  eighteen  inches 
long.  A  more  recent  introduction,  P.  grandi- 
Jlora,  is  also  a  flne  plant,  and  all  are  interesting. 
P.  Whytei,  has  flowers  of  a  peculiar  metallic 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


359 


PYO 

greenish-blue  color,  with  bright  orange  an- 
thers disposed  in  a  large  pyramidal  panicle  on 
a  tall  scape.  P.  Altensteinii  is  a  favorite  green- 
house species,  its  pure  white  flowers,  contrast- 
ing well  with  the  bright  scarlet  scape  and 
bracts.  Many  species  of  this  genus  are  now 
placed  under  Pitcaimia.  They  thrive  in  a 
compost  of  peat  and  loam,  and  are  easily  pro- 
pagated by  suclvcrs,  which  are  generally  freely 
produced. 

Pycna'nthemum.  The  generic  name  for  the 
native  Mountain  Mint,  or  Basil,  of  which  there 
are  ten  species,  found  from  Virginia  and  New 
York  to  Illinois,  and  westward. 

Pycno'stachys.  From  pyknos,  dense,  and 
stachys,  a  spike ;  referring  to  the  dense  flower 
spikes. 

A  genus  of  Labiatce,  peculiar  to  tropical  and 
sub-tropical  Africa,  and  consisting  of  erect 
growing  annual  or  perennial  herbs.  Several 
of  the  species  have  been  introduced  to  culti- 
vation, the  most  showy  and  desirable  of  which 
is  P.  Urticifolia.  It  was  introduced  from  the 
Shire  valley  in  1862,  and  has  large  dense 
spikes  of  rich  mazarine  blue  flowers. 

Py'knos.  This  term,  used  in  Greek  com- 
pounds, signifies  thick,  close,  dense,  compact, 
hence  Pycnocephalus,  thick-headed,  or  close- 
headed  ;  applied  to  very  compact  kinds  of 
inflorescence. 

Pyraca'ntha.     See  Cratmgus  Pyracantha. 

Pyramidal.  Pyramid-shaped,  more  frequently 
used,  howevei',  to  denote  conical,  as  the 
prickles  of  some  roses,  the  root  of  the  carrot, 
and  Ihe  heads  of  many  trees. 

Pyre'thrum.  Feverfew.  From  pyr,  flre  ;  the 
roots  are  hot  to  the  taste.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
posites. 

A  genus  of  very  interesting  plants,  mostly 
hardy  herbaceous  perennials,  which  only 
require  planting  in  the  open  border  and  the 
usual  treatment  of  perennial  plants.  P. 
Parthenium,  is  the  well-known  Feverfew,  and 
is  common  throughout  Europe  and  the 
Caucasus.  The  double-flowered  form  is  a 
very  showy  and  useful  plant,  flowering  all  the 
season  and  is  a  general  favorite.  P.  Parthpni- 
folium  aurenm,  called  Golden  Feather,  is  now 
also  common  in  every  garden,  and  is  largely 
used  for  edgings,  ribbon  borders,  carpet  bed- 
ding, etc.,  a  variety  called  laciniatum,  being 
very  distinct  from  the  older  kind.  The  most  im- 
portant, however,  of  the  numerous  genera  is 
tb-^  Cancasian,  P.  roseum,  which  has  yielded 
the  innumerable  varieties,  both  single  and 
double,  that  have  now  become  such  popular 
border  flowers.  They  are  extremely  showy, 
easj'  to  grow,  hardy,  and  invaluable  as  cut 
flowex's  during  several  months  in  summer 
and  autumn.  If  cut  down  after  flower- 
ing in  June  they  flower  again  freely  in  Sep- 
tember. By  judicious  crossing,  the  color  of 
the  blossoms  is  continually  becoming  more 
varied,  ranging  from  white,  white  with  yellow 
centre,  yellow,  and  lilac,  to  rose,  carmine,  and 
crimson.  This  species  is  also  important  as 
being  the  basis  of  the  Persian  Insect  Powder, 
the  best  grade  of  which  is  imported  from  the 
Caucasus,  and  is  manufactured  from  the  dried 
flowers  only.  It  is  also  cultivated  in  Cali- 
fornia and  when  dried  and  ground,  is  known 
in  commerce  as  "  Buhack."  P.  Tchichatchewi, 
called  the  Turfing  Daisy,  is  chiefly  remarkable 
for  its  power  of  sustaining  drought,  its  foliage 


PYR 

retaining  its  verdure  even  in  dry  weather, 
and  when  planted  on  dry  banks  or  slopes. 
Being  of  dwarf,  creeping  habit  of  growth,  it 
quickly  forms  a  carpet  of  green  which  needs 
no  attention  beyond  that  of  removing  the 
flower  stems,  which,  though  not  devoid  of 
interest  may  yet  in  some  situations  interfere 
with  the  utility  of  the  plant.  This  species  has 
been  recommended  as  a  substitute  for  lawns 
in  hot,  dry  situations  where  grass  will  not 
survive.  P.  uUginosum,  is  one  of  the  noblest 
of  all  tall  growing  herbaceous  plants,  forming 
dense  tufts,  five  to  seven  feet  in  height,  ter- 
minated by  lax  clusters  of  pure  white 
flowers,  each  about  twice  the  size  of  those  of 
the  Ox-eye  Daisy.  They  are  all  easily  propa- 
gated by  division  or  by  seed,  which  should  be 
sown  in  May  or  June  to  flower  the  following 
season. 

Pyriform.     Pear-shaped. 

Pyro'la.  Wintergreen.  Shin-leaf.  Name  a 
diminutive  of  Pyrus,  the  Pear-tree,  from  the 
resemblance  of  the  leaves  to  those  of  the  Pear. 
Nat.  Ord.  Ericaceae,. 

A  genus  of  low,  smooth,  perennial,  her- 
baceous herbs,  with  running  subterranean 
shoots,  bearing  a  cluster  of  rounded  and 
petioled  root-leaves,  and  a  simple  raceme  of 
nodding  flowers,  on  an  upright  more  or  less 
scaly  bracied  scape  ;  natives  of  Britain,  north 
and  central  Asia,  and  North  America.  Several 
of  our  native  varieties  are  very  pretty  and 
sweet  scented,  and  well  worth  cultivating. 

Pyrola'ceae.  A  natural  order  now  included 
under  Ericacece. 

Pyroli'rion.  Flame  Lily.  From  pyr,  fire,  and 
lirion,  a  lily ;  alluding  to  the  color  and  form 
of  the  flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Amaryllidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  rare  and  beautiful  Peruvian 
bulbs  allied  to  Zephyranthes.  The  flowers 
are  orange  and  yellow,  produced  in  July  and 
August,  before  the  leaves  appear.  They  can 
be  grown  in  the  open  border.  The  bulbs 
require  to  be  kept  dry  and  warm  during  the 
winter,  and  are  increased  by  offsets.  If  grown 
in  pots  in  the  green-house,  they  nmst  have 
rest  from  December  until  April.  Introduced 
into  England  in  1833. 

Pyrula'ria.  A  diminutive  from  Pyrus,  the 
Pear ;  in  allusion  to  the  form  of  the  fruit, 
which,  in  the  original  species,  is  like  a  small 
Pear.     Nat.  Ord.  Santolacem. 

A  genus  of  two  species  of  deciduous  trees 
or  shrubs,  one  North  American,  the  other 
Himalayan.  P.  oleifera,  the  Buffalo,  Elk,  or 
Oil-nut,  is  found  in  rich  woods  in  the  moun- 
tains of  Pennsylvania  and  southwanl  through 
the     Alleghanies.        The    whole    plant,     and 

,  especially  the  fruit  is  imbued  with  an  acrid 
oil. 

Py'rus.  Pear.  Also  Apple,  which  see.  From 
peren,  the  Celtic  word  for  Pear.  Nat.  Ord. 
Rosacece. 

The  different  kinds  of  Crabs  and  Pears  are 
very  ornamental  flowering  plants,  indepen- 
dent of  the  value  of  the  fruit  of  some  of  the 
species.  The  ornamental  kinds  are  all  low 
trees,  admirably  adapted  for  the  lawn  or  the 
shrubbery,  and  are  all  of  easy  culture.  They 
are  propagated  by  grafting  the  finer  on  the 
more  common  kinds.  To  thrive  and  look 
well,  however,  they  require  an  airy  situation, 
and  not  to  be  crowded  among  other  trees. 
Among  the  kinds  most  worthy  of  notice  are 


360 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


PYR 

the  following :  Pyrus  spectabilis,  the  Chinese 
Crab  or  Garland-flowering  Wild  Apple,  pro- 
ducing the  most  showy  flowers  of  the  whole 
genus  in  May,  and  as  hardy  as  the  common 
Crab  or  Wild  Pear.  P.  coronaria,  the  Sweet- 
scented  Crab,  with  large  and  beautiful  pinJi 
blossoms  is  highly  fragrant,  as  is  the  first. 
P.  coronaria  anqvstifolia,  the  narrow-leaved 
Sweet-scented  Crab,  has  flowers  as  beautiful 
as  the  former,  and  its  leaves  are  sub-ever- 
green. This  and  the  two  preceding  kirtds 
have  the  fruit  green  when  ripe,  and  fragrant, 
but  it  is  hardly  edible.  Pyrus  baccata,  and 
P.  prunifoUa,  two  kinds  of  Siberian  Crab, 
have  very  showy  flowers,  and  small  red  or 
yellow  fruit.  These  are  the  principal  orna- 
mental species  of  the  Crab  or  Apple  kind, 
unless  we  except  one,  the  Moscow  or  Trans- 
parent Crab,  Pyrus  Astracanica,  which  has 
fruit  almost  as  large  as  .a  Golden  Pippin,  and 
wax-like  when  ripe.  The  Crab,  though  com- 
monly cultivated  for  its  fruit,  as  useful  for 
the  table,  well  deserves  a  place  on  the  lawn 
as  an  ornamental  plant,  from  the  extraordinary 
beauty  of  the  fruit,  and  it  is  sometimes  used 
for  that  purpose.  The  ornamental  Pears  are 
the  following :  P.  salvifolia,  which  has  woolly 
leaves  like  those  of  the  Sage,  and  like  all  the 
Pears,  white  flowers;  this  peculiarity,  inde- 
pendently of  other  marks,  distinguishing 
them  from  the  Apples,  which  have  reddish 
flowers.  P.  amygdalmformis,  is  another  orna- 
mental species,  which  has  silvery- white  leaves, 
and  fruit  shaped  like  that  of  the  Almond  ;  and 
to  these  may  be  added  P.  elcBagnifolia,  w'hich 
has  long,  narrow,  white  leaves  like  those  of 
the  Elfeagnus  ;  P.  salicifolia,  with  long,  narrow, 
silkj'  leaves,  like  those  of  the  Willow  ;  and  P. 
nivalis,  which  has  round  leaves  of  a  snowy 
whiteness.  All  these  species  have  small 
green  fruit  not  good  to  eat,  but  the  trees  are 
very  ornamental  from  their  shape  and  the 
singular  color  of  their  foliage.  The  following 
kinds  of  Pyrus  belong  to  the  section  Aria :  P. 
Aria,  and  its  varieties,  P.  a.  angustifolia,  and 
P.  a.  cretica,  the  White  Beam  Tree,  are  valued 
for  the  beauty  of  their  leaves,  which  are 
green  above  and  white  beneath,  and  for  the 
bright  scarlet  fruit  which  they  produce  in 
great  abundance.  P.  vestita,  the  Nepal  White 
Beam  Tree,  is  a  rare  and  beautiful  object,  as 
its  leaves,  which  are  clothed  with  a  thick 
white  wool  beneath,  are  of  a  large  size,  and 
change  in  autumn  to  a  most  beautiful  pale 
yellow.  Other  ornamental  species  of  Pyrus 
are  as  follows :  P.  variolosa,  remarkable  for 
the  varying  forms  of  its  foliage,  which  is 
sometimes  pinnate,  like  that  of  the  Mountain 
Ash,  and  sometimes  deeply  lobed  and  cut,  like 
that  of  the  Hawthorn,  or  entire  and  cordage 
and  pointed  like  that  of  the  Pear.  It  is  some- 
what tender,  and  thrives  best  in  a  sheltered 
situation,  or  against  a  wall.  P.  tor/ninalis, 
the  Griping  Wild  Service  Tree,  is  remarkable 
for  the  beautiful  form  of  its  leaves,  which, 
however,  are  unfortunatelj'  very  apt  to  be 
eaten  by  insects.  The  buds  are  large,  of  a 
beautiful  green,  and  very  ornamental  in  the 
winter  season.  Pyrus  aucuparia,  the  Moun- 
tain Ash,  is  a  well-known  small  tree,  beautiful 
both  when  in  flower  and  in  fruit,  and  worth 
cultivating  for  its  foliage  alone.  Pyrus  Ameri- 
cana, the  American  Mountain  Ash  resembles 
the  common  kind,  but  has  larger  leaves  and 
smaller  fruit,  although  it  is  of  a  much  deeper 


PYX 

red.  Pyrus  sorbus,  the  common  Service  Tree, 
has  foliage  like  that  of  the  Mountain  Ash,  but 
larger;  and  the  fruit  resembles  that  of  the 
common  Pear  but  much  smaller,  and  not 
ornamental,  though  it  is  eatable.  Pyrus 
spuria,  a  native  of  Kamschatka,  has  leaves 
like  the  Elder,  and  small  black  fruit;  the 
leaves  of  this  species  change  in  autumn  to  an 
intensely  deep  purple,  almost  black.  There 
is  a  pendulous  variety,  P.  .s.  pendula,  which  is 
one  of  the  most  ornamental  of  drooping-bran- 
ched  small  trees ;  and  as  neither  the  variety 
nor  the  species  exceeds  twelve  or  fifteen  feet 
in  height,  they  are  admirably  adapted  for 
small  gardens.  The  following  kinds  of  Pyrus 
are  shrubs,  and  very  ornamental,  both  for 
their  fruit  and  flowers :  P.  Maulei,  introduced 
from  Japan  1874,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
of  recently  introduced  shrubs.  English 
papers  compare  it  with  Cydonia  {Pyrus)  Jap- 
onica,  which  the  flower  does  to  some  extent 
resemble  in  form,  though  not  quite  so  bright 
a  red  as  in  the  type  of  that  species.  In  foliage 
and  habit  it  is  more  like  the  CratoBgus  Pyra- 
cantha,  and  like  it,  has  a  disposition  to  be 
evergreen.  Its  golden-yellow  fruit,  which 
are  produced  in  great  abundance,  are  agree- 
ably perfumed  and  make  an  excellent  conserve. 
P.  Arbutifolia,has  white  flowers  and  black  fruit, 
and  the  leaves  of  this  become  of  a  beautiful 
red  in  autumn ;  there  are  six  or  eight  varieties 
commonly  treated  as  species.  All  the  plants 
belonging  to  the  genus  Pyrus  are  quite  hardy, 
and  may  all  be  raised  from  seeds,  or  grafted 
on  the  Wild  Crab,  or  Wild  Pear,  or  on  the 
Hawthorn,  which,  though  belonging  to  the 
genus  Crataegus,  is  very  nearly  allied  to  Pyrus. 
The  most  beautiful  of  all  our  scarlet-flowering 
shrubs,  now  known  as  Cydonia  Japonica,  was 
formerly  classed  in  the  genus  Pyrus.  Of  this 
species  there  is  also  a  white  variety.  The 
scarlet  variety  of  Cydonia  Japonica,  makes  a 
most  beautiful  hedge  plant,  looking  at  a  dis- 
tance like  a  line  of  fire. 

Pythonium.  From  python,  a  serpent,  on 
account  of  the  form  of  the  spadix.  Nat.  Ord. 
Aroidew. 

A  genus  of  plant-stove,  herbaceous  plants, 
with  globular,  fleshy  root  stocks ;  closely 
allied  to  Caladium.  One  species,  C.  Wallichia- 
num.  best  known  under  the  name  of  Arum 
bulbiferum,  is  remarkable  for  the  presence  of 
little  bulb-like  buds  on  the  leaves,  just  at  the 
junction  of  the  stalk  with  the  blade  of  the 
leaf.  These  bulbs  become  detached  and  thus 
serve  to  perpetuate  the  species.  This  plant 
has  been  described  under  the  name  of  Thom- 
sonia. 

Pyxidanthe'ra.  From  pyjw,  pyxidos,  a  box, 
and  anthera,  an  anther ;  the  anther  opening  as 
if  by  a  lid.     Nat.  Ord.  DiapensiacecB. 

P.  barbulata.  Pine-barren  Beauty,  or  Little 
Pixie,  is  a  small,  prostrate,  creeping  evergreen, 
not  over  two  inches  in  height.  It  is  fairly 
covered  in  early  spring  with  its  beautiful 
white  or  pinkish  flowers,  forming  a  remark- 
ably pretty  little  plant  for  the  rock  garden,  or 
any  similar-  situation.  It  is  very  common  in 
the  Sandy  Pine  barrens  of  New  Jersey  and 
southward. 

Pyxis,  Pyxidium.  A  pod  opening  round  hori- 
zontally by  a  lid,  as  in  Hyoacyamus,  or  Ana- 
gallis. 


AND  GENEKAL   HORTICULTURE. 


361 


Q. 


QUA 


Q 


uadri.  A  terra  of  Latin  origin,  signifying 
^  four  times,  as  Quadrangular,  four-angled  ; 
Quadrifoliate,  four-leaved;  Quadrifld,  four- 
cleft. 

Quakers  and  Shakers.  A  common  name  for 
Briza  media. 

Quaking  Grass.  The  common  name  of  Briza 
maxima,  etc.,  which  see. 

Quamash.     See  Camassia  esculenta. 

Qua'moclit.  Cypress  Vine.  From  kyamos,  a 
Kidney  Bean,  and  klitos,  dwarf ;  the  species  of 
this  genus  resembles  the  Kidney  Bean  in 
their  climbing  stems,  but  are  less  tall.  Nat. 
Ord.  ConvolvulacecB. 

A  somewhat  extensive  genus  of  half-hardy 
climbing  annuals  and  green-house  perennials. 
Q.  vulgaris,  perhaps  better  known  as  Ipomcea 
Quamodit,  is  the  beautiful  Cypress  Vine  of 
our  gardens.  Of  this  species  there  are  three 
varieties,  with  scarlet,  white,  and  rose-colored 
flowers,  all  natives  of  the  East  Indies.  The  spe- 
cies are  quite  common  in  the  Southern  States, 
having  escaped  from  the  gardens  into  the 
fields  and  hedgerows.  These  beautiful  annu- 
als are  not  as  much  grown  north  of  New  York 
as  they  should  be,  the  difficulty  having  been 
to  get  them  started  sufficiently  early  for  a  sat- 
isfactory season  of  flowering.  By  sowing  the 
seeds  in  pots,  in  the  house  or  in  a  hot-bed, 
early  in  April,  they  will  come  forward  early, 
and  may  be  turned  out  into  the  open  border, 
when  all  danger  from  frost  is  past.  The 
plants  thus  started  will  grow  twenty  feet 
high  in  a  season,  and  be  completely  covered 
with  flowers  for  at  least  three  months.  The 
seed  may  be  sown  where  wanted  to  grow.  If 
the  ground  is  made  fine  and  rich,  and  the 
seeds  soaked  in  hot  water  before  being  sown, 
there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  getting  a  very 
fine  display,  though  not  of  as  long  duration  as 
if  started  in  pots.  Q.  coccinea,  is  the  small- 
flowered,  heart-shaped-leaved  Ipomoea,  or 
Star  IpomcBa  (see  Ipomoea),  a  very  free-flower- 
ing species  from  the  East  Indies.  It  is  per- 
fectly hardy,  and  difficult  to  exterminate 
when  once  planted.  This  genus  is  included 
under  Ipomcea,  by  some  botanists. 

Qua'ssia.  Linneeus  applied  this  name  to  a  tree 
of  Surinam  in  honor  of  a  negro  slave  Quassi, 
who  used  its  bark  as  a  remedy  for  fever,  and 
enjoyed  such  a  reputation  among  the  natives 
as  to  be  almost  worshiped  by  some,  and  sus- 
pected of  magic  by  others.  Nat.  Ord.  Sima- 
rubaceoe. 

Q.  amara,  the  only  known  species,  is  a  very 
ornamental,  low-growing  tree,  native  of  Gui- 
ana. It  produces  long,  upright  racemes  of 
bright  scarlet  flowers,  the  petals  of  which  are 
curiously  twisted  together.  They  flower 
freely  if  in  a  green-house  with  plenty  of  heat ; 
Their  size,  however,  will  not  warrant  their 
general  introduction.  The  wood  is  intensely 
bitter,  and  the  extract  is  used  as  a  substitute 
for  hops  in  making  beer.  Drinking  cups  are 
made  from  the  wooa,  for  the  ionic  quality 
it  is  supposed  to  impart  to  the  water  if 
allowed  to  stand  in  them  a  short  time  before 


QUE 

drinking.    The  wood  of  this  tree  is  the  Quas- 
sia of  commerce. 

Quebec  Oak.     Qiiercus  alba. 

Queen  Lily.     See  Phcedranassa. 

Queen  of  the  Meadow.  See  Spircea  Ulmaria, 
and  S.  Salicifolia. 

Queen  of  the  Prairies.     Spiroea  lobata. 

Queensland  Plum.     See  Davidsonia. 

Que'roitron.     See  Quercus  tinctoria. 

Que'rcus.  The  Oak.  From  the  Celtic  quer, 
fine,  and  cuez,  a  tree ;  others  derive  it  from 
the  Greek  word  choiros,  a  pig ;  because  those 
animals  feed  on  the  acorns.  Nat.  Ord.  Cupw- 
lifercR. 

An  extensive  genus  of  well-known  trees, 
comprising  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  spe- 
cies, chiefly  confined  to  the  northern  regions 
of  the  globe,  being  rarely  met  in  the  southern 
hemisphere.  They  are  mostly  trees  of  large  . 
size ;  a  few  only  may  be  considered  shrubs. 
A  number  of  the  species  are  evergreen,  one  of 
the  most  valuable  of  the  class  being  Q.  virens, 
or  Live  Oak,  which  grows  from  Virginia 
southward,  and  the  value  of  the  timber 
increases,  because  of  its  quality,  the  further 
south  it  is  found.  Q.  alba.  White  Oak;  Q. 
tinctoria,  the  Quercitron,  Black,  Dyer's,  or  yel- 
low-barked Oak,  and  Q.  Prinus,  the  Chestnut 
Oak,  furnish  the  most  valuable  timber  for  the 
mechanic  arts.  The  Washington  Oak,  at 
Fishkill-on-Hudson,  is  of  the  latter  species, 
and  is  one  of  the  historical  old  trees  of  this 
"country,  of  which  the  "Garden  and  Forest," 
December,  1888,  says : 

"Washington's  headquarters  remained  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson,  between  New- 
burgh  and  New  Windsor,  from  the  spring  of 
1782  to  August  18th,  1783 ;  and  during  this 
time  he  crossed  the  river  frequently  for  the 
purpose  of  visiting  the  troops  in  camp  upon 
Fishkill  Plain,  near  the  village  of  that  name. 
The  most  convenient  landing-place  on  the 
east  bank  was  upon  a  long,  low  point  of  land 
formed  to  the  north  of  the  mouth  of  Fishkill 
Creek,  known  as  ^  Presqu'ile,'  and  here, 
according  to  the  tradition  of  the  locality, 
under  two  large  Oak  ti-ees,  Washington 
always  mounted  and  dismounted  from  his 
horse  as  he  started  and  returned  from  the 
camp. 

"  One  of  these  trees  alone  remains ;  its 
companion  was  blown  to  the  ground  on  the 
10th  of  August,  1881.  The  story  of  Washing- 
ton's connection  with  these  two  Oaks  seems 
to  be  abundantly  substantiated.  The  Com- 
mander-in-Chief was  often  accompanied  on 
these  excursions  from  his  headquarters  to 
the  camp  at  Fishkill  by  his  Adjutant-General, 
William  Denning,  whose  son,  also  William 
Denning,  at  that  time  fourteen  years  of  age, 
was  sometimes  allowed  to  join  the  party. 
The  impressions  made  upon  the  boy  by  the 
incidents  of  this  period  were  not  effaced ;  and 
many  years  later,  in  1822,  after  a  life  of  travel 
and  adventure,  he  returned  to  the  Hudson 
and  purchased  from  a  member  of  the  Ver- 
plank  family  the  point  of  land,  and  the  old 


362 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


QUI 

Oaks,  still  associated  in  his  mind  with  the 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  American  Army 
and  the  first  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  daughter  of  the  second  William  Denning, 
to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  these  facts,  still 
inhabits  the  old  mansion  built  on  '  Presqu'ile' 
in  1813 ;  and  her  life  and  that  of  Ian-  father 
span  the  years  which  separate  us  from  the 
days  of  Washington  and  the  Colonial  Army. 

"  The  tree  is  still  healthy  and  vigorous,  and 
standing  directly  at  the  top  of  the  low  river 
bank.  The  trunk  girths,  at  the  present  time, 
twenty-one  feet,  and,  judging  from  the  age  of 
its  companion,  which  was  blown  down  seven 
years  ago,  eight  or  ten  centuries  may  have 
passed  since  the  acoru  from  which  it  sprang 
fell  to  the  ground." 

Q.  macrocarpa,  the  Over-cup  White  Oak, 
and  Q.  coccinea,  the  Scarlet  Oak,  are  the  most 
beautiful  for  shade  trees.  Q.  ilicifolia,  is  the 
common  Scrub  Oak,  that  rarely  attains  a 
height  of  eight  feet.  Q.  infecioria,  a  native  of 
the  Levant,  is  a  very  common  species,  the 
branches  of  which  are  liable  to  be  stung  by 
insects,  causing  the  formation  of  the  Gall 
Nuts  of  commerce.  All  the  species  are  invalu- 
able for  timber  or  fuel,  excepting  the  low- 
growing  kinds.  The  bark  of  all  the  species  con- 
tains large  quanties  of  tannin,  which  gives  it 
a  value  exceeding  that  of  the  timber.  Q.  suber, 
Cork  Oak,  a  native  of  southern  Europe  and 
northern  Africa,  furnishes  the  Cork  of  com- 
merce. The  outer  layers  of  bark  in  this  tree 
increase  annually,  and  after  eight  or  nine 
years  fall  off;  but  for  commercial  purposes 
they  are  removed  one  or  two  years  pre- 
viously. The  bark  of  the  tree  is  removed  by 
incisions  round  the  top  and  bottom  of  the 
tree,  and  by  a  long  one  connecting  these  two, 
which  allows  the  bark  to  be  stripped  off. 
This  is  effected  when  the  bark  is  most  firmly 
attached  to  the  wood,  in  order  that  the  inner- 
most layers  of  bark  may  not  be  injured,  nor 
the  health  of  the  tree  impaired,  more  than  is 
necessary.  The  trees  furnish  a  crop  of  bark 
once  in  eight  or  nine  years. 

Quilla'ja.  From  the  Chilian  name  Quillai.  A 
small  genus  of  South  American  trees,  belong- 
ing to  the  Nat.  Ord.  Rosacece,  remarkable  for 
possessing  soap-like  qualities. 

The  bark  of  Q.  saponaria,  which  is  a  tree 
from  fifty  to  sixty  feet  high,  is  rough  and 
dark-colored  externally,  but  inside  consists  of 
numerous  whitish    layers,   which  contain    a 


EAD 

large  quantity  of  carbonate  of  lime  and  other 
mineral  matters.  It  is  also  rich  in  a  vegeta- 
ble soap-principle,  called  Saponine,  and  there- 
fore much  used  as  a  substitute  for  Soap. 

Quinate.     Arranged  in  fives. 

Quince.    See  Cydonia. 

Quince.    Bengal.    JEgle  marmelos. 

Quinine  Plants.  The  principal  plants  produc- 
ing the  Quinine-bark  of  commerce  are  several 
species  of  Cinchona,  the  principal  of  which 
are  the  Yellow  bark,  C.  Calisaya;  the  Gray  or 
Huanuco  bark.C.  micrantha,  and  C.nitida;  the 
Loxa  or  Crown-bark,  the  produce  of  C.  Con- 
daminea  (syn.  C.  officinalis),  and  the  Ked  bark 
furnished  by  C.  succirubra. 

Quin'tinia.  Named  for  La  Quintinie,  a  French 
writer  on  horticulture.  Nat.  Ord.  Saxifra- 
gacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  shrubs  or  small  trees, 
natives  of  New  Zealand  and  southern  Aus- 
tralia. The  genus  is  closely  allied  to  EscaU 
Ionia,  and  the  species  are  seldom  found  in 
cultivation. 

Quinsy-Berry.     The  fruit  of  Ribes  nigrum. 

Quisqu'alis.  From  quis,  who,  and  qualis,  what 
kind ;  referring  to  the  fact  that  when  the 
genus  was  named  it  was  uncertain  to  what 
class  or  order  it  belonged.  Nat.  Ord.  Conibre- 
tacew. 

A  genus  of  plants  indigenous  to  tropical 
and  sub-tropical  Asia  and  Africa,  and  consist- 
ing of  climbing  shrubs,  with  opposite,  rarely 
alternate  leaves,  and  axillary  or  terminal 
spikes  of  flowers.  These  are  very  fine  plants 
for  the  hot-house  or  a  warm  green-house,  and 
are  great  favorites  with  those  who  grow  them. 
Q.  Indica,  Q.  glabra,  and  Q.  Sinensis,  are  among 
the  best,  bearing  brilliant  red,  orange  red, 
and  rose-colored  flowers.  Propagated  from 
cuttings  of  young  wood.  First  introduced 
into  England  in  1815. 

Quitch,  or  Quick  Grass.  The  common  name 
for  an  intolerable  pest.     See  Triticum. 

Quiver  Tree.  A  common  name  for  Aloe  dicho- 
toma. 

Quivi'sia.  Bois  de  Quivi  is  the  name  given  in 
the  Isle  of  France.     Nat.  Ord.  Meliacex. 

A  genus  of  trees  and  shrubs,  natives  of 
Mauritius,  Bourbon  and  Madagascar.  Q. 
heterophylla,  the  only  species  yet  introduced, 
has  white  flowers  borne  in  axillary  clusters, 
but  is  of  little  horticultural  interest. 


R. 


Rabbit  Berry.     Shepherdia  argentea. 
abbit  Foot.     Trifolium  arvense. 

Rabbit  Root.     Aralia  nudicaului. 

Raccoon  Berry.     Podophyllum  Peltatum. 

Race.  A  term  applied  to  varieties  of  plants  as 
distinguished  from  species,  when  they  can  be 
perpetuated  by  seed  tlirough  a  series  of  gen- 
erations, when  they  become  permanent  varie- 
ties. The  Cauliflower,  Broccoli,  Cabbage, 
etc.,  are  distinct  races,  which  have  sprung 
from  the  species  Brassica  oleracea. 


Raceme.  An  inflorescence  in  which  the  flowers 
are  arranged  singly  on  distinct  pedicles  along 
a  common  axis ;  a  spike  with  stalked  flowers, 
as  the  Laburnum. 

Racemose.     Flowering  in  a  raceme. 

Rachis.  The  axis  or  central  stem  of  an  inflor- 
escence, or  of  a  compound  leaf. 

Radial.  Growing  on  the  circumference  of  a  circle. 

Radiate.  Diverging  from  a  common  centre, 
like  rays,  as  the  arms  of  an  umbel,  or  the  ligu- 
late  florets  of  any  composite. 


AND   aENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


363 


RAD 

Radical.     Springing  from  the  root,  or  from  its 
crowu. 

Radicans.     Rooting  from  the  stem  or  leaves. 

Radicle.     The  first  root  of  a  plant,  rudimentary 
iu  the  embryo. 

Radicose.     Having  a  large  root. 

Radish.  The  well-known  esculent  root  of  Ra- 
phanus  sativun  (which  see).  The  common  gar- 
den Radish  is  a  hardy  annual,  entirely  un- 
known in  its  native  state.  It  is  usually 
credited  to  China.  It  has  long  been  held  in 
high  esteem,  and  before  the  Christian  era  a 
volume  was  written  on  this  plant  alone.  The 
ancient  Greeks,  in  offering  their  oblations  to 
ApoDo,  presented  Turnips  in  lead.  Beets  in 
silver,  and  Radishes  in  vessels  of  beaten  gold. 
Pliny  observes  that  Radishes  grow  best  in 
saline  soils,  or  when  they  are  watered  with 
salt  water;  and  hence,  he  says,  the  Radishes 
of  Egypt  are  better  than  any  in  the  world,  on 
account  of  their  being  supplied  with  nitre ; 
modern  experience,  however,  does  not  allow 
us  to  endorse  this.  He  gives  some  account  of 
the  kinds  grown  at  Rome  in  his  day,  one  of 
which  he  describes  as  being  so  clear  and 
transparent  that  one  might  see  through  the 
roots.  The  Radish  was  introduced  into  Eng- 
land during  the  sixteenth  century.  Four 
kinds  were  cultivated  by  Gerarde  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  Since 
that  time  many  new  varieties  have  been  in- 
troduced and  disseminated  by  European 
seedsmen  and  gardeners.  The  seed  is  exten- 
sively grown  in  France  and  Germany,  and  to 
those  counti-ies  we  are  indebted  for  our  sup- 
ply more  than  to  any  other.  For  a  seed  crop 
the  plants  are  taken  from  a  seed-bed  and 
transplanted  when  quite  small,  an  operation 
that  can  only  be  carried  on  profitably  where 
labor  is  very  cheap,  When  ripe,  the  plants 
are  cut  to  the  ground  and  stacked,  and 
allowed  to  remain  so  a  year  before  they  are 
threshed.  If  this  care  is  not  observed,  and 
the  seed  threshed  out  soon  after  ripening,  it 
will  invariably  become  heated  and  spoiled, 
and  this  is  the  chief  cause  of  failure  in  the 
germination  of  the  seed.  The  seed  retains  its 
vitality  a  number  of  years.  The  varieties  of 
Radish  now  most  prized  are  :  French  Break- 
fast, Early  Round  Dark  Red,  Early  Scarlet 
Turnip,  Wood's  Early  Frame,  White-tipped 
Scarlet  Turnip,  and  for  winter  the  Rose  Chi- 
nese. Radishes  are  largely  grown  in  the 
Southern  States  to  be  shipped  north,  as  it  is  a 
vegetable  probably  more  than  any  other 
grown,  that  is  appreciated  for  its  earliness. 
Immense  quantities  are  raised  under  glass  in 
green-houses,  hot-beds,  and  cold-frames  in  the 
vicinity  of  all  large  cities.  It  is  estimated 
that  upward  of  twenty  acres  are  raised  under 
glass  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York.  A  light, 
rather  sandy  soil,  well  enriched  with  short 
stable  manure,  suits  them  best.  Under  glass 
the  temperature  should  not  exceed  60°  at 
night,  with  ten  to  fifteen  degrees  higher  dur- 
ing the  day.  The  variety  most  used  for  forc- 
ing is  the  Ilound  Dark  Red. 

Radish.     Horse.     Cochlearia  Armoracia. 
Sea.     Raphanus  maritiinus. 
Rat- Tail.     See  Raphanus  cnndatus. 
Water.     Nasturtium  amphibium. 
Wild.     Raphanus  Raphanistrum. 


RAK 

Radius.  The  circumference  or  outer  side  of 
the  circle  formed  by  umbels  or  heads,  or  other 
such  parts. 

Radix.  The  root ;  that  part  which  is  the  de- 
velopment of  the  radicle. 

Rafila,  or  RoflBa.     See  Raphia. 

RafHe'sia.  Patma  wort.  Named  after  Sir 
Stamford  Raffles,  who  discovered  the  plant  in 
the  interior  of  Sumatra,  wliere  it  is  called 
Ambun-Ambun.     Nat.  Ord.  RafflesiacecB. 

The  typical  genus  of  a  wonderful  order  of 
parasitical  plants  resembling  some  species  of 
Fungi  in  general  appearance,  but  which,  ac- 
cording to  the  authority  of  the  celebrated 
English  botanist,  Robert  Brown,  is  a  ti'ue 
flower,  having  stamens  in  one  plant  and  pis- 
tils in  another.  R.  Arnoldi  was  found  in  the 
Island  of  Sumatra  about  sixty  years  ago,  and 
was  then,  as  it  is  now,  considered  to  be  one 
of  the  greatest  wonders  of  the  Vegetable 
Kingdom.  It  consists  of  five  fleshy  lobes  or 
petals,  each  three  feet  across,  of  a  spotted  or  , 
mottled  red  color,  the  centre  forming  a  cup- 
like dish,  capable  of  holding  six  quarts  of 
water.  It  has  the  offensive  odor  of  some 
species  of  Fungi,  and  was  first  supposed  to 
belong  to  that  order  from  this  fact,  and  its 
general  resemblance  to  the  Fungus  class. 

Rrf'fnia.  Named  in  honor  of  C  G.  Rafn,  a  Dan- 
ish botanist,  who  wrote  a  fiora  of  Denmark 
in  1796.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  glaucous,  often  glabrous,  shrubs, 
natives  of  South  Africa.  They  all  have  yellow 
flowers  in  short  terminal  racemes.  A  few 
species,  much  resembling  some  of  the  Croto- 
larias,  are  in  cultivation,  and  are  propagated 
by  cuttings  of  the  fii'm  side  shoots,  or  by 
seeds. 

Ragged  Robin.     Lychnis  Flos-cuculi. 

Ragged  Sailor.     See  Polygonum. 

Ragweed.     Ambrosia  trifida. 

Ragwort.     See  Ofhonna,  and  Senecio  Jacobcea. 

Rain-berry.    Rhamnus  catharticus. 

Rainbow  Flower.  A  popular  name  for  the 
genus  Iris. 

Rainbow  Plant.  A  name  given  to  Alternanthera 
paronychioides  major. 

Raisin-Tree.  Japanese.  A  common  name  for 
Hovenia  dulcis,  and  Ribes  rubrum. 

Rake.  This  is  the  implement  usually  used  for 
leveling  the  soil  after  digging,  or  in  cleaning 
up  walks,  etc.,  but  for  many  years  we  have 
found  the  steel  rake,  of  a  size  suitable  to  the 
work  to  be  done,  to  be  the  most  effective  tool 
used  in  our  grounds  for  the  prevention  of 
weeds. 

Nearly  all  our  first  "hoeing"  is  done  by 
these  rakes;  that  is,  the  ground,  in  from 
three  to  tour  days  after  planting  or  sowing,  is 
raked  over,  thus  destroying  the  weeds  just  as 
they  begin  to  germinate  and  before  they  ap- 
pear on  the  surface.  In  from  five  to  ten  days, 
according  to  the  state  of  the  weather,  the 
ground  is  again  gone  over  with  the  rakes. 
We  are  no  believers  in  deep  hoeing  in  newly- 
planted  ground  ;  it  is  only  when  plants  begin 
to  grow,  and  when  the  soil  gets  hard,  that 
deep  hoeing  is  beneficial.  By  the  use  of  the 
steel  rake  in  this  manner,  three  times  as  much 
work  can  be  done  as  by  the  hoe.  It  cannot 
be  used,  of  course,  if  the  weeds  are  up,  but  if 


364 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


EAM 

it  is  thus  used  before  the  weeds  appear  on  the 
surface,  one  man  will  do  more  than  six  will  if 
delay  has  been  made  until  the  weeds  have  to 
be  cut  down  by  the  hoe. 

Ramee  or  Ramie.     See  BoRhmeria. 

Rame'nta.  Thin,  chaffy  scales  with  which  the 
stems  of  some  plants,  especially  Ferns,  are 
covered. 

Ramification.  Sub-divisions  of  roots,  branches, 
leaves,  or  panicles. 

Ramiflorous.     Flowering  on  the  branches. 

Ramo'ndia.  Named  after  L.  Raymond,  a  French 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneracem. 

R.  Pyrenaica,  the  best  known  species,  is  a 
very  pretty  little  perennial,  growing  only 
three  to  four  inches  high,  with  the  fiower- 
stalks  springing  from  a  dense  mass  of  rough, 
dark  green  leaves.  The  general  habit  of 
growth  of  the  plant  very  much  resembles 
that  of  a  Primrose.  It  is  quite  hardy,  and 
admiral )Iy  adapted  for  rock-work;  but  it  will 
grow  in  the  border,  where  it  is  not  too  warm 
and  drj'.  It  begins  to  flower  in  May,  and 
continues  in  bloom  nearly  the  whole  summer. 
It  is  a  native  of  the  Pyrenees,  whence  it  was 
introduced  about  1600.  Parkinson  describes 
it  as  the  "Blew  Beares  Eares  with  Borage 
leaves."  The  flowers,  however,  are  not  blue, 
but  pale  lilac ;  propagated  by  root  division,*or 
from  seed. 

Ramose.     Divided  into  many  branches. 

Rampion  (Campanula  Rapunculus).  A  hardy 
biennial,  the  fleshy  roots  of  which  are  used 
in  salads,  either  boiled  or  in  a  raw  state.  The 
leaves  are  also  blanched  and  used  in  winter 
salads.    It  is  very  little  cultivated. 

Rain's  Head.  A  popular  name  for  Cypripedium 
arieti7ium. 

Ramstead.  One  of  the  common  names  of  Lin- 
aria  vulgaris. 

Ramulose.  Bearing  many  small  twigs,  or  small 
branches. 

Ra'ndia.  Named  after  J.  Rand,  a  London  bot- 
anist.    Nat.  Ord.  Ruhiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  evergreen 
shrubs,  natives  of  the  East  Indies,  and  allied 
to  Gardenia.  They  are  I'arely  grown  as  flow- 
ering or  ornamental  plants.  The  powdered 
root  of  some  of  the  species  is  sold  as  Indian 
Cockle,  and  is  used  to  intoxicate  or  stupefy 
fish,  which  permits  their  easy  capture. 

Ranuncula'ceae.  A  large  natural  order  of  her- 
baceous herbs,  rarelj'  shrubs  or  climbers, 
with  radical  or  alternate  leaves,  very  fre- 
quently much  cut  or  divided.  The  species 
are  numerous  in  Europe  and  northern  Asia, 
and  less  so  in  North  America.  There  are  also 
a  few  found  in  the  temperate  regions  of  the 
southern  hemisphere.  Throughout  the  order 
there  is  a  tendencj^  to  an  acrid,  caustic  and 
more  or  less  poisonous  principle,  volatile  in 
the  foliage  but  virulent  in  the  roots.  The 
narcotic  and  poisonous  qualities  of  the  Aco- 
nites are  well  known.  There  are  about  forty 
genera,  and  upwards  of  twelve  hundred  spe- 
cies. The  well-known  garden  plants,  Aconi- 
tum.  Clematis,  Anemone,  Pceonia,  and  Ranun- 
culus are  good  examples. 

Ranu'nculus.  Buttercup,  Golden  Cup,  King's 
Cup,  and  Crowfoot.  From  rana,  a  frog ;  many 
of  the  species  inhabit  marshy  places  fre- 
quented by  frogs.     Nat.  Ord.  Ranunculacem. 


EAP 

The  species  may  be  divided  into  two  kinds : 
border  flowers  and  florists'  flowers.  The  lat- 
ter consist  of  some  hundreds  of  the  varieties 
obtained  from  the  species  Ranunculus  Asiati- 
cus,  a  native  of  the  Levant,  with  tuberous 
roots,  which  is  rather  too  tender  to  endure 
the  winter  in  the  open  air  without  some  kind 
of  protection.  The  wild  plant  grows  natural- 
ly in  Persia,  in  meadows  which  are  moist  dur- 
ing winter  and  in  the  growing  season,  but  dry 
during  a  great  part  of  summer.  The  usual 
season  for  planting  the  Eanimculus  is  from 
September  to  November.  The  roots  may  be 
placed  about  four  inches  apart  each  way,  cov- 
ered with  two  inches  of  soil,  and  protected  by 
straw,  mats,  or  other  material,  during  severe 
frosts.  The  plants  will  come  into  flower  in 
June,  and  when  the  leaves  wither  the  roots 
may  be  taken  up,  dried  in  the  shade,  and  pre- 
served in  a  dry  place  till  they  are  wanted  for 
replanting.  As  the  plant  seeds  freely,  even 
when  semi-double,  new  sorts  without  end 
may  be  raised  from  seed,  which  may  be  sown 
in  pots  or  flat  pans  as  soon  as  it  is  gatliered, 
and  placed  in  a  cold  frame.  The  common 
mode,  however,  of  propagating  the  Ranuncu- 
lus is  by  separating  the  offsets  from  the  larger 
roots.  Several  of  the  species  are  weeds  with 
us,  and  common  in  moist  pastures,  having 
been  introduced  from  Europe  at  an  early  day. 
They  have  become  extensively  naturalized,  so 
much  so  as  to  be  a  nuisance  to  farmers  in 
some  places,  and  are  popularly  known  as 
Buttercups.  R.  acris  Jlore-pleno,  the  Yellow 
Bachelor's  Buttons,  is  a  profuse  flowerer,  the 
blossoms  being  in  button-like  rosettes,  and 
Buttercup  yellow  in  color.  The  double  vari- 
ety of  R.  Aconiiifolius,  is  known  in  Britain  as 
"  Fair  Maids  of  France  "  and  "  Fair  Maids  of 
Kent,"  and,  with  the  foregoing  species,  is  an 
excellent  and  ornamental  border  plant,  flour- 
ishing best  in  a  deep,  moist  loam.  R.  am- 
plexicaulis,  is  a  most  beautiful  herbaceous 
plant,  growing  about  a  foot  high,  with  glau- 
cous-gray foliage,  and  pure  white  blossoms  an 
inch  or  more  across,  with  bright  yellow  cen- 
tres. It  also  grows  best  in  a  deep,  moist 
loam,  and  is  the  better  for  the  protection  of 
a  cold  frame  during  winter. 

Rape.  Brassica  napus.  A  hardy  biennial  some- 
times grown  in  gardens  as  a  salad  plant. 

Rapha'nus.  Eadish.  From  ra,  quickly,  and 
phainomai.  to  appear;  alluding  to  the  quick 
germination  of  the  seeds.  Nat.  Ord.  Cruci- 
fercB. 

A  very  useful  and  widely  grown  genus  of 
plants,  including  the  well-known  Radish  of 
the  garden.  R.  caudatus,  the  Eat-tail  Eadish, 
said  to  be  a  native  of  Java,  is  commonly  culti- 
vated in  the  West  Indies  for  its  edible  pods. 
For  culture,  etc.,  see  Radish. 

Ra'phia.  From  the  native  name  of  the  Mada- 
gascar species.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

The  species  forming  the  genus  of  Palms  are 
confined  to  three  very  limited  but  widely 
separated  localities ;  one,  R.  tcedigera,  being 
found  only  on  the  banks  of  the  Lower  Amazon 
and  Para  Rivers  in  Brazil ;  another,  R.  vinifera, 
on  the  west  coast  of  Africa;  while  the  third, 
R.  Ruffia,  is  only  known  as  a  cultivated  jtlant 
in  Madagascar  and  the  neighboring  islands. 
All  three  inhabit  low,  swampy  lands  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  sea  or  river  banks,  within  the 
influence  of  the  tides.      They  have  stout,  un- 


TYPES     OK     RADISHES. 


?"^^^^^      ^^^n 


354  IX>NO  BOABLXT. 


OLIVE  SCVHLET.  0U7E  'WHITE.  FBENCH  BEEAKFAST. 


BIBF8  (GOOSEBERRY). 


RANUSCULUS   (DOUBLE   FRENCH), 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


365 


RAS 

armed,  ringed  trunks  of  no  great  height,  and 
bear  gigantic,  pinnate,  spiny  leaves,  often 
fifty  or  more  feet  in  length,  and  erect.,  so  that 
the  entire  trees  are  sometimes  sixty  or  seventy 
feet  high.  The  flower  spikes  are  also  of  large 
size  and  mucli  branched,  hanging  down  from 
among  the  leaves,  and  measuring  as  much 
as  six  feet  in  length,  the  branches  being 
arranged  in  two  opposite  rows,  and  the  ulti- 
mate ones  bearing  the  flowers  resembling  flat- 
tened catkins.  Both  sexes  are  borne  on  the 
same  spike.  The  fruit  spikes  sometimes 
weigh  as  much  as  two  or  three  hundred 
pounds,  and  bear  a  large  number  of  one-seeded 
fruits  rather  larger  than  eggs,  covered  with 
shining,  bony,  overlapping  scales.  These 
Palms  furnish  material  for  a  great  variety  of 
useful  purposes,  such  as  the  manufacture  of 
baskets,  boxes,  mats,  I'ope,  bags,  etc.,  besides 
thatch  for  houses  and  other  uses.  While  one 
(R.  vinifera)  produces  Palm  wine  in  abundance, 
another  {R.  Ruffia)  has  furnished  the  gardener 
with  his  best  tying  material.  This  species 
Avas  introduced  from  Madagascar  into  England 
as  long  ago  as  1820,  but  it  has  only  been  within 
the  past  ten  years  that  its  great  value  as  a 
fibre-producing  plant  has  been  known  outside 
of  its  native  home.  Raffia,  as  a  tying  material 
for  plants,  either  in  the  green-house  or  the 
garden,  supersedes  Cuba  bast  and  Russia 
matting  to  such  an  extent  that  these  fibres 
are  now  rarely  used  for  this  purpose.  It  may 
be  added  here,  that  Dr.  Vcm  Martins,  the 
great  authority  on  Palmaceous  plants,  re- 
moved the  above  mentioned  three  species 
from  Sagus,  and  placed  them  together  under 
the  generic  name  Raj}hia.  Sagus  Ruffia,  and 
Raphia  Ruffia,  are  thereforti  one  and  the  same 
plant.  These  Palms  require  a  high,  moist 
temperature  for  perfect  development.  Propa- 
gated by  seeds. 
Raspberry.     See  Rubus. 

Raspberry-jam  Tree.  The  Acacia  acuminata, 
of  Avestern  Australia,  from  which  is  obtained 
a  hard,  heavy  wood,  with  an  odor  resembling 
Raspberry -jam. 

Rattan  Cane.  A  common  name  for  Calamus 
Draco,  and  other  species. 

Rattan  Palm.     See  Rhapis. 

Rattle.  Red.  A  common  name  for  Pedicularis 
sylvatica. 

Rattle.     Yellow.     Rhinanthus  Crista-galli. 

Rattlesnake  Grass.     Glyceria  Canadensis. 

Rattlesnake  Orchid.     See  Pholidota. 

Rattlesnake  Plantain.     A  local  name  for  Good- 

yera  pubescens. 
Rattlesnake  Root.     Nabalus  albus. 
Rattlesnake's  Master.     Eryngium  Yuccarfolium ; 

also  a  local  name  for  Liatrl^  scarioBa  and  L. 

squarrosa. 
Rattlesnake  "Weed.     Hieracium  venosum. 

Ravena'la.  Said  to  be  the  native  name  of  the 
plant  in  Madagascar.      Nat.  Ord.  Scitaminece. 

A  genus  comprising  two  splendid  orna- 
mental stove  plants  very  much  resembling 
the  Musa.  One  is  a  native  of  northern  Brazil 
and  Guiana,  the  other,  R.  Madagascar iensls, 
as  the  name  implies,  of  Madagascar.  This 
noble  plant  is  called  by  the  French  the 
"  Traveller's  Tree  "  on  account  of  the  w-ater 
which    is    stored    up   in    the    large    cup-like 


REG 

sheaths,  and  which  is  sought  for  by  travelers 
to  allay  their  thirst.  The  seeds  are  edible, 
and  the  blue  pulpy  aril  surrounding  them 
"yields  an  essential  oil.  Syn.  Urania  speciosa. 
Ravene'a  Hildebrandtii.  The  only  described 
species  is  a  neat,  slender  Palm,  nearly  allied  to 
Hyophorbe.  It  is  a  native  of  the  Comoro 
Islands,  whence  it  was  introduced  in  1878. 
It  is  a  very  graceful,  ornamental  species,  in 
habit  like  some  of  the  Cliamcedoreas. 

Ray.  Parts  diverging  in  a  circle  from  a  central 
point.  The  outer  flowers,  when  differently 
formed  from  the  inner  in  umbels. 

Ray  Grass  or  Rye  Grass.     Lolium  perenne. 

Receptacle.  That  part  of  the  fructification 
which  supports  the  otlier  parts. 

Reclinate.  Turned  or  curved  downwards  so 
that  the  upper  part  rests  on  the  ground  or 
some  other  object,  as  the  branches  of  many 
trees. 

Recurved.     Bent,  but  not  rolled,  backwards  or 

outwards. 
Red  Bay.     Laurus  Carolinensis. 
Red  Bud.     Cercis  Canadensis. 
Red  Cedar.     See  Junipents  Virginiana. 
Red  Gum  Tree.     Eucalyptus  resinifiora. 
Red-Hot  Poker.     See  Tritoma. 
Red  Lac.     RJuis  succedanea. 

Red  Root  or  Blood  Root.  Popular  names  for 
the  fleshy  rhizomes  of  Sanguinaria  Canadensis. 
See  also  Ceanothus,  and  Lacnanthes. 

Red  Spider.     See  Insects. 

Red  Top.  The  common  name  of  Agrostis  vvl- 
garis,  which  see. 

Red  Wood.  An  East  Indian  dye-wood,  the 
produce  of  Pterocarpus  santalinus,  which  see. 

Reed.     See  Phragmites  and  Arundo. 

Reed.  Indian,  or  Indian  Shot.  Common  names 
for  Canna  Indica. 

Reed-mace.     Typha  latifolia. 

Reeve'sia.  Named  for  John  Reeves,  F.  L.  S.,  of 
Canton,  a  zealous  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Ster- 
culiacece. 

A  genus  of  green-house  trees,  natives  of 
Eastern  Asia.  R.  thyrsoidea,  the  only  intro- 
duced species,  is  a  very  handsome  tree  with 
white  or  cream-colored  flowers  and  alternate, 
br  jadly-lanceolate  leaves.  Introduced  from 
China  in  1826. 

Reflexed.  Abruptly  bent  outwards,  or  back- 
wards. 

Refracted.  Bent  suddenly,  so  as  to  appear 
broken  at  the  bend. 

Rege'lia.  Named  after  Dr.  E.  Regel,  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Botanic  Gardens  at  St.  Peters- 
burgh.     Nat.  Ord.  Myrtaceoe. 

A  genus  of  green-house  shrubs,  with  the 
habit  of  Beaufortia,  natives  of  western 
Australia.  R.  ciliata,  the  only  introduced 
species,  forms  a  handsome  spreading,  more  or 
less  pubescent  or  hairy  shrub,  with  bright  red 
flowers  in  small  dense  globular  heads.  Propa- 
gated by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened  shoots. 
Introduced  in  1874. 

Regular.  Uniform  and  symmetrical  in  shape  of 
structure. 


366 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


EEH 

Rehma'nnia.  Named  in  honor  of  Joseph  Reh- 
mann,  a  physician  of  St.  Petersburgh,  1779- 
1831.     Nat.  Ord.  ScrophulariacecB. 

A  genus  of  two  species  of  hardy  perennial 
plants,  natives  of  China  and  Japan.  R.  Chin- 
ensis  is  a  very  handsome,  dwarf-growing  plant, 
producing  in  summer  large  tubular  flowers  of 
a  purplish  color  striped  with  a  darlter  hue.  It 
succeeds  best  planted  in  a  moist,  shady  border, 
and  requires  to  be  wintered  under  glass.  It 
is  increased  by  cuttings.     Syn.  R.  glatinosa. 

Rei'dia.  An  honorary  name.  Nat.  Ord.  Euphor- 
biacecB. 

A  genus  of  about  a  dozen  species  of  green- 
house shrubs,  allied  to  Phyllanthus,  and  by 
some  authors  included  under  that  genus. 
They  are  small  bushes,  having  slender  twigs 
furnished  with  numerous  small,  entire  leaves, 
bearing  in  their  axils,  either  singly  or  in 
clusters,  small  greenish  or  whitish  flowers 
tipped  with  pink.  Some  of  the  species  are 
very  pretty,  though  not  considered  useful 
flowering  plants.  They  are  mostly  natives  of 
the  East  Indies.  They  were  first  introduced 
in  1864,  and  are  propagated  by  root  cuttings. 

Reindeer  Moss.    See  Lichen. 

Reine'ckea.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  Reinecke,  a 
successful  cultivator  of  tropical  plants.  Nat. 
Ord.  Liliacece. 

R.  earned,  formerly  called  Sanseviera  carnea, 
the  onl}'  known  species,  is  a  very  pretty,  hardy, 
herbaceous  perennial  inhabiting  the  marshy 
districts  of  Japan.  It  has  grassy  leaves  six 
inches  to  a  foot  long,  from  the  midst  of  which 
arises  a  flower  stalk  three  or  four  feet  high, 
bearing  a  number  of  rose-colored,  or  purple, 
fragrant  flowers,  each  seated  in  the  axil  of  a 
bract.  The  plants  are  well  adapted  for  the 
aquarium  or  margins  of  fountains.  A  beauti- 
ful variegated  variety  is  in  cultivation,  but 
requires  to  be  pot-bound,  or  grown  in  poor 
sandy  soil,  or  lime-rubbish,  to  retain  its  varie- 
gation.    Propagated  by  offsets. 

Reiu  Orchis.     See  Habenaria. 

Reinwa'rdtia.  Named  after  K.  G.  K.  Rein- 
wardt,  once  director  of  the  Botanic  Garden  at 
Leyden.     Nat.    Ord.  Linacem. 

A  genus  found  in  the  mountain  regions  of 
India,  consisting  of  three  species  whicii  were 
formerly  included  under  Limim,  but  from 
which    they  differ  botanically.      R.   triginum 

.  (sjm.  Linum)  is  an  erect  branching,  deciduous- 
leaved  bush  cultivated  for  itshandeome  yellow 
flowers,  which  are  nearly  one  and  a  half  inches 
across  and  are  all  the  more  highly  prized  that 
they  are  produced  freely  in  winter.  Easily 
propagated  by  cuttings  or  pieces  of  the  creep- 
ing root.  R.  tetraginum  is  a  later  introduction 
from  the  mountains  of  India.  It  has  alternate, 
deep  green  leaves,  its  beautiful  yellow  and 
orange  flowers  being  borne  five  or  six  at  a 
time  on  each  branch,  in  terminal  or  axillary 
racemes.  It  is  an  excellent  free-flowering 
winter  green-house  plant. 

Rena'nthera.  From  ren,  a  kidney,  and  anthera, 
an  anther  or  pollen-bag;  in  allusion  to  the 
kidney  or  reniform  shape  of  the  anthers  or 
pollen  masses.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacem. 

A  small  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids,  mostly 
rare,  and  exceedingly  beautiful.  R.  Lowii  is  a 
remarkable  species,  a  native  of  Borneo.  This 
species  grows  to  a  great  height,  and  has  leaves 
from  two  to  three  feet  long,  with  pendulous 


EET 

flower  stems  ten  or  twelve  feet  in  length, 
clothed  with  numerous  large,  conspicuous 
flowers,  resembling  some  large  insect.  It  is 
allied  to  Vanda,  and  requires  to  be  grown  in  a 
high,  moist  temperature.    Introduced  in  1843. 

Reniform.     Kidney-shaped  in  outline. 

Repens.     Creeping. 

Replicate.     Folded  backwards. 

Rescue  Grass.  Bromiis  Schrmderi.  A  valuable 
forage  grass,  thriving  in  any  soil,  but  prefer- 
ring that  which  is  wet  or  moist. 

Ress'da.  Mignonette.  From  resedo,  to  calm 
or  appease.  The  Latins  considered  its  appli- 
cation useful  in  external  bruises.  Nat.  Ord. 
Resedacece.  For  description  of  this  genus  see 
Mignonette. 

Reseda'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  annual  or  per- 
ennial herVjs,  with  alternate,  entire,  or  pin- 
nately-divided  leaves,  and  minute  gland-like 
stipules.  They  are  natives  chiefly  of  Europe, 
northern  Africa  and  Western  Asia,  but  a  very 
few  occur  in  southern  Africa  and  northwest 
America.  R.  luteola,  the  wild  yellow-weed, 
or  Dyer's-weed,  was  formerly  in  great  demand, 
affording,  as  it  does,  a  beautiful  yellow  dye. 
The  order  contains  about  six  genera  and 
thirty  species. 

Resin  Plant.  A  common  name  for  Bursera 
acuminata,  and  B.  gummifera,  Dammara  Aus- 
tralut,  Guiacum  officinale,  etc. 

Restharro'w.     See  Ononin. 

Restia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  perennial  herbs, 
with  horizontal  or  creeping  rhizomes,  mostly 
natives  of  Australia  and  southern  Africa.  The 
order  comprises  twenty  genera  and  about  230 
species,  few  of  which  are  of  any  horticultural 
value.  Restio  and  Willdenowia  are  the  best 
known  examples. 

Re'stio.  From  restio,  cord  ;  alluding  to  the  use 
of  the  plants  in  South  Africa.  The  grass-like 
plants  of  this  genus  are  used  as  cord  at  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The  species  are  only  of 
botanical  interest. 

Restre'pia.  Named  in  honor  of  Joseph  E. 
Restrep,  a  naturalist  who  traveled  in  South 
America.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids  from 
Central  America.  They  are  very  pretty  little 
plants,  with  curious,  many-colored  flowers. 
They  are  of  easy  culture  in  a  cool  house.  They 
all  flower  freely  in  summer,  and  should  be 
grown  in  pots  in  leaf  mould  and  sphagnum 
moss.  They  were  first  introduced  in  1843, 
and  are  propagated  by  division. 

Resupinate.  Inverted  in  position,  appearing 
as  if  upside  down. 

Resurrection  Plant.  A  popular  name  given  to 
Anastatica  Hierochuntina  and  Selaginella  lepi- 
dophylla. 

Reticulate.     Eesembling  net-work. 

Retino'spora.  Japan  Cypress.  From  retine, 
resin,  and  spora,  spore  or  seed.  Nat.  Ord. 
ConifrrcB. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful,  hardy  evergreens, 
mostly  dwarf  and  compact,  particularly 
adapted  for  lawn  decoration.  They  are 
closely  allied  to  Cupressus,  and  are  propagated 
in  the  same  manner.  The  Japanese  Ketino- 
sporas  are  among  the  most  beautiful  of  small 
evergreen  trees.  They  are  fine  subjects  for  the 
lawn,  are  hardy  in  the  latitude  of  New  York, 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


367 


RET 

and  make  very  pretty  hedges,  especially  R. 
obtvsa  aurea.  They  are  worthy  of  being  largely 
planted.  Introduced  in  1864.  This  genus  is 
placed  by  some  botanists  under  ChamcBcyparia. 

Retuse.     Terminating  in  a  round  end. 

Revolute.  Rolled  Vjack;  as  certain  tendrils, 
and  the  sides  and  ends  of  some  leaves. 

Rhamna'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  or 
shrubs,  inhabiting  warm  and  tropical  regions. 
The  branches  are  often  thorny  or  prickly, 
with  the  flowers  in  axillary  or  terminal  clus- 
ters, cymes  or  panicles.  The  most  useful 
genera,  from  an  economic  point  of  view,  are 
Rhcunnus,  and  Zizyphus,  the  species  of  which 
yield  medicinal  jnices.  Rhamrms  davuricus, 
and  R.  tinctorius,  yield  the  famous  Green  In- 
digo, the  Lo-Kao  of  China,  quantities  of  which 
have  been  imported  into  Lyons  and  used  for 
dyeing  silks,  the  shades  of  green  imparted  by 
it  being  exceedingly  beautiful.  The  order 
consists  of  about  forty  genera  and  over  four 
hundred  species.  Well-known  examples  are 
Rhamnus,  Ceanoihus,  Cobletia,  Phylica,  and 
Hovenia. 

Rha'mnus.  Buckthorn.  From  rhnm,  a  Celtic 
word  signifying  a  tuft  of  branches.  Nat.  Ord. 
RhamnacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  deciduous  and 
green-house  evergreen  shrubs,  the  more  use- 
ful and  common  being  R.  catharlicus,  common 
in  Great  Britain,  wheie  it  is  much  grown  as  a 
hedge  plant.  The  fruit  of  this  species  was 
formerly  in  great  demand  for  its  medicinal 
properties.  The  Alder  Buckthorn,  R.  Fran- 
gula,  affords  a  coloring  matter,  and  the  most 
important  commercial  product  of  the  genus  is 
the  dyeing  material  used  by  calico  printers, 
and  known  as  Yellow-berries,  or  Persian  Ber- 
ries, considerable  quantities  of  which  are  an- 
nually imported  from  Asiatic  Turkey  and 
Persia.  Although  usually  ascribed  to  R.  in- 
fectorius,  they  are  probably  collected  indis- 
criminately from  several  species,  the  unripe 
fruits  alone  being  gathered.  R.  Caroliniana, 
(Indian  Cherry)  forms  small  bushes,  which  in 
summer  are  covered  all  over  with  small 
greenish  flowers,  unripe  and  ripe  small,  but 
very  ornamental,  red  and  black  fruit  in  im- 
mense profusion.  R.  erocea,  is  widely  dis- 
tributed on  the  Pacific  coast,  from  the  valley 
of  the  Upper  Sacramento  to  Arizona.  It  most 
frequently  occurs  as  a  low,  spreading  bush, 
five  to  ten  feet  high,  though  in  some  localities 
it  becomes  quite  arborescent,  with  a  trunk 
ten  inches  in  diameter.  R.  inmilaris,  of 
Greene,  is  tht)nght  by  Professor  Sargent  to 
be  a  variety  of  this  species,  and  which  he 
proposes  to  call  R.  erocea,  var.  iiiMularis.  It 
is  one  of  the  Mexican  species,  and  is  found  in 
the  Santa  Barbara  and  Cedar  Islands,  off  the 
Californian  coast,  and  also  on  the  mainland 
(Santa  Cruz  Mountains).  It  bears  black,  bilo- 
cular  fruit,  and  is  a  much  larger  plant  in  every 
way.  More  information  than  now  exists, 
based  upon  field  observation  upon  the  differ- 
ent California  species  of  Rhamnus,  is  very 
desirable.  Proper  limitations  of  the  diffei-ent 
species  and  varieties  are  still  doubtful,  and 
really  nothing  is  known  of  the  life  histories  of 
these  plants. 

Rhaphido'phora.  From  raphidos,  a  needle,  and 
phero,   to  bear ;    alluding  to   the   needle-like 


RHE 

hairs  which  abound  in  all  parts  of  the  plants. 
Nat.  Ord.  Aroidece. 

A  large  genus  of  climbing  stove-house 
shrubs,  with  very  large  rooting  branches, 
natives  of  tropical  Asia,  the  Malayan  Archi- 
pelago and  the  Pacific  Islands.  A  few  species 
are  cultivated  in  plant-stoves  to  cover  walls 
or  dead  stems  of  trees,  but  they  are  rather 
coarse,  except  in  large  collections. 

Rhapidophy'Uum.  From  rhapis,  a  needle,  and 
phyllon,  a  leaf ;  in  reference  to  its  resemblance 
to  the  genus  Rhapis,  both  producing  suckers 
freely — a  character  by  no  means  common  in 
the  Palm  family. 

R.  Hystrix  (Blue  Palmetto),  a  low-growing 
species  with  a  short  erect  or  creeping  trunk, 
is  a  native  of  the  Southern  Stales,  and  is 
known  in  cultivation  as  ChamcBrops  Hystrix. 

Rhaphio'Iepis.  Indian  Hawthorn.  Fromrhapis, 
a  needle,  and  lepis,  a  scale ;  alluding  to  the 
subulate  bracts.  Erroneously  spelled  Raphio- 
lepis.     Nat.  Ord.  RosacecR. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs  found  in  China 
and  Japan.  They  are  nearly  allied  to  Cratcegus, 
from  which  they  are  distinguished  by  their 
flowers  being  produced  in  panicles  instead  of 
clusters.  R.  Indica  and  its  varieties  are  nearly 
smooth  evergreen  shrubs,  with  short  terminal 
panicles  of  white  or  pink-tinted  flowers  of  the 
size  of  those  of  the  Hawthorn.  They  have 
been  introduced  into  the  green-house.  R. 
Japonica,  is  a  beautiful  large-leaved  species, 
forming  a  bush  from  six  to  ten  feet  high,  and 
commonly  cultivated  by  the  Japanese,  who 
plant  it  either  with  Azaleas  and  other  bushes, 
or  singly,  as  it  forms  a  beautiful  object  when 
covered  with  its  numerous  bouquets  of  dark 
crimson  flowers.  Hardy  in  the  vicinity  of 
New  York  with  slight  protection.  They  are 
propagated  by  seed.   First  introduced  in  1664. 

Rha'pis.  From  rhapis,  a  needle ;  referring  to 
the  needle-like  segments  of  the  leaves.  Nat. 
Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  small  genus  of  Palms,  closely  allied  to 
Chamcerops.  They  are  nearly  all  natives  of 
Eastern  Asia,  and  mostly  of  dwarf  habit  and 
slender  growth.  One  of  the  species,  R.fiahel- 
liformis,  is  popularly  known  as  Rattan  Palm, 
and  furnishes  the  walking  canes  so  common 
on  the  streets.  R.  humilus,  is  a  rare  and  beau- 
tiful species,  not  often  seen  in  collections, 
and  is  propagated  by  suckers.  First  intro- 
duced in  1765. 

Rhapo'nticum.  From  Rha,  the  old  Greek  name 
for  Rhubarb,  and  Ponticus,  of  Pontus.  Nat. 
Ord.  CompositcB. 

A  genus  of  annual  or  perennial  herbs,  one 
or  two  of  which  are  cultivated  in  full  collec- 
tions of  hardy  herbaceous  plants.  R.  cyna- 
roides,  a  species  introduced  from  the  Pyrenees, 
growing  three  or  more  feet  in  height,  has  a 
stout  stem  and  large  leaves,  covered  under- 
neath with  silvery  down.  R.  pulchrum, 
is  another  very  showy  species  from  the  Cau- 
casus. They  are  suitable  plants  for  borders, 
the  margins  of  groups,  or  for  isolation,  and 
are  easily  increased  by  division. 

Rhea.  A  name  given  to  Bcehmeria  nivea,  and  B. 
utilis. 

Rhe'um.      Rhubarb.      From  Rha,  the  Russian 
name  of  the  river  Volga,  near  which  the  Rhu- 
barb was  found.     Nat.  Ord.  Polvgonacem. 
Some  of  the  species  of  this  well-known  genus 


368 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


KHE 

have  been  cultivated  from  the  earliest  ages 
for  the  medicinal  properties  they  possess. 
Dioscorides,  who  was  physician  to  Antony  and 
Cleopatra,  wrote  on  its  qualities,  and  recom- 
mended it  for  use.  The  Turkish  Rhubarb,  so 
largely  employed  in  medicine,  is  the  root  of 
R.  paiinatum,  a  native  of  China,  and  is  sent  to 
Europe  through  Russia,  bythewayof  Kiachta. 
Itwasformerly  imported  from  Natolia,  whence 
the  name  Turkey  Rhubarb.  The  Turks  get  the 
credit  of  producing  this  important  article  of 
commerce,  when,  in  reality,  it  only  passes 
through  their  country.  An  inferior  article 
used  ii?  the  adulteration  of  this  drug  is  grown 
throughout  southern  Europe.  The  Rhubarb 
of  our  gardens  is  a  hybrid  of  R.  Rhaponticum, 
a  native  of  Asia,  but  of  what  particular  part 
is  not  known,  nor  the  time  of  its  introduction. 
It  was  first  cultivated  in  England  by  Dr. 
Fothergill  in  1778,  but  did  not  come  into 
general  use  as  a  culinary  vegetable  until 
several  years  later.  As  a  market  crop  it  has 
only  been  cultivated  about  fifty  years.  Many 
varieties  have  been  introduced,  for  which  we 
are  chiefly  indebted  to  the  British  gardeners. 
Some  of  the  varieties,  under  high  cultivation, 
produce  enormous  leaf  stems ;  the  size,  how- 
ever, is  largely  at  the  expense  of  quality.  The 
roots  of  R.  palmatum,  and  R.  officinale,  furnish 
the  Rhubarb  of  commerce,  and  R.  Rhaponti- 
cum is  also  cultivated  extensively  for  medici- 
nal purposes.  Several  of  the  species  are  very 
handsome,  both  in  their  foliage  and  inflores- 
cence ;  notably  R.  nobile,  a  comparatively 
recent  introduction  from  the  Himalayas,  and 
one  that  is  highly  prized  as  a  decorative  plant. 
The  radical  leaves  are  large  and  glossy,  bright- 
green  in  color,  with  red  stems  and  nerves. 
The  chief  beauty,  however,  is  in  the  bracts  or 
stipules  on  the  flower  stems ;  these  are  of  a 
delicate  straw  color,  shining,  semi-transpar- 
ent, concave  and  imbricating,  so  as  to  entirely 
conceal  the  greenish  flowers,  the  upper  bracts 
being  delicately  f  dged  with  pink.  Dr.  Hooker, 
speaking  of  this  Sikkim  species  as  he  saw  it 
growing  wild,  says  that  it  has  such  a  singular 
and  showy  appearance,  that  its  introduction 
into  cultivation  is  greatly  to  be  desired.  He 
thus  describes  the  plant :  "  The  individual 
plants  of  R.  nobile,  are  upward  of  a  yard  high, 
and  form  conical  towers  of  the  most  delicate 
straw-colored,  shining,  serai-transparent,  con- 
cave, imbricating  bracts,  tlie  upper  of  which 
■have  pink  edges;  the  large,  bright,  glossy, 
shining  green  radical  leaves,  with  red  petioles 
and  nerves,  forming  a  broad  base  to  the  whole. 
On  turning  up  the  bracts,  the  beautiful  mem- 
braneous, fragile  pink  stipules  are  seen  like 
red  tissue  paper,  and  within  these  again  the 
short-bram-hed  panicles  of  insignificant  green 
flowers.  The  root  is  very  long,  often  many 
feet,  and  winds  among  the  rocks ;  it  is  as  thick 
as  the  arm,  and  bright  yellow  inside.  After 
flowering,  the  stem  lengthens,  the  bracts 
separate  one  from  another,  become  coarse, 
red  brown,  withered  and  torn ;  finally,  as  the 
fruit  ripens  they  fall  away,  leaving  a  ragged- 
looking  stem,  covered  with  panicles  of  deep 
brown,  pendulous  fruits.  In  the  winter  these 
naked  black  stems,  projecting  from  the  beet- 
ling cliffs,  or  towering  above  the  snow,  are  in 
dismal  keeping  with  the  surrounding  desola- 
tion of  the  season.  The  natives,  it  is  said, 
eat  the  pleasantly  acid  stems,  and  call  them 
Chuka." 


RHE 

RHtJBAKB  is  a  plant  found  in  every  well 
appointed  garden.  It  is  of  the  easiest  cul- 
ture, and  will  grow  in  open  sunshine  or 
partial  shade ;  but  for  its  best  development  a 
deep,  rich,  well-drained  soil  in  open  sunshine 
is  indispensable.  When  wanted  for  private 
use  a  couple  of  dozen  plants,  which  can  be 
procured  cheaply  from  almost  any  nursery- 
man, is  the  best  way  to  get  a  supply;  but 
when  wanted  in  quantity  for  market  purposes, 
the  cheapest  way  is  to  sow  the  seed  in  March 
or  April  in  Avell-prepared  and  richly  manured 
land  in  rows  four  feet  apart.  When  the  plants 
come  up  so  as  to  have  covered  the  ground, 
thin  them  out  to  two  or  three  inches  apart ; 
and  again  later  in  the  season,  say  by  August,  to 
two  feet  apart,  so  that  they  will  now  stand  two 
feet  between  the  plants  and  four  feet  between 
the  rows.  The  last  thinnings,  if  needed,  may 
be  used  for  making  permanent  plantations. 
Another  plan  of  raising  Rhubarb  from  seed  is 
as  follows :  About  the  middle  of  March  sow 
the  seeds  thickly  in  a  cold  pit  or  frame,  in 
light,  fibrous  soil,  such  as  leaf  mould,  so  that 
the  young  plants  will  make  fibres  freely,  and 
thus  be  easily  transplanted.  One  pound  of 
seed  will  be  enough  to  sow  six  3x6  sashes,  and 
will  give  about  one  thousand  plants.  In  four 
or  five  weeks  after  sowing,  the  plants  will  be  fit 
for  transplanting,  which  may  be  done  in  riciily- 
prepared  beds  of  six  rows  each,  at  a  distance 
of  one  foot  each  waj'.  By  fall  they  will  have 
made  fine,  well-ripened  loots,  which  may  be 
thinned  out  either  in  the  fall  or  spring,  leaving 
the  plants  that  stand  at  four  feet  between  the 
plants  and  six  feet  between  the  rows.  The 
plants  that  have  not  been  moved  will  give  a 
partial  crop  the  next  year,  or  in  about  fifteen 
or  sixteen  months  after  the  seed  was  sown. 
The  roots  lifted  out  as  thinnings  should  be 
planted,  either  in  the  fall  or  spring,  for  a  per- 
manent crop,  at  the  same  distances  apart ; 
but,  having  been  disturbed,  they  will  make  a 
weaker  growth,  and  no  crop  should  be  taken 
the  first  year  of  planting,  as  removing  the 
leaves  of  course  weakens  the  newly-planted 
root,  which  has  not  yet  vigor  enough  to  en- 
dure it.  The  second  year  after  planting,  how- 
ever, a  full  crop  will  be  obtained,  if  the  ground 
has  been  in  a  proper,  well  pulverized  and 
enriched  condition.  The  most  profitable  and 
simple  part  of  Rhubarb  growing  is  by  forcing, 
after  a  supply  of  large  roots  has  been  obtained  ; 
and  if  forcing  is  to  be  continued,  a  succession 
of  such  supply  should  alwajs  be  on  hand,  as 
the  roots,  after  forcing,  are  worthless.  All 
that  is  necessary  in  forcing  Rhubarb  is  to  take 
the  large  three  or  four-year-old  roots  from  the 
open  field,  which,  if  well-grown,  will  be  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  inches  in  diameter,  and 
pack  them  upright  as  closely  as  they  can  be 
wedged  together  (with  light  soil  shaken  in  to 
fill  the  interstices  between  the  roots)  under 
the  stage  or  tenches  of  the  green-house,  or 
in  a  warm  cellar,  or,  in  fact,  in  any  place 
where  there  is  a  growing  temperattire  r  say 
an  average  of  sixty  degrees.  But  little  water 
is  needed,  and  none  until  the  Rhubarb  shows 
signs  of  healthy  growth.  There  is  no  necessity 
for  light ;  in  fact,  the  stems  being  blanched  by 
being  grown  in  the  dark,  are  much  more 
tender  than  when  grown  in  the  light  and  air 
of  the  open  garden,  and  are  therefore  more 
valuable,  besides  being  forced  at  a  season 
(from  January  to  April)  when  they  are  not 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


36gf 


RHE 

obtainable  in  tlie  open  ground  in  the  Nortliern 
States.  Many  of  our  marliet  gardeners  and 
florists,  wlio,  once  liaving  a  supply  of  Rhubarb 
roots,  pack  them  under  the  benches  of  the 
green-house,  where  vegetable  or  flowering 
plants  are  grown,  realize  nearly  as  much 
profit  from  the  space  under  the  stage  (usually 
useless)  as  on  it.  It  is  also  forwarded  in 
another  way  by  those  who  have  no  green- 
house. The  roots  are  taken  up  in  the  fall  and 
packed  closely  together,  as  is  done  in  forc- 
ing, in  what  is  known  as  a  cold  pit  or 
frame,  which  is  covered  with  leaves  thick 
enough  to  keep  out  the  frost.  By  March  1st 
the  leaves  are  all  removed,  except  two  or 
three  inches,  when  sashes  are  put  on  the 
frame  or  pit.  By  this  forwarding  process 
Rhubarb  may  be  had  from  three  to  four  weeks 
earlier  than  that  grown  out  of  doors.  "We 
have  in  this  article  recommended  raising  Rhu- 
barb from  seed,  as  it  is  the  cheapest  and 
quickest  way ;  and  experience  has  shown  us 
that  the  varieties  raised  from  seeds  of  either  the 
"St.  Martin's,"  "Victoria"  or  "Linnseus," 
come  true  enough  to  the  originals  for  all 
practical  purposes.  Those,  however,  who  are 
particular  to  have  these  kinds  exactly  correct, 
can  obtain  them  by  division. 
Rheumatism  Root.  See  Jeffersonia. 
Rhe'xia.  Deer  Grass,  Meadow  Beauty.  From 
rhexis,  a  rupture  ;  from  its  astringent  qualities 
it  is  supposed  to  cure  ruptures.  Nat.  Ord. 
Melasiomacem. 

A  small  genus  of  very  pretty  hardy  herba- 
ceous perennials,  common  in  sandy  swamps 
from  New  York  west  and  south.  The  flowers 
are  bright  pink,  large  and  showy.  The  plants 
do  not  grow  above  six  inches  to  one  foot  in 
height,  but,  from  their  branching  habit,  com- 
pletely cover  the  ground  with  foliage  and 
flowers. 
Rhinaca'nthus.  From  rHs,  rhinos,  the  nose, 
and  Acanthtis ;  alluding  to  the  curious  shape 
of  the  Acanthus-like  corolla.  Nat.  Ord.  Acan- 
thacetB. 

A  small  genus  of  dwarf  shrubs,  natives  of 
Africa,  Madagascar,  the  East  Indies,  and  the 
Malayan  Archipelago.  R.  communis,  the  best 
known  species,  forms  a  neat  bush  bearing 
panicles  of  white  flowers  and  oblong  lanceo- 
late leaves.  It  is  sometimes  cultivated  under 
the  name  of  Justicia  nasuta. 
Rhina'nthus.  Yellow  Rattle.  From  rhis,  rhinos, 
the  nose,  and  anthos,  a  flower;  alluding  to  the 
form  of  the  corolla.  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulari- 
aceoR. 

A  genus  of  hardy  annuals,  natives  of  Europe, 
northern  Asia,  and  North  America.  They  are 
interesting  only  as  growing  generally  in  poor 
wet  land,  and  as  being  more  or  less  parasitical 
on  the  roots  of  grasses.  R.  Crista-galli  is  one 
of  our  rare  native  plants,  being  found  only  on 
the  White  Mountains,  the  alpine  regions  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  the  shores  of  Lake 
Superior,  and  northward.  It  has  also  been 
found  at  Plymouth,  Mass.,  and  in  meadows 
near  East  Haven,  Conn.,  probably  introduced 
in  both  localities. 
Rhinope'talum.  From  rhis,  rhinos,  a  nose,  and 
petalon,  a  petal ;  base  of  the  upper  sepal.  Nat. 
Ord.  lAliacecB. 

R.   Karelini,  the  only  known  species,  is  a 
small  bulbous  plant  from  the  Ural  Mountains. 


RHI 

Its  flowers  are  pal«  pink,  spotted,  somewhat 
resembling  tlie  Frif.illaria,  though  inferior  in 
beauty  to  the  majority  of  its  allies.  It  grows 
freely  if  cultivated  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
Lily,  and  is  propagated  by  offsets.  It  was 
introduced  in  1834. 
Rhipido'pteris.  From  rhipis,  a  fan,  and  pteris, 
a  fern;  reft^rring  to  the  formation  of  the 
fronds.     Nat.  Old.  Polypodiaceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  Ferns  allied  to  Polybotrya, 
but  differing  in  habit.  The  species  are  curi- 
ous little  creeping  plants,  with  small  fronds 
from  one  to  three  inches  high.  They  are  con- 
fined to  the  West  Indies  and  South  America. 
They  are  grown  in  the  hot-house. 
Rhipo'gonum.  From  rhips,  a  rod,  and  gonu,  a 
knee  or  joint;  in  allusion  to  the  jointed 
stalk.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

Ornamental  green-house  evergreen  climbers 
from  New  Holland.  The  flowers  are  white, 
disposed  in  axillary  clusters,  not  unlike  Myr- 
siphyllum.  R.  album,  was  introduced  in  1820, 
and  is  propagated  by  cutting. 
Rhip'salis.  Coral  Cactus.  From  rhips,  a  wil- 
low branch  ;  referring  to  the  flexible  branches. 
Nat.  Ord.  Cactacem. 

Very  curious  succulent  plants,  which  are 
natives  of  South  America  and  the  West  In- 
dies. As  the  Opuntias  may  be  said  to  be  all 
leaves,  and  the  different  kinds  of  tree  Cereus 
all  stem,  so  the  Rhipsalis  may  be  said  to  be 
all  branches ;  for  the  whole  plant  consists  of 
a  series  of  short,  round,  articulated  branches, 
spreading  in  all  directions.  The  flowers  of 
this  genus  differ  from  those  of  Cacti  gener- 
ally, in  being  small  and  not  very  handsome ; 
they  are  generally  pale  yellow.  They  are 
propagated  by  cuttings,  and  require  the  same 
soil  and  treatment  as  other  Cactaceous  plants. 
The  species  are  all  natives  of  the  West  Indies 
and  South  America.  Introduced  in  1818. 
Rhizome.  A  prostrate,  more  or  less  subterra- 
nean stem,  producing  roots  and  leafy  shoots. 

Rhizo'phora.  Mangrove.  From  rhiza,  a  root, 
and  phoreo,  to  bear ;  the  branches  send  down 
roots  like  the  Banyan  Tree.  Nat.  Ord.  Rhi- 
sophoracece. 

The  best  known  species  of  this  genus  is  a 
lai-ge  tree  inhabiting  the  muddy  swamps  close 
to  the  sea-shoi-e  in  tropical  climates.  Its  in- 
teresting character  is  thus  described  by  Dr. 
Hamilton:  "In  the  economy  of  Nature  the 
Mangrove  performs  a  most  important  part, 
wresting  annually  fresh  portions  of  the  land 
from  the  dominion  of  the  ocean,  and  adding 
them  to  the  domain  of  man.  This  is  effected 
in  a  twofold  manner ;  by  the  progressive  ad- 
vance of  their  roots,  and  by  the  aerial  germi- 
nation of  their  seeds,  which  do  not  leave  their 
lofty  position  till  they  have  assumed  the  form 
of  actual  trees,  and  drop  into  the  water  with 
their  roots  ready  prepared  to  take  possession 
of  the  mud,  in  advance  of  their  parent  stems. 
The  progression  by  means  of  the  roots  is 
effected  by  fresh  roots,  which  issue  from  the 
trunk  at  some  distance  above  the  surface  of 
the  water,  and  arching  down,  penetrate  the 
mud,  establishing  themselves  as  the  pioneers 
of  fresh  invasions  of  the  retiring  element.  In 
this  manner  the  plants,  after  their  descent 
from  the  parent  trees,  continue  during  their 
early  years  to  advance  steadily  forward,  till 
they  have  obtained  a  height  of  about  fifteen 


370 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


EHI 

feet,  and  gained  a  position  considerably  in 
advance  of  tiieir  parent  trunlis.  After  this, 
fewer  additions  are  made  to  the  roots,  but 
the  head  begins  to  expand  in  every  direction, 
spreading  its  branches  on  all  sides.  These 
branches,  in  their  turn,  send  dowalong,  slen- 
der roots,  like  those  of  the  Banyan  Tree 
{Ficus  Indica),  which,  rapidly  elongating,  de- 
scend from  all  heights,  and  reaching  the 
water,  penetrate  the  mud,  becoming  in  time, 
independent  trees.  Thus  a  complicated  laby- 
rinth is  at  length  formed."  The  fruit  of  the 
species  is  edible,  and  its  fermented  juice  is 
made  into  a  light  wine.  In  Borneo  a  coarse, 
bitter  salt  is  extracted  from  their  aerial  roots. 

Rhizophora'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  tropical 
trees  or  shrubs,  with  opposite,  entire  leaves 
and  axillary  flowers,  closely  allied  to  Combre- 
tacecB  and  LythracecB.  The  ortler  contains 
about  fourteen  genera,  the  chief  of  which  are 
Halopetalum  and  Rhizophora. 

Rhoda'nthe.  From  rhodon,  a  rose,  and  anthos, 
a  flower ;  in  allusion  to  the  color  of  the  flower- 
heads.     Nat.  Ord.  Composites. 

A  very  beautiful  genus  of  half-hardy  an- 
nuals found  in  western  Australia.  R.  Man- 
glesii  and  its  varieties  have  white,  rose,  crim- 
son, and  purple  flowers.  These  plants  are 
admirably  adapted  for  the  border  in  summer, 
or  the  conservatory  or  green-house  in  winter, 
as  they  come  into  flower  early,  and  continue 
for  a  long  time.  The  flowers,  if  gathered 
when  j'oung  and  dried  in  the  shade,' will  re- 
tain their  beauty  during  the  winter,  making 
them  valuable  for  bouquets  of  dried  flowei-s. 
For  perfection  of  growth  in  the  border,  the 
seed  should  be  sown  in  March  in  the  green- 
house or  a  hot-bed,  and  carefully  grown  on  in 
small  pots  until  all  danger  from  frosts  is  past, 
when  they  may  be  turned  out  into  the  open 
border.  For  winter  flowering  the  seed  should 
be  sown  in  August  or  September.  Introduced 
by  Capt.  Mangles  in  1832. 

Rho'dea.     See  Rohdea. 

Rhodio'la.  From  rhodon,  a  rose.  Nat.  Ord. 
Crassulacece. 

A  genus  of  succulent  plants,  separated  from 
Sedum,  on  account  of  their  bearing  fertile  and 
barren  flowers  on  distinct  plants. 

Rhodochi'ton.  A  genus  of  ScrophulariacecB, 
differing  but  little  from  Lophospermum,  the 
calyx  being  less  divided  and  the  corolla  not 
so  open. 

R.  volubile,  is  an  interesting  and  useful 
climber  either  for  the  green-house  or  for  sum- 
mer decoration  in  the  flower-garden.  It  can 
be  increased  by  cuttings  or  seeds.  Introduced 
from  Mexico  in  1833. 

Rhodode'ndron.  Rose  Bay.  From  rhodon,  a 
rose,  and  dendron,  a  tree.  Nat.  Ord.  Ericacem. 
A  genus  of  well-known  evergreen  shrubs 
and  low-growing  trees,  remarkable  for  their 
beautiful  flowers  and  thick,  luxuriant,  glossy 
foliage.  The  species  are  widely  diffused,  be- 
ing indigenous  to  the  United  States,  Europe, 
Asia,  and  the  Indies.  Some  of  the  species  are 
perfectly  hardy,  and  others  require  the  pro- 
tection of  the  green-house.  Of  our  native 
species  R.  maximum  (Great  Laurel),  common 
from  Maine  to  Ohio,  is  a  tall-growing  shrub, 
with  leaves  from  four  to  ten  inches  long,  very 
thick  and  glossy.  The  flowers  are  a  light 
rose  color,  nearly  white,  with  greenish  throat, 


RHO 

and  spotted  with  yellow  or  light  red.  R. 
Catawbiense,  common  on  the  Alleghanies  from 
Pennsylvania  southward,  is  perfectly  hardy, 
and  flowers  most  profusely.  It  seldom  grows 
above  four  feet  high,  but  forms  a  symmetri- 
cal shrub,  exceedingly  ornamental  for  a  lawn 
plant.  This  species  is  tiie  parent  of  all  our 
hardy  varieties,  having  been  hybridized  with 
the  Nepal  species,  R.  arboreum.  From  this 
cross  there  has  been  raised  a  great  number  of 
beautiful  kinds,  most  of  which  are  hardy  in 
the  latitude  of  New  York.  The  varieties  in- 
clude colors  from  nearly  pure  white  to  dark 
crimson.  All  the  hardy  sorts  are  of  easy  cul- 
ture, growing  freely  in  almost  any  loamy  soil, 
but  they  prefer  a  moist  situation,  protected 
from  cold  winter  winds.  When  first  planted 
they  should  be  mulched  with  any  convenient 
material  that  will  prevent  evaporation  and 
keep  the  roots  moist  and  cool.  Several  fine 
species  have  been  introduced  from  the  Hima- 
layas, a  few  of  them  bearing  but  little  resem- 
blance to  the  common  Rhododendron,  one  be- 
ing a  climber.  The  plants  are  propagated  by 
seeds,  cuttings,  layers,  or  by  grafting.  Azalea, 
and  Rhodora,  are  included  in  this  genus  by 
Bentham  and  Hooker. 

Rhodole'ia.  From  rhodon,  a  rose ;  alluding  to 
the  color  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord.  Hamameli- 
dacem. 

R.  Championi  is  a  beautiful  green-house 
shrub,  rivalling  the  Camellia,  but  of  a  very 
curious  structure.  It  forms  a  small,  ever- 
green tree,  but  would  probably  blossom  freely 
as  a  shrub.  The  leaves  are  alternate,  elliptic- 
ovate,  bright  green  above,  glaucous  beneath. 
The  flower-heads  grow  at,  the  ends  of  the 
branches,  and  are  two  inches  and  a  half  in 
diameter,  of  a  beautiful  rose  color,  enclosing 
a  large  number  of  stamens.  These  heads 
usually  consist  of  flve  flowers.  It  is  a  native 
of  China,  growing  in  the  woods  about  Hong 
Kong.     Introduced  in  1850. 

Rhodomy'rtus.  From  rhodon,  a  rose,  and 
myrtos,  myrtle  ;  in  allusion  to  the  rose-colored 
flowers,  and  its  alliance  to  the  Myrtle. 

A  genus  of  Myrtacem,  containing  a  few  spe- 
cies of  trees  or  shrubs,  natives  of  Eastern 
Australia,  tropical  Asia,  and  the  Indian  Archi- 
pelago. R.  tomentosa,  the  only  cultivated 
species,  known  as  the  Hill  Gooseberry,  and 
Indian  Hill  Guava,  has  ovate-velvety  leaves, 
downy  beneath,  and  beautiful  rose-colored 
flowei-s.  Introduced  from  China  in  1776,  under 
the  name  of  Myrtus  tomentosa. 

Rhodo'ra.  From  rhodon,  a  rose ;  alluding  to 
the  color  of  the  showy  flowers.  Nat.  Ord. 
Ericaceae. 

R.  Canadensis,  the  only  species,  is  a  hand- 
some, low-growing  shrub,  with  oblong,  de- 
ciduous leaves,  whitish  and  downy  under- 
neath ;  the  showy,  rose-purple,  rarely  white 
flowers  appearing  rather  earlier  than  the 
leaves.  It  is  a  native  of  cold  woods  and 
swamps.  New  England  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
northward  on  the  mountains.  Included  by 
Bentham  and  Hooker  under  Rhododendron. 

Rhodotha'mnus.  From  rhodon,  a  rose,  and 
thamnos,  a  shoot  or  branch.  Nat.  Ord.  Eri- 
cacecB. 

This  genus  consists  of  a  solitary  species, 
found  in  the  Alps  of  Europe,  and  long  known 
as  Rhododendron  Chamcecistus.  It  is  a  pretty, 
dwarf,    almost    prostrate,    evergreen    shrub, 


AND   GENEKAL  HOETICULTURE. 


371 


y 


EHO 

with  small  oblong  leaves,  toothed  and  fringed 
on  the  margin,  and  solitary  pale  purple  flow- 
ers, produced  in  May  or  June. 

Rhodoty'pus.  From  rhodon,  a  rose,  and  typos, 
type.     Nat.  Ord.  RosacecB. 

R.  kerrioides,  the  only  species  at  present 
known,  is  a  slender-branching,  hardy,  ever- 
green shrub,  remarkable  for  its  large,  termi- 
nal, pure  white  flowers,  resembling  those  of 
an  AUhcea,  but  smaller.  It  is  well  adapted  for 
the  lawn,  contrasting  finely  with  the  Wei- 
gelia  and  other  hardy  ornamental  shrubs. 
Introduced  from  Japan  in  1886.  Increased 
readily  by  cuttings  or  layers. 

Rhoeo  discolor.  This  is  given  in  "Nicholson's 
Dictionary  of  Gardening"  as  the  correct 
name  of  Tradescantia  discolor. 

Rhomboid.  Approaching  a  Rhomb  in  shape; 
applied  generally  to  leaves  or  petals. 

Rhopa'la.  From  Roupala,  the  Guianan  name. 
Nat.  Ord.  ProteacecB. 

A  genus  of  South  American  trees  or  large 
shrubs,  having  simple  or  pinnate  coarse 
leaves,  conspicuous  for  their  terminal  or  axil- 
lary racemes  of  j'ellow  flowers,  which  are 
often  covered  with  a  rich  brownish  wool.  A 
number  of  the  species  are  under  cultivation 
in  the  green-houses,  but  chiefly  in  botanical 
collections. 

Rhopalo'styUs.  From  rhopalon,  a  club,  and 
stulos,  a  pillar ;  alluding  to  the  club-shaped 
spadix.  A  genus  of  two  species  of  Palms, 
known  in  cultivation  as  Areca  Baueri  and 
Areca  [Kentia)  sapida. 

Rhubarb.     See  Rheum. 

Rhus.  Sumach.  Derived  from  rovs  in  Greek, 
which  is  from  rhudd,  a  Celtic  word  signifying 
red ;  alluding  to  the  color  of  the  fruit,  and 
also  of  the  leaves  of  some  species  in  autumn. 
Nat.  Ord.  Anacardiacem. 

An  extensive  genus  of  deciduous  shrubs, 
natives  of  the  United  States,  Europe,  and 
Asia.  They  are  all  interesting  from  the  beau- 
tiful colors  their  leaves  assume  in  dj'ing  off 
in  autumn.  R.  ToxicocZendron,  and  its  varieties, 
commonly  called  Poison  Ivy  or  Poison  Oak,  are 
.about  as  dangerous  as  the  fabulous  Upas  Tree 
of  Java.  There  is,  however,  a  singular  fact 
connected  with  this  plant  that  makes  it  dis- 
tinctive ;  some  persons  can  handle  it  with 
impunity,  while  others,  from  the  slightest 
touch,  or  even  from  the  wind  blowing  over 
the  plant,  will'  have  their  arms,  face  and 
bodies  fearfully  and  painfully  swollen  by  it. 
The  same  is  true,  though  in  a  less  degree, 
when  the  leaves  of  Celery  or  Parsnip  aj-e 
touched  by  tlie  arms  or  face  when  damp.  R. 
venenata  or  Poison  Elder,  has  so  virulent  a  sap 
that  it  is  said  to  occasion  fever  and  inflamma- 
tion in  those  who  cut  it  down.  One  of  the 
most  beautiful  species  is  R.  cotinuH,  Mist  or 
Smoke  Tree,  a  native  of  the  south  of  Europe. 
It  is  remarkable  for  its  feathery  inflorescence. 
This  species  also  yields  the  yellow  dye-wood 
called  young  Fustic.  R.  vernicifera,  a  Japan 
species,  is  a  small  tree,  and  yields  the  famous 
Lacquer  so  extensively  employed  by  the 
Japanese  for  lacquering  various  articles  of 
furniture  and  small  ware.  It  exudes  from 
wounds  made  in  the  tree,  and  is  at  fii'st  milky 
white,  but  becomes  darker,  and  ultimately 
black  on  being  exposed  to  the  air.  Nothing  is 
known  respecting  the  mode  of  preparing  it ; 


RIB 

that  is  kept  a  profound  secret,  as  one  of  their 
sources  of  wealth.  R.  typhina,  the  Stag-horn 
Sumach  ;  R.  copallina,  the  Dwarf  Sumach,  and 
R.  glabra,  generally  called  the  Smooth 
Sumach,  are  all  handsome  small  trees  or 
shrubs,  exceedingly  useful  and  valuable  in 
ornamental  planting  when  grown  in  a  mass 
and  kept  compact  by  occasional  shortening-in 
of  the  more  vigorous  upright  branches.  They 
can  be  planted  also  with  admirable  effect  as 
single  specimens  upon  the  lawn,  and  from  the 
habit  common  to  all  the  Sumachs,  of  spread- 
ing rapidly  from  underground  shoots,  they 
are  excellent  plants  for  clothing  rocky  banks, 
railroad  cuts,  and  other  rough  places,  where 
it  is  desirable  to  hold  the  soil  from  washing, 
and  to  shade  the  ground.  There  is  a  variety 
of  R.  glabra  (var.  laciniala),  with  deeply 
incised  leaflets,  discovered  many  years  ago  in 
Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  which  is  often 
seen  in  our  gardens,  parks,  etc.  The  various 
species  can  be  increased  from  seed,  but  a  sup- 
ply of  young  plants  can  be  much  more  readily 
obtained  by  cutting  up  pieces  of  the  stout 
roots  into  pieces  two  or  three  inches  in  length 
and  planting  them  in  nursery  rows.  Vigorous 
young  plants  of  a  size  fit  for  permanent  plant- 
ing can  be  obtained  by  this  method  in  a  year. 

Rhynoho'sia.  From  rhynchos,  a  beak ;  the  keel 
of  tlie  flower  is  beaked.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumi- 
nosce. 

An  extensive  genus  of  herbs  and  under- 
shrubs,  mostly  of  a  twining  habit.  They  are 
natives  of  the  West  Indies,  Mexico,  South 
America,  and  India,  and  are  plants  of  but 
little  beauty.  R.  precatoria  has  pretty  little 
half-black  and  half-scarlet  or  yellow  shining 
seeds,  which  the  Mexicans  string  into  neck- 
laces and  rosaries. 

Rhynchospe'rmum.  From  rhynchos,  a  beak, 
and  sperraa,  a  seed.     Nat.  Ord.  Apocynacece. 

R.  jasminoides  is  a  very  beautiful,  free- 
flowering  and  sweet-scented  green-house 
climber,  a  native  of  India,  Cuina,  and  Japan. 
In  habit  it  resembles  the  Jasmine,  as  its  spe- 
cific name  implies.  It  is  a  rapid  grower, 
requiring  only  ordinary  green-house  culture. 
A  variety  with  variegated  foliage  is  very  orna- 
mental. It  was  introduced  in  1846,  and  is 
propagated  by  cuttings.  Syn.  Trachelosper- 
mum. 

Rib.  The  principal  vein  or  nervure  which  pro- 
ceeds from  the  petiole  into  a  leaf ;  also  any 
firm  longitudinal  elevation. 

Ribbon  Flower.    Cape.    Spatalanthus  speciosus. 

Ribbon  Grass.     Phalaris  arundinacea  picta. 

Ribbon  Tree.     Plagianthus  betulinus. 

Ri'bes.  Currant,  Gooseberry.  From  Ribas, 
the  name  of  an  acid  plant  mentioned  by  the 
Arabian  physicians,  and  which  is  known  to  be 
Rheum  ribes.     Nat.  Ord.  Saxifragacece. 

Our  garden  varieties  of  Currants  have  all 
originated  from  R.  rubrum,  a  native  of  north- 
ern Europe  ;  and  the  same  species  is  also  indig- 
enous to  the  swamps  of  New  Hampshire, 
north,  and  west  to  Wisconsin.  The  berries  of 
this  shrub  are  uniformly  red  in  their  wild 
state.  The  white,  bronze,  and  other  varieties, 
have  been  produced  under  cultivation.  To 
the  Dutch  we  are  indebted  for  the  first 
endeavors  to  improve  this  fruit  by  cultiva- 
tion, the  nurserymen  of  other  nations  having 
paid  but  little,  if  any,  attention  to  this  branch 


372 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


EIB 

of  fruit-culture.  At  what  date  any  of  our 
choice  varieties  -were  produced  we  are  unable 
to  state;  but  little  improvement  was  made, 
however,  previous  to  the  nineteenth  century, 
though  the  Dutch  cultivated  a  white  Currant 
in  1729.  The  Black  Currant,  R.  nigrum,  is  a 
native  of  most  parts  of  Europe,  and  abounds 
in  the  woods  of  Eussia  and  Siberia.  Cultiva- 
tion has  added  but  little  to  its  quality;  its 
taste  is  peculiar,  and  to  most  persons  disa- 
greeable. It  is  used  chiefly  for  Jellies. 
R.  aureum,  the  Buffalo  or  Missouri  Currant, 
is  an  ornamental  shrub,  remarkable  for 
the  spicy  fragrance  of  its  yellow  blossoms 
in  earl}'  spring.  It  is  widely  cultivated,  and 
would  be  one  of  the  most  desirable  shrubs 
were  it  not  for  its  tendency  to  sucker  and 
spread  itself  beyond  bounds.  R.  sanguimum,  is 
another  ornamental  variety,  with  rich  crim- 
son flowers,  the  plant  growing  to  a  height  of 
eight  or  ten  feet.  The  Gooseberry,  R.Grossu- 
laria,  is  a  native  of  the  United  States,  from 
Virginia  northward,  and  west  to  Wisconsin, 
and  also  of  northern  Europe.  From  this  spe- 
cies most  of  our  garden  varieties  have  origi- 
nated. The  natural  fruit  is  small,  and  has 
less  flavor  than  the  cultivated  sorts.  The 
English  have  made  great  improvements  in  the 
Gooseberry.  Their  favorite  sorts  are  not 
adapted  to  this  climate,  however,  owing  to 
their  tendency  to  mildew.  An  exception  to 
this,  however,  is  found  in  Paterson,  N.  J., 
where  some  English  mechanics  grow  them  in 
great  perfection.  P.  hirtellum  is  a  smooth- 
fruited  species,  common  in  moist  grounds 
from  New  England  to  Illinois.  Under  culti- 
vation this  species  has  been  greatly  im- 
proved, and  its  varieties  are  now  generally 
grown  in  our  gardens.  There  are  several  spe- 
cies with  rough  or  prickly  fruit,  common 
throughout  the  Northern  States ;  they  are, 
however,  of  little  value  for  their  fruit. 
Rib  Grass.     The    common    name    of    Plantago 

lanceolata. 
Rice.     The  common  name  of  Oryza  saliva. 
Rice.     Canada  or  Indian.     Zizania  aquatica. 
Rice  Flower.     The  genus  Pimelia. 
Rice-paper  Plant.      Chinese,  Aralia  or  Fatsia 

papyrifera 
Rice-paper  Plant.    Malay.     See  Sccevola. 
Rice.     Water  or  Wild.     Zizania  aquatica. 
Richa'rdia.     Calla,  Egyptian   Lily,   Lily  of  the 
Nile.     Named  after  L.  C.  Richard,  an  eminent 
French  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  AroideoB. 

Calla,  the  popular  name  of  this  genus,  was 
given  to  it  by  Pliny.  There  are  but  five 
species,  all  natives  of  Africa.  The  Calla,  or 
Richardia  Africana,  or  uEthiopica  is  a  native 
of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  was  introduced 
into  England  in  1731.  It  is  a  well-known 
plant  of  easy  culture ;  the  only  particular 
attention  it  requires  is  constant  watering, 
and  as  warm  a  room  as  can  conveniently  be 
given  it.  The  Calla  is  largely  grown  for  win- 
ter flowers,  and  is  of  the  easiest  culture. 
Although  it  will  grow  and  flower  during  the 
entire  season  without  resting,  if  suffifientl}- 
fed,  by  being  re-potted,  yet  it  is  more  profita- 
ble to  dry  it  partially  off,  say  from  June  1st  to 
October  1st.  This  is  best  done  by  placing  the 
pots  on  their  sides,  so  as  to  prevent  the  rains 
from  wetting  the  soil,  and  covering  them 
slightly  with  hay  or  moss,  so  as  to  k«ep  the 


BIO 

sun  from  drying  the  roots  too  much ;  or,  if  a 
position  of  partial  shade  can  be  had,  there  will 
be  no  need  of  covering  the  pots.  The  roots 
thus  rested  will  Hower  more  abundantly  and 
produce  fewer  leaves,  and  thus  twice  the 
number  of  flowers  may  be  obtained  from  the 
same  space.  It  is  not  well  to  give  the  Calla 
too  much  pot  room,  else  too  much  foliage  is 
produced.  We  have  found  the  best  metl^od 
to  be  not  to  use  too  large  pots,  and  to  use 
liquid  manure  freely.  When  an  excess  of 
leaves  occurs,  cut  them  off  freely,  withholding 
water  somewhat  for  a  week  or  so  after  cutting 
the  leaves  off.  By  this  method  the  plants  can 
be  grown  closely  together,  and  a  larger  crop 
of  flowers  obtained  from  the  same  space.  The 
Calla  is  one  of  the  best  of  winter-flowering 
plants  for  room  culture,  needing  little  care 
beyond  abundant  water  and  an  occasional 
syringing  or  washing  of  the  leaves  to  keep 
them  free  from  dust.  The  summer  treatment 
and  re- potting  will  be  the  same  as  recom- 
mended above.  It  is  also  a  good  plant  for  a 
large  aquarium.  R.  hastata,  the  Yellow  Calla, 
introduced  in  1859,  is  very  similar  to  the 
above  both  in  leaves  and  growth,  but  the 
flowers  are  of  a  greenish-yellow  color.  R. 
albo-maculata,  a  species  with  beautifully  varie- 
gated or  spotted  foliage,  makes  a  showy 
plant.  The  flowers  are  smaller  than  the 
Calla,  and  white,  with  purple  throat.  It 
comes  into  flower  in  June,  making  it  valuable 
for  a  succession.  It  is  also  desirable  in  a 
collection  of  plants  with  variegated  foliage. 
The  so-called  Crimson  and  Black  Callas  are 
species  of  Arum  (which  see).  The  species 
are  all  propagated  by  offsets,  which  should 
be  taken  off  when  the  plant  is  at  rest,  and 
grown  on  in  small  pots  for  one  season. 

Richardso'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  R.  Richard- 
son, an  English  botanist,  who  published  a 
work  on  horticulture  in  1699.  Nat.  Ord. 
RubiacetB. 

R.  Scabra,  the  Mexican  Coca-plant,  has 
been  employed  in  medicine  under  the  name 
of  White  Ipecacuanha.  The  genus  contains 
five  or  six  species,  probably  none  of  which 
are  in  cultivation. 

Rici'nns.  Castor  Oil  Plant.  From  ricinus,  a 
tick;  resemblance  in  the  seeds.  Nat  Ord. 
Euphorbiacece. 

A  monotypic  genus  of  tall-growing,  half- 
hardy  annuals,  natives  of  Africa  and  the  East 
Indies.  R.  communis,  the  seeds  of  which 
yield  Castor  Oil,  is  a  native  of  India,  but  is 
now  extensively  cultivated  in  the  warmer 
regions  of  the  globe.  It  is  largely  grown  in 
southern  Illinois  and  Missouri  much  in  the 
same  manner  as  Indian  Corn.  The  produce 
of  seed  per  acre  is  about  twenty  bushels.  It 
is  estimated  that  those  States  alone  produce 
annually  half  a  million  gallons  of  oil.  The 
pomace  is  used  as  a  manure.  There  are  a 
number  of  varieties  grown  in  the  garden,  dif- 
fering but  little  in  general  appearance,  but 
varying  in  color  and  size.  Some  of  them,  as 
Cambogiensis,  Gibsoni,  Sanguineus,  etc., 
have  bronzy-purplish  leaves,  and  are  exceed- 
ingly showy  as  a  centre  plant  in  a  sub-tropical 
bed,  tlie  outer  circles  to  be  of  Cannas  in  vari- 
ety, or  Caladium  esculentum.  The  plants  are 
easily  grown  from  seeds,  which  should  be 
started  in  small  pots  in  the  green-house  about 
the  first  of  March,  and  turned  out  as  soon  as 


372  BICHABDIA  ^THIOPICA. 


TlIOII»TT8  CAMBOGIENSIS. 


/ji^0^&:U/. 


BOMNEYA  COULTEBI. 


ROSE   (WM.   FRANCIS  BENNETT), 


HOSE   (AMERICAN    BEAUTY), 


ROSE   ("LUTLE   CiEM" 


373 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


373 


RIG 

all  danger  from  frost  is  past.     Introduced  in 
1548. 

Rigide'lla.  From  rigidus,  stiff;  in  allusion  to 
the  stiffness  of  the  flower  stalli  when  support- 
ing the  seed-vessels.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacem. 

A  small  but  very  beautiful  genus  of  plants, 
natives  of  Mexico.  R.  Jlammea,  is  one  of  the 
most  interesting  species.  It  grows  from  three 
to  five  feet  high,  with  very  broad  and  curi- 
ously plicate  leaves,  which  look  as  though 
they  had  been  regularly  plaited  artificially. 
The  flowers  are  numerous,  of  a  bright  flame 
color,  all  issuing  from  one  spathe,  and  open- 
ing only  one  at  a  time.  The  plant  is  of  easy 
culture,  requiring  in  all  respects  the  same 
treatment  as  the  Tigridia.  Introduced  into 
Britain  in  1838. 

Ringed.  Surrounded  by  elevated  or  depressed 
circular  lines  or  bands,  as  the  roots  or  stems 
of  some  plants,  the  cups  of  several  species  of 
Quercus,  etc. 

Ringent.  Gaping,  like  the  mouth  of  a  bilabiate 
corolla,  as  Antirrhinum. 

Riparious.  Growing  on  the  banks  of  rivers  or 
lakes. 

Ripo'gonum.     See  Rhipogonum. 

Ri'vea.  Named  after  A.  de  la  Rive,  a  botanist 
of  Geneva.     Nat.  Ord.  Convolvulacem. 

Very  beautiful  green-house  evergreen  twin- 
ers, allied  to  IpomoRn,  natives  of  the  East 
Indies.  The  ease  wiih  which  the  many  an- 
nuals of  this  natural  order  are  grown  causes 
the  more  tender  kinds  to  be  neglected,  or  lost 
sight  of  altogether.  R.  hypocrateriformis 
(salver-shapedj,  the  Midnapore  Creeper,  has 
large,  pure  white  flowers,  expanding  at  sunset, 
with  a  fragrance  resembling  that  of  the  finest 
cloves.  Don  says  this  species  is  the  prince  of 
convolvulaceous  plants. 

Rivi'na.  Named  after  A.  Q.  Rivinus,  a  botanist 
of  Saxony.     Nat.  Ord.  Phytolaccacece. 

Green-house  evergreen  shrubs,  natives  of 
South  America  and  the  "West  Indies.  R. 
humilis  is  commonly  grown  in  green-houses 
for  its  beautiful  racemes  of  little  bright  scar- 
let berries.  It  is  called  in  the  "West  Indies 
Rouge  Plant,  the  juice  of  the  berries  being 
used  as  a  cosmetic.  R.  rivularis,  is  a  stronger- 
growing  plant  than  the  above,  but  in  other 
respects  is  much  the  same.  Propagated  by 
seeds  or  from  cuttings.  Introduced  in  1804. 
Syn.  Piercea. 

Roast-beef  Plant.  A  common  name  for  Iris 
fcBtidissima. 

Robi'nia.  Locust  Tree.  Honey  Bean.  Named 
in  honor  of  Jean  Robin,  a  French  botanist, 
once  herbalist  to  Henry  IV.  of  France.  Nat. 
Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

R.  Pseudacacia,  False  Acacia,  is  the  com- 
■mon  Yellow  Locust,  indigenous  to  the  Middle 
and  Southern  States.  It  is  extensively  grown 
in  many  parts  of  the  country  for  the  valuable 
timber  it  furnishes,  as  being  the  most  durable 
of  all  wood  for  posts,  or  where  it  comes  in 
contact  with  the  earth.  It  is  one  of  our  most 
valuable  lumber  trees,  and  is  largely  used  for 
various  mechanical  purposes.  R.  hispida,  or 
Kose  Acacia,  is  a  handsome  shrub,  with  long 
racemes  of  beautiful  rose-colored  flowers 
without  fragrance  ;  a  maiked  contrast  to  the 
foregoing  species.    It  is  a  native  of  the  South- 


ROC 

ern  States,  from  Virginia  s  mthward ;  is  com- 
monly cultivated  witli  ornamental  shrubs. 

Rocambole.  (Allium  Scorodoprasum).  A  hardy 
perennial,  cultivated  for  the  use  of  its  bulbs  in 
a  somewhat  similar  way  to  those  of  Garlic. 
Increase  is  effected  by  dividing  the  bulbs, 
which  form  annually,  at  the  root,  and  also  on 
the  top  of  the  stems. 

Ro'chea.  Named  after  M.  de  la  Roche,  a  botan- 
ical writer.     Nut.  Ord.  Crassulacece. 

A  genus  of  green-house  evergreen  succu- 
lents, allied  to  Crassula,  and  requiring  the 
same  general  treatment  They  are  natives  of 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  Several  of  the  spe- 
cies are  under  cultivation,  their  singular 
leaves  and  bright  flowers  making  them  attrac- 
tive specimens.  R.  falcata,  one  of  the  best, 
is  propagated  by  cuttings.  Kalosanthe-s  (Cras- 
sula) coccinea  is  placed  under  this  order  by 
several  authorities. 

Rook  Beauty.  A  common  name  for  Draba 
Pyrenaica. 

Rock-Cress.     See  Arabis. 

Rocket.     See  Hesperis. 

Rocket.     Candytuft.     Iberis  coronaria. 

Rocket.     Dyer's.    Reseda  luteola. 

Rocket.     Larkspur.     Delphinium  ajacis. 

Rock  Lychnis.     See  Viscaria. 

Rock  Rose.     See  Cistus. 

Rock  Gardens.  These  may  be  looked  upon  as 
comparatively  modern  institutions,  while 
Rockeries  are  of  ancient  date.  The  latter  are 
excellent  in  their  way,  but  depend  much  on 
the  nature  of  the  material  at  the  command  of 
the  operator,  and  on  being  constructed  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  produce  a  landscape 
effect.  Although  in  Rock  Gardens  the  ar- 
rangement and  formal  distribution  of  the 
plants  are  specially  to  be  considered,  it  is, 
however,  unnecessary  that  artistic  effect 
should  be  altogether  ignored,  for  it  is  quite 
possible  to  have  a  graceful  arrangement  with- 
out sacrificing  the  individual  health  and  habit 
of  the  plants.  Many  of  the  best  and  rarest 
species  will  not  succeed  as  well  elsewhere  as 
they  do  among  the  crevices  on  an  elevated 
and  well-drained  piece  of  rock-garden,  which, 
in  addition,  affords  a  situation  for  an  endless 
variety  of  hardy  and  half-hardy  plants. 

The  late  Mr.  Hanson,  after  trying  many 
locations  and  aspects,  found  he  could  grow 
many  of  the  rarer  Lilies  to  the  best  advantage 
when  planted  close  by  large  stones  in  his 
rock-garden,  which,  indeed,  he  made  specially 
for  them. 

There  are  few  gardens  where  something  ot 
this  sort  might  not  be  constructed  and  ren- 
dered attractive,  especially  in  localities  where 
stones  are  plentiful.  It  may  be  introduced 
for  various  reasons,  such  as  hiding  any  un- 
sightly object  of  limited  height,  or  for  giving 
diversity  to  an  otherwise  fiat  and  uninterest- 
ing scene,  or  for  giving  a  reason  for  a  curved 
line — for  there  should  be  no  deviation  from  a 
straight  line  in  the  garden  unless  for  cause. 
It  may  also  be  successfully  formed  where  the 
surface  is  generally  fiat  by  digging  a  deep 
cutting  of  an  irregular  outline  through  a 
piece  of  ground,  and  utilizing  the  soil  thus 
tibtained  as  mounds  of  uneven  heights  along 
the  upper  parts  on  either  side,  whereon  dwarf 


374 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OP   PLANTS 


ROC 

trees,  shrubs  and  evergreens  may  be  planted 
as  a  background,  and  for  affording  shelter. 
The  stones  should  be  arranged  to  form  cavi- 
ties of  irregular  size  and  sliape,  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  various  plants  from  the  sides 
of  a  walk  made  in  the  centre  of  the  cutting, 
up  the  gradual  slope  until  the  shrubs  or  back- 
ground is  readied.  Formality  must  be 
avoided  as  much  as  possible  in  the  arrange- 
ment, and  the  stones  should  be  deeply  im- 
bedded in  order  to  hold  them  firmly. 

The  rock-gardens  at  the  Kew  Botanic  Gar- 
dens (London),  and  at  the  Botanic  Gardens  at 
Edinburgh  (Scotland),  are  probably  as  fine  ex- 
amples as  are  to  be  found  anywhere ;  the  lat- 
ter containing  upwards  of  five  thousand  com- 
partments, of  which  over  three  thousand  are 
filled  with  various  species  and  varieties  of 
alpine  and  dwarf  herbaceous  plants,  besides 
numerous  dwarf  shrubby  kinds  from  ali  tem- 
perate parts  of  the  globe.  The  remainder 
with  free-flowering  duplicates,  placed  at  uni- 
form distances  to  please  the  eye  of  those 
whose  taste  is  more  for  color,  but  even  to  the 
botanical  cultivator  such  free-flowering  dupli- 
cate masses  cannot  fail  to  be  otherwise  than 
extremely  interesting.  All  the  irregular  in- 
terstices between  the  plant  compartments  are 
filled  with  bulbous  plants  such  as  species  of 
Tritelia,  Calliprora,  Calochortiis,  Cyclobothra, 
Cyclamen,  Sisyrinchium  grandtJloru7n,  etc.,  and 
among  them  nothing  more  pleasing  than  Iris 
reticulata,  which  flowers  abundantly  in  such 
situations.  Many  of  the  larger  compartments 
are  filled  with  spring-flowering  bulbous  plants, 
such  as  the  common  and  Crimean  Snow-drop, 
varieties  of  Scilla,  Puschkinia,  Grape  Hya- 
cinth, vernal  Snow-flake,  Bulbocodium,  dwarf 
Narcis-Hus,  etc.  After  the  spring  bulbs  are 
done  blooming  and  cut  down,  a  little  good 
soil  is  placed  on  the  surface  and  the  spaces 
are  filled  with  dwarf  annuals  and  shallow- 
rooted  summer-flowering  herbaceous  plants, 
such  as  LeptosiphonH,  Clintonias,  Gilias,  Mes- 
embryanthemums,  Holosteum  umbellatum,  Myo- 
surus  viinnus,  lAnnria  alpina,  Puparer  alpi- 
num,  dwarf  Lobelias,  etc.  Such  plants  are  all 
removed  as  soon  as  injured  by  frost,  and  the 
surface  again  covered  with  a  little  fresh  soil, 
to  protect  the  seeds  of  the  annuals  used. 
Large  divisions  are  also  appropriated  for 
a  selection  of  monocotyledonous  plants,  ex- 
clusive of  bulbs,  such  as  the  dwarf  and  her- 
baceous species  of  Iris  and  Yucca,  also  species 
of  Cordyline,  Sparaxis,  Heloniaa,  Ophiopogon, 
Trillium,  terrestrial  Orchids,  Convallaria,  Uvur- 
laria,  Narthecium,  Tofeldia,  Acortts,  rare  species 
of  alpine  Carex,  etc. 

Every  plant  is  distinctly  labeled  with  its 
botanical  name  and  native  country ;  often 
Avith  its  popular  name  or  other  interesting 
peculiarity,  rendering  it  at  all  seasons  one  of 
the  most  delightful  as  well  as  instructive  por- 
tions of  the  whole  botanic  garden.  Every  one 
who  has  seen  these  rock-plants  at  the  Botanic 
Gardens  of  Kew  (London),  or  at  Edin- 
burgh, is  charmed  with  the  effect.  In 
the  rock  garden  at  Edinburgh  over  three  thou- 
sand species  of  plants  have  been  grown,  a  list 
of  nearly  fifteen  hundred  of  which  was  pub- 
lished by  the  curator  of  the  gardens  in  the 
transactions  of  the  Botanical  Society  for 
1887-88,  as  having  flowered  during  1887  ;  and 
being  not  mere  botanical  curiosities,  but  well 
selected  species  of  plants  suitable  for  rock- 


ROD 

gardens,  is  just  such  a  list  as  intending  plant- 
ers would  do  well  to  inspect. 

While  destitute  yet  of  a  botanic  garden 
worthy  of  the  name  in  America,  yet  there  are 
grand  opportunities  for  such  collections  in 
many  of  our  public  parks  here,  which  would 
,  certainly  be  as  interesting  as  the  unvarying 
masses  of  color  from  Coleus  and  other  bed- 
ding plants.  We  saw  some  very  fine  rock- 
work,  exceedingly  well  planted,  in  the  Boston 
Public  Gardens  in  1888,  which  seemed  more 
attractive  to  the  public  than  anything  else  in 
these  very  well  planted  grounds. 

Rock--work.  Often,  on  cleaning  up  after  the 
formation  of  new  grounds,  masses  of  rock  and 
stumps  are  present,  which  are  often  difficult 
materials  to  get  rid  of;  such  may  be  arranged 
in  natural-looking  mounds  or  screens  for  wind- 
breaks, which,  when  the  interstices  are  filled 
in  with  soil  and  planted  with  bright-leaved  or 
bright-flowering  plants,  can  be  made  most 
attractive ;  or  in  locations  where  rocks  exist 
in  their  natural  condition,  they  can  be  made 
highly  interesting  and  ornamental  by  setting 
out  plants  of  a  drooping  or  creeping  habit  to 
overhang  among  them.  The  rocky  caves  in 
the  grounds  of  the  National  Soldiers'  Home, 
at  Dayton,  Ohio,  have  been  so  utilized  both 
inside  and  out,  and  are  one  of  the  most  attrac- 
tive objects  of  that  grandly  kept  place.  Purely 
artiflcial  "i"ock-work"  may  be  made  by  clink- 
ers from  iron  or  other  furnaces  being  dipped  in 
water-lime  or  cement,  which  gives  a  pleasing 
drab-color  to  their  grotesque  shapes.  These 
are  used  in  building  the  *'  rock-work"  to  the 
shape  and  dimensions  wanted,  care  being 
taken,  that,  in  forming  the  upper  courses, 
cavities  eight  or  twelve  inches  deep  and  wide 
be  left  to  be  filled  with  soil  in  which  to  grow 
the  plants.  For  this  style  of  rock-work,  in 
addition  to  the  many  plants  grown  for  their 
pleasing  or  distinct  foliage,  bright  colors 
may  be  used  to  a  considerable  extent  to 
contrast  with  the  ground -work,  such  as 
bright  -  colored  Verbenas,  Coleus,  Lobelias, 
Rose-colored  Geraniums,  Golden  Moneywort, 
and  many  other  similar  plants  can  be  used 
with  effect.  A  rockery  so  formed  and  planted 
even  without  having  any  pretensions  to 
being  natural,  is  always  an  attractive  and 
interesting  object,  more  especially  if  placed 
out  of  view  of  formal  surroundings  of  any 
kind.     See  Rock-garden. 

Rodrigue'zia.  Named  after  E.  Rodriguez,  a 
Spanish  physician  and  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
OrchidacecE. 

Epiphytal  Orchids,  natives  of  South  America. 
There  is  but  one  species  generally  cultivated, 
R.  secunda,  which  has  flower  spikes  from  six 
to  nine  inches  long,  with  carmine  red  flowers 
arranged  on  one  side.  It  blooms  freely  in  the 
autumn  and  winter  months,  requiring  the 
same  care  given  the  Cattleya.  Introduced  in 
1820.  This  genus  is  closely  allied  to  Burling- 
tonia. 

Rods.  Boning  or  Borning.  This  name  is 
given  to  instruments  used  in  leveling  ground, 
or  for  determining  heights  in  making  a  uni- 
form incline.  They  are  indispensable  when 
laying  out  walks  or  edges,  leveling  sod, 
and  other  operations  of  a  like  nature.  Three 
are  generally  used,  and  are  made  of  equal 
length,  about  three  and  a  half  or  four  feet 
long,  provided  with  cross-pieces,  which  should 


AND  GENEKAL  HORTICULTURE. 


375 


ROE 

be  fixed  in  the  centre  and  at  exact  right 
angles.  Before  using  tlietn  it  is  necessary 
that  two  points  should  be  fixed,  preferably 
at  the  extreme  ends  of  the  ground  to  be 
leveled.  If  level  pegs  are  inserted  at  these 
points,  and  two  of  the  three  rods  allowed 
to  i-est  on  them,  as  many  intermediate  pegs 
may  be  inserted  as  are  thought  necessary. 
This  is  done  by  a  third  person  with  the  other 
rod,  who  drives  the  pegs  in  as  he  is  directed 
from  one  of  the  ends.  The  tops  of  the  pegs, 
if  the  leveling  is  properly  done,  should  then 
show  all  the  inequalities  in  the  soil  for  the 
guidance  of  the  workmen.  As  the  light  is 
found  most  deceiving  at  a  distance,  one  of  the 
rods  is  sometimes  made  an  inch  longer  than 
the  others,  and  a  small  hole  pierced  through 
the  cross-piece,  by  using  which  many  may  be 
able  to  work  more  correctly  than  if  all  the 
rods  were  of  equal  length. 

Roe'Ila.  African  Hare-bell.  In  honor  of  Wil- 
liam Roell,  Professor  of  Anatomy  at  Amster- 
dam.    Nat.  Ord.  Campanulacece. 

A  genus  of  greenhouse  shrubs  or  spreading 
herbs,  natives  of  South  Africa;  they  have 
generally  blue  flowers,  which  have  somewhat 
of  the  dazzling  glossy  hue  of  Venus's  Looking 
Glass.  The  shrubby  kinds  are  of  low  growth, 
and  rather  difficult  to  propagate ;  but  the 
annual  species  are  of  very  easy  culture,  and 
only  require  the  usual  treatment  of  half- 
hardy  annuals. 

Roeme'ria.  Purple  Horned-Poppy.  In  honor 
of  John  James  RcBmer,  professor  of  botany  at 
Landshut,  and  author  of  several  botanical 
works.     Nat.  Ord.  PupaveracecB. 

R.  hybrida,  the  violet-flowered  Horned- 
Poppy  or  Wind  Rose,  the  best  known  species, 
is  a  very  beautiful  purple,  annual  flower;  but, 
unfortunately,  its  beauty  is  so  very  short-lived 
that  it  is  difficult  to  find  a  perfect  flower,  as 
one  or  two  of  its  petals  drop  almost  as  soon 
as  the  flower  expands.  It  is  quite  hardy,  and 
only  requires  to  have  its  seeds  sown  in  the 
open  border  in  April. 

Roe'zlia.  Named  in  honor  of  Roezl,  a  well- 
known  collector  who  travelled'  in  Central 
America,  Mexico,  etc.  Nat.  Ord.  Melastom- 
acece. 

R.  Granadensis,  the  only  species  yet  intro- 
duced, is  an  erect  plant-stove  shrub,  with 
carmine-purple  flowers,  and  opposite,  ovate- 
lanceolate,  hairy  leaves.  It  was  introduced  in 
1872,  and  is  easily  increased  by  cuttings. 

Roffia.     See  Raphia. 

Rogle'ra.  In  honor  of  M.  Charles  Rogier,  a  Bel- 
gian statesman.     Nat.  Ord.  RubiacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen  shrubs  from 
Central  America,  allied  to  Rondeletia.  In 
general  appearance  they  resemble  the  Laurus- 
tinus.  They  are  very  pretty  green-house 
plants  with  bright  pink  flowers,  and  are 
easily  increased  by  cuttings. 

Ro'hdea.  In  honor  of  M.  Rohde.  Nat.  Ord. 
LiliacecB. 

R.  Japonica  is  the  only  known  species  of 
this  genus.  It  is  a  green-house,  herbaceous, 
nearly  aquatic  plant,  and  a  very  interesting 
one  for  the  green-house,  having  dark-green 
foliage  and  spikes  of  creamy  white  flowers, 
which  are  succeeded  by  spikes  of  showy  fruit. 
There  are  three  variegated  varieties  of  this 
plant,  all  of  which  are  most  showy  green-house 


ROM 

plants,  and  are  well  worthy  of  cultivation. 
Syn.  Oronlium  Japojiicum. 

Rollers  and  Rolling.  The  importance  of,  and 
the  benefit  derived  from,  using  a  roller  on  the 
lawn,  especially  in  spring,  is  not  fully  appreci- 
ated. Freezing  and  thawing  during  winter 
causes  the  ground  to  heave  and  become  un- 
even, and  if  it  is  not  pressed  back  firmly  with 
a  roller,  before  hot  weather,  the  grass  is  apt 
to  be  injured,  or  even  killed  in  spots,  besides 
leaving  the  surface  very  uneven  for  the 
mower.  They  are  also  useful  for  pulverizing 
the  soil  in  the  garden  if  it  gets  very  dry  and 
hard,  as  well  as  for  firming  in  seeds  such  as 
Onions,  Turnips,  etc.,  that  are  generally 
sown  in  large  breadths,  and  where  they  can 
be  used  to  advantage.  They  are  also  requisite 
in  every  well-kept  garden  for  keeping  the 
walks  firm  and  in  good  condition.  They  are, 
moreover,  indispensable  on  the  farm,  both  for 
firming  the  pasture  in  early  spring,  and  com- 
pacting the  earth  round  newly  sown  seeds, 
etc.  We  quote  from  our  work,  "How  the 
Farm  Pays,"  page  46.  "While  you,  as  a 
gardener,  advocate  the  use  of  the  feet  to 
firm  the  soil,  in  sowing  and  planting,  I, 
as  a  farmer,  advocate  the  use  of  the  roller. 
The  object  in  both  is  the  same ;  and  I  am 
satisfied  beyond  any  shadow  of  a  doubt, 
that  millions  and  millions  of  dollars  are 
annually  lost  to  the  farming  community, 
through  a  want  of  the  knowledge  of  the  vast 
importance  of  firming  the  soil  over  the  seed. 
This  is  particularly  the  case  with  Buckwheat, 
Turnips  and  other  crops  that  are  sown  from 
the  month  of  July  until  September,  as  at  such 
seasons  we  very  often  have  long-continued 
droughts,  and  the  soil  is  like  a  hot  ash-heap, 
and  to  expect  germination  from  small  seeds 
when  sown  in  such  soils,  without  being  firmed 
against  the  entrance  of  the  hot  air,  is  just 
about  as  useless  as  if  we  threw  them  in  the 
fire." 

Roman  Hyacinth.    See  Hyacinth. 

Romanzo'fBa.  Named  in  honor  of  Count  Rom- 
anzov,  a  Russian  nobleman,  who  was  a  patron 
of  scientific  studies.  Nat.  Ord.  Hydrophyl- 
laccce. 

A  genus  of  only  two  species  of  dwarf  her- 
baceous perennials,  having  much  the  appear- 
ance of  Saxifrages,  natives  of  the  sub-arctic 
regions  of  eastern  Asia  and  western  America. 
R.  Sitchensis,  the  Sitka  Water  Leaf,  the  only 
species  yet  introduced,  is  a  dwarf  plant  with 
reniform  leaves,  and  white  fiowers;  it  is  an 
excellent  piant  for  the  rock-garden. 

Rome'ria.     A  synonym  of  RcRtneria,  which  see. 

Ro'mneya.  The  Californian  Tree  Poppy. 
Named  after  The  Rev.  T.  Romney  Robinson, 
an  astronomer,  of  Ax-magh.  Nat.  Ord.  Pap- 
averacece. 

R.  Coidteri,  the  only  species,  is  a  very 
showy,  tall,  glabrous,  herbaceous  perennial, 
with  large  white  flowers  terminating  the 
branches.  It  is  increased  by  seeds  in  spring, 
and  requires  protection  in  winter.  A  native 
of  California,  introduced  to  cultivation  in 
1875. 

Romule'a.  Commemorative  of  Romulus,  the 
founder  of  Rome.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

Agenusof  very  pretty  hardy  or  green-house 
bulbs,  removed  from  Trichonema.  They  are 
natives  of  western  Europe,  the  Mediterranean 


376 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


EON 

region,  and  South  and  West  Africa.  They 
require  the  protection  of  a  frame,  and  are 
increased  by  offsets. 

Rondele'tia.  In  honor  of  WilUam  Rondelet, 
M.  D.,  a  famous  natural  historian  of  Mont- 
pellier.     Nat.  Ord.  RubiaceoB. 

Beautiful  hot-house  plants,  with  white,  yel- 
low, or  reddish  flowers,  natives  of  the  East  and 
West  Indies.  R.  odorata  (syn.  R.  speciosa), 
the  most  common  species,  has  terminal 
corymbs  of  scarlet  flowers  greatly  resembling 
those  of  Ixora  coccinea.  The  flowers  are  pro- 
duced in  great  abundance.  One  of  the  best 
known  in  our  collections  is  R.  amczna,  bearing 
beautiful  pink  flowers  freely.  They  are  propa- 
gated by  cuttings,  and  were  first  introduced 
in  1752. 

Roof-Foil.  A  name  suggested  by  Ruskin  for 
tlie  House-leek,  Sempervivum  tectorum. 

Root  Cuttings.  See  "Propagation  by  Hoot 
Cuttings." 

Rosa.  Rose.  From  the  Celtic  rhod,  red,  the 
prevailing  color  of  the  flowers.  Nat.  Ord. 
RosacecB. 

We  find  mention  of  the  Rose  in  the  earliest 
writings,  both  sacred  and  profane.  So  invaria- 
bly have  the  writers  seemingly  been  intoxi- 
cated with  its  beauty  that  they  have  entirely 
forgotten  or  ignored  its  early  history  and  cul- 
ture, leaving  us  in  profound  ignorance  as  to 
the  origin  of  some  of  our  most  highly-prized 
species  or  varieties.  It  was  undoubtedly  very 
generally  esteemed,  and  used  for  ornamen- 
tation on  both  public  and  private  occasions. 
As  an  instance,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  the 
Romans  put  it  to  a  very  significant  use  at 
some  of  their  private  feasts  or  dinners.  A 
Rose  was  placed  over  the  principal  door,  and 
he  who  passed  under  it  silently  bound  him- 
self not  to  reveal  anything  that  was  said  or 
done  within  ;  hence  arose  the  saying,  sub-rosa, 
under  the  Rose  ;  and  even  now  to  tell  a  friend 
anytliing  sub-rosa,  implies  that  he  shall  not 
reveal  it.  The  limit  of  this  work  will  allow 
but  a  brief  history  and  description  of  the 
various  classes.  The  species,  numbering  up- 
wards of  one  hundred,  are  found  disseminated 
throughout  America,  Europe,  A.sia,  and  Africa. 
Australia,  so  prolific  in  rare  and  beautiful 
flowers,  has  not  as  yet  contributed  a  single 
species,  while  Siberia,  Iceland,  Greenland,  and 
Kamtschatka  are  fairly  represented.  China, 
Persia,  and  India  have  furnished  some  of  the 
finest  species.  From  all  this  material,  culti- 
vators have  created  varieties  almost  innumer- 
able. From  R.  sjnnosL'^sima,  the  type  of  those 
indigenous  to  Great  Britain,  nearly  three  hun- 
dred varieties  have  sprung,  which  are  known 
as  Scotch  Roses,  though  these  are  not  as 
much  valued  as  many  other  classes.  The 
Cabbage  or  Provence  Rose  (R.  centifolia)  is  one 
of  the  best  known  and  oldest  of  the  family'.  It 
is  a  native  of  Eastern  Caucasus,  and  is  sup- 
posed to  be  the  hundred-leaved  Rose  of  Pliny. 
It  was  introduced  into  the  British  Gardens  in 
1596.  More  than  a  hundred  fine  h^'brid  varie- 
ties had  been  produced  by  the  French 
and  English  gardeners  between  this  and  R. 
Gallica,  which  are  known  under  the  general 
name  of  Provence  Roses.  They  are  all  very 
beautiful  and  fragrant,  and  all  distinguished 
by  their  close,  calDbage-like  form,  the  curving 
inward  of  their  petals,  and  their  slender  foot- 
stalks, which  give  a  peculiarly  graceful  and 


ROS 

drooping  appearance  to  the  fully  developed 
flowers.  The  Unique  Provence  is  claimed  to 
be  of  English  origin,  having  been  observed 
for  the  first  time  in  1777,  growing  in  a  cottage 
garden.  It  was  probably  one  of  those  acci- 
dental variations  of  flowers  commonly 
termed  "sports,"  which  sometimes  take  place 
in  plants,  one  branch,  shoot,  or  sucker  pro- 
ducing striped  or  variegated  flowers,  while  the 
original  remains  self-colored.  The  Unique 
Provence  is  pure  white,  of  full  size,  globular 
form,  and  exceedingly  fragrant.  From  this 
the  Striped  Provence  is  said  to  have  been  a 
sport.  Its  flowers  are  white,  striped  with 
deep  rose.  It  is  by  no  means  constant,  as 
some  of  the  flowers  will  be  wholly  pink,  others 
pure  white,  the  two  being  frequently  met  with 
on  the  same  branch.  The  Moss  Rose  (R. 
centifolia  muscosa),  the  history  of  which  is  un- 
known, has  by  common  consent  been  con- 
sidered an  accidental  sport  from  the  Provence 
Rose.  This  theory  is  strengthened  by  the 
fact  that  plants  produced  by  the  seed  of  the 
Moss  Rose  do  not  always  show  moss,  probably 
not  more  than  one  in  three  doing  so ;  those 
that  do  not,  possess  all  the  characteristics  of 
the  Cabbage  or  Provence  Rose.  The  eai'liest 
history  we  have  of  it  is,  that  it  was  sent  to 
England  from  Holland  in  1596,  since  which 
time  many  new  kinds  have  been  produced 
from  seed  and  from  sports  of  the  original. 
The  Crested  Moss  {R.  cristata)  is  a  sport 
accidentally  found  growing  out  of  an  old  wall 
at  Friburg,  in  Switzerland.  This  class,  like 
the  Provence,  requires  the  highest  cultivation  ; 
a  deep,  strong,  rich  loam  is  required  for  the 
perfection  of  these  more  than  any  other  class 
of  Roses.  The  French  (R.  Gallica)  is  indige- 
nous to  the  hedges  of  France  and  Italy.  It  is 
credited  with  being  the  R.  Millesiana  of  Pliny, 
and  is  among  the  earliest  cultivated  garden 
Roses.  This  section  contains  a  large  number 
of  our  variegated  varieties,  all  having  their 
parentage  in  R.  Gallica  versicolor.  Tills  family 
is  very  extensive,  and  unsurpassed  for  per- 
fection of  form  or  richness  of  color.  They  are 
(iompact,  erect-growing  plants,  producing 
large,  open,  flat  flowers,  borne  on  stiff,  erect 
flower-stalks,  thus  forming  a  marked  contrast 
to  the  Cabbage  Rose.  Of  this  there  are  prob- 
ably two  hundred  varieties.  They  are  exten- 
sively grown  in  the  neighborhood  of  Paris  for 
the  purpose  of  making  the  Attar  of  Roses. 
The  Hybrid  Provence  Roses  {R.  centifolia 
hybrida)  are  hybrids  between  the  French  and 
Provence  Rose.  Nearly  all  the  varieties  are 
remarkable  for  their  large,  well-formed  and 
very  fragrant  flowers.  They  are  mostly  vigo- 
rous growers,  requii'ing  but  little  care  in 
cultivation.  The  Hybrid  China  Rose  {R. 
Indica  hybrida)  owes  its  origin  to  the  Bour- 
bon, China,  and  Tea-scented  Noisette,  crossed 
with  the  French,  Provence,  and  other  sum- 
mer Roses,  and  also  to  the  latter  cro-^sed 
with  the  former.  The  varieties  first  obtained 
from  tills  crossing  arose  fi-om  accident,  the 
effect  of  which  was  a  systematic  effort  that 
resulted  in  producing  some  magnificent 
Roses.  Mr.  Rivers,  a  celebrated  rosarian,  in 
speaking  of  these  hybrids,  remarks:  "They 
give  a  long  continuance  of  bloom,  but  never 
put  forth  secondary  or  autumnal  flowers. 
This  is  a  most  peculiarly  distinguished  trait, 
and  an  interesting  fact.  Impregnate  a  Bour- 
bon, China,  or  Noisette  Rose,  all  abundant 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


377 


ROS 

bloomers,   with    the    farina    of   a  French  or 
Provence  Rose,  and  3011  entirely  take  away 
the  tendency  of  autumnal  blooming  in  their 
offspring."      The  plants  of  this  section  are 
of  very  vigorous  habit,  and  the  flowers  com- 
bine all  the  propei'ties  desired  in  the  Rose, 
viz.,  size,  form,  fullness,  and  exquisite  color- 
ing.     The   Hybrid  Bourbon   (R.    Borboniana 
hybrida)    owes    its    origin  to    the    Bourbon 
Rose,  which  is  itself  a  hybrid.    There  is  some 
uncertainty    about    the    crossing;  it  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  R.  Indica  and  R.  Damas- 
cena.  They  are  a  very  beautiful  class  of  Roses, 
large  and  rather  flat,  with  rich,  velvet-like 
petals,  much  darker  inside  than  on  the  outside 
of  the  flower.      They  flower  moderately  well 
in  autumn.   The  original  species  of  the  White 
Rose   {Rosa  alba)  is  a  native  of  the  central 
part    of   Europe,   and    was    inti'oduced    into 
Great  Britain  in  1597.     The  flowers  are  small ; 
the  colors  are  white,  blush,  flesh  and  pink. 
They  are  I'eadily  distinguished  from  all  other 
Roses  by  a  glaucous  appearance  of  the  foliage, 
which  appears  as  if  covered  with  a  grayish, 
impalpable  powder,  and  by  the  shoots  being 
almost  spineless.      They  are  perfectly  hardy, 
and  of  easy  cultivation.     A  type  of  this  class 
is  finelj'  represented  by  the  well-known  variety 
Madame  Plantier.     The  original  species  of  the 
Damask    Rose   {R.   Damascena),   is  a  native 
of  Syi'ia,  and  was  introduced  into  Europe  in 
1573.      It  is  now,  as  formerly,  largely  culti- 
vated in  the  gardens  of  Damascus  for  the 
purpose  of  making  Rose-water,  Attar  of  Roses, 
etc.     Nearly  all  the  Perpetual  Roses,  now  so 
much  sought  after,   owe  their  origin  to  the 
older  members  of    this  farailj%  which    may 
readily    be   distinguished    from  other  Roses 
by  their  rough  spiny  shoots  and  leather-like 
leaves.     They  are  all  of  robust  habit,  and  have 
large,  well-formed  flowers.      The  Sweet  Brier 
(R  rubiginosa)  is  indigenous  to  many  parts  of 
Great  Britain  in  its  native  or  single    state ; 
it  has  become   naturalized  in  many  parts  of 
the   United  States.       Not  content  with   the 
delightful  fragrance  of  the  foliage,    art  has 
added  several  varieties  with  double   bright 
rose-colored  and  crimson  flowers.      The  best 
of  them  is  Celestial  Sweet  Bi'ier,  with  flowers 
very    double    and  fragrant.       The   Austrian 
Brier  {R.  lutea)  is  a  native  of  the  North  of 
Italy.     Its  stems  are  spiny,  and  of  a  reddish- 
brown  color ;  it  has    a    straggling    habit  of 
growth,  leaves  quite  small,  and  flowers  of  cop- 
per and  yellow  color.      From  this  species  has 
sprung  the  Persian  Yellow,  which  is  said  to 
have   originated  in  Persia,   hence  its  name ; 
also  the  Harrison  Rose,  a  variety  that  origi- 
nated in  this  countiy.     These  two  are  as  yet 
the    best    hardy    yellow    Roses    that    have 
been  produced.     The  Double  Yellow  Rose  (R. 
sulphurea)  is  veiy  beautiful  in  warm  climates  ; 
but  the  flowers  are  produced  with  so  much 
difficulty  that  it  is  rarely  met  with.       The 
origin  of  this  Rose  is  unknown.      It  is  rarely 
seen  in  collections.     The  Alpine  or  Mountain 
Rose  of  the  south  of  France  and  the  Alps,  is 
the  type  from  which  the  Boursault  Rose  {R. 
Alpind),   a  very    distinct   family    of    Roses, 
sprung.   It  was  originated  by  M.  Boursault,  of 
Paris,   in  whose    honor   it   "was  named,  and 
is  remarkable  for  the  abundance  of  flowers 
it    produces.      It    is    perfectly    hardy,    and 
well  adapted  for  covering  walls  or  trellises. 
The  Banksian  Rose  (iJ.  Banksiana),  a  native 


ROS 

of  China,  was  introduced  in  1807,  and  was 
named  in  compliment  to  Lady  Banks.  Tliere 
are  several  varieties,  producing  immense 
clusters  of  white  or  yellow-colored  flowers. 
The  plant  is  a  rapid  climber,  beautiful  in 
foliage  and  graceful  in  habit.  As  it  is  an 
annual  flowering  species,  and  too  tender 
to  stand  the  severity  of  our  wintei's,  even  if 
protected,  it  does  not  meet  with  favor  among 
our  Rose-growers.  The  original  of  the  Many- 
flowered  Rose  (i2.  multiflora)  was  introduced 
in  1804  from  Japan  by  the  celebrated  botan- 
ist Thunberg.  Growers  in  France  and  Italy 
have  since  then  originated  several  varie- 
ties, of  which  R.  Grevillei  is  a  fair  represen- 
tative. They  are  annual  bloomers,  but  too 
tender  to  live  out  without  protection  north  of 
Virginia.  The  prairie  Rose,  R.  setgera  (syn. 
R.  rubrifolia  fenestralis),  is  of  American  ori- 
gin, tlie  type  being  the  single-flowering 
Climbing  Rose  of  the  Prairies,  from  which 
have  originated  several  double-flowering  sorts, 
the  best  known  of  which  are  the  Queen  of  the 
Prairies  and  the  Gem  of  the  Prairies.  Thf  flow- 
ers are  light  crimson,  sometimes  striped  with 
white.  Though  wholly  devoid  of  fiagrance, 
they  well  deserve  a  place  in  every  collec- 
tion. They  are  perfectly  hardy,  of  the  easi- 
est culture,  and  flower  with  great  profusion. 
The  origin  of  the  Hybrid  Climbing  Roses  is 
entirely  unknown,and  they  present  traces  of  so 
many  sections  that  conjecture  on  this  point  is 
useless.  Their  hardiness  in  this  climate  has 
not  been  tested  sufficiently  to  warrant  an  opin- 
ion as  to  their  usefulness  here.  The  Evergreen 
Rose  {R.  sempervirens)  is  of  Italian  origin, 
though  the  French  have  produced  many  of  the 
varieties.  In  our  Northern  States  it  could 
scarcely  be  called  an  "evergreen;"  at  the 
South  it  could.  The  varieties  are  among  the 
most  valuable  of  Climbing  Roses,  being  free 
growers,  perfectly  hardy,  and  producing 
immense  clusters  in  a  variety  of  colors. 
The  origin  of  the  Ayrshire  Rose  {R.  ai-vensis 
var.  scandens),  like  that  of  many  others,  is  un- 
known, though  it  is  generally  credited  to  Scot- 
land. There  are  a  number  of  varieties,  all 
rapid  growers,  of  easy  culture,  and  well 
adapted  for  covering  large  trellises  or  arbors. 
The  colors  are  white,  rose,  blush,  etc. ;  unfor- 
tunately they  are  rather  tender  for  this  vicin- 
ity. The  class  known  as  the  Hybrid  Perpet- 
ual or  Remontant  Rose,  has  distanced  all 
others.  In  it  we  have  beauty  of  form, 
fragrance,  depth  and  variety  of  color,  united 
with  a  constitution  so  vigorous  as  to  endure 
the  severity  of  our  Northern  winters.  They 
have  been  produced  by  crossing  the  Hybrid 
China  Roses  w4th  different  varieties  of  Chinas 
and  Bourbons,  and,  to  a  limited  extent,  with 
the  Teas.  This  crossing  has  resulted  in 
imparting  to  the  more  hardy  Roses,  to  some 
extent,  the  blooming  qualities  of  the  tender 
sorts  without  impairing  the  vigor  of  the 
former.  It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that 
all  Roses  in  this  class  are  perpetual  bloom- 
ers, as  their  name  would  imply.  Thf^y  are, 
without  question,  the  most  valuable  for 
their  abundance  of  bloom  in  June,  and  most 
of  them  will  give  an  occasional  flower  dur- 
ing the  summer,  and  in  favorable  seasons, 
a  fair  show  in  autumn ;  but  to  expect  con- 
tiniious  bloom,  as  the  Chinas  and  the  Teas 
afford,  would  be  a  sad  disappointment.  As  a 
class  they  are  nearly  all  hardy  in  the  Northern 


378 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


KOS 

States,  and  of  easj' culture,  well  adapted  to  be 
grown  either  as  dwarfs  or  standards,  and  can 
with  the  greatest  certainty  be  forced  into 
bloom  during  winter  and  spring.  Of  the  Gen- 
eral Jacqueminot  alone,  which  is  a  well-known 
representative  of  this  class,  probably  ten  acres 
of  green-house  surface  are  used  tor  forcing 
the  flowers  for  winter  for  the  city  of 
New  York  alone,  and  in  nearly  like  pro- 
ponions  all  over  the  Union.  The  parent- 
age of  the  Damask  Perpetual  family  is  diffi- 
cult to  trace.  It  is  generally  credited  in  a 
great  measure  to  the  old  white  and  red 
Monthly  Koses.  There  is  no  authority  for 
this  supposition,  and  no  hint  even  as  to  the 
other  Eoses  with  which  they  were  crossed. 
They  are  perfectly  hardy,  exceedingly  fla- 
grant, and  free  flowering.  The  Perpetual 
Scotch  (li.  apinosissima)  are  hybrids,  supposed 
to  have  been  produce<l  by  crossing  the  Scotch 
Roses  with  the  Damask  Perpetuals.  But  little 
success  has  attended  hybridizing  these  fami- 
lies, as  there  are  but  one  or  two  vai-ieties 
worth  cultivating.  The  Bourbon  or  Isle  de 
Bourbon  Roses  {R.  Borhoniana)  are  remarkable 
for  their  autumnal  flowering,  as  they  do  not 
flower  well  until  the  first  of  September,  after 
which  they  are  in  continuous  bloom  until 
checked  by  heavy  frosts.  They  derive  their 
name  from  the  Isle  de  Bourbon,  where  they 
originated.  The  type  of  the  race  is  said  to  have 
been  an  accidental  seedling  from  a  quantity 
that  were  planted  for  a  hedge  by  one  M. 
Peirchon,  an  inhabitant  of  the  island.  From 
many  of  its  characteristics  it  is  a  supposed 
cross  between  the  common  China  and  one  of 
the  old  Damask  Perpetuals  known  as  the  Red 
Four-season  Rose.  The  first  plant  was  intro- 
duced into  France  in  1822,  and  at  once  attract- 
ed the  attention  of  the  leading  Rose-growers 
at  Paris,  who  commenced  its  cultivation  exten- 
sively. Its  tendency  to  vary  was  such,  that 
within  a  short  time  a  large  number  of  seminal 
varieties  were  produced,  from  which  some  of 
our  most  desirable  Roses  have  originated. 
Souvenir  de  la  Malmaison,  a  light  blush  color 
(introduced  about  1840),  that  has  yet  no  equal 
as  an  autumnal  flowering  Rose,  and  the 
well-known  Hermosa,  pink,  belong  to  this 
class.  The  Bourbons  are  distinguished  for 
their  fine  foliage,  compact  habit  of  growth, 
and  for  the  profusion  and  long-continuance  of 
their  blooming.  They  require  a  dry  soil,  only 
moderately  rich.  They  are  not  perfectly 
hardy  north  of  Washington,  unless  under  very 
favorable  circumstances.  Of  the  perpetual 
Moss  (-R.  centtfolia)  class,  there  are  but  few 
entitled  to  the  name,  and  those  only  in  the 
sense  in  which  the  Hybrid  Perpetuals  are; 
that  is  with  grains  of  allowance,  -which 
will  be  cheerfully  granted  for  the  pleasure 
a  Moss  Rose  in  autumn  affords.  This  sec- 
tion is  a  cross  between  the  old  Moss  and 
some  of  the  autumn-blooming  varieties.  The 
continuous,  or  rather  second- flowering,  has 
been  produced  at  some  sacrifice  of  the  moss. 
As  a  class  they  are  poor  growers,  requiring  a 
strong,  deep,  rich  soil.  A  well-known  type  of 
this  class  is  James  Veitch,  deep  crimson. 
The  Musk  Rose  {R.  moschata)  is  one  of  the 
oldest  Roses  in  cultivation.  The  original  is  a 
native  of  Madeira,  Persia,  and  the  north  of 
Africa.  The  plants  are  rapid  growers  and 
profuse  bloomers,  in  habit  resembling  the 
Noisette,  requiring    the  same  protection  in 


ROS 

winter,  and  the  same  treatment  in  growing. 
They  are  late  in  flowering,  not  coming  into 
bloom  until  about  the  first  of  September. 
They  receive  their  name  from  the  fact  of  their 
having  a  peculiar  musk-like  scent.  They  are 
not  very  hardy  in  most  Rose-growing  countries 
and,  consequently,  have  received  but  little 
attention  from  growers.  The  China  Rose 
(R.  Indica)  and  the  Crimson  China  Rose  {R. 
semperflorens)  are  so  nearly  allied  that  their 
history,  description,  and  treatment  are  the 
same.  They  are  both  natives  of  China,  and 
were  first  introduced  into  Europe  in  1789.  The 
two  species  are  the  parents  from  which  a  rather 
extensive  and  interesting  family  of  Roses  have 
sprung.  They  are  of  comparatively  small 
growth,  which  is  a  distinctive  feature  in  all 
their  progeny.  They  are  very  generally  known 
as  Bengal  Roses.  In  our  climate  they  are  not 
sufficiently  hardy  north  of  Washington  to  en- 
dure the  winters  without  the  most  careful  pro- 
tection. As  garden  roses  they  are  very  desir- 
able, being  abundant  and  continuous  bloomers ; 
but  for  cut  flowers  they  cannot  be  highly  re- 
commended, although  the  deep  crimson  color 
of  some  of  the  varieties,  as  Douglas,  for 
example,  makes  them  grown  to  a  considerable 
extent,  even  though  the  buds  are  small.  The 
Tea-scented  China  Rose  {R.  Indica  odorata), 
the  type  of  this  section,  is  a  native  of  China, 
introduced  into  England  in  1810,  and,  with 
the  Yellow  China  or  Tea-scented  Rose  previ- 
ously introduced  into  France,  became  the 
parents  of  the  best  known  and  most  exteu 
sively  cultivated  class  in  this  country.  They 
range  through  all  the  shades  of  j'ellow, 
orange,  white,  blush,  pink,  purple,  and  crim- 
son, and  have  nearly  all  a  marked  tea  fra- 
grance. From  the  hundreds  of  varieties  that 
have  been  produced  it  is  difficult  to  determine 
the  varieties  that  can  be  named  as  best. 
Those  we  name  under  the  head  of  "  Winter 
Culture  of  the  Rose,"  are,  perhaps,  the  best 
at  the  date  of  writing.  Until  1877,  no  true 
striped  Rose  had  been  known  to  exist ;  but  in 
that  year  a  sport  from  the  crimson-colored 
Bon  Silene  came  distinctly  striped  crimson 
and  white,  and  has  continued  to  hold  to  this 
peculiar  and  beautiful  form.  It  has  been  ap- 
propriately named  the  "American  Banner,  " 
and  created  quite  a  sensation  in  Europe 
from  its  decided  novelty  of  coloring.  The 
whole  class  of  Teas  are  the  most  tender 
of  the  great  Rose  family.  There  is  no  sure 
protection  for  them  in  the  open  border 
without  more  trouble  and  expense  than  the 
plants  would  be  worth  in  spring  time.  Most 
amateurs  have  very  sensibly  given  up  "  pro- 
tecting "  this  class  of  Roses,  and  have  found 
the  more  sure,  easy,  and  inexpensive  way  to 
get  Tea  Roses  is  to  procure  young  plants  in 
spring,  not  more  than  four  inches  high, 
grown  in  thumb-pots ;  these,  if  planted  in  a 
good,  strong,  rich  soil,  will  produce  more 
flowers  during  the  summer  and  autumn 
months  than  double  their  number  of  old 
plants  "kept  over."  At  the  present  writing 
we  have  of  the  many  varieties  of  Teas  several 
thousands;  plants  that,  when  put  out  in 
April,  could  not  be  seen  half-way  across  the 
nursery  rows,  but  which  are  now  (October) 
averaging  two  Roses  a  day  from  each  plant, 
and  have  been  for  the  past  two  months.  For 
out-of-door  culture,  treat  Tea  and  all  other 
tender  Roses  the  same  as  any  bedding  plant ; 


AND    GENERAL    HORTICULTURE. 


379 


ROS 

that  is,  to  depend  upon  young  plants  for  the 
season's  flowei'ing.  Tea  Roses  can  be  pre- 
served without  difficulty  through  tlie  winter 
by  talking  up,  potting,  or  "heeling"  in  a  bos 
of  earth,  and  keeping  them  in  a  cool,  dry 
cellar,  where  the  thermometer  will  not  fall 
below  25*.  Wlien  planted  out  in  spi'ing  they 
should  be  well  cut  back,  and  if  carefully 
planted  in  a  ri'-h  soil,  they  will  be  nearly  as 
good  as  young  plants.  In  California,  and 
nearly  all  States  south  of  Richmond,  the  Tea 
Rose  requires  no  winter  protection,  and  is 
there  seen  in  the  greatest  perfection.  The 
Macartney  Rose  (R.  bracteaia),  a  native  of 
China,  introduced  into  England  in  1795  by 
Lord  Macartney,  from  whom  it  took  its 
name,  is  a  climbing  evergreen  Rose.  Like 
most  of  the  Chinese  Roses,  it  is  not  hardy, 
and  its  value  for  winter  flowering  is  not 
sufficient  to  warrant  growing  it  under  glass. 
The  Miniature  Rose  {R.  Lawrenciana),  is  a 
native  of  China,  and  was  formerly  consid- 
ered by  botanists  to  be  a  distinct  spe- 
cies. Mr.  Rivers,  of  England,  whose  knowl- 
edge of  the  Rose  is  second  to  no  one's,  says 
it  is  but  a  dwarf  variety  of  the  common  China 
Rose,  like  the  Rose  de  MeauK  or  Pompon, 
which  is  a  dwarf  variety  of  R.  centifolia. 
"Many  plants,"  he  remarks,  "  that  have  been 
long  under  cultivation  have  a  tendency  to 
produce  from  seed  these  pigmy  likenesses  of 
themselves."  If  there  is  any  value  in  this 
class,  it  is  as  a  curiosity  for  pot  culture.  The 
Cherokee  Rose  (R.  Icevigata  or  R.  Sinica)  is  a 
large-flowered  single  variety,  a  native  of 
China.  In  the  Southern  States,  where  it  has 
become  naturalized,  it  is  held  in  high  esteem 
for  the  graceful  habit  of  the  plant,  with  its 
vivid  green,  glossy  leaves.  The  flowers  are 
of  the  purest  waxy  white,  and  are  produced  in 
the  greatest  abundance.  It  is  often  used  for 
hedges,  and  for  this  purpose  few  plants  could 
be  better  adapted.  The  type  of  the  Noisette 
group  of  Roses  (R.  Noisettiana)  is  a  cross  be- 
tween the  Musk  Rose  and  the  common  China 
Rose.  It  was  produced  by  M.  Noisette,  a 
French  gardener,  of  Charlestown,  South  Caro- 
lina, in  1817.  The  seed  was  from  the  Musk 
Rose,  and  the  plant  partakes  of  its  nature  in 
its  vigorous  growth,  and,  to  a  limited  extent, 
its  fragrance,  together  with  its  habit  of  bloom- 
ing in  clusters  ;  in  all  other  respects  it  is  en- 
tirely dissimilar  from  either  parent.  From 
this  hybrid,  some  of  our  most  useful  and 
beautiful  half-hardy  Roses  have  originated, 
embracing  several  green-house  varieties,  the 
most  superb  of  which  is  the  Lamarque  (white). 
This  group  contains  some  of  quite  dwarf 
habit;  all  are  noted  for  producing  their  flow- 
ers in  large  clusters;  this  is  particularly  the 
case  with  the  Washington,  Fellenbergh  and 
Aimee  Vibert.  The  Marechal  Neil  Rose  of 
this  section  is,  like  the  General  Jacqueminot, 
most  extensively  forced  under  glass  for  its 
buds;  probably  three  acres  of  glass  surface 
are  used  for  it  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York 
City,  but  it  is  now  superseded  by  some  of  the 
yellow  "  Teas"  which,  though  not  quite  equal 
to  it  in  quality,  flower  continuously.  Though 
not  hardy  north,  nothing  can  exceed  the  beauty 
of  many  of  this  class  of  Roses  in  some  of  the 
Southern  States,  where  the  thermometer  does 
not  fall  below  20°.  The  finest  of  all  these  is 
probably  the  old  "  Cloth  of  Gold,"  now  rarely 
met  with  true,  Solfaterre  being  often  sold  for 


EOS 

it.  Mad.  Caroline  Kuster,  Celine  Forrestier, 
Triumph  de  Rennes,  W.  A.  Richardson,  and 
Gloire  de  Dijon,  all  yellow  Roses  belonging  to 
this  section,  are  Of  healthy  habit  and  easy  of 
cultivation.  The  Polyantha  Remontant  Rose 
(R.  Polyantha)  was  brought  from  Japan  by 
Robert  Fortune  about  the  year  1865,  and  is 
distinguished  from  all  others  by  its  panicled 
blooms.  This  peculiarit}-  is  not  retained,  how- 
ever, when  crossed  with  other  Roses,  at  least 
in  most  of  the  varieties  which  have  been 
claimed  to  be  seedlings  from  it.  Several  va- 
rieties evidently  crossed  with  a  variety  of 
R.  Indica,  have  been  produced  and  aie  very 
free  flowering,  highly  scented,  and  most  use- 
ful sorts,  especially  for  bedding  purposes,  as 
they  form  a  mass  of  bloom  during  the  entire 
season.  They  are  hardy  in  this  latitude  with 
slight  pi'otection,  and  are  now  largely  used 
for  borders  to  rosaries,  cemetery  plots,  etc. 
The  Hybrid  Tea  Rose  {Rosa  Indica  odorata 
hybrida)  is  a  group  produced  from  crossing 
Teas  with  Hybrid  Perpetuals.  "  La  France" 
raised  by  Guillot  flls,  in  1867,  from  a  Tea  Rose, 
with  a  perfume  peculiar  to  itself,  a  most  con- 
stant bloomer  and  the  sweetest  of  ail  Roses, 
was  about  the  first  variety  sent  out.  In  1879, 
Mr.  Henry  Bennett  (England),  followed  with 
his  celebrated  "  pedigree"  Roses,  since  which 
time  there  have  been  many  notable  additions 
to  the  class,  which,  on  account  of  its  novelty 
and  usefulness,  will  in  a  few  years  very  likely 
prove  a  more  popular  class  than  even  the 
Hybrid  Perpetuals.  Standard  Roses  are  pro- 
duced by  budding  any  desired  variety  on 
the  common  Dog  Brier,  or  Manetti  stock, 
the  strongest  growers  known ;  consequently 
they  give  to  the  Rose  the  greatest  amount 
of  nourishment.  In  a  moist,  cool  atmos- 
phere, like  that  of  England,  Roses  are  grown 
in  perfection  upon  standard,  half-standard 
or  dwarf  stocks.  In  this  country  the  dry, 
hot  winds  and  scorching  sun  of  summer,  or 
the  cold  winds  of  winter,  will  destroy  the 
vitality  of  the  stock  (partieularlj'-  if  on  high 
standards),  and  they  rarely  live  more  than 
three  or  four  years,  and  in  no  case  will  they 
produce  such  Roses  in  this  country  as  in 
England  or  France,  except  in  particularly 
favorable  situations,  such  as  a  north  aspect 
in  our  city  gardens.  "We  have  known  them  in 
such  positions  to  do  exceedingly  well,  espec- 
ially when  the  stem  of  the  plant  had  been 
wrapped  around  with  moss  or  straw  to  pro- 
tect it  against  the  summer  sun.  Where 
grown  in  the  greatest  perfection  in  England, 
stocks  are  selected  that  are  the  best  adapted 
to  the  soil  and  situation  in  which  they  are  to 
grow ;  these  ai'e  planted  about  the  first  of 
November,  and  the  highest  cultivation  possi- 
ble is  given  them.  In  the  following  July  they  are 
budded  with  the  most  vigorous  buds  that  can  be 
had  from  plants  put  out  the  previous  year  ex- 
pressly forthe  buds.  In  the  following  November 
they  cut  the  shoots  back  to  five  or  six  inches, 
and  in  the  following  spring  cut  back  to  one  or 
two  buds,  which  will  give  the  flowering  shoots. 
For  exhibition  purposes  but  one  bloom  is 
allowed  on  each  shoot,  and  that  will  be  the 
perfect  flower ;  and  it  is  from  such  flowers, 
shown  at  the  London  exhibitions,  that  our 
American  travelers  give  their  orders,  often 
paying  enormous  prices  for  Roses  that,  when 
grown  under  ordinary  treatment  here,  never 
fail   to   disappoint.     Were  the   English   ama- 


380 


HENDiiiKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


EOS 

teurs  to  take  their  "  standards  "  from  nursery 
rows  and  keep  them  out  of  the  ground  for 
nearly  two  months,  as  is  the  case  with  us, 
and  then  give  them  but  indifferent  treatment, 
we  doubt  if  their  favorable  climate  would  give 
them  a  Kose  that  would  be  recognized  by 
those  who  have  only  grown  them  properly. 
R.  rugosa,  a  Japanese  species,  first  sent  to 
this  country  by  Commodore  Perry,  in  1855,  is 
one  of  the  handsomest  hardy  shrubs  in  culti- 
vation. It  forms  a  sturdy  bush  from  four  to 
five  feet  high,  covered  with  large,  dark  green, 
pinnate,  glossy  foliage,  and  producing  ter- 
minal clusters  of  ten  to  twenty  flowers,  three 
inches  in  diameter,  of  a  bright  rosy  crimson 
color,  and  very  fragrant.  It  continues  in 
flower  the  whole  summer,  making  a  very  at- 
tractive object.  If  it  never  produced  a  flower 
it  would  still  be  entitled  to  a  prominent  place 
on  the  lawn  for  the  beauty  of  its  foliage,  which 
scarcely  resembles  that  of  the  Hose,  but  is 
very  heavy,  fich,  and  shining,  remaining  on 
until  late  in  Autumn.  It  is  now  well-known  ; 
both  its  rosy  crimson  and  white  varieties  are 
found  in  all  good  collections;  and  its  large 
handsome  fruit  is  most  showy  during  the 
autumn  months. 

CUIiTTTRE  OF  THE  ROSE. 

WiKTEE  Forcing. — The  intense  interest 
now  so  generally  taken  in  the  culture  of  the 
Kose,  not  only  for  outside  decoration,  but  for 
the  production  of  Eose  buds  in  winter,  in- 
duces us  to  depart  from  the  general  rule 
adopted  in  this  work,  and  give  a  full  and 
detailed  account  of  the  methods  of  cultivation 
practiced  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York  City, 
which  is  believed  to  be  unequalled  in  any 
other  part  of  the  world,  particularly  in  the 
methods  in  use  for  the  winter  forcing  of  the 
Rose.  For  this  purpose,  strong,  healthy  cut- 
tings are  put  in  to  root  anytime  from  Septem- 
ber to  February.  We  keep  the  sand  in  our 
cutting  benches  about  65°  or  70°,  with  the 
temperature  of  the  house  10°  less.  Rose  cut- 
tings, under  these  conditions,  will  root  in 
from  twenty  to  twenty-five  days,  and  are  then 
potted  in  any  good  soil  in  two  and  a  half  inch 
pots,  and  placed  in  a  green-house  having 
a  night  temperature  of  about  50^,  with  10°  to 
15°  more  in  the  daytime.  The  young  Roses  are 
regularly  shifted  into  larger  pots  as  soon  as 
the  "ball,"  gets  filled  with  roots,  great  care 
being  taken  that  the  plants  at  no  time  get 
pot-bound.  Sj-ringing  is  done  once  a  day  to 
keep  down  red  spider,  and  fumigating  by 
burning  tobacco  stems  to  kill  the  Aphis  or 
Green  Fly  must  be  done  twice  a  week.  With 
such  attention,  plants  which  were  put  in  as 
cuttings  at  the  season  named  above,  by  the 
middle  of  July  will  be  from  one  and  a  half  to 
two  feet  in  height,  with  roots  enough  to  fill  a 
six-inch  pot.  Now,  if  intended  to  be  grown  in 
pots,  the  shifting  into  larger  pots  should  be 
continued  whenever  the  ball  gets  filled  with 
roots  (which  is  usually  in  about  five  or  six 
weeks  after  every  shift),  until  the  1st  of 
October,  when  they  will  have  reached  a  size 
requiring  a  pot  of  eight  or  nine  inches  in 
diameter.  They  are  then  in  condition  for 
winter  forcing,  no  further  shifting  being 
required.  But  if  they  are  Avanted  to  be  plan- 
ted out  on  benches,  or  in  solid  beds  of  soil, 
the  planting  should  be  made  from  the  pots 
from  the  15th  of  May  to  the  15th  of  August. 


EOS 

There  is  quite  a  difference  of  opinion  as  to 
whether  the  Eoses  can  be  best  grown  in  solid 
beds  or  raised  benches.  We  believe  that  it 
really  makes  but  little  difference,  as  we  find 
them  grown  with  nearly  equal  success  by  both 
methods  where  the  drainage  is  perfect,  al- 
though the  method  mainly  in  use  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  York  (where,  at  present  writ- 
ing, Eoses  are  probably  grown  better  than 
anywhere  else  in  the  country)  is  the  raised 
bench  system.  The  greenhouses  used  are 
about  twenty  feet  wide,  and  are  what  is  knqwn 
as  three-quarter  span  :  that  is,  three-quarters 
of  the  glass  roof  slopes  to  the  south  at  an 
angle  of  about  thirty  degrees,  while  the  other 
quarter  slopes  north  at  an  angle  of  twenty 
degrees,  giving  a  base  space  for  the  benches 
on  which  the  Eoses  are  to  be  planted,  taking 
out  the  walks,  of  about  fifteen  feet.  The 
benches  may  be  either  a  level  platform,  or 
divided  into  four  or  five  platforms  about  three 
feet  wide,  or  so  as  to  be  about  equal  distances 
from  the  glass;  the  bottom  of  the  benches 
may  be  from  three  to  five  feet  from  the  glass, 
as  desired.  There  is  no  necessity  for  bottom 
heat  for  Eoses,  so  that  it  is  best  to  have  the 
pipes  for  heating  run  under  the  front  and 
back  benches  of  the  Eose  house,  with  none 
under  the  middle  benches.  The  soil  in  which 
the  Eoses  are  to  be  grown  should  not  be  more 
than  four  to  five  inches  deep,  the  boards  so 
arranged  as  to  allow  free  drainage  for  the 
water ;  we  use  boards  three  inches  wide.  The 
soil  is  that  made  from  sods  cut  three  or  four 
inches  deep  from  any  good,  loamy,  pasture 
land,  well  chopped  up,  to  which  is  added  one- 
fourth  of  well-rotted  cow  manure,  together ' 
with  about  one-thirtieth  of  this  bulk  of  pure 
broken  bones  and  bone  dust.  It  is  perhaps 
best  to  let  the  sod  be  well  rotted  before  being 
used,  although,  if  not  convenient,  it  will  do 
fresh,  if  well  chopped  up.  The  distance  for 
Eoses  such  as  we  describe  (those  that  have 
been  grown  in  six-inch  pots,  and  average 
twenty  inches  high)  should  be  one  foot  each 
way,  so  as  to  get  the  full  benefit  of  a  crop.  It 
is  true  that,  if  planted  twice  that  distance, 
they  would  be  thick  enough  before  spring; 
but  they  would  not  fill  up  sufficiently  until 
the  middle  of  January  if  planted  much  wider 
than  one  foot.  The  temperature  at  which 
Eoses  are  grown  in  winter  is  an  average  of 
50°  to  55°  at  night,  with  10°  to  15°  higher 
during  the  day.  Watering  is  a  matter  of  the 
first  importance  and  requires  some  experi- 
ence to  know  what  is  the  proper  condition. 
As  a  guide,  whenever  the  soil  shows  indica- 
tions of  being  dry  on  the  top,  a  thorough 
watering  should  be  given,  sufficient  to  com- 
pletely saturate  the  soil.  Such  a  watering 
will  not  usually  be  required  more  than  once  in 
two  weeks.  Syringing  in  clear  weather  should 
be  done  once  a  day,  sufficient  only  to  moisten 
the  foliage.  If  done  heavily  it  would  keep 
the  soil  too  wet.  Fumigating  with  tobacco 
for  the  suppression  of  the  Aphis  (Green  Fly) 
should  be  done  twice  a  week,  but  in  winter, 
while  the  flowers  are  being  cut,  strew  tobacco 
stems  on  the  pathways,  or  place  them  in  the 
evaporating  pans  on  the  pipes  to  keep  up  a 
flavor  of  tobacco  in  the  house,  which  acts  as 
a  preventative.  The  varieties  grown  are 
changing  every  season,  and  no  list  we  can 
give  to-day  is  likely  to  remain  as  the  best  ten 
years  hence.     The  favorite  Tea  Eoses  now 


HOSE  (standakd). 


ROSE  (THE   "DINSMOBE"). 


380 


ROSE   (MME.   DE  WAITEVLLLE). 


BOSE  (papa  GONTISB). 


BUB06  (BLACK  BABPBEBBY,    T¥Ii£B). 


BUBtJS  (BASPBERBT,   the  HANSELl).  381 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


381 


ROS 

grown  for  winter  arePerle  desJardins  (yellow), 
Niphetos  (white),  Catharine  Mermet  (rose), 
Bride  (white),  Papa  Gontier  (crimson),  La 
France  (light  rose),  American  Beauty  (light 
crimson),  Souvenir  de  Wooton  (crimson), 
Madame  de  Watteville  (carmine  and  white), 
and  Sunset  (orange).  There  are  still  a  number 
of  the  older  sorts,  such  as  Safrano,  Douglas, 
and  Isabella  Sprunt,  yet  grown ;  but  they 
are  fast  giving  way  to  what  is  known  as 
"  fancy  "  Roses,  of  which  the  yellow  variety, 
Perle  des  Jardins,  is  a  type.  Of  Climbing 
Roses,  which  are  grown  on  the  rafters  of 
the  green-house,  Marechal  Neil  (yellow), 
Lamarque  (white),  James  Sprunt  (crimson), 
Gloire  de  Dijon  (salmon  yellow),  and  Red 
Gloire  de  Dijon  (carmine),  are  the  best. 
Another  class  of  Roses,  the  Hybrid  Per- 
petuals,  particularly  the  variety  known  as 
General  Jacqueminot,  are  now  grown  in  im- 
mense quantities. 

Hybkid  Pekpetuals. — To  get  the  Hybrid 
Perpetual  and  the  Hybrid  Tea  classes  early 
(say  during  January)  requires  special  skill  and 
care,  but  well  repays  it,  as  this  class  of  Roses 
now  brings  an  average  of  $35  per  hundred  buds 
at  wholesale,  from  the  15th  of  December  to 
January  15th.  The  method  found  to  be  neces- 
sary is  to  grow  these  Roses  on  in  pots,  exactly 
as  recommended  for  the  Evergreen  or  Tea 
Roses,  except  that,  as  they  have  a  tendency 
to  grow  tall,  the  centre  should  be  pinched  out 
of  the  leading  shoots,  so  that  from  five  to  six 
shoots  run  up,  and  thus  not  only  make  the 
plant  bushy,  but,  what  is  of  more  importance, 
these  slimmer  shoots  are  less  pithy  and  ripen 
off  harder,  thus  ensuring  with  more  certainty 
a  greater  production  of  buds.  The  plants,  if 
started  from  cuttings  any  time  from  Septem- 
ber to  January,  which  is  the  season  we  prefer 
to  root  them  in,  will,  if  properly  grown,  by 
August  1st  (or  at  less  than  one  year  old)  have 
filled  a  seven  or  eight  inch  pot  with  roots. 
Now  is  the  critical  point.  The  plants  must 
be  ripened  off  and  rested  if  a  crop  of  buds  is 
wanted  by  January  and  February  :  so  to  do  that 
at  a  season  as  early  as  the  1st  of  September, 
the  plants  must  be  gradually  dried  off  sufficient 
to  make  them  drop  their  leaves,  though  not 
to  so  violently  wilt  them  as  to  shrivel  the 
shoots.  This  we  find  easiest  done  by  laying 
the  plants  on  their  sides  so  as  to  prevent  them 
being  soaked  with  the  rain,  which  would  start 
them  to  grow  and  prevent  the  early  ripening 
of  the  shoots.  A  rest  of  two  months  is  neces- 
sary, so  that  the  plants  begun  to  be  dried 
off  by  the  1st  of  August  may  be  started  slowly 
by  the  1st  of  October,  and  those  begun  to  be 
dried  off  by  the  1st  of  September  may  be 
started,  also  at  as  low  a  temperature  as  possi- 
ble, by  the  1st  of  November.  The  kinds  most 
used  are  Magna  Charta,  Genl.  Jacqueminot, 
Ulrich  Bruner,  AnnadeDiesbach,  PaulNeyron, 
and  others  of  that  class.  Immense  quan- 
tities of  Roses  of  this  class  are  now  grown  in 
solid  beds.  These  beds  require  no  special  prep- 
ax-ation  where  the  soil  is  naturally  good,  and 
the  natural  drainage  perfect,  but  where  this  is 
not  the  case,  the  same  compost  recommended 
for  Tea  Roses  will  answer,  only  using  a  greater 
depth,  from  nine  to  twelve  inches,  over  a  well- 
drained  bottom.  Hybrid  Perpetual  Roses, 
planted  out  in  solid  beds,  cannot  be  had  so 
early  as  when  grown  in  pots,  as,  when  thus 
grown,   they  cannot  well  be  given  the  rest 


ROS 

necessary  for  early  forcing ;  as  a  rule,  in  this 
district,  they  are  rarely  in  market  before 
February,  and  from  then  they  are  brought  in, 
in  succession  crops,  until  the  Roses  from  out- 
doors in  June  come  in.  Tlie  distance  at  which 
they  are  planted  is  usually  from  fifteen  to 
eighteen  Inches  each  way.  We  may  here  state, 
that  many  failures  ha\e  resulted  in  the 
attempt  to  grow  the  Hybrid  Tea  Roses  with- 
out resting,  notably  the  Duchess  of  Edinburgh 
Rose,  which  was  sent  out  from  England  some 
five  or  six  years  ago  as  a  "Crimson  Tea." 
The  misleading  name  of  "Tea  "  induced  hun- 
dreds of  florists  to  aLttunpt  its  growth  under 
the  same  conditions  as  the  Safrano  or  Bon 
Silene  class,  and  the  consequence  was  in  every 
case  almost  complete  failure.  This  type  evi- 
dently partakes  more  of  the  Hybrid  Perpetual 
than  of  the  Tea  class,  and  as  they  are  hardy 
and  deciduous,  refuse  to  bloom  in  midwinter 
unless  given  the  rest  that  their  nature  de- 
mands. 

Mildew. — Roses,  when  grown  under  glass 
with  proper  attention  to  temperature  and 
moisture,  are  not  usually  attacked  by  Mil- 
dew ;  but  as  a  preventative  it  is  well  to 
paint  the  hot-water  pipes  once  every  two 
or  three  weeks  with  a  mixture  of  sulphur 
and  linseed  oil,  or  sulphur  and  guano,  made 
of  the  consistency  of  whitewash;  the  guano 
is  merely  to  make  the  sulphur  stick  better  to 
the  pipes.  The  fumes  of  sulphur,  as  radiated 
by  the  heated  pipes,  is  a  never-failing  means 
of  destroying  the  germs  of  mildew,  or  any 
other  fungoid  growth,  and  also  holds  in  check, 
to  some  extent,  tlie  Red  Spider  insect,  often 
so  troublesome  to  the  Rose.    (See  Mildew.) 

Rose  BuG.--For  the  Rose  Bug,  so  destruc- 
tive to  success  in  Rose  growing  under  glass, 
there  seems  no  remedy  except  the  slow  and 
unsatisfactory  one  of  catching  and  killing  the 
insect  so  soon  as  it  is  seen  on  the  leaves.  It 
is  not  easily  observed,  as  it  gets  under  the 
leaves  and  close  to  the  shoots  of  the  plants. 
Its  presence  is  known  by  the  bitten  leaves 
showing  where  it  is  feeding;  but  even  with 
the  greatest  diligence,  enough  will  usually 
escape  to  deposit  their  eggs  in  the  soil,  which, 
when  hatched  out  to  the  grub  or  pupa  state, 
rapidly  begin  the  work  of  destruction  by  feed- 
ing on  the  roots.  In  this  stage  all  attempts  to 
destroy  them  have  thus  far,  we  believe,  failed. 
The  only  safety  when  the  Rose  Bug  is  known 
to  be  present  in  sufficient  numbers  to  injure, 
is  to  throw  out  the  plants  and  start  with 
young  ones.  We  have  for  two  years  past 
adopted  this  plan  exclusively,  growing  the 
plants  only  one  year  old  from  cuttings  rooted 
during  the  fall  or  winter  months,  and  have 
since  then  had  no  trouble  whatever  from  the 
ravages  of  this  insect.  We  know,  of  course, 
that  there  are  many  Rose  houses  that  are 
even  nine  to  ten  years  old  that  never  fail  to 
pi'oduce  abundant  crops,  particularly  siich  as 
Marechal  Neil  and  other  climbers;  but  in  such 
cases  it  .seems  to  be  that  the  Roses  planted 
either  had  escaped  the  visitation  of  the  Rose 
Bug  altogether,  or  had  got  so  deeply  and 
strongly  rooted  before  being  attacked  that 
they  could  not  injure  the  plants. 

Shading. — There  is  some  difference  of 
opinion  as  to  the  propriety  of  shading  Rose 
houses  during  the  hot  summer  months.  We 
believe  that  a  slight  shading  is  beneficial,  and 
for  that  purpose  use  naphtha  mixed  with  a 


382 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


ROS 

little  white  lead,  just  enough  to  give  it  the 
appearance  of  tliiu  milii.  This  we  throw  on 
the  outside  of  the  glass  with  a  syringe.  It 
costs  only  about  twenty-five  cents  for  every 
thousand  square  feet.  This  shading  is  the 
best  we  have  ever  used;  it  is  just  enough  to 
talie  the  glare  of  sunlight  off,  without  much 
lessening  the  light ;  and  though  it  will  hold 
on  tenaciouslj-  during  the  summer,  is  easily 
rubbed  off  in  fall. 

Garden  Culture  op  the  Rose.— But  little 
need  be  said  on  this  branch  of  the  subject,  all 
that  is  wanted  being  a  deep,  rich  soil,  in  an 
unshaded  position.  For  the  dry  climate  of 
the  United  States  a  class  of  Eoses  should  be 
grown  very  different  from  those  grown  in 
England.  There  the  " Eemontants "  or  "Hy- 
brid Perpetuals,"  in  their  humid  atmosphere, 
with  few  exceptions,  flower  nearly  as  freely  as 
the  "Monthly"  Eoses  do  here;  but  with  us 
experience  has  shown  that,  after  the  first 
bloom  in  June,  no  full  crop  of  flowers  is  again 
obtained,  unless  with  the  comparatively  new 
class  known  as  the  Hybrid  Teas,  of  which 
"La  France,  Dinsmore,  and  Duchess  of 
Edinburgh  "  are  tj'pes ;  so  that,  when  a  con- 
tinued bloom  of  Eoses  is  desired  during  the 
entire  summer  and  fall  months,  the  class 
known  as  monthly  (embracing  Tea,  Bourbon, 
Bengal,  and  Noisette)  are  the  best.  True, 
these  varieties  are  not  usually  hardy,  unless 
in  that  portion  of  the  country  where  the  ther- 
mometer never  gets  20"  below  the  freezing 
point ;  but  they  can  be  saved  through  the 
winter  in  almost  any  section  if  pegged  down  and 
covered  up  with  five  or  six  inches  of  leaves 
or  rough  litter.  This  covering,  however, 
should  not  be  done  until  quite  hard  frost 
comes ;  in  New  York  about  the  first  week  in 
December.  If  done  sooner,  there  is  danger, 
if  the  season  is  mild  (as  it  usually  is  here 
until  December  1st),  that  the  shoots  may  be 
smothered  and  decay  by  a  too  early  covering. 
This  same  rule  we  adopt  in  covering  Grape 
Vines,  Clematis,  Easpberries,  Strawberries, 
or,  in  fact,  any  other  plant  or  shrub  that  we 
believe  to  be  benefited  by  winter  protection,  as 
we  have  never  yet  seen  injury  done  to  half- 
hardy  plants  by  frost  previous  to  that  date.  In 
thismatter  of  covering,  the  amateur  in  garden- 
ing often  errs,  first  from  his  anxiety  to  protect 
his  plants  before  there  is  danger  in  the  fall ; 
■  and  next,  in  his  enthusiasm  in  spring,  he  is 
deceived  by  some  warm  day  in  March  to  un- 
cover what  is  not  safe  until  April. 

Rosaceae.  A  large  natural  order  of  herbs  or 
shrubs,  very  rarely  trees,  chiefiy  abundant  in 
temperate  regions,  extending  into  the  Arctic 
Zone,  as  well  as  ascending  to  the  highest  ele- 
vations, and  more  sparingly  dispersed  within 
the  tropics.  Bentham  and  Hooker,  in  the 
"  Genera  Plantarum,"  have  divided  up  this 
extensive  and  important  order  into  ten  tribes, 
seveial  of  which  are  regarded  by  some  other 
writers  as  distinct  orders.  Many  beautiful 
flowers  are  included  in  Rosacece,  the  Eose,  of 
course,  taking  the  lead.  The  principal  fruits 
furnished  are  the  Almond,  Api'icot,  Apple, 
Blackberry,  Cherry,  Peach,  Pear,  Plum, Quince, 
Easpberry  and  Strawberry.  Eose  water  is  ob- 
tained by  distillation  from  the  petals  of  R. 
centifolia,  Damascena,  moschata,  etc.,  as  is  also 
the  Attar  of  Eoses  by  maceration  in  oil  of 
Sesamum.    The  bark  of  Moquila  utilis,   the 


EOS 

Pottery-tree  of  the  Amazon,  contains  such  an 
amount  of  silica  that,  when  powdered  and 
mixed  with  clay,  it  is  employed  in  making 
pottery  by  the  natives  of  Para.  The  order 
contains  about  seventy  genera,  of  which  Cra- 
tcBgiis,  Pruntis,  Potentilla,  Rosa,  Rubvs,  and 
Spirma  are  good  examples,  and  one  thousand 
or  more  species. 

Rosary  Plant.     See  Ahrus  precatorius. 
Rosary  Plant,  Mexican.    Rhyncosia precatoria. 
Rose.     The  genus  Rosa ;  the  name  is  also  ap- 
plied to  other  flowers,  as  Eose  Geranium, 
Christmas  Eose,  etc. 
Alpine.     Rhododendron  ferrugineum,  R.  Mrsu- 

tiim,  etc. 
Ash-leaved.     Rosa  fraxinifolia. 
Australian,  Native.     Boronia  serrulata. 
Austrian  Brier.    Rosa  lutea,  var.  pwmcea. 
Ayrshire.     Rosa  arvensis,  var.  scandens. 
Bengal.     Rosa  Bengalensis. 
Boursalt.     Rosa  Boursalti. 
Bramble.     Rosa  polyantha. 
Bramble-leaved.     Rosa  rubifolia. 
Bridal.     Rubus  roscBfolius,  var.  coronarius. 
Cabbage.     Rosa  centifolia. 
Cherokee.     Rosa  Icevigata. 
China,  or  Monthly.     Rosa  indica. 
Christmas.     Helleborus  niger. 
Cinnamon.     Rosa  cinnamomea. 
Damask.     Rosa  Damascena 
Evergreen.     Rosa  sempervirens. 
Fairy.     Rosa  Lawrenceana. 
French.    Rosa  Oallica. 
Green-flowered.     Rosa  viridiflora. 
Guelder.     Viburnum  Opulus. 
Harrison.     An  American  seedling  from  Rosa 

lutea. 
Holly.     The  genus  Helianthemum. 
Hundred-leaved.     Rosa  centifolia. 
Jamaica.     The  genus  Meriania.     Also  applied 

to  Blakea  trinervis. 
Japanese.     Rosa    Yvara,  and  the   genus   Ca- 
mellia. 
"  Juno's."    A  name  given  to  Lilium  candidum. 
Lady  Banks's.     Rosa  Banksice. 
Lenten.     The  species  of  Helleborus   which 

bloom  in  Lent. 
Macartney.     Rosa  bracteata. 
Moss.     Rosa  centifolia,  var.  muscosa. 
Mountain   of    the   West  Indies.       Antigonon 

lepfopus. 
Prairie.     Rosa  setigera. 
Scotch.     Rosa  spinosissima. 
Sev^n  Sisters.     Rosa  Grevillei. 
South  Sea  of  Jamaica.     Nerium,  Oleander. 
Sun.     The  genus  Helianthemum. 
Sweet  Brier.     Rosa  rubiginosa. 
Tea,  or  Tea- scented.     A  variety  of  Rosa  In- 
dica. 
* '  Vinegar, "  of  Germany.     Pceonia  qffici»a}is. 
"West  Indian  Mountain.     Brownea  Rosa. 
Wind.     Papaver  Rhceas  and  RoRmeria  hi/brida. 
Yellow  Persian.      Probably  a  seedling  from 
R.    lutea.    inti'oduced  fiom  Persia    by    H. 
Willock,  in  1830. 
York  and  Lancaster.     Rosa  versicolor,  a  vari- 
ety of  R.  Damascena. 
Rose  Acacia.     See  Robinia  hispida. 
Rose  Apple.     See  Eugenia  Jambos. 
Rose  Bay.     See  Rhododendron  and  Nerium. 
Rose  Campion.     See  Lychnis  coronaria. 
Rose  Elder.     See  Vibiimum  Opulus. 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTUEE. 


383 


ROS 

Rose  Geranium.    See  Pelargonium. 

Rose  MallovT^.     Hibiscus  coccineus. 

Rosemary.     See  Rosmarinus. 

Rose  of  Heaveu.     Lychnis  coeli-roaea. 

Rose  of  Jericho.     See  Anastatica. 

Rose  of  Sharon.     Hibiscus  Syraicus. 

Rose  Root.     Sedum  Rhodiola. 

Rosewood.  A  valuable  South  American  tim- 
ber, produced  from  several  species  of  Dalber- 
gia.  The  finest  quality  is  from  Rio  Janeiro, 
the  product  of  D.  nigra,  which  see. 

Rosin  Plant,  or  Rosin  "Weed.     See  Silphium. 

Rosmari'nus.  Rosemary.  From  ros,  dew,  and 
marinus,  of  the  sea ;  on  account  of  its  mari- 
time habitat.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 

The  Rosemary  is  a  half-hardy,  low-growing 
evergreen,  a  native  of  the  south  of  Europe.  It 
has  long  been  cultivated  and  valued  for  the 
essential  oil  it  yields.  The  whole  plant  is 
aromatic,  but  the  flowers,  which  are  pale 
blue,  are  chiefly  used  in  distillation  for  the 
oil,  which  is  the  principal  ingredient  of  Hun- 
gary Water  and  Eau  de  Cologne.  There  are 
several  varieties  under  cultivation  in  the  gar- 
dens, R.  officinalis  being  the  more  common 
species.     Propagated  by  cuttings. 

Rostellum,  A  narrow  extension  of  the  upper 
edge  of  the  stigma  of  certain  Orchids. 

Rostrate.  Terminating  gradually  in  a  long, 
straight,  hard  point,  like  the  pod  of  a  Radish. 

Rosulate.     Collected  in  a  rosette. 

Rotate.     Resembling  a  wheel. 

Rotation  of  Crops.  All  observing  cultivators 
soon  discover,  that  no  matter  how  fertile  a 
soil  may  be,  the  same  kind  of  crop  cannot  be 
grown  so  well  on  it  successively  as  if  it  were 
alternated  with  a  crop  of  an  entirely  different 
character.  No  satisfactory  reason  can  be 
assigned  for  this  that  we  know  of,  unless  in 
the  familiar  case  of  the  Cabbage  crop.  "We 
find  that  if  Cabbages  on  most  soils  are  gi-own 
two  years  in  succession,  the  crop  will  be 
affected  by  the  disease  known  as  "  Club 
Root"  (which  see) ;  but  in  this  particular  in- 
stance we  get  at  a  tangible  cause.  A  great 
many  theories  have  been  assigned  why  the 
same  crops  deteriorate  by  being  grown  suc- 
cessively on  the  same  soil,  but  they  have  been 

!  far  from  satisfactory,  and  in  no  case  that  we 
know  of,  unless  in  the  case  of  the  Cabbage,  or 
Brassica  tribe,  have  they  led  to  any  beneficial 
practical  results.  The  following  general  rules 
have  been  laid  down  as  a  guide  : 

First.  Plants  of  the  same  natiyml  order 
should  not  be  planted  to  succeed  each  other. 
Second.  Crops  which  for  a  number  of  years 
occupy  the  ground,  such  as  Strawberries, 
Rhubarb,  or  Asparagus,  should  be  succeeded 
by  annual  crops,  such  as  Cabbages,  Lettuce, 
•  or  Radishes.  Third.  Crops  grown  for  their 
heads,  such  as  Cabbage,  Cauliflower,  or  Let- 
tuce, should  be  succeeded  by  plants  grown 
for  their  roots,  such  as  Parsnips,  Carrots,  or 
Beets.  It  is  not  always  practicable  to  vary 
crops  according  to  rules,  nor  should  such 
rules  be  taken  as  arbitrary,  but  only  as  a 
guide.  When  vegetables  or  fruits  are  grown 
for  market,  the  necessities  of  the  cultivator 
compel  usually  double  crops  of  the  land  each 
season,  and  that,  with  heavy  manuring  and 
deep  cultivation,  seems  to  do  away,  to  a  con- 


ROX 

siderable  extent,  with  any  need  for  systematic 
rotation,  which  would  often  be  found  to  be 
impracticable.  As  has  been  previously  said, 
<  the  crops  of  all  others  that  we  find  most  ben- 
efited by  change  are  the  Cabbage  tribe,  to- 
gether with  the  allied  families  of  Turnip, 
Radish,  etc. ;  while,  on  the  other  hand. 
Onions  never  seem  to  be  injured  by  succes- 
sive plantings  on  the  same  soil.  When  space 
is  limited,  or  when  it  is  not  convenient  to 
rotate  crops,  the  next  best  thing  is  deep  cul- 
ture, by  trenching  or  sub-soiling  (which  see). 
The  same  method  holds  good  for  farm  as  well 
as  for  garden  crops.  It  is  not  advisable  to 
follow  such  crops  as  wheat  or  corn  year  after 
year  on  the  same  land ;  wheat  particularly 
being  a  great.feeder,  the  land  would  soon  be- 
come exhausted.  Another  reason  is — and  it 
is  true  of  a  great  many  other  crops — that 
when  one  of  the  same  kind  is  continuously 
sown,  there  is  far  more  danger  of  injury  by 
insects  or  blight,  as  it  seems  to  be  a  law  of 
nature  that  special  plants  are  subject  to  the 
ravages  of  special  insects  or  diseases,  and  the 
best  way  to  get  relief  from  their  attacks  is  to 
change  the  crop  as  radically  as  possible  ;  thus 
a  grain  crop  might  be  followed  by  one  of  Po- 
tatoes, Mangels,  Peas,  or  Beans ;  this  in  turn 
by  grass,  if  used,  or  by  a  change  from  one  or 
other  of  the  foregoing  to  Celery,  Onions,  or 
Cabbages.  Carrots,  Parsnips,  or  other  mem- 
bers of  that  order  should  never  follow  each 
other ;  but  if  similar  crops  have  of  necessity 
to  succeed  each  other,  the  ground  should  be 
deeply  plowed  and  well  manured  between  the 
crops. 

Rotimd.  Rounded  in  outline  ;  usually  applied 
to  bodies  which  are  not  round  themselves, 
but  only  at  their  ends. 

Rouge  Plant.     See  Rivina  humilis. 

Roupa'la.  Said  to  be  the  native  name  in  Guiana. 
See  Rhopala. 

Roupe'llia.  Named  in  honor  of  Charles  Roupell, 
a  distinguished  botanist  of  South  Carolina. 
Nat.  Ord.  Apocynacece. 

This  is  the  far-famed  Cream-fruit  tree  of 
Sierra  Leone,  a  remarkable  and  showy  green- 
house climber.  In  its  native  home  it  is  a 
most  beautiful  and  fragrant  plant,  but  under 
artificial  cultivation  its  pure  white  flowers  are 
of  cream  color,  and  it  is  in  all  respects  infe- 
rior to  the  flattering  accounts  given  by  its 
discoverer,  and  not  worth  the  care  and  atten- 
tion required  to  grow  it. 

Rowan-Tree.  A  popular  name  for  Pyrus  Aueu- 
paria. 

Roxbu'rghia.  Named  after  Dr.  Roxburgh,  once 
director  of  the  Botanic  Garden,  Calcutta.  Nat. 
Ord.  Roxburghiaceas,. 

A  genus  of  evergreen,  twining  or  half 
shrubby  plants,  natives  of  India  and  tropical 
Australia,  with  broad,  shining  leaves,  and 
peculiar  green  flowers  which  are  produced 
singly  and  in  small  clusters  on  short,  axillary 
peduncles ;  they  are  large  and  handsome,  but 
very  fetid,  and  this  disagreeable  feature 
prevents  their  introduction  into  choice  collec- 
tions of  hot-house  plants. 

Roxburghia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  twining 
or  erect,  half-shrubby  plants,  natives  of  tropi- 
cal Australia,  India,  and  the  Indian  Archi- 
pelago. The  thick,  tuberous  roots  of  some  of 
the  species  are,  after  a  previous  preparation 


384 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


ROY 

with  lime-water,  candied  in  India.  Ttie  order 
contains  about  eight  species  and  four  genera, 
all  tall  twiners,  with  broad  leaves. 

Royal  Bay.     Laurus  nobilis. 

Royal  Fern.     See  Osmunda  regalis. 

Royal  Palm.    See  Oreodoxa  regia. 

Roy'dsia.  Named  in  honor  of  Sir  John  Royds, 
of  Bengal.     Nat.  Ord.  CapparidacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  shrubby  plants,  with  small 
yellow,  very  fragrant  flowers,  natives  of  the 
East  Indies  and  the  Philippine  Islands.  R. 
suaveolens,  the  onlj'  species  yet  introduced, 
though  forming  a  rather  rambling  bush,  is 
worth  cultivating  for  its  delicious  fragrance. 
It  is  readily  increased  by  cuttings  of  the  young 
wood. 

Roye'na.  A  name  given  by  Linnaeus  in  honor  of 
Adrian  von  Royen,  Professor  of  Botany  at  Ley- 
den.     Nat.  Ord.  Ebenacem. 

A  genus  of  tropical  shrubs  or  low-growing 
trees,  some  of  which  are  cultivated  in  the 
green-house  for  their  beautiful  white  flowers 
and  glossy  foliage.  The  wood  of  the  species 
is  of  the  nature  of  ebony,  but  not  of  sufficient 
size  to  make  it  valuable. 

Rubber  Plant.  East  Indian.  The  popular  name 
for  Ficus  elastica. 

Rubber  Tree.  African.  The  popular  name  for 
Landoljyhia. 

Rubescent.     Reddish,  turning  red. 

Ru'bia.  Madder.  From  ruber,  red ;  the  color 
of  the  roots.     Nat.  Ord.  RubiaceoB. 

The  perennial  species,  which  are  not  re- 
markable for  their  beauty,  are  quite  hardy. 
There  are  also  some  half-liardy  shrubs,  which 
are  worth  cultivating  in  a  green-house  for 
their  flowers,  which  are  generally  yellow.  A 
red  dye  is  derived  from  the  roots  of  all  the 
species,  but  principally  from  those  of  R.  tinc- 
torium,  which  is  cultivated  as  a  field-plant  in 
the  south  of  Europe. 

Rubia'ceae.  A  large  and  important  natural  or- 
der, including  CinchonacecB  and  Galiacece  as 
sub-orders.  The  latter  represents  the  order 
in  temperate  climes,  while  the  former  [Cincho- 
nacece)  constitutes  one  twenty-seventh  of  the 
flowering  plants  of  tropical  and  sub-tropical 
regions.  Among  the  valuable  products  of  the 
order  may  be  mentioned,  Coffee,  Quinine, 
Ipecacuanha,  "White  Gambler,  etc.  Madder, 
a  valuable  dye,  may  also  be  mentioned.  The 
order  comprises  about  three  hundred  and 
forty  genera,  and  nearly  four  thousand  spe- 
cies. Bouvardia,  Gardenia,  Cinchona,  Ronde- 
letia,  and  Ixora,  are  well-known  examples. 

Rubicund.    Blushing ;  turning  rosy-red. 

Rubiginose.     Brownish  rusty-red. 

Ru'bus.  Bramble,  Raspberry,  Blackberry. 
From  the  Celtic  word  rub,  red  ;  in  reference  to 
the  color  of  the  fruit  of  some  of  the  species. 
Nat.  Ord.  Rosacece. 

The  species  are  mostly  shrubs,  trailing  or 
erect,  with  prickly  stems,  bearing  edible 
fruit.  The  plants  of  this  family,  growing  in 
all  situations  and  almost  every  kind  of  soil, 
vary  greatly,  and  are  consequently  very  per- 
plexing to  the  botanist;  and  so  little  are 
authors  agreed  as  to  which  are  species 
and  which  merely  varieties,  that  while  Ben- 
tham  reckons  only  five  species,  Babington 
enumerates  forty-five.     It  is  this  tendency  to 


RUB 

vary,  however,  that  has  given  us  many  of  the 
most  esteemed  kinds  of  Blackberries,  etc., 
found  in  American  gardens.  The  English 
garden  varieties  of  the  Raspberry  have  all 
originated  from  R.  Idcevs,  a  native  of  Europe 
and  Mount  Ida  in  Crete,  whence  its  specific 
name.  The  fruit  of  this  species  is  red.  Cul- 
tivators, however,  have  obtained  varieties 
with  crimson,  brown,  yellow,  and  nearly 
white  fruit.  The  Red  Antwerp  and  the 
White  Antwerp  (but  which  is  pale  yellow) 
have  been  long  and  favorably  known,  both  in 
England  and  the  United  States ;  but  they  do 
not  survive  the  winter  without  protection  in 
our  Northern  States,  and  for  that  reason  are 
little  grown  at  the  North.  There  are  now 
a  large  number  of  varieties  raised  from  our 
native  species  that  possess  qualities  of  good- 
ness and  hardiness  that  entitle  them  to  uni- 
vei'sal  cultivation,  though  they  are  inferior 
in  quality  to  the  foreign  kinds.  Brinckle's 
Orange  is  an  American  seedling  raised  by  the 
late  Dr.  Brinckle,  of  Philadelphia.  It  is,  how- 
ever, of  foreign  parentage,  and  consequently 
tender,  but  the  highest  flavored  of  all  Rasp- 
berries. The  wild  Red  Raspberry,  R.  stri- 
gosus,  common  in  hedges  and  on  the  hillsides 
throughout  the  Middle  and  New  England 
States,  closely  resembles  the  European  spe- 
cies. Its  fruit  is  tender  and  somewhat 
watery,  but  the  flavor  is  fine.  Some  excellent 
varieties  of  this  species  are  imder  cultivation. 
The  Black  Raspberrj',  commonly  known  as  the 
Black  Cap  or  Thimbleberry,  is  R.  occidentalis, 
a  species  that  is  conflned  wholly  to  America. 
It  is  most  common  from  Virginia  north  and 
westward.  This  species  and  its  varieties 
bear  a  pleasant  tasted  fruit  in  the  greatest 
abundance  with  very  little  care.  They  are 
the  least  troublesome  of  all  Raspberries  to 
grow,  inasmuch  as  they  increase  themselves 
from  the  tips  or  ends  of  the  shoots,  and  pro- 
duce no  suckers.  There  are  several  varieties 
of  the  Black  Caps  that  bear  reddish-crimson 
fruit.  A  number  of  hybrid  Raspberries  have 
been  recently  introduced,  partaking  some- 
what of  the  Black  Cap  characteristics,  par- 
ticularly.the  peculiarity  of  rooting  from  the 
tips  of  the  green  shoots ;  and  among  these 
the  most  striking  is  the  Caroline,  which  is 
propagated  from  suckers  as  well  as  from  the 
tips  of  the  shoots,  plainly  showing  its  hybrid 
character.  It  has  been  said  by  those  unac- 
quainted with  its  origin  that  it  is  a  hybrid 
between  Brinckle's  Orange  and  the  Catawissa ; 
but  the  originator  disclaims  any  such  origin, 
and  the  plant  itself  and  its  fruit  show  that  the 
Catawissa  was  not  one  of  its  parents.  It  was 
raised  in  1877  by  S.  P.  Carpenter,  of  New  Ro- 
chelle,  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a 
natural  cross  between  Biinckle's  Orange  (the 
seed  parent)  and  the  I'ellow  Cap,  a  variety  of 
R.  occidentalis.  The  plant  is  thoroughly 
hardy,  a  strong  grower,  and  wonderfully  pro- 
ductive. The  fruit,  when  ripe,  is  a  fine 
salmon  color,  tender,  and  of  excellent  quality, 
though  not  equal  to  the  Brinckle.  Another 
of  S-  P.  Carpenter's  seedlings  is  the  well- 
known  New  Rochelle,  a  seedling  of  the  Cata- 
wissa. It  is  hardy,  very  productive,  and  of 
good  quality,  being  slightly  acid.  Another 
Westchester  County  seedling  is  the  Cuthbert, 
newly  introduced,  and  which  at  this  time 
promises  to  become  a  leading  market  variety, 
being  hardy,  productive,  and  of  fine  quality, 


AND   GENEKAL   HORTICULTURE. 


385 


RUB 

and  the  fruit  firm  enough  to  bear  long  car- 
riage. The  Gregg,  another  recent  introduc- 
tion of  the  Black  Cap  division  was  raised  in 
Ohio  in  1876,  is  a  very  fine  large  fruit,  and 
has  already  taken  its  place  as  the  best  of  its 
class  as  a  market  berry.  The  Mammoth 
Cluster,  Clarke,  Tyler,  Marlboro,  Rancocas, 
Hansell,  and  many  others  are  more  or  less 
grown,  but  need  not  be  specially  noted  here. 
The  Blackberry,  of  wliich  there  are  several 
native  species,  is  now  largely  grown  for 
market,  and  is  a  profitable  crop.  Until  the 
appearance  of  tlie  New  Rochelle  Blackberry 
(sometimes  called  Lawton)  our  markets  were 
supplied  with  Blackberries  from  the  woods. 
R.  villosiis,  the  Higli  Blackberx-y,  is  the  com- 
mon Blackberry  of  the  country,  being  found 
almost  everywhere.  It  is  given  to  variation, 
and  is  the  parent  of  nearly  all  the  varieties 
now  under  cultivation.  The  first  of  these  was 
the  New  Rochelle,  discovered  by  Mr.  Secor 
growing  in  a  hedge  at  New  Rochelle, 
Westchester  County,  New  York.  It  is 
an  interesting  fact,  as  showing  the  estima- 
tion in  which  improved  Biaekberries  were 
held  at  that  time,  that  Mr.  Secor  grew  the 
plants  in  his  garden  for  about  nine  years 
without  being  able  to  prevail  upon  his  neigli- 
bors  to  accept  a  plant  as  a  gift,  when  at  last 
Mr.  Lawton,  a  shrewd  lawj^er,  took  hold  of  it, 
exhibited  the  fruit  in  New  York,  got  up  a  sen- 
sation, and  finally  made  a  little  fortune 
out  of  the  sale  of  the  plants.  Hundreds  of 
acres  of  it  are  in  cultivation.  It  is  a  large, 
handsome  and  excellent  fruit,  but  the  plants 
are  at  times  injured  in  the  winter  at  the 
North.  Some  years  later  a  clergyman  of 
New  Jersey  discovered  another  variety  of  R. 
villosus  growing  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  on 
the  Kittatinny  Mountains,  removed  it  to  his 
garden  and  'increased  it  largely.  This  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  E.  "Williams,  of  Mont- 
clair,  N.  J.,  who  sent  it  out,  and  the  public 
were  thus  put  in  possession  of  the  famous 
Kittatinny  which  still  remains  the  best  fruit 
of  its  class.  The  Wilson  is  an  earlier  berry 
than  either  of  the  preceding,  but  not  equal  to 
them  in  quality.  The  Snyder  is  an  early  kind, 
immensely  productive,  and  perfectly  hardy  in 
all  parts  of  the  country.  The  fruit  is  smaller 
than  the  Kittatinny,  but  is  very  sweet  and 
ripe  as  soon  as  colored,  which  is  not  true  of 
those  above  named.  Many  other  sorts  are  in 
cultivation,  for  names  and  descriptions  of 
•which  see  nurserymen's  catalogues.  R. 
Canadensis,  the  Running  Blackberry,  is  popu- 
larly known  as  the  Dewberry.  The  fruit  is 
of  an  excellent  quality,  and  ripens  about  two 
weeks  earlier  than  most  of  the  preceding  spe- 
cies. A  variety  called  the  Lucretia  bears 
large  and  handsome  fruit,  and  is  valuable  as 
coming  between  the  Raspberry  and  Black- 
berry. It  is  also  very  valuable  in  the  South- 
ern States,  where  the  tall-growing  varieties  do 
not  succeed.  R.  cuneifolius,  or  Sand  Blackberry, 
is  one  of  the  more  common  species,  growing 
from  two  to  three  feet  high,  and  ripening  an 
abundance  of  well-flavored  fruit  in  August. 
This  species  is  common  in  sandy  w^oods  in 
southern  New  York  and  southward.  R.  Cha- 
mcBmonis,  Cloudberry,  is  a  species  with  large 
orange-red  fruit,  found  growing  on  the  White 
Mountains  and  similar  elevations  in  the 
Northern  and  Eastern  States.  This  species, 
or  something  very  near  it,  is  also  abundant  in 


RUI 

Lapland,  where  the  fruit  is  held  in  high  es- 
teem. There  are  several  other  species,  with- 
out, however,  any  special  distinctive  features. 
Propagated  by  root  cuttings,  tips  of  the 
shoots  or  suckers,  according  to  the  kind. 

Rudbe'ckia.  Cone  Flower.  Named  in  honor 
of  Professors  Rudbeck,  father  and  son,  prede- 
cessors of  Linneeus  at  Upsal.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positcB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials, 
growing  from  two  to  seven  feet  high,  with 
numerous  showy  flower-heads  of  bright  yel- 
low, with  a  black  disk  in  the  centre.  They 
are  natives  of  the  Western  States,  and  are  be- 
coming common  in  our  meadows,  having  been 
introduced  by  the  seed  being  mixed  with  the 
various  grass  seeds  coming  from  the  West, 
principally  from  Kentucky.  This  genus  ac- 
quired an  enviable  reputation  in  Europe  as  an 
ornamental  flowering  plant,  and  the  seed  was 
distributed  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
at  Washington,  through  the  members  of  Con- 
gress, to  several  of  the  States  that  had  passed 
stringent  laws  against  the  dissemination  of 
"weeds." 

Ru'dgea.  Commemorative  of  31.  F.  Rudge,  an 
English  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Rubiaceoe. 

A  genus  of  green-house  shrubs  or  low-grow- 
ing trees,  with  dense  terminal  panicles  of 
white  flowers,  natives  of  Brazil.  R.  macro- 
phylla  is  occasionally  seen  in  the  green-house. 
It  is  also  known  as  R.  leucocephala. 

Rudimentary.    In  an  incomplete  condition. 

Rudo'lphia.  Named  after  W.  Rudolph,  a  Prus- 
sian botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  small  genus  of  very  beautiful  green-house 
evergreen  twiners,  from  Mexico  and  the  West 
Indies.  The  genus  is  allied  to  Erythrina,  and 
is  remarkable  for  its  brilliant  scarlet  flowers, 
produced  in  axillary  racemes.  Propagated 
by  cuttings  or  from  seeds. 

Rue.    See  Ruta. 

Rue.  Goat's.  A  common  name  for  Galega 
officinalis. 

Rue.  Wall.  The  popular  name  of  Asplenium 
Ruta-muraria. 

Rue'llia.  In  honor  of  John  Ruelle,  of  Soissons, 
botanist  and  physican  to  Francis  I.  Nat. 
Ord.  AcanthacecB. 

Herbaceous  green-house  plants  with  pretty 
tube-shaped  blue  flowers.  Some  of  the  spe- 
cies require  a  hot-house,  and  others  a  green- 
house ;  but  they  should  all  be  grown  in  light, 
rich  soil.  R.  macrantha  is  getting  quite  com- 
mon as  a  window  plant.  Certainly,  one  more 
worthy  it  would  be  hard  to  find ;  its  large, 
trumpet-shaped,  rosy  fiowers  are  produced 
for  a  month  or  two  in  succession.  They  are 
natives  of  South  America  and  the  East  Indies, 
and  are  propagated  by  cuttings.  By  many 
botanists,  Dipteracanthus  is  included  in  this 
genus. 

Rufous.    Pale  red,  mixed  with  brown. 

Ruga.  A  wrinkle  ;  hence,  Rugose,  covered  with 
wrinkles. 

Rui'zia.  Named  in  honor  of  Don  H.  Ruiz, 
author,  in  conjunction  with  Pavon,  of  "Florae 
PeruviansB  et  Chilensis,"  Nat.  Ord.  Sterculi- 
aceoe. 

A  genus  of  ornamental  shrubs,  natives  of 
Bourbon.  Two  species,  R.  lobata,  and  R.  vari- 
abilis, both  with  reddish  flowers,  are  in  culti- 


386 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


EUM 

vation,  and  are  worthy  of  a  place  in  every 
good  collection.  Propagated  by  cuttings  in 
heat. 

Ru'mex.  Dock,  Sorrel.  From  rumo,  to  suck ; 
in  allusion  to  the  practice  among  the  Romans 
of  sucking  the  leaves  to  allay  thirst.  Nat.  Ord. 
Polygonacece. 

Most  of  the  species  are  common  weeds. 
The  leaves  of  R.  acetosa  are  sometimes  used 
as  a  pot-herb,  or  "  greens."  R.  acetosella  is  a 
small-growing  species,  well  known  for  its 
acidity,  and  popularly  called  Sorrel.  It  is 
justly  regarded  as  a  nuisance.  R.  scutatus, 
the  Buckler-shaped  or  French  Sorrel,  is  a 
hardy  perennial,  a  native  of  France  and  Italy. 
It  is  considered  of  great  importance  in  French 
cookery,  and  is  both  agreeable  to  eat  and 
very  wholesome,  although  but  little  valued  in 
this  country,  except  at  some  of  the  most 
fashionable  tables.  It  is  extensively  culti- 
vated on  the  continent,  and  in  the  markets  of 
Paris  is  nearly  as  abundant  as  Peas  are  in 
ours.  It  abounds  in  oxalic  acid,  and  is  re- 
garded as  a  powerful  anti-scorbutic. 

Rumfo'rdia.  The  only  species  of  this  genus, 
R.  floribunda,  is  a  handsome,  opposite-leaved 
Mexican  bush  of  the  Compositce  family,  differ- 
ing from  Heliopsis  chiefly  in  habit.  The  whole 
plant  is  smooth,  and  the  erect  stems,  furnished 
with  ample,  glossy  leaves,  terminate  in  a  pan- 
icle of  very  numerous  bright-yellow  flower- 
heads,  each  about  an  inch  across,  and  inter- 
spersed with  oblong  bracts.  Propagated  by 
division  or  by  seeds. 

Runcinate.  Curved  in  a  direction  from  the 
apex  to  the  base,  as  the  leaf  of  the  Dandelion. 

Runner.  A  prostrate,  slender  stem,  rooting  at 
its  extremity  or  elsewhere,  as  in  the  Straw- 
berry. 

Running  Blackberry.     See  Rubus. 

Running  Cedar.     Lycopodium  dendroideum. 

Rupestris.  Rupicola.  Growing  on  rocks  or 
in  rocky  places. 

Ru'scus.  Formerly  Bruscus.  Butcher's  Broom. 
From  bruscus,  derived  from  the  Celtic  beiis, 
box,  and  kelen,  holly ;  Box  HoDy  or  Butcher's 
Broom.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

Very  curious  evergreen  shrubs,  most  of 
which  bear  their  flowers  and  fruit  on  their 
leaf-like  branches.  All  the  species  prefer 
shady  situations  under  the  drip  of  trees, 
where  but  few  other  plants  will  grow ;  and 
they  are  all  readily  increased  by  suckers  from 
their  roots,  which  they  throw  up  in  abun- 
dance. They  are  natives  of  Europe  and  the 
whole  Mediterranean  region  from  Madeira  to 
the  Caucasus.  R.  racemosus  is  sometimes 
called  the  Alexandrian  Laurel. 

Rush.    See  Juncus. 

Rush.    Flowering.    See  Buiomus. 

Rush-Lily.    The  genus  Sisyrinchium. 

Russe'lia.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  Alexander 
Russel,  author  of  a  Natural  History  of  Aleppo. 
Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacece. 

A  genus  of  small  shrubs  and  herbaceous 
plants  from  Mexico  and  the  Antilles.  R. 
juncea,  a  very  pretty  species,  with  bright 
scarlet  flowers,  produced  in  axillary  corymbs, 
is  a  plant  of  slender  habit,  and  well  adapted 
for  basket  work.  It  was  introduced  from 
Mexico  in  1833,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings. 


RUS 

Russian  Mats.  An  article  of  commerce  manu- 
factured from  the  inner  bark  of  the  Lime 
tree  (Tilia),  formerly  much  used  for  proiuot- 
ing  frames,  tying  purposes,  etc. 

Rust.  This  term  is  used  for  a  destructive  form 
of  disease  affecting  many  widely  different 
kinds  of  plants.  It  is  known  by  the  dry, 
shriveled,  or  curly  appearance  of  the  foliage, 
the  leaves  being  less  or  more  discolored  with 
blackish  blotches  or  spots.  It  is  not  always 
easy  to  determine  the  cause,  but  we  think  it 
is  safe  to  say  that  in  many  plants  it  is  owing 
to  a  weakened  condition  of  the  plant  that  in- 
vites the  attacks  of  parasites,  causing  the 
"  rust."  This  we  have  proved  to  be  the  case 
so  often  in  our  practice  that  we  now  no  longer 
doubt  on  the  subject. 

"We  find,  lor  example,  if  we  leave  such  plants 
as  Heliotropes,  Verbenas,  Lantanas,  Pelar- 
goniums, or  other  plants  subject  to  the  dis- 
ease known  as  "  black  rust,"  so  that  they  be- 
come enfeebled  for  want  of  pot  room,  they 
are  almost  certain  to  be  affected.  A  few 
years  ago  we  tried  an  experiment  on  one  hun- 
dred each  of  Heliotrope  and  Verbena  plants 
(that  were  in  fine,  healthy  condition,  growing 
in  two-inch  pots),  of  shifting  one-half  of  each 
lot  into  three-inch  pots,  the  other  half  being 
allowed  to  remain  unshifted.  The  shifted 
plants  grew  vigorously,  and  in  six  weeks  were 
twice  the  size  of  the  others,  and  in  fine,  vigo- 
rous health  ;  while  those  unshifted,  becoming 
impoverished  for  want  of  new  soil,  were 
stunted,  and  nearly  all  became  affected  by 
"  black  rust." 

The  examination  of  the  diseased  leaves  by 
a  powerful  microscope  revealed  numbers  of 
crab-like  mites  feeding  on  the  leaves,  while 
on  healthy  leaves  of  the  same  plant  not  a  par- 
asite could  be  found.  The  inference  then  is, 
that  the  weakened  condition  of  the  plant 
made  it  a  congenial  soil  for  the  deposit  of  the 
germ  of  this  parasitical  insect.  Another  kind 
of  "  rust,"  evidently  distinct  from  the  preced- 
ing, is  now  one  of  the  most  serious  obstacles 
in  the  foi'cing  of  Lettuce  under  glass,  whole 
crops  being  utterly  destroyed  by  it.  We  are 
inclined  to  believe  that  the  Lettuce  rust  is 
the  work  of  a  vegetable  parasite,  as  a  micro- 
scopic examination  of  the  diseased  leaves 
shows  a  fungoid  structure  very  similar  to 
Rose  mildew.  The  only  remedy  we  can  ad- 
vise in  this  case  is  to  work  with  young  plants 
on  fresh  soil  as  far  as  practicable.  The  usual 
method  of  obtaining  Lettuce  plants  for  forc- 
ing is  to  use  plants  sown  or  planted  in  cold 
frames  in  fall  for  all  the  plantings  during  the 
entire  winter ;  but  we  have  found  that  such 
plants  are  more  liable  to  the  disease  than 
those  sown  later ;  and  now  the  most  success- 
ful growers  of  Lettuce  for  winter  use  only  the 
cold-frame  (fall-sown  plants)  for  their  first 
crop,  which  is  usually  ready  at  Christmas, 
while  for  the  succession  crops,  new  sowings 
are  made  about  six  weeks  before  the  plants  are 
needed,  it  being  found  that  these  fresh  young 
plants  are  less  liable  to  the  rust  than  the 
others. 

Rustic  "Work.  This  term  is  applied  to  all  or- 
naments or  erections  made  of  gnarled  and 
twisted  branches  or  roots,  undressed  timber, 
or  other  similar  materials,  as  nearly  as  possi- 
ble in  their  natural  state.  Its  construction 
requires  natural  aptitude  and  good  taste,  and 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


387 


RUT 

the  best  examples  are  those  that  show  the 
least  the  mark  of  the  workman's  tools.  Its 
disposition  also  is  a  matter  of  good  taste,  few 
suitable  positions  for  it  being  found  on  the 
lawn  or  in  the  highly-kept  flower  garden  near 
the  house,  but  for  the  most  part  in  nooks  and 
corners  of  shrubberies,  etc.  Rustic  fences, 
bridges  and  gates  are  often  used  in  situations 
cut  off  from  the  more  cultivated  grounds,  or 
as  an  introduction  to  the  borders  of  woods  or 
the  i"ock-garden.  A  few  rustic  arches  at  in- 
tervals, covered  with  Honeysuckles,  Roses, 
Cleinat'p,  Jasmine,  etc.,  forming  a  vista  at 
the  end  of  which  is  a  rustic  summer-house,  its 
porch  and  veranda  covered  with  Clematis  and 
other  climbers,  are  most  fitting  accompani- 
ments to  the  rock-garden,  and  add  greatly  to 
its  appearance  and  attractiveness. 

In  places  where  there  is  a  large  expanse  of 
lawn,  with  glades  of  turf  and  spreading  trees 
and  masses  of  shrubbery,  rustic  beds,  formed 
like  baskets,  vases,  or  pyramids,  are  pretty 
objects  if  placed  with  judgment,  and  are  very 
effective  if  associated  with  Ampelopsis,  Ivy 
or  Ferns.  Rustic  chairs  are,  as  a  rule,  more 
picturesque  than  useful,  and  should  be  used 
only  when  apparently  needed. 

Ru'ta.  Rue.  From  the  Greek  Rule,  from  ruo, 
to  flow;  probably  some  reputed  medicinal 
qualities  of  the  plant.     Nat.  Ord.  RutacecB. 

A  genus  of  about  forty  species  of  hardy  or 
half-hardy  strong-smelling  perennial  herbs  or 
shrubs,  natives  of  western  and  central  Asia 
and  southern  Europe.  Few  of  the  species  are 
of  any  horticultural  value.  R.  graveolens  is 
a  well-known  glaucous-leaved  plant,  having 
a  vei'y  unpleasant  smell  and  a  bitter  taste. 
The  leaves  are  nearly  blue,  and  from  their 
peculiar  color  sometimes  produce  a  good 
effect  in  a  shrubbei'y.  The  flowers  are  yel- 
lowish. 

Huta  Baga.  The  Swedish  Turnip.  Brassica 
campestris,  var.  Ruta  Baga.     See  Turnip. 

Ruta'ceae.  A  large  order  of  trees,  shrubs,  or 
rarely  herbs,  always  more  or  less  marked 
with  glandular  dots,  especially  on  the  foliage, 
and  often  strongly  scented.  In  its  geograph- 
ical range,  the  order  extends  over  the  tropi- 
cal, sub-tropical  and  temperate  regions  of  the 
globe,  it  is,  however,  scarce  in  tropical  Africa 
and  disappears  entirely  in  cold  climates  and 
at  great  elevations.     Citrus  (sub-order  Auran- 


SAB 

tiecB)  is  the  most  celebrated  genus  on  account 
of  its  fruits,  Orange,  Lemon,  Lime,  etc.,  from 
the  flowers  of  which  a  volatile  oil  is  obtained, 
which  is  the  basis  of  Eau  de  Cologne.  The 
berries  of  some  other  genera  from  China  and 
Japan  are  edible.  Ruta  graveolens  is  grown 
in  most  gardens  and  is  remarkable  for  its 
strong  smell  and  acrid  taste.  The  order  con- 
sists of  about  eighty  genera,  including  many 
well-known  flowering  plants,  such  as  Correa, 
Crowea,  Citrus,  Diosma,  Choysia,  etc.,  and 
over  six  hundred  species. 

Rutilans.     Deep  red,  with  a  metallic  lustre. 

Ruy'schia.  Named  in  honor  of  Fred.  Ruysch, 
once  Professor  of  Botany  at  Amsterdam. 
Nat.  Ord.  Marcgraaviacece. 

A  genus  of  about  eight  species  of  tropical 
American  epiphytal  or  climbing  shrubs,  which 
have  thick,  quite  entire  leaves,  and  terminal, 
very  often  long,  racemes  of  flowers.  R.  Clu- 
sicBfolia,  the  only  introduced  species,  is  an  in- 
teresting and  desirable  plant-stove,  shrubby 
plant,  with  alternate,  thick,  shining  leaves  and 
long,  many-flowered,  terminal  racemes,  of  pur- 
ple flowers  with  scarlet  bracts, dotted  with  red. 
It  was  introduced  from  the  Caribbee  Islands  in 
1823,  and  is  increased  by  cuttings  of  the  ripen- 
ed wood. 

Rya'nia.  Named  after  John  Ryan,  M.  D.,  a 
correspondent  of  Vahl.  Nat.  Ord.  BixinacecB. 
A  genus  of  stellately  pubescent  trees,  na- 
tives of  tropical  America.  R.  speciosa,  the 
only  introduced  species,  forms  a  beautiful 
tree  with  large,  showy,  cream-colored  flowers. 
It  is  increased  by  cuttings  of  the  ripened  wood, 
and  was  introduced  from  the  West  Indies  in 
1823. 

Rye.     See  Secale. 

Rye  Grass.  The  common  name  for  Lolium 
perenne. 

Rye,  Wild.    The  genus  Elymus. 

Rysso'pterys.  From  ryssos,  wrinkled,  and 
pteris,  a  wing;  alluding  to  the  form  of  the 
wing  of  the  fruit.     Nat.  Ord.  MalpighiacecB. 

A  genus  of  slender,  twining,  stove  or  green- 
house plants,  natives  of  the  Indian  Archipel- 
ago and  Australia.  P.  microstema,  the  only  spe- 
cies 3'et  introduced,  is  an  interesting  climber, 
introduced  from  Java  in  1820. 


s. 


s 


a'bal.      Derivation  of  name  unknown ;  sup- 
posed to  be  the  South  American  name  of 
one  of  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacem. 

This  interesting  genus  of  Palms  has  three 
species  common  to  the  marshy  districts  of  the 
southern  coast,  from  North  Carolina  to  Flor- 
ida, which  are  popularly  known  as  the  Pal- 
metto, the  emblem  on  the  seal  of  South  Caro- 
lina. The  most  conspicuous  of  the  species  is 
S.  Palmetto,  indigenous  to  North  Carolina  and 
southward.  It  attains  a  height  of  fifty  feet, 
with  a  diameter  of  twelve  to  fifteen  inches. 


The  timber  is  said  to  be  valuable  in  ship- 
building, being  indestructible  in  salt  water, 
and  not  liable  to  the  attack  of  the  ship-worm. 
The  leaves  are  from  five  to  six  feet  long  and 
are  used  in  the  manufacture  of  hats  (Palm 
leaf),  baskets  and  mats,  and  various  other 
purposes  of  domestic  economy.  This  species 
is  also  called  Cabbage  Palm,  the  young,  unex- 
panried  leaves  constituting  one  of  the  most 
delicious  vegetables  of  the  table.  The  Saw 
Palmetto  is  S.  serrulata  (syn.  Serenoa  serru- 
lata),  and  the  Dwarf  Palmetto  is  S.  Adansonii. 


388 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SAB 

The  Blue  Palmetto  belongs  to  the  genus 
Chamasrops,  C.  hystrix,  also  common  on  the 
southern  coast.  S.  Blackburniana,  the  Fan 
or  Thatch  Palm,  a  native  of  the  Bermudas,  is 
admirably  suited  for  a  window  plant  when 
small,  or  for  lawn  decoration  in  summer. 

Sabba'tia.  Named  in  honor  of  L.  Sabbati,  a 
celebrated  Italian  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Genti- 
anacecB. 

A  genus  of  native  hardy 'annuals  and  bien- 
nials, some  of  which,  though  rather  coarse- 
growing,  are  quite  ornamental  plants,  suitable 
for  the  border.  The  flowers  are  purple,  rose, 
white,  red  and  yellow.  S.  ainipeslris,  a  native 
of  Texas,  with  rose  and  yellow  flowers,  is  a 
desirable  border  plant.  S.  angularis  is  held 
in  high  esteem  as  a  tonic  medicine.  S.  chlo- 
roides,  with  deep  rose-colored  flowers  borne  on 
loose  panicles,  found  by  the  borders  of  brak- 
ish  ponds  and  on  salt  meadows  along  the 
coast  from  Massachusetts  to  Virginia  south- 
ward, is  one  of  our  handsomest  native  plants. 
The  only  means  of  propagation  is  by  seed, 
which  should  be  sown  as  soon  as  ripe  and 
wintered  over  in  a  cold  frame  like  Pansies. 

Sabice'a.  Sabisabi  is  the  name  of  S.  aspera  in 
Guiana.     Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacece. 

A  genus  of  plant-stove,  tijyiing  shrubs, 
often  tomentose  ;  natives  of  tropical  America, 
Africa  and  Madagascar.  Only  two  species, 
S.  aspera  and  S  hirta,  have  been  introduced, 
and  are  seldom  found  outside  of  botanical 
collections. 

Sabi'nea.  Named  in  honor  of  Joseph  Sabine, 
once  Secretary  of  the  Horticultural  Society  of 
London. 

A  genus  of  LeguminosoB,  embracing  three 
"West  Indian  shrubs,  having  unequally  pin- 
nate leaves,  somewhat  like  those  of  Robinia, 
and  pink  pea  flowers  as  large  a3  those  of 
that  plant,  disposed  in  axillary  fascicles  of 
two  to  four  flowers.  Propagated  by  cuttings 
in  heat. 

Saccate,  Sacciform.  Sac-shaped ;  in  the  form 
of  a  bag. 

Saccha'rum.  Sugar  Cane.  From  soukar,  its 
Arabic  name.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  genus  of  strong  -  growing,  reed  -  like 
grasses,  indigenous  to  South  America  and 
the  East  and  West  Indies.  The  most  import- 
ant species  is  Saccharum  officinarum,  a  native 
of  India,  the  Sugar  Cane  of  commerce.  We 
have  but  little  knowledge  of  the  Sugar  Cane 
previous  to  the  thirteenth  century.  Hum- 
boldt tells  us  it  was  cultivated  in  China  in 
the  remotest  times,  and  that,  under  the  name 
of  honey,  it  was  known  to  the  Greeks  and 
Romans,  though  they  never  cultivated  it  as 
an  article  of  luxury.  It  is  supposed  that 
Theophrastus  alludes  to  it  when  he  says  that, 
besides  being  produced  from  bees,  honey,  or 
sweet  juice,  is  also  the  product  of  canes. 
The  Sugar  Cane,  however,  seems  to  have 
been  early  cultivated  in  China  and  India,  and 
from  the  latter  region  it  was  introduced  into 
Europe.  Before  the  discovery  of  the  West 
Indies  in  1492,  or  of  the  East  Indies  in  1497, 
sugar  was  manufactured  from  the  Sugar  Cane 
in  considerable  quantities  in  the  islands  of 
Sicily,  Crete,  Rhodes  and  Cyprus.  Soon 
after  the  discoveries  of  Columbus,  planta- 
tions were  established  in  the  West  Indies 
and  Brazil,  and  in   the  Southern  States  im- 


SAC 

mediately  after  their  settlement.  The  plant 
was  first  cultivated  on  the  banks  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi about  the  year  1751,  when  some 
Jesuits  brought  it  from  St.  Domingo.  These 
Jesuits  settled  just  above  the  present  site 
of  New  Orleans.  In  1758  the  first  sugar-mill 
was  built  near  that  locality  by  M.  Dubreuil 
on  his  sugar  plantation.  That  was  the 
commencement  of  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  profitable  of  American  industries. 
The  cane  is  always  propagated  from  cut- 
tings. Benthara,  in  his  "Flora  of  Hong 
Kong,"  page  42U,  states  "that  we  have  no 
authentic  record  of  any  really  wild  station 
for  the  common  Sugar  Cane.  Further  than 
this,  in  common  with  many  plants  that  have 
been  for  a  long  time  under  cultivation  and 
reproduced  solely  by  means  of  buds  and 
suckers,  the  Sugar  Cane  so  rarely  produces 
mature  fruits,  that  no  one,  so  far  as  we  are 
aware,  has  seen  them.  Certainly  in  the  rich 
Herbarium  at  Kew  there  are  no  seed-bearing 
specimens.  In  botanical  works  the  subject 
is  often  referred  to,  but  apparently  only  to 
re-state  the  fact  that  botanists,  like  McFad- 
yen  in  the  West  Indies  and  Roxburgh  in 
India,  have  never  seen  the  seeds  of  the  Sugar 
Cane." — Hooker's  Botanical  Miscellany,  1830, 
vol.  i.,  page  95.  Professor  H.  Harrison,  Gov- 
ernment Inspector,  Barbadoes,  however,  un- 
der date  September  17th,  1888,  states  that 
seedling  Sugar  Canes  had  been  found  at  Bar- 
badoes, and  that  plants  were  in  the  course  of 
being  raised  at  the  botanical  station  there. 
He,  feeling  satisfied  that  these  were  self- 
sown,  had  them  transplanted  and  carefully 
cultivated,  and  amongst  them  appear  to  be 
at  least  five  or  six  different  sorts.  He  further 
states  :  "I  have  never  heard  of  the  Bourbon 
Cane  producing  fertile  arrows ;  in  all  the 
alleged  cases  of  fertility,  the  arrows  were 
either  those  of  the  purple  or  white  transpar- 
ent varieties,  which  are  prone  to  variation.  I 
shall  again  attempt  this  year  to  obtain  th© 
same  result.  Of  course,  if  we  can  establish 
the  fact  of  the  Cane  occasionally  and  under 
favorable  conditions  producing  fertile  seed, 
it  will  open  up  an  important  field  of  investi- 
gation." From  cuttings  the  plants  come  ta 
maturity  in  about  two  months,  and  a  planta- 
tion well  cared  for  and  properly  manured  will 
last  a  number  of  years.  The  successful 
planter  makes  plantings  nearly  every  year 
for  a  constant  succession.  For  planting,  the 
ground  is  prepared  and  marked  out  the  same 
as  for  corn,  with  rows  about  four  feet  apart, 
and  the  plants  two  feet  apart  in  the  rows.  In 
cultivation,  the  plow  and  cultivator  are  al- 
most wholly  used  in  place  of  the  hoe,  as  for- 
merly was  the  custom.  S.  j^gypticum  is  a 
vigorous  perennial  grass,  forming  ample 
tufts  of  reed-like,  downy  stems,  six  to  ten 
feet  high,  and  clothed  with  very  graceful 
foliage.  It  is  well  adapted  for  ornament- 
ing the  margins  of  pieces  of  water,  the 
slopes  and  other  parts  of  pleasure-grounds, 
etc.  It  is  a  native  of  North  Africa,  re- 
quiring protection  in  winter,  and  is  easily 
and  quickly  multiplied  by  division  in  spring. 
S.  Maddeni  is  a  quick-growing,  hardy  peren- 
nial, attaining  a  height  of  about  five  feet.  It 
has  handsome  foliage,  and  is  well  worthy  of 
culture  for  associating  with  other  large-grow- 
ing grasses. 
Saccola'bium.     From  saccus,  a  bag,  and  Idbiumf 


BUELLIA  FORMOSA. 


SABBATIA  CAMPESTEIS. 


SAXJSBDRIA  ADIANTIFOLIA. 


6ABAL  BLACKBUBNIANA^ 


RUSSELIA  JDNCEA. 


SALVIA  CARDUACEA. 


BANVITAilA  PKOC0MBENS  IX.   PL. 


PCHIZOSTTLIS  COCCINEA. 


SALFIGLOSSIS. 


SALVIA  SPLENDEN8. 


SANSIEVEHIA. 


EALYIA  OFFIOINAUS 


RATUEEIA  (SAVOax) 


AND  GENEKAL  HOETICULTURE. 


389 


SAO 

a  lip ;  in  allusion  to  the  bagged  labellum  of 
all  the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids, 
chiefly  natives  of  India.  Ttie  "  Orchid-Grow- 
er's Manual"  says:  "This  genus  contains 
some  of  the  finest  Orchids  in  cultivation. 
They  are  very  compact  in  their  growth,  and 
are  furnished  with  long,  thick  and  pendant 
evergreen  foliage.  From  the  axils  of  the 
leaves  their  long,  graceful  racemes  of  flow- 
ers, which  measure  from  one  to  two  feet  in 
length,  are  produced.  Their  habit  of  growth 
is  the  same  as  that  of  the  Aerides,  and  they 
require  the  same  treatment,  except  that  they 
are  grown  in  baskets  suspended  near  the 
roof,  so  they  may  receive  all  the  light  possi- 
ble, and  not  too  much  shade,  only  enough  to 
preserve  their  foliage  from  being  injured. 
The  various  species  of  this  genus  mostly  in- 
habit the  hottest  parts  of  India,  and  are  found 
growing  on  the  branches  of  trees.  They  are 
propagated  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
Aerides." 

Sacred  Bean  of  the  Egyptians.  In  books  the 
plant  called  by  this  name  is  generally  said  to 
he  Nelumbium  speciosum,  but  recent  researches 
have  proved  it  to  be  NymphcBa  Lotus. — Nichol- 
son's Diet. 

Sacred  Bean,  or  Sacred  Lotus.  See  Nelum- 
bium. 

Sack-Tree.  Antiaris  (Lepurandra)  saccidora, 
the  bark  of  which  is  formed  into  natural 
sacks,  in  India,  and  used  for  carrying  rice. 

Saddle-Tree.  A  common  name  for  Lirioden- 
dron  Tulipiferum. 

Sadle'ria.  Named  after  Joseph  Sadler,  Profes- 
sor of  Botany  at  Pesth.     Nat.  Ord.  Filices. 

A  genus  of  arborescent  tree-ferns,  compris- 
ing three  or  four  reputed  species,  all  from 
the  Sandwich  Islands.  S.  Cyatheoides,  the 
only  introduced  species,  is  a  beautiful  plant, 
combining  the  habit  of  a  small  Cyathea,  with 
the  fructification  of  a  Blechnum. 

Sad-Tree.     See  Nyctanthes  arbor-tristis. 

Safflcwer.     See  Carthamnus  tinctorius. 

Saffron.  A  commercial  name  for  the  dried  stig- 
mas of  Crocus  sativum,  an  autumn  flowering 
species  with  purplish-blue  flowers  appearing 
in  October,  the  leaves  of  whicli  continue  to 
grow  all  winter. 

Saffiron-colored.  Deep  orange  colored,  with  a 
dash  of  brown. 

Saffron.  Meadow.     Colchicum  autumnale. 

Saffiron  Thistle.  The  common  name  of  Car- 
thamnus tinctorius. 

Sage.  See  Salvia ;  also  specially  applied  to  the 
culinary  herb.  Salvia  officinalis. 

Sage-Bush  or  Sage  Brush.  A  name  applied 
to  various  species  of  Artemisia,  which  see. 

Sage.  Jerusalem.    See  Phlomis  fruticosa. 

Sage-Rose.     An  old  name  for  the  genus  Cistus. 

Sage'nia.  From  sagu,  the  Malay  name  of  some 
Palms,  which  this  genus  resembles  in  minia- 
ture.    Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacem. 

A  genus  of  coarse-growing,  Aspidium-like 
ferns,  inhabiting  the  tropical  parts  of  both 
worlds.  S.  m,acrophylla,  a  native  of  the  West 
Indies,  is  frequently  grown  in  the  green-house, 
and,  like  several  of  the  cultivated  species,  was 
formerly  known  as  Aspidium.  Syn.  Nephro- 
dium. 


SAG 

Sagi'na.  Pearl-weed  or  Pearl-wort.  A  genus 
of  CaryophyllacecB,  consisting  of  small,  tufted 
annual  or  perennial  plants  of  but  little  inter- 
est, witli  the  exception  of  S.  pilifera,  which  is 
hardy  and  evergreen,  suitable  in  some  situa- 
tions as  a  substitute  for  grass.  S.  pilifera 
aurea,  a  variety  with  golden-yellow  foliage,  is 
a  good  dwarf  plant  for  carpet-bedding.  This 
species  is  commonly  grown  under  the  name  of 
Spergula  pilifera. 

Sagitta'ria.  Arrow-head.  From  sagitta,  an  ar- 
row ;  the  leaves  of  some  species  i-esemble  an 
arrow-head.    Nat.  Ord.  Alismacece. 

A  genus  of  handsome  green-house  and  hardy 
aquatics  with  white  flowers.  Several  of  the 
species  are  common  to  our  marshes  from 
Maine  to  Florida.  They  make  beautiful  plants 
for  the  aquarium  or  any  situation  where  they 
can  have  an  abundant  supply  of  water.  Some 
of  the  more  tender  varieties  have  been  intro- 
duced into  the  green-house,  though  rarely. 

Sagittate.    Shaped  like  an  arrow-head. 

Sago.  A  granulated  form  of  starch,  obtained 
from  the  pith  of  the  trunk  of  Sagus  loBvis  and 
Sagus  Rumphii  in  Singapore,  the  former  fur- 
nishing most  of  the  Sago  sent  to  Europe.  In 
India  it  is  obtained  from  PhcBni.v  farinifera, 
in  Java  from  Corypha  Gebanga,  and  it  is  also 
produced  by  Caryota  urens,  and  several  other 
Palm^  and  Cycads. 

Sago.  Portland.  A  kind  of  arrow-root,  manu- 
factured from  the  corms  of  Arum  maculatum, 
in  the  Island  of  Portland,  Britain. 

Sago  Palm.     See  Cycas  revoluta. 

Sagrae'a.  Named  in  honor  of  Raymond  de  la 
Sagra,  once  director  of  the  botanical  gardens 
at  Havana.     Nat.  Ord.  Melastomacece. 

A  genus  of  over  twenty-five  species  of  stove- 
house  shrubs,  natives  of  equatorial  America. 
Three  or  four  species  are  in  cultivation,  but 
are  seldom  found  outside  of  botanical  collec- 
tions. 

Sague'rus.  Derivation  of  name  not  given.  Nat. 
Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  small  genus  of  Palms,  almost  entirely 
confined  to  the  Eastern  Archipelago.  Of  the 
five  known  species,  three  form  handsome  trees 
thirty  or  forty  feet  high ;  the  other  two  sel- 
dom exceed  ten  feet.  S.  saccharifer,  the  Areng, 
is  a  very  common  palm  in  the  Indian  Islands, 
and  on  account  of  the  variety  of  its  products 
is  of  great  value  to  the  natives.  The  black, 
horse-hair-like  fibre  surrounding  its  leaf- 
stalks, called  Gomuti  by  the  Malays,  is  con- 
verted into  cordage,  and  is  also  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  brushes  and  various  orna- 
ments. The  tree  also  yields  an  inferior  arti- 
cle of  sago,  also  large  quantities  of  toddj',  or 
palm  wine,  and  sugar.  When  young  it  is  a 
very  handsome  green-house  plant.  Syn.  Ar- 
enga. 

Sa'gus.  From  Sagu,  the  Malay  name  of  various 
Palms.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful,  tall-growing 
Palms,  natives  of  India  and  Madagascar.  The 
species  furnish  a  large  portion  of  the  Sago  of 
commerce,  which  is  prepared  from  the  soft 
inner  portion  of  the  trunk.  It  is  obtained  by 
cutting  the  trunk  into  pieces  about  two  feet 
long,  the  pieces  being  then  split  in  half  and 
the  soft  substance  scooped  out  and  pounded 
in  water  till  the   starchy  matter  separates, 


390 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SAI 

when  it  is  drained  off  witii  tlie  water,  allowed 
to  settle,  and  afterward  purified  bj-  washing. 
These  trees  produce  their  flower-spikes  when 
about  fifteen  years  old,  and  the  fruit  is  nearlj^ 
three  jears  in  ripening,  after  which  they  die. 
In  order  to  procure  the  greatest  quantity  of 
Sago,  the  trees  must  be  cut  down  immediately 
after  the  flower-spike  makes  its  appearance. 
Introduced  in  1800.     Syn.  Metroxylon. 

Sailor  Plant.  A  name  applied  to  Saxifraga  sar- 
mentosa. 

Sainfoin  or  Saintfoin.      See  Onobrychia  saliva. 

St.  Agnes'  Flo^ver.     Erinosma  or  Leucojum. 

St.  Andrew's  Cross.       Ascyrum  Crux-Andrea. 

St.  Catherine's   Flower.  Nigella  Damascena. 

St.  Christopher's  Herb.  Osmunda  regalis  and 
Actcea  spicata. 

St.  James's  Wort.     Senecio  Jacobma. 
St.  John's  Bread.     See  Ceratonia  Siliqua. 
St.  John's  Wort.     See  Hypericum. 
St.  Joseph's  Lily.     Lilium  candidum. 
St.  Martin's  Flower.     AlstrcEineria  pulchra. 
St.  Patrick's  Cabbage.     Saxifraga  umbrosa. 
St.  Peter's  Wort.      A  name  applied  to  Ascyrum 
Stans  and  the  genus  Syinphoricarptis. 

St.    Thomas'  Tree.       See  Bauhinia  tomentosa. 

Sala'cia.  From  Salacia,  in  heathen  inythologj', 
the  wife  of  Neptune.  Nat.  Ord.  CelaslracecB. 
A  genus  of  about  sixty  species  of  stove- 
house  plants,  natives  principally  of  India  and 
the  Eastern  Archipelago.  S.  ditlcis  bears  a 
globular  fruit  about  the  size  of  a  crab-apple, 
yellowish  in  color,  sweet  and  juicy,  and 
(according  to  Dr  Spruce)  much  eaten  by  the 
Indians  on  the  Eio  Negro,  who  call  it  Waia- 
tuma.  S. pyriformis  also  aff"ords  a  sweet-tasted 
fruit  about  the  size  of  a  bergamot  Pear.  The 
majority  of  the  species  are  of  no  great  beauty, 
and  are  only  worth  growing  in  botanical 
collections. 

Salica'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  or  shrubs 
with  alternate  leaves ;  natives  chiefly  of  the 
northern  temperate  and  the  frigid  regions,  a 
few  being  found  in  South  America  and  South 
Africa.  The  only  two  genera,  Salix  and  Pop- 
ulus,  contribute  some  ornamental  subjects  to 
our  gardens.  The  number  of  species  in  the 
order  is  estimated  by  various  authors  at 
between  two  and  three  hundred. 

Salico'rnia.  Glasswort.  From  sal,  salt,  and 
cornu,  a  horn  ;  alluding  to  the  economic  prod- 
ucts, and  the  horn-like  branches  of  the  plants. 
Nat.  Ord.  ChenopodiacecB. 

A  genus  of  succulent  plants  common  to  salt 
marshes  in  various  parts  of  the  globe.  They 
grow  from  six  to  ten  inches  high,  and  are 
much  branched  and  jointed.  The  various 
species  of  this  genus  grow  abundantly  on  the 
coasts  of  northern  Africa  and  southern 
Europe,  and  yield  large  quantities  of  soda 
which  is  employed  in  making  both  soap  and 
glass.  From  its  use  in  the  latter  the  genus 
derives  its  common  English  name,  Glasswort. 
The  genus  is  represented  in  this  country  by 
several  species,  the  more  common  being  S. 
herbacea,   which   is   considerably  used   when 

■  young  for  pickling.  On  the  New  England 
coast  it  is  known  by  the  name  Samphire. 


SAL 

Salisbu'ria,  Maiden-hair  Tree.  In  honor  of 
Richard  A.  Salisbury,  a  distinguished  English 
botanist.    Nat.  Ord.  ConifercB. 

This  very  remarkable  tree  was  formerly 
called  Ginkgo  biloba,  Ginkgo  being  its  name  in 
Japan.  The  only  species  that  has  been 
described,  and  is  to  be  found  in  collections  of 
ornamental  trees,  is  S.  adiantifolia,  the  leaves 
resembling  in  form  those  of  the  Maiden-hair 
Fern,  the  botanical  name  of  which  is  J.(Zta?i<«m. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  peculiar 
of  all  hardy  exotic  trees,  and  one  so  entirely 
difl'erent  in  habit  and  foliage  from  all  others 
belonging  to  this  order,  that,  were  it  not  for 
the  flowers  and  fruit,  it  would  have  been 
difficult  to  find  its  proper  position  in  the  veg- 
etable kingdom.  Without  regard  to  its  botan- 
ical position,  it  is  beyond  question  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  trees  under  cultivation.  It 
attains  a  height  of  eighty  feet,  and  has  a 
straight  trunk  with  a  pyramidal  head.  This 
tree  is  a  native  of  China  and  Japan,  and  was 
introduced  into  England  in  1754.  It  is  not 
yet  as  common  in  this  country  as  it  should 
be,  on  account  of  its  price  and  scarcity,  but  is 
now  being  more  largely  propagated  and 
planted.  There  is  a  fine  specimen  on  Mr. 
Manice's  place  at  Queens,  L.  I.,  fully  fifty  feet 
high,  with  a  full,  symmetrical  head.  There  is 
also  a  noble  specimen  on  the  old  Downing 
place  at  Newburgh,  supposed  to  be  the  largest 
in  the  States.  It  is  propagated  in  this  country 
by  layers,  or  by  imported  seeds.  The  fruit  is 
common  in  Japan,  and  is  highly  esteenu-d  for 
its  astringent  properties  and  for  the  reputa- 
tion it  has  of  promoting  digestion. 

From  an  interesting  notice  of  this  remark- 
able tree  in  the  "Philadelphia Ledger,"  August 
29,  1889,  remarking  on  its  fruiting  for  the  first 
time  in  that  city,  in  the  grounds  of  Mr.  Charles 
J.  Wister,  Germantown,  and  communicated  to 
us  by  Mr.  A.  Garman,  of  Philadelphia,  we 
make  the  following  extracts  : 

"  The  tree  itself  has  a  very  remarkable  his- 
tory. It  is  asserted  by  eminent  horticulturists 
that  it  has  been  found  wild  nowhere  on  the 
earth,  but  is  cultivated  largely  both  in  China 
and  Japan,  where  it  is  usually  found  near  the 
temples  and  similar  religious  structures. 

"The  first  specimen  received  in  this  country 
was  presented  by  William  Hamilton,  the  for- 
mer owner  of  the  beautiful  grounds — in  which 
the  celebrated  explorer,  Pursh, was  gardener — 
which  is  now  known  as  Woodlands  Cemetery. 
This  particular  tree  is  still  regarded  as  one  of 
Philadelphia's  arboreal  treasures,  and  tree 
lovers  from  distant  parts  of  the  globe,  when 
in  this  citj',  journey  to  the  cemetery  expressly 
to  see  this  magnificent  specimen. 

"  When  the  original  tree  that  was  imported 
from  Japan  flowered  it  was  found  to  have  male 
flowers  only,  and  consequently  all  trees 
propagated  by  cuttings  were  male  also.  The 
tree  in  Woodlands  is  a  male  tree.  It  has 
only  been  comparativelj'  a  few  years  since 
seeds  have  been  introduced  from  China  or 
Japan,  and  among  these  young  seedlings, 
plants  with  female  flowers  were  found.  This 
tree  of  Mr.  Wister's  happens  to  be  female, 
and  now  that  it  has  come  of  age  it  produces 
fruit.  Numerous  seedling  trees  have  been 
distributed  over  different  parts  of  the  United 
States,  and  it  is  expected  that  others  will  reach 
the  fruiting  stage  before  many  years.  There 
is  a  magnificent  avenue  of  Ginkgo  trees  on 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICQLTUEE. 


391 


SAL 

the  grounds  of  the  Agricultural  Department 
at  Washington,  the  trees  having  been  sent 
there  from  Pennsylvania  nurseries.  It  is  not 
known,  however,  that  even  the  National 
Government  has  been  favored  with  fruil 
ahead  of  Mr.  Charles  J.  Wister. 

"  The  fruit  itself  is  about  the  size  of  a  large 
cherry,  and  is  of  a  greenish-yellow  color  when 
ripe.  Like  the  cherry,  it  has  a  fleshy  pulp  with 
a  single  stone  or  seed  in  the  interior.  To 
most  persons  the  odor  of  the  fruit  is  very 
disagreeable,  but  the  fruit  plays  a  very 
important  part  in  Chinese  gastronomic  art. 
The  grand  dinners  of  the  Chinese  usually  last 
all  daj',  and  every  help  to  digestion  is  needed 
in  order  that  the  guests  may  experience  the 
fullest  enjoyment.  The  fruit  of  the  Ginkgo  is 
the  chief  element  in  promoting  this  desir- 
able result.  They  are  first  slightly  roasted, 
and  then  placed  in  small  plates  by  the  side  of 
the  guests,  who  every  now  and  then  take  one 
between  courses,  as  an  American  or  an 
Englishman  would  an  olive.  Mr.  Wister 
states  that  the  odor  of  the  fruit  of  his  tree  is 
very  disagreeable,  and  those  who  have  hand- 
led the  fruit  can  scarcely  credit  its  use  as 
described  by  the  Celestials. 

"  The  palaeontologists  and  evolutionists  are 
also  much  interested  in  the  Ginkgo.  Al- 
though, as  already  stated,  no  wild  localities 
are  known  where  the  trees  grow,  it  has  been 
discovered  by  its  fossil  remains  to  have  been 
once  widely  scattered  over  the  face  of  the 
globe.  It  is  probable  that  it  is  only  through 
its  having  commended  itself  by  its  beauty 
and  other  good  qualities  to  the  Chinese  and 
Japanese  gardeners,  that  it  has  been  able  to 
survive  those  geological  cataclysms  under 
which  the  old  race  has  been  cleared  away 
from  the  surface  of  the  earth.  It  is  classed 
with  the  coniferous  trees,  notwithstanding  its 
fern-like  foliage,  its  closest  relation  being  the 
yew  family ;  but  as  there  is  nothing  very  closely 
resembling  it,  the  palaeontologists  believe  that 
an  immense  number  of  what  have  come  to  be 
called  missing  links  must  have  been  wholly 
swept  away." 
Sa'lix.  Willow.  From  the  Celtic,  sal,  near,  and 
lis,  water ;  in  allusion  to  its  place  of  growth. 
Nat.  Ord.  Salicacem. 

The  Willow  is  a  large  and  varied  genus  of 
deciduous  trees  and  low-growing  shrubs. 
Some  are  timber  trees,  that  attain  a  height  of 
eighty  feet,  with  a  diameter  of  trunk  from 
four  to  six  feet.  One  of  the  species,  S.  her- 
bacea,  creeps  so  near  the  ground  that  it  forms 
on  the  Swiss  mountains  a  kind  of  turf,  not 
rising  more  than  an  inch  in  height.  The  genus 
consists  of  upwards  of  two  hundred  species, 
but  few  of  which  claim  special  notice.  The 
Weeping  Willow  is  S.  Babylonica,  a  native  of 
the  Levant.  The  Osier  or  Basket  Willow  is  S. 
viminalis,  common  throughout  Europe.  S. 
laurifolia  is  a  low-growing  tree  or  shrub  with 
broad  glossy  foliage,  and  is  a  fine  subject  for 
the  lawn.  All  the  species  grow  rapidly  in 
moist  places.  They  are  freely  propagated 
from  cuttings,  every  one  rapidly  making  a 
rooted  plant  when  well  firmed  in  the  soil.  In 
this  manner  the  Osier  Willow  is  often  grown 
on  the  banks  of  rivers  and  streams  to  prevent 
the  washing  away  of  the  banks.  The  Colt 
place,  near  Hartford,  is  protected  in  this  way, 
and  a  willow-ware  factory  has  been  estab- 
lished in  connection  with  it.     The  cuttings 


SAL 

may  be  twelve  to  eighteen  inches  long, 
inserted  half  their  depth  in  the  soil  at  a  foot 
or  so  apart  each  way. 

SalloTv.  A  common  name  for  Salix  cinerea,  S. 
Caprea,  and  the  allied  species,  which  are  not 
flexible  like  the  Osier  but  furnish  the  best 
chai'coal  for  gunpowder. 

Sa'lmea.  Named  in  honor  of  Prince  Charles  of 
Salm-Dyck  in  Holland,  an  enthusiastic  culti- 
vator of  plants.     Nat.  Ord.  CompositcB. 

A  genus  of  about  a  dozen  species  of  trailing, 
somewhat  shrubby  plants,  peculiar  to  trop- 
ical America  and  occurring  most  commonly  in 
the  West  Indies.  Two  species,  8.  hirsuta 
and  S.  scandens,  both  very  pretty  plants 
with  white  flowers,  are  in  cultivation,  and  are 
readily  increased  by  cuttings. 

Salmon-Berry,  A  common  name  for  Rubus  spec- 
tabilis. 

Salpi'chroa.  From  Salpinx,  a  tube,  and  chroos, 
skin ;  alluding  to  the  form  and  texture  of  the 
flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  SolanacexB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  shrubs,  natives 
principally  of  the  Andes  of  South  America. 
S.  glandulosa,  the  only  introduced  species, 
has  yellow  flowers  with  entire,  long-petioled 
leaves.  It  forms  an  erect,  much  branched 
shrub  about  two  feet  high ;  it  was  introduced 
from  Chili  in  1844,  and  is  increased  by  seeds 
or  cuttings. 

Salpiglo'ssis.  From  salpinx,  a  tube,  and  glossa, 
a  tongue  ;  alluding  to  the  tongue-like  style  in 
the  mouth  of  the  corolla.  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophu- 
lariacece. 

Very  beautiful,  half-hardy,  annual  plants, 
natives  of  Chili.  The  seeds  should  be  sown 
in  February  on  a  slight  hot-bed,  or  in  the 
green- house,  and  the  young  plants  planted 
out  in  May.  When  grown  in  pots  it  should 
be  frequently  shifted,  always  into  a  pot  -only 
a  little  larger  than  the  previous  one,  so  as 
to  make  the  plant  bushy.  It  varies  very 
much  according  to  the  soil  and  situation  in 
which  it  is  grown;  and  if  kept  through  the 
winter  in  a  green-house,  it  will  become  partly 
woody.  There  ai-e  many  different  kinds,  some 
of  which  are  made  species  by  some  botanists, 
but  which  are  now  generally  allowed  to  be 
only  varieties.  Many  gardeners  sow  the  seeds 
in  autumn,  and  keep  the  plants  in  frames  all 
the  winter,  that  they  may  flower  early  in 
spring.  They  flower  freely  in  autumn,  if  the 
seed  is  sown  about  May  where  it  is  to  grow. 
Introduced  in  1824. 

Salsify.  Oyster  plant.  See  Tragopogon  porri- 
folius.  The  cultivation  is  the  same  as  for  Car- 
rot or  Parsnip. 

Salsola.  Salt-wort.  A  genus  of  Chenopodiacece, 
the  ashes  of  which,  under  the  name  of  Barilla, 
were  formerly  much  used  in  the  manufacture 
of  glass,  soap,  etc. 

Salt-bush.  Australian.  Atriplex  halimoidea 
and  other  species. 

Salt  Tree.     See  Halimodendron. 

Salt-wort.  Black.     Glaux  maritima. 

Salt-wort.  Prickly.     Salsola  Kali. 

Salvado'ra.  Named  after  J.  Salvador,  a  Spanish 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Salvadoracem. 

An  unusual  amount  of  interest  is  attached 
to  this  genus  on  account  of  one  of  the  species 
belong  ng  to  it  being  supposed  to  be  the  Mus- 
tard Tree  of  Scripture.      The  five  described 


392 


HENDEESON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


SAL 

species  are  shrubs  or  small  trees,  and  have  a 
geographical  range  extending  from  central 
Africa.  Abyssinia  and  Egypt  through  south- 
western Asia  to  India  and  Ceylon.  "  The  iden- 
tification of  plants  mentioned  in  the  Bible  is 
a  task  of  great  difficulty,  and  in  almost  all 
instances  the  results  of  the  most  learned 
investigations,  whether  by  biblical  commen- 
tators or  by  botanists,  is  unsatisfactory  and 
open  to  doubt.  In  our  English  version  of  the 
Bible  the  names  of  plants  have  been  made  to 
agree  with  those  now  in  use,  and  the  obvious 
inference  among  the  unlearned  is  that  the 
plants  are  the  same.  The  researches  of 
botanists,  however,  have  shown  that  the 
Tares,  the  Aloes,  the  Hyssop,  and  other  Scrip- 
tural plants  differ  widely  from  those  so  called 
at  the  present  day ;  and  some  writers  have 
therefore  thought  it  probable  that  the  same 
is  the  case  with  the  Mustard  spoken  of  in  the 
Gospels,  the  seed  of  which  St.  Matthew  says 
is  the  least  of  all  seeds ;  but  when  it  is  grown 
it  is  the  greatest  among  herbs,  and  becometh 
a  tree,  so  that  the  birds  of  the  air  come  and 
lodge  in  the  branches  thereof.  It  is  obvious 
that  this  description  does  not  agree  with  the 
common  Mustard  (Sinapis)  as  seen  in  this 
country,  and  consequently  the  assertion  that 
the  Scriptural  plant  belonged  to  a  totally 
different  genus  has  been  readily  believed. 
During  their  travel  in  the  Holy  Land,  Captains 
Irby  and  Mangles  met  with  a  small  tree  (ascer- 
tained by  Professor  Don  to  be  a  Salvadora) 
with  a  small,  pungent.  Mustard-like  fruit,  and 
they  thought  it  might  probably  be  the  tree 
referred  to  by  Christ.  This  supposition  was 
afterwards  strengthened  by  Dr.  Boyle,  who 
found  that  the  trees  in  question  bore  the  same 
Arabic  name  (Khardal)  as  the  common  Mus- 
tard, and  that  it  was  commonly  regarded  in 
Syria  as  the  Mustard-tree  of  Scripture,  though 
it  is  to  be  observed  that  the  Sinapis  grows 
to  a  nmch  greater  size  in  Syria  than  with  us, 
and  is  frequently  seen  as  high  as  twelve  or 
fifteen  feet,  so  that  the  birds  might  easily 
lodge  in  its  branches.  The  species  of  Salva- 
dora growing  in  Syria  is  said  by  both  Don  and 
Koyle  to  be  S.  Persica,  but  that  is  a  plant  of 
small  size,  not  a  tree.  S.  indica,  however,  a 
common  Indian  and  Cingalese  species,  grows 
to  a  considerable  height,  and  is  probably  the 
one  meant." — Treas.  of  Botany. 

Salvadora'ceae.  A  small  natural  order  of  dwarf 
trees  or  shrubs,  natives  mostly  of  Western 
Asia,  Africa,  and  the  Mascarene  Islands,  very 
closely  allied  to  OleacecB.  Only  three  genera, 
Salvadora,  Monetia  and  Dobera,  have  as  yet 
been  referred  to  this  order. 

Sa'lvia.  Sage.  From  salvo,  to  save  ;  in  allusion 
to  the  healing  qualities  of  the  Sage.  Nat. 
Ord.  LahiatOB. 

This  extensive  genus  is  composed  of  hand- 
some flowering  plants,  some  of  which  are 
hardy  and  herbaceous,  while  others  are  ten- 
der and  assume  a  half  shrubby  character. 
They  are  particularly  useful  for  filling  large 
beds  in  the  flower  garden  through  the  sum- 
mer, where  such  kinds  as  S.  patens,  blue  ;  S. 
splendens,  scarlet,  and  S.  fulgens,  red,  are  very 
showy.  S.  splendens  is  a  native  of  Mexico, 
introduced  in  1822,  and  is  one  of  the  best  for 
garden  decoration.  Of  S.  splendens,  within 
the  past  few  years  we  have  had  many  singu- 
lar and  beautiful    varieties,  one  being  pure 


SAM 

white,  another  scarlet  and  white  striped,  and 
still  later  a  distinct  crimson  color.  There 
are  also  several  beautiful  species  that  at  one 
time  were  grown  in  the  green-house  for 
the  sake  of  their  flowers  in  winter,  but  are  not 
much  valued  now  for  that  purpose.  B-  offici- 
nalis is  the  common  Garden  Sage.  There  is 
a  very  pretty  variegated  variety  of  this, 
grown  in  the  border  as  an  ornamental  plant. 
The  hardy  perennial  species  are  few  compared 
with  the  large  number  of  half-hardy  species 
in  cultivation.  One  of  the  handsomest  of 
these  is  8.  pratensis,  a  British  species,  with 
flowers  of  rich  blue  color.  There  are  also 
white  and  red  varieties.  S.  sylvestris  is  a  still 
handsomer  species,  with  long  spikes  of  very 
showj'  deep  purple  flowers.  The  well-known 
S.  Sclarea,  and  the  variety  S.  S.  bracteata, 
make  noble  plants  in  a  mixed  border,  and  so 
does  S.  Forskohlei,  a  species  similar  in  habit 
and  color  of  flowers  to  the  preceding.  S. 
Mans,  introduced  from  Cashmere  in  1830,  has 
flowers  of  a  beautiful  blue  color,  and  is  the 
finest  of  all.  It  is,  however,  rarely  seen  in 
cultivation.  The  Silvery  Clary  (S.  argentea)  is 
also  an  excellent  border  plant.  It  has  silvery 
leaves  from  six  to  twelve  inches  long,  very 
showy  and  ornamental.  The  various  species 
are  propagated  by  seeds,  cuttings  or  division. 
Salvi'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Antonio  Maria 
Salvini,  a  Greek  professor  at  Florence.  Nat. 
Ord.  Marsiliacece. 

S.  nutans,  probably  the  only  species,  is  a 
hardy  aquatic  plant  found  floating  on  still 
water  (like  the  Lemna)  in  many  parts  of  the 
Northern  Hemisphere  and  in  tiopical  and 
South  America.  "This  pretty  little  floating 
aquatic,  which,  like  Azolla,  is  suitable  for  a 
stove,  green-house,  or  in-door  aquarium,  is 
easily  managed  in  summertime,  simply  requir- 
ing to  be  let  alone,  and  have  its  water  changed, 
if  necessary  ;  but  in  the  winter  it  is  often  lost 
through  a  want  of  knowledge  of  its  life  his- 
tory. The  mature  plant  floats  on  the  water, 
and  has  no  true  roots,  though  the  row  of 
divided  leaves  on  the  under  side  of  the  stem 
look  like  roots  at  first  sight,  and  assume  their 
functions.  Among  these  the  spore  capsules 
are  developed,  and  from  them  the  plant  must 
be  grown  annually,  as  the  old  plants  die  in 
the  winter.  The  best  way  to  preserve  the 
spores  is  to  half  fill  a  broad  pan  with  sandy 
loam,  and  then  fill  up  with  water;  when  the 
water  has  cleared,  place  a  number  of  plants 
upon  it  and  stand  the  pan  in  a  cold  green- 
house. In  the  winter  the  plants  will  all  die, 
but  the  spores  will  remain  in  the  loam,  which 
must  not  be  allowed  to  become  dry,  and  the 
next  spring  they  will  reproduce  the  plant."— 
N.  E.  Brown. 

Sa'mara.     A  wing-fruit  or  key,  as  the  Maple, 
Ash  or  Elm. 

Sambu'cus.  Eider.  From  sambuca,  a  musical 
instrument,  which  is  supposed  to  have  been 
made  of  Elder- wood.  Nat.  Ord.  CaprifoliacecB. 
The  common  Elder  of  our  hedgerows  is  S. 
Canadensis,  and  it  may  be  considered  typical 
of  the  order.  Few  of  the  species  are  consid- 
ered of  much  value,  though  S.  Canadensis  is 
used  to  some  extent  to  make  a  domestic  wine. 
The  most  ornamental  of  the  species  is  S. 
pubens,  which  has  large,  loose  panicles  of 
bright  scarlet  berries.  This  species  is  occa- 
sionally found  in  moist  high  grounds  from 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


393 


SAM 

New  York  southward.  It  is  very  abundant 
and  beautiful  on  the  slopes  of  the  Alleghany 
Mountains.  The  Golden  Elder,  S.  nigra  aurea, 
is  an  excellent  ornamental  plant  for  shrub- 
beries or  lawns,  its  bright  golden  foliage  ren- 
dering it  very  picturesque  and  effective.  If 
the  young  shoots  are  regularly  pinched  back, 
the  plants  may  be  kept  dwarf  and  of  a  tine 
golden  color  all  summer. 

Sambul  Plant.  A  common  name  for  Ferula 
Sambul. 

Sa'molus.  A  genus  of  Primulacem,  consisting 
of  small  marsh  plants  with  white  flowers.  S. 
Valeraiidi,  the  Brook-weed,  or  Water  Pimper- 
nel, is  remarkable  only  for  its  wide  geo- 
graphical range,  there  being  scarcely  any 
country  in  which  it  does  not  abound  where 
the  soil  is  wet  and  gravelly.  S.  littoralis,  a 
native  of  New  Zealand,  is  a  pretty  trailing 
plant,  with  long,  slender  stems,  furnished 
with  small  evergreen  foliage,  and  in  summer 
with  numerous  pink  blossoms.  It  is  a  most 
desirable  hardy  plant  for  a  moist  spot  in  the 
rock-garden,  as  it  delights  in  plenty  of  mois- 
ture at  the  roots ;  it  is  still  rare  in  cultivation. 

Samphire.  Crithmum  maritimum,  the  aromatic, 
saline,  fleshy  leaves  of  which  are  used  in 
pickles.     See  also  Salicornia. 

Sa'myda.  The  Greek  name  of  the  Birch ;  ap- 
plied to  this  genus  because  of  its  resemblance. 
Nat.  Ord.  Samydacece. 

A  small  genus  of  stove-house,  evergreen 
shrubs,  natives  of  the  West  Indies,  and  typi- 
cal of  the  Nat.  Ord.  Samydacece,  which  con- 
tains some  seventeen  genera,  few  of  which 
are  in  cultivation.  S.  ylabrata  and  S.  serru- 
lata,  with  campanulate,  white  flowers,  are 
ornamental  plants,  succeeding  best  in  a  com- 
post of  loam  and  peat,  and  are  readily  in- 
creased by  cuttings. 

Sanche'sia.  Named  in  honor  of  Josef  Sanchez, 
Professor  of  Botany  at  Cadiz.  Nat.  Ord.  Acan- 
thacece. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen,  green-house 
shrubs,  from  Bolivia.  There  are  eight  de- 
scribed species,  natives  of  Peru,  Colombia 
and  Brazil.  S.  nobilis  variegata,  the  only  one 
introduced  to  any  extent  into  our  green- 
houses, is  a  very  beautiful,  free-growing  plant. 
The  leaves  are- large,  oblong,  deep  green  and 
boldly  striped  with  rich  golden  yellow.  The 
flowers  are  clear  yellow,  issuing  from  crimson 
bracts.  It  requires  to  be  grown  in  a  warm, 
moist  house,  in  light,  rich  soil,  and  is  readily 
increased  from  cuttings.     Syn.  Ancylogyne. 

Sandal-wood.     See  Santalum. 

Sandaraoh    Gum-tree.     A   common  name  for 

Callilris  quadrivalvis. 
Sandbox-tree.     See  Hura. 

Sanderso'nia.  Named  after  John  Sanderson, 
Honorary  Secretary  of  the  Horticultural  So- 
ciety of  Natal.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  pretty  monotypic  genus  found  in  Natal, 
consisting  of  an  erect-growing,  tuberous-root- 
ed herb,  with  simple  leafy  stems  and  nodding 
orange-colored  flowers,  on  solitary  slender 
pedicles.  Propagation  is  effected  by  seeds  or 
offsets.     Introduced  in  18.52. 

Sand  Myrtle.     Leiophyllum  buxifolium. 
Sand  Verbena.     Abronia  umbellata. 
Sand-wort.     See  Arenaria. 


SAN 

Sanguiiia'ria.  Blood-root.  From  sanguis,  blood ; 
all  the  parts  of  the  plant  yield  a  red  juice  when 
cut  or  broken.     Nat.  Ord.  Papaveracece. 

The  only  described  species  of  this  genus  is 
S.  Canadensift,  popularly  known  as  Blood-root. 
It  is  a  beautiful,  hardy,  herbaceous  plant,  found 
in  the  woods  throughout  the  United  States. 
Its  flowers  are  pure  white,  borne  singly  on  a 
slender  stem  about  six  inches  high.  It  is  one 
of  the  earliest  and  most  attractive  of  our  na- 
tive Wild  Flowers,  and  can  be  easily  trans- 
ferred to  the  flower-garden.  As  the  petals  are 
greatly  increased  in  size  and  number  by  good 
cultivation,  it  should  be  planted  in  rich  soil 
and  partial  shade. 

Sanguine,  Sanguineus.  Dull  red  passing  into 
brownish-black. 

Sanguiso'rba.  A  genus  of  herbaceous  plants  of 
the  Nat.  Ord.  Rosaceix,  of  which  several  spe- 
cies are  in  cultivation.  S.  officinalis,  or  Bur- 
net, received  its  name  from  its  supposed  vul- 
nerary qualities.  S.  Canadensis  resembles  the 
above  but  bears  its  flowers,  rendered  con- 
spicuous by  their  white  anthers  in  long  cylin- 
drical spikes. 

Sani'cula.  Sanicle,  Black  Snake-root.  From 
sano,  to  heal ;  supposed  healing  effects  of 
Sanicula  Eiiropea.     Nat.  Ord.  Umbelli/erm. 

A  genus  of  weeds  of  no  special  interest  be- 
yond their  supposed  medicinal  qualities. 

Sansevie'ra.  Bow-string  Hemp.  In  honor  of 
M.  Sansevier,  a  Swedish  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
lAliacecB. 

A  very  singular  genus  of  plants,  found 
chiefly  in  Africa  and  the  East  Indies.  They 
are  stemless  perennial  plants,  throwing  out 
runners,  and  having  only  I'oot-leaves,  which 
are  thick,  ftbrous  and  fleshy,  and  usually 
sword  or  lance-shaped,  from  two  to  three  feet 
long,  and  from  two  to  four  inches  wide.  When 
young  they  are  marked  with  pale-colored 
cross-bands,  but  ultimately  a  uniform  shining 
green.  S.  .Zeytomca  is  the  species  most  grown 
in  the  green-house,  the  markings  being  more 
distinct  and  positive.  The  natives  call  the 
plant  Bow-string  Hemp,  because  of  the  strong 
and  fine  quality  of  the  fibre  it  yields,  and 
which  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  cordage 
and  fine  string.  They  are  propagated  by  di- 
vision, and  should  be  grown  in  strong  heat, 
with  plenty  of  moisture.     Introduced  in  1731. 

Santala'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees,  or  more 
frequently  shrubs  or  herbs,  often  parasitical 
on  roots,  with  alternate,  rarely  opposite,  en- 
tire leaves,  and  small  green  flowers  in  termi- 
nal or  lateral  cymes  or  spikes.  The  species 
are  dispersed  over  tropical  and  temperate  re- 
gions, but  are  most  abundant  in  the  Old 
World  ;  they  are  distributed  into  about  twen- 
ty genera  and  nearly  two  hundred  species. 

San'talum.  Sandal-wood.  From  its  Persian 
name,  sandul,  signifying  useful.  Nat.  Ord. 
Santalacece. 

The  species  of  this  genus  are  trees  or 
shrubs,  natives  of  Asia,  Australia  and  the 
Pacific  Islands.  The  flowers  of  S.  album,  the 
true  Sandal-wood,  are  small,  and  are  produced 
in  spikes  or  racemes ;  but  the  chief  value  of 
the  plant  consists  in  the  fragrance  of  the 
wood,  which  is  so  great  that  the  wood  is 
burned  for  incense,  and  is  said  to  be  destruc- 
tive to  all  noxious  insects.    The  same  species 


394 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


SAN 

grown  under  glass  with  artificial  heat,  has 
very  little  of  the  fragrance  for  which  the  spe- 
cies is  remarkable. 
Santoli'na.  Lavender  Cotton.  From  aanctus, 
holy,  and  linum,  flax  ;  in  allusion  to  its  medic- 
inal qualities.     Nat.  Ord.  Composite^. 

A  genus  of  dwarf  evergreen  shrubs,  natives 
of  the  south  of  Europe.  S.  Chammcyparissus, 
var.  incana,  is  a  valuable  bedding  plant  and 
particularly  useful  in  ribbon  borders.  Its 
slender,  twig-like  growths  and  knotty  leaves 
are  densely  covered  with  silvery  tomentum, 
contrasting  finely  with  plants  of  dark  foliage. 
It  is  readily  incrnased  by  cuttings. 

Sanvita'lia.  Named  after  the  Sanvitale  Family, 
of  Parma.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositor. 

S.  procumbens  is  a  beautiful  little  Mexican 
annual,  well  adapted  from  its  dwarf  and  com- 
pact habit  of  growth  for  coveiing  a  bed  in  a 
flower-garden.  The  flowers  are  large  in  pro- 
portion to  the  size  of  the  plant  and  are  of  a 
i-ich  brown  and  yellow  color.  It  is  quite  hardy, 
and  only  requires  sowing  in  March  or  April  in 
the  open  border.     Introduced  in  1798. 

Sapinda'ceae.  A  large  natural  order  of  trees  or 
shrubs,  sometimes  climbing,  and  very  rarely 
almost  herbaceous,  dispersed  over  the  whole 
globt,  but  more  numerous  in  tropical  regions. 
There  are  over  seventy  genera  distributed  into 
five  tribes,  or  sub-orders,  as  follows :  Sapin- 
dece,  AcerinecB,  DodoncEce,  MelianthecB  and  Sta- 
phylexs;  comprising  six  to  seven  hundred 
species.  Several  produce  edible  fruits  and 
others  furnish  timber.  "Well-known  genera 
are  Acer,  Cardiospermum,  Paullinia,  ^sculvs, 
Melianthus,  Cupania,  etc. 

Sapi'ndus.  The  typical  genus  of  Sapindacece, 
consisting  of  trees  and  shrubs,  found  in  both 
hemispheres,  mostly  within  the  limits  of  the 
tropics.  The  species  are  of  botanical  and 
economic  interest  only,  the  fruits  of  several 
being  used  in  the  tropics  as  a  substitute  for 
soap,  their  outer  covering  or  shell  containing 
a  saponaceous  principle  in  sufficient  abundance 
to  produce  a  lather  with  water.  Their  exces- 
sively hard,  round,  black  seeds  are  used  for 
making  rosaries,  bracelets,  buttons,  etc.,  and 
a  medicinal  oil  is  extracted  in  India  from  those 
of  S.  emarginata. 

Sapodi'Ua  or  Sapotilla  Plum.     Sapota  Achras. 
The  West  Indian  Sapodilla-wood  yielded  by 
,    this  tree  is  a  fancy  wood  used  for  furniture. 

Sapona'ria.  Soapwort.  Bouncing  Bet.  From 
sapo,  soap ;  the  bruised  leaves  of  S.  officinalis 
form  a  lather-like  soap  when  agitated  in  water. 
Nat.  Ord.  CaryophyllacecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  annuals  and  herbaceous 
perennials,  mostly  natives  of  Europe.  One 
species,  S.  ocymoides  desei'ves  for  its  neat 
habit,  and  the  profusion  with  which  it  bears 
its  pretty  pink  flowers  in  summer,  to  be  culti- 
vated in  every  garden.  It  is  a  trailing  plant, 
and  therefore  suitable  for  rock-work,  the  front 
of  -the  borders  or  for  small  beds ;  and  being 
at  the  same  time  quite  hardy,  and  not  partic- 
ular as  to  soil  or  situation,  it  is  well  adapted 
for  suburban  gardens.  The  double  vaiiety  of 
8.  officinalis  is  also  a  showy  plant  of  the  easi- 
est management,  and  continues  to  produce 
its  numerous  flesh-colored  flowers  from  June 
to  November.  This  species  has  become  nat- 
uralized, until,  notwithstanding  its  beauty,  it 


SAR 

has  in  some  places  become  troublesome  as  a 
weed. 

Sapo'ta.  Bully-tree.  Sapodilla  or  Sapotilla 
Plum  ;  the  native  name.  Nat.  Ord.  SapotacecB. 
S.  Achras  is  a  native  of  the  West  Indies  and 
Central  America,  where  it  forms  a  tree  from 
ten  to  fifty  feet  in  height.  It  produces  a  very 
luscious  fruit  resembling  an  apple  in  shape ; 
much  esteemed  in  the  West  Indies,  but  those 
that  have  ripened  in  cultivation  have  been 
little  esteemed.  The  bark  and  seeds  have 
medicinal  properties.     Syn.  Achras  Sapota. 

Sapota'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  and 
shrubs,  chiefly  tropical  or  sub-tropical,  with 
the  juice  frequently  milky,  and  alternate,  un- 
divided, coriaceous  leaves.  "  Several  species 
are  useful  to  man.  The  fruits  of  Lucuma 
mammosa  (the  Marmalade  of  the  West  Indies) 
are  a  very  agreeable  food,  as  are  those  of 
Sapota  Achras,  and  various  species  of  Chryso- 
phyllum  which  are  much  sought  after  in  the 
Antilles;  those  of  Bassia  and  Imbricaria  are 
also  edible.  Other  genera,  both  Asiatic  and 
African  {Sideroxylon,  Argania,  etc.),  are  em- 
ployed for  building  purposes  on  account  of  the 
hardness  of  the  wood,  whence  the  name  Iron- 
wood.  There  are  over  twenty  genera  in  the  or- 
der and  over  three  hundred  species;  the  follow- 
ing are  good  examples :  Chrysophyllum,  Ison- 
andra,  Lucuma,  Bumelia  and  Mimusops." — Le 
Maout  and  Decaisne. 

Sapucaya  Nut.     See  Lecythis. 

Sap  "Wood.  The  new  wood  of  an  exogenous 
stem. 

Sara'ca.  Said  to  be  from  Sarac,  the  native 
name.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosoe. 

A  small  genus  of  shrubs  or  trees,  natives  of 
tropical  America.  The  species  are  but  little 
known  and  are  generally  included  under 
Jonesia. 

Sara'cha.  Named  in  honor  of  Isidore  Saracha, 
a  Benedictine  Monk,  Mho  sent  many  rare 
plants  to  the  Royal  Gardens  at  Madrid.  Nat. 
Ord.  SolanacecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  or  green-house  herbs, 
natives  of  western  America  from  Bolivia  to 
Mexico.  S.  Stapelioides  and  S.  umbellata  are 
hardy  annuals,  with  yellow  or  cream-colored 
flowers,  thriving  in  ordinary  garden  soil  from 
seeds  sown  in  the  open  boi'der. 

Sarca'nthus.  From  sarx,  flesh,  and  anthos,  a 
flower;  in  allusion  to  the  fleshiness  of  the 
flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacem. 

A  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids,  natives  of 
China  and  the  East  Indies.  The  flowers  are 
mostly  small  but  rather  showy.  S.  erinaceus 
is  a  beautiful  species  with  pink  and  white 
flowers,  the  lip  with  purple  markings  pro- 
duced freely  on  drooping  spikes.  There 
are  several  species  under  cultivation.  They 
succeed  best  when  grown  in  wooden  baskets 
with  sphagnum  moss,  and  require  plenty 
of  heat  and  copious  waterings.  During  the 
season  of  rest  they  may  be  kept  in  a  cool  house 
and  given  but  very  little  water. 

Sarcoca'pnus.  From  sarx,  sarchos,  flesh,  and 
Kapnos,  the  Greek  name  for  Fumitory ;  in 
allusion  to  the  fleshy  leaves.  Nat.  Ord.  Pa^ 
pararacem. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy,  dwarf,  tufted  pe- 
rennials, natives  of  the  Spanish  Peninsula  and 
North  Africa.  S.  eneaphylla,  the  only  species 
introduced,  has  yellow  flowers  marked  with 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


395 


SAR 

purplish  streaks,  borne  in  short  racemes.  It 
thrives  readily  in  the  open  border,  and  is  a 
good  subject  for  the  rock-garden.  It  may  be 
readily  increased  by  seeds  or  by  cuttings. 

Sarcocarp.  The  fleshy  or  succulent  portion  of 
a  stone-fruit. 

Sarcocau'lon.  From  sarx,  flesh,  and  caulon,  a 
stem ;  alluding  to  the  fleshy  stems.  Nat.  Ord. 
Gerarviace^. 

A  genus  of  branching,  succulent,  green- 
house plants,  armed  with  spines  formed  out 
of  the  persistent  and  hardened  petioles ; 
natives  of  South  Africa.  The  flowers  are 
purple,  borne  on  axillary,  short-stemmed  pe- 
duncles. They  are  readily  increased  by  cuttings 
of  the  young  shoots  or  by  root  cuttings ;  first 
introduced  in  1790. 

Sarcoce'phalus.  Guinea  Peach.  From  sarx, 
flesh,  and  kephale,  a  head ;  alluding  to  the 
fleshy  heads  of  fruit.     Nat.  Ord.  RubiacecB. 

A  genus  of  stove-house  trees  or  shrubs, 
sometimes  climbing  natives  of  tropical  Asia, 
Africa  and  Australia.  S.  esculentus  is  an  inter- 
esting climbing  shrub,  seldom  seen  in  collec- 
tions, bearing  pinkish  flowers,  in  short  ter- 
minal heads,  followed  by  edible  fruit  about 
the  size  of  a  Peach.  It  is  called  the  Guinea, 
Negro,  or  Sierra  Leone  Peach,  and  may  be 
increased  by  cuttings.  S.  cordatus,  introduced 
from  Australia  in  1820,  forms  a  handsome 
shrub,  with  broadly  ovate  or  obtuse  leaves, 
softly  pubescent  beneath  and  four  to  ten 
inches  long.     Syn.  Nauclea. 

Sarcochi'lus.  From  sarx,  flesh,  and  cheilos,  a 
lip ;  in  allusion  to  the  fleshy  lip  or  iabellum. 
Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  genus  of  small  epiphytal  Orchids  from 
Australia  and  the  East  Indies.  The  flowers 
are  white  or  white  and  yellow.  The  species 
are  not  usually  found  in  collections. 

Sarcoco'cca.  From  sarx,  flesh,  and  kokkos ; 
alluding  to  the  fleshy  fruits.  Nat.  Ord. 
Euphorbiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house,  glabrous 
shrubs,  natives  of  the  East  Indies,  and  the 
Malayan  Archipelago.  S.  saligna,  the  best 
known  species,  has  pale  yellow  flowers  and 
small  ovoid  or  globose  fruits.  It  is  some- 
times cultivated  under  the  name  of  S.  pruni- 
f or  mis. 

Sarcolo'bus.  From  sarx,  flesh,  and  lobos,  a 
pod ;  alluding  to  the  fleshy  seed  vessels.  Nat. 
Ord.  AsclepiadacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  stove-twining  shrubs, 
natives  of  India  and  the  Malayan  Archipelago. 
The  species  are  seldom  found  in  cultivation. 

Sarcopo'dium.  A  small  genus  of  Orchids,  now 
included  by  Bentham  and  Hooker  in  Bulbo- 
phyllum  and  Dendrobium. 

Sarcoste'mma.  From  sarx,  flesh,  and  stemma, 
a  crown ;  the  leaflets  of  the  inner  corona  are 
fleshy.     Nat  Ord.  Asclepediaeem. 

A  genus  of  climbing  or  decumbent,  leafless 
shrubs,  with  slightly  fleshy  branches,  natives 
of  tropical  and  sub-tropical  Asia,  Africa  and 
Australia.  S.  Brunonianum,  the  best  known 
species,  introduced  from  India  in  .1872,  has 
bright  yellow  flowers,  and  forms  quite  an 
ornamental  plant-stove  climber.  Syn.  Cynan- 
chum. 

Sarmentose.  Producing  long  runners  like  those 
of  the  Strawberi-y. 


SAS 

Sarmie'nta.  Named  after  Mart.  Sarmiento,  a 
Spanish  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneracece. 

S.  repens,  the  only  known  representative  of 
this  genus,  is  a  dwarf-trailing  Chilian  herb, 
very  beautiful,  and  suitable  for  growing  in 
baskets.  It  has  fleshy,  oblong  leaves,  about 
an  inch  long,  and  numerous  drooping,  tubular, 
axillary  flowers  of  a  light  scarlet  color.  It 
requires  abundance  of  water,  shade  from 
bright  sunshine,  and  a  light  position  in  a 
moist,  cool  green-house.   Introduced  in  1862. 

Sarrace'nia.  Side-saddle  Flower,  American 
Pitcher  Plant,  Trumpet  Leaf.  Named  in 
honor  of  Dr.  Sarrasin,  a  French  physician  at 
Quebec,  who  sent  the  flrst  species  to  Europe. 
Nat.  Ord.  Sarraceniacece. 

A  small  genus  of  curious  and  interesting 
plants  common  in  boggy  situations  from 
Maine  to  Florida.  S.  purpurea  is  found  in 
great  numbers  throughout  the  New  England 
States,  New  York  and  New  Jei'sey.  S.  Jlava, 
S.  Drummondii  and  8.  rubra,  etc.,  being  con- 
fined to  the  Southern  States.  They  have  their 
leaves  folded  spirally,  in  the  manner  of  the 
Pitcher  Plant,  Nepenthes.  They  are  of  various 
heights,  some  being  from  four  to  six  inches 
high,  while  others  are  nearly  or  quite  two 
feet.  They  have  no  proper  leaf  stems,  but  the 
foot  stalk  is  lengthened  in  some  cases  so  as  to 
serve  the  same  end.  The  flower  scape  is  in 
all  the  species  longer  than  the  leaves ;  the 
flowers  are  globose,  nodding ;  colors  purple, 
red  or  yellow.  The  curious  leaves  of  these 
plants  are  often  partly  filled  with  water  and 
drowned  insects,  which  has  given  them  a 
reputation  for  usefulness  that  is  to  be  taken 
with  some  grains  of  allowance.  The  same 
may  be  said  of  the  medicinal  properties 
claimed  for  them.  By  crossing,  many  valua- 
ble and  beautiful  hybrids  have  been  raised 
and  are  now  in  cultivation. 

Sarracenia'ceae.  A  small  natural  order  of 
curious  perennial  herbs,  natives  of  spongy, 
turfy  bogs  in  this  country,  remarkable  for 
their  pitcher-shaped  radical  leaves.  There 
are  only  three  small  genera  known — Sarra- 
cenia,  Darlingtonia  and  Heliamphora.  The 
curious  New  Holland  FitGher-plant  (Cephalotis) 
belongs  to  the  Nat.  Ord.  Saxifragacece. 

Sarsapari'Ua.  A  name  applied  to  the  roots  of 
several  plants,  more  especially  to  those  of 
several  species  of  Smilax,  chiefly  imported 
from  South  America  and  Mexico,  and  em- 
ployed in  medicine. 

Sarsapari'Ua,  False.     See  Aralia  nudicaulis. 

Sa'ssafras.  The  name  is  said  to  be  a  corrup- 
tion of  the  Spanish  word  for  Saxifrage.  Nat. 
Ord.  Lauracece. 

S.  officinale,  the  only  known  species,  is  com- 
mon throughout  the  United  States.  In  the 
more  northern  parts  the  tree  is  small,  the 
diameter  rarely  exceeding  eight  inches ;  but 
in  the  Southern  States  it  attains  a  height  of 
fifty  feet,  with  a  trunk  more  than  two  feet  in 
diameter.  The  Sassafras  is  well  known  by  its 
aromatic,  spicy  bark,  which  has  stimulant 
and  sudorific  properties,  and  is  extensively 
used  in  medicine  and  confectionery.  The 
leaves  are  also  used  in  the  manufacture  of 
"Home-made  beer,"  and  also  in  some  sec- 
tions as  a  seasoning  in  sauces,  while  their 
mucilaginous  properties  render  them  useful 
in  thickening  soups. 


396 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SAS 

Sa'ssafras  Laurel  or  Californian  Laurel.  See 
Oreodaphne. 

Sa'ssa&as.  Swamp.  A  common  name  for 
Magnolia  glauca. 

Sashes.  A  term  most  generally  used  for  glazed 
frames,  which  open  for  ventilation  in  a  green- 
house, or  are  used  on  pits  or  cold-frames, 
etc.,  where  they  may  be  kept  on  or  pulled  off 
as  considered  requisite.  These  latter  are 
called  movable  Sashes,  and  are  generally 
used  six  feet  long  by  three  feet  wide.  In 
houses  of  modern  construction,  most  venti- 
lating Sashes  are  placed  along  the  whole  of 
the  roof  on  the  south  side,  hinging  them  so 
that  they  are  made  to  open  at  the  ridge-pole 
by  means  of  iron  gearing  and  levers,  and 
which  cost  from  fifty  to  sixty  cents  per  run- 
ning foot. 

Satin  Flower.     Sisyrinchium  Calif ornicum. 

Satin-leaf.    Heuchera  hispida  and  H.  Americana. 

•'  Satin-leaves."  The  dried  seed-vessels  of 
Lmnaria  biennis. 

Satin-wood.  A  beautiful  veneering  wood  of 
India,  obtained  from  Chloroxylon  Swietenia, 
which  see. 

Sativus.     Cultivated. 

Sature'ia.  Savory,  From  Ssattar,  the  Arabic 
name  for  all  labiate  plants.  Nat.  Ord.  La- 
biatcB. 

The  Summer  Savory,  S.  horteyisis,  is  a  hardy 
annual,  a  native  of  the  south  of  Europe,  and 
has  been  well-known  in  the  kitchen  garden 
for  the  last  three  hundred  years.  Having 
escaped  from  the  garden,  it  has  become 
naturalized  in  many  parts  of  this  country, 
especially  in  Ohio  and  Illinois.  The  Winter 
Savoi-y,  S.  montana,  is  a  hardy  evergreen 
shrub,  growing  about  a  foot  high,  and  very 
branching.  It  is  a  native  of  the  south  of 
France,  is  easily  cultivated,  and  has  all  the 
essential  properties  of  the  Summer  Savory. 
Grown  from  seeds,  like  Thyme  and  Sage,  or 
other  herbs. 

Saty'rium.  Supposed  to  be  from  aatyrus,  a 
satyr.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

Terrestrial  orchidaceous  plants  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The  leaves  are  very 
curious  from  the  flat  manner  in  which  they 
spread  themselves  on  the  surface  of  the  pot ; 
and  the  flowers,  which  are  generally  j-ellow, 
are  very  handsome.  They  should  be  grown 
in  very  sandy  loam  or  leaf  mould,  and  kept 
in  a  green-house,  as  they  are  very  apt  to  damp 
off,  if  over- watered.    Propagated  by  division. 

Saunde'rsia.  Named  after  W.  W.  Saunders,  an 
ardent  English  collector  and  cultivator  of 
rare  and  curious  plants,  1809-1879.  Nat.  Ord. 
OrchidacecB. 

S.  mirabilis,  the  only  species,  is  a  stove- 
house  epiphytal  orchid  from  Brazil.  It  has 
medium-sized,  greenish-white  flowers,  flushed 
with  yellow  and  purple.  The  stem  or  pseudo- 
bulb  is  vei-y  short,  and  is  one-leaved.  The 
species  is  cultivated  more  as  a  botanical  cui-i- 
osity  than  for  its  beauty. 

Saurau'ja.  Named  after  Sauraujo,  a  Portu- 
guese botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  DilleniacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  tropical  trees  and  shrubs 
that  have  given  the  botanist  considerable 
trouble  in  their  classification,  it  having  been 
placed  in  several  different  orders.  S.  lanceo- 
lata  is  a  stout,  free-growing  plant,  with  large, 


SAW 

alternate,  bright  green  leaves,  which  are  ob- 
lanceolate  in  outline,  and  are  marked  regu- 
larly by  numerous  depressed  veins  curving 
outwards  from  the  mid-rib  towards  the  mar- 
gin, which  is  armed  by  small,  stiff,  spiny 
teeth.  The  leaves  have  an  elegant  appear- 
ance, on  account  of  their  cheerful  green  color 
and  their  conspicuous  parallel  divergent  ven- 
ation. The  flowers  are  white,  disposed  in 
panicles  of  several  together  upon  stalks  grow- 
ing from  the  angles  of  the  leaves. 
Sauro'matum.  From  saura,  a  lizard,  alluding 
to  the  speckled  interior  of  the  spathe.  Nat. 
Ord.  Aroidew. 

A  small  genus  of  tuberous-rooted,  herba- 
ceous, perennial,  stove-house  plants,  natives  of 
tropical  Asia  and  Africa.  S.  guttatum,  S.  ven- 
osum  and  a  few  other  species  are  in  cultiva- 
tion. 

Sau'ropus.  From  sauroa,  a  lizard,  and  pous,  a 
foot;  the  application  is  not  apparent.  Nat, 
Ord.  EuphorbiacecE. 

A  genus  of  plant-stove  shrubs,  with  the 
habit  of  Phyllanthxis,  natives  of  the  East  In- 
dies and  the  Malayan  Archipelago.  S.  albi- 
cans Gardnerianus  has  oblong,  ovate  leaves, 
acuminate  at  the  apex,  small,  deep  green, 
with  a  grayish  central  blotch.  The  branches 
are  green,  slender  and  angular.  It  was  in- 
troduced from  Ceylon  in  1861,  and  is  propa- 
gated by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened  wood  or 
by  root-cuttings. 
Sauru'rus.  Lizard's  Tail.  A  small  genus  of 
hardy,  aquatic,  perennial  herbs,  which  gives 
its  name  to  the  small  Nat.  Ord.  SaiiruracecB. 

S.  cemuus,  common  in  our  marshes  and 
swamps,  has  white  flowers,  in  a  dense  spike, 
nodding  at  the  end.  Other  species,  similar  in 
general  appearance,  have  been  introduced  to 
cultivation  from  Eastern  Asia.  Increased  by 
seeds  or  division. 

Saussu'rea.  Saw-wort.  Named  after  the  Swiss 
philosopher,  De  Saus-ture,  1740-99,  who  pos- 
sessed a  considerable  knowledge  of  botany. 

A  genus  of  herbaceous  alpine  plants,  be- 
longing to  Nat.  Ord.  CompositcB,  and  compris- 
ing about  sixty  species,  with  white  tomentose 
leaves  and  crowded  tufts  of  rather  large 
purple  flowers.  The  species  are  not  very  or- 
namental and  therefore  not  much  in  culti- 
vation. 

Sauvage'sia.  Named  after  F.  B.  de  Sauvages, 
Professor  of  Botany  at  Montpellier,  1706-1767, 
Nat.  Ord.  Violariace^B. 

A  genus  of  about  ten  species  of  herbs  or 
sub-shrubs,  all  natives  of  tropical  America. 
S.  erecta,  the  Iron  Shrub  or  St.  Martin's  Herb, 
is  a  charming  little  tender  annual,  with  pink 
or  purple-red  flowers,  introduced  from  Mexico 
in  1824. 

Savannah  Flower.  A  name  applied  to  Echitea 
suberecta  and  other  species. 

Savin.     Juniperus  sabina. 

Savory.     See  Satureia. 

Savoy  Cabbage,     See  Cabbage. 

Savoy  Spinach.     See  Spinacia. 

Sawdust.  This  is  occasionally  used  as  a  ma- 
nure and  sometimes  as  a  mulch,  or  for  pro- 
tecting tender  bulbs,  etc.,  in  winter.  Its 
manurial  value  is  considerably  greater  when 
it  is  well  decayed,  but  more  so  when  it  is 
used  as  an  absorbent  of  liquid  manures  in 


^^'      m%r 


SAPONAEIA. 


SCABIOSA  (DWABF  DOUBLE). 


6CHIZ0PETAL0N  WALKEEI. 


SCABIOSA   (tall). 


EOUiZANTHUS. 


396  SAXIFRAGA  SABMEMTOSA. 


SAXIFBAaA  PELTAIA. 


SCILLA  BirOLIA. 


ECILLA   CAMPANTJLATA. 


SCILLA  HTACINTH0IDE8. 


SCILLA  PERLTIANA. 


BCHXA  SIBIBICA. 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


397 


SAW 

stables,  or  other  liquids  containing  ammonia, 
and  made  up  into  a  compost  with  farm-yard 
manure,  earth,  or  other  materials  before  ap- 
plication. 

Saw--wort.  A  common  name  for  certain  spe- 
cies of  Saussurea  and  Serratula. 

Saxatilis.     Growing  on  rocks  or  stones. 

Saxego'thea.  This  genus  of  Coniferce  takes  its 
name  from  a  German  title  of  the  late  Prince 
Consort,  of  England.  S.  Conspicua,  the  only 
species,  is  a  native  of  Patagonia,  where  it 
forms  a  small  tree,  having  the  appearance  of 
a  Yew,  though  its  botanical  relationship  is 
with  the  Juniper.     Introduced  in  1846. 

Saxi'fraga.  Saxifrage.  From  saxum,  a  stone, 
and  frango,  to  break ;  its  reputed  medicinal 
qualities  in  calculus.  Nat.  Ord.  Saxifra- 
gacece. 

In  this  very  extensive  genus,  numbering 
more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  species,  we 
have  some  very  beautiful,  hardy  perennials, 
admirably  suited  for  rock-work  or  any  rough 
borders  where  it  is  difficult  to  make  most 
plants  grow.  Unfortunately,  many  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  desirable  species  for  the  rock- 
garden  are  not  suited  for  this  climate  and 
refuse  to  stand  our  hot,  dry  summers.  The 
large,  leathery-leaved  group,  of  which  the  Si- 
berian S.  crassifolia  is  the  best  known,  thi-ives 
well,  especially  if  slightly  protected  in  winter. 
S.  cordifolia,  with  large  trusses  of  rose-colored 
flowers  and  glossy  leaves,  much  resembles  it. 
S.  peltata,  a  gigantic  species  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  bears  its  large  corymbs  of  pale  pink 
flowers  on  tall  stalks  above  the  huge,  shield- 
like leaves.  Two  varieties  of  this  species 
occur,  one  found  at  an  elevation  of  six  to 
seven  thousand  feet,  the  other  growing  in  and 
along  streams  through  the  lower  and  warmer 
portions  of  California.  The  former  is  evi- 
dently much  hardier,  and  also  more  effective, 
its  leaves,  in  its  native  habitat,  often  attaining 
a  diameter  of  from  three  to  four  feet.  S. 
Cotyledon  pyramidalis,  known  as  the  pyramidal 
Saxifrage,  is  a  great  favorite  with  the  London 
market  florists.  It  belongs  to  that  large  sec- 
tion having  fleshy-incrusted  leaves,  arranged 
in  symmetrical  rosettes,  and  bears  a  flower- 
spike  sixteen  to  twenty -four  inches  high, 
covered  with  thousands  of  white  flowers 
about  half  an  inch  across,  remaining  in  per- 
fection for  several  weeks.  It  is  a  great 
favorite  and  is  much  used  for  window-boxes, 
rustic  stands,  etc.,  and  is  rapidly  increased  by 
offsets.  S.  sarmentosa,  a  native  of  China,  is  a 
desirable  plant  for  hanging  baskets  or  other 
rustic  designs.  It  is  a  pretty  plant  when  in 
flower  and  is  popularly  known  as  Strawberry 
Geranium,  Beef-steak  Plant,  and  several  other 
local  names  Avithout  much  significance.  S. 
sarmentosa  tricolor,  a  variety  introduced  in 
1870,  has  beautiful  variegated  white  and  rose- 
colored  markings  on  the  leaves,  but  is  apt  to 
run  back  to  the  original  species.  There  are 
several  very  pretty  species  of  Saxifraga  in  our 
woods  and  waste  places,  possessing  more 
real  beavity  than  some  more  sought  after.  All 
the  species  grow  with  very  little  care  and 
attention,  requiring  only  a  sandy,  moist,  and 
shady  situation.  Propagated  from  runners 
and  division. 

Saxifraga'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees,  shrubs, 
or  herbs   of    variable    habit,    natives    gener- 


SOA 

ally  of  temperate  and  frigid  regions.  Many 
of  the  species  are  of  great  beauty,  though  their 
useful  properties  are  unimportant.  Tlie 
limits  of  the  order  are  as  yet  far  from  settled. 
Hooker  and  Bentham  divide  it  into  six 
tribes  or  sub-genera — Cunoniem,  Escallonieoe, 
FrancoecB,  HydrangecB,  Ribesiece,  and  Saxi- 
fragem  proper.  It  includes  about  seventy- 
live  genera,  and  over  five  hundred  species. 
Good  examples  are  Astilbe,  Chrysosplenium, 
Hydrangea,  Heuchera,  Escallonia,  Ribes,  and 
Saxifraga. 

Saxifrage.     The  genus  Saxifraga,  which  see. 

Saxifrage.    Burnet.     Pimpenella  Saxifraga. 

Saxifrage.    Golden.   The  genus  Chrysosplenium. 

Saxifrage.  Meadow.  Saxifraga  granulata,  and 
Silaus  pratensis. 

Scabio'sa.  Scabious,  Mourning  Bride.  From 
scabies,  the  itch  ;  the  common  kind  is  said  to 
cure  that  disorder.      Nat.  Ord.  Dipsacacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy,  annual  and  herbace- 
ous perennials,  mostly  natives  of  Europe  and 
the  East  Indies.  *S.  atropurpurea,  is  the  well- 
known  Mourning  Bride.  All  the  species 
grow  freely  in  the  garden,  and  are  grown  from 
seeds  sown  in  early  spring.  The  German 
florists  have  succeeded  in  raising  some  dwarf 
varieties,  with  very  handsome  double  flowers, 
in  a  variety  of  colors,  from  nearly  pure  white 
to  dark  purple  maroon.  It  is  a  useful  plant 
for  summer  flowers. 

Scabious.     The  genus  Scahiosa. 
Blue.     Scabiosa  succisa. 
Caucasian.     Scabiosa  Caucasica. 
Devil's  Bit.     Scabiosa  succisa. 
Field.     Scabiosa  arvensis. 
Mt.  Parnassus.     Pterocephalus  Parnassi. 
Sheep's  Bit.     Jassione  montana. 
Sweet.      Scabiosa  atropurpurea. 

Scabrous.     Rough  with  little  asperities. 

Scae'vola.  From  SccBva,  the  left  hand ;  allud- 
ing to  the  form  of  the  corolla.  Nat.  Ord. 
Goodeniacece. 

The  greater  number  of  the  species  of  this 
extensive  genus  are  peculiar  to  Australia  and 
the  Sandwich  Islands.  Two,  however,  are 
found  growing  on  the  sea  shores  of  tropical 
Asia,  western  Africa,  from  Senegal  to  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Mauritius  and  Madagas- 
car, the  West  Indies,  Mexico  and  the  Pacific 
Islands.  S.  Lobelia  (called  also  S.  Kcenigii 
and  S.  Taccada),  the  Malay  Rice-paper  Plant, 
one  of  the  widely  dispersed  species,  is  an 
erect  shrub  from  two  to  five  feet  high,  with  a 
thick,  succulent  stem,  full  of  pith  when  young, 
but  ultimately  becoming  hard  and  woody. 
The  pith  of  the  young  stems  is  beautifully 
fine  and  white,  and  resembles  that  of  the  Rice- 
paper  Plant,  with  which  it  has  been  con- 
founded ;  but  it  is  seldom  obtainable  in  pieces 
exceeding  three-quarters  of  an  inch  in  thick- 
ness. It  is  much  used  by  the  Malays  and 
Siamese  for  making  artificial  flowers,  small 
figures,  and  other  articles  used  as  decorations 
at  feasts  and  festivals. 

Scalariform.  Ladder-shaped  ;  the  name  of  the 
tubes  of  vascular  tissue  found  in  ferns. 

Scale  Insects.     See  Insects. 

Scales.  Small,  rudimentary,  close-pressed 
loaves,  resembling  minute  scales. 

Scallion.  A  common  name  for  Allium  Ascaloni- 
cum  Majus.     The  term  is  also  applied  to  all 


398 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SCA 

Onions  that  do  not  bulb,  but  form  long  necks, 
like  Leeks. 

Scammony  Plant.  A  cathartic  gum  resin  ob- 
tained from  the  root  of  Convolvulus  Scam- 
monia. 

Scandens.     Climbing,  but  not  twisting. 

Scape.  A  stem  rising  from  the  crown  of  a 
root,  and  bearing  nothing  but  flowers. 

Scapiform,  Scapose.     Eesembling  a  scape. 

Scarborough  Lily.     See  Vallota  purpurea. 

Scariose.     Membraneous  and  dry. 

Scarlet  Geranium.     S(^e  Pelargonium. 

Scarlet  Oak.     See  Quercus. 

Scarlet  Painted  Cup.     Castelleja  indivisa. 

Scarlet  Runner.     See  Phaseolus  multiflortis. 

Scarred.  Marked  by  the  scars  left  by  bodies 
that  have  fallen  off.  The  stem,  for  instance, 
is  scarred  at  the  points  whence  leaves  have 
falleii. 

Scattered.  Dispersed;  used  in  opposition  to 
whorled,  opposite,  ternate,  or  similar  terms. 

Sceptra'nthes.  From  Skeptron,  a  sceptre,  and 
anlhos,  a  flower.  An  ornamental  plant  from 
Texas,  with  whitish-pink  flowers,  of  the  Nat. 
Ord.  AmaryllidacefP,  for  the  culture  and  prop- 
agation of  whicli  see  Zephyranthes. 

Sceptre-Flower.  The  popular  name  of  Sceptr- 
anlhes  Drummondi. 

Schaue'ria.  Named  after  J.  R.  Shnuer,  1813-48, 
Professor  at  Griefswald.  Nat.  Ord.  Acantka- 
cece. 

A  genus  of  glabrous  or  pubescent  herbs,  or 
sub-siirubs,  natives  of  Brazil.  S.  Calycolricha 
and  S.flavicoma,  the  only  two  species  in  culti- 
vation, have  large  terminal  thyrses  of  beauti- 
ful yellow  flowers,  and  have  been  long  known 
in  cultivation  as  Justicia,  which  see  for  cul- 
ture. 

Schee'lea.  Named  in  honor  of  Scheele,  a  Ger- 
man chemist.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  genus  of  Palms,  natives  of  tropical 
America,  requiring  to  be  grown  in  the  plant- 
stove.  Several  species  are  in  cultivation,  tlie 
best  known  of  which,  S.  unguis,  is  an  "excel- 
lent plant  for  table  decoration  in  a  young 
state,  or  for  the  conservatory  when  older.  It 
is  increased  by  imported  seeds. 

Schi'ma.  Said  to  be  the  Arabic  name.  Nat. 
Ord.  Ternstrcemiaceoe. 

A  smal)  genus  of  trees  or  shrubs,  natives  of 
tropical  Asia  and  the  Indian  Archipelago.  S. 
NoronhcB,  the  only  species  yet  introduced,  is 
a  compact  growing  shrub,  with  sliowy  white 
flowers,  clustered  in  a  short  raceme.  It 
thrives  well  in  peaty  soil,  and  is  propagated 
by  cuttings.     Introduced  in  1849. 

Schi'nus.  From  Schinos,  the  Greek  name  of 
the  Mastic-tree;  a  resinous  juice  exudes 
from  the  tree  similar  to  mastic.  Nat.  Ord. 
Anacardiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  tender  and  half-hardy  fra- 
grant shrubs  from  South  America.  The  flow- 
ers are  small,  white,  in  terminal  or  axillary 
clusters  or  panicles.  "  The  leaves  of  some  of 
the  species  are  so  filled  with  a  resinous  fluid 
that  the  least  degree  of  unusual  repletion  of 
the  tissue  causes  it  to  be  discharged ;  thus 
some  of  them  fill  the  air  with  fragrance  after 
rain,  and  S.molle,  and  some  others,  exp  el  their 
resin  with  such  violence,  when  immersed  in 


SCH 

water,  as  to  have  the  appearance  of  spontane- 
ous motion  in  consequence  of  the  recoil."  This 
species  is  popularly  known  as  the  Pepper 
shrub,  and  is  a  very  desirable  plant  where  it 
will  stand  uninjured  through  the  winter. 

Schismatoglo'ttis.  A  genus  of  Aroidece,  closely 
allied  to  Dieffenbachia,  and  requiring  the  same 
treatment. 

S.  longinpatha,  a  recent  introduction  from 
Borneo,  is  a  very  pretty  dwarf,  neat-habited 
plant.  Its  short,  erect  stems  grow  in  tufts, 
spreading  by  short  rhizomes,  and  are 
furnished  with  obliquely  ovate  leaves  some 
four  inches  long,  of  a  lightish  green  color, 
marked  with  a  feathered  central  band  of 
silvery  gray,  through  which  runs  the  dis- 
tinct green  mid-rib.  The  inflorescence  is 
curious  in  structure,  the  most  conspicuous 
parts  being  the  small  yellowish-green 
spadices.  S.  crispata  is  also  a  recent  intro- 
duction from  Borneo  (1881).  These,  in  com- 
mon with  the  other  species,  some  ten  or  more 
in  number,  are  admirable  decorative  plants. 

Schivere'ckia.  Named  after  A.  Schivereck,  a 
Russian  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Cruciferce. 

S.  podolica,  the  only  species,  is  a  pretty 
little  har :*y,  hei'baceous  plant,  allied  to  Alys- 
sum,  witn  which  genus  it  is  included  by  some 
botanists.  It  is  a  native  of  Eussia,  and  has 
rosettes  of  notched  whitish  leaves,  undulated 
at  the  margin,  and  produces  coryml>s  of  white 
flowers  in  early  spring.  Propagation  by  di- 
vision or  from  seeds. 

Schizae'a.  From  schizo,  to  cut  or  split ;  appear- 
ance of  the  fan-like  spikes.  Nat.  Ord.  Poly- 
podiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental  Ferns,  mostly 
inliabiting  the  East  and  West  ladies  and 
South  America.  They  are  curious  and  inter- 
esting plants,  distinguished  by  their  linear, 
simple,  or  flabellale  fronds  and  paniculate 
fructittcation,  borne  upon  the  apex  of  the 
segments,  forming  a  beautiful  crest  to  the 
frond.  They  x-equire  a  warm  house,  liberal 
watering,  and  a  moist  atmosphere  for  their 
perfect  development.  S.  pusilla,  a  native 
species,  is  found  sparingly  in  the  marshy  pine 
barrens  of  New  Jersey. 

Schiza'ndra.  From  schizo,  to  cut  or  split,  and 
aner,  andros,  a  male;  the  stamens  are  split. 
Nat.  Ord.  MagnoUwece  (Tribe  Schizandreee). 

Of  the  six  species  that  compr  ise  this  genus 
one  is  a  native  of  the  Southern  States,  the  rest 
are  found  in  tropical  or  Eastern  Asia.  S.  Chi- 
nensis,  introduced  from  Northern  Cliina  in 
1860,  is  a  handsome  climbing  shrub,  with 
bright  rose-carmine  flowers,  succeeded  by 
bright  scarlet  berries,  which  are  persistent 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  winter.  S.  coc- 
cinea,  our  native  species,  is  a  tall-elimbing 
shrub,  with  alternate,  oblong,  membrana- 
ceous, deciduous  leaves,  and  small  crimson 
flowers  on  long  peduncles,  found  in  shady 
woods  from  Florida  to  North  Carolina  and 
westward.  The  beautiful,  silvery-foliaged 
stove-house  climber,  Sphcerostema  mnrmora- 
tum,  is  now  included  under  this  genus  by  some 
authors  as  S.  marmorata. 

Schiza'nthus.  Butterfly  or  Fringe  Flower. 
From  schizo,  to  cut  or  split,  and  anthos,  a 
flower ;  in  allusion  to  the  irregularly  divided 
corolla.     Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacece. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful,  half-hardy,  annual 
flowers,  which  may  be  sown  either  in  autumn 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


399 


SCH 

or  spring.  If  wanted  to  flowor  in  spring,  the 
seed  should  be  sown  iu  August  or  September 
as  soon  as  it  is  I'ipe,  in  light,  rich  mould  ;  and 
the  young  plants  should  be  kept  in  well-drain- 
ed pots  in  a  frame  or  green-house  during 
winter.  When  the  seeds  are  sown  in  spring, 
it  should  be  on  a  hot-bed  or  in  the  green- 
house, and  the  young  plants  should  be  re- 
moved into  the  open  air  in  May,  when  they 
will  flower  in  autumn.  The  plants  are  much 
larger  in  the  open  ground,  and  the  flowers  are 
finer,  if  the  soil  be  sufficiently  rich  and  light ; 
but  care  should  be  taken  to  plant  tliem  in  a 
sheltered  situation,  or  to  tie  them  to  stakes, 
as  the  stems  are  very  brittle  and  liable  to  be 
broken  off  by  high  winds.  The  principal 
kinds  of  Schizanthus  are  S.  pinnatus,  with 
its  varieties,  all  of  which  have  purplish 
flowers ;  S.  retusus,  with  scarlet  and  yellow 
flowers,  and  S.  Priestii,  with  white  and  yellow 
flowers.  Of  these,  S.  pinnatus,  and  its  allied 
species  or  variety,  S.  porrigens,  are  the  hard- 
iest. The  genus  is  confined  to  South  Amer- 
ica, and  are  mostly  found  in  Chili.  Intro- 
duced in  1822. 

Schizolo'bium.  From  schizo,  to  cut  or  split, 
and  lobos,  a  pod ;  probably  alluding  to  the 
opening  of  the  pod.  Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 
A  small  genus  of  tail,  evergreen  plants,  na- 
tives of  Brazil  and  Panama.  S.  excelsum,  the 
only  introduced  species,  bears  long  peduncles 
of  bright  yellow  flowers,  and  large  divided 
leaves,  white  beneath  and  golden-pilose  on 
the  middle  nerve,  the  common  petioles  of 
which  are  often  two  feet  long.  It  was  intro- 
duced from  Brazil  in  1874,  and  is  propagated 
by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened  shoots. 

Schizome'ria.  From  schizo,  to  cut,  and  meris, 
a  part ;  alluding  to  the  cut  petals.  Nat.  Ord. 
SaxifragacecB. 

S.  ovata,  the  only  described  species,  is  an 
ornamental,  evergreen  plant,  with  small  white 
flowers  in  terminal  cymes,  introduced  from 
Australia  in  1825.  It  thrives  best  in  a  com- 
post of  sandy  peat  and  loam,  and  is  increased 
by  cuttings. 

Schizope'talon.  From  schizo,  to  cut,  and  peta- 
lon,  a  petal;  the  petals  are  cut.  Nat.  Ord. 
CrucifercB. 

An  annual  flower,  with  curiously  cut  petals, 
and  a  strong  tap-root.  S.  Walkeri,  the  only 
species  in  cultivation,  grows  about  one  foot 
high  and  bears  on  slender  stems  numerous 
white,  almond-scented  blossoms,  which  are 
elegantly  fringed  at  the  edges.  As  it  does  not 
bear  transplanting  well,  it  should  be  sown 
where  it  is  to  remain,  in  the  open  border,  in 
May.     It  was  introduced  from  Chili  in  1821. 

Schizophra'gma.  Climbing  Hydrangea.  From 
schizo,  to  cut,  and  phragma,  an  inclosure  or 
wall ;  the  portions  of  the  wall  between  the  ribs 
of  the  fruit  fall  away  when  it  is  ripe.  Nat. 
Ord.  Saxifragacece. 

S.  Hydrangeoidps  is  a  hardy,  climbing  shrub, 
introduced  from  Japan  by  Thomas  Hogg.  It 
is  a  handsome,  rapid-growing  plant,  with 
almost  all  the  characteristics  of  the  Hi/drangea, 
having  similar  white  flowers  as  in  the  shrub- 
by species.  It  clings  with  tenacity  to  any 
tree  or  building  by  whicli  it  may  be  planted, 
and  attains  a  height  of  fifty  feet.  It  remains 
a  long  time  in  flower,  making  it  a  conspicuous 
and  desirable  plant.  It  is  perfectly  hardy, 
and  is  rapidly  increased  by  cuttings  or  by 


SCH 

seeds,  w'.iich,  however,  have  as  yet  to  be  pro- 
cured from  its  native  country,  Japan. 

Schizo'stylis.  Crimson  Flag,  Kaffir  Lily.  From 
schizo,  to  cut,  and  stylos,  a  style ;  the  style  is 
divided  into  three  long  filiform  branches. 
Nat.  Ord.  IridacecB. 

S.  coccinea,  the  best  known  species,  is  a 
very  pretty,  half-hardy.  Cape  bulb,  belonging 
to  the  Gladiolus  family.  The  leaves  are  neat 
and  glossy,  and  the  flowers  are  rosy-scarlet, 
produced  in  December.  Many  efforts  have 
been  made  to  bring  this  bulb  into  flower  in 
summer  or  autumn,  which  would  make  it  one 
of  the  most  popular  of  the  natural  order  to 
which  it  belongs.  Every  effort  has,  however, 
failed,  and  it  must,  consequently,  be  flowered 
in  the  green-house.  It  was  introduced  in  1846, 
and  is  rapidly  increased  by  offsets. 

Schli'mmia.  In  honor  of  3f.  Schlimm,  one  of 
M.  Linden's  plant  collectors,  who  discovered 
the  plant.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

S.  jasminodora,  is  an  epiphytal  Orchid,  in- 
troduced from  Central  America  in  1852,  re- 
markable for  its  extreme  fragrance.  Its 
flowers  are  pure  white,  borne  on  flower-stalks 
about  a  foot  high.  It  requires  to  be  grown  in 
a  warm  house. 

Schlumberge'ria.  Named  in  honor  of  F.  Slum- 
berger,  a  Belgian  horticulturist.  Nat.  Ord. 
Jiro7neliace£B. 

A  South  American  genus  of  two  or  three 
species  of  stove-house,  perennial  plants,  re- 
moved from  Tillandsia  and  Massangea.  S. 
Morreniana,  is  a  noble  plant  with  gracefully 
recurving  green  leaves,  three  feet  long,  mark- 
ed with  numerous  darker  green,  transverse 
lines  above,  and  with  reddish  lines  beneath. 
It  was  introduced  fi'om  the  Andes  of  Peru  in 
1883,  and  requires  the  same  treatment  as  Til- 
landsia.    Syn.  Anoplophytum. 

Schmide'Lia.  Named  in  honor  of  C.  C.  Schmidel, 
a  Professor  of  Botany  at  Erlangen.  Nat.  Ord. 
SapindacecB. 

A  large  genus  of  shrubs  or  small  trees,  prin- 
cipally natives  of  tropical  America.  Several 
species  have  been  introduced,  but,  as  they 
have  no  horticultural  value,  they  are  probably 
lost  to  cultivation. 

Schce'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  SchcBn,  a 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

8.  Cassiniana,  the  sole  representative  of  the 
genus,  is  very  closely  allied  to  Helichrysum, 
requiring  the  same  general  treatment.  It 
has  bright  yellow  flowers,  borne  in  a  loose  ter- 
minal corymb,  and  was  introduced  from  Aus- 
tralia in  1845. 

Schombu'rgkia.  Named  after  Sir  Robert  H. 
Schomburgk,  a  zealous  naturalist  and  a  trav- 
eler in  Bi'itish  Guiana  on  account  of  the  Royal 
Geographical  Society.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacem. 
A  very  handsome  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids, 
with  large  pseudo-bulbs,  and  strong,  leathery 
leaves.  The  flower-spikes  are  produced  from 
the  apex  of  the  pseudo-bulbs,  and  are  from 
three  to  four  feet  in  length,  bearing  large, 
rich-colored  flowers  of  singular  form.  The 
plants  should  be  attached  to  a  piece  of  cork 
and  suspended  from  the  roof  of  the  hot-house. 
They  require  a  warm,  moist  atmosphere  in  the 
growing  season,  and  a  very  dry  one  when  at 
rest.  There  are  but  a  few  species  in  this  genus, 
the  most  desirable  being  S.  tibicimcs,  the  Cow- 
horn  Orchid,  from  Honduras,  and  S.  Lyonsi, 


400 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SCH 

which  has  been  called  the  prettiest  of  the 
genus,  and  which  succeeds  either  in  a  basket 
or  on  a  block.  It  was  introduced  from 
Jamaica  in  1863. 

Scho'tia.  Kaffir  Bean-tree.  Named  in  honor 
of  Richard  Va7i  der  Schot,  a  traveling  compan- 
ion and  friend  of  Jacquin. 

A  genus  of  Legummosm,  comprising  four 
species  of  shrubs,  or  small  trees,  confined  to 
southern  and  sub-tropical  Africa.  S.  tama- 
rindifoUa  (speciosa)  forms  a  scrubby  bush 
eight  to  ten  feet  high,  having  pinnate  leaves 
and  terminal  panicles  of  deep  crimson  blos- 
soms. According  to  Dr.  Atherstone,  the 
beans  from  the  pods  of  this  plant  are  roasted 
and  eaten  in  the  Albany  districts,  where  they 
are  called  Boerboom,  and  the  powerfully 
astringent  bark  is  used  medicinally,  as  well  as 
in  tanning.  The  species  are  all  very  hand- 
some when  in  bloom. 

Schou'ia.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  F.  Schouw,  a 
celebrated  Danish  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Cruci- 
fercB. 

A  genus  of  tall,  branched,  highly  glabrous 
herbs,  natives  of  Arabia.  S.  Arabica  is  a 
very  pretty  annual  with  rosy-purplish  flowers, 
thriving  well  if  sown  in  light  sandy  soil  in  the 
open  border  in  May. 

Schra'dera.  Named  in  honor  oi  H.  A.  Schrader, 
a  German  botanist,  1767-1836.  Nat.  Ord.  Ru- 
biacece. 

A  genus  of  glabrous  shrubs,  with  thick- 
rooting  branches,  natives  of  Brazil,  Guiana 
and  the  West  Indies.  S.  cephalotes,  the  only 
species  introduced,  produces  its  white  flowers 
in  compact,  globose,  terminal  heads,  and 
thrives  best  in  a  compost  of  sandy  peat  and 
loam.  It  was  introduced  from  Jamaica  in  1820, 
and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  in  heat.  Syns. 
Fuchsia  (of  Schwartz)  and   Urceolaria. 

Schra'nkia.  Sensitive  Brier.  In  honor  of  Fran- 
cis Paula  von  Schrank,  a  famous  German  botan- 
ist, and  author  of  many  botanical  works. 
Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house,  herbaceous 
perennials,  common  from  Virginia  southward. 
The  flowers  are  small,  and  not  unlike  those  of 
the  Mimosa.  These  plants  are  very  interesting 
on  account  of  their  leaves,  which,  like  those  of 
the  Sensitive  Plant,  fall  at  the  slightest  touch. 
A  few  of  the  species  are  under  cultivation  in 
botanical  collections. 

Schube'rtia.  Named  after  M.  Schubert,  a  Pol- 
ish botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  AsciepiadacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  hairy,  milky,  twining 
shrubs  from  South  America,  closely  allied  to 
Physianlhus.  The  leaves  are  opposite,  and 
the  flowers,  produced  in  handsome  umbels,  are 
cream-colored  and  white.  They  are  funnel- 
shaped,  large  and  fleshy,  and  remarkable  for 
their  fragrance.  They  require  to  be  grown  in 
a  warm  house,  in  well-drained  pots,  and  are 
propagated  by  cuttings. 

Sciado'calyx.  Derivation  of  name  not  given. 
Nat.  Ord.  GesneracecB. 

S.  Warscewiczii,  the  only  known  species, 
was  formerly  known  as  Gesnera  Regeliana.  It 
is  a  very  ornamental,  green-house  plant,  a 
native  of  New  Grenada,  and  conspicuous  for 
its  bright  pinkish- scarlet  flowers,  which  are 
produced  freely  during  the  winter.  Like  all 
the  plants  of  this  natural  order,  it  requires  a 
warm  house,  plenty  of  moisture,  and  partial 


SCI 

shade  to  grow  it  to  perfection.  It  is  increased 
by  cuttings  or  from  seeds.  This  genus  is  now 
placed  by  some  authorities  under  Isoloma. 

Sciadophy'Uum.  From  skiados,  a  shade  or  can- 
opy, and  phyllon,  a  leaf ;  the  leaves  are  large 
and  consequently  afford  much  shade.  Nat. 
Ord.  Araliacece. 

A  genus  of  trees  or  shrubs,  natives  of  tropi- 
cal America  and  Asia.  They  are  worthy  of 
cultivation  on  account  of  their  fine  foliage. 
Increased  readily  by  cuttings  in  heat,  or  by 
root  cuttings.     Syn.  Actinophyllum. 

Sciado'pitys.  Umbrella  Pine.  From  Skyas, 
a  parasol,  and  jntys,  a  Fir-tree ;  referring  to 
the  spreading  whorls  of  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord. 
ConiJercB. 

A  singular  genus  of  Coniferas  peculiar  to 
Japan,  and  closely  allied  to  the  Sequoia.  S. 
verticillata,  a  recently  introduced  species,  has 
been  cultivated  from  time  immemorial  by  the 
Japanese  around  their  temples.  The  trunk  is 
erect,  from  a  hundred  to  a  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  high,  and  of  pyramidal  habit;  the 
branches  verticillate,the  leaves  are  from  two 
to  four  inches  long,  and  about  a  sixth  of  an 
inch  broad,  in  whorled  clusters,  which  gives 
it  a  very  singular  and  beautiful  appearance. 

Sci'lla.  Squill.  From  skyllo,  to  injure;  the 
bulbs  of  some  of  the  species  are  said  to  be 
poisonous.    Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  very  pretty  bulbous 
plants,  nearly  all  of  which  are  hardy,  and 
very  desirable  on  account  of  their  early  habit 
of  flowering.  They  should  be  planted  in  Oc- 
tober, either  in  the  open  ground  or  in  pots. 
They  prefer  a  light,  rich  soil.  Among  the 
more  desirable  species  are  S.  campanulata 
(syn.  S.Hispanica),  a  native  of  Spain,  with  beau- 
tiful blue  flowers,  of  which  there  are  varieties 
with  white  and  pink  flowers ;  S.  amcBna,  with 
blue  flowers,  from  the  Levant,  a  very  early 
flowering  species ;  S.  bifolia,  with  red,  blue,  or 
white  flowers,  and  S.  Sibirica,  with  intense 
blue  flowers,  "  a  miaute  gem  among  the  flow- 
ers of  earliest  spring,  so  beautiful  that  no 
rock-work,  rock-garden,  or  garden  of  any 
kind  can  be  complete  without  its  striking  and 
peculiar  shade  of  porcelain  blue,  which  quite 
distinguishes  it  from  the  other  species.  It 
may  be  used  with  good  effect  as  an  edging  to 
beds  of  spring  flowers,  or  to  paths  in  the 
rock-garden."  S.  nutans,  the  Blue  Bell,  Hare 
Bell,  or  Wild  Hyacinth,  Avith  blue,  purple, 
white,  or  pink  flowers,  is  another  beautiful 
and  deservedly  admired  species.  These  are 
all  beautiful  plants,  and  well  adapted  to  the 
open  border.  They  come  into  flower  with  the 
Crocus,  and  continue  in  bloom  much  longer. 
They  may  remain  undisturbed  where  planted 
for  a  number  of  years,  as  crowding  from  their 
natural  increase  does  not  seem  to  injure 
them.  S.  Peruviana  is  one  of  the  best  for 
pot  culture.  It  is  a  native  of  Italy  and  Spain, 
and  not  of  Peru,  as  is  generally  supposed, 
and  as  its  name  would  imply.  Its  flowers  are 
dark-blue,  produced  in  long  racemes.  8.  cili- 
aris,  is  also  desirable  for  growing  in  pots.  The 
last  two  are  not  hardy.  All  the  species  are 
well  worth  a  place  in  the  garden  or  green- 
house, and  are  propagated  by  offsets. 

Scinda'psus.  From  skindapsos,  an  ivy-like 
climber.     Nat.  Ord.  AroidecB. 

A  genus  of  climbing,  herbaceous  plants,  na- 
tives of  tropical  Asia,  the  Indian  Archipelago, 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


401 


SCI 

New  Guinea,  and  the  Fiji  Islands.  Thej' 
have  perforated  or  pinnated  leaves  on  long, 
channeled  stalks.  The  species  are  cultivated 
in  their  native  countries  for  their  fruit,  which 
is  considered  to  have  powerful  medicinal 
properties.  Several  of  the  species  are  to  be 
found  in  collections  of  plants  with  ornamental 
foliage.  S.  aryrceus,  a  comparatively  late  in- 
troduction from  the  East  Indies,  has  ovate, 
acuminate  leaves,  very  silvery  and  glossy  on 
the  surface.  It  is  an  excellent  subject  for 
covering  bare  walls  in  the  plant-stove,  the 
trunks  of  tree  Ferns,  etc.  They  are  all  prop- 
agated by  cuttings,  and  are  mostly  known 
under  the  name  Pothos.  Syns.  Pythos,  and 
Rajjhidophora. 

Scion  or  Cion.  A  cutting  or  twig  intended  for 
a  graft. 

Sci'rpus.  Club  Grass  or  Rush.  From  the 
Celtic,  cirs.  Rushes.     Nat.  Ord.  Cyperacem. 

An  extensive  genus  of  sedge  grasses  having 
a  wide  geographical  range.  Some  of  the  spe- 
cies furnish  considerable  pasture  for  cattle  in 
the  salt  marshes  of  Europe,  as  well  as  this 
countiy.  S.  tuberoaa,  is  grown  in  China  for 
its  esculent  roots.  S.  Holoschcznus  variegatus, 
is  a  very  ornamental  hardy  speci*^s,  the  erect 
terete  stems  being  banded  with  alternate 
zones  of  white  and  green.  S.  Taberncemontani 
zebrina,  the  Banded  Rush,  is  a  beautifully 
variegated  species  introduced  by  Mr.  Thomas 
Hogg  from  Japan.  It  is  a  plant  of  singular 
beauty,  the  variegation,  like  that  of  Eulalia 
gebrma,  instead  of  running  lengthwise,  runs  at 
right  angles  to  the  stem  ;  or,  in  other  words, 
the  variegation  is  horizontal  instead  of  vertical. 
A  group  of  the  stems  suggests  that  of  a  clus- 
ter of  porcupine  quills.  S.  punyens  is  com- 
mon throughout  the  United  States  in  swampy 
meadows  and  muddy  margins  of  rivers,  and  is 
the  species  chiefly  used  in  this  country  in 
making  the  seats  of  rush-bottomed  chairs.  S. 
lacustris,  the  Bulrush,  is  extensively  used 
for  the  same  and  similar  purposes  in  most 
parts  of  Europe.  S.  riparius,  is  now  the 
recognized  name  of  Isolepis  gracilis,  a  favorite 
plant  for  basket  work  and  green-house  deco- 
ration. 

Scitami'neae.  A  large  natural  order  of  peren- 
nial herbs,  almost  entirely  tropical,  including 
many  plants  of  considerable  size,  and  all  re- 
markable for  their  leaves,  which  are  often 
large,  the  petiole  usually  forming  a  sheath, 
the  blade  being  sessile  or  petiolate  above  the 
sheath.  Arrow-root  and  Ginger  are  derived 
from  the  rhizomes  of  Maranta  arundinacea  and 
Zingiber  officinalis,  respectively.  The  fruits 
of  Amomum.  called  Cardamons,  are  esteemed 
for  their  stomachic  qualities.  The  well- 
known  Plantain  and  Banana,  Musa  sapientum 
and  M.  paradisiaca,  also  belong  to  this  genus, 
with  several  other  species  of  great  economic 
value.  Bentham  and  Hooker  regard  Can- 
necB,  Marantece,  Musece,  and  ZingiberecB  as 
tribes  of  ScitaminecB.  Alpinia,  Canna,  Carcuma, 
Maranta,  and  Musa  are  good  representatives 
of  the  order. 

Sclarea.  A  genus  now  included  under  Salvia 
as  i;.  Sclarea. 

Sclerotha'mnus.  From  skleros,  hard,  and  tham- 
nos,  a  shrub ;  alluding  to  the  rigid  aspect  of 
the  bush.    Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosoe. 


SCO 

S.  microphyllus,  tlie  only  described  species, 
is  a  small,  much-branched,  wiry-stemmed, 
evergreen,  ornamental  shrub  from  western 
Australia,  closely  allied  to  PultencEa.  The 
specific  name,  microphyllus,  alludes  to  the 
minute  heath-like  leaves,  which  are  closely 
set  and  bear  in  their  axils  the  solitary  pale- 
yellow  flowers.  It  is  now  placed  by  Bentham 
and  Hooker  with  Eutaxia,  under  the  name  of 
E.  Empetrifolia. 

Scobiform.     Resembling  Sawdust. 

Scoke  Berry.    A  common  name  for  Phytolacca 

decandra. 
Scolope'ndrium.  Hart's  Tongue.  From  Scolo- 
pendria,  a  centipede ;  the  appearance  of  the 
seed  or  spore-cases.  Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 
A  small  genus  of  interesting  green-house  or 
hardy  Ferns,  found  generally  in  temperate  and 
tropical  regions.  S.  vulgare,  tlie  common 
Hart's  Tongue,  Burnt-weed,  Christ's-hair,  etc., 
has  flaccid,  bright  green  fronds,  six  to  eighteen 
inches  long,  with  undulated  margins.  Many 
varieties  of  this,  one  of  the  most  common  of 
British  Ferns,  are  in  cultivation,  and  present  a 
wonderful  series  of  variations  from  the 
normal  state  of  the  plant.  This  species  is 
occasionally  found  in  central  New  York  and 
some  other  localities  in  this  country,  but  it  is 
quite  rare.  The  well-known  Walking  Fern, 
Camj)tosorus  rhizophyllum,  is  placed  under 
this  genus  by  some  botanists.  They  are  gen- 
erally found  on  shady  limestone  rocks  or 
cliffs,  and,  when  cultivated,  require  a  moist, 
somewhat  shaded  situation.  Many  of  the 
varieties  make  interesting  pot-plants. 

Sco'lymus.  Golden  Thistle.  From  skolos,  a 
thorn;  the  plants  are  spiny,  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positcB. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  herbaceous  plants,  com- 
mon in  th^  south  of  Europe.  S.  Hispanicus, 
the  Spanish  Oyster-Plant,  has  simple  fusiform 
roots,  soft  and  sweet  like  Scorzonera,  and  are 
by  many  nighly  esteemed  as  a  ^-^getable.  The 
leaves  and  stalks  also  aboun.  with  a  milky 
juice,  and  the  people  of  Salamanca  eat  it  in 
the  same  manner  as  Cardoons.  The  flowers 
are  used  to  adulterate  saffron. 

Scopo'lia.  Named  in  honor  of  John  A.  Scopoli, 
Professor  of  Natural  History  at  Pavia,  1732- 
1788.   Nat.  Ord.  Solanacece. 

A  genus  of  spiny  shrubs  and  trees,  natives 
of  tropical  Asia,  Austi-alia,  Japan  and  Russia. 
S.  carniolica,  and  S.  lurida,  are  desirable 
hardy  plants  on  account  of  their  pretty  red, 
yellow  and  purplish  flowers  being  produced 
early  in  spring.  They  are  interesting  and 
curious  plants,  and  are  increased  by  division 
of  the  I'oots. 

Scorpion  Grass.  A  popular  name  for  the 
Myosotis. 

Scorpion    Plant.       Renanthera   arachnitis,  and 

Genista  Scorpiiis. 

Scorpion  Senna.     Coronilla  Emerus. 

Scorpiu'rus.  Caterpillars.  From  scorpios,  a 
scorpion,  and  oura,  a  tail ;  alluding  to  the 
twisted  form  of  the  legumes.  Nat.  Ord. 
LeguminoscB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  curious,  half-hardy 
annuals,  natives  of  the  Mediterranean  regions. 
The  flowers  are  yellow,  pea-shaped ;  the  pods 
have  a  fancied  resemblance  to  caterpillars, 
whence  their  common  name.     The  pods  are 


402 


HENDEESON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


SCO 

sometimes  used  to  garnish  dishes  of  salads  or 
meats.  They  may  be  cultivated  in  the  same 
manner  as  Radishes. 

Scorpoid,  or  Scorpoidal.  Curved  or  circinate 
at  the  end,  like  the  tail  of  a  scorpion ;  as  the 
flower  of  the  Heliotrope. 

Scorzone'ra.  Viper's  Grass.  From  scurzon,  a 
viper ;  supposed  remedy  for  the  bite  of  a  viper. 
Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

Handsome,  hardy  perennials,  with  purple, 
pink,  or  yellow  flowers.  They  are  indigenous 
in  the  south  of  Europe  and  temperate  parts  of 
Asia.  One  of  the  species,  S.  Hispanica,  is 
grown  to  some  extent  as  a  garden  vegetable 
under  the  name  of  Black  Oyster  Plant. 
Though  a  perennial,  it  should  be  treated  like 
an  annual  or  biennial,  and  grown  in  the  same 
manner  as  Salsify  or  Carrots,  only  the  seed 
should  not  be  sown  so  early  (in  the  latitude 
of  New  York,  in  the  middle  of  May),  as  the 
plants  have  a  tendency  to  "run  up  "  to  seed, 
which  renders  the  roots  unfit  for  use.  There 
are  other  species  under  cultivation  in  their 
native  countries  as  articles  of  food,  and  held 
in  high  esteem. 

Scota'nthus.  A  genus  of  Cucurbitacem,  con- 
sisting of  three  or  four  Asiatic  herbs,  which 
are  procumbent,  and  have  a  musky  odor. 
The  leaves  are  roundish,  kidney-shaped ; 
flowers  large  and  white,  and  are  succeeded  by 
small,  red,  berry-like,  ribbed  fruit.  Some  of 
the  species  are  grown  as  ornamental  climbers. 

Scotch  Broom.  A  popular  name  of  Cytiaus 
Scojyarius. 

Scotch  Fir.     See  Pinus  sylvestris. 

Scotch  Kale.     See  Borecole. 

Scotch  Primrose.  A  common  name  for  Prim- 
ula Scotica. 

Scotch  Thistle.  The  species  originally  in- 
tended as  the  national  emblem  of  Scotland 
has  been  the  subject  of  much  discussion.  Dr. 
George  Johnston,  in  his  "  Botany  of  the  East- 
ern Border,"  as  the  result  of  his  inquiries, 
discards  the  tale  of  the  bare-footed  Dane 
treading  on  the  Thistle,  crjnng  out,  and  thus 
alarming  the  sleeping  Scottish  Army  (see 
Onopordon) ;  the  historical  evidence  being 
that  the  Thistle  was  first  used  as  the  badge 
of  Scotland  by  James  IV.,  on  the  occasion  of 

-  his  marriage  with  Margaret  Tudor,  daughter 
of  the  English  King  Heniy  VII.  James  V., 
placed  it  on  his  coins  (1514-1542),  and  it  is  also 
represented  on  those  of  James  VI.  (1599). 
Dr.  Johnston  thus  sums  up  his  views  on  the 
subject:  "This  evidence  (from  history,  and  the 

"thistle,  as  depicted  on  the  coins)  seems  very 
much  to  invalidate  the  claims  of  the  Onopor- 
don, but  to  greatly  strengthen  our  belief  that 
Carduiis  {Silyhum)  Mnrianus  was  the  chosen 
emblem  of  the  national  pride  and  character, 
although  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  re- 
semblance between  the  plant  and  the  picture 

-  of  the  artist  is  somewliat  postulatory.  The 
bold  motto,  'Nemo  me  impune  lacessit '  was 
the  addition  of  James  VI.,  and  C.  Mariamis 
is  almost  the  only  species  that  would  suggest 
it;  but  I  suspect  that  the  reason  for  the 
preference  of  C.  Marianus,  '  the  Holy  Thistle,' 
'  Our  Lady's  Thistle,'  was  the  fact  of  its  dedi- 
cation to  the  mother  of  our  Saviour,  a  drop 

-  of  whose  milk  (it  is  said),  having  fallen  on  the 
leaves,  imprinted  the  accident  on  those  white 
veins  which  so  remarkably  distinguish  them. 


SCR 

This  period  was  rife  in  these  religious  associa- 
tions and  adoptions." 

Dr.  Johnston  was  also  informed  by  an  old 
mason,  that  initiated  gardeners  well  under- 
stood the  "  Milk  or  Holy  Thistle  "  to  be  the 
true  plant,  and  they  usually,  at  their  proces- 
sions, stuck  the  heads  of  the  latter  on  the 
strong  spines  of  the  Onopordon.  Professor 
Balfour  states  that  it  is  found  naturalized 
about  the  ruins  of  old  castles  in  whose 
gardens  it  was  formerly  cultivated. 

Mr.  J.  Smith,  ex-Curator  of  Kew  Gardens, 
England,  some  years  ago  in  reply  to  an  inquiry, 
wrote  as  follows:  "In  preparing  'Domestic 
Botany '  for  the  press,  I  deemed  it  necessary 
to  apply  to  the  Professor  of  Scottish  History 
in  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  who  said : 
'  There  was  nothing  in  Scotti.-,h  history  to 
support  the  legend  of  the  Dane  and  the 
Thistle  ;'  and,  with  regard  to  Onopordon  Acan- 
thium,  although  it  has  been  naturalized,  it  is 
nevertheless  rare  in  Scotland.  It  is  generally 
cultivated  as  a  curiosity  in  gardens,  where  it 
grows  six  to  eight  feet  in  height,  and  its 
numerous  hoary  branches,  terminated  by 
heads  of  lilac  flowers,  make  it  a  plant  of 
special  note.  Cnicus  acaulis,  which  name  it 
has  obtained  by  its  flower-heads  growing 
close  to  the  ground,  is  also  known  to  me  as 
the  '  Scotch  Thistle,'  and,  having  sharp  spines, 
it  would  readily  make  those  who  trod  upon 
it,  not  well  shod,  cry  out,  as  is  said  to  have  " 
been  done  by  the  Danish  soldiers." 

Mr.  Dovaston,  in  a  communication  to 
"Leighton's  Flora  of  Shropshire,"  states  that 
in  a  tour  of  Scotland  he  asked  many  persons 
what  was  the  Scotch  Thistle?  and  found 
almost  as  many  different  opinions,  and  thus 
sums  up  the  matter :  "For  our  own  part,  we 
do  not  believe  that  any  particular  species  of 
the  plant  was  meant,  the  leading  idea  being 
the  self-defending  power  of  the  Thistle,  as 
emblematical  of  the  determination  of  Scotland, 
though  poor,  to  submit  to  no  injury  or 
offence  without  retaliation." 

Sco'ttia.  Named  in  honor  of  R.  Scott,  M.  D., 
once  Professor  of  Botany  in  Dublin.  Nat. 
Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

The  only  described  species,  S.  dentata  and 
S.  angustifolia,  are  branching,  diffuse  bushes, 
with  slender  stems  and  opposite,  heart- 
shaped,  toothed  leaves.  The  flowers  are 
brick-red,  tinged  with  gi^en,  and  nearly  an 
inch  long,  sessile  and  solitary  in  the  leaf  axils. 
This  genus  is  now  included  by  Bentham  and 
Hooker  under  Bossima. 

Screens.  Fast  growing  trees,  when  planted  in 
a  belt  or  shrubbery,  to  afford  shelter  from  an 
unfavorable  or  exposed  quarter,  are  termed  a 
Screen.  Gardens  on  the  sea-coast  invariably 
require  shelter  from  the  wind  and  salt  spray, 
and  this  is  generally  provided  for  by  planting 
a  belt  of  trees  or  shrubs  that  succeed  in  such 
a  situation  (see  Sea-side  Trees  and  Plants). 
The  term  also  denotes  any  thing  grown  or 
erected  to  hide  an  unsightly  or  undesirable 
object  from  any  particular  point,  such  as  from 
the  windows  of  the  house  or  the  principal 
walks  of  the  gardens  or  grounds.  'This  may 
be  done  effectually  by  groups  of  various  ever- 
green trees  and  shrubs,  to  break  up  the  uni- 
formity, or,  if.  only  to  a  moderate  height,  by 
lattice  or  rustic-work,  with  various  creepers 
or  climbing  plants  trained  upon  it.     Special 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


403 


SCR 

prepai'ations,  however,  liave  generally  to  be 
made  to  suit  peculiar  local  requirements  as  to 
their  designs  and  location. 

Screw  Pine.     See  Pandanus  utilis. 

Screw  Tree.  A  popular  name  for  Helicleres 
Isora,  a  native  of  India,  Australia,  etc.,  and 
so  called  from  the  screw-shaped  carpels. 

Scrobiculate.  Pitted ;  excavated  into  shallow 
pits. 

Scrophula'ria.  So  named  by  Linnaeus,  from  its 
supposed  use  in  the  cure  of  scrofula.  Nat. 
Ord.  ScrophtdariacecB. 

A  large  genus  of  mostly  hardy,  annual,  bi- 
ennial or  perennial  plants,  broadly  dispersed 
over  the  extra-tropical  regions  of  the  north- 
ern hemisphere.  None  of  the  species  are  of 
any  horticultural  interest. 

Sorophularia'ceae.  A  large,  natural  order  of 
herbs,  or  rarely  shrubs,  found  in  all  climates, 
but  mostly  in  temperate  regions.  The  order 
is  a  most  interesting  and  important  one,  con- 
tributing as  it  does  so  many  beautiful  plants 
to  our  gardens.  Many  of  the  genera  are  of 
medicinal  value,  chief  amongst  which  is  the 
Digitalis.  According  to  Bentham  and  Hooker, 
who  have  divided  the  order  into  twelve  tribes 
or  sub-orders,  it  embraces  one  hundred  and 
fiftj'-seven  genera,  and  nearly  nineteen  hun- 
dred species.  The  following  are  well-known 
examples :  Antirrhinum,  Digitalis,  Mimulus, 
Gerardia,  Euphrasia,  Calceolaria  and  Pentste- 
onon. 

Scrotiform.     Pouch-like. 

Scrub  Oak.     See  Quercus. 

Scurfy  Pea.  The  common  name  at  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope  for  the  genus  Psoralca. 

Scurvy  Grass.  The  popular  name  for  Coch- 
learia  officinalis. 

Scutate,  Scutiform.  Having  the  form  of  a 
small  round  buckler. 

Scutch  Grass.     See  Cynodon. 

Scutella'ria,  Skull-cap.  From  scidella,  a  little 
saucer;  alluding  to  the  form  of  the  calyx. 
Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 

An  extensive  genus  of  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, many  of  which  are  indigenous  to,  and 
common  throughout  the  United  States.  A 
few  of  the  species  are  suitable  for  edgings  to 
flower-beds.  The  hardy  kinds  have  their 
flowers  for  the  most  part  blue,  and  are  quite 
showy.  Among  the  tender  or  green-house 
species,  S.  Mocciana  is  bright  scarlet  and  ex- 
ceedingly handsome,  though  often  affected 
with  rust.  S.  pidchella,  another  green-house 
variety,  is  crimson.     Propagated  by  cuttings. 

Scutelliform.     Platter-shaped. 

Scutica'ria.  From  sculica,  a  whip ;  leaves  round 
as  a  whipcord.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

S.  Steelii,  one  of  the  best  known  species  of 
this  genus,  is  an  epiphytal  Orchid  from  Dem- 
erara,  with  long,  thong-like,  pendulous  leaves, 
and  large,  solitary,  dingy-yellow,  purple-spot- 
ted flowers  which  grow  on  very  short  stalks. 
There  are  a  few  other  species  of  the  same 
genei-al  character,  but  which  are  rarely  culti- 
vated. 

Scypha'nthus.  Cup  Flower.  From  scypkos,  a 
cup,  and  anthos,  a  flower ;  in  reference  to  the 
shape  of  the  flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Loasacem. 

A  small  genus  of  Chilian  and  Peruvian 
plants,  allied  to  Loasa,  but  entirely  devoid  of 


SEA 

the  stinging  properties  of  that  genus.  S.  vo- 
labilis,  introduced  from  Chili  in  1824,  but  lost 
to  cultivation  until  its  re-introduction  in  1880, 
has  large  cup-shaped  flowers  of  a  beautiful 
lively  yellow  tint.  It  is  a  very  free-growing, 
annual  climber,  well  adapted  for  covering 
trellis  work,  screens,  etc.,  having  also  the  ad- 
vantage of  giving  variety  to  those  generally 
grown.  This  plant  is  also  known  as  Grammato- 
carpus  volubilis  and  S.  grandijlorus. 

Sea  Bean.     See  Enlada,  and  Ormosia. 

Sea  Beet.     A  common  name  for  Beta  maritima. 

Sea  Buckthorn.     See  HippophcB  rhamnoides. 

Sea  Cotton  "Weed.     Diotis  maritima. 

Sea  DaflFodil.     See  Pancratium. 

Sea  Eryngo.     See  Eryngium  maritimum. 

Seafo'rthia.  Named  after  Francis  Lord  Seaforth, 
a  patron  of  botany.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

S.  elegans,  the  only  known  species,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Australia,  and  one  c>f  the  most  beauti- 
ful of  the  Palm  family.  The  plant  attains  a 
height  of  thirty  feet,  with  leaves  from  two  to 
ten  feet  in  length.  "  The  whole  plant  is  per- 
fectly smooth,  leaves  drooping  and  feather- 
like, and  is  one  of  the  finest  subjects  in  culti- 
vation for  the  conservatory,  green-house,  or 
sub-tropical  garden.  It  may  be  placed  in  the 
open  air  from  the  first  of  June  until  the  first 
of  October."  It  can  be  kept  in  the  conserva- 
tory or  ordinary  green-house  during  winter, 
and  is  of  rapid  growth.  Plants  one  year  from 
seed,  when  well  grown,  attain  a  height  of  three 
feet,  and  are  propagated  by  seeds  only.  Known 
also  as  Ptychosperma  Cunninghamiana.  Intro- 
duced in  1822.  S.  coronata,  S.  Kuhlii  and 
8.  malaiana  are  garden  names  for  Pinanga 
coronata,  P.  Kuhlii  and  P.  malaiana,  respect- 
ively. 

Sea  Heath.     See  Frankenia. 

Sea  Holly.     See  Eryngium. 

Sea  Island  Cotton,     See  Gossypium, 

Sea-Kale.  Crambe  maritima.  Sea-Kale  is  only 
cultivated  as  yet  in  the  United  States  by  pri- 
vate gentlemen  employing  gardeners,  and  is 
very  rarely  seen  in  our  markets.  Still,  there 
is  no  reason  why  it  may  not  be  cultivated  here 
equally  as  well  as  in  Europe,  as  it  grows  quite 
as  freely  during  our  summer  months  here  as 
there;  and,  being  perfectly  hardy,  it  can  be 
got  into  condition  to  blanch — which  is  the 
only  way  in  which  it  is  used — the  first  season, 
if  the  following  plain  directions  are  strictly 
followed :  Prepare  the  ground  exactly  as  if 
for  a  Cabbage  or  Cauliflower  crop,  for  it  is  a 
plant  of  the  same  family,  and  requires  V(My 
similar  treatment.  As  early  as  the  ground  is 
dry  enough  to  work  in  spring,  after  having 
well  leveled  and  raked  the  soil,  strike  out 
lines  three  feet  apart,  and  of  any  length  re- 
quired, and  at  these  lines  draw  shallow  drills, 
two  or  three  inches  deep.  In  these  drills  sow 
the  Sea-Kale  seed  about  as  thick  as  Turnip 
seed ;  say  one  ounce  to  every  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  of  drill.  After  sowing,  and  before 
covering,  tread  the  seed  in  the  drill  with  the 
foot,  and  then  cover  and  level  with  the  rake. 
After  the  plants  are  up  and  show  the  rough 
leaf,  thin  out  to  eight  or  nine  inches  apart, 
and  keep  cultivating,  so  as  to  encourage  the 
best  growth  possible  during  the  summer.  The 
plants  will  have  completed  their  growth  by 
November,    when    the  leaves  will   begin  to 


40:1 


HENDEKSONS  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


SEA 

wither  and  dry  off,  as  Ehubarb  or  Asparagus 
does.  When  the  leaves  have  become  com- 
pletely dried,  it  is  well  to  cover  with  two  or 
three  inches  of  leaves,  to  pi-event  their  being 
frozen  hard.  About  tlie  first  of  December  or 
first  of  January,  the  blanching  or  forcing  pro- 
cess ma}'  be  begun.  To  do  this,  horse  manure 
and  leaves  must  be  got  together  in  quantities 
sufficient  to  heat,  and  enough  to  cover  the 
Sea-Kale  to  be  forced,  to  a  depth  of  three  or 
four  feet ;  but,  prepai-atory  to  placing  this 
hot-bed  over  them,  boxes  one  foot  wide  and 
one  and  a  half  to  two  feet  high  should  be 
placed  along  the  rows  of  the  Sea-Kale,  so  that 
the  manure  is  kept  off  them.  Into  these 
boxes  the  tender  white  shoots  of  the  Sea-Kale 
will  be  forced  up  and  protected  from  the 
manure ;  or,  if  the  expense  of  boxes  is  not 
advisable,  strong  bush  stakes,  such  as  are 
used  for  staking  Peas,  may  be  used ;  in  fact, 
anything  that  is  strong  enough  to  prevent  the 
hot-bed  pressing  against  and  impeding  the 
growth  of  the  plants.  The  hot-bed  of  three 
or  four  feet  high,  placed  over  the  Sea-Kale 
beds  in  December  or  January,  will  produce 
the  Sea-Kale  in  the  proper  blanched  condition 
in  from  ten  to  twelve  weeks.  If  not  wanted 
early,  it  may  be  blanched  by  covering  with 
boxes,  inverted  flower-pots,  leaves,  or  any- 
thing that  will  exclude  the  light,  placed  over 
the  plants  in  spring  at  the  time  they  start  to 
grow.  It  is  also  easily  forced  during  winter 
in  the  green-liouse  or  in  houses  devoted  to  the 
forcing  of  vegetables,  etc.  (see  Crambe  and 
"  Forcing  Fruits,  Vegetables,"  etc.).  The 
young  shoots,  when  cooked,  have  a  flavor 
something  between  Asparagus  and  Cauli- 
flower, and  in  England  they  are  much  pre- 
ferred to  either. 

Sea  Lavender.  A  popular  name  for  various 
species  of  Statice. 

Sea-Leaf.     Bryophyllum  calycinum. 

Seal-FloTKrer.  A  common  name  of  Dicentra 
spectahills. 

Sea  Milkwort.     See  Glaux  maritima. 

Sea  Pink.     Armeria  maritima. 

Sea  Purslane.    See  Purslane. 

Sea  Reed.     Psamma  arenaria. 

Sea-Side  Oat.    The  genus  Uniola. 

Sea- Side  Poppy.  A  common  name  for  Glau- 
cium  flavum. 

Sea-Side  Trees  and  Plants.  As  seaside  resi- 
dences are  now  so  numerous,  and  most  of 
them  have  a  garden  and  pleasure-ground 
attached,  it  may  be  of  service  to  notice  some  of 
the  trees  and  shrubs  best  suited  for  protect- 
ing and  rendering  them  attractive.  Grigor,  in 
his  "Arboriculture,"  says  :  "The  best  shelter- 
ing nurses  amongst  deciiduous  trees  are  the 
Sallow,  Alder,  Osier  and  Birch,  and  among 
evergreens  tlie  Scotch  Pine;  but  as  these 
"nurses,"  as  they  are  termed,  would  be 
gladly  accepted  in  many  instances  as  perma- 
nent occupants,  I  would  earnestly  recommend 
them  as  particularly  fitted  for  such  situa- 
tions." In  addition  to  these,  the  following 
will  be  found  of  excellent  service  :  Tamarlx 
Gallica,  a  most  hardy  and  valuable  plant  for 
forming  screens ;  Beech,  Hornbeam,  Ailantus, 
several  of  our  native  Thorns  {Cratcegxis), 
Hazels,  Altheas,  the  Sea  Buckthorn  (Hippo- 
phoB),    the    Groundsel  Tree  (Baccharis),    the 


SEC 

Witch  or  Wych  Hazel  {Hamemalis),  Norway 
and  other  Maples,  the  Californian  and  Eu- 
lopean  Privet  (Ligustrum),  the  Box  Thorn 
{Lycium  EuropcBum)  Myrica,  various  Elms, 
Willows  and  Oaks,  White  Poplar,  Pyrus  aucu- 
paria,  and  other  species,  the  Black  Haw 
( Viburnum  prunifolium).  Elder,  etc.  Many 
shrubs,  such  as  Weigelias,  Ghent  Azaleas, 
Berberis,  Mahonia.  Ceanothus,  Japan  Quince, 
Forsythia,  the  Oak-leaved  Hydrangea  {Hy- 
drangea qaercifolia),  etc.,  will  be  found  very 
serviceable,  especially  if  partially  sheltereil. 
Of  evergreens  the  most  useful  are  the  White 
Spruce  {Abies  alba).  Red  Cedar,  White,  Aus- 
trian and  Scotch  Pines,  Pinus  Cembia,  Rho- 
dodendrons, Arbor-vitees,  and  Ketinosporas. 

Sea  Star-wort.  A  common  name  for  Aster 
Tripolium. 

Sea  Thrift.     Statice  Limonium. 

Sea  "Weed.  A  general  name  for  the  marin(^ 
Alga. 

Sea  "Weed.    Glazier's.     Zostera  Mediterranea. 

Sea  Weed.     Gulf.     Sargassum  bacciferum. 

Sebae'a.  Named  afcer  Albert  Seba,  1665-1736,  a 
botanical  author  of  Amsterdam. 

A  genus  of  Gentianacece,  natives  of  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope  and  of  New  South  Wales.  They 
are  erect  annual  herbs,  with  numerous  whit- 
ish or  yellow  flowers,  borne  generally  in 
branching  corymbose  cymes.  The  species  in 
cultivation  are  elegant  plants,  and  can  be 
easily  raised  from  seed  in  a  green-house  or 
hot-bed,  and  planted  out  for  summer  bloom- 
ing. 

Seca'le.  Rye.  An  ancient  name,  said  to  be 
derived  from  seco,  to  cut.  Nat.  Ord.  Grami- 
nacecB. 

A  genus  of  grasses  allied  to  Wheat  and  Bar- 
ley. S.  cereale  is  the  well-known  grain,  Rye. 
Its  native  country,  as  in  the  case  of  the  other 
most  important  cereals,  is  somewhat  doubtful, 
but  it  is  said  to  be  found  wild  in  the  desert 
region  near  the  Caspian  Sea  and  on  the  high- 
est mountains  of  the  Crimea.  It  has  long 
been  cultivated  as  a  cereal  plant  in  Europe 
and  Asia,  and  it  is  of  considerable  importance 
in  the  grain  markets  of  this  country.  Its  cul- 
tivation does  not  extend  as  far  north  as  that 
of  Barley,  but  it  grows  in  regions  too  cold  for 
Wheat,  and  on  soils  too  poor  and  sandy  for 
any  other  grain.  It  will,  however,  thi'ivewell 
in  a  very  hot  climate,  always  succeeding  best 
in  a  light  sandy  soil.  Of  this  species  there 
are  two  prominent  varieties,  known  to  farm- 
ers as  Winter  and  Spring  Rye :  the  difference 
is  due  to  cultivation  mainly.  The  variety 
most  commonly  cultivated  is  known  as  Win- 
ter Rye ;  and  this  is  to  be  preferred,  whether 
it  is  sown  for  grain  or  the  straw.  Its  charac- 
ters as  a  variety  are  so  little  fixed  that  it  may 
be  sown  at  almost  any  season  of  the  year, 
with  the  hope  of  getting  a  crop  in  the  proper 
season  for  it,  either  of  grain  or  green  fodder. 
It  is  far  less  sensitive  than  Wheat  to  the  cold 
of  winter,  while  its  vegetation  is  more  rapid, 
so  that  in  high  northern  latitudes  it  is  often  a 
more  important  crop. 

Secamo'ne.  Altered  from  Squamona,  the  Ara- 
bic name  of  8.  ^gyptica.  Nat.  Ord.  Asclepia- 
daceoe. 

A  genus  containing  nearly  thirty  species  of 
climbing  or  decumbent  shrubs,  natives  of 
South   Africa,   India  and   Australia.       Three 


SEDUM  CCEEULEtTM. 


SEAFORTHIA  ELEGANS, 


SEDUM  8IEB0LDI. 


SESBAfOA  UACBOOABFA. 


VIEW  OF  A  SEED  FIELX)  OF  ONIONS. 


^ERD    BOXES.  N0.3. — shows  the  plants  tbansplanted, 

NO.   1. — SHOWING   seed  as   JUST    SOWN    IN  NO.     2. — SHOWS    SEEDS.     8DCH   AS  PANBIES,  THE   SAME  SHALLOW   BOXES  BEING 

SHALLOW  BOXES  (2  INCHES  DEEP).  3  OB  4   WEEKS  AFTEB  SOWING.  USED  IN  EACH  CASE. 


6KSD-TESTING  ORKSNBOUflliL 


AOS 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


405 


SEC 

species  have  been  introduced,  but  are  proba- 
bly lost  to  cultivation.  Some  of  the  species 
contain  an  acrid  principle,  which  makes  them 
useful  as  medicines.  Smyrna  Scammony  is 
obtained  from  an  Egyptian  species. 

Se'cateur.  Small  hand-pruning  shears,  for- 
merly used  exclusively  in  France,  but  now 
manufactured  here  and  in  general  use.  They 
can  be  used  much  more  expeditiously^  and  to 
better  advantage  than  a  pi-uning  knife  for 
shortening  strong  shoots  on  trees,  pruning 
roses,  shrubs,  etc. 

Se'chium.  Choko.  From  sekiso,  to  fatten  ;  the 
fruit  serves  to  fatten  hogs  in  the  mountains 
and  inland  parts  of  Jamaica,  where  the  plant 
is  much  cultivated.     Nat.  Ord.  Cucurbitacece. 

S.  edule,  the  type  of  this  genus,  is  an 
annual,  a  native  of  the  West  Indies,  where  it 
is  extensively  grown  for  its  fruit,  which  is 
considered  extremely  wholesome,  and  is  com- 
monly used  as  an  article  of  food  by  all  classes. 
The  plant  is  climbing,  supporting  itself  by 
tendrils.  The  fruit  is  about  four  inches 
long,  in  substance  between  succulent  and 
fleshy,  and  is  exceedingly  nutritious.  Besides 
its  utility  as  food  for  man,  it  is  much  used  for 
fattening  animals.  The  roots  are  large  and 
in  substance  resemble  the  Yam;  they  are 
also  used  as  an  article  of  food. 

Secretion.  Any  organic  but  unorganized  sub- 
stance produced  in  the  interior  of  plants. 

Section.  A  term  generally  applied  in  classifi- 
cation to  a  division  in  the  arrangement  of 
species,  genera,  or  other  groups. 

Secund.  Having  all  the  flowers,  leaves,  or 
other  organs,  turned  to  one  side. 

Securida'ca.  From  securis,  a  hatchet ;  alluding 
to  the  form  of  the  wing  at  the  end  of  the  pod. 
Nat.  Ord.  Polygalacea. 

A  genus  of  trailing  shrubs,  mostly  natives 
of  tropical  America,  Asia  and  Africa.  The 
fruits, which  are  remarkable  in  the  familj',  are 
very  much  like  one  of  the  two-winged  carpels 
which  make  up  the  fruit  of  a  Maple.  The 
Buaze  Fibre-plant,  S.  longipedunndata,  spoken 
of  by  Dr.  Livingston  in  his  "  Travels,"  belongs 
here,  and  has  been  described  and  figured  in 
the  botany  of  "Peters'  Travels  in  Mozam- 
bique "  by  Dr.  Klotzsch,  under  the  name  of 
Lophostylis  pallida.  The  fibre  resembles  flax, 
and  some  of  it  brought  home  by  Dr.  Living- 
ston, when  tested,  was  pronounced  equal  to 
flax,  worth  $250  to  $300  per  ton.  Many  of  the 
South  American  species  ramble  to  a  great 
height  over  other  trees,  and  are  beautiful 
objects  when  in  flower. 

Securi'gera.  From  securis,  a  hatchet,  and  gero. 
to  bear ;  referring  to  the  shape  of  the  pods. 
Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoHCB. 

S.  Coronilla,  Axe-weed  or  Hatchet  Vetch, 
the  only  species,  is  a  native  of  the  south  of 
Europe.  It  is  a  hardy  annual,  bearing  pedun- 
cles of  nodding  yellow  flowers,  and  is  of  easy 
cultivation,  only  requiring  to  be  sown  in  the 
the  open  border  in  spring. 

Securi'nega.  From  securis,  a  hatchet,  and 
nega,  to  refuse ;  in  reference  to  the  extreme 
hardness  of  the  wood.  Nat.  Ord.  Euphor- 
biacecB. 

A  genus  of  about  eight  species,  only  one  of 
which  calls  for  notice  here.  S.  durissima,  the 
Otaheite  Myrtle,  the  "  Bois  dur  "  of  the  colo- 
nists, was  introduced  from  Mauritius  in  1793. 


SEE 

Noted  principally  for  its  exceedingly  hard 
wood,  it  is  seldom  found  outside  of  a  botanic 
garden,  and  is  readily  propagated  by  cuttings 
of  the  half-ripened  wood. 
Sedges.  A  common  name  for  the  Cyperacece,  of 
which  Carex  is  the  principal  genus. 

Sedum.  Stonecrop.  From  sedere,  to  sit;  the 
plants  are  found  growing  upon  stones,  rocks, 
walls  and  roofs  of  houses.  Nat.  Ord.  Crassu- 
lacece. 

A  very  extensive  genus  of  succulent,  annual, 
hardy,  herbaceous,  perennial  and  evergreen 
plants,  common  to  almost  every  country  and 
climate.  The  hardy  species  of  this  genus  are 
well  adapted  for  ornamenting  rock-work. 
Some  of  the  species  are  remarkable  for  their 
variegated  foliage,  of  which  S.  Sieboldi  varie- 
gatum  is  one  of  the  prettiest.  It  grows  about 
one  foot  high,  the  leaves  being  blotched  with 
yellow.  It  is  hardy,  and  is  a  variety  of  >S.  Sie- 
boldi, a  native  of  Japan.  There  are  a  number 
of  beautiful  species  indigenous  to  this  coun- 
try. All  the  species  are  of  the  easiest  culture, 
and  maj^  be  grown  from  cuttings  put  in  the 
place  where  they  are  to  grow,  or  by  division. 
Nearly  all  the  species  are  worthy  of  a  place  in 
the  garden.  S.  Telephium  is  the  common 
Live-forever  of  our  gardens,  a  native  of 
Europe,  but  has  escaped  from  cultivation  and 
become  naturalized  in  many  localities.  Most 
of  the  species  are,  from  their  succulent  char- 
acter and  resisting  drought,  well  adapted  for 
vases,  or  for  covering  rough  walls  or  rocks. 
S.  acre,  a  beautiful  yellow-flowered  variety,  is 
a  well-known  type  of  the  genus,  and  its 
variety  S.  acre  variegatum  is  even  more  beau- 
tiful. S.  albida  has  beautiful  white  flowers 
early  in  spring.  Propagated  by  cuttings  or 
division. 

Seed  Boxes.     See  "  Propagation  by  Seeds." 

Seed  Drill.  This  is  the  implement  used  in 
sowing  fleld  crops  of  Onions,  Carrots,  Tur- 
nips, etc.  It  can  be  adjusted  so  as  to  sow  all 
sizes  of  seeds.  To  use  the  seed  drill  success- 
fully, the  ground  must  be  soft  and  smooth. 
It  is  never  safe  to  use  it  in  harsh,  clayey  or 
stony  soils.  By  its  use  only  about  one-lourth 
the  quantity  of  seed  is  required  than  when 
sown  by  hand;  and  the  plants  coming  up  in 
less  numbers,  they  are  easier  thinned  out.  It 
is  rarely  used  in  small  gardens. 

Seeds.  Geogkaphical  Distribution  of  the 
Localities  Wheee  they  are  Grown  in  the 
United  States.  The  subjoined  article  from 
the  Report  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture 
at  Washington  for  1878  was  written  by  us  in 
that  year,  and  we  believe  it  will  be  found  to 
be  of  sufficient  interest  and  importance  to 
warrant  a  place  here.  It  is  entitled,  "LocaijI- 
TiES  Best  Suited  for  Maturing  Seed,"  and 
is  as  follows : 

Seed-growing  is  now  getting  to  be  one  of 
the  industries  of  the  United  States,  as  it  has 
long  been  of  Europe.  Our  great  vairiety  of 
latitude,  soil  and  climate  is  such  that  in  many 
things  we  are  now  supplying  Europe  with 
that  which  a  few  years  ago  we  imported ;  and 
I  think  it  is  safe  to  predict  that  in  a  majority 
of  the  seeds  of  the  garden  the  balance  of  trade 
will  ultimately  be  in  our  favor,  as  it  is  now 
with  a  majority  of  the  seeds  of  the  farm.  I 
say  a  majority,  for  as  seed-growing  is  a  mat- 
ter of  latitude,  there  always  will  be  some 


406 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SEE 

kinds  that  will  attain  perfection  better  in 
Europe  than  America,  particularly  such  seeds 
as  require  a  low  temperature  for  pei'fect 
development.  Hence,  whenever  a  full  variety 
of  seeds  is  attempted  to  be  grown  in  any  one 
district,  either  here  or  in  Europe,  some  crops 
will  be  a  complete  failure  and  many  partially 
so,  for  we  might  as  well  attempt  to  "accli- 
matize "  the  white  bear  of  Iceland  to  the 
jungles  of  Africa,  or  the  Bengal  tiger  to  the 
forests  of  Norway,  as  to  perfectly  develop 
the  seed  of  Oats  in  our  Southern  States,  or 
the  seed  of  Maize  in  northern  Europe.  Still, 
we  find  these  attempts  are  made,  and  will  be 
made  by  inexperienced  cultivators  of  seeds, 
resulting  not  only  in  ultimate  failure  to  the 
grower,  but  also  seriously  injuring  those  to 
whom  such  undeveloped  seeds  are  sold.  When 
seeds  are  grown  in  a  latitude  unsuited  to 
their  development,  they  will  invariably  per- 
petuate weak  progeny.  A  marked  case  in 
point  is  the  Oat,  a  grain  requiring  a  low  tem- 
perature for  perfect  development ;  hence  the 
superiority  of  the  Scotch  or  IiishOats  over 
those  grown  in  the  hot  and  dry  summers  of 
the  United  Slates.  The  average  weight  per 
bushel  of  Scotch  Oats  may  be  given  as  forty- 
four  pounds,  while  the  average  of  Oats  grown 
in  the  United  States  is  about  thirty-two 
pounds  per  bushel;  yet  we  find  that  Scotch 
Oats  weighing  forty-four  pounds  per  bushel, 
when  sown  in  the  Middle  States  under  favor- 
able conditions,  deteriorate  to  forty  pounds 
per  bushel  during  the  first  season  "from  the 
imported  seed ;  that  product  being  again 
sown,  they  still  further  deteriorate  to  thirt}-- 
five  or  thirty-six  pounds  per  bush^'l,  which 
again  being  sown  the  third  year,  falls  down 
to  the  normal  condition  of  the  American  Oats, 
say  tiiirty  or  thirty-two  pounds  per  bushel. 
These  facts  suggest  the  query  whether  it 
would  not  pay  our  faruiers  to  import  their 
seed  Oats  in  order  to  get  this  improved 
quality.  In  my  opinion  there  is  no  other  way 
to  do  it ;  for  no  matter  how  carefully  the 
selection  of  seeds  is  made,  deterioration  will 
take  place  when  the  crop  is  grown  under  cir- 
cumstances uncongenial  to  it.  A  lifetime 
spent  in  the  practical  study  of  horticulture, 
which  is  close  akin  to  agriculture,  has  forced 
me  to  the  conclusion  that  there  is  no  such 
thing  as  acclimatization  of  plants.  The  Maize 
of  the  American  continent  resists  all  attempts 
to  bring  the  crop  to  full  maturity  in  the  cli- 
mate of  Great  Britain,  while  the  Oat  {Avena 
sativa)  gives  compai-atively  abortive  results 
when  grown  in  our  serai-tropical  summers. 
Hundreds  of  instances  in  families  of  plants 
grown  for  their  fruit-;,  flowers,  or  seeds,  could 
be  given  to  show  that,  wiienever  any  attempt 
is  made  to  change  characteristics  incident  to 
their  natural  origin,  no  perceptible  advance  is 
ever  made.  AVe  all  know  that  in  attempts  to 
acclimatize  the  Fig,  the  Olive,  and  the  Orange 
tree  in  the  open  air  in  any  locality  where  the 
thermometer  falls  below  zero,  the  complete 
destruction  of  the  trees  would  be  the  result, 
unless  artificially  protected.  This  result  is 
marked  and  complete,  and  is  universally 
known,  even  to  such  as  have  not  made  these 
matters  a  special  study.  But  every  cultivator 
of  large  experience  knows  tliat  the  same  rule 
runs  through  all  grades  of  vegetation,  and 
that  the  hardening  or  acclimatizing  of  plants 
has  not  advanced,  as  far  as  the  records  go. 


SEE 

We  remember  when  the  Chinese  Wistaria  was 
grown  only  in  our  green-houses ;  now  it  is 
seen  everywhere  as  a  hardy  vine ;  but  it  was 
in  ignorance  of  its  hardy  nature  that  it  was 
ever  protected,  for  it  was  equally  as  "hardy" 
the  day  of  its  first  introduction  as  it  is  to-day. 
The  garden  and  farm  seeds  in  general  use  in 
the  United  States,  I  have  said,  are  mainly 
grown  here,  though  some  are  better  grown 
in  other  countries.  I  will  briefly  state  the 
localities  so  far  found  to  be  best  suited  to  the 
greatest  development  of  the  different  kinds, 
and  the  sources  from  which  seedsmen  draw 
their  supplies.  I  am  indebted  for  much 
information  on  this  subject  to  Mr  William 
Meggat,  seed-grower,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  who 
has  given  this  subject  special  study  for  the 
past  twenty  years. 

Asparagus  is  grown  in  New  Jersey,  on 
Long  Island,  and  in  other  portions  of  New 
York,  and  probably  other  parts  of  the  North- 
ern and  Middle  States. 

Beets  are  grown  in  Central  New  York, 
Pennsylvania  and  Connecticut.  The  Mangel 
and  Sugar  Beets  are  as  yet  mostly  imported. 

Beans  (Bush)  are  mostly  grown  in  New 
York  State,  though  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and 
Pennsylvania  are  beginning  to  grow  consider- 
able quantities. 

Beans  (Pole)  are  grown  in  Connecticut, 
New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and 
Delaware,  and  States  further  south. 

The  Cabbage,  one  of  our  most  important 
crops,  gives  its  best  development  near  the 
sea-coast.  That  grown  on  rich  soils  inland  is 
never  so  satisfactory.  Hence  our  market 
gardeners  and  farmers  in  the  vicinity  of  New 
York,  from  experience  dearly  bought,  prefer 
their  Cabb.age  seed  for  an  early  crop  to  be 
always  grown  on  the  easterly  sidn  of  Long 
Island,  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  to  tliat  from  any 
other  source.  There  is  considerable  grown  in 
Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  Connecticut  and 
Rhode  Island,  but  such  has  never  come  to  be 
held  in  any  favor  by  our  market  gardeners  in 
the  vicinity  of  New  York,  who,  perhaps,  are 
as  critical  in  such  matters  as  anywhere  in  the 
world.  But  little  Cabbage  seed  is  now  im- 
ported, though  it  is  sold  much  cheaper  in 
Europe  than  here  ;  but  the  crop  is  too  impor- 
tant to  risk  any  consideration  of  price,  for  we 
find  that  what  are  grown  as  the  favorite 
A'arieties  in  Europe  are  not  to  be  compared, 
for  our  purpose,  with  those  we  have  ourselves 
originated  here. 

CaulifLiOwer  Seed  is  all  imported  from 
Europe.  All  attempts  that  we  have  made  to 
grow  the  seed  here  have  proved  nearly  abort- 
ive. It  requires  a  cool  and  rather  moist 
climate,  and  even  under  the  best  conditions 
seeds  sparingly.  It  has  recently  been  tried  in 
California,  but,  so  far,  with  only  partial  success. 

Celery  is  another  important  crop  of  which 
the  seed  is  raised  almost  exclusively  here  ;  at 
least  that  in  use  among  commercial  garden- 
ers, many  of  them  growing  a  few  pounds  for 
their  own  use  annually  at  five  times  the  cost 
they  could  buy  imported  seed  for ;  the  danger 
being  so  great  of  getting  a  spurious  sort  that 
they  prefer  doing  so  rather  than  run  the  risk. 
Now,  however,  as  the  varieties  best  suited 
for  our  climate  become  known,  it  is  largely 
grown  by  our  regular  seed-growers  in  New 
York,  Pennsylvania,  Connecticut  and  New 
Jersey. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


407 


SEE 

CucUMBEKS  are  now  grown  entirely  here, 
except  a  few  of  the  fancy  sorts.  The  best 
seed  is  grown  on  the  maiden  soil  of  the  prai- 
ries ;  and  though  still  grown  to  some  extent  in 
Pennsylvania,  Connecticut,  New  Jersey  and 
New  York ;  Illinois  and  Michigan  will,  in  all 
probability,  eventually  be  the  section  used  to 
grow  all  species  of  the  so-called  "vine" 
family  of  vegetables. 

The  Carrot  is  grown  almost  exclusively  in 
the  States  of  New  York,  Rhode  Island,  Massa- 
chusetts and  Connecticut. 

The  Egg-plant  as  yet,  is  mainly  grown  in 
Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  New  York  and 
Maryland,  but,  being  a  plant  of  tropical  origin, 
the  seeds,  no  doubt,  would  be  better  matured 
if  grown  further  south. 

The  Endive  is  all  imported  from  Germany 
and  France. 

The  Leek  is  partly  grown  here  in  the  East- 
ern and  Middle  States,  though  some  is  also 
imported.  The  American  grown  is  found  to 
have  the  greater  vitality. 

Lettuce,  when  grown  in  the  Atlantic  States, 
matures  best  in  the  vicinity  of  our  large 
lakes,  in  New  York,  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and 
Illinois.  California,  however,  is  better  fitted 
for  seeding  Lettuce  than  any  of  the  Atlantic 
States,  and  large  quantities  are  already  being 
grown  there.  Quantities  are  yet  imported, 
but  in  this  case,  as  in  the  case  of  Cabbage  and 
Celery,  market  gardeners  rarely  risk  imported 
Lettuce  until  first  proving  the  variety  to  be 
correct. 

Melon  (Nutmeg)  is  grown  the  same  as  the 
Cucumber. 

Melon  (Water)  is  grown  the  same  as  the 
Cucumber,  though  rather  more  of  it  is  grown 
in  States  farther  south. 

Okra  is  of  tropical  origin,  and  the  seed  is 
best  grown  in  the  Southern  States. 

Onion  is  one  of  the  most  important  of  all 
our  vegetable  crops  grown  from  seed,  and  as 
it  rapidly  loses  its  vitality,  being  of  little  value 
the  second  ySar,  it  is  now  almost  entirely 
grown  hei-e.  The  seed  from  which  to  grow 
Onions  of  a  marketable  size  is  raised  mainly 
in  Connecticut,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island 
and  Michigan;  while  that  raised  from  which 
to  grow  Onion  sets  is  mostly  grown  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  New  Jersey.  California  has  be- 
gun to  grow  Onion  seed  to  some  extent,  but 
as  the  quality  of  the  seed  greatly  determines 
the  weight  of  the  crop,  confidence  is  not  yet 
fully  established  in  the  seed  grown  there. 

Parsley  is  nearly  all  imported,  as  the 
plant  is  not  quite  hardy  enough  to  stand  our 
northern  winters,  while  the  hot  summer  of 
our  Southern  States  is  against  its  maturing 
there. 

The  Parsnip  is  grown  mainly  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, New  York,  Connecticut  and  Rhode 
Island. 

Peas,  a  most  important  crop,  are  mainly 
grown  in  Canada  and  in  New  York  State,  on 
the  immediate  line  of  Lake  Ontario.  A  few 
of  the  newer  sorts  are  imported  from  Britain, 
but  the  great  bulk  used  are  grown  as  stated 
above. 

Pepper  is  grown  mainly  in  New  Jersey, 
Pennsylvania  and  New  York,  but  may  be 
grown  almost  anywhere. 

Radish  is  nearly  all  imported,  or  should 
be ;  for  when  grown  in  this  climate,  like  Oats, 
it  degenerates  very  fast. 


SEE 

Salsify  can  be  grown  anywhere  where 
Lettuce  is  grown,  but  as  there  is  no  danger  of 
mixing  varieties,  it  is  cheaper  to  import  it 
from  Prance. 

Spinach  is  nearly  all  imported  from  Eng- 
land, France,  or  Germany,  as  it  cannot  be  so 
profitably  grown  here,  for  the  same  reason 
that  we  cannot  profitably  grow  Parsley,  main- 
ly because  our  winters  in  the  north  are  often 
such  as  to  kill  off  the  plants,  while  in  the 
southern  section  the  summers  are  too  hot  for 
maturing  the  seed. 

Tobacco  is  grown  in  Virginia,  Connecticut 
and  Kentucky  in  the  United  States,  and  in 
Cuba  and  other  tropical  latitudes.  It  is  some- 
times believed  to  be  a  peculiarity  of  Tobacco 
that  location  changes  the  character  of  the 
variety.  This  we  are  inclined  to  doubt,  and 
believe  that  the  varieties  grown  in  Cuba,  Con- 
necticut and  Virginia,  are  botanically  distinct, 
and  are  such  as  have  been  selected  as  the 
kinds  best  suited  to  the  sections  in  which  they 
are  grown. 

Tomato  seeds  are  mostly  grown  in  New 
Jersey,  Connecticut,  Michigan  and  Illinois; 
but  they  may  be  grown  with  nearly  the  same 
success  in  almost  all  the  States  of  the  Union. 

Turnip  seeds  are  gi-own  in  Pennsylvania, 
Rhode  Island,  Connecticut  and  Michigan.  A 
little  is  grown  in  Virginia  and  Maryland,  but 
it  is  less  popular  than  that  grown  farther 
north  ;  not  much  is  now  imported. 

Pearl  Millet  is  now  creating  a  wide- 
spi'ead  interest.  As  the  plant  is  tender,  we 
are  inclined  to  think  the  seeds  will  be  grown 
exclusively  in  Florida,  Georgia,  the  Carolinas 
and  other  Southern  States,  as  a  long  season 
and  high  temperature  are  necessary  to  fully 
mature  the  seed,  though  the  plant  as  a  fodder- 
plant  does  well  in  any  section  where  Maize 
will  grow.  We  find  that  under  the  most 
favorable  conditions  the  seed  does  not  ripen 
with  us  in  New  Jersey. 

Hungarian  Millet  or  Hungarian  Grass 
is  entirely  different  from  Pearl  Millet,  bearing 
no  resemblance  to  it.  The  plant  is  hardy. 
Seeds  are  grown  in  New  York,  New  Jersey 
and  in  many  of  the  Western  States. 

Timothy  Grass  is  grown  largely  in  Illinois, 
Wisconsin  and  New  York. 

Blue  Grass  is  grown  in  Kentucky,  Ohio, 
and  other  Western  States. 

Red  Top  is  grown  in  New  Jersey,  Ken- 
tucky, Ohio  and  Rhode  Island. 

Orchard  Grass  is  grown  in  Kentucky, 
Ohio  and  the  Western  States. 

Red  Clover  is  grown  in  Michigan,  New 
York,  Ohio,  etc. 

White  Clover  is  grown  in  Wisconsin,  Illi- 
nois and  Ohio,  but  the  greater  portion  of  it 
is  yet  imported  from  Germany  and  France. 

Lucerne  or  Alfalfa  is  grown  in  Cali- 
fornia mainly. 

These  localities  are  now  the  principal  ones 
where  seeds  of  commerce  are  grown ;  but 
every  year,  to  some  extent,  these  latitudes 
are  changing,  as  we  find  that  other  latitudes 
are  better  suited  for  special  kinds.  For  ex- 
ample, the  long,  dry  seasons  of  California  are 
found  to  mature  many  kinds  of  seeds  far 
better  than  any  section  yet  tried  in  the  Atlan- 
tic States,  particularly  so  in  many  of  the  more 
delicate  kinds  of  flower  seeds,  that  are  yet 
nearly  exclusively  grown  in  Germany  and 
France,  and  sold  to  us  at  rates  of  many  times 


408 


HENDEKSON'S  HA.NDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SEE 

their  weight  in  gold.  Tens  of  thousands  of 
acres  are  devoted  to  the  raising  of  flower 
seeds  in  southern  Europe,  whicii  could  proba- 
bly be  far  better  done  in  California ;  but  the 
industry  must  be  one  of  slow  growth,  for 
seeds  are  different  from  nearly  all  other  mer- 
cantile commodities,  inasmuch  as  no  exami- 
nation can  certainly  tell  whether  or  not  seed 
will  germinate,  or,  if  it  does  germinate,  can 
it  be  known  whether  it  is  the  variety  specified 
until  it  matures ;  hence  seed  merchants  dare 
not  purchase  from  the  growers  until  not  only 
their  honesty,  but,  what  is  of  equal  impor- 
tance, their  knowledge  of  the  business  in  which 
they  are  engaged  is  assured. 

Seed-sowing.      See  "Propagation   by  Seeds." 

Seema'nnia.  Named  after  Berthold  Seemann, 
a  botanist  and  traveler,  1825-1871.  Nat.  Ord. 
Gesneracem. 

S.  sylvatica,  the  only  described  species,  is  a 
pubescent,  stove-house,  perennial  plant,  with 
a  creeping  rhizome,  closely  allied  to  Achi- 
menes  and  Isolotna.  It  bears  bright  scarJet 
flowers  on  solitary  axillary  pedicels,  and 
requires  the  same  treatment  as  Geanera.  It 
was  introduced  from  Peru  in  1875. 

Segar  Plant.     See  Cuphea  platycentra. 

Segment.  One  of  the  divisions  into  which  a 
leaf  or  other  flat  organ  may  be  cut. 

Sego.  A  common  name  for  Calochortus  Nut- 
tallii. 

Segregate.    Separated  from  each  other. 

Selagiua'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  small  shrubs, 
or  annual  or  perennial  herbs,  with  alternate 
leaves,  and  blue,  white,  or  rarely  yellow  flow- 
ers, in  terminal  heads  or  spikes,  closely 
allied  to  Verbenacea.  There  are  about  a 
dozen  genera,  of  which  Globularia  is  Euro- 
pean, Gymandra  from  temperate  or  northern 
Asia  and  northwestern  America,  and  all  the 
others,  including  Selago  itself,  from  southern 
Africa. 

Selagine'lla.  A  diminutive  of  Selago,  an  an- 
cient name  of  a  Lycopodiura,  from  which 
this  genus  has  been  separated.  Nat.  Ord. 
Lycopodiacece. 

A  genus  of  Club  Mosses,  formerly  included 
in  the  genus  Lycopodium,  and  differing  only 
by  their  two-ranked  stems  and  the  form  of 
the  fruit.  Many  of  the  species  are  very  beau- 
tiful, and  are  favorite  plants  for  the  fern- 
house  or  Wardian  case.  S.  lepidophylla  has 
the  fronds  curiously  curled  in  and  contracted 
when  dry,  so  as  to  form  a  ball  somewhat  like 
the  Kose  of  Jericho,  but  expands  again  when 
moistened.  It  is  commonly  called  the  Resur- 
rection  Plant  and  is  found  from  Texas  to 
Peru.  S.  serpens  (syn.  mutabilis)  has  the  re- 
markable property  of  changing  its  color  dur- 
ing the  day;  in  the  morning  it  is  a  bright 
green,  but  as  the  day  advances  it  gradually 
becomes  pale,  and  at  night  resumes  its 
deeper  tint.  S.  Kraxissiana  is  a  well- 
known  species  most  useful  for  decorative 
purposes,  and  is  now  used  in  large  quanti- 
ties by  florists  as  a  ground-work  for  elab- 
orate designs  of  cut  flowers,  dinner-table 
decoration,  etc.  S.  uncinata  (better  kno^wi 
as  S.  coesia)  has  a  beautiful  metallic  lustre, 
resembling  the  tints  of  a  Peacock's  feathers. 
S.  Wildenovii  (syn.  S.  ccBsia  arborea)  has  the 
same  beautiful  shades  of  color  as  the  preced- 
ing, but  is  a  climbing  plant  of  grand  propor- 


SEM 

tions.  These  two  should  be  grown  in  a  hot- 
house. The  nature  of  all  demands  a  moist 
atmosphere  and  partial  shade.  S-  atroviridis, 
S  Braunii,  S.  caulescens,  S.  cuspidata,  S. 
erythropiis,  S.  Galeotti,  S.  hcematodes,  S.  Icevi- 
gata,  S.  Martensii,  S.  Poulteri,  S.  Wallichii, 
and  a  number  of  other  species  are  well- 
known  green-house  or  plant-stove  decorative 
plants,  and  are  indispensable  in  every  collec- 
tion. All  the  species  are  readily  increased  by 
cuttings,  which  strike  root  readily. 

Sela'go.  From  the  Celtic  sel,  sight,  and  jack, 
salutary ;  supposed  medicinal  qualities.  Nat. 
Ord.  SelaginacecE. 

A  veiy  pretty  genus  of  low-growing,  hardy, 
green-house  shrubs  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  with  beautiful  spikes  of  rose-colored, 
yellow,  violet,  or  white  flowers.  They  require 
but  little  care  or  attention,  flowering  freely 
in  early  summer,  and  are  propagated  by  cut- 
tings. 

Sele'nia.  Probably  from  Selene,  the  moon ; 
connection  not  obvious.  Nat.  Ord.  CrucifercB. 
A  small  genus  of  annual  herbs,  natives  of 
Texas  and  Arkansas.  S.  aurea  has  the  habit 
of  Brassica,  the  stem  three-edged,  the  leaves 
pinnatifid,  and  the  flowers  golden  yellow,  in 
terminal  racemes.  It  is  well  worthy  of  culti- 
vation, both  for  the  color  and  odor  of  the 
flowers,  as  well  as  for  the  considerable  time 
it  remains  in  blossom.  It  requires  similar 
treatment  to  other  hardy  annuals. 

Selenipe'dium.  South  Ameiican  Lady's  Slip- 
per.- From  selenis,  a  little  crescent,  and  pe- 
dion,  a  slipper ;  in  allusion  to  the  crescentic, 
slipper-shaped  labellum.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchid- 
acew. 

A  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids,  differing 
from  Cypripediurn  in  having  a  three-celled 
and  three-furrowed,  or  three-lobed,  ovary. 
They  have  been  introduced  chiefly  from  the 
mountainous  parts  of  South  America,  and 
require  the  same  general  treatment  as  Cypri- 
pediums,  from  which  genus  they  have  been 
removed  by  Eeichenbach. 

Self-heal.    See  Prunella. 

Seli'num.  From  Selinon,  the  Greek  name  for 
Parsley ;  applied  to  this  genus  on  account  of 
the  resemblance  in  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord. 
Umbelliferce. 

A  genus  of  about  twenty-flve  species  of 
mostly  hardy  perennial  plants,  natives  of  the 
Northern  Hemisphere.  The  species  are  of 
little  horticultural  interest. 

Semeca'rpus.  Marking  Nut-tree.  From  seme- 
ion,  a  mark,  and  karpos,  fruit ;  the  black, 
acrid  juice  of  the  nut  is  used  by  the  natives 
for  marking  cotton  cloths.  Nat.  Ord.  Aiiacar- 
diacexB. 

A  small  genus  of  East  Indian  evergreen 
trees,  the  unripe  fruit  of  which  is  employed 
in  making  a  kind  of  ink.  The  hard  shell  of 
the  fruit  contains  a  corrosive  juice,  which  is 
employed  externally  by  the  natives  for  sprains 
and  rheumatic  affections.  When  dry  it  forms 
a  black  varnish,  much  used  in  India,  and, 
among  other  purposes,  it  is  employed,  mixed 
with  pitch  and  tar,  in  the  calking  of  ships. 
The  seeds,  called  Malacca  Beans  or  Marsh 
Nuts,  are  eaten,  and  are  said  to  stimulate  the 
mental  powers  and  especially  the  memory. 

Semeia'ndra,  From  semeion,  a  mark,  signal, 
an  aner,   andros,  a  male;    in  allusion  to  the 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


409 


SEM 

conspicuous  shape  of  one  of  the  stamens. 
Nat.  Old.  OnogracecB. 

A  small  genus  of  slender,  pubescent,  green- 
house shrubs,  inhabiting  the  mountains  of 
Mexico.  One  of  the  species,  S.  grandiflora, 
has  been  introduced,  and  forms  a  handsome 
plant,  requiring  culture  similar  to  the  Fuch- 
sia. It  has  large,  handsome,  showy,  scarlet 
flowers,  in  axillary  peduncles ;  the  leaves  are 
ovate,  or  ovate-lanceolate,  tapering  below, 
and  acuminate  at  the  apex.  It  was  intro- 
duced from  Mexico  in  1853  and  is  increased 
readily  by  cuttings. 

Se'mele.  The  name  of  the  mother  of  Bacchus, 
after  whom  the-genus  was  named.  Nat.  Ord. 
Liliacece. 

S.  androgyna,  the  only  described  species, 
is  a  climbing  shrub  with  scale  like  leaves, 
with  cladodia  (branches  taking  the  form  of 
leaves),  from  the  side  of  which  the  flowers  are 
produced.  It  thrives  in  any  rich  soil  and  is 
increased  by  division  of  the  roots.  It  was  in- 
trodmjed  from  the  Canary  Islands  in  1713. 
Syn.  Ruscfiisandrogynus. 

Semi.  This  term,  used  in  Latin  compounds, 
signifies  half ;  as  semi-amplexicaul,  half-stem- 
clasping;  semi-hastate,  hastate  on  one  side 
only,  etc. 

Sempervirens.     Evergreen. 

Sempervi'vum.  Housel-eek.  From  semper 
vivo,  to  live  forever ;  referring  to  the  tenacity 
of  life  of  these  plants.  Nat.  Ord.  Crassulacem. 
A  genus  of  shrubby,  herbaceous,  succulent 
plants,  inhabiting  the  mountains  of  central 
and  southern  Europe,  Madeira,  Asia  Minor, 
Abyssinia  and  the  western  Himalayas,  but 
the  most  beautiful  of  which  are  natives  of  the 
Canary  Islands.  The  tender  kinds  are  inter- 
esting plants,  and  deserve  a  place  in  the 
green-house.  Many  of  the  hardy  kinds  are 
exceedingly  pretty  when  in  flower,  and  some 
become  beautifully  tinted  in  winter  when 
fully  exposed  to  the  weather,  as  they  always 
should  be,  for  they  are  impatient  of  covering 
of  any  kind.  They  require  very  little  water, 
except  when  about  to  flower ;  and  they  are 
propagated  by  cuttings,  which  must  be  laid 
to  dry  for  some  days  before  they  are  planted. 
They  are  very  suitable  for  rock-work,  and  are 
occasionally  used  for  "carpet  bedding." 
Young  plants  are  also  frequently  produced  by 
suckers  from  the  old  ones. 

Seneca  Snake  root.     See  Polygala. 

Seneci'llis.  A  genus  of  Composites,  now  in- 
cluded under  Senecio.  The  plant  usually  cul- 
tivated as  S.  glauca,  is  Ligularia  macrophylla, 
which  greatly  resembles  the  former  but  has 
a  different  pappus. 

Sene'cio.  Groundsel.  Ragweed.  From  senex, 
an  old  man ;  the  receptacle  is  naked  and  re- 
sembles a  bald  head.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

This  is  a  large  genus,  some  of  which  are  of 
an  ornamental  character,  comprising,  accord- 
ing to  Bentham  and  Hooker,  nearly  nine  hun- 
dred species  of  annuals,  perennials  or  shrubs, 
dispersed  over  the  whole  globe,  but  most 
numerous  in  temperate  regions.  S.  elegans, 
a  native  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  was  in- 
troduced about  1700,  and  has  long  been  a 
favorite  in  gardens  under  the  name  of 
Jacobma.  It  is  properly  an  annual,  though 
easily  kept  as  a  perennial,  and  made  to  assume 
almost  a  shrubby  appearance.    There  are  sev- 


SEQ 

eral  varieties  of  the  species,  as  the  double 
white,  double  purple,  or  double  red,  all  of 
which  are  pretty,  and  useful  for  their  long- 
continued  flowering.  S.  pulcher,  introduced 
from  Uruguay  in  1872,  is  a  pretty,  cobwebby, 
tomentose,  perennial  plant,  having  large, 
showy,  purple  flower-heads  with  a  yellow 
disc.  It  is  increased  readily  by  root  cuttings. 
S.  vulgaris,  the  Groundsel  of  British  gardens, 
is  there,  one  of  the  most  troublesome  weeds. 
It  has  been  introduced  here  by  seeds  in  the 
soil  of  imported  plants,  but,  fortunately,  does 
not  increase  freely  with  us.  Tliere  are  sev- 
eral species  indigenous  to  this  country,  all 
mere  weeds. 

Senna.  The  leaves  of  Cassia  acutifolia,  C.  an- 
gustifolia  and  other  allied  species. 

Senna.   Bladder.    The  genus  Colutea. 

Senna.     Scorpion.     Coronilla  Emerus. 

Sensitive  Briar.    See  Schrankia  uncinata. 

Sensitive  Fern.     See  Onoclea  sensibilis. 


Sensitive  Plant. 
Sensitive  Plant. 


See  Mimosa  pudica. 
Wild.    Cassia  nictitans. 


Sepal.  One  of  the  parts  or  divisions  of  the 
Calyx  or  outermost  whorl  of  a  flower. 

Septa.  The  partitions  which  divide  the  interior 
parts  of  a  fruit. 

Se'ptas.  From  septem,  seven ;  the  number 
seven  prevailing  in  the  fructification.  Nat. 
Ord.  CrassulacecB. 

A  genus  often  united  with  Crassula,  and 
containing  two  species  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  having  the  habit  of  some  species  of 
Saxifraga.  They  are  herbaceous,  and  have 
tuberous  roots,  simple  stems,  opposite  or 
verticillate  leaves,  and  white,  almost  umbel- 
late, flowers.  They  are  readily  increased  by 
division  of  the  tubers  and  should  be  kept 
rather  dry  while  dormant. 

Septum.    A  partition. 

Sequoi'a.  The  generic  name  is  a  supposed 
modification  of  See-qua-yah,  the  name  of  a 
celebrated  Cherokee  chief.  Nat.  Ord.  Coni- 
fercB. 

The  two  species  that  at  present  constitute 
this  genus  are  gigantic  evergreen  trees,  na- 
tives of  California.  S.  gigantea  is  the  far- 
famed  Mammoth  Tree,  which  was  discovered 
by  an  American  hunting  party  in  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  Upper  California,  in  1850.  The  so- 
called  Mammoth  Grove  is  in  Calaveras.  This 
was  the  first  discovery ;  and,  though  found  in 
various  parts,  none  have  attained  the  height 
of  those  the  astonished  hunters  first  beheld. 
"  The  tallest  tree  of  the  Mammoth  Grove, 
stripped  of  its  bark  for  the  purpose  of  exhi- 
bition, was  337  feet  high,  and  at  the  base  was 
90  feet  in  circumference.  The  greatest  di- 
mensions seem  to  have  been  attained  by  a 
tree  which  was  found  broken  at  a  height  of 
300  feet,  and  which  measured  at  that  place 
eighteen  feet  in  diameter.  Considering  it  was 
one  hundred  and  twelve  feet  in  circumference 
at  the  base,  and  tapered  regularly  to  the  point 
where  broken,  it  is  calculated  to  have  been, 
when  in  the  fullness  of  its  growth,  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet  high.  By  actual  counting 
of  the  concentric  rings,  this  tree  was  found  to 
have  been  1,100  years  old."  S.  sempervirens 
is  the  Redwood  of  the  timber  trade,  and  ex- 
tends from  Upper  California  to  Nutka  Sound. 
Itattains  gigantic  dimensions,being  frequently 


410 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SEB 

more  than  three  hundred  feet  high,  and  im- 
parts to  the  woods  a  peculiar  character ;  as 
Douglas  said,  "  Something  that  plainly  shows 
we  are  not  in  Europe."  This  species  fur- 
nishes most  of  the  lumber  used  in  house- 
building, cabinet  work,  and  for  various  other 
work  in  which  pine  is  emploj'ed  east  of  the 
Eocky  Mountains.  These  trees  have  been 
introduced  into  our  nurseries,  and  are  found 
to  be  hardy  around  New  York,  though  no  such 
extraordinary  dimensions  are  ever  likely  to 
be  obtained  as  in  their  native  habitat.  Syu. 
Wellingtonia. 

Sera'pias.  Name  derived  from  the  Egyptian 
God,  Serapis.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidace<B. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  terrestrial  Orchids, 
natives  of  the  Mediterranean  region.  There 
are  Ave  or  six  species,  all  very  interesting 
plants,  and  generally  included  in  all  collec- 
tions of  hardy  Orchids. 

Sereno'a.  Saw  Palmetto.  Named  in  honor  of 
Sereno  Watson,  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  a  distin- 
guished botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

S.  serrulata,  the  only  species,  is  a  dwarf, 
unarmed  tufted  Palm,  a  native  of  the  Southern 
States,  and  closely  allied  to  Sabal.  It  is  a 
very  handsome  species  either  for  the  green- 
house or  for  summer  decoration.  Syn.  Sabal 
serrulata. 

Serial  or  Seriate.    Disposed  in  rows  or  series. 

Sericeus.  Silky;  covered  with  close,  soft, 
straight  pubescence. 

Serico'graphis.  From  serikoa,  silk,  and  grapho, 
to  write.     Nat.  Ord.  AcanthacecB. 

This  genus  consists  of  a  few  species  of 
under-shrubs  and  herbaceous  evergreens.  S. 
Ghiesbreghtiana  is  a  handsome  winter-flower- 
ing plant,  requiring  the  same  treatment  as 
the  Ruellia.  This  genus  is  now  included  un- 
der Jacohinia  by  some  authors. 

Beri'nga.  A  popular  name  for  the  Philadelphtis 
or  Mock  Orange. 

Seri'ngia.  Named  in  honor  of  N.  C.  Seringe, 
Director  of  the  Botanical  Garden  at  Lyons, 
1776-1858.     Nat.  Ord.  Sterculiacece. 

S.  platyphylla,  the  only  described  species,  is 
an  interesting,  green-house,  evergreen  shrub, 
with  white  flowers  in  dense  terminal  cymes. 
The  branches  are  loosely  whitish  or  rusty 
tomentose.  It  was  introduced  from  Australia 
in  1822,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
young  wood.    Syn.  Lasiopetalum  arborescens. 

Seri'ssa.  A  name  altered  from  the  old  Greek 
Seris,  used  by  Dioscorides.  Nat.  Ord.  Rubia- 
cem. 

8.  fceiida,  the  only  species,  is  a  pretty,  green- 
house, branched  shrub,  with  white  axillary 
or  terminal  flowers.  There  is  a  variety  with 
double  flowers  (a  rare  occurrence  in  this  or- 
der), and  another  with  gold-margined  leaves. 
Propagated  by  cuttings.  A  native  of  India, 
China,  Japan,  etc. ;  sometimes  cultivated  un- 
der the  name  of  Lycium  Japonicum. 

Serotinus.    Comparatively  late. 

Serpent's  Beard.     Ophiopogon  Japonicus. 

Serpent  Withe.  A  common  name  for  Aristo- 
lochia  odoratissima. 

Serradilla.  The  common  name  for  Ornithopus 
sativus,  which  see. 

Serrate.  Having  sharp,  straight-edged  teeth, 
pointing  to  the  apex.      When  these  teeth  are 


SES 

themselves     serrate,   they  are    bi-serrate   or 
duplicato-serrate. 

Serra'tula.  Saw-wort.  From  serrula,  a  little 
saw  ;  alluding  to  the  serrated  foliage.  Nat. 
Ord.  CompositoB. 

A  large  genus  of  hardy,  perennial  herbs,  na- 
tives of  Europe,  North  Africa  and  Asia,  all 
more  or  less  of  a  Thistle-like  aspect  and  not 
suitable  for  general  culture. 

Serrulate.  Serrate,  with  very  small  or  fine 
teeth. 

Serru'ria.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  James  Serm- 
rier.  Professor  of  Botany  at  Utrecht.  Nat. 
Ord.  Proteacece. 

A  genus  of  desirable,  densely  leafy  shrubs 
peculiar  to  South  Africa.  Of  this  showy  and 
desirable  genus  over  fifty  species  have  been 
described,  nearly  half  of  which  are  in  cultiva- 
tion. Thej'  are  closely  allied  to  Protea  and 
require  the  same  general  treatment. 

Service  Berry.     See  Amelanchier. 

Service  Tree.     See  Pyrus. 

Se'samum.  Bene  Plant.  From  Sesamon,  the' 
old  Greek  name  used  by  Hippocrates.  Nat. 
Ord.  Pedaliacew. 

S.  orientale,  a  native  of  the  East  Indies,  is 
the  Bene  Plant  of  our  gardens  and  of  domestic 
medicine,  being  used  with  excellent  results  in 
severe  cases  of  dj'sentery.  It  is  now  grown  for 
that  purpose  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York  and 
other  large  cities.  A  dozen  leaves  put  in  a 
tumbler  of  water  quickly  give  out  a  mucilagi- 
nous, starch-like  substance,  in  which  condi- 
tion it  can  be  freely  used.  Cultivation,  the 
same  as  for  other  tender  annuals;  that  is,  by 
sowing  in  March  in  a  hot-bed,  if  wanted  early, 
or  in  the  open  border  in  May  for  general  crop. 
It  is  a  tender  annual,  with  flowers  of  a  whitish 
color,  shaped  somewhat  like  those  of  the 
Foxglove,  and  produced  in  loose  terminal 
spikes.  In  the  Southern  States  and  in  Africa 
this  species  was,  and  is  yet  to  some  extent, 
considerably  grown  for  the  oil,  called  Gingelly 
Oil,  the  seed  yields,  which  oil  will  keep  many 
years  without  acquiring  any  rancid  taste  or 
smell.  When  first  made  it  is  quite  heating 
and  is  used  as  a  stimulant ;  but,  after  two  or 
three  years,  it  becomes  quite  mild,  and  is  used 
as  a  salad  oil.  The  seeds  are  also  used  by 
the  negroes  for  food,  which  they  prepare  in 
various  ways.  In  Japan  the  oil  is  used  as  we 
use  butter  in  cooking. 

Sesba'nia.  From  sesban,  the  Arabic  name  of 
S.  ^gyptiaca.     Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 

A  small  genus  of  interesting  tropical  and 
sub-tropical  annuals,  biennials  and  shrubs, 
producing  fine  flowers,  mostly  yellow,  the 
entire  summer.  A.  macrocai-pa,  a  native  of 
Louisiana,  is  one  of  the  most  showy  species, 
and  useful  for  very  dry,  warm  situations. 

Se'seli.  Meadow  Saxifrage.  The  Greek  name 
of  an  umbelliferous  plant.  Nat.  Ord.  UmbeU 
liferoR. 

A  genus  of  about  forty  species,  nearly  all 
natives  of  the  north  temperate  regions.  S. 
gummiferum,  the  only  species  worthy  of  atten- 
tion, is  a  handsome  silvery  plant  with  elegantly 
divided  leaves  of  a  peculiarly  pleasing  glaucous 
or  almost  silvery  tone.  It  is  a  biennial,  and 
thrives  best  on  a  dry,  sunny  bank,  or  raised 
border.  It  was  introduced  to  cultivation  from 
Tauria  in  1804,  and  is  readily  increased  by 
seeds. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


411 


SES 

Sesqui.  A  prefix,  which,  used  in  Latin  coni- 
pounds,  signifies  one  and  a  half,  as  Sesqui- 
pedalis,  one  and  a  lialf  feet. 

Sessile.  Slttini?  close  upon  the  body  that  sup- 
ports it  witliout  any  sensible  stalk. 

Sesu'vium.  A  small  genus  of  Ficoidece,  inter- 
esting principally  as  containing  the  Samphire 
or  Seaside  Purslane  of  the  West  Indies  {S. 
Portulaccistrum),  which,  with  S.  repens,  both 
found  on  the  sea-shores,  are  edible  and  are 
used  as  pot  herbs,  though  they  have  rather  a 
salt  taste.  One  or  two  of  the  species  are  in 
cultivation. 

Seta.  A  bristle  of  any  kind ;  a  bristle  tipped 
with  a  gland  ;  a  slender  prickle. 

Seta'ria.  Bristly  Fox-tail  Grass.  From  seta,  a 
bristle  ;  the  involucrum  is  bristly.  Nat.  Ord. 
GraminacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  grasses,  mostly  annu- 
als and  of  but  little  interest. 

Setigerous.     Bearing  bristles. 

Setose.     Bristly ;  covered  with  stiff  hairs. 

Seville  Orange  or  Bitter  Orange.  Citrus  vul- 
garis. 

Seyme'ria.  Named  for  Henry  Seymer,  an  Eng- 
lish naturalist.     Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacem. 

A  genus  of  annual  or  perennial  herbs,  natives 
principally  of  northwest  America.  S.  pec- 
tinata  and  S.  tenuifolia,  both  native  annual 
species,  are  in  cultivation,  and  are  very  pretty 
plants  when  in  flower. 

Shad-Bush.     See  Amelanchier. 

Shaddock.     Citrus  decumana. 

Shading.  In  this  -latitude,  where  the  sun's 
rays  are  so  powerful,  shading  is  imperative 
for  nearly  all  plants  grown  under  glass  dur- 
ing the  hot  and  often  dry  and  sultry  summer 
months.  More  particularly  is  this  the  case 
with  stove  and  green-house  plants,  very  few 
of  which  can  be  successfully  grown  under 
glass  without  more  or  less  shade.  As  a  per- 
manent shading  has  the  effect  of  weakening 
the  plants,  because  they  do  not  get  sufficient 
light  in  dull  weather,  a  sj'stem  of  fixing 
thin  blinds  to  rollers  which  may  be  drawn  up 
in  dull  weather  is,  perhaps,  the  best  method. 
A  great  variety  of  material  is  procurable  for 
this  purpose,  and,  for  a  small  "lean-to"  or 
span-roofed  house,  a  screen  of  light  canvas, 
muslin,  or  "protecting  cloth"  (which  see), 
arranged  on  the  outside,  so  that  it  may  be 
wound  up  on  a  roller  when  not  wanted,  will 
answer,  and  if  it  be  desired  to  keep  the 
house  as  cool  as  possible,  this  should  be  so  con- 
trived that  there  will  be  a  space  of  six  inches 
or  so  between  that  and  the  glass.  But  upon 
a  large  house,  or  one  with  a  curvilinear  roof, 
this  is  not  so  manageable,  and  we  find  the 
best  method  is  to  spatter  the  glass  outside 
with  a  preparation  of  naphtha  and  white  lead 
made  so  thin  as  to  resemble  skimmed  milk. 
This  can  be  put  on  by  a  syringe  at  a  cost  of 
not  over  twenty-five  cents  for  every  thousand 
square  feet  of  glass.  When  first  done  it 
should  be  spattered  very  thinly,  merelv  to 
break  the  strong  glare  of  the  sun.  Just  about 
thick  enough  to  cover  half  the  surface.  As 
the  season  advances,  the  spattering  should 
be  repeated  to  increase  the  shade.  Roses, 
Bouvardias,  Sniilax,  Poinsettias,  Primulas, 
etc.,  however,  do  not  require  more  of  the  ma- 
terial at  any  time  than  just  to  cover  the  glass. 


SHA 

Frames,  small  green-house,  etc.,  are  easily 
shaded  by  means  of  a  lattice  made  of  common 
laths.  Strips  of  inch  stuff,  an  inch  and  a  half 
or  two  inches  wide,  are  used  for  the  sides  of 
the  lattice,  and  laths  are  nailed  across  as  far 
apart  as  their  own  width.  One  lath  being 
nailed  on,  another  is  laid  down  to  mark  the 
distance,  the  third  one  put  down  and  nailed, 
and  the  second  lath  is  moved  along  to  mark 
the  distance  for  the  fourth,  and  so  on.  With 
a  screen  of  this  kind  there  is  abundant  light, 
but  the  sun  does  not  shine  long  at  a  time  on 
one  spot,  and  the  plants  have  a  constantly 
changing  sun  and  shade.  This  lath  screen 
may  be  used  for  shading  plants  in  the  open 
ground,  if  supported  at  a  proper  height  above 
them.  In  a  propagating  house,  where  it  is 
necessary,  as  it  often  is,  to  shade  cuttings,  a 
lattice  laid  upon  the  outside  of  the  glass  an- 
swers a  good  purpose.  The  laths  are  some- 
times tied  together  with  strong  twine,  the 
cord  answering  the  place  of  slats,  and  serv- 
ing as  a  warp  with  which  the  laths  are  woven ; 
the  advantage  of  a  screen  of  this  kind  being 
that  it  can  be  rolled  up.  Another  and  excel- 
lent screen  to  shade  is  to  make  frames  three 
by  six  feet  of  the  "Protecting  Cloth  "  already 
alluded  to.  Plants  kept  in  windows  during 
summer  months  will,  if  in  a  sunny  exposure, 
require  some  kind  of  a  shade,  and,  if  the  one 
provided  to  keep  the  sun  from  the  room  shuts 
out  too  much  light,  or  excludes  air  as  well  as 
sun,  something  must  be  provided  which  will 
give  protection  during  the  heat  of  tlie  day, 
and  still  allow  sufficient  light  and  an  abund- 
ant circulation  of  air.  Any  one  with  ingenu- 
ity can  arrange  a  screen  of  white  cotton  cloth 
to  answer  the  purjiose. 

Shallot.  Allium  Ascalonicum.  The  Shallot  or 
Eschalot  is  a  native  of  Palestine,  especially 
near  the  once  famous  city  of  Ascalon,  whence 
its  specific  name.  It  was  first  introduced 
into  England  in  1548,  and  has  ever  since  been 
cultivated  to  a  considerable  extent,  and  used 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  Onion.  It  is  highly 
esteemed  for  pickles.  Several  varieties  have 
been  noticed ;  the  only  difference,  however, 
seems  to  be  in  the  size,  which  may  properly 
be  attributed  to  the  cultivation,  as  it  is 
largely  upon  this  that  the  size  depends. 
Shallots  are  grown  to  a  considerable  extent 
in  the  vicinity  of  New  York.  The  bulbs  are 
planted  one  foot  between  the  lines  and  six 
inches  between  the  plants,  in  October,  and 
are  marketed  in  the  green  state  the  following 
May.  From  the  early  maturing  of  the  crop, 
they  are  always  very  profitable,  though  grown 
to  a  much  less  extent  than  Onions.  Increased 
only  by  division. 

Shamrock.  The  national  flower  or  symbol  of 
Ireland.  So  accepted  because,  according  to 
tradition,  St.  Patrick  used  it  to  illustrate  his 
teaching  of  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  to  the 
natives.  Like  the  Scotch  Thistle,  antiqua- 
rians are  in  doubt  as  to  the  true  Shamrock. 
Many  think  it  is  the  Trifolium  repens  or  com- 
mon White  Clover;  others  that  it  is  the  small 
yellow  Clover,  Trifolium  minus;  while  num- 
bers declare,  and  with  much  probability,  that 
it  is  not  a  clover  at  all.  but  the  common  Wood 
Sorrel,  Oxalis  Acetosella.  "English  writers 
mention  it  as  having  been  used  as  food  in 
Ireland  after  the  devastation  caused  by  the 
wars  of  the  sixteenth  century.     By  persons 


412 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SHA 

imperfectly  acquainted  with  the  Irish  lan- 
guage, the  word  shamsog  might  easily  be  con- 
founded with  the  name  Shamrock,  if  they 
Judged  by  the  eye,  as  S  and  K  have  nearly  the 
same  form  in  the  Irish  alphabet.  Clearly, 
then,  Shamrock,  or,  to  give  it  its  true  orthog- 
raphy, Seamarog  {Trifolium  minui^)  could 
never  have  been  used  for  Wood  Sorrel,  except 
through  ignorance,  as  Seamar  is  the  generic 
name  of  all  the  species  of  Trifolium,  and 
could  never  have  been  applied  to  so  utterly 
different  a  plant  as  Oxalis  acetoseUa."  Others, 
however,  argue  that  in  the  days  of  St.  Patrick 
Ireland  was  very  thickly  wooded,  and  that  as 
his  meetings  would,  in  all  probability,  be  held 
in  their  shelter,  where  the  Oxalis  is  so  very 
plentiful  as  to  be  in  many  places  the  only 
covering,  it  would  be  most  readily  used  by 
St.  Patrick  to  illustrate  his  subject.  Mr. 
Mackay,  in  "  Flora  Hibernica,"  says,  "  that  old 
authors  said  it  was  a  sour,  indigenous  plant, 
showing  itself  on  St.  Patrick's  day,  and  that 
it  was  eaten."  He  therefore  concludes  that 
it  was  not  Trifolium  repens  but  undoubtedly 
Oxalis  AcetoseUa.  We  understand  that  nowa- 
days any  species  of  Clover  with  a  tripartite 
leaf  is  used  indiscriminately,  Trifolium  fili- 
forme  and  Medicago  lupulina  being  worn  with 
other  species  in  Dublin  on  St.  Patrick's  day. 
Shamrock  Pea.    A  name  given  to  Parochetus 

communis. 
Sheath.    A  part  which  is  rolled  round  a  stem 
or  other  body,  as  the  lower  part  of  the  leaf 
that  surrounds  the  stem. 
Sheep  Berry.     Viburnum  Lentago. 
Sheep  Laurel.     See  Kalmia  angustifolia. 
Sheep's  Scabious.    See  Jasione. 
Sheep's  Sorrel.     Rumex  acetoseUa. 
Sheffe'ldia   repens,    is  a  little    New    Zealand 
creeping  plant  of  the  Nat.  Ord.  Primulacew, 
with  small,  slender  stems  and  small  leaves. 
It  is  perfectly  hardy,  producing  tiny  white 
flowers  in  summer,  and  is  an  interesting  plant 
for  the  rock-work  or  rock-garden. 
Shell-baric  Hickory.     See  Carya. 
Shell-Flower.    See  Chelone. 
Shell-Flow^er.     Mexican.     Tigridia  conchiflora. 
Shephe'rdia.     Named  after  the  late  John  Shep- 
herd, Curator  of  the  Botanic  Garden  of  Liver 
pool.     Nat.  Ord.  Elceagnacece. 

A  small   genus   of  native   shrubs   or  low- 
growing  trees  common  on  the  banks  of  the 
Missouri  River.     They  are  favorite  plants  for 
shrubbery  or  lawn  decoration,  on  account  of 
their  blooming  very  early  in  spring  and  their 
fine    appearance    in    autumn,     when    their 
branches  are  thickly  clad  with  rich  clusters  of 
crimson    berries,    resembling   somewhat,    in 
color  and   size,    the    common    red    Currant. 
They    are   popularly   known  as  the  Buffalo- 
berry,  Rabbit-berry,  and  sometimes  as  Beef- 
suet  trees.     Syn.  Ekeagnus. 
Shepherd's  Club,  or  Shepherd's  Flannel.  Pop- 
ular names  for  Verbascum  Thapsus. 
Shepherd's  Knot.     Tormentilla  officinalis. 
Shepherd's  Purse.    Capsella  Bursa-pastoris,  one 
of  our  most  common  weeds.  Introduced  from 
Europe. 
Shield  Fern.    See  Aspidium 
Shield  PloAver.     The  popular  name   for  Aspi- 
distra. 


SHR 

Shield  Shaped.  Round  or  oval  and  flat,  with 
stalk  attached  to  the  lower  surface. 

Shin-leaf.    The  popular  name  of  Pyrola  elliptica. 

Shittim  Wood.  Supposed  to  be  the  timber  of 
Acacia  nilotica. 

Shoeblack  Plant  or  Shoe  Tree.      A  common 

name  for  Hibiscus  rosa-sinensis. 

Shooting  Star.     A  western  name  for  the  Dode- 

catheon  Meadia,  which  see. 

Shoots.  Blind.  A  name  given  to 'such  shoots 
as  do  not  flower,  but  which  are  often  utilized 
for  cuttings,  as  in  Roses,  Carnations,  etc. 

Sho'rtia.  A  genus  placed  by  Professor  Asa 
Gray  in  the  sub-order  Galacinem,  of  the  Nat. 
Ord.  Diapensiacem.  It  differs  very  slightly 
botanically  from  Galax.  8.  galacifolia  is  in- 
teresting, not  only  as  being  one  of  our  rarest 
native  plants,  but  on  account  of  Professor 
Gray's  persistent  endeavors  to  re-discover  it. 
When  he  was  in  Europe  in  1839,  while  exam- 
ining the  herbarium  of  the  elder  Michaux, 
collected  in  1788  and  preserved  in  the  Museum 
at  Paris,  he  found  an  unnamed  specimen  of  a 
plant  with  the  habit  of  Pyrola  and  the  foliage 
of  Galax,  of  which  only  the  leaves  and  a  single 
fruit  were  preserved,  and  which  had  been 
collected,  the  label  said,  in  the  "Haules  mon- 
tagnes  de  Carolinie."  Two  years  later,  having 
in  vain  searched  for  Michaux's  plant,  he  ven- 
tured to  describe  it  upon  the  strength  of  the 
scanty  material  already  mentioned,  dedicat- 
ing it  to  Dr.  C.  W.  Short,  the  author  of  a  cat- 
alogue of  the  plants  of  Kentucky.  Attention 
having  thus  been  drawn  to  it,  diligent  search 
was  made  by  eager  botanists  through  all  the 
mountainous  region  to  which  Michaux's  label 
assigned  the  plant,  but  without  success,  until 
in  May,  1877,  it  was  re-discovered  by  Mr.  G. 
Hyams  on  the  banks  of  the  Catawba  River, 
near  the  town  of  Marion,  at  a  considerable 
distance  from  the  original  station.  These  new 
specimens,  gathered  when  the  plant  was  in 
flower,  confirmed  at  once  Professor  Gray's 
original  ideas  of  the  proper  relationship  of 
his  genus,  and  enabled  him  to  complete  its 
characters  and  remodel  the  family  to  which  it 
belonged.  Its  nearest  allies  are  Galax  aphylla, 
a  beautiful  evergreen  herb  with  tall,  erect 
racemes  of  pure  white  flowers,  found  on  the 
southern  slopes  of  the  western  AUeghanies, 
and  the  beautiful  little  Pixidanthera  barbulata, 
of  the  New  Jersey  pine-barrens. 

Sho"wy  Orchis.     See  Orchis. 

Shrub.  A  woody  plant  which  does  not  form  a 
true  trunk  like  a  tree,  but  has  several  stems 
rising  from  the  roots. 

Shrubberies.  This  term  is  usually  applied  to 
a  plantation  of  shrubs,  which  are  generally 
arranged  and  planted  with  a  view  to  produc- 
ing an  effect  throughout  the  summer,  but,  by 
making  a  suitable  selection  and  arranging 
with  judgment,  they  may  be  rendered  attract- 
ive, either  in  the  flower  or  foliage,  through- 
out the  whole  year.  As  a  boundary  or 
screen,  dividing  cultivated  from  wild  grounds, 
or  as  a  background  for  a  mixed  border  in  a 
flower  garden,  evergreen  shrubs  are  unsur- 
passed. A  large  number  of  subjects,  both 
evergreen  and  deciduous,  may  be  planted  in  a 
mixed  shrubbery,  though  forest-trees  should 
not  be  admitted,  or,  if  they  are,  merely  with 
a  view  to  their  subsequent  removal.     The 


6HOKTIA    GALACIFOLIA. 


SELAGINKIXA  LEPrDOPHTXI^    (BESUBEECTION   PLANT). 


412 


SENECIO  PUi-CUER. 


SENECIO  MACROGLOSSUS   (GERMAN  ITYV 


}^^'<^/%  >'/ut^ 


SKIMMIA  JAPONICA. 


SILENF,  PENDtTLA  VARIEGATA. 


SIUM  LATIFOLItTM. 


80LANTJM  HOBXJSTDM. 


SOLANT7M  MABGINATDM. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


413 


SHE 

front  line  should  be  restricted  to  those 
plants  that  habitually  remain  compact  and 
do  not  grow  tall,  while  the  back  part  may  be 
filled  with  such  specimens  as  are  of  an  oppo- 
site description.  Overcrowding  is  especially 
to  be  avoided,  but  in  planting  a  new  shrub- 
bery a  large  number  of  duplicates  may  be 
inserted,  which  should  be  transplanted  in  a 
year  or  two,  as  the  permanent  specimens  re- 
quire additional  space.  Constant  attention, 
by  judicious  pruning,  is  necessary  to  prevent 
strong-growing  plants  from  overgrowing  and 
crowding  their  neighbors.  Summer  pruning 
is  of  great  assistance  here ;  all  those  shrubs 
that  flower  on  the  wood  made  the  previous 
year,  such  as  Forsythias,  Spirajas,  Deutzias, 
Weigelias,  etc.,  ought  to  be  pruned  back  im- 
mediately after  flowering;  the  young  wood 
thus  produced  will  develop  for  the  succeeding 
year,  and  the  plant  will  not  be  materially  en- 
larged in  comparison  with  an  unpruned  speci- 
men. Many  ornamental  evergreen  shrubs, 
grown  principally  for  their  foliage,  may  be 
pruned  more  or  less  extensively,  according  to 
the  position  they  occupy  or  the  purpose  for 
which  they  are  gi'own.  Pruning  should 
always  be  done,  where  practicable,  with  a 
knife,  or  pruning  shears,  thus  leaving  the 
subject  in  good  shape  without  cutting  the 
foliage  or  injui-ing  the  branches  that  are  left. 
Clipping  with  shears  is  inadmissible,  except 
where  the  shrubs  are  planted  for  a  hedge,  a 
purpose  for  which  Altheas,  Privet,  Lilacs, 
Osage,  Orange,  etc.,  are  often  employed. 

Shrubby  Trefoil.     See  Ptelea. 

Siberian  Crab.    See  Pyrus  prunifolia. 

Siberian  Pea- Tree.     See  Caragana. 

Sibtho'rpia.  Named  after  Dr.  Humphrey  Sib- 
thorp,  formerly  Professor  of  Botany  at  Oxford. 
Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacece. 

A  genus  of  trailing,  herbaceous  plants,  na- 
tives of  South  America,  Europe  and  Africa. 
A  few  of  the  species  are  under  cultivation. 
S.  Eiiropcea  is  a  very  pretty  low-growing  spe- 
cies, with  yellow  flowers  and  dark  green 
foliage.  It  is  a  good  plant  for  the  shady  bor- 
der or  for  pot  culture.  The  pot  being  sus- 
pended, it  will  droop  all  around  it  to  a  distance 
of  three  feet.  There  is  a  beautiful  variety 
with  variegated  foliage,  but  it  is  more  diffi- 
cult to  grow.  Disandra  prostrata  is  placed 
under  this  genus  by  some  botanists,  under 
the  name  of  >S.  peregrina. 

Sickle-pod.  The  popular  name  of  Arabia  Cana- 
densis. 

Sickle-'wort.  A  common  name  for  Prunella 
vulgaris. 

Si'cyos.  Star  Cucumber.  An  old  Greek  name 
for  the  Cucumber.     Nat.  Ord.  Cucurbitacece. 

A  genus  of  nearly  a  dozen  half-hardy,  climb- 
ing, annual  herbs,  natives  of  the  warmer  parts 
of  America,  the  Pacific  Islands  and  Australia. 
S.  angulata,  commonly  called  Wild  Cucumber, 
is  common  on  river  banks,  and  is  a  weed  in 
waste  places  and  damp  yards. 

Si'da.  Indian  Mallow.  An  extensive  genus  of 
Malvacece,  comprising  herbs  and  shrubs,  na^ 
lives  of  the  tropical  and  sub-tropical  zones 
both  of  the  Eastern  and  Western  Hemi- 
spheres. Many  of  the  species  are  used  medici- 
nally, and  the  bark  of  several  contains  an 
abundance  of  fibrous  tissue,  available  for 
cordage,  etc.    The  Chinese  cultivate  S.  tilioB- 


SIL 

folia  for  the  sake  of  its  fibre,  which  they  pre- 
fer to  hemp.  Many  species,  formerly  included 
here,  are  now  classed  under  Abulilon,  which 
see. 

Sida'loea.  From  Sida  and  Alkea,  an  ancient 
Greek  name  tor  some  JMalva ;  alluding  to  the 
appearance  and  alliances  of  the  plants.  Nat. 
Old.  MalvaceiB. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  mostly  perennial  herbs, 
with  the  habit  of  Malva  or  Althea,  natives  of 
western -North  America.  They  are  coarse- 
growing  phxnts,  and  only  S.  malvceflora,  S. 
Oregana  and  S.  acerifolia  are  in  cultivation. 

Sideri'tis.  Iron-wort.  From  sideros,  iron ;  so 
named  on  account  of  a  supposed  property  of 
healing  flesh  wounds  inflicted  by  iron.  Nat. 
Ord.  Labiatce. 

A  genus  of  nearly  fifty  species  of  hardy  or 
half-hardy,  often  woolly,  herbs  or  shrubs,  na- 
tives of  the  Mediterranean  region  and  the 
Canary  Islands.  Many  of  the  species  are  use- 
ful for  ornamenting  tlie  rock-garden  or  rock- 
work. 

Sidero'xylon.  From  sideros,  iron,  and  xylon, 
wood  ;  alluding  to  the  very  hard  wood  fur- 
nished by  the  various  species.  Nat.  Ord.  Sa- 
potaceoB. 

A  genus  of  nearly  sixty  species  of  stove  or 
green-house  shrubs,  natives  of  Africa,  Aus- 
tralia and  New  Zealand.  The  fruits  of  S. 
dulcificum  have  a  very  swept  tast<s  and  are 
known,  with  others  in  western  Africa,  under 
the  name  of  Miraculous  Berry.  Tiie  various 
species  introduced  are  of  little  horticultural 
value. 

Side-saddle  Flower.    See  Sarracenia. 

Sieve'rsia.  Named  after  M.  Sievers,  a  Russian 
botanical  collector.     Nat.  Ord.  Rosacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardj^  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, closely  allied  to  Geum.  The  species 
from  Austria  and  Switzerland  have  large  yel- 
low, solitary  flowers  and  are  quite  handsome. 
They  are  propagated  by  division. 

Sigmoid.  Somewhat  resembling  in  form  the 
letter  S. 

Sil'ene.  Catchfly.  From  sialon,  saliva;  in  al- 
lusion to  the  viscid  moisture  on  the  stalks  of 
many  of  the  species,  by  which  the  smaller 
kinds  of  flies  are  entrapped ;  and  hence  the 
common  name  of  the  genus,  Catchfly.  Nat. 
Ord.  Caryophyllacece. 

A  very  large  genus,  mostly  natives  of  south- 
ern Europe,  North  Africa  and  extra  tropical 
Asia,  containing  many  plants  of  much  beauty. 
It  numbers  above  a  hundred  and  fifty  species, 
which  are  chiefly  hardy,  herbaceous  plants,  or 
annuals  of  the  same  character.  The  latter, 
however,  contain  many  which  are  mere  weeds. 
Red,  of  various  shades,  is  the  prevailing  color 
of  the  flowers,  though  both  white  and  purple 
are  found  in  it.  S.  viscosa  is  a  popular  bi- 
ennial, frequently  grown  for  the  backs  of  large 
borders,  and  the  old  Lobel's  Catchfly  {S.  ar- 
meria)  is  still  occasionally  met  with.  8. 
Schafta  combines  every  good  quality  to  be 
desired  in  border  flowei's,  being  hai'dy,  herba- 
ceous, trailing  closely  to  the  ground,  and 
bearing  a  profusion  of  crimson  red  flowers. 
It  is  easy  to  grow  either  as  a  pot  plant  or  in 
the  open  ground,  and  will,  doubtless,  occupy 
a  prominent  place  when  better  known.  The 
shrubby  species  of  this  genus  are  easily  in- 
creased by  cuttings ;  and,  though  hardy  enough 


414 


HENDERSON'S    HANDBOOK    OF   PLANTS 


SIL 

CO  resist  almost  any  amount  of  frost,  they  are 
sometimes  injured  by  excessive  wet,  and  for 
this  reason  a  few  should  be  potted  and  kept 
in  a  cold  frame.  Such  of  the  annuals  as  are 
worth  cultivating  need  only  to  be  sown  where 
they  are  to  flower.  Several  species  are  com- 
mon throughout  the  United  States,  but  they  i 
are  of  less  importance  than  those  from  south- 
ern Europe  and  Africa.  First  introduced  in 
1640. 

Siliqua.     The  long  tapering  pod  of  Cruciferce. 

Silk  Cotton-tree.    See  Bombax. 

Silk  Oak.     See  Grevillea. 

Silk  Tree.  Acacia  JuUbrissin,  a  native  of  the 
Levant. 

Silk- Vine.    Periploca  groeca. 

Silk  Weed.    Asclepias  comuti. 

Si'lphium.  Hosin  Plant,  Eosin  Weed,  Compass 
Plant.  From  silphion,  the  Greek  name  applied 
to  an  Asafoetida  plant.    Nat.  Ord.  Compositm. 

A  small  genus  orf  strong-growing, herbaceous, 
perennial  plants,  common  in  the  Western  and 
Southern  States.  S.  laciniatum  is  said  to  pre- 
sent its  leaves  exactly  north  and  south,  which 
gives  it  the  name  of  Compass  Plant.  The 
leaves  and  stems  of  some  of  the  species  exude 
a  large  amount  of  rosin,  whence  the  common 
name  Eosin  Weed.  All  the  species  are  of  far 
more  interest  to  the  botanist  than  the  florist. 

Silver  Balm.    See  Melissa. 

Silver  Bell  Tree.    See  Halesia. 

Silver  Berry.  Missouri.  The  fruit  of  Shep- 
herdia  argentea. 

Silver  Bush.     Anthyllis  Barha-Jovis. 

Silver  Fern.     See  Cheilanthes. 

Silver  Fir.  The  popular  name  for  Abies  pecti- 
nata. 

Silver  Tree.     Cape.     Leucadendron  argenteum. 

Silver  Weed.    PotentUla  anserina.    See  also  Im- 

patiens. 

Sily'bum.  Milk  Thistle.  An  old  Greek  name 
applied  by  Dioscorides  to  some  Thistle-like 
plants.    Nat.  Ord.  Compositm. 

S.  Marianum,  the  only  species,  is  a  glabrous, 
erect,  biennial  herb,  included  by  some  botan- 
ists under  Carduus.  "The  specific  name, 
Marianum,  was  ^iven  to  this  plant  to  preserve 
the  legend  that  the  white  stain  on  the  leaves 
was  caused  by  the  falling  on  the  plant  of  a  drop 
of  the  Virgin  Mary's  milk," — Lindley.  It  was 
formerly  cultivated,  the  young  leaves  being 
used  as  a  spring  salad,  the  root  boiled  as  a  pot- 
herb, and  the  heads  treated  like  the  heads  of 
the  Artichoke.  It  grows  wild  in  waste  places 
in  many  parts  of  Britain,  and  still  retains  its 
place  in  old-fashioned  gardens.  See  Carduus 
and  Scotch  Thistle. 

Sima'ba.  The  native  name  in  Guiana  of  one  of 
the  species.     Nat.  Ord.  SimarubacecB. 

A  genus  of  trees  and  shrubs,  natives  of 
tropical  America.  Three  species  have  been  in- 
troduced, but  8.  Cedron,  the  Cedron  Tree,  is 
probably  the  only  species  in  cultivation.  It  is 
a  small  tree,  a  native  of  New  Grenada,  and 
bears  large  panicles  of  flowers,  often  three  to 
four  feet  long,  succeeded  by  fruit  about  the 
size  of  a  swan's  egg.  It  is  remarkable  for  the 
febrifugal  properties  of  its  seeds,  which  have 
also  been  from  time  immemorial  reputed, 
in  its  native  place,  as  a  remedy  for  snake  bites. 


SIP 

Every  part  of  the  plant,   but  especially  its 
seed,  is  intensely  bitter. 

Simaro'uba.  Sometimes  spelled  Simaruba.  The 
Carib  name  of  S.  amara.  Nat.  Ord.  Simuru- 
bacece. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen  trees,  natives  of 
eastern  and  tropical  America.  Probably  the 
only  cultivated  species  is  S.  amara  (the 
Mountain  Damson),  which  yields  the  drug 
known  as  Simaruba  Bark,  which  is,  strictly 
speaking,  the  rind  of  the  root,  and  is  era- 
ployed  as  a  bitter  tonic  in  diarrhoea  and 
dysentery. 

Simaruba'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  or 
shrubs,  remarkable  for  the  bitter  taste  of 
their  bark.  They  are  natives  of  hot  countries, 
a  very  few  only  being  found  without  the 
tropics.  Thirty  genera  are  referred  to  this 
order,  which  is  closely  allied  to  RutacetB. 
Quassia,  Ailantus,  Brucea  and  Cneorum  are 
good  examples. 

Simmo'udsia.  Named  in  memory  of  T.  W.  Sim- 
monds,  a  botanist  and  explorer,  1805.  Nat. 
Ord.  Euphorbiaceoe. 

S.  Califomica,  the  only  described  species,  is 
a  small,  hardy,  evergreen,  much  branched 
shrub  froin  California.  It  is  seldom  found  in 
cultivation.     Syn.  Bocchia. 

Simple.  Consisting  of  not  more  than  one 
distinct  part. 

Sina'pis.  Mustard.  From  the  Celtic  nap,  a 
designation  applied  to  all  plants  resembling 
the  Cabbage  or  Turnip.  Nat.  Ord.  CruciferoB. 
A  genus  of  hardy,  yellow-flowered  annuals. 
S.  nigra  is  the  common  Black  Mustard,  and  S. 
alba  the  White  Mustard  of  commerce,  both 
natives  of  Europe  and  most  common  on  the 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean.  The  former 
yields  a  greater  portion  of  the  Mustard  in 
general  use.  Both  species  are  extensively 
grown  in  England  as  field  crops,  and  also  in 
many  other  parts  of  Europe.  These  species 
are  common  in  fields  and  waste  places  in 
this  country,  having  escaped  from  the 
garden  and  become  naturalized.  There  are 
several  other  species,  but  they  are  all  of  the 
same  general  character.  S.  nigra,  which 
grows  ten  or  twelve  feet  high  in  Palestine,  is 
regarded  by  some  as  the  "  Mustard  of  Scrip- 
ture "  in  preference  to  Salvadora. 

Sinni'ngia.  Named  in  honor  of  William  Sinning, 
Gardener  to  the  University  of  Bonn  on  the 
Ehine.  A  genus  of  some  sixteen  species  of 
very  pretty  dwarf,  pubescent  herbs,  natives  of 
Brazil,  and  closely  allied  to  Gloxinia,  which 
genus  they  closely  resemble,  and  require 
similar  treatment  for  their  culture. 

Sinistrorse.     Turned  or  directed  to  the  left. 

Sinuate.  Strongly  wavy;  with  the  margin 
alternately  bowed  inward  and  outward. 

Sinus.  A  recess  or  bay ;  the  re-entering  angles 
between  two  lobes  or  projections. 

Siphoca'mpylos.  From  siphon,  a  tube,  and 
kampylos,  curved ;  in  allusion  to  the  curved 
shape  of  the  flower.  Nat.  Ord.  Campanula- 
cece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  handsome,  low-grow- 
ing, evergreen  shrubs,  natives  of  South 
America.  The  flowers  are  mostly  tubular, 
scarlet  or  yellow,  solitary  on  axillary  stalks 
or  in  dense  racemes  or  clusters.  Several  of 
the   species  are  cultivated   for    their  showy 


AND   GENERAL   HOKTICULTUEE. 


415 


SIP 

flowers,  among  which  is  S.  bicolor  (syn.  Lo- 
belia laxiflora  angustifolia),  a  well-known 
species.  They  are  propagated  by  cuttings. 
Introduced  in  1842. 

Sipho'nla.  From  siphon,  a  tube  or  pipe ;  the 
use  made  of  the  exudation,  which  constitutes 
India  Rubber.     Nat.  Ord.  EuphorhiaeecB. 

S.  Brasilienis,  an  evergreen  tree  indige- 
nous to  tropical  South  America,  is  the  most 
remarkable  species  of  the  genus.  It  is  to 
this  tree  that  we  are  indebted  for  the  greater 
part  of  our  supply  of  Caoutchouc  or  India 
Rubber.  It  is  a  native  of  French  Guiana,  and 
attains  a  height  of  seventy-five  feet,  rarely  a 
hundred.  The  mode  in  which  the  rubber  is 
obtained  by  the  natives,  is  by  making  incis- 
ions through  the  bark  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
trunk  of  the  tree,  from  which  the  sap,  which 
is  a  fluid  rosin,  issues  in  great  abundance,  ap- 
pearing of  a  milky  whiteness  as  it  flows  into 
the  vessel  prepared  to  receive  it.  On  expos- 
ure to  the  air,  this  milky  juice  gradually 
thickens  into  a  soft,  reddish,  elastic  rosin. 
This  substance  is  poured  into  a  mould,  in 
small  quantities  at  first,  and  is  then  exposed 
to  a  dense  smoke,  produced  by  the  burning  of 
nuts  from  several  of  the  Palms,  until  it  is 
sufficiently  hard  to  bear  another  coat,  when 
the  process  is  repeated,  until  the  mass  is  of 
a  convenient  size  to  handle  for  shipment. 
There  are  several  other  species  of  this  genus 
that  yield  large  quantities  of  rubber,  com- 
mon from  Central  America  to  Brazil.  The 
first  discovei-y  of  this  valuable  tree  and  its 
uses  was  made  by  M.  de  la  Condamine  in 
1736,  but  it  is  only  within  the  last  fifty  years 
that  it  has  become  an  important  article  of 
commerce.  Ficus  elastica  also  produces  the 
India  Rubber  of  commerce,  and  is  the  best 
known  of  the  rubber-producing  trees,  in  con- 
sequence of  being  largely  grown  under  glass 
for  ornamental  purposes  (syn.  Hevea). 

Sisy'mbrium.  Hedge  Mustard.  Nat.  Ord.  Cm- 
cifercB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  annual  or  biennial  herbs 
of  but  little  interest.  It  comprises  some 
eighty  species,  natives  chiefly  of  the  temper- 
ate and  cold  regions  of  the  Northern  Hemi- 
sphere. S.  millefolium,  a  perennial  species, 
has  elegant  feathery  foliage  of  a  whitish 
color,  and  small  yellow  flowers.  It  grows 
well  in  any  light  soil. 

Sisyri'nchium.  Rush  Lily,  Satin  Flower.  Blue- 
eyed  Grass.  From  sys,  a  pig,  and  rynchos,  a 
snout ;  so  called  on  account  of  the  fondness 
that  swine  have  for  the  roots.  Nat.  Ord. 
IridacecB. 

A  large  genus  of  hardy,  or  half-hardy,  per- 
ennial plants  with  fibrous  roots ;  natives  of 
tropical  and  North  America.  S.  grandiflorum 
and  its  variety,  S.  g.  album,  is  a  beautiful  per- 
ennial species  that  flowers  early  in  spring, 
and  is  the  only  one  worthy  of  general  culture. 
The  foliage  is  narrow  and  grass-like ;  the 
flowers,  which  are  produced  on  slender  stems 
six  to  twelve  inches  high,  are  bell-shaped  and 
drooping,  of  a  rich,  deep  purple  in  the  typi- 
cal plant,  and  of  a  pure,  transparent  white- 
ness in  the  variety.  They  form  charming 
groups  in  the  rock-garden  in  light,  peaty  or 
sandy  soil  in  warm  positions.  They  may  be 
increased  by  careful  division  in  fall,  and  are 
the  better  of  some  protection  during  winter. 
S.  Bermudiana    or  Blue-eyed  Grass,  our  na- 


SKI 

tive  species,  is  very  common  in  damp,  cool 
meadows  throughout  the  United  States.  The 
flowers  are  small,  of  a  delicate  blue,  turning 
to  purplish,  and  the  plant,  when  out  of  flower, 
resembles  a  tuft  of  low-growing,  coarse  grass. 

Sitolo'bium.  A  small  genus  of  Ferns  now  in- 
cluded under  Dicksonia,  by  many  authorities. 

Si'um.  Skirret.  From  the  Celtic  Siw,  water, 
the  habitat  of  most  of  the  species.  Nat.  Ord. 
UmbelUferce. 

S.  sisarum,  the  only  useful  and  cultivated 
species,  is  a  handsome  perennial  plant,  indig- 
enous to  China  and  Japan,  is  popularly  known 
as  Skirret,  and  to  some  extent  used  as  a  vege- 
table. The  roots,  which  are  the  parts  used, 
are  composed  of  several  prongs,  about  the 
thickness  of  a  finger,  joined  together  at  the 
top ;  these  are  boiled  and  afterwards  served 
in  the  same  way  as  those  of  Salsify  and  Scor- 
zonera.  The  plants  are  best  grown  from 
seed,  and  require  a  wet  soil  to  succeed  well. 
This  species  is  placed  by  Hooker  and  Ben- 
tham  under  Pimpinella,  but  is  best  known  as 
above. 

Ski'mmia.  From  Skimmi,  a  Japanese  word 
signifying  a  hurtful  fruit.  Nat.  Ord.  Rutacece. 
A  genus  of  half  hardy,  evergreen  shrubs, 
natives  of  Japan  and  northern  India.  The 
species  known  as  S.  Japonica  is  a  pretty, 
dwarf-growing,  holly-like  shrub,  with  dark, 
shining,  evergreen,  entire,  flat  leaves,  and 
clusters  of  bright  red  berries,  which  give  the 
plant  a  very  handsome  appearance.  Dr. 
Masters  ("Gardener's  Chronicle,"  April,  1889), 
after  studying  up  the  various  Skimmias  grown 
in  English  gardens,  finds  that  much  confu- 
sion has  existed  among  botanists  and  culti- 
vators about  these  plants,  and  that  the  plant 
universally  known  as  S.  Japonica  is  not  that 
species  at  all,  and  that  it  is  not  even  known 
to  belong  to  Japan,  but  that  the  plant  de- 
scribed as  S.  oblata  is  the  true  S.  Japonica 
of  Thunberg  and  of  Siebold  and  Zuccarini, 
or  rather  the  female  of  that  species,  in  which 
male  and  female  flowers  are  separated  on  dif- 
ferent individuals.  The  S.  Japonica  of  gar- 
dens, so  considered  by  Lindley,  with  whom 
all  this  confusion  originated,  and  afterward 
by  Sir  W.  Hooker,  when  it  was  first  intro- 
duced by  Fortune  from  China,  in  1849,  Dr. 
Masters  now  first  properly  distinguishes 
under  the  new  name  of  8.  Fortunei.  This  is 
the  common  .species  in  cultivation.  Dr. 
Masters  calls  attention  to  the  interesting 
facts  that  this  plant  is  not  represented  by 
wild  specimens  in  herbaria,  and  that  its  Chi- 
nese origin  rests  upon  Fortune's  own  state- 
ments with  regard  to  it,  which  he  says  have 
been  generally  overlooked,  although  pub- 
lished in  the  "Gardener's  Chronicle"  for  1852, p. 
739,  from  which  it  appears  that  Fortune  found' 
this  plant  in  a  nursery- garden  at  Shanghai,  to 
which  he  was  told  it  had  been  brought  from  a 
high  mountain  in  the  interior  called  "  Nang 
Shang."  It  is  certainly  both  interesting  and 
curious  that  nothing  more  definite  is  known 
of  the  origin  of  a  plant  which  has  become  one 
of  the  most  popular  and  universally  used 
evergreen  shrubs  of  English  gardens.  S. 
Foremani  is  a  new  form  just  introduced  (1889) 
by  the  raiser  for  whom  it  is  named.  It  is  de- 
rived from  S.  oblata,  fertilized  with  the  pollen 
of  S.  fragrans.  It  is  free-growing,  and  when 
covered    with     its    bright    scarlet  fruits    is 


416 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SKI 

exceedingly  ornamental.  They  are  valuable 
hardy  shrubs  south  of  Washington. 

Skirret.     See  Slum. 

Skoke  Berry.  A  local  name  for  Phytolacca  de- 
candra. 

Skullcap.     See  Scutellaria. 

Skunk  Cabbage.     See  Symplocarpus  fastidus. 

Sleep-at-noon.     See  Tragopogon  pratensia. 

Slender  G-rass.     See  Leptochloa. 

SUpperwort.    See  Calceolaria. 

Sloe.    A  common  name  for  Prunus  spinosa. 

Slugs.    See  Insects. 

Smaragdinus.     Grass  green. 

Smart  Weed.     See  Polygonum. 

Smeathma'nnia.  In  honor  of  Smeathman,  a 
naturalist,  who  traveled  in  Africa,  and  col- 
lected many  botanical  specimens.  Nat.  Ord. 
Passifloracece. 

A  small  genus  of  white-flowered  green-house 
evergreen  shrubs  from  Sierra  Leone.  Like 
all  this  natural  order,  the  flowers  are  quite  as 
remarkable  for  singularity  of  form  as  for 
beauty.  This  genus,  unlike  any  others  of  the 
order,  are  upright  shrubs  instead  of  twining 
plants.  They  require  a  warm  house,  and  to 
be  well  cut  back  to  force  into  flower.  Propa- 
gated by  cuttings.    Introduced  in  1823. 

Smilaci'na.  False  Solomon's  Seal.  From  smile, 
a  scraper ;  alluding  to  the  roughness  of  the 
stems.     Nat.  Ord.   Liliace<E. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  herbaceous  plants, 
with  terminal  racemes  of  small  white  flowers. 
They  are  common  in  moist  woods  in  the  North- 
ern and  Western  States.  S.  bifolia  (syn. 
Maianthemum  bifolium)  is  a  beautiful  little 
plant,  about  six  inches  high,  and  is  popularly 
known  in  the  New  England  States  as  Wild 
Lily  of  the  Valley.  All  the  species  are  worthy 
a  place  in  the  garden  for  their  long  bunches 
of  beautiful,  light-red,  purple-speckled  berries, 
which  remain  until  late  in  autumn.  Propa- 
gated from  seed  or  root  division.  Syn.  Sigil- 
laria,  Medora,  etc. 

Smi'lax.  Green  Brier,  Cat  Brier.  From  smile, 
a  scraper ;  the  stems  are  rough  from  prickles. 
Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

The  many  species  of  this  genus  are  coarse- 
growing,  troublesome,  hardy  climbers,  justly 
regarded  as  pests  by  farmers  and  gardeners. 
The  common  Cat  Brier  of  our  hedgerows  and 
woods,  a  prominent  member  of  this  family, 
has  its  reputation  too  well  established  to  need 
further  description.  The  genus  includes  some 
species  celebrated  for  their  medicinal  proper- 
ties. S.  officinalis,  a  native  of  Columbia, 
Guatemala  and  Lima,  furnishes  the  drug 
known  as  Sarsaparilla ;  besides  this,  there  are 
several  other  species,  the  roots  of  which  are 
sold  as  Sarsaparilla.  S.  medica  is  the  Mexican 
Sarsaparilla  and  S.  papyracea  is  the  Brazilian 
Sarsaparilla.  S.  China  has  esculent  roots, 
which  are  eaten  by  the  Chinese  and  also  used 
in  the  manufacture  of  domestic  beer.  The 
roots  of  several  species  of  the  Aralia  are  used 
in  the  adulteration  of  Sarsaparilla.  "  Smilax," 
popularly  known  as  such,  is  the  plant  so  ex- 
tensively grown  for  festooning,  and  is  des- 
cribed under  its  proper  name,  Myraiphyllum, 
which  see. 

Smoke  Tree.    See  Rhus  Cotinua. 


SOF 

Smut.  A  Fungus  which  grows  among  the  tissues 
of  the  stamens,  ovaries,  and  leaves  of  various 
plants,  but  which  especially  infests  Corn, 
Wheat,  Barley,  Oats  and  other  plants  of  the 
same  natural  order.  Owing  to  the  Fungi 
developing  and  growing  within  the  host- 
plants,  no  remedies  can  be  employed  that  will 
not  kill  the  plant  also ;  the  affected  plant 
should  therefore  be  rooted  up  and  burned  to 
prevent  the  spread  of  the  disease. 

Snail  Flcwer.     See  Phaseolus  Caracalla. 

Snail  Plant.  Medicago  scutellata  and  M.  helix, 
the  pods  of  which  are  called  Snails  from  their 
resemblance  to  those  mollusks. 

Snake  Cucumber.    See  Trichosanthes. 

Snake  Root.  Black.  A  common  name  tor  Actcea 
racemosa  and  Sa7iicula  racemosa. 
Button.     Various  species  of  Liatris, 
Canadian.     Asarum  Canadense. 
Seneca.     Polygala  Senega. 

Snake  Root.     Virginian.     Aristolochia  serpen- 

taria. 
Snake  Root. 

toides. 

Snake' s-beard 
Suake's-head. 


White.     See  Eupatorium  agera- 


The  genus  Ophiopogon. 

Fritillaria  meleagris,  also  a  local 
name  applied  to  Chelone. 

Snake's-mouth.     Pogonia  Ophioglossoides. 

Snake-weed.     Polygonum  bistorta. 

Snake-'wood.     See  Brosimum. 

Snapdragon.     See  Antirrhinum. 

SneezevT^eed.     See  Helenium  autumnale. 

Sneezcwort.     Achillea  Ptarmica. 

Snow-ball.    Wild.     Ceanothus  Americanus. 

Snow^ball  Tree.     See  Viburnum  opulus. 

Suo'wberry.     See  Symphoricarpus. 

Snow-bush.    California.     Ceanothus  cordulatus. 

Snow  Creeper.    East  Indian.     See  Parana. 

Sno'w-cups.    Water.     Ranunculus  aquatilis. 

Snowdrop.     Crimean.     Galanthus  plicatus. 

Snow^drop.    Summer.     Leucojum  cestivum. 

Snowdrop.     See  Galanthus  nivalis. 

Snow^drop  Tree.     See  Halesia. 

Snow-flake.    Autumn.     Leucojum  autumnale. 
Spring.     Leucojum  vernum. 
Summer.     Leucojum  cestivum. 
Winter.     Leucojum  hyemale. 

Snovsrflake.     The  genus  Leucojum. 

Snowflake  Flower.    See  Styrax  Japonica. 

Sno'wrflo'wer.     Chionanthus  Virginica. 

Snovr-flo^wer.     Japanese.     Deutzia  gracilis. 

Snow  Glory.     Chionodoxa  Lucilioe. 

Snow  in  Summer.     Cerastium  tomentosum. 

Snow  on  the  Mountain.     Euphorbia  variegaia. 

Soapwort.     The  genus  Saponaria. 

Soap  Bark  Tree.     Quillaja  Saponaria. 

Soap  Berry  Tree.     Sapindus  Saponaria. 

Soap  Bulb.      A  common  name  for  Chlorogalum 
I        Pomeridianum. 

\   Soap-Root.     Egyptian.     Va<:caria  vulgaris. 
I   Soboliferous.      Bearing  vigorous,  lithe  shoots 
I       from  near  the  ground. 
'   Soft  Grass.  A  common  name  for  Holctis  mollia. 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


417 


SOB 

Sobra'lia.  Named  after  Don  F.  M.  Sobral,  a 
Spanish  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

Tiie  flowers  of  the  principal  species  (<S.  ma- 
crantha)  are  gorgeously  colored,  of  a  rich  rosy 
purple  and  the  most  intense  crimson,  and 
they  are  at  the  same  time  of  large  size. 
All  the  species  belong  to  the  class  of  terres- 
trial Orchids,  being  found  on  the  margins  of 
streams,  growing  lilie  our  reeds,  in  the  alluvial 
deposit  common  to  such  places.  This  habit 
requires  to  be  Imitated  in  cultivation,  and  it 
Is  therefore  best  to  pot  them  in  very  sandy 
loam,  and  either  to  place  the  pot  for  a  few 
inches  of  its  deptlr  in  a  saucer  of  water,  or  to 
supply  the  roots  by  some  other  means  abun- 
dantly with  water  while  they  are  in  an  active 
state.  The  flowers  are  produced  near  the  apex 
of  the  long,  reed-like  stems,  and  in  the  species 
mentioned  are  produced  in  daily  succession, 
each  one  lasting  a  day,  when  it  has  been  ob- 
served necessary  to  remove  the  decaying  flower 
as  soon  as  its  beauty  is  past,  or  it  rots,  and  con- 
sequently spoils  the  next  in  succession.  Being 
natives  of  the  milder  parts  of  Guatemala,  they 
do  not  require  a  very  high  temperature  at  any 
time,  the  ordinary  one  ot  a  green-house  being 
sufficient  in  summer,  and  from  45°  to  50"  in 
winter,  when  the  plants  should  be  kept  nearly 
dry.  There  are  three  other  species  known, 
S.  decora,  S.  liliaslrum  and  S.  sessilis,  all  of 
them  beautiful,  but  far  surpassed  by  the  first 
mentioned.  They  are  all  natives  of  Central  and 
South  America  and  were  introduced  in  1836. 

Soil.  A  good  soil  is  the  base  of  success  in  all 
operations  of  the  garden  What  the  proper- 
ties of  a  good  soil  are  is  not  very  easy  to  con- 
vey in  writing,  as  quality  is  not  always  con- 
fined to  a  particular  color  or  texture,  though 
the  practical  horticulturist  can  nearly  always 
tell,  by  turning  up  with  a  spade,  the  relative 
qualities  of  a  soil.  If  selection  can  be  made 
for  general  purposes,  a  rather  dark-colored 
soil  should  be  chosen,  neither  too  sandy  nor 
too  clayey,  and  as  deep  as  can  be  found,  but 
not  less  than  ten  inches,  or  the  chances  are 
that  it  will  not  be  of  first  quality.  It  should 
overlay  a  sandy  loam  of  yellowish  color, 
through  which  water  will  pass  freely.  The 
condition  of  the  subsoil  is  of  the  first  impor- 
tance in  choosing  soil.  Sandy  loam  we  believe 
to  be  the  best ;  next  to  that  a  porous  gravel, 
and  the  least  to  be  desired  is  a  stiflf,  blue  clay. 
Land  having  a  clay  subsoil  is  always  later  in 
maturing  crops  than  one  having  a  sandy  or 
gravelly  subsoil ;  and,  if  the  land  is  at  all  level, 
draining  is  indispensable  at  every  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet,  or  no  satisfaction  can  be  had  in 
culture.  It  is  a  common  belief  that  poor  land 
can  be  brought  up  by  cultivation.  A  portion 
of  the  land  used  by  us  has  the  blue  clay  sub- 
soil above  referred  to,  and,  although  in  the 
past  twenty  years  we  have  expended  large 
sums  in  draining,  subsoiling,  and  manuring, 
we  have  failed  to  get  it  into  the  condition  of 
other  portions  of  our  grounds  having  the 
proper  subsoil,  and  do  not  think  that  any  cult- 
ure would  bring  it  into  as  good  shape. 

The  soil  for  potting  plants  in  is  often  a 
matter  causing  great  anxiety  to  the  amateur 
florist,  many  of  the  books  giving  advice  on  the 
subject  insisting  that  special  kinds  are  indis- 
pensable for  differentfamilies  of  plants.  We  are 
glad  to  tell  our  readers  that  in  our  own  estab- 
lishment, where  upward  of  two   millions  of 


SOL 

plants  are  now  grown  annually  in  pots,  we  do 
not  find  it  necessary  to  make  these  nice  dis- 
tinctions. The  great  bulk  of  the  soil  we  use 
in  potting  is  composed  of  sods  cut  about  three 
inches  deep  from  any  good  sod  land,  preferring  , 
such  as  is  known  as  sandy  loam.  The  sods 
are  heaped  up  in  alternate  layers  of  one-fourth 
of  thoroughly  rotted  horse  or  cow  manure  or 
rotted  refuse  hops  from  breweries,  when  such 
are  obtainable.  Either  of  these  three  manures 
will  do,  separately  or  mixed  together,  as  con- 
venient. This  compost  is  better  to  stand  six 
or  eight  months,  but  often  our  necessities 
compel  us  to  use  it  much  sooner,  which  makes 
no  material  difference,  provided  it  is  at  a  season 
of  the  year  when  the  sod  will  rot.  The  man- 
)ire  and  sods  are  thoroughly  mixed  and  chopped 
up,  and  for  the  smaller  plants  is  run  through 
a  fine  sieve. 

Peat,  so  much  insisted  on  as  a  necessity 
for  Azaleas,  Ferns  and  other  fine-rooted 
plants,  we  rarely  use,  substituting  instead 
either  mould  formed  from  thoroughly  rotted 
refuse  hops,  or  dried  Moss  (Sphagnum)  run 
through  a  fine  sieve  ;  either  of  these,  mixed  in 
about  equal  parts  with  our  sod  mould,  we 
use  instead  of  peat  for  all  thread-like  rooting 
plants.  Besides,  true  peat  is  rarely  to  be 
found  in  this  country,  and  is  well  replaced  by 
leaf  mould,  if  necessary. 

Soil  for  Seeds.     See  "  Propagation  by  Seeds." 

Soil.  Importance  of  firming.  See  "Sowing, 
use  of  the  feet  in." 

So'ja.  From  soqja,  the  name  of  a  sauce  made 
from  the  seeds  in  Japan.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumi- 
nosce. 

S.  hispida  is  a  climbing  annual  plant,  allied 
to  Dolichos.  It  is  much  cultivated  in  tropical 
Asia  on  account  of  its  beans,  which  are  used 
for  preparing  a  well-known  brown  and  slight- 
ly salt  sauce  (Soy)  used  both  in  Asia  and 
Europe  for  flavoring  certain  dishes,  especially 
beef,  and  supposed  to  favor  digestion.  Of 
late  it  has  been,  to  some  extent,  cultivated  as 
an  oil  plant. 

Solana'ceae.  A  large  natural  order  of  erect  or 
climbing  shrubs  or  herbs,  natives  of  all  tropi- 
cal countries,  but  more  especially  of  America; 
a  few  are  also  found  in  more  temperate  cli- 
mates. Many  are  remarkable  for  their  strong 
narcotic,  poisonous  qualities.  The  most  use- 
ful of  all  to  man  is  the  Potato  {Solanum  tuber- 
osum) ;  Tobacco  (Nicotiana)  is  also  a  very 
important  article  of  commerce.  The  Tomato 
(Lycopersicum)  is  very  largely  cultivated,  as 
is  also  the  Egg  Plant  (Solarium  Melongena). 
Belladonna,  Henbane  and  Stramonium  are 
used  largely  in  medicine  There  are  about 
sixty  genera,  the  most  important  of  which 
are  Capsicum,  Nicotiana,  Physalis,  Datura, 
Hyoscyamus,  Solanum,  Petunia,  etc. 

Sola'ndra.  Named  after  Dr.  Solander,  a  Swede, 
companion  of  Sir  Joseph  Banks  in  his  voyage 
around  the  world  and  collector  of  the  botani- 
cal notes  made  during  the  expedition.  They 
are  preserved  in  the  British  Museum  and  ex- 
hibit deep  learning  and  great  research.  Nat. 
Ord.  SolanacecB. 

A  genus  of  coarse-growing,  green-house, 
evergreen  shrubs  and  climbers,  natives  of 
tropical  America  and  the  East  Indies.  The 
flowers  ai-e  large  and  trumpet-shaped,  like 
the  Datura,  to  which  they  are  allied.     They 


ilS 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SOL 

grow  readily  in  the  green-house,  and  make 
showy  plants,  the  objection  to  them  being 
that  they  are  coarse.  They  are  increased 
readily  from  cuttings.  Introduced  in  1820. 
Sola'num.  Nightshade.  The  derivation  of  this 
word  is  quite  uncertain  ;  some  derive  it  from 
Sol,  the  sun ;  others  say  it  is  Sulanum,  from 
8US,  being  serviceable  in  the  disorders  of 
swine  ;  and  others  assert  that  it  is  from  solor, 
to  comfort,  referring  to  its  soothing,  narcotic 
effects.     Nat.  Ord.  Solcmacece. 

This  ver^''  extensive  genus  is  composed  of  a 
great  number  of  varied  forms,  from  that  of 
a  tropical  tree  to  the  creeping,  indigenous 
weed ;  it  also  includes  plants  which  produce 
valuable  articles  of  food,  as  well  as  several 
species  whose  active  properties  are  danger- 
ously poisonous.  The  most  important  spe- 
cies in  the  genus  is  S.  tuberosum,  which  is 
described  at  length  under  its  more  familiar 
name.  Potato  (which  see).  S.  melongena,  or 
Egg  Plant  of  our  gardens,  "Aubergine"  of 
the  French,  is  a  valued  article  of  food  in  its 
season,  and  the  berries  of  several  other  spe- 
cies are  edible.  S.  Dulcamara,  with  oval  red 
berries,  and  S.  nigrum,  with  globular  black 
berries,  are  the  Bittersweet  and  common 
Nightshade  of  our  hedges  and  roadsides,  the 
fruits  of  which  are  poisonous.  Several  of  the 
species  are  desirable  for  ornamental  purposes. 
S.  Jasminoides  is  a  valuable  green-house 
climber,  producing,  with  but  little  trouble, 
an  immense  number  of  axillary  clusters  of 
pure  white  flowers  nearly  all  season.  It  is  a 
rapid  grower,  and  suitable  to  train  on  a  back 
wall  or  on  pillars  or  rafters.  S.  Capsicastrum, 
S.  Pseudo-capsicum,  S.  ciliatum,  S.  Hendersonii, 
and  others  are  popular  plants  for  green-house 
or  house  decoration  when  covered  with  their 
bright  colored  berries.  S.  marginatum,  S. 
Warscewifzii  and  S.  robustum  are  very  showy 
large-leaved  plants,  and  are  valuable  for  sub- 
tropical decoration.  A  large  number  of  other 
species  have  been  introduced,  and  many  of 
them  are  useful  on  account  of  their  ornamen- 
tal appearance.  The  annuals,  and  a  large 
number  of  the  other  species,  may  be  readily 
raised  from  seeds.  Those  which  bear  tubers 
may  be  readily  increased  thereby,  and  the 
stove  and  green-house  shrubby  sorts  may 
generally  be  propagated  from  cuttings.  Out 
of  twenty  tuber-bearing  species  which  have 
been  named,  J.  G.  Baker,  in  the  "Journal  of 
the  Linnean  Society,"  vol.  xx.,  is  of  opinion 
"that  six,  viz.,  S.  tuberosum,  S.  Maglia,  8. 
Cotnmersoni,  S.  cardiophyllum,  S.  Jamesii  and 
S.  oxycarpum,  possess  a  fair  claim  to  be  con- 
sidered as  distinct  species  in  a  broad  sense." 

Sola'ria.  Named  in  honor  of  Francisci  de  Borja 
Solar,  an  eminent  Chilian  mathematician. 
Nat.  Ord.  Liliacem. 

S.  Miersioidej^,  the  only  species  introduced, 
is  a  remarkable,  green-house,  bulbous  plant, 
with  small  green  flowers,  introduced  from 
Chili  in  1871.  It  is  seldom  found  in  cultiva- 
tion except  in  botanical  collections,  and  is 
increased  by  seeds  or  offsets. 

Soldane'Ua.  A  diminutive  of  solidus,  a  shil- 
ling ;  shape  of  the  leaves.  Nat.  Ord.  Primu- 
lacem. 

A  small  genus  of  beautiful  little  alpine 
plants,  very  suitable  for  rock-work.  They 
are  half-hardy,  herbaceous  perennials,  with 
purple  or  blue  flowers,  natives  of  Switzerland. 


SON 

They  will  not  stand  the  hot,  dry  iveather  of 
this  country  unless  great  care  is  taken  to 
keep  them  shaded  from  the  mid-day  sun,  and 
they  must  not  be  allowed  to  get  dry.  Propa- 
gated by  division  or  from  seeds. 

So'lea.  Green  Violet.  In  honor  of  W.  Sole, 
author  of  an  essay  on  the  genus  Mentha.  Nat. 
Ord.  Violacece. 

S.  concolor,  the  only  known  species,  is  com- 
mon in  woods  from  New  York  southward, 
Syn.  lonidium. 

Soleno'phora.  From  solen,  a  tube,  and  phtrein, 
to  bear;  in  allusion  to  the  tubular  form  of 
the  corolla.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneracem. 

A  small  genus  of  plant-stove,  evergreen, 
pubescent  shrubs,  natives  of  Mexico.  S. 
coccinea  forms  a  neat  plant,  bearing  showy, 
bright  scarlet  flowers  in  the  axils  of  the 
leaves.  S.Endlicheriana  is  a  handsome  plant 
with  flowers  of  a  bright  orange  color  marked 
with  purple,  and  large,  broadlj'-elliptic,  heavy 
leaves,  a  foot  or  more  long,  borne  on  long 
petioles.  They  require  the  same  treatment 
as  Gloxinia.    Syn.  Arctocalyx. 

Solida'go.  Golden  Kod.  From  solidare,  to 
unite  ;  alluding  to  its  supposed  healing  prop- 
erties.    Nat.  Ord.  CompositcB. 

A  very  extensive  genus  of  hardy,  herba- 
ceous perennials,  indigenous  to  and  com- 
mon thi'oughout  the  United  States,  only  one 
species  being  found  in  Asia  or  Europe.  The 
beauty  of  the  plant  would  warrant  its  cultiva- 
tion, had  not  Nature's  hand  rendered  it  en- 
tirely unnecessary. 

So'llya.  Named  in  honor  of  Richard  Horsman 
Solly,  a  vegetable  physiologist  and  anatomist. 
Nat.  Ord.  Pittosporacem. 

A  small  genus  of  slender,  twining,  ever- 
green shrubs  of  much  beauty.  Their  leaves 
are  narrow,  quite  smooth,  of  a  deep,  glossy 
green  on  the  upper  surface,  and  paler  be- 
neath. The  flowers  are  deep  blue,  and  pro- 
duced in  terminal  cymes  or  clusters  of  from 
six  to  ten  flowers  each.  Though  properly 
green-house  plants,  they  are  well  adapted  for 
summer  flowering  in  the  open  border.  8. 
heterophylla,  typical  of  the  genus,  is  a  native 
of  the  Swan  River  country,  where  all  the 
species  are  found.  It  was  discovered  by  Mr. 
Drumraond,  and  sent  to  England  in  1836.  It 
is  increased  either  by  cuttings  or  from  seed, 
the  latter  being  preferable.  All  the  species 
are  hardy  from  Virginia  southward. 

Solomon's  Seal.    See  PolygonatummulHflorum. 

Solomon's  Seal.    False.     See  Smilacina. 

So'nchus.  Sow  Thistle.  From  somphos,  hol- 
low; the  stems  are  hoUow.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positcB. 

The  more  common  species  of  this  genus  are 
coarse,  roadside  weeds,  naturalized  from  Eu- 
rope. One  or  two  species  with  j'ellow  flow- 
ers, from  the  Madeira  and  Canary  Isles,  are 
very  ornamental.  They  are,  however,  rarely 
cultivated. 

Soneri'la.  From  Sootli-Soneri-ila,  the  Khassee 
name  of  one  of  the  species.  Nat.  Ord.  Melas- 
tomacece. 

A  very  extensive  genus  of  East  Indian 
plants,  remarkable  in  the  order  for  having  all 
the  several  parts  of  their  flowers  in  whorls  of 
three,  or  trimerous,  as  it  is  technically  called. 
The  plants  are  mostly  herbaceous,  though 
sometimes  sub-shrubby,  and  of  variable  habit ; 


AND   GENERAL  HOETICULTURE. 


419 


SON 

some  with  and  others  without  stems ;  some 
glabrous  and  others  hirsute  ;  and  some  with 
different  liinds  of  leaves  on  the  same  plant. 
Their  flowers  are  mostly  purple  or  violet,  borne 
on  a  scaphoid  or  boat-like  raceme.  Some  of 
the  hot-house  species  are  beautiful  plants.  S. 
Hendersoni  and  its  varieties,  and  S.  margari- 
tacea,  with  their  handsomely  marked  foliage, 
are  the  most  desirable.  They  require  a  warm, 
moist  atmosphere  to  succeed  well,  and  grow 
best  in  a  soil  composed  chiefly  of  leaf  mould 
and  sand.  Propagated  by  cuttings  and  from 
seeds. 

Sonnera'tia.  Named  in  honor  of  Pierre  Son- 
nerat,  a  botanical  traveler  and  collector. 
Nat.  Ord.  MyrtacexB. 

A  genus  of  very  glabrous  shrubs  or  small 
trees  inhabiting  the  coast  regions  of  India 
and  the  islands  of  the  Eastern  Archipelago. 
All  the  species  have  opposite,  entire  leaves, 
without  dots,  and  large,  usually  solitary,  ter- 
minal flowers.  Dr.  McClelland,  in  his  "  Re- 
port on  the  Teak  Forests  of  Peru,"  states 
that  the  Kambala,  S.  apetala,  is  found 
throughout  the  Sunderbunds  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Ganges,  and  as  far  south  as  Rangoon, 
and  that  its  strong,  hard,  close-grained  wood 
is  used  at  Calcutta  for  making  packing-cases 
for  beer  and  wine.  Several  ornamental  spe- 
cies have  been  introduced,  and  are  propagated 
by  seeds,  which  ripen  freely,  or  by  cuttings. 

Sopho'ra.  Altered  from  sopfiera,  the  Arabic 
name  of  a  leguminous  tree.  Nat.  Ord.  Legu- 
minoscB. 

A  genus  of  deciduous  trees,  hardy  herba- 
ceous plants,  and  green  house  evergreens. 
Sophora  Japonica,  the  Chinese  or  Japan- 
ese Pagoda  Tree,  is  a  medium-sized  tree, 
grows  freely,  and  produces  its  large  bunches 
of  cream-colored  flowers  in  August  and  Sep- 
tember. The  drooping  Sophora,  however, 
though  only  considered  a  variety  of  the 
tree,  is  very  distinct.  It  is  a  trailing  shrub, 
sending  out  shoots  six  feet  or  eight  feet  long 
in  a  single  season  ;  and  when  it  is  grafted  on 
a  stock  of  S.  Japonica,  ten  or  twelve  feet 
high,  these  long,  sweeping  shoots,  the  bark 
of  which  is  a  bright  green,  have  a  peculiarly 
graceful  appearance.  The  Sophora  will  grow 
in  any  soil,  but  a  poor  one  suits  it  better 
than  a  rich  one ;  its  leaves  seldom  drop,  even 
in  the  driest  seasons. 

Sophroni'tis.  From  sophrona,  modest;  refer- 
ring to  the  pretty  little  flowers  of  the  original 
species.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

Pretty  little  epiphytes,  having  a  creeping 
stem,  which  should  be  attached  to  a  block  of 
wood,  on  which  the  root  soon  securely  fastens 
itself.  The  leaves  are  sessile  and  compara- 
tively small,  while  the  flowers,  especially 
those  of  S.  grandijiora,  are  large  and  very 
handsome,  of  a  rich  orange-red,  marked  with 
darker  bars.  The  plants  should  have  the 
treatment  of  the  smaller  kinds  of  Cattleya,  and 
are  well  deserving  the  attention  of  culti- 
vators. The  various  species  included  in  this 
genus  are  natives  of  Brazil,  and  were  first 
introduced  in  1827. 

So'rbus.  The  generic  name  given  by  Linnaeus  to 
the  Mountain  Ash,  or  Rowan-tree,  the  culti- 
vated Service-tree,  and  a  few  others,  which, 
by  their  pinnate  leaves  more  than  anything 
else,  appear  to  differ  from  Pyrus.  Modern 
botanists  now  refer  them  to  Pyrus,  which  see. 


SOE 

So'rghum.     From  Sorghi,  its  Indian  name.  Nat. 
Ord.  Graminacece. 

A  genus  of  strong-growing,  reed-like 
grasses,  chiefly  represented  in  this  country 
by  8.  saccharatum,  our  well-known  Broom 
Corn,  a  native  of  India,  from  whence  it  was 
introduced  into  Europe  in  1759.  The  intro- 
duction of  Broom  Corn  into  this  country  as 
an  agricultural  product  is  attributed  to  Dr. 
Franklin.  He  is  said  to  have ,  accidentally 
seen  an  imported  whisk  of  corn  in  the  posses- 
sion of  a  lady  of  Philadelphia,  and  while  ex- 
amining it  as  a  curiosity,  found  a  seed,  which 
he  planted,  and  from  that  single  seed  has 
sprung  this  important  article  of  agriculture 
and  manufacture  in  the  United  States.  This 
species  is  grown  almost  exclusively  for  the 
manufacture  of  brooms ;  the  seed  is,  however, 
valued  highly  for  feeding  to  sheep,  cattle  and 
fowls.  The  seed  crop  is  a  precarious  one, 
often  completely  failing,  being  injured  by  the 
frost  before  it  is  ripe.  The  crop  is  usually 
harvested  before  the  seed  is  fairly  ripe ;  hence 
there  is  considerable  loss  in  that  way.  The 
seed  crop  is,  however,  only  a  secondary  mat- 
ter, and  the  proflt  that  accrues  from  the  seed 
is  regarded  an  extra  dividend  on  the  profits 
of  the  farm.  S.  sucre  is  the  Chinese  Sugar 
Cane,  or  Imphee,  a  species  introduced  into  the 
United  States  from  France  in  1856,  and  dis- 
tributed by  the  Patent  Office  Department  at 
Washington,  but  more  extensively  by  an  en- 
terprising publisher  in  New  York  as  a  premium 
to  his  subscribers  throughout  the  United 
States,  for  the  purpose  of  growing  the  plant 
for  the  manufacture  of  sugar  in  our  Northern 
States,  which  its  advocates  said  could  be  done 
more  profitably  than  sugar  was  produced  at 
the  South  from  the  ordinary  cane.  The  Abo- 
litionists at  the  North,  who  could  not  consci- 
entiously use  the  products  of  slave  labor, 
were  particularly  active  in  introducing  Sor- 
ghum, and  were  greatly  disappointed  when 
they  found  that  the  labor  of  the  slave  was  not 
to  be  lessened  by  the  withdrawal  from  the 
South  of  one  of  its  most  profitable  industries. 
S.  vulgare,  another  species,  is  the  grand  Millet 
of  Arabia,  known  here  as  Durraor  Doura,  and 
which  has  been  introduced  into  the  United 
States,  southern  Europe,  China  and  the  "West 
Indies,where  it  is  extensively  grown  and  much 
esteemed  as  food  for  laborers,  and  is  called  in 
the  latter  country  Negro  Guinea  Corn.  It  is 
also  grown  extensively  as  a  forage  plant.  S. 
halapense,  a  handsome  species  from  southern 
Europe,  northern  Africa,  Syria,  etc.,  is  most 
attractive  when  in  fiower  at  the  end  of  sum- 
mer, the  inflorescence  consisting  of  a  dense 
panicle  of  purplish,  awned  flowers.  It  is  a 
most  suitable  plant  for  groups  or  isolated 
specimens.  It  is  now  naturalized  in  some  of 
the  Southern  States  where  it  is  known  as 
Guinea  Grass,  Cuba  Grass,  and  more  gener- 
ally as  Johnson  Grass,  which  see.  S.  cer- 
nuum  is  also  grown  there,  and  is  known  as 
Drooping  Sorghum  and  Pampas  Rice.  All 
the  species  are  grown  in  the  same  manner  as 
our  common  field  corn.  The  cultivation  of 
Sorghum  for  the  production  of  sugar  and 
syrup  has  i-eceived  a  good  deal  of  attention 
within  a  few  years  past,  and  many  experiments 
have  been  made,  and  continue  to  be  made, 
with  various  kinds  of  Sorghum,  to  ascertain 
not  only  their  adaptability  to  particular  soils 
and    localities,    but    their    sugar-producing 


420 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SOR 

capacity.    The  "  Report  of  the  Department  of 
Agriculture "  for  1879,  contains   a  veiy    in- 
teresting   and    instructive    report    from  the 
chemist  of  the  department,  giving  the  results 
not  only  of  the  yield  per  acre  of  the  four  lead- 
ing kinds  of  Sorghum,  as  grown  on  the  ex- 
perimental grounds,  but  also  the  quantity  of 
sugar  and  syrup  extracted  from  each  kind. 
The  report  is  accompanied  by  many  very  use- 
ful tables.      Believing  the    matter    of    this 
report  to  be  valuable  to  those  interested  in 
the  cultui-e  of  Sorghum,  we  have  condensed  a 
portion  of  it,  and  herewith  present  it :    Dur- 
ing the  past  season  (1879)  there  have  been 
made  several  series  of  investigations  for  the 
purpose  of  determining  the  development  of 
sugar  in  the  juices  of  several  varieties  of  Sor- 
ghum, Maize  and  Pearl  Millet.      These  inves- 
tigations appear  to  demonstrate  that  there 
exists  little  difference  between  the  various 
kinds  of  Sorghum  as  sugar-producing  plants  ; 
and,  what  is  quite  a  surprising  result,  each  of 
them  is,  at  a  certain  period  of  its  develop- 
ment, nearly,  if  not  quite,  as  rich  in  sugar  as 
the  very 'best  of  Sugar-cane.     It  is  a  matter, 
also,  of  extreme  practical  importance  that  this 
maximum  content  of  sugar  is  maintained  for 
a  long  period,  and  affords  sulHcient  time  to 
work  up  a  large  crop.      Another  result  of 
these  investigations  has  been  to  satisfactorily 
explain  the  cause  of  repeated  failuie  in  the 
production  of  sugar  during  the  past  quarter 
of  a  centurj',  and  to  give  the  assurance  that, 
in  the  future,   such  failure  need  not  attend 
this  industry.     For  the  purpose  of  making 
clear  the  above  points,  the  results  obtahied  in 
the  laboratory  and  in  out-of-door  experiments 
are  appended.      The  varieties   of    Sorghum 
grown  and  subjected  to  continuous  investi- 
gation during  the  season  were  Early  Amber, 
White   Liberian,  Chinese  and  Honduras,  and 
the  Pearl  Millet.    Besides  the  above  there 
were  made  very  many  examinations  of  other 
specimens  of  Sorghums  and  Corn-stalks  ;    all 
the  results  of  which  only  confirmed  the  gen- 
eral principles  above  stated,  viz.,  the  prac- 
tical equality  and  great  value  of  every  variety 
of  this  plant.     The  Early  Amber  Sorghum  is 
the  favorite  variety  with  planters  in  Minne- 
sota and  the  Northwest.    What  is  now  called 
the  Minnesota  Early  Amber  Cane  is  claimed 
as  an  improvement  upon  the  Early  Amber 
varieties  grown  formerly  in  different  parts  of 
Minnesota,  by  Hon.  Seth  M.  Kenny  and  Mr. 
C.  F.  Miller,   of  that  State.     Acting   ou  the 
theory  that  cane  in  a  high  latitude  will  degen- 
erate if  grown  continuously  from    its    own 
seed,  these  gentlemen  selected  the  finest  spec- 
imens of  seed  from  their  own  crops  and  sent 
them  to  a  southern  latitude  to  be  grown.   The 
seed  product  of  this  southern  growth    was 
returned  to  Minnesota.     By  this  alternation 
of  seed,  and  by  other  intelligent  processes  of 
culture,  they  have  succeeded  in  establishing 
a  new  and  permanent  variety,   which    they 
claim  to  be  more  productive  in  weight  of  cane 
and  to  contain  a  higher  per  cent,  of  saccha- 
rine matter  than  any  other  grown   in  that 
State.    This  claim  needs  to  be  substantiated 
by  more  careful  and  extended  observations 
before  it  can  be  said  to  be  fully  established. 
Messrs.  Kenny  and  Miller  describe  the  Early 
Amber  Cane  as  presenting  "the  characteristics 
of  both  Sorgho  and  Imphee."    By  Sorgho  they 
mean  the  Chinese  Sorgho,  and  by  Imphee  the 


SOR 

white  Liberian  and  its  kindred  African  varie- 
ties. The  Early  Amber  receives  its  name 
from  its  early  ripening  and  from  the  bright 
amber  color  which  characterizes  its  syrup 
when  properly  made.  The  Early  Amber  Cane 
on  the  department  grounds  did  not  grow  quite 
so  tall  as  the  White  Liberian.  Its  seed-heads 
were  of  moderate  fullness  and  of  very  dark 
color.  The  Chinese  Sorghum  grew  on  the 
department  gi'ounds  to  about  the  same  height 
as  the  Early  Amber.  Its  seed-heads  are 
fuller  and  more  compact,  and  somewhat  re- 
semble a  head  of  Sumac ;  hence  the  synonym, 
' '  Sumac  Cane. "  It  is  also  known  as  ' '  Chinese 
Cane."  The  White  Liberian  Sorghum  is 
rather  taller  than  the  Early  Amber.  The 
stalk  curves  at  the  top,  leaving  the  head  pen- 
dant; hence  the  synonj-m,  "Gooseneck."  The 
seed-heads  are  shorter,  more  compact  and  of 
lighter  color  than  the  Early  Amber.  The 
Honduras  Sorghum  grows  about  one-half 
taller  than  either  of  the  above  varieties.  Its 
seed-top  is  reddish-brown  and  spreading; 
hence  the  synonym,  "Sprangle  Top."  It  is 
also  called  "  Mastodon,"  and  "  Honey  Cane." 
The  results  of  an  analysis  of  each  of  the 
plants  in  the  successive  stages  of  develop- 
ment show  tiiat  the  amount  of  glucose  (or  un- 
crystallizable  sugar)  diminishes,  and  the 
amount  of  sucrose  (or  true  cane  sugar)  in- 
creases. It  may  also  be  observed  that  the 
plants  differ  widely  in  the  date  when  the 
sucrose  is  at  its  maximum,  but  are  alike  in 
this,  that  this  maximum  is  attained  at  about 
the  same  degree  of  development  of  the  plant, 
viz.,  at  full  maturity,  as  indicated  by  the  hard, 
dry  seed,  and  the  appearance  of  offshoots 
from  the  upper  joints  of  the  stalk.  It  may 
also  be  obsei-ved  that  the  heavy  frost  of  Octo- 
ber 2J:,  which  was  sufficient  to  produce  one- 
half  inch  of  ice,  did  not  cause  any  marked 
diminution  of  sugar.  For  the  purpose  of  com- 
parison, analyses  were  made  of  three  varieties 
of  Sugar-cane  received  from  Louisiana,  which 
arrived  in  excellent  condition,  and  doubtless 
fairly  represented  the  average  character  of 
this  famous  sugar-plant.  It  will  be  under- 
stood that  the  results  are  to  be  taken  as  a 
whole,  since  it  was  practically  impossible  to 
secure  in  each  case  specimen  stalks  for  exam- 
ination in  the  laboratory,  the  d(?velopmejit  of 
which  in  every  case  corresponded  to  the  date 
when  the  plant  was  cut,  and,  therefort^,  it 
doubtless  happened  that  plants  taken  from 
the  same  row  upon  September  15,  for  exam- 
ple, were  in  reality  no  further  developed  than 
those  selected  a  week  earlier;  but,  taken  as  a 
whole,  the  several  series  of  the  analyses  are 
convincing,  as  showing  tlie  rate  and  progress 
of  development  of  saccharine  matter  in  the 
plant.  The  analyses  of  the  several  Sorghums 
under  date  of  October  29,  were  made  after 
they  had  been  subjected  to  a  very  hard  frost, 
sufficient  to  have  formed  ice  one-half  inch  in 
thickness,  and  this  cold  weather  continued 
for  four  days  before  this  examination  was 
made.  There  appeared  to  be  no  diminution 
of  sucrose  in  either  of  the  stalks  examined, 
and  no  increase  of  glucose,  as  the  result  of 
this  freezing  and  continued  exposui-e  to  a  low 
temperature.  An  examination  was  made  on 
the  8th  of  November,  after  a  few  days  of  warm 
weather  had  followed  this  cold  spell,  and  the 
influence  of  this  subsequent  thaw  was  notice- 
able in  the  diminution  of  sucrose  and  the  in- 


EOXiMnm  vTABscEwiozn. 


SOLuLNUM    LAVBICASTBUM. 


420  SORGHDM  HALAPEN8E  (JOHNSON  GKASS). 


BOBGHTTM  (EARLY  AMBEB). 


SPIEiEA  VAN   HOTJTTEn. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


421 


SOR 

crease  of  glucose- in  each  specimen  examined. 
From  this  it  would  appear  that  the  effect  of 
cold,  even  protracted,  is  not  injui'ious  to  the 
quality  of  the  canes,  but  that  they  should  be 
speedily  woriied  up  after  freezing  and  before 
they  have  again  thawed  out.  This  is  a  matter 
of  such  practical  importance  that  some  exper- 
iments slioiild  be  made  to  learn  whether  the 
syrup  prepared  from  the  juice  of  frozen  cane, 
differs  from  that  prepared  from  cane  not 
frozen,  but  in  other  respects  of  like  quality. 
The  Early  Amber,  Chinese,  Liberian  and 
Honduras  Sorghums  and  the  Pearl  Millet  ex- 
amined, mentioned  as  having  been  grown 
upon  the  department  grounds,  were  all  planted 
the  same  day.  May  15,  1879.  The  relative 
weights  of  the  different  kinds  of  Sorghum 
experimented  upon  are  as  follows  : 

Pounds. 

Early  Amber,  average  of  40  stalks 1.73 

White  Liberian,  average  of  38  stalks 1.80 

Chinese,  average  of  25  stalks   2.00 

Honduras,  average  of  16  stalks 3.64 

Sinc'>  these  were  all  grown  side  by  side,  and 
upon  land  presumably  of  equal  fertility,  it 
will  afford  the  data  for  calculating  the  rela- 
tive amount  of  each  variety  to  be  grown  per 
acre.  For  more  clearly  presenting  the  facts 
developed  by  the  examination  of  the  four 
kinds  of  Sorghum,  it  may  be  observed  that 
the  Early  Amber  and  Liberian  correspond  in 
their  development,  being  almost  identical, 
and  yet  clearly  distinct  varieties.  It  may 
also  be  stated,  that  while  these  two  varieties 
attain  a  content  of  sugar  in  their  juices  equal 
to  the  average  content  in  the  juice  of  Sugar- 
cane by  the  middle  of  August,  the  Chinese 
does  not  I'each  this  condition  until  the  last  of 
September,  while  the  Honduras  does  not 
reach  this  point  until  the  middle  of  October. 
After  having  attained  approximately  the  max- 
imum content  of  sugar,  this  condition  is 
maintained  for  a  long  period,  affording  ample 
time  to  work  up  the  crop.  It  is  doubtless 
true  that,  had  the  season  been  longer,  it 
would  have  been  found  that  the  Chinese  and 
Honduras,  having  once  attained  this  full  de- 
velopment, of  sugar,  Avould  also  have  retained 
it ;  but  the  heavy  frosts  and  subsequent  warm 
weather,  which  happened  about  November 
24th,  caused  a  rapid  diminution  of  sucrose  in 
each  variety,  and  a  corresponding  increase  of 
glucose.  The  converse  of  what  is  found  true 
of  the  sucrose  is  true  as  to  the  development 
of  the  glucose,  and  a  minimum  quantity,  once 
attained,  is  continued  a  long  time,  and  this 
minimum  is  quite  as  low  as  the  average 
amount  found  present  in  the  sugar-canes.  It 
is  obvious  that  the  results  are  not  to  be  taken 
as  entirely  exact,  but  the  general  fact  is,  with- 
out doubt,  true.  An  average  of  all  the  exam- 
inations made  of  these  four  Sorghums  during 
the  periods  when  they  were  suitable  for  cut- 
tings, gives  the  following  results  :  Early  Am- 
ber, fi-om  August  13th  to  October  29th  inclu- 
sive, fifteen  analyses,  extending  over  seventy- 
eight  days,  14.6  per  cent,  sucrose.  Liberian, 
from  August  13th  to  October  29th  inclusive, 
thirteen  analyses,  extending  over  seventy- 
eight  days,  13. S  per  cent,  sucrose.  Chinese. 
from  September  13th  to  October  29th  inclu- 
sive, seven  analyses,  extending  over  forty-six 
days,  13.8  per  cent,  sucrose.  Honduras,  from 
October  14th  to  October  29th  inclusive,  three 
analyses,   extending  over  sixteen  days,  14.6 


SOR 

per  cent,  sucrose.  Besides  the  investigations 
■above  mentioned,  there  have  been  made 
thirty-flve  experiments  in  making  sugar  from 
Corn-stalks,  Sorghums,  Pearl  Millet,  etc.,  in 
all  of  which  there  have  been  used  over  twenty- 
three  tons  of  stalks.  The  result  of  these 
experiments  has  bnen  to  fully  confirm  all  the 
experiments  not  only  of  the  previous  year, 
but  also  to  help  towards  the  solution  of  cer- 
tain questions  of  the  highest  practical  impor- 
tance. In  every  case  it  has  been  found  that 
the  quality  of  the  syrup  obtained  has  been 
precisely  such  as  the  previous  analysis  in  the 
laboratory  of  the  juice  used  made  probable. 
An  average  of  the  nine  best  syrups  obtained 
showed  a  percentage  of  Cane  sugar  present 
equal  to  92.7  of  the  amount  originally  present 
in  the  juice,  while  an  average  of  the  nine 
poorest  (i.  e.,  containing  the  lowest  percentage 
of  Cane  sugar)  showed  a  percentage  of  Cane 
sugar  present  equal  to  90.1  of  the  amount 
present  in  the  juice.  This  must  not  be  under- 
stood to  mean  that  there  has  been  no  loss  of 
sugar  in  the  process  of  manufacture,  as  such 
conclusion  would  be  quite  erroneous.  An  ex- 
periment was  also  made  to  determine  whether 
splitting  the  canes  before  they  were  passed 
through  the  mill  would  increase  the  percent- 
age of  juice  obtained  from  the  stalks.  One 
hundred  pounds  of  butt  ends  of  Honduras 
Sorghum  were  split  lengthwise,  and  then 
passed  through  the  mill.  Another  parcel  of 
one  hundred  pounds  of  butts  of  the  same 
variety  of  Sorghum,  equal  in  all  respects  to 
the  previous  lot,  was  passed  through  the  mill 
without  splitting  them.  The  results  obtained 
were  as  follows  :  Percentage  of  juice  obtained 
from  split  stalks,  54  per  cent. ;  percentage  of 
juice  obtained  from  unsplit  stalks,  57  per 
cent. ;  from  which  it  would  appear  that  in  this 
case  at  least  the  previous  splitting  ctf  the 
stalks  occasioned  an  appreciable  loss  in  juice. 
A  few  of  the  experiments  made  give  a  reason- 
able basis  for  estimating  the  probable  yield 
of  syrup  and  sugar  to  the  acre ;  and,  there- 
fore, an  approximate  estimate  of  the  cost  of 
producing  sugar.  Below  is  a  tabulated  result 
of  a  few  of  the  experiments  from  stalks  grown 
upon  the  grounds  of  the  department.  These 
stalks  were  grown  in  rows  three  feet  apart 
and  in  drills,  and  although  a  good  crop,  there 
is  no  doubt  but  that,  upon  good  land,  the  esti- 
mated yield  to  the  acre  could  be  obtained  : 


Varieties. 

i 

a 

3 

.o 

2 

P  <B 
00 

3  " 

■r->  U 

38,600 
33,727 
32,415 
66,151 
65,000 
27,240 

2,096 
2,472 
2,100 
3,652 
1,846 
1,166 

2,307 
2,609 
2,615 
5,168 
3,128 

3,673 

3,783 

Early  Amber  Sorghum 

Honduras  Sorghum 

Pearl  Millet 

3,661 
7,537 
4,865 
1,807 

The  first  and  second  columns  give  the  re- 
sults actually  secured,  but  the  several  juices 
were  not  in  their  best  condition.  The  third 
column  is  the  amount  of  syrup  the  same 
weight  of  stalks  would  have  yielded  had  they 
been  cut  at  the  proper  time.  The  juice  ob- 
tained from  the  stalks  by  the  imperfect  means 


422 


HENDEESON'S  HANDBOOK   OP   PLANTS 


SOU 

at  command  of  the  department  was  little  more 
.  than  half  the  amount  present  in  the  stalks. 
The  fourth  column  represents  the  results 
attainable  by  the  use  of  a  mill  that  would 
give  70  per  cent,  of  juice  from  the  stalks,  a 
result  which  is  possible,  and  which  is  claimed 
by  manufacturers  of  mills.  There  is  no  doubt 
that,  when  the  present  industry  shall  have 
secured  the  employment  of  the  capital  and 
scientific  ability  which  have  developed  the 
beet-sugar  industry,  even  these  i-esults,  which 
may  appear  extravagant  to  many,  will  be 
assured."  There  is  much  more  of  this  report, 
but  so  intimately  connected  with  large  tabu- 
lar statements  that  the  two  could  not  be  sep- 
arated, and  the  tables  are  too  large  to  be 
transferred  to  these  colums.  We  therefore 
suggest  to  all  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of 
Sorghum  to  procure  this  report.  It  will  be  of 
great  assistance  to  them  in  helping  to  deter- 
mine many  points  relating  to  culture  and  the 
manufacture  of  syrup  and  sugar. 

Sori.  The  name  given  to  the  patches  of  spore 
cases  found  on  Ferns. 

Sorrel.     See  Rumex. 

Sorrel  Tree.      Oxydendron    (Andromeda)   arbo- 

reiLin. 

SorreL    Wood.    See  Oxalis  Acetosella. 

Sorro-wful  Tree.  A  common  name  for  Nyctan- 
thes  arbor-trvitis. 

Soula'ngia.  In  honor  of  Soulange  Bodin,  an 
eminent  nurseryman  near  Paris.  Nat.  Ord. 
Rhamnacece. 

A  name  proposed  by  Brogniart  to  separate 
some  species  of  Phillica  as  a  distinct  genus, 
but  the  characters  given  have  not  proved  suf- 
ficiently constant  for  its  adoption. 

Sour  Gourd.     A  common  name  for  Adansonia 

digitata. 

Sour  Gum  Tree.     See  Nyssa. 

Sour  Sop  or  Custard  Apple.     See  Anona. 

South  African  Yellow  Wood.     Podo  carpus 

elongata. 

SouthernTvood.  Artemesia  Abrotanum.  This 
is  an  old,  well-known  plant,  found  in  almost 
every  garden.  It  is  grown  for  its  medicinal 
properties,  which  are  somewhat  similar  to 
wormwood.  It  ma}'  be  easily  propagated  from 
cuttings,  which  root  very  readily  in  early 
summer  and  grow  in  any  ordinary  garden 
soil. 

Sowr-bread.     See  Cyclamen  EuropcBum. 

Sow-tliistle.    See  Sonchus. 

Sowerbae'a.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  E.  Sowerby, 
an  eminent  botanical  artist.  Nat.  Ord.  Li- 
liacem. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house,  tufted,  peren- 
nial plants  Avith  fibrous  roots,  natives  of 
Australia.  S.  juncea  and  S.  laxifolia  are  in 
cultivation,  but  are  only  of  botanical  interest. 

Sowing.  Is  one  of  the  operations  of  the  gar- 
den that  it  is  easy  to  give  instructions  in  ;  and 
if  they  are  carefully  followed,  there  need 
never  be  failure.  One  of  the  most  important 
things  is  the  condition  of  the  soil,  which 
should  be  as  thoroughly  broken  up  and  pul- 
verized by  plowing  and  harrowing,  digging  or 
raking,  as  its  nature  will  admit,  care  being 


SOW 

taken  that  it  is  worked  when  in  that  state,  that 
is,  neither  too  dry  nor  too  wet.  If  too  dry, 
particularly  if  the  soil  is  of  a  clayey  nature,  it 
cannot  well  be  got  in  the  proper  friable  condi- 
tion without  an  unusual  amount  of  labor; 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  if  too  wet,  it  clogs  and 
bakes,  and  becomes  so  hard  that  the  air  can- 
not penetrate,  leaving  it  in  a  condition  from 
which  good  I'esults  cannot  be  obtained.  We 
have  seen  stiff,  clayey  land  that  has  shown 
bad  results  for  years  after,  by  being  plowed 
and  harrowed  while  too  wet.  Another  condi- 
tion of  the  soil,  before  sowing  seeds,  is  to 
have  the  surface  as  smooth  and  level  as  possi- 
ble. Seeds  can  either  be  sown  broadcast  or  in 
drills,  and  for  all  garden  operations  the  sow- 
ing is  mostly  done  in  drills.  If  sowing  such 
vegetables  as  Parsnips,  Onions,  Beets  or  Car- 
rots is  to  be  done  on  a  large  scale,  the  use  of 
the  Seed  Drill  (which  see)  will  save  seed  and 
labor ;  but  if  for  ordinary  garden  use,  it  had 
better  be  done  by  hand.  If  only  a  small  quan- 
tity is  wanted,  the  drills  can  be  made  with  a 
hoe ;  but  if  larger,  a  simple  implement  known 
as  a  Marker  (which  see)  had  better  be  used. 
It  is  often  given  as  a  rule,  that  seeds  should 
be  covered  with  soil  only  as  deep  as  their  own 
bulk ;  but  this  rule  can  hardly  be  followed  in 
our  dry  climate,  as  many  kinds  would  dry  up 
or  shrivel  with  such  a  slight  covering.  As  an 
example,  Onion  or  Carrot  seed  should  be  cov- 
ered from  a  half  inch  to  an  inch,  while  Beans 
or  Peas  should  be  covered  from  two  to  three 
inches.  For  the  sowing  of  Flower  seeds,  see 
"Propagation  of  Plants  by  Seeds"  But  the 
most  important  matter  of  all  in  sowing  seeds 
in  the  open  ground  is,  that  they  be  properly 
firmed  in  the  soil.  A  simple  way  is  to  tread 
the  rows,  after  the  seed  is  sown,  with  the  feet. 
This  is  detailed  fully  V)elow. 

The  Use  of  the  Feet  in  Planting  and 
Sowing.  The  following  article  was  read  by  us 
before  the  "  Association  of  American  Nur- 
serymen," at  Chicago,  in  1883.  As  it  is  a  mat- 
ter of  such  vital  importance,  we  make  no 
apology  for  its  introduction  : 

It  may  be  useless  to  throw  out  any  sugges- 
tions in  relation  to  horticultural  operations  to 
such  a  body  of  practical  men  as  is  now  before 
me.  Yet  I  candidly  admit  that,  although  I 
have  been  extensively  engaged  in  gardening 
operations  for  over  a  quai'tor  of  a  century,  I 
did  not  fully  realize,  until  a  few  years  ago,  the 
full  importance  of  how  indispensable  it  was  to 
use  the  t^'et  in  the  operations  of  sowing  and 
planting. 

For  some  years  past  I  have,  in  writing  on 
gardening  matters,  insisted  upon  the  great 
importance  of  "firming"  the  soil  over  the 
seeds  after  sowing,  especially  when  the  soil 
is  dry,  or  likely  to  become  so.  I  know  of  no 
operation  of  more  importance  in  either  the 
farm  or  garden,  and  I  trust  that  what  I  am 
about  to  say  will  be  read  and  remembered  by 
ever}'  one  not  yet  aware  of  the  vast  impor- 
tance of  the  practice.  I  say  "vast  impor- 
tance," for  the  loss  to  the  agricultural  and 
horticultural  community,  from  the  habit  of 
loosely  sowing  seeds  or  planting  plants  in  hot 
and  dry  soils,  is  of  a  magnitude  which  few  will 
believe,  until  they  have  witnessed  it ;  and  it  is 
a  loss  all  the  more  to  be  regretted,  when  we 
know  that  by  "firming"  the  soil  around  the 
seed  or  plant,  there  is,  in  most  cases,  a  cer- 
tain preventive. 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


423 


SOW 

Pai'ticularly  in  the  sowing  of  seeds,  I  con- 
sider tlie  matter  of  such  vast  importance,  tliat 
it  cannot  be  too  often  or  too  strongly  told  ;  for 
the  loss  to  the  agricultural  and  horticultural 
community,  by  the  neglect  of  the  simple 
operation  of  firming  the  soil  around  the  seed, 
must  amount  to  many  millions  annually.  For 
the  mischief  done  is  not  confined  only  to  the 
less  important  garden  operations,  but  even 
Corn,  Cotton,  Wheat,  Turnips,  and  other 
important  crops  of  the  farm  often  fail,  in  hot 
and  dry  soils,  by  being  sown  without  being 
firmed  sufficienly  to  prevent  the  dry  air 
shriveling  or  drying  the  seeds.  Of  course, 
the  use  of  the  feet  is  impracticable  in  firming 
seeds  on  the  farm,  but  a  heavy  roller,  applied 
after  sowing,  is  an  absolute  necessity  under 
certain  conditions  of  the  soil,  to  insure  per- 
fect germination.  From  the  middle  of  April 
to  nearly  the  end  of  May  of  this  year,  in  many 
sections  of  the  country,  there  was  little  or  no 
rain.  Such  was  particularly  the  case  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  York  City,  where  we  have 
hundreds  of  market  gardeners,  who  cultivate 
thousands  of  acres  of  Cabbage,  Cauliflower 
and  Celery,  but  the  "dry  spring"  has  played 
sad  havoc  with  their  seed-beds.  Celery  is  not 
one-fourth  of  a  crop,  and  Cabbage  and  Cauli- 
flower hardly  half,  and  this  failure  is  due  to 
no  other  cause  than  that  they  persist  in  sow- 
ing their  seeds  without  ever  taking  the  pre- 
caution to  firm  the  soil  by  rolling. 

We  sow  annually  about  four  acres  of  Celery, 
Cabbage,  and  Cauliflower  plants,  which  pro- 
duce probably  five  millions  in  number,  and 
which  we  never  fail  to  sell  mostly  in  our 
immediate  neighborhood,  to  the  market  gar- 
deners, who  have,  many  of  them,  even  better 
facilities  than  we  have  for  raising  these 
plants,  if  they  would  only  do  as  we  do,  firm 
the  seed  after  sowing,  which  is  done  thus  : 

After  plowing,  harrowing,  and  leveling  the 
land  smoothly,  lines  are  drawn  by  the 
"  marker,  "  which  makes  a  furrow,  about  two 
inches  deep  and  a  foot  apart ;  after  the  man 
who  sows  the  seed  follows  another,  who,  with 
the  ball  of  the  right  foot,  presses  down  his 
full  weight  on  every  inch  of  soil  in  the  drill 
where  the  seed  has  been  sown  ;  the  rows  are 
then  lightly  leveled  longitudinally  with  the 
rake,  a  light  roller  is  passed  over  them,  and 
the  operation  is  done. 

By  this  method  our  crop  has  never  once 
failed,  and  what  is  true  of  Celery  and  Cabbage 
seed  is  neai-ly  true  of  all  other  seeds  requiring 
to  be  sown  during  the  late  spring  or  summer 
months. 

On  July  2d  of  1874,  as  an  experiment,  I  sow- 
ed twelve  rows  of  Sweet  Corn  and  twelve  rows 
of  Beets,  treading  in,  after  sowing,  every 
alternate  row  of  each.  In  both  cases,  those 
trod  in  came  up  in  four  days,  while  those  un- 
firmed  remained  twelve  days  before  starting, 
and  would  not  then  have  germinated  had  not 
rain  fallen,  for  the  soil  was  dry  as  dust  when 
the  seed  were  sown. 

The  result  was,  that  the  seeds  that  had  been 
trodden  in  grew  freely  from  the  start  and 
matured  their  crops  to  a  marketable  condition 
by  fall ;  while  the  rows  unfirmed  did  not 
mature,  as  they  were  not  only  eight  days  later 
in  germinating,  but  the  plants  were  also,  to 
to  some  extent,  enfeebled  by  being  partially 
"dried  in  the  loose,  dry  soil. 

This  experiment  was  a  most  useful  one,  for 


SOW 

it  proved  that  a  Corn  crop,  sown  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  York  as  late  as  July  2d,  could 
be  made  to  |)roduce  "  roasting  ears  "  in  Octo- 
ber, when  they  never  fail  to  sell  freely  at  high 
rates,  but  the  crop  would  not  mature  unless 
the  seed  germinated  at  once,  and  which  would 
never  be  certain  at  that  dry  and  hot  season, 
unless  by  this  method. 

The  same  season,  in  August,  I  treated  seeds 
of  Turnip  and  SpinacJi  in  the  same  way. 
Those  trod  in  germinated  at  once  and  made 
an  excellent  crop,  while  those  unfirmed  germi- 
nated feebly,  and  were  eventually  nearly  all 
burned  out  by  a  continuance  of  dry,  hot  air 
penetrating  through  the  loose  soil  to  the  ten- 
der rootlets. 

Of  course,  this  rule  of  treading  in  or  firming 
seeds  after  sowing  must  not  be  blindly  fol- 
lowed. Very  early  in  spring  or  late  in  fall, 
when  the  soil  is  damp  and  there  is  no  danger 
from  heated,  dry  air,  there  is  no  necessity  for 
doing  so,  or  even  at  other  seasons  the  soil 
may  be  in  a  suitable  condition  to  sow,  and  yet 
be  too  damp  to  be  trodden  upon  or  rolled. 
In  such  cases  these  operations  may  not  be 
necessary  at  all,  for,  if  rainy  weather  ensue, 
the  seeds  will  germinate  of  course ;  but  if 
there  is  any  likeliiiood  of  continued  drought, 
the  treading  or  rolling  may  be  done  a  week  or 
so  after  sowing,  if  it  is  at  such  a  season  that 
there  is  reason  to  believe  the  seed  may  suffer 
from  the  dry,  hot  air. 

Another  very  important  advantage  gain- 
ed by  treading  in  the  seeds  is,  that  when  we 
have  crops  of  Beets,  Celery,  Turnips,  Spinach, 
or  anything  else  that  is  sown  in  rows,  the 
seeds  to  form  the  crop  come  up  at  once ; 
while  the  seeds  of  the  weeds,  that  are  just  as 
liable  to  perish  by  the  heat  as  are  those  of  the 
crop,  are  retarded.  Such  of  the  weed  seeds 
as  lie  in  the  space  between  the  rows  when  the 
soil  is  loose,  will  not  germinate  as  quickly  as 
those  of  the  crop  sown;  and  hence  we  can  cul- 
tivate between  the  rows  before  tlie  weeds  ger- 
minate at  all. 

Now,  if  firming  the  soil  around  seed  to  pro- 
tect it  from  the  influence  of  a  dry  and  hot 
atmosphere  is  a  necessity,  it  is  obvious  that 
it  is  even  more  so  in  the  case  of  plants  whose 
rootlets  are  even  more  sensitive  to  such  in- 
fluence than  the  dormant  seed. 

Experienced  professional  horticulturists, 
however,  are  less  likely  to  neglect  this  than 
to  neglect  in  the  case  of  seeds,  for  the  dam- 
age from  such  neglect  is  easier  to  be  seen,  and 
hence  better  understood  by  the  practical 
nurseryman;  but  with  the  inexperienced 
amateur  the  case  is  different.  When  he  re- 
ceives his  package  of  trees  or  plants  from  the 
nurseryman,  he  handles  them  as  if  they  were 
glass  ;  every  broken  twig  or  root  calls  forth  a 
complaint,  and  he  proceeds  to  plant  them, 
gingerly  straightening  out  each  root  and  sift- 
ing the  soil  around  them,  but  he  would  no 
more  stamp  down  that  soil  than  he  would 
stamp  on  the  soil  of  his  mother's  grave.  So 
the  plant,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  is  left  loose 
and  waggling ;  the  dry  air  penetrates  through 
the  soil  to  its  roots ;  the  winds  shake  it ;  it 
shrivels  up  and  fails  to  grow ;  and  then  come 
the  anathemas  on  the  head  of  the  unfortunate 
nurserj^man,  who  is  charged  with  selling  him 
dead  trees  or  plants. 

About  a  month  ago  I  sent  a  package  of  a 
dozen  Roses  by  mail  to  a  lady  in  Savannah. 


421 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


SOY 

She  wrote  me  a  woeful  story  last  week,  saying 
that,  though  the  Roses  had  arrived  seemingly 
all  right,  they  had  all  died  but  one,  and  what 
was  very  singular,  she  said,  the  one  that  lived 
was  the  one  that  Mr.  Jones  had  stepped  on, 
and  which  she  had  thought  sure  was  crushed 
to  death,  for  Mr.  Jone3  weighs  two  hundred 
pounds.  Now,  though  I  do  not  advise  any 
gentleman  of  two  hundred  pounds  putting 
his  brogan  on  the  top  of  a  tender  Rose  plant 
as  a  practice  conducive  to  its  health,  yet,  if 
Mrs.  Jones  could  have  allowod  her  weighty 
lord  to  press  the  soil  again-t  the  root  of  each 
of  her  dozen  Roses,  I  much  doubt  if  she 
would  now  have  to  mourn  their  loss. 

It  has  often  been  a  wonder  to  many  of  us, 
who  have  been  workers  in  the  soil  for  a  gene- 
ration, how  some  of  the  simplest  methods  of 
culture  have  not  been  practiced  until  we  were 
nearly  done  with  life's  work. 

There  are  few  of  us  but  have  had  such  ex- 
perience ;  personally,  I  must  say  that  I  never 
pass  through  a  year  but  I  am  confounded  to 
find  that  some  operation  can  not  only  be 
quicker  done  but  better  done  than  we  have 
been  in  the  habit  of  doing  it. 

These  improvements  loom  up  from  various 
causes,  but  mainly  from  suggestions  thrown 
out  by  our  employees  in  charge  of  special  de- 
partments, a  system  which  Ave  do  all  in  our 
power  to  encourage. 

As  a  proof  of  the  value  of  such  improve- 
ments which  have  led  to  simplifying  our  oper- 
ations, I  will  state  the  fact,  that  though  my 
area  of  green-house  surface  is  now  more  than 
double  that  which  it  was  in  1870,  and  the  land 
used  in  our  florist's  business  one-third  moi-e, 
yet  the  number  of  hands  employed  is  less  now 
than  in  1870,  and  yet,  at  the  same  time,  the 
quality  of  our  stock  is  infinitely  better  now 
than  then. 

"Whether  it  is  the  higher  price  of  labor  in 
this  country,  that  forces  us  into  labor-saving 
expedients,  or  the  interchange  of  opinions 
from  the  greater  number  of  nationalities  cen- 
treing here,  that  gives  us  broader  views  of 
culture,  I  am  not  prepared  to  state ;  but  thit 
America  is  now  selling  nearly  all  the  products 
of  the  green-house,  garden,  nursery,  and  farm, 
lower  than  is  done  in  Europe,  admits  of  no 
question ;  and  if  my  homely  suggestions  in 
this  matter  of  firming  the  soil  around  newly- 
planted  seeds  or  plants  will  in  any  degree 
assist  us  in  still  holding  to  the  front,  I  shall 
be  gratified. 
Soymi'dia  febrifuga.  The  Rohuna  of  Hin- 
dostan  is  the  only  species  of  a  genus  of 
MeliacecB,  peculiar  to  the  East  Indies.  It 
forms  a  tall  tree  with  wood  resembling 
mahogany,  and  a  very  bitter  astringent  bark. 
On  the  Coromandel  coast  of  India,  it  is  known 
as  the  Red- wood  Tree. 
Spadix.  A  succulent  spike  bearing  many  ses- 
sile, closely  placed  flowers ;  a  spike  inclosed 
in  a  spathe. 

Spanish  Bayonet  or  Spanish  Dagger.    A  popu- 
lar name  for  Yucca  aloifolia,  and  other  species. 
Spanish  Blue-Bell,  or  Squill.    Scilla  Hispanica. 
Spanish  Broom.     See  Spartium  junceum. 
Spanish  Chestnut.     Castanea  sativa. 
Spanish  Lily.     See  Hymenocallis. 
Spanish  Oak.     Quercus  falcata. 
Spanish  Oyster  Plant.  See  Scolymus  Hispanieas. 


SPA 

Spara'xis.  From  sparossa,  to  tear ;  alluding  to 
the  lacerated  spathes.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

This  genus  is  fast  rising  in  the  estimation 
of  both  the  florist  and  the  gardener.  Varie- 
ties, very  pleasing  in  color,  are  annually 
raised  in  Europe.  It  is  a  dwarf,  bulbous  fam- 
ily of  plants  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  pro- 
ducing flowers,  many  of  them  exceeding  two 
inches  across,  exceedingly  rich  and  beauti- 
ful in  their  coloring,  being  blotched,  spotted, 
flaked  and  varied  with  pure  white,  yellow, 
orange,  red,  purple  and  violet,  in  almost 
every  possible  manner.  They  are  more  com- 
pact and  dwarf  than  the  Ixia,  few  of  them 
attaining  a  greater  height  than  six  to  twelve 
inches,  and  they  succeed  best  planted  in  a 
frame  where  they  can  have  a  slight  protection 
during  winter.  They  succeed  well  also  grown 
in  pots  in  a  cool  green-house.  The  bulbs 
should  be  potted  in  September,  and  kept 
under  a  bench  until  they  begin  to  grow,  when 
they  should  be  given  light  and  water.  Three 
or  four  bulbs  may  be  put  into  a  five-inch  pot 
with  good  effect.  They  were  first  introduced 
in  1811,  and  are  rapidly  increased  by  offsets  or 
by  seeds. 

Sparga'nium.  Bur  Reed.  From  sparganon,  a 
fillet ;  because  of  the  ribbon-like  leaves.  Nat. 
Ord.   Ti/phacew. 

A  genus  of  marsh  plants,  of  which  the  Bur 
Reed  is  typical,  found  in  almost  every  part  of 
the  world.  The  root  of  S.  ramosum  and  of 
S.  simplexyvas  formerly  used  medicinally  under 
the  name  of  Radix  sparganii,  and  was  sup- 
posed to  cure  snake  bites.  The  stem  has 
been  used  for  making  paper. 

Sparma'nnia.  In  honor  of  Dr.  A.  Sparmann,  a 
Swedish  botanist,  who  accompanied  Captain 
Cook  in  his  second  voyage  around  the  world. 
Nat.  Ord.  Tiliacece. 

S.  Africana,  African  Hemp,  the  only  de- 
scribed species  of  this  genus,  is  a  very  beauti- 
ful, evergreen,  green-house  shrub,  introduced 
into  Eifrope  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  in 
1790.  It  is  a  shrub  from  six  to  twelve  feet 
high,  with  long-stalked,  heart-shaped  leaves, 
and  clothed  with  soft,  downy  and  pretty 
white  flowers  in  umbels.  S.  A.Jlore-pleno,  is 
a  handsome  double  flowered  variety.  They 
are  old  favorites  in  the  green-house,  and  are 
propagated  by  cuttings. 

Sparro-w  Grass.     A  corruption  of  Asparagus. 

Sparrows.  Of  late  years  the  Sparrow  has  be- 
come a  bone  of  contention  with  farmers  and 
gardeners,  many  contending  that  they  were 
more  harmful  than  useful,  driving  away  by 
their  numbers  and  pugnacity  the  many  insec- 
tivorous birds,  as  the  Robin,  Oriole,  etc., 
which  must  feed  on  insects  or  starve,  and  even 
urging  a  war  of  extermination  against  them. 
In  England  strenuous  efforts  have  for  many 
years  been  made  to  limit  their  number  by 
shooting  the  birds,  removing  the  eggs  and 
nests  where  accessible,  and  even,  in  some  sec- 
tions, by  putting  a  price  on  their  heads.  Be 
this  as  it  may,  many  of  us  can  remember  the 
disgusting  Measuring-worm  that  festooned 
the  shade  trees  in  New  York,  Brooklyn,  and 
other  cities,  some  twenty-five  years  ago.  These 
decreased  in  proportion  as  the  Sparrows  in- 
creased, and  the  trees  in  our  parks  and  streets 
are  now  almost  clear  of  their  ravages.  The 
same  ic  true  of  the  Rose  Slug.  Before  the 
Sparrow  got  so  plentiful  in  our  neighborhood 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


425 


SPA 

•we  were  obliged  to  employ  a  number  of  boys 
for  weeks  duiing  the  summer  to  shake  off  and 
kill  the  Rose  Slug,  but  now,  hardly  one  of 
these  pests  is  seen.  An  examination  of  the 
crop  of  a  Sparrow  killed  in  July  showed  that 
it  contained  Rose  Slugs,  Green  Fly,  and  the 
seeds  of  Chickweed  and  other  plants,  proving 
beyond  question  the  fact  that  they  are  pro- 
miscuous feeders. 

Sparti'na.  Cord  Grass.  From  spartine,  a  cord 
made  from  broom.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  perennial  grasses, 
common  throughout  North  America,  and  some 
parts  of  Europe.  They  chiefly  inhabit  wet  or 
marshy  places.  Some  of  the  species  furnish 
a  valuable  fibre. 

Spa'rtium.  Spanish  Broom.  From  sparfon, 
cordage  ;  alluding  to  the  flexible  shoots.  Nat. 
Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy,  deciduous  shrubs, 
inhabiting  a  greater  portion  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean region.  Some  of  the  species  have 
been  cultivated  in  the  English  gardens  for 
more  than  three  hundred  years.  The  growth 
is  like  that  of  the  common  broom,  but  the 
green  polished  twigs  are  terete  and  rush-like 
instead  of  angular.  The  handsome  yellow 
pea-flowers,  arranged  in  racemes  at  the  ends 
of  the  twigs,  are  highly  perfumed  and  very 
attractive  to  bees.  A  double-flowered  variety 
is  in  cultivation.  A  number  of  the  species  are 
now  referred  to  Genista  and  Cytisiis. 

Spatala'nthus.  From  spatalos,  delicate,  and 
anthos,  a  flower.     Nat.  Ord.  IridacecB. 

A  very  rare  and  beautiful  Cape  bulb,  allied  to 
Trichonema.  There  is  but  one  species  known, 
and  tltat  is  rare  in  its  own  country.  The 
flowers  are  red  with  a  yellow  and  black  star  in 
the  centi'e.  It  may  be  grown  in  a  frame, 
or  in  pots  in  the  green-house,  requiring  the 
same  culture  as  the  Ixia.  It  was  introduced 
in  1825,  and  is  propagated  by  offsets.  This 
genus  is  now  included  under  Romulea  by 
many  botanists. 

Spatha'ntheum.  From  spathe,  a  spathe,  and 
anthos,  a  flower ;  the  flowers  are  seated  on  the 
midrib  of  the  spathe.     Nat.  Ord.  Aroidem. 

A  small  genus  of  tuberous-rooted  perennials, 
found  in  Africa  and  South  America.  S.  het- 
erandrum,  the  only  species  in  cultivation,  is  a 
very  singular  plant  producing  a  solitary, bright- 
green,  fleshy,  deeply  pinnatifld  leaf,  one  foot 
long  on  a  petiole  two  feet  long.  It  was  intro- 
duced from  Africa  in  1876,  and  is  propagated 
by  division  of  the  tubers  or  by  oiYsets. 

Spathe.  A  broad  sheathing  leaf  enclosing 
flowers  arranged  on  a  spadix,  and  guarding 
them  while  young,  as  in  most  Palms,  Arums, 
etc. 

Spathe'lia.  A  genus  of  SimarubacecB,  compris- 
ing three  species  of  tall  and  showy  evergreen 
trees,  natives  of  the  "West  Indies.  8.  Simplex, 
the  May  Pole,  Mountain  Green,  or  Mountain 
Pride  of  the  West  Indies,  has  a  tall,  slender 
stem,  resembling  that  (if  a  Palm, with  red  flow- 
ers in  panicles  several  feet  long.  It  is  the 
only  species  introduced  to  cultivation,  and  is 
propagated  by  cuttings. 

Spathiphy'llum.  From  spathe,  a  spathe,  and 
phyllon,  a  leaf ;  alluding  to  the  leaf-like  spathe. 
Nat.  Ord.  Aroidew. 

A  genus  comprising  over  twenty  species  of 
Btemless    herbs,   with    sheathing,    saggitate. 


SPE 

entire  leaves,  natives  of  tropical  America. 
Some  of  the  smaller  species  such  as  S.  candi- 
dum,  S.  Patini  and  S.  florlbundum  are  useful 
for  decorative  purposes,  and  form  a  veiy 
effective  contrast  with  Anthuriums,  etc.  They 
require  a  moist  atmosphere  and  an  abun- 
dance of  water,  and  are  increased  by  division 
of  the  root-stock. 

Spatho'dea.  From  spathe,  a  spathe ;  in  reference 
to  the  form  of  the  calyx.  Nat.  Ord.  Bigno- 
niacecB. 

A  genus  of  very  showy  plants  natives  of 
the  East  Indies,  western  Africa,  Trinidad, 
etc.  They  are  closely  allied  to  Bignonia  and 
require  the  same  treatment  as  the  stove- 
house  species  of  that  genus. 

Spathoglo'ttis.  Fi'om  spathe,  a  spathe,  and 
glottis,  a  tongue.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidaceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids,  allied  to 
Bletia,  natives  of  the  East  Indies,  southern 
China,  the  Malayan  Ai'chipelago  and  Aus- 
tralia. They  have  generally  yellow  flowers, 
many  of  the  lately  introduced  species  as  S. 
Viellardii,  S.  Lobbii,  8.  Pacijica,  etc.,  being 
very  interesting  and  desirable  Orchids. 

Spa'thulate.  Oblong ;  with  the  lower  end  very 
much  attenuated,  so  that  the  whole  resembles 
a  druggist's  spatula. 

Spatter  Dock.  A  common  name  for  Nuphar 
advena. 

Spawn.  Mushroom.  The  vegetative  part  of  a 
Mushroom  represented  by  the  delicate  white 
down  and  strings  or  threads  (mycelium) 
growing  among  masses  of  decaying  stable 
manure,  horse  droppings,  etc.  In  artificially 
prepared  spawn,  the  mycelium  grows  in  firm 
brick-shaped  or  loose  masses,  penetrating 
into  all  parts  of  these,  and  filling  them  with 
the  white  cells  of  which  it  is  composed.  If  kept 
dry.  Mushroom  spawn  will  keep  good  for  years. 
In  England  and  Fi-ance  the  preparation  of 
Mushroom  spawn  is  quite  a  large  industry, 
large  quantities  being  exported  every  year  in 
addition  to  the  home  consumption.  Many 
attempts  have  been  made  to  prepare  the 
spawn  of  truffles,  but  they  have  as  yet  been 
unsuccessful.  The  introduction  of  the  spawn 
of  valuable  varieties,  will,  we  have  no  doubt, 
some  day,. cause  a  considerable  change  in  the 
produce  of  a  Mushroom  bed.    See  Mushroom. 

Spear  Grass.     Various  species  of  Agrostis. 

Spear  Grass.    New  Zealand.     See  Aciphylla. 

Spearmint.     See  Mentha  viridis. 

Spearwort.     Ranunculus  lingua. 

Species.  "  A  species  comprises  all  the  individ- 
ual plants  which  resemble  each  other  suffi- 
ciently to  make  us  conclude  that  they  are  all,  or 
may  have  been  all,  descended  from  a  common 
parent.  These  individuals  may  often  differ 
from  each  other  in  many  striking  particulars, 
such  as  the  color  of  the  flower,  size  of  the  leaf, 
etc.,  but  these  particulars  are  such  as  experi- 
ence teaches  us  are  liable  to  vary  in  the  seed- 
lings raised  from  one  individual." — Bentham. 

Specula'ria.  From  the  ancient  name  Speculum, 
Veneris,  or  Venus'sLooking-Glass.  Nat.  Ord. 
Campanulaceaz. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  annuals,  formerly 
included  in  Campanula.  8.  speculum  is  a  dis- 
tinct and  pretty  species,  Avith  pui-plish-lilac 
flowers,  varying  to  rose-colored  and  white. 
They  are  among  the  many  old  garden  favorites 


426 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK   OP   PLANTS 


SPE 

now  rarely  met,  though  deserving  a  place  in 
the  border.  They  grow  readily  from  seed, 
and  a  succession  of  sowing  will  keep  up  a  con- 
tinuance of  bloom  during  the  whole  summer. 
One  of  the  species,  S.  perfoliata,  is  a  native  of 
this  country  ;  the  others  are  from  central  and 
southern  Europe. 

Speedw^ell.    See  Veronica. 

Spergula  pilifera.  A  synonym  for  Sagina  pil- 
ifera,  which  see. 

Spha'cele.  From  sphakos,  the  Greek  name  of 
Sage,  which  these  plants  resemble  in  foliage. 
Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 

A  genus  of  green-house  shrubby  plants, 
natives  of  western  America,  from  Brazil  and 
Chili  to  California.  A  few  species  have  been 
introduced,  but  are  seldom  found  in  cultiva- 
tion. 8.  Lindleyi,  which  has  ovate,  cordate 
leaves,  woolly  beneath,  is  sometimes  cultivated 
under  the  name  of  Slachys  Salvice. 

Sphaera'lcea.  Globe  Mallow.  From  sphair a,  a 
globe,  and  Alcea,  Marsh-mallow,  the  cai-pels 
are  disposed  in  a  round  head.  A  genus  of 
green-house  or  hardy  shrubs  or  herbs  resem- 
bling Malva  in  habit,  natives  of  the  warm 
regions  of  America  and  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  They  are  readily  increased  by  cuttings 
of  the  young  wood ;  S.  abutiloides,  S.  angusti- 
folia,  8.  umbellata,  etc.,  are  often  cultivated 
under  the  name  of  Malva. 

Sphsero'gyne.  From  spharia,  a  globe,  and  gyne, 
a  female.     Nat.  Ord.  MelastomacetB. 

This  genus  is  remarkable  for  the  color  of  its 
foliage.  8.  latifolia  has  large,  broad,  and  flat 
leaves,  deep  green  on  top,  the  under  side  cin- 
namon brown,  the  leaves  and  stem  being  very 
hairy ;  it  makes  a  magnificent  specimen 
plant.  A  few  other  species  are  to  be  found  in 
choice  collections  of  ornamental-leaved  plants. 
They  are  natives  of  tropical  America,  and  are 
propagated  by  cuttings.  Introduced  in  1864. 
This  genus  is  now  included  under  Tococa  by 
many  botanists. 

Sphaeroste'ma.  From  sphairo,  a  globe,  and 
stemma,  a  crown  ;  in  allusion  to  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  stamens.  Nat.  Ord.  Schizand- 
raceai. 

A  name  under  which  the  Asiatic  species  of 
Schizandra  have  been  distinguished  as  a 
genus;  now  included  by  many  botanists  un- 
der Schizandra,  which  see. 

Spha'gnum.  A  name  given  by  Pliny  for  some 
kind  of  Moss.  A  genus  of  Mosses  found  in  all 
temperate  countries,  and  exceedingly  common 
in  our  swamps  and  bogs.  It  is  an  excellent 
material  for  packing  plants  in,  being  extremely 
retentive  of  moisture,  and  yet  contains  so 
much  astringency  as  to  check  decay.  It  is 
also  used  for  potting  orchidaceous  and  some 
other  plants.  This  material  has  been  long 
used  in  the  packing  of  plants  by  both  florists 
and  nurserymen  and  in  various  other  opera- 
tions connected  with  Horticulture.  In  our  uses 
of  Sphagnum  we  have  found  another  method 
of  using  it,  the  value  of  which  will  be  apparent 
to  those  who  have  had  experience  in  raising 
seeds  under  glass.  Our  method  is  as  follows : 
In  preparing  the  soil  for  seeds  we  get  it  as 
fine  and  rich  as  possible,  passing  it  through  a 
very  fine  sieve.  This  soil  is  placed  in  boxes 
only  two  or  three  inches  deep,  and  it  is  then 
made  perfectly  level  and  as  smooth  as  possible; 
on  this  smooth  surface  of  soil  the  seeds  are 


SPI 

sown,  and  then  pressed  down  into  the  soil 
with  a  smooth  board.  The  seed  being  thus 
sunk  Just  to  the  surface  of  the  soil,  we  now 
sift  dry  Sphagnum,  that  has  been  run  through 
a  wire  mosquito  net,  over  the  seed,  just  thick 
enough  to  well  cover  it.  This  Moss  forms  a 
light,  spongy  covering,  and  aiYords  just  the 
best  condition  needed  for  germination ;  and 
we  have  found  that  any  seeds  having  any 
A'itality  in  them  are  certain  to  germinate  by 
this  method.  The  German  Peat  Moss,  now 
largely  used  as  an  absorbent  for  liquid  manure, 
etc.,  in  stables,  is  simply  the  decayed  Sphag 
num  of  the  swamps  from  which  the  water  has 
been  thoroughly  expressed.  When  its  great 
value  as  a  deodorizer  and  absorbent  becomes 
known,  the  large  deposits  of  it  in  this  country 
will  doubtless  become  utilized.  See  "  Man- 
ures— Absorbents  for." 

Sphena'ndra.  From  sphen,  a  wedge,  and  and- 
ros,  an  anther ;  alluding  to  the  shape  of  the 
anthers.     Nat.  Ord.  8crophulariacem. 

8.  viacosa,  the  only  species  is  a  viscous-pu- 
bescent, annual  or  perennial  herb,  with  pretty 
violet  flowers.  It  is  a  native  of  South  Africa, 
and  is  increased  by  seeds.  Known  in  culti- 
vation under  the  name  of  Buchnera  viscosa. 

Sphenode'sma.  From  sphen,  a  wedge,  and 
desine,  a  small  bundle ;  alluding  to  the  form 
of  the  inflorescence.     Nat.  Ord.   Verbenacem. 

A  genus  of  climbing  shrubs,  natives  of 
India  and  the  Malayan  Archipelago.  *S.  pent- 
andra,  the  only  species  introduced,  bears 
flowers  six  in  a  head,  with  a  purple  corolla 
and  a  white,  very  hairy,  throat.  It  was  intro- 
duced from  India  in  1823,  and  is  increased  by 
cuttings. 

Spheno'gyne.  From  sphen,  a  wedge,  and  gyne, 
a  female.     Nat.  Ord.  CompoaitcB. 

A  genus  of  hardy  annuals  and  green-house, 
evergreen  perennials,  mostly  natives  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  They  have  large,  spread- 
ing, rayed  flower-heads,  of  an  orange  color 
barred  with  black.  8.  speciosa  is  a  showy  an- 
nual, a  native  of  South  America,  and  resem- 
bles the  Anthemis.  It  will  succeed  if  sown  in 
the  open  border  in  spring,  but  is  much  earlier 
and  better  if  treated  as  a  half-hardy  annual 
and  sown  in  early  spring  in  heat.  This  genus 
is  now  included  under  Ursina  by  many  bot- 
anists. 

Spicate.     Having,  or  resembling  a  spike. 

Spice  Bush.     See  lAndera  (Laurus)  Benzoin. 

Spice  Tree.     Oreodaphne  Californica. 

Spider  Flo'wer.     A  common  name  for  Cleome. 

Spider  Orchis.     Orchis  aranifera. 

Spider.    Eed.     See  Insects. 

Spider-Tvort.     See   Tradescantia. 
Blue.     Commelina  ccelestia. 
Branched.     Anthericum  Liliago. 
Dwarf.     Tradescantia  pilosa. 
Great  Savoy.     Anthericum  Ldliastrv/m. 
Mountain.     Lloydia  serotina. 

Spige'Ua.  Worm  Grass.  Named  after  Adrian 
8pigelius,  a  botanist  at  Padua.  Nat.  Ord. 
LoganiacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  half-hardy  annuals 
and  herbaceous  perennials,  some  of  which  are 
ornamental  border  plants.  The  Pink  Koot, 
Worm  Grass,  or  Indian  Pink,  is  8.  Marilan- 
dica,  common  in  Pennsylvania  and  southward. 
It  is  a  desirable  plant  for  the  rock-work  or 


AND   GENEEAL   HOKTICULTURE. 


427 


SPI 

rock-gai'den  and  is  well  known  for  its  medici- 
nal pi-operties. 

Spignel.  A  common  name  tor  Meum  Athamanti- 
cum. 

Spike.  A  long,  simple  axis,  with  many  sessile 
flowers.  A  compound  spike  is  a  collection  of 
spikes  arranged  in  a  racemose  manner. 

Spike  Grass.    See  Brizopyrum  spicatum. 

Spikelet.  A  secondary  spike ;  the  term  is 
especially  applied  to  the  small  terminal  col- 
lection of  florets  in  grasses. 

Spikenard.      See  Aralia  racemosa. 
Cretan.     Valeriana  Phu. 
False.     Smilacina  racemosa. 
Mountain.      Valeriana  tuberosa. 
Ploughman's.    Conyza  squarrosa  and  the  genus 

Baccharis. 
West  Indian.     Hyptis  suaveolens. 

Spinach.     Common  Garden.     See  Spinacia. 
Cuban.     Claytonia  Cubensis. 
East  Indian.     Basella  alba,  and  B.  rubra. 
New  Zealand.     See  Tetragonia  expansa. 
Strawberry.     Blitum  capitatum. 
Wild.       A    common    name    for    Chenopodium 
Bonus- Henricus. 

Spina'cia.  From  spina,  a  prickle ;  in  allusion 
to  the  prickly  processes  of  the  seeds.  Nat. 
Ord.  Chenopodiacece. 

The  common  Spinach  is  a  hardy  annual,  and 
supposed  to  be  a  native  of  Western  Asia,  from 
the  fact  that  in  the  early  works  of  the  Arabian 
physicians  this  plant  is  mentioned  in  connec- 
tion with  its  medical  properties,  without  the 
slightest  allusion  to  its  uses  as  a  vegetable. 
Spain  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  flrst  Euro- 
pean country  into  which  it  was  introduced ;  for 
many  of  the  old  botanists  call  it  Olus  Hispani- 
cum,  and  some  of  the  old  writers  call  it  His- 
panach  or  Spanish  Plant.  Beckmann,  who 
wrote  about  1790,  says  the  flrst  notice  of  its 
being  used  as  a  vegetable  was  in  1351,  in  a  list 
of  the  different  vegetables  consumed  on  fast 
days  by  the  monks.  Turner,  who  wrote  in  Eng- 
land in  1538,  mentions  its  being  in  common  cul- 
tivation, and  prepared  for  the  table  in  precisely 
the  same  manner  as  it  is  at  present.  Spinach 
is  an  annual  plant,  having  large  and  succulent 
leaves ;  the  flower-stems  rise  to  the  height  of 
two  or  three  feet.  The  male  and  female  flow- 
ers grow  on  different  plants,  the  female  yield- 
ing the  seed.  The  former  are  produced  in 
long  terminal  spikes,  and  the  latter  in  close 
clusters  at  the  joints  of  the  stem  or  axils  of 
the  leaves  or  branches.  S.  oleracea  is  the  only 
known  species,and  from  this  the  several  garden 
varieties  have  been  obtained.  The  smooth 
Eound  Leaf  is  the  variety  mostly  grown  for 
market ;  the  Prickly  Leaved  is  more  hardy, 
and  is,  therefore,  the  kind  which  used  to  be 
sown  in  the  fall  for  a  first  early  spring  crop, 
until  the  variety  known  as  the  Savoy  Spinach 
was  introduced  in  1875.  This  has  a  crumpled 
leaf  resembling  Savoy  Cabbage,  and  is  now 
extensively  cultivated,  particularly  as  a  fall  or 
winter  sort,  as  it  has  proved  hardier  than  any 
of  the  others,  and  produces  a  greater  weight 
of  crop.  It  has  the  fault,  however,  of  running 
up  sooner  to  seed  than  the  Round  Leaved,  and, 
for  that  reason,  is  not  so  good  to  sow  in  spring. 
The  variety  known  as  "Thick-leaved  "  is  one 
of  the  best  market  sorts.  It  produces  a  large, 
thick,  strong,  green  leaf  somewhat  crumpled, 
and  possesses  the  valuable  quality  of  standing 


SPI 

a  long  time  before  running  to  seed.  This 
variety  is  equally  good  for  spring  or  fall. 
The  "Long  Standing"  is  another  variety  that 
possesses  the  peculiarity  of  standing  a  long 
time  before  running  to  seed,  but  in  all  other 
respects,  it  is  verj'  similar  to  the  well-known 
"Round  Leaf."  Another  variety,  the  "Large 
Round-leaved  Viroflay "  is  a  heavy  growing 
sort,  much  resembling  the  "Thick-leaved." 
It  is  a  good  cropper  and  hardy. 

Spinach  in  the  latitude  of  New  York  should 
be  sown  from  the  fifth  to  the  fifteenth  of  Sep- 
tember, in  rows  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  apart. 
It  is  important  with  this,  as  with  most  other 
seeds,  to  firm  the  soil  by  treading  on  the  rows 
with  the  feet,  or  using  a  heavy  roller  after 
sowing,  as  otherwise,  if  the  weather  is  dry, 
the  seed  may  be  shriveled,  so  that  it  will  not 
germinate  if  loosely  covered.  In  all  sections 
of  the  country  where  the  thermometer  falls 
below  zero,  and  where  there  is  not  a  certainty 
of  snow  for  a  covering,  the  Spinach  should  be 
covered  up  on  the  approach  of  severe  weather 
(which  is  usually  about  the  middle  of  Decem- 
ber) with  hay,  straw,  or  leaves,  to  the  depth 
of  two  or  three  inches,  which  covering  should 
be  allowed  to  remain  until  the  Spinach  begins 
to  show  green  through  it  in  the  spring. 

Spindle-shaped.  Tapering  to  each  end.  like  a 
Radish. 

Spindle  Tree.     The  genus  Euonymus. 

Spine.  A  stiff,  sharp-pointed  body,  consisting 
of  woody  tissue  covered  with  cellular  tissue  ; 
a  thorn. 

Spinescent.  Tei'minating  in  a  sharp  point  or 
spine. 

Spinose.  Furnished  with  spines;  of  a  spiny 
character. 

Spirae'a.  From  speirao,  to  become  spiral ;  in 
allusion  to  the  flexile  branches  being  suitable 
for  twisting  into  garlands.  Nat.  Ord.  Ros- 
icecB. 

A  genus  of  over  flfty  species  of  deciduous, 
hardy  shrubs  or  herbaceous  perennials,  broadly 
dispersed  over  the  temperate  regions  of  the 
northern  hemisphere.  Many  of  the  shrubby 
species,  with  white  or  pink  flowers,  make 
beautiful  plants  for  the  lawn  or  shrubbery,  as 
they  grow  in  almost  any  situation,  and  continue 
a  long  time  in  bloom.  Several  of  our  native 
species,  as  S.  opulifolia  (Nine  Bark)  and  its 
golden-leaved  variety,  S.  o.  aurea,  S.  salicifolia 
and  S.  tomentosa,  are  very  handsome,  and  the 
various  species  introduced  from  China,  Japan, 
etc.,  are  exceedingly  ornamental  and  useful 
as  decorative  plants.  To  assist  those  who 
wish  a  continuance  of  bloom  we  give  a  list  of 
the  most  desirable  species  in  the  order  of  their 
blooming,  from  May  to  the  middle  of  August : 
(1)  S. prunifoliafl.  pi,  S.  Thunbergii,  8.  Nicon- 
derti ;  (2)  S.  cratmgifolia,  8.  lanceolata  and  its 
varieties,  8.  trilobata.  8.  van  Houttei ;  (3)  8. 
opulifolia  aurea,  8.  crenata,  8.  Fontenaysii,  8. 
salicifolia,  8.  sorbifoUa,  8.  Billardi;  (4)  8. 
cana,  S.  ariafolia,  8.  Japonica  var.  Bumalda, 
and  the  various  varieties  of  8.  callosa.  Of  the 
herbaceous  species,  8.  lobata  (Queen  of  the 
Prairies),  one  of  the  most  stately  of  all  the 
herbaceous  Spiraeas,  is  common  in  meadows 
in  Pennsylvania  and  south  and  westward. 
The  flowers  are  very  handsome,  of  a  deep 
peach-color,  produced  in  clustered  panicles  on 
long,  naked  peduncles.   It  is  greatly  improved 


428 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SPI 

by  garden  cultivation.  There  are  many  who 
thinlc  it  finer  than  S.  palmata,  a  species  from 
Japan,  and  not  so  recent  as  some  think  it  is. 
S.  aruncus,  the  Goat's  Beard,  is  a  very  showy 
species  found  in  rich  woods  on  the  Catskill  and 
Alleghany  Mountains  and  westward.  S.  astil- 
boides  is  an  exceedingly  elegant  species  intro- 
duced from  Japan  in  1880.  It  differs  from  S. 
aruncus  in  its  compact  habit,  smaller  leaves, 
and  shorter  spikes  of  flowers,  which  are  of  a 
pure  white,  those  of  S.  aruncus  being  greenish 
or  creamy  colored.  It  is  perfectly  hardy  and 
may  be  grown  to  perfection  in  any  ordinary 
border  of  deeply  tilled  soil.  S.  ulmaria,  with 
white  flowers,  is  the  Meadow  Sweet,  a  native 
of  Britain.  8.  filipendula,  also  white,  and  a 
native  of  Britain,  is  known  as  Drop  Wort.  S. 
Japonica,  sometimes  called  Astilbe  and  Hoteia 
Japonica,  and  Astilba  barbata,  though  best 
known  here  as  Spircea  Japonica,  is  the  most 
useful  of  the  genus.  It  belongs  to  the  herba- 
ceous division,  forms  a  most  beautiful,  hardy, 
border  plant,  about  two  feet  in  height,  with 
branching  spikes  of  pure  white,  feather-like 
flowers.  This  species  is  most  extensively 
forced  for  winter  flowers,  and  is  one  of  the 
plants  most  used  for  decoration  at  the  Easter 
holidays.  Although  it  can  be  grown  nearly 
as  well  here  as  in  Europe,  still,  at  present  the 
demand  for  it  is  so  great  that  our  home-grown 
stock  has  been  altogether  insufficient  to  meet 
the  demand,  and  probably  100,000  roots  are 
annually  imported  from  England,  Holland  and 
Germany.  The  roots  best  suited  for  pot 
culture  are  those  having  a  diameter  of  from 
five  to  six  inches.  These  are  potted.in  five 
and  six-inch  pots  in  fall,  and  covered  up  so 
that  they  do  not  freeze,  but  yet  have  no  arti- 
ficial heat.  A  dry,  sheltered  spot  against  a 
south  fence  or  wall  is  best ;  then,  covered  with 
ten  or  twelve  inchesof  leaves,  they  can  be  got  at 
at  any  time  during  winter,  and  should  be  taken 
into  a  cool  house— say  an  average  of  45°  at 
night — and  watered  sparingly  until  free  indica- 
tions of  growth  are  shown.  When  well  rooted, 
and  the  flower  stems  begin  to  show,  they  will 
stand  a  higher  temperature,  but  at  no  time 
should  it  be  higher  than  55°  at  night,  if  the 
best  development  of  flower  is  desired.  It  is  not 
very  easy  to  say  what  time  it  takes  the  plant 
to  be  at  its  best  floweinng  from  the  time  it  is 
placed  in  the  green-house ;  hence  it  is  best  to 
have  them  come  in  in  succession.  At  an  average 
of  50°  at  night  and  ten  degrees  higher  during 
the  day,  from  f  ou  r  to  ten  weeks  will  be  required 
to  got  the  plant  in  full  development  of  bloom. 
A  beautifully  variegated-leaved  variety  of 
S.  Japonica  was  introduced  into  the  United 
States  about  1865,  from  Japan,  but  it  did 
not  take  kindly  to  our  hot  and  dry  climate, 
and  has  now  nearly  disappeared ;  but  we 
believe,  in  the  more  congenial  atmosphere  of 
Britain,  it  makes  a  beautiful  plant,  as,  added 
to  its  fine  variegation,  the  flower  spikes  are 
more  dense  and  compact  than  in  the  plaiii- 
leaved  species.  Another  Rpirsea,  sent  to  the 
United  States  some  ten  years  ago  from  London 
as  S.  palmata,  is  now  well  known,  more  from 
the  fact  of  its  being  sent  out  as  new,  and  at  a 
very  high  price,  than  as  being  of  any  special 
merit  in  itself.  The  facts  of  the  case  are,  that 
S.  palmata  had  been  introduced  into  England 
as  early  as  1822,  and  was  to  be  found  in  every 
herbaceous  plant  collection  in  Britain,  of  any 
note.    Some  one  had  probably  again  found  it 


SPI 

in  its  native  habitat,  had  not  known  of  its 
long  introduction,  offered  it  as  a  new  plant  to 
some  not  over-scrupulous  or  not  too  well-post- 
ed nurseryman  in  London,  and  out  it  came 
on  us  at  the  modest  price  of  half  a  guinea 
apiece,  and  sickly  little  morsels  at  that,  while 
the  same  plant  was  offered  with  the  same  name 
in  half-a-dozen  catalogues  at  one-twentieih 
the  price.  We  never  yet  have  been  able  to 
understand  this  error,  if  error  it  was,  as  it 
was  virtually  endorsed  by  a  score  of  the  lead- 
ing nurserymen  in  England,  by  their  offering 
it  as  new  in  their  catalogues,  besides  being 
described  and  lauded  in  several  of  the  leading 
horticultural  and  botanical  magazines  in  Eu- 
rope, as  well  as  in  this  country.  Evidently 
the  botanist  (?)  who  collected  it  was  a  tyro  at 
his  work,  or  he  would  have  known  enough  to 
look  up  the  genus,  so  as  not  to  stumble  on 
some  old  name  for  his  new-found  bantling; 
but  this  he  evidently  did  not  do  ;  for,  if  he  had 
looked  up  Loudon's  Encyclopaedia  of  Plants, 
or  any  other  of  the  more  recent  works,  he 
would  have  seen  that  S.  palmata  was  intro- 
duced in  1822 ;  and  if  he  had  carried  his  inves- 
tigations further,  he  would  have  found  that 
his  S.  palmata  was  identical  with  that  of  1822. 
Our  excuse  for  treating  this  matter  at  length 
is,  that  many  are  not  yet  aware  of  the  true 
state  of  the  case,  and  continue  to  import  8. 
palmata  as  a  comparatively  new  plant,  and  yet 
at  a  high  price.  We  may  state  further,  that 
all  the  plants  of  this  division  of  the  genus 
are  unsuited  to  our  hot,  dry  climate,  unless 
planted  in  partial  shade. 

Spiral.     Twisted  like  a  screw. 

Spiranthe'ra.  From  speira,  a  spiral,  and  an- 
thera,  an  anther;  alluding  to  the  spiral  an- 
thers.    Nat.  Ord.  Rutacece. 

8.  odoratissima,  the  only  described  species, 
is  a  very  handsome  flowering,  sweet-scented, 
glabrous,  evergreen  shrub,  introduced  from 
Brazil  in  1823.  It  succeeds  well  in  a  compost 
of  peat  and  loam,  and  is  propagated  by  cut- 
tings of  the  half-ripened  wood. 

Spira'nthes.  Lady's  Tresses.  From  speira,  a 
spiral,  and  anthos,  a  flower ;  in  allusion  to  the 
spiral  manner  in  which  the  flowers  are  ar- 
ranged.    Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids,  numbering 
about  fifty  species.  Some  require  green- 
house treatment,  and  others  are  perfectly 
hardy,  herbaceous  plants.  All  the  species  are 
very  pretty,  but  not  of  sufficient  merit  to 
warrant  their  introduction  into  the  green- 
house. Of  the  hardy  species,  several  are  in- 
digenous in  the  Middle  States,  three  or  four 
being  found  on  Long  Island.  The  fiowers 
are  small  and  white,  produced  on  a  spirally- 
twisted  spike,  by  which  the  genus  is  easily 
recognized.  8.  cernua,  a  pretty,  native  spe- 
cies, is  very  variable  in  size,  foliage,  etc. ;  the 
common  form,  with  pure  white,  sweet-scented 
flowers,  is  common  in  wet  places  in  Septem- 
ber and  October. 

Spire  Lily.  A  common  name  for  Hyacirdhua 
{Galtonia)  candicans. 

Spirone'ma.  From  speira,  spiral,  and  nema,  a 
fllament;  alluding  to  the  spirally-twisted 
bundles  of  vessels  containing  the  filaments. 
Nat.  Ord.  CommelinaceoB. 

8.  fragrans,  the  only  species  described,  is  a 
robust  growing  perennial  herb,  more  curious 


SPHiEBOGYHE. 


BFIBiBA  PALMATA. 


8QI7ASH  (LONG   WHITE  BUSH   VBGETABLE  MABROW) 


428 


6TATICE  SUWOEOWl. 


STEPHANOTIS  FLOEIBUNDA. 


KTaTICE    I'TRAMLDALIS. 


8TANHOPEA. 


SPINACH   (SAVOY-LEAVED). 


8FINACIA   (SPINACH). 


8TIPA  PENNATA. 


4*9 


AND   GENERAL   HOKTICULTURE. 


429 


SPL 

than  handsome,  with  large,  oblong-lanceolate 
leaves  and  eiect,  leafless,  almost  rush-like, 
flowering  steins,  having  the  small,  fragrant 
flowers  clustered  along  the  rigid  branches  in 
the  axils  of  chaffy  scales.  It  is  a  native  of 
Mexico,  introduced  to  cultivation  in  1839. 

Spleenvyort.     See  Asplenium. 

Spo'ndias.  Hog  Plum.  The  Greek  name  for 
a  kind  of  plum ;  the  fruit  resembles  a  plum. 
Nat.  Ord.  Anacardiacex. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  trees  common  in  the 
tropics  of  both  hemispheres,  chiefly  interest- 
ing for  their  fruits.  S.  lutea  yields  an  eat- 
able fruit,  called  Hog  Plum  in  the  West  In- 
dies. The  taste  is  said  to  be  peculiar  and 
not  very  agreeable  to  strangers.  They  are 
chiefly  used  to  fatten  swine.  S.  dulcis,  a  na- 
tive of  the  Society  Islands,  yields  a  fruit  the 
flavor  of  which  is  compared  to  that  of  the 
Pineapple.  The  flower  buds  of  S.  Monibin  are 
used  as  a  sweei  meat  with  sugar.  Several  of 
the  species  are  esteemed  for  their  medicinal 
properties,  and  one  or  two  are  cultivated  as 
ornamental  plants. 

Sponge  Gourd.     See  Luffa. 

Sponge  Tree.     Acacia  Farnesiana. 

Sponge  Wood,     ^schynomene  aspera. 

Spongiole,  Spongelet.  A  term  used  to  denote 
the  young,  tender  extremity  of  a  root,  by 
which  it  was  generally  supposed  fluid  food  is 
absorbed  from  the  earth.  It  is  now  under- 
stood that  the  root-hairs,  and  not  the  tips  of 
the  roots,  absorb  the  fluid  nourishment  that 
plants  take  in  from  the  soil. 

Spoou  Flower.     The  genus  Labisia. 

Spoon  Wood.     A  local  name  for  Kalmia  lati- 

folia. 

Spoon-wort.     The  genus  Cochlearia, 

Sporangium  and  Sporange.  From  spora,  a 
seed,  and  aggeion,  a  vessel;  the  latter  word  is 
sounded  as  if  spelled  angeion.  Terms  used 
to  denote  the  small  vessels  or  cases  in  which 
the  spores  of  Ferns  are  produced  on  the  backs 
of  the  fronds,  in  the  little  brown  dots  called 
sori. 

Spore,  Sporule.  The  reproductive  body  in 
cryptogamous  plants,  analogous  to  the  seed 
of  phsenogamous  plants. 

Spore  Case.     The  immediate  covering  of  the 

spores  of  cryptogams. 
Sport.     A  bud  or  seed  variation. 
Spotted  Cowbane.     See  Cicuta  maculata. 

Spotted  Wintergreen.  See  Chimaphila  macu- 
lata. 

Spra'guea.  Named  after  Isaac  Sprague,  an 
American  botanical  draughtsman.  Nat.  Ord. 
Porlulacacem. 

S.  umbellata,  the  only  species,  is  a  beautiful 
little  annual,  or  biennial,  according  to  the 
treatment  given  it ;  from  California,  allied  to 
Claytonia.  The  leaves  are  all  radical,  and 
somewhat  succulent ;  the  flowers  are  densely 
imbricate  in  spikes,  several  of  which  form  a 
dense  umbel  on  a  leafless  scape,  the  large 
sepals  giving  it  an  elegant  and  singular 
aspect.  It  is  readily  grown  from  seed.  In- 
troduced 1859. 

Spreading.  Having  a  gradually  outward  di- 
rection, as  petals  from  the  ovaiy. 


SQU 

Spreke'lia.  Named  after  Dr.  Sprekel,  a  Ger- 
man botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  AmarylliduceoB. 

S.  formosissima,  commonly  known  as 
Amaryllis  formosissima,  or  Jacobaian  Lily, 
the  only  described  species  of  this  genus,  is 
a  bulbous  plant,  with  splendid  dark  scarlet 
flowers.  It  is  called  Jacobsean  on  account  of 
the  brilliant  scarlet  of  its  flowers,  which  the 
Spaniards  in  Peru  thought  resembled  the 
scarlet  swords  worn  by  the  knights  of  the  or- 
der of  St.  James  (Jacobeeus).  These  bulbs 
succeed  well  planteil  in  the  open  border  in 
May.  They  produce  their  flowers  in  June, 
and  the  bulbs  ripen  off  by  fall,  when  they 
should  be  taken  up  and  dried  with  the  tops 
on,  and  stored  in  a  dry  room  free  from  frost, 
until  time  for  planting  out  again.  They  are 
desirable  for  pot  culture,  or  for  growing  in 
glasses  like  Hyacinths,  requiring  the  same 
culture,  and  are  increased  by  offsets.  They 
are  natives  of  Guatemala,  and  were  intro- 
duced in  1658. 

Spring  Beauty.     A   local   name  for  Claytonia, 

which  see. 

Spring  Bell.  A  common  name  for  Si.'iyrin- 
chium  grandiflorum. 

Spring  Snowflake.     See  Leucojum  vernum. 

Spruce.  The  popular  name  of  the  genus  Abies, 
which  see. 

Spru'cea.  Named  after  Mr.  Spruce,  who  dis- 
covered the  plant  on  the  shores  of  the  Ama- 
zon, near  the  mouth  of  the  Eio  Negro.  Nat. 
Ord.  RubiacecB. 

A  handsome,  tall,  bushy  shrub,  bearing  large, 
yellowish,  cream-colored  flowers,  in  dense 
terminal  panicles,  with  a  fine  scent  of  vanilla. 
It  is  seldom  found  in  cultivation. 

Spur.  A  hollow  tubular  extension  of  some  part 
of  a  flower,  usually  nectariferous ;  as  in  the 
calyx  of  the  Larkspur  and  the  corolla  of  the 
Violet. 

Spurge.     The  genus  Euphorbia. 

Spurge  Laurel.     Daphne  Laureola. 

Spurge  Nettle.  A  common  name  for  Jatropha 
urens. 

Spurge  Olive.  A  popular  name  for  Daphne 
Mezereum. 

Spurred  Butterfly  Pea.     See  Centrosema. 

Spurred  Gentian.     Halenia  deflexa. 

Spurrey.     The  genus  Spergula. 

Squamate,  Squamose.  Scaly;  covered  with 
small,  scale-like  leaves. 

Squarrose.  When  bodies  are  rough  with 
spreading  and  projecting  processes.  Imbri- 
cated bracts,  scales,  or  leaves  are  said  to  be 
Squarrose  when  their  tips  are  pointed  and 
very  spreading  or  recurved. 

Squash.  (Cucurbita  melopepo.)  The  history  of 
the  Squash  is  more  obscure  than  that  of  any 
other  vegetable  of  equal  importance  in  the 
garden.  It  was  found  in  cultivation  by  the 
Indians  on  the  Island  of  Nantucket  by  the 
earliest  settlers ;  there  was,  however,  but  one 
kind,  the  small,  warted  Pumpkin.  From  this 
peculiar  variety  the  common  Field  Pumpkin 
is  supposed  to  have  originated.  Several  vari- 
eties have  been  introduced  from  South  Amer- 
ica, and  among  them  the  Mammoth  Squash 
from  Valparaiso,  the  seed  of  which  was  sent 
here  by  Commodore  Perry.  Several  other  of 
our  best  sorts  have  been  received  from  there 


430 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


SQU 

and  the  West  Indies ;  their  parentage,  how- 
ever, is  entirely  unknown.  A  large  number 
of  varieties  are  grown  under  distinctive 
names,  many  of  which  are  cross-breeds.  The 
popular  summer  varieties  are  White  and  Yel- 
low Bush  and  Summer  Crookneck.  For  fall 
and  winter,  Hubbard,  Essex  Hybrid,  Marble- 
head  and  Mammoth  Chili.  Most  of  the  win- 
ter varieties,  if  kept  in  a  dry  atmosphere  at  a 
temperature  of  about  forty  degrees,  will  keep 
until  May.  They  require  well  manured  ground 
to  succeed  well,  with  generally  some  special 
manure  in  the  hills.  For  tlie  bush  sorts  three 
to  four  feet  apart  is  sufficient,  but  the  run- 
ning sorts  require  to  be  from  six  to  eight  feet 
apart. 

Squavy  Root.     See  Conopholis. 

Squaw  Weed.     Senecio  aureus. 

Squill.     See  Scilla. 

Squill,  Striped.  A  common  name  for  Pvsch- 
kinia  scillioides. 

Squirrel  Corn.     See  Dicentra  Canadensis. 

Squirrel  Tail  Grass.     See  Hordeum. 

Squirting  Cucumber.     Ecballium  Elaterium. 

Staa'via.  Named  after  Martin  Staaf,  a  corre- 
spondent of  Linnaeus.     Nat.  Ord.  BruniacecB. 

A  genus  of  green-house  shrubs,  much  re- 
sembling Heaths  or  Epacris,  natives  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The  flowers  intermixed 
with  chaffy  scales  are  arranged  in  showy 
heads  with  numerous  white  bi'acts.  S.  glu- 
tinosa,  the  best  known  species,  thrives  best  in 
a  compost  of  sandy  peat  and  loam,  and  is  in- 
creased by  cuttings  of  the  young  wood. 

Sta'chys.  Hedge  Nettle.  From  stachys,  a  spike ; 
their  manner  of  flowering.  Nat.  Ord.  Labi- 
atcB. 

A  genus  of  shrubby  and  herbaceous  plants, 
common  throughout  the  United  States  and 
Europe.  None  of  the  species  has  any  special 
merit,  except  S.  lanata,  which  is  used  to  a 
considerable  extent  in  the  formation  of  white 
lines  for  ribbon  borders  or  massing ;  it  is 
propagated  by  cuttings. 

Stachytarphe'ta.  From  stachys,  a  spike,  and 
tarphys,  thick;  alluding  to  the  form  of  the  in- 
florescence. A  genus  of  Verbenacece,  consist- 
ing of  aromatic  herbs,  shrubs,  or  sub-shrubs, 
natives  for  the  most  part  of  ti-opical  or  sub- 
tropical America.  S.  Jamaicensis  is  possessed 
of  remarkable  medicinal  virtues,  according  to 
the  Brazilians,  and  the  leaves  of  this  species 
and  S.  mutabilis  are  used  to  adulterate  tea, 
and  in  Austria  they  are  sold  under  the  name 
of  Brazilian  Tea.  The  shrubby  sorts  are 
easily  increased  by  cuttings,  and  the  annual 
species  by  seeds. 

Stachyu'rus.  From  stachys,  a  spike,  and  oura, 
a  tail ;  in  allusion  to  the  shape  of  the  Catkins. 
Nat.  Ord.  Ternstrcsmiacece. 

A  genus  consisting  of  only  two  species  of 
half-hardy,  glabrous  shrubs,  one  being  Japan- 
ese, the  other  Himalayan.  S.  prcBco.v  pro- 
duces its  yellowish-green  flowers  in  great  pro- 
fusion before  the  leaves  are  unfolded,  and  is 
readily  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  half- 
ripened  wood.  Introduced  from  Japan  in  1864. 

Stadma'nnia.  In  honor  of  M.  Stadmann,  a 
German  botanical  traveler.  Nat.  Ord.  Sap- 
indaceoe. 

A  genus  of  lofty-growing  trees,  with  large, 
showy    leaves,    natives    of    Australia.       The 


STA 

species  have  been  united  with  Cupania  by 
modern  botanists. 

Staff  Tree,     See  Celastrus. 

Stage.     See  Table. 

Stagger  Bush.     Andromeda  Mariana. 

Stag's  Horn  Fern.     See  Platycerium  alcicome 

Stags  Horn  Sumach.  A  common  name  for 
Rhus  typhina. 

Stalk.  The  stein  or  support  to  an  organ,  as 
the  petiole  of  a  leaf,  the  peduncle  or  pedicel 
of  a  flower,  etc. 

Stamen.  That  organ  of  the  flower  which  con- 
tains the  pollen. 

Standard.     The  fifth  petal  of  a  papilionaceous 

flower. 
Standing  Cypress.     See  Ipomopsis. 

Stange'ria.  Named  after  William  Stanger,  Sur- 
veyor-General of  Natal,  who  died  in  1854.  A 
remarkable  genus  of  Cycadacem,  quite  distinct 
from  any  other  of  the  order  in  its  Fern-like 
foliage.  S.  paradoxa,  the  only  species,  a 
Natal  plant  with  a  thick,  napiform  trunk, 
is  closely  related  to  Encephalartos  in  struc- 
tural characters,  but  differs  remarkably  in 
habit  and  foliage. 

Stanho'pea.  In  compliment  to  Earl  Stanhope. 
Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecE. 

A  very  beautiful  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids, 
remarkable  for  their  extraordinary  flowers, 
curious  in  form  and  richly  colored,  and  also  for 
their  singular  habit  of  throwing  the  flower- 
stem  from  the  base  of  the  psuedo-bulbs  in  a 
downward  direction.  When  first  introduced 
(1830)  the  plants  were  placed  in  pots  inthe  usual 
manner,  and  were  supposed  to  be  difficult  to 
fiower,  until  the  accidental  breaking  of  a  pot 
exposed  the  flowers  perishing  in  the  soil  be- 
neath the  plants.  This  circumstance  led  to 
the  prevalent  method  of  growing  them  in 
baskets  made  of  small  sticks  of  Cedar,  Locust, 
or  other  woods  not  liable  to  decay,  which, 
being  open  at  intervals,  allows  the  flower- 
spikes  to  protrude  in  their  natural  position. 
Baskets  about  a  foot  and  a  half  in  diameter 
and  six  inches  deep  are  sufficiently  large  for 
well-grown  specimens.  The  soil  should  be 
leaf-mould  and  sphagnum  moss,  about  one- 
fourth  of  the  latter,  with  small  pieces  of  char- 
coal intermixed  for  perfect  drainage.  Some 
successful  growers  use  only  the  moss  and 
charcoal  or  potsherds.  Stanhopeas  require 
plenty  of  water  while  growing.  The  moss 
should  be  thoroughly  soaked  every  daj',  and  a 
slight  syringing,  or  what  is  better,  a  dense 
application  of  steam  evei-y  night  and  morning. 
Most  of  the  species  make  two  growths  in  a 
year,  and  with  proper  management;  will  also 
bloom  twice ;  but  some  care  is  required  to 
have  the  latter  growth  duly  formed  before 
the  winter  sets  in,  or  there  is  much  danger  of 
their  rotting.  If  an  active  growth  can  be 
started  about  the  first  of  February,  the  first 
pseudo-bulbs  will  be  formed,  and  the  flowers 
fully  perfected  in  May,  which  leaves  good 
time  to  complete  the  second  flowering.  A 
temperature  of  from  70°  to  85°  will  grow 
them  best,  and  for  the  winter,  or  resting  period, 
from  55"  to  GC  is  sufficient.  They  do  not  re- 
quire to  be  frequently  shifted,  but  when  this 
is  done  the  plant  should  be  put,  basket  and 
all,  into  a  larger  one,  as  it  is  impossible  to  re- 
move  them    without  serious    injury   to   the 


AND   GENEllAL  HORTICULTURE. 


431 


STA 

roots.  S.  Bncephahis,  S.  tigrina  sitperba,  S. 
Marliana,  S.  grandijlora  and  8.  Wardiana, 
are  among  the  finest  species  of  this  genus. 
They  are  increased  by  division. 

Sta'nnia  formosa.  A  native  of  the  Caraccas, 
is  a  highly  ornamental  stove-house  plant  with 
white  fragrant  flowers  three  to  four  inches 
in  length.  The  genus  is  now  placed  by  many 
botanists  under  Posoqueria. 

Stape'lia.  Named  by  Linnaeus  after  Boderus 
Slapel,  a  physician  of  Amsterdam  and  commen- 
tator on  Theophrastus.  Nat.  Ord.  Asclepia- 
dacece. 

This  is  a  genus  of  very  curious  green-house 
plants,  with  showy,  star-like  flowers  proceed- 
ing from  the  base,  which  smell  so  much  like 
carrion  that  flies  have  been  known  to  lay  their 
eggs  upon  them.  As  these  plants  are  very 
succulent,  they  are  apt  to  damp  off  if  they  are 
grown  in  rich  soil  or  receive  too  much  water. 
They  are  propagated  by  cuttings,  which 
should  be  laid  on  the  shelf  for  two  or  three 
days  to  shrivel  before  they  are  planted.  All 
the  Stapelias  are  natives  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope.  The  flowers  are  very  singular  as  well 
as  showy,  and  would  be  highly  prized  were  it 
not  for  their  offensive  odor ;  but  notwithstand- 
ing, they  are  very  interesting  plants,  and  the 
odor  is  of  no  long  continuance.  They  were 
fii'st  introduced  in  1710. 

Staphy'lea.  Bladder  Nut.  Abridged  from 
Staphnlodendron,  its  ancient  name,  from 
staphyle,  a  bunch,  and  dendron,  a  tree ;  the 
flowers  and  fruit  are  disposed  in  clusters. 
Nat.  Ord.  Sapindacece. 

A  genus  of  deciduous  shrubs,  which  are 
widely  dispersed.  One  species,  S.  trifoUata, 
indigenous  in  the  United  States,  is  a  hand- 
some shrub,  Avith  terminal  panicles  of  white 
flowers,  produced  in  May.  S.  Colchica  is  an 
excellent  subject  for  early  forcing ;  plants  in 
small  pots  producing  a  dozen  or  more  spikes 
of  beautiful  white,  fragrant  flowers, which  will 
last  in  perfection  at  least  three  weeks. 

Staphylea'ceae.     A  sub-order  of  SapindacecB. 

Star-Apple.     The  genus  Chrysophyllwm. 

Star  Flo'wer.  Trientalis  Americana ;  the  name 
is  also  applied  to  several  species  of  Aster, 
Stembergia  and  Tritelia. 

Star  Grass.     See  Hypoxia. 

Star  Hyacinth.     Scilla  amoena. 

Star  of  Bethlehem.     See  Ornithogalum. 

Star  of  Night.      A   common   name   for   Clusia 

rosea. 
'  Star  Thistle.     Centaurea  Calcitrapa. 

Star-'wort.  A  common  name  for  Aster  and  Stel- 
lar ia. 

Staphy'leae.     A  tribe  of  SapindaceoR. 

Sta'tice.  Sea  Lavender,  Marsh  Rosemary. 
From  statikos,  astringent ;  in  allusion  to  the 
powerful  astringency  of  some  of  the  species. 
Nat.  Ord.  Plumbaginacem. 

Singular  plants,  the  foot-stalks  of  the  flowers 
of  which  are  colored  so  as  to  resemble  flowers, 
while  the  real  flowers  are  the  white  part  at 
the  extremity  of  the  purple.  The  handsomest 
species  belonging  to  the  genus  is  S.  arborea,  a 
native  of  the  Canaries,  which  is  quite  shrubbj'. 
This  splendid  plant  should  have  plenty  of 
room  for  its  roots,  and  thus,  when  there  is 
not  a  conservatory  for  it  to  be  planted  in,  it 


STE 

does  better  in  the  open  border  with  a  slight 
protection  during  winter,  than  in  a  pot  in  a 
green-house.  8.  macrophylla  and  its  variety, 
iSj,  Halfordi,  are  exceedingly  useful  in  the 
conservatory  or  green-house,  their  clear  white 
flowers  contrasting  well  with  the  deep  blue 
bracts.  They  are  very  free  flowering,  and 
succeed  well  in  good  turfy  loam  with  a  little 
well- rotted  cow  manure  and  sand  mixed  with 
it.  They  may  be  increased  by  cuttings  during 
the  early  spring  months.  8.  8uworowi,  a 
recent  introduction  from  Turkestan,  is  a 
strikingly  beautiful,  hardy  annual,  with  pretty 
lilac-colored  flowers,  produced  in  dense 
branched  spikes.  The  common  kinds  of 
Statice  are  generally  increased  by  seeds  or 
by  dividing  the  root,  and  they  should  be 
allowed  plenty  of  space,  as  they  are  easily 
killed  when  crowded  by  other  plants.  8.  Lim- 
onium.  Sea  Tlirift,  the  only  species  that  is  a 
native  of  this  country,  is  common  in  salt 
marshes  along  the  southern  coast,  and  is 
gathered  in  considerable  quantities  for  making 
winter  bouquets. 

Stau'ntonia.  In  honor  of  8ir  George  Staunton, 
Bart.,  who  introduced  numerous  plants  from 
China.     Nat.  Ord.  Lardizabalacem. 

This  genus  consists  of  but  two  known 
species,  both  woody  climbing  shrubs,  from 
China  and  Japan.  The  flowers  are  produced 
from  the  axils  of  the  leaves,  and  are  white 
and  fragrant.  The  plants  are  of  easy  culture, 
but  of  no  special  interest,  excepting  in  botan- 
ical collections. 

Staura'nthera.  From  stauros,  a  cross,  and 
anthera,  an  anther ;  the  anthers  cohere  in  the 
form  of  a  cross.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneraceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  stove-house  plants,  natives 
of  the  East  Indies  and  the  Malayan  Archipel- 
ago. 8.  grandifolia,  the  only  species  intro- 
duced, has  very  pretty  flowers  about  an  inch 
long,  the  corolla  tube  white,  tinged  with 
purple  and  pale  yellow.  It  thrives  in  a  mix- 
ture of  loam  and  sandy  peat,  and  is  propagated 
by  cuttings.  Introduced  from  Moulmein  in 
1862. 

Staurosti'gma.  From  Stauros,  a  cross,  and 
stigma,  a  stigma ;  in  allusion  to  the  cross,  or 
star-shaped  stigmas.     Nat.  Ord.  AroidecB. 

A  small  genus  of  tuberous,  stoloniferous, 
stove-house  plants,  natives  of  tropical  America. 
Their  leaves  are  much  divided  and  are  borne 
on  long  petioles.  They  require  a  season  of 
rest,  during  which  the  plants  should  be  very 
sparingly  watered.  There  are  over  six  species 
introduced,  but  they  are  seldom  found  in 
cultivation. 

Stavesacre.  The  acrid,  emetic-purgative  seeds 
of  Delphinium  Staphysagria. 

Steeple  Bush.  A  common  name  for  Spiroea 
tomentosa. 

Stella'ria.  Chickweed,  Star  "Wort.  From  stHla, 
a  star;  the  flowers  are  star-like.  Nat.  Ord. 
Caryophyllacece. 

With  the  exception  of  8.  Holostea,  a  pretty 
little  white,  early  spring  flower,  this  genus  is 
a  family  of  weeds  of  the  most  troublesome 
character.  There  are  several  species  indige- 
nous in  this  country,  all  well  known.  8.  media, 
common  Chickweed,  is  the  most  troublesome 
weed  of  the  garden,  particularly  iu  the  fall 
months. 

Stellate.     Star-shaped. 


432 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


STE 

Stem.  The  ascending  axis  of  a  plant,  from 
wliich  leaves,  flowers  and  fruit  are  de- 
veloped. 

Stena'ctis.  Probably  from  stene,  narrow,  and 
aktin,  a  sunbeam ;  from  the  narrow  and  sun- 
like rays  of  the  expanded  flower.  Nat.  Ord. 
Compositce. 

A  small  genus  of  erect-branched  herbs, 
natives  of  North  America,  Northern  India, 
etc.,  with  showy  white,  violet  or  light  pur- 
ple flowers.  This  genus  is  now  included  as  a 
section  of  Erigeron. 

Stenanthe'ra.  From  stenos,  narrow,  and  anth- 
era,  an  anther ;  the  filaments  are  broader  than 
the  anthers,  which  causes  the  latter  to  appear 
narrow.    Nat.  Ord.  Epacridacece. 

A  genus  of  two  species  of  beautiful  ever- 
green shrubs,  both  natives  of  Australia,  with 
almost  sessile  red  flowers,  often  crowded  at 
the  base  of  the  branchlets.  Like  all  other 
plants  of  this  order,  the  roots  are  very  fine 
and  impatient  of  the  application  of  much 
water,  consequently  ample  drainage  must  be 
provided  in  the  pots.  Propagated  by  cuttings 
of  the  half-ripened  wood.     Syn.  Astroloina. 

Ste'iiia.  From  stenos,  narrow ;  in  allusion  to 
the  form  of  the  pollen  masses.  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  very  handsome  epiphytal 
Orchids,  natives  of  New  Grenada,  Columbia 
and  Peru.  S.fimbriata  is  a  very  showy  plant. 
The  leaves  are  long,  narrow  and  dark  green  ; 
the  flowers  are  bright  yellow,  with  a  paler  lip, 
beautifully  spotted  with  carmine,  and  are  pro- 
duced on  slender  scapes.  There  are  one  or 
two  other  species  unde^-  cultivation.  Propa- 
gated by  division. 

Stenoca'rpus.  Fire-tree  or  Tulip-tree  of 
Queensland.  From  stenos,  narrow,  and  karpos, 
fruit;  the  fruit  being  long  and  thin.  Nat. 
Ord.  Proteacem. 

S.  Cimninghami,  a  tree  but  rarely  met,  ex- 
cepting in  botanical  collections,  is  one  of  the 
noblest  and  most  interesting  trees  in  culti- 
vation. It  is  a  lofty  tree,  producing  its  dark 
yellow  or  orange-colored  flowers  in  terminal 
or  axillary  clusters,  in  the  greatest  profusion. 
In  general  appearance  it  resembles  the  ever- 
green Oaks.  It  requires  considerable  age  be- 
fore it  will  flower  in  the  green-house,  but 
when  that  age  is  reached,  there  is  no  shrub 
or  tree  more  prolific  or  beautiful.  Introduced 
from  Moreton  Bay  1830.  Syn.  Stenocarpus 
and  Agnostus  sinuatus. 

Stenochi'lus.  From  stenos,  narrow,  and  cheilos, 
a  lip  ;  alluding  to  the  narrow  lip  of  the  flower. 
Nat.  Ord.  Myoporacece. 

A  genus  of  green-house,  evergreen  Austra- 
lian shrubs,  -with  alternate  leaves  and  i-ed, 
scarlet,  or  yellow  flowers.  They  thrive  best 
in  a  compost  of  sandy  loam  and  peat,  and  are 
readily  increased  by  cuttings.  This  genus  is 
placed  by  Beutham  and  Hooker  under  Eremo- 
phila. 

Stenochlae'na.  From  stenos,  narrow,  and 
chlania,  a  cloak ;  in  reference  to  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  sori.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacem. 

A  genus  of  Ferns  having  two-formed  fronds, 
the  sterile  ones  pinnate,  the  fertile  ones  con- 
tracted, and  either  pinnate  or  bi-pinnate,  borne 
on  scandent  rhizomes.  They  are  natives 
principally  of  India  and  the  Pacific  Islands. 
Though  very  distinct  looking,  this  genus  is 


STE 

now  included  under  Acrostichum  and  Lomaria, 
by  many  botanists. 

Stenome'sson.  From  stenos,  narrow,  and  mes- 
son,  the  middle  ;  the  flowers  contracted  in  the 
middle.     Nat.  Ord.  AmaryllidaceoR. 

A  genus  of  very  pretty,  half-hardy  South 
American  bulbs,  with  orange,  scarlet  and  yel- 
low flowers,  in  umbels  on  a  slender  scape. 
The  bulbs  may  be  planted  out  in  early  spring 
in  a  moist  situation,  and  they  will  soon  come 
into  flower.  They  are  propagated  by  offsets 
and  require  perfect  rest  during  winter.  In- 
troduced from  Peru  in  1843. 

Stenorhy'nchus.  A  genus  of  terrestrial  Or- 
chids, now  included  under  Spiranthes. 

Stenota'phrum.  Australian  Buffalo  Grass. 
From  stenos,  narrow,  and  taphros,  a  trench ; 
referring  to  the  cavities  in  the  rachis  in  which 
the  spikelets  are  seated.  Nat.  Ord.  Gramin- 
aceoB. 

A  small  genus  of  creeping,  radicant  grasses, 
inhabiting  tropical  regions,  mostly  near  the 
sea.  S.  Americanum,  the  only  species  in  cul- 
tivation, is  a  curious  perennial  grass,  with 
flattened  stems  and  leaves.  A  variegated 
variety  has  leaves  two  to  four  inches  long, 
freely  striped  with  creamy  white,  and  is  an 
excellent  basket  plant.  It  is  known  in  culti- 
vation as  Stephanophorum  glabrum  variegatum. 

Stephana'ndra.  From  Stephanos,  a  crown,  and 
aner,  andros,  a  male ;  alluding  to  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  stamens.     Nat.  Ord.  RosacecB. 

»S.  _^e.cM08a,  the  only  described  species,  is  a 
hardy,  deciduous  shrub,  with  small  white 
flowers,  in  corymbose  racemes  or  panicles, 
introduced  from  Japan  in  1870.  It  is  closely 
allied  to  the  shrubby  Spireas,  and  is  propa- 
gated by  cuttings. 

Stepha'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Profctsor  F. 
Stephan,  of  Moscow.  Nat.  Ord.  Menispermch 
ceoB. 

A  small  genus  of  climbing  plants,  natives  of 
tropical  Asia,  Africa  and  Australia.  The  spe- 
cies are  well  worth  cultivating  on  account  of 
the  beauty  of  their  yellow  or  orange-colored 
flowers,  which  are  disposed  in  simple  or  com- 
pound umbels.  They  thrive  in  a  compost  of 
sandy  peat  and  loam,  and  are  readily  in- 
creased by  cuttings. 

Stephano'coma.  From  Stephanos,  a  crown,  and 
kome,  hair;  referring  to  the  crown-like  pap- 
pus.    Nat.  Old.  Compositm. 

S.  carduoides,  the  only  species,  is  a  Thistle- 
like herb,  with  yellow  flower  heads.  Intro- 
duced from  South  Africa  in  1864 ;  known  also 
as  Slobcea  sphoerocephala. 

Stephanopho'rum.     See  Stenotaphyrum. 

Stephanophy'sum.  From  Stephanos,  a  crown, 
and  physa,  a  bladder;  alluding  to  the  inflo- 
rescence.    Nat.  Ord.  Acanthacece. 

A  genus  of  tropical  herbaceous  plants, 
natives  of  Central  America  and  Africa.  The 
flowers  are  mostly  scarlet,  produced  in  axil- 
lary clusters.  They  are  very  rarely  culti- 
vated. This  genus  is  often  included  with 
Ru^llia. 

Stephano'tis.  Madagascar  Chaplet  Flower, 
Madagascar  Jasmine.  From  stephanos,a,  crown, 
and  Otis,  eared ;  the  ear-like  processes  on  the 
crown  of  the  stamens.  Nat.  Ord.  Asclepia- 
dacecB. 

These  noble  green-house  climbers  grow 
with  great  freedom  when   allowed   sufficient 


AND    GENEKAL    HORTICULTURE. 


433 


STE 

root  room.  They  may  either  be  planted  in 
the  border  of  the  house  and  trained  over  the 
pillars  and  roof,  or  placed  in  a  large  pot  hav- 
ing a  good-sized  trellis  attached  to  it.  In 
either  position  the  effect  produced  by  their 
deep  green  and  ample,  fleshy  leaves,  enriched 
by  numerous  clusters  of  pure  white,  waxy 
flowers,  is,  perhaps,  unsurpassed.  The  flow- 
ers of  S.  floribunda  have  a  strong,  delicious 
perfume,  and  are  much  valued  by  the  bouquet- 
makers.  This  species  was  introduced  from 
Madagascar  in  1830,  and  is  the  only  one  gen- 
erally cultivated.  It  is  much  subject  to  the 
insect  known  as  Mealy  Bug,  and  to  keep  it  in 
health  this  insect  must  be  sponged  off  the 
stems  and  leaves  as  soon  as  it  is  seen.  Prop- 
agated by  seeds  or  cuttings. 

Stephenso'nia.  A  garden  name  of  PhcBnicopho- 
rium,  more  correctly  Stevensonia. 

Stercu'lia.  From  Sterculius,  a  god,  derived 
from  stercus,  dung ;  the  flowers  and  leaves  of 
some  of  the  species  are  foetid.  Nat.  Ord.  8ter- 
culiacecB. 

A  genus  of  considerable  extent,  widely  dis- 
persed through  the  tropics  of  both  hemi- 
spheres, occurring  most  abundantly,  however, 
in  Asia  and  the  Asiatic  Islands,  more  sparing- 
ly in  America  and  Africa,  and  rarely  in  Aus- 
tralia. Nearly  all  the  species  are  trees,  sojne- 
times  of  considerable  size.  The  seeds  or  nuts 
of  some  of  the  species  are  edible.  S.  urens 
yields  a  valuable  gum,  and  bags  used  for  the 
conveyance  of  rice  and  other  merchandise  are 
made  from  S.  villosa  by  soaking  logs  of  the 
trunk  or  large  branches  for  a  few  days,  and 
then  stripping  off  the  bark  entire  and  sewing 
up  the  bottoms.  S.  rupestris,  the  Bottle  Tree 
of  Australia,  introduced  to  cultivation  in  1880 
under  the  name  of  Delabechea  rupet^iris,  forms 
a  pretty  green-house  shrub,  the  trunk  often 
swelling  to  a  large  size — whence  the  common 
name.  Several  other  species  are  in  culti-  | 
vation  and  are  propagated  by  cuttings. 

Sterculia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  soft-wooded 
herbs,  shrubs,  or  trees,  mostly  natives  of  the 
warmer  parts  of  the  world.  They  contain  an 
abundant  mucilage  combined  in  the  old  bark 
of  the  woody  species,  with  a  bitter  astringent 
matter,  and  are  emetics  and  stimulants.  From 
the  dried  and  split  cotyledons  of  the  seeds  of 
Theobroma  cacao.  Chocolate  is  manufactured. 
To  this  order  also  belong  the  Baobab  Tree, 
Adansonia  digitata ;  the  Silk-cotton  Tree,  Bom- 
bax  Ceiba ;  and  the  Durion  Tree,  Durio  Zebe- 
thinus,  the  fruit  of  which  is  highly  esteemed. 
These  may  be  named  as  examples  of  the 
character  of  the  order,  which  contains  about 
forty  -  six  genera,  and  over  five  hundred 
species. 

Sterile.  Barren.  A  male  or  staminate  flower 
is  commonly  said  to  be  sterile. 

Steripho'ma.  From  steriphoma,  a  foundation ; 
in  allusion  to  the  large  fruit  stalk.  Nat.  Ord. 
Capparidacem. 

A  genus  of  shrubby  plants,  natives  of  Peru, 
New  Grenada,  Venezuela,  and  the  Trinity 
Islands.  The  flowers  are  large  and  showy, 
borne  in  terminal  racemes  with  thick  pedun- 
cles. S.  cleomoidea  (Cleome-like),  the  only 
species  yet  in  cultivation.  Is  well  worth  grow- 
ing for  the  beauty  of  its  yellow  flowers.  It 
was  introduced  from  Caraccas  in  1823,  and  is 


STI 

propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  young  wood. 
Syn.  Stephania. 
Sternbe'rgia.      Mount  Etna  Lily.      Named   in 
honor  of  Count  Caspar  Sternberg,  a  celebrated 
German  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  AmaryllidacecB. 

This  genus  is  usually  known  as  Amaryllis 
lutea,  and  is  sold  as  such  by  the  seedsmen. 
There  are  only  a  few  species,  and  but  little 
difference  between  them ;  none  that  an  ama- 
teur would  be  likely  to  notice.  They  are 
perfectly  hardy,  and  flower  in  the  autumn 
before  the  leaves  start.  The  flowers  are  pure 
golden  yellow,  much  like  a  Crocus,  but  larger, 
and  the  petals  more  fleshy.  In  the  latitude 
of  New  York  the  bulbs  should  have  a  generous 
covering  of  salt  hay  or  coarse  litter  before  the 
ground  freezes  hard  in  the  early  winter.  They 
are  natives  of  the  south  of  Europe  and  Africa. 
Introduced  in  1596. 

Steu'dnera.  Named  after  Dr.  Steudner,  of  Gor- 
litz,  a  German  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  AroidecB. 
A  small  genus  of  stove-house  perennials, 
closely  allied  to  Colocasia.  S.  colocasiasfolvj,, 
and  its  variety,  8.  c.  discolor,  are  the  only 
members  of  this  genus  yet  introduced.  Like 
many  plants  of  the  same  family  they  require 
a  moist,  warm  atmosphere  when  growing, 
and  a  season  of  rest,  when  water  must  be 
almost  entirely  withheld.  They  were  intro- 
duced from  Burmah  in  1874,  and  may  be  in- 
creased by  suckers,  or  by  division  of  the  root- 
stock. 

Stevenso'nia.  Named  for  Governor  Stevenson, 
at  one  time  governor  of  the  Island  of  Mauri- 
tius and  its  dependencies.  Nat.  Ord.  Palma- 
cecB. 

S.  grandifolia  is  a  synonym  of  the  Palm 
described  as  Pkcenicophorium  Schellarum.  It 
is  also  known  as  Areca  Schellarum  and 
Astrocaryum  Borsignyanum.  (See  Phoe,nico- 
phorium.) 

Ste'via.  In  honor  of  Peter  James  Esteve,  M.D., 
Professor  of  Botany  at  Valencia.  Nat.  Ord. 
CompositoR. 

An  extensive  genus  of  green-house  perennials, 
nearly  all  natives  of  Mexico,  and  chiefly  white- 
flowered.  S.  compacta,  early-flowering,  and  S. 
serrata  are  grown  in  large  quantities  by  the 
florists  of  New  York  for  cut  flowers  for  early 
winter  use.  Prof.  Gray,  in  "  Field  and  Garden 
Botany,"  describes  S.  serrata  under  the  name 
of  Piqueria  trinervia,  stating  that  it  is  largely 
cultivated  for  winter  blooming,  etc.  The 
botanical  descriptions  of  both  seem  to  agree, 
only  that  Piqueria,  according  to  Gray,  is  an 
annual,  and  according  to  Nicholson,  in  his 
"Dictionary  of  Gardening,"  a  perennial  and 
hardy.  The  plant  we  have  so  long  known  as 
Stevia  serrata  is  strictly  perennial,  and  in  this 
climate  quite  tender.  S.  serrata  variegata  has 
beautiful  white  and  green  foliage,  the  white 
predominating,  and  it  is  now  used  very 
largely  as  a  white-leaved  plant  for  massing. 
By  pinching  or  cutting  back,  it  can  be  kept  at 
any  height  from  one  to  three  feet.  Its  flowers 
are  equally  useful  as  the  green-leaved  variety. 
The  species  are  all  of  easy  culture,  and  are 
propagated  by  cuttings. 

Stichus.  A  terni  which,  used  in  Greek  com- 
pounds, denotes  a  rank  or  row ;  as  Distichous, 
two-ranked. 

Sti'fftia.  Named  after  A.  J.  Stifft,  an  Austrian 
physician.     Nat.  Ord.  CompositoB. 


434 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


STI 

A  genus  of  glabrous  trees  or  shrubs,  natives 
of  Brazil  and  Guiana.  S.  chrysantha  is  a 
showy,  evergreen  shrub,  with  orange-colored 
flower  heads  two  inches  in  diameter.  It 
requires  a  well-drained,  light,  airy  situation, 
and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  young 
wood. 

Stigma  (pi.  Stigmata).  That  surface  of  a  style, 
usually  at  its  extremity,  to  which  the  pollen 
adheres  when  it  fertilizes  the  ovules. 

Stigmaphyllon.  From  stigma,  a  stigma,  and 
phyllon,  a  leaf ;  alluding  to  the  stigmas  being 
expanded  into  a  sort  of  leaf.  Nat.  Ord.  Mal- 
pighiacecB. 

A  genus  of  about  fifty  species  of  handsome 
tropical  trees  and  shrubs.  Some  of  the  latter 
are  climbers.  They  are  natives  of  Brazil  and 
the  West  Indies.  A  few  of  the  species  are 
cultivated  for  the  sake  of  their  fine  yellow 
flowers  and  beautiful  foliage.  S.  ciliatum 
(Golden  Vine)  is  a  very  free-flowering,  hand- 
some, green-house  climber,  bearing  clusters 
of  beautiful,  fringed,  yellow,  Oncidium-like 
flowers  during  the  early  winter  months.  It  is 
freely  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  ripened 
wood. 

Stigmatose.  When  the  stigma  is  long,  lateral, 
or  on  one  side  of  the  style. 

Stilli'ngia.  Tallow-tree.  Named  after  Dr.  B. 
Stillingfieet,  an  English  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
Euphorbiacew. 

S.  sebifera,  the  Tallow-tree,  is  a  native  of 
China  and  the  adjacent  islands.  This  tree 
is  highly  valued  for  its  fruits,  which  are  about 
half  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  contain  three 
seeds  thickly  covered  with  a  fatty  substance 
which  yields  the  tallow.  This  is  obtained  by 
steaming  the  seeds  in  large  caldrons,  then 
bruising  them  sufflcientlj'  to  loosen  the  fat 
without  breaking  the  seeds,  which  are  re- 
moved by  sifting;  and  the  fat  is  afterwards 
made  into  flat,  circular  cakes,  and  pressed  in  a 
wedge-press,  when  the  pure  tallow  exudes  in 
a  liquid  state,  and  soon  hardens  into  a  white, 
brittle  mass.  This  tallow  is  very  extensively 
used  in  China  for  candle-making.  The  tree 
yields  a  hai'd  wood,  used  by  the  Chinese  for 
printing  blocks,  and  its  leaves  are  employed 
for  dyeing  black.     Syn.  Exccecaria. 

Sti'pa.  Feather  Grass.  From  stipe,  feathery  or 
silky.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminacece. 

S.  pennata,  the  species  chiefly  grown  as  an 
ornamental  plant,  is  a  hardy,  herbaceous  per- 
ennial, a  native  of  Europe,  and  is  grown  for 
the  sake  of  its  beautifully  feathered  beards, 
which  are  used  for  winter  bouquets,  both  in 
the  natural  color  and  dyed.  This  species  is 
propagated  by  division  or  from  seeds  sown  in 
spring. 

Stipe.  The  stalk  of  Ferns  up  to  the  first  pin- 
n8B ;  or  the  stem  of  a  Fungus. 

Stipules.  Processes  or  appendages  of  various 
kinds,  \isually  leaf-like,  arising  from  the  base 
of  a  leaf,  usually  from  its  sides;  leaf-like 
appendages  at  the  base  of  the  petiole. 

Stitch-wort.  A  common  name  for  Stellaria 
Holostea. 

Stobae'a.  In  honor  of  Dr.  Slobceus  of  Lund,  a 
friend  of  Linnaeus.     Nat.  Ord.  GompositcB. 

A  genus  of  thistle-like  herbs,  with  winged, 
spinous  branches,  and  spiny-toothed  leaves. 
S.  purpurea,  known  also  as  Berkheya  purpurea. 


STE      . 

has  large  flower-heads  something  like  a  Pas- 
sion-flower in  outline,  of  a  dull  white  color, 
tinged  with  purple.      They  are  borne  from 
within  a  foot  of  the  ground  to  the  tops  of  the 
stalks,  which  are  over  three  feet  high.     This 
species  and  S.  sphcerorephala  (syn.  Stephano- 
coma)  with   bright  yellow    flower-heads,   are 
exceedingly  showy  and  handsome,  hardy  per- 
ennials. 
Stock.     Synonym  for  a  race.     A  plant  to  which 
a  graft  or  bud  has  been  applied.      A  caudex, 
rhizome,  or  root-like  base  of  a  stem. 
Stock.     Cape.     A  common  name  for  the  genus 
Heliophila. 
Night-scented.     Mathiola  tristis. 
Virginian.     The    popular  name    of  Malcomia 
maritima. 
Stock  and  Stock-Gilliflo-wer.     See  Matthiola. 
Stokes'  Aster.     Stokesia  cyanea. 
Sto'kesia.    In  honor  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Stokes,  the 
coadjutor  of  Withering  in  his  arrangement  of 
British  plants.      Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

8.  cyanea,  Stokes'  Aster,  the  only  known 
species,  is  a  pretty  little  herbaceous,  peren- 
nial evergreen,  found  rarely  in  the  wet  pine 
barrens  of  South  Carolina  and  westward. 
Flowers  bright  blue,  produced  in  large  ter- 
minal heads.  This  beautiful  late-flowering 
plant  is  now  largely  grown  in  England  to 
supply  the  cut-flower  market  with  blue  flowers 
in  autunm.  It  is  readily  increased  by  divi- 
sion or  from  seeds. 
Stole,  Stolon.  A  sucker ;  a  lax  trailing  branch 
given  off  at  the  summit  of  the  root,  and  taking 
root  at  intervals,  whence  fresh  buds  are 
developed. 
Stoloniferous.  Bearing  or  propagated  by  stol- 
ons, runners,  etc. 
Stoma,  Stomata.  An  organic  aperture  in  the 
skin  of  a  plant,  by  means  of  which  respiration 
is  maintained,  to  provide  for  whi(;h  it  is 
always  placed  over  a  cavity  in  the  parenchyma 
beneath  it. 
Stone.  A  hard  body  found  in  certain  fruits, 
which  are  generally  known  as  stone-fruits, 
and  produced  by  the  ossification  of  the  endo- 
carp,  or  lining  of  the  fruit. 
Stone  Crop.     See  Sedum. 

Stone  Pine.     A  common  name  for  Pinus  pinea. 
Stool.     A  plant  from  which  "layers"  are  prop- 
agated, by  bending  its  branches  into  the  soil, 
so  that  they  may  take  root. 
Storax.     See  Sty  rax. 
Storks-Bill.     See  Pelargonium. 
Stramo'nium.     See  Datura. 
Stratio'tes.    Water  Soldier.     From  atratiotes,  a 
soldier;   in  allusion  to  its  long,   sword-like 
leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Hydrocharidacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy  aquatics.  S.  aloides,  a 
native  of  England,  is  a  very  singular  plant. 
It  resembles  our  Aloes  in  miniature ;  hence  its 
specific  name.  It  is  attached  to  the  mud  by  a 
cord-like  runner,  or  is  suspended  free  in  the 
water,  elevating  only  its  flowers  and  a  portion 
of  its  leaves  above  the  surface.  It  increases 
very  fast,  and  will  grow  freely  in  the  aqua- 
rium. It  increases  too  fast  for  small  ponds,  as 
it  will  soon  choke  out  all  other  plants. 
Strava'dium.  From  tsgeria  samstravadi,  the 
Malabar  name  of  one  of  the  species.  Nat. 
Ord.  MyrtacecB. 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTUKE. 


435 


STR 

A  genus  of  ornamental  trees,  natives  of 
Polynesia  and  the  East  Indies.  Their  showy 
red  or  white  flowers  are  borne  in  very  long 
pendulous  racemes.  The  genus  is  now  in- 
cluded by  Bentham  and  Hooker  under  Bar- 
ringtonia. 
Strawberry.  See  Fragaria.  Strawberries  will 
grow  on  almost  any  soil>  but  it  is  all-impor- 
tant that  it  be  well  drained,  either  naturally 
or  artificially ;  in  fact,  this  is  true  for  the  well- 
being  of  nearly  all  plants,  as  few  plants  do 
well  on  soils  where  the  water  does  not  freely 
pass  off.  Thorough  culture  requires  that  the 
soil  should  be  first  dug  or  plowed,  then  spread 
over  with  at  least  three  inches  of  thoroughly 
rotted  stable  manure,  which  should  be  dug  or 
plowed  under,  so  far  as  practicable,  to  mix  it 
with  the  soil.  If  stable  manure  cannot  be  had, 
artificial  manure,  such  as  ground  bone  dust, 
etc.,  should  be  sown  on  the  dug  or  plowed 
ground,  thick  enough  to  nearly  cover  it,  then 
harrowed  or  chopped  in  with  a  fork,  so  that  it 
is  well  mixed  with  the  soil  to  at  least  six  inches 
in  depth.  This,  then,  is  the  preliminary 
work  before  planting,  to  insure  a  crop  the 
next  season  after  planting — in  nine  or  ten 
months.  The  plants  must  be  such  as  are 
layered  In  pots,  and  the  sooner  they  are 
planted  out  after  the  ISth  of  July,  the  better, 
although,  if  not  then  convenient,  they  will 
produce  a  crop  the  next  season  even  if 
planted  as  late  as  the  middle  of  September ;  but 
the  sooner  they  are  planted  the  larger  will  be 
the  crop.  They  may  be  set  from  pot  layers 
either  in  beds  of  four  rows  each,  fifteen  inches 
apart,  and  fifteen  iuches  between  the  plants, 
leaving  two  feet  between  the  beds  for  path- 
way ;  or  be  set  out  in  rows  two  feet  apart,  the 
plants  in  the  rows  fifteen  inches  apart ;  and  if 
the  plants  are  properly  set  out  ^care  being 
taken  to  firm  the  soil  around  the  plant,  whicfi 
is  best  done  by  pressing  the  soil  against  each 
plant  with  the  foot),  not  one  plant  in  a  th6Q 
sand  of  Strawberry  plants  that  have  been 
grown  in  pots  will  fail  to  grow.  For  the  first 
three  or  four  weeks  after  planting  nothing 
need  be  done  except  to  hoe  the  beds,  so  that 
all  weeds  are  kept  down.  Be  careful  to  do 
this  once  in  every  ten  days ;  for  if  the  weeds 
once  get  a  start,  it  will  treble  the  labor  of 
keeping  the  ground  clean.  In  about  a  month 
after  planting  they  will  begin  to  throw  out 
runners,  all  of  which  muat  be  pinched  or  cut  off 
as  they  appear,  so  that  by  the  end  of  the  grow- 
ing season  (Istof  l!|ovember)  each  plant  will 
have  formed  a  complete  bush  one  foot  or  more 
In  diameter,  having  the  necessary  matured 
'•crowns"  for  next  June's  fruit.  By  the  mid- 
dle of  December  the  entire  beds  of  Strawberry 
plants  should  be  covered  up  with  salt-meadow 
hay  (straw,  leaves  or  anything  similar  will  do 
as  well)  to  the  depth  of  two  or  three  inches, 
entirely  covering  up  the  plants  and  soil,  so 
that  nothing  is  seen  but  the  hay.  By  April 
the  plants  so  protected  will  show  indications 
of  growth,  when  the  hay  around  each  plant  is 
pushed  a  little  aside,  to  assist  it  in  getting 
through  the  covering,  so  that  by  May  the  fully 
developed  plant  shows  on  the  clean  surface  of 
the  hay.  This  "  mulching,  "  as  it  is  called,  is 
indispensable  to  the  best  culture,  as  it  pro- 
tects the  plants  from  cold  in  winter,  keeps 
the  fruit  clean,  keeps  the  roots  cool  by  shading 
them  from  the  hot  sun  in  June,  and,  at  the 
eame  time,  saves  nearly  all  further  labor  after 


STR 

being  once  put  on,  as  few  weeds  can  push 
through  it.  By  this  method  we  prefer  to  plant 
new  beds  every  year,  though,  If  desired,  the 
beds  once  planted  may  be  fruited  for  two  or 
three  years,  as  by  the  old  plans ;  but  the  fruit 
the  first  season  will  always  be  the  largest  in 
size,  if  not  greatest  in  number.  Another  advan- 
tage of  this  system  is  that,  where  space  is  lim- 
ited, there  is  quite  time  enough  to  get  a  crop 
of  Potatoes,  Peas,  Beans,  Lettuce,  Radishes, 
or,  in  fact,  any  summer  crop  off  the  ground 
first  before  planting  the  Strawberries,  thus 
taking  two  crops  from  the  ground  in  one  year, 
if  desired,  and  there  is  also  plenty  of  time  to 
crop  the  ground  with  Cabbage,  Cauliflower, 
Celery,  or  other  fall  crop  after  the  crop  of 
Strawberries  has  been  gathered.  The'plan  of. 
getting  the  pot  layers  of  Strawberries  is  very 
simple.  Just  as  soon  as  the  fruit  is  gathered, 
if  the  beds  are  well  forked  up  between  the 
rows,  the  runners  or  young  plants  will  begin 
to  grow,  and  in  two  weeks  will  be  fit  to  layer 
in  pots.  The  pots,  which  should  be  from  two 
to  three  inches  in  diameter,  are  filled  with 
the  soil  in  which  the  Strawberries  are  growing, 
and  "plunged"  or  sunk  to  the  level  of  the 
surface ;  the  Strawberry  layer  is  then  laid  on 
the  pot,  being  held  in  place  with  a  small 
stone.  The  stone  not  only  serves  to  keep  the 
plant  in  its  place  so  that  its  roots  will  strike 
into  the  pot,  but  it  also  serves  to  mark  where 
each  pot  is ;  for,  being  sunk  to  the  level  of 
the  surface,  rains  wash  the  soil  around  the 
pots,  so  that  they  could  not  well  be  seen  un- 
less marked  by  the  stone.  In  ten  or  twelve 
days  after  the  Strawberry  layers  have  been 
put  down  the  pots  will  be  filled  with  roots. 
They  are  then  cut  from  the  parent  plant, 
placed  closely  together,  and  shaded  and 
watfered  for  a  few  days  before  being  planted  out. 
Some  plant  them  out  at  once  when  taken  up, 
but.  Unless  the  weather  is  veiy  suitable,  some 
loss  may  occur  by  this  method ;  by  the  other 
plan,  however,  of  hardening  them  for  a  few 
days,  not  one  in  a  thousand  will  fail.  Straw- 
berries for  field  culture  are  usually  planted 
from  the  ordinary  layers,  either  in  August  and 
Septem^ber  in  the  fall,  or  in  March,  April  or 
May  in'the  spring.  They  are  usually  planted 
in  rows,  two  to  three  feet  apart,  and  nine  to 
twelve  itiches  between  the  plants.  In  plant- 
ing, every  plant  should  be  well  firmed,  or 
great  loss  is  almost  certain  to  ensue,  as  the 
Strawberry  is  a  plant  always  difficult  to  trans- 
plant. They  are  usually  worked  by  a  horse- 
cultivator,  and  generally  two  or  three  crops 
are  taken  before  the  beds  are  plowed  under ; 
but  the  first  crop  given  (which  is  in  the  second 
year  after  planting)  is  always  the  best.  The 
same  care  must  be  taken  as  in  planting  by  pot 
layers,  the  ground  must  be  kept  clear  of 
weeds,  and  the  runners  pinched  or  cut  off  to 
make  fruiting  crowns.  By  the  usuil  field 
method  of  culture,  it  will  be  seen  that  there 
is  a  loss  of  one  season  in  about  three ;  for  in 
the  year  of  planting  no  fruit,  of  course,  is  pro- 
duced, and  for  this  reason  we  incline  to  the 
belief  that,  if  a  portion  were  set  aside  to  pro- 
duce early  plants,  so  that  pot  layers  could  be 
set  out  by  the  15th  of  July,  a  fiull  crop  of  the, 
finest  fruit  could  be  had  every  season,  ana 
with  less  cost,  we  think ;  for  the  only  labor 
after  planting  is  to  keep  the  ground  clean  and 
pinch  off  the  runners  from  July  to  Octo- 
ber, with  the  certainty  of  getting  a  full  crop 


436 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


STR 

next  June,  or  in  less  than  a  year  from  the 
time  of  planting,  while  by  planting  by  ordi- 
nary layers,  if  planted  in  August,  we  have 
three  months  of  fall  culture,  and  six  or  seven 
months  of  the  next  summer's  culture,  before 
a  crop  is  produced.  Again,  if  the  crop  is  con- 
tinued to  fruit  the  second  or  third  year,  every 
one  who  has  had  experience  with  the  nature 
of  the  plant  knows  that  the  labor  of  keeping 
the  plants  free  from  weeds  is  enormous; 
-while  by*  the  pot-layering  method  of  taking  a 
fresh  crop  «ach  year,  all  such  labor  is  dis- 
pensed with.  It  is  useless  to  name  any  special 
varieties  of  the  Strawberry  as  best  to  culti- 
vate. We  have  now  thousands  under  culti- 
vation, and  such  kinds  as  we  might  now  name 
as  the  best  will,  a  few  years  hence,  be  super- 
seded. It  is  best  to  select  from  the  annual 
catalogues  of  some  responsible  nurseryman 
or  florist,  where  descriptions  are  usually  fully 
given. 
Strawberries.  Forcing.  In  response  to  a  re- 
quest to  John  G.  Gardner,  of  Jobstown,  N  J. 
(who  is  one  of  the  most  successful  growers  of 
forced  Strawberries),  for  his  system  and  prac- 
tice, he  sends  the  following,  under  date  of 
December  19th,  1888 : 

"In  giving  you  in  detail  the  system  of 
*  Forcing  Strawberries '  as  practiced  at  Jobs- 
town,  I  would  first  say  that  those  whawish  to 
force  Strawberries  should  make  themselves 
thoroughly  familiar  with  the  natural  condi- 
tions of  the  plants,  making  a  close  examina- 
tion of  the  construction  of  the  perfect  flowers, 
the  calyx,  corolla,  stamens,  and  pistils,  form- 
ing, as  they  do,  in  periods  successively  as 
named  above ;  noting  the  atmospheric  influ- 
ences under  which  they  develop  to  fulfill  the 
part  nature  has  ordained  for  them.  The  oper- 
ator having  taken  his  observations  closely, 
will  have  one  of  the  principal  points  in  forcing 
Strawberries  at  hand ;  knowing  how  the  com- 
plicated parts  oi  a  perfect  Strawberry  flower 
are  formed  under  natural  conditions,  he  will 
be  able  to  provide  artificial  means  under  glass, 
to  produce  healthy  flowers. 

"My  best  results  have  been  from  good, 
strong  plants,  layered  from  one  year  old  plants, 
as  early  as  it  is  possible  to  get  them,  which  is 
about  the  20th  of  June,  in  this  section.  The 
runners  are  layered  in  three-inch  pots,  partially 
filled  with  well-rotted  manure,  filled  up  with 
good  soil,  and  plunged  level  with  the  ground, 
the  point  of  the  runner  being  slightly  inserted 
in  the  soil,  and  fastened  down  with  a  crook  of 
bent  wire,  and  the  soil  kept  moist  by  watering ; 
good  healthy  runners  will  be  ready  to  shift 
into  fruiting  pots  in  two  weeks.  I  never  take 
more  than  two  layers  from  one  runner.  For 
fruiting  I  use  six-inch  pots,  give  good  drain- 
age, and  pot  firmly  in  two  parts  of  good  loam 
to  one  of  rotted  manure,  one  plant  in  a  pot, 
placing  them  when  potted  close  together  in  an 
open  spot  upon  an  even  surface  of  coal  ashes. 
After  being  potted  three  weeks,  and  having 
made  good  growth,  I  place  them  six  inches 
apart,  and  remove  all  runners  that  show.  When 
the  pots  have  become  full  of  roots,  liquid  ma- 
nure is  given  twice  a  week,  and  abundance  of 
water  is  given  at  all  times  while  they  are  mak- 
ing their  growth,  and  after  every  hot  day  they 
are  sprinkled  overhead  with  water.  By  the  mid- 
dle of  September  the  plants  will  have  formed 
good  plump  centres,  or  crowns,  and  the  foliage 
from  the  centre  will  be  diminishing  in  size ;  all 


STR 

that  is  necessary  at  this  stage  is  to  keep  them 
well  supplied  with  water,  as  the  pots  being  full 
of  roots  they  will  dry  out  quickly.      Under 
favorable    circumstances,  by  the  middle    of 
October,  the  plants  in  this  section  will  have 
ceased  to  make  growth,  and  the  cool  nights 
will  have  helped  to  form  flower  buds  in  well 
matured  and  plump  crowns.      Some  seasons 
are  much  more  favorable  than  others,  as,  for 
instance,  when  we  get  a  cool  fall,  with  rains 
and  slight  frosts,  the  growth  is  checked,  and 
the  development  of  the  scale-like  forms  in  the 
centre  of  the  crowns  becomes    much  more 
rapid,  and  takes  on  the  form  of  flower-buds. 
Plants  with  single  crowns  are  the  best  to 
select  for  very  early    berries  for  Christmas 
and  New  Year's.    The  operator,  after  making 
his  selection,  must  sacrifice  a  few  plants,  cut- 
ting them  clear  through  the  centre  of  the 
crowns  with  a  sharp  knife,  to  make  an  exami- 
nation of  the  flower-buds.     If,  by  the  15th  of 
October,  they  are  the  size  of  a  small  pea,  it 
will  be  an  easy  matter  to  force  them  for  Christ- 
mas, but  if,  on  the  other  hand,  the  flower-buds 
are  no  larger  than  the  head  of  a  pin,  then  the 
process  of  forcing  must  be  cooler  and  slower. 
My  treatment  of  plants  in  the  former  stage 
— with  well-advanced  flower-buds — is  to  re- 
move a  few  of  the  lower  leaves,  taking  care 
not  to  damage  the  centre  of  the  plants,  and 
dip  each  plant  in  a  solution  of  whale  oil,  soap, 
sulphur  and  tobacco  water,  to  clear  them  of 
Red  Spider,  which  is  the  worst  enemy  of  the 
Strawberry  forcer,   oftentimes   gaining  such 
headway  duringthe  flowering  season — atwhich 
time  the  air  has  to  be  kept  perfectly  dry — that 
the  whole  crop  is  ruined.     The  pots  are  placed 
upon  shelves  or  benches  not  farther  than  two 
feet  from  the  glass.      In  front  of  the  outside 
row  of    pots  which    is  exposed    to  the  full 
sun,  a  board  about  six  inches  wide  is  placed 
on  edge  to  prevent  the  roots  from  getting 
scalded,  and  the  pots  from  drying  out  too 
rapidly.      The  foliage  is  sprinkled  over  with 
the  syringe  every  clear  morning,  and  a  free 
circulation  of  air  is  given ;  but  the  Ijouse  is 
partially  closed  during  the  afternoon,  and  a 
moist  atmosphere,  at  a  temperature  of  55°  to 
60°  is  maintained  until  sundown.     Air  is  then 
given  freely  to  reduce  the  temperature  to  45° 
at  night,  as  nearly  as  possible,  as  a  high  night 
temperature  has  a  tendency  to  push  the  foliage 
ahead  of  the  flower-buds.      In  dull  days  a 
temperature  of  50°  is  maintained.      By  tiie 
time  the  flower-buds  appear  above  the  crown 
of  the  plants,  a  night  temperature  of  50°  may 
be  kept  and  continued  until  the  crop  is  set. 
The  day  temperature,  when  in  flower,  must 
not  exceed  55°,  with  a  free  circulation  of  air 
and  the  atmosphere  perfectly  dry,  care  being 
taken  not  to  slop  water  around  when  watering 
the  plants.  These  conditions  must  be  kept  up 
for  two  weeks  to  make  a  perfect  set  of  well- 
formed  fruit.    The  receptacle  which  becomes 
the  fruit  will  not  be  hurried,  and  the  pistila 
will  not  mature  to  receive  the  pollen  under  a 
warm  damp  air.      The  operator  must  be  sure 
that  the  varieties  he  forces  ai-e  good  pollen- 
bearing  sorts,  and  if  a  pistiliferous  variety, 
some  other  kinds  which  have  plenty  of  stamens 
must  be  forced  with  it.      Sharpless  is  one  of 
the  best.    To  make  sure  of  a  good  set  of  per- 
fect fruit,  I  use  bees  as  fertilizing  agents, 
setting  the  hives  in  the  houses  on  the  benches 
or  floors,  keeping  the  mouth  of  the  hive  from 


^TBA\rB£BBl  (MA7  KING). 


STBAWBEEEY  (LAYEBINC*  IN  POTS). 


stbawberri  forcing  house. 


STRAWEERR-s;  (SHaRPLESS). 


SXRAWBERRr  (CRIMSON  CLUSTER), 


$TEAWBEREX  (PAKRY), 


STBEPXOSOLEN  JAUESOKI. 


6TUPHTTXJU  &6PERRIHUM 


8TATICE   BONDUEUO. 


STUABTIA  VIBOmCA. 


89BITICX  IMCANA  HTBBISA. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTUKE. 


437 


STR 

four  to  six  feet  from  the  glass,  so  as  to  give 
the  bees  a  chance  to  fly  straight  out  without 
striking  the  glass.      I  place  the  hives  where 
the  sun  will  strike  them,  and  the  bees  will 
soon  come  out  when  the  sun  shines,  which  is 
just  the  proper  time,  as,  when  the  air  is  dry, 
the    pollen  will  move  more   freely.       After 
the  bees  have  been  in  the  house  a  few  days 
they  become  accustomed  to  the  glass,  and 
work  splendidly.     I  find  them  the  best  help 
in  fertilizing  any  fruits  that  I  force,  using  the 
same  bees  to  set  the  early  Nectarines,  Peaches, 
Cucumbers,  etc.      Unfortunately  they  are  of 
no  assistance  with  the  Tomato,  which  they 
will  not  touch,  and  which  have  to  be  gone 
over  every  day  and  given  a  sharp  knocli  with 
a  padded  stick  to  start  the  pollen,      I  do  not, 
however,  use  the  same  hive  two  years  in  suc- 
cession, for,  as  the  hives  are  introduced  during 
December  and  remain  in  until  April,  the  crop 
of  young  bees  hatch  out,  fly  against  the  glass 
or  get  into  the  dew  on  the  foliage,  many  get 
killed,  and  thus  weaken  the  hive.      If  only 
used  for  one  crop  it  would  not  hurt  them  one 
particle,  if,  when  through  with  them,  they  are 
put  outside  a^ain.      Many  use  a  camel's  hair 
brush  for  fertilization,  and  if  it  is  carefully 
used,  it  is  very  successful.     Great  care,  how- 
ever, must  be  taken  to  regulate  the  pressiare 
during  the  operation,   and  to  see   that  the 
brush  does  not  get  clogged  up  and  stiff  with 
the  pollen,  in  which  case  the  pistil  and  recep- 
tacle Would  be  damaged,  and  deformed  fruit 
the  result.      I  have  used  bees,  and  nothing 
else,  for  the  last  eight  years,  and  can  always 
depend  on  a  good  set  of  perfect  fruit.      After 
eight  good  berries  have  formed,  I  clip  off  the 
remaining  flowers,  at  the  same  time  support- 
ing the  fruit  stems  and  holding  back  the  foliage 
with   bent  wire  or  birch  twigs,  to  give  the 
berries  the  full  benefit  of  the  sun  and  light. 
The  temperature  may  now  be  gradually  raised 
to  65°  and  70°  with  sun-heat,  great  care  being 
taken  not  to  let  the  plants  suffer  for  Avater 
until  they  commence  to  color,   and  then  it 
must  be  partially  withheld,  only  giving  enough 
to  keep  the  foliage  from  wilting.      The  best 
Time  to  gather  the  fruit  is  in  the  early  morn- 
ing.     The  finishing  and  ripening  of  Straw- 
berries during  the  months  of  January  and 
February,  is  a  diificult  task,  as  at  times  we 
get  a  whole  week  of  bad  weather,  sunless  and 
wet  days,  when  it  may  happen  that  you  have 
a  batch  of  plants  just  coloring  their  fruit. 
Many  goad  houses  of  Strawberries  have  been 
lost  at  this  stage  from  rotting,  and  to  make 
safe  against  this,  a  cement  floor  is  necessary 
— as  I  have  here  at  Jobstown— thus  preventing 
the  dampness  that  would  naturally  arise  from 
an  earthen  floor.      I  also  use  charcoal  and 
lime  in  very  dull,  rainy  weather,  having  crates 
of  charcoal  twenty  by  twenty-four  inches  and 
six  inches  deep,  which  I  place  throughout  the 
house,  and  place  pieces  of  charcoal  on  the 
tops  of  the  pots.    The  lime  is  laid  around  on 
the  floor,  and  by  these  agents  I  have  brought 
a  crop  of  berries  through  in  February  when 
Ave  had  only  seventeen  hours  of  sunshine  in  a 
Aveek.  Growing,  as  I  do,  10,000  to  14,000  plants 
in  pots  every  year,  it  would  be  a  great  cost  of 
labor  to  store  them  as  recommended  by  some 
growers.      What  I  do  here  is  to  leave  them 
where  they  have  grown  (outside),  placing  two 
or  three  inches  of  Oak  leaves  upon  them  the 
last  Aveek  in  NoA'ember,  or  earlier  if  we  get 


STR 

severe  frosts,  covering  all  with  rye  straw  only- 
enough  to  keep  the  leaves  from  blowing  off. 
As  plants  with  a  few  healthy  green  leaves 
when  taken  in  for  forcing  give  the  best 
results,  I  try  to  strike  a  thaw  or  rain  for  this 
operation,  Avhen  the  pots  will  easily  let  loose 
from  the  frozen  earth  beloAV,  allow  the  Oak 
leaves  to  remain  upon  each  plant,  and  placing 
them  in  cold  frames  allow  them  to  thaw  out  in 
perfect  darkness.  When  thawed  out  the  leaves 
are  removed,  and  the  plants  are  prepared 
for  the  forcing-house  as  described  above. 

"With  regard  to  recommending  A'arieties 
for  forcing,  I  cannot  with  safety  do  so,  as 
circumstances  must  be  considered.  I  am  situ- 
ated on  a  light  sandy  soil,  while  others  will 
have  clay  to  deal  with.  I  have  had  the  best 
results  from  those  varieties  that  grow  most 
freely  Avith  me  in  the  garden.  Keen's  seedling 
and  Sir  Charles  Napier,  two  imported  sorts,  I 
have  forced  in  good  form,  and  the  Keen's 
seedling  the  earliest  of  all — but  in  dry,  hot 
summers  I  could  not  get  growth  enough  on  this 
variety  to  produce  strong,  healthy  runners.  lu 
heavy  soils  the  result  might  be  better.  The 
variety  I  have  found  to  stand  best  in  our  soil 
is  the  Sharpless,  and  force  it  for  the  main  crop, 
and  also  use  it  as  a  pollen-bearing  sort.  Cum- 
berland Triumph  has  done  well  here,  as  has 
also  the  Parry,  but  the  berry  of  the  latter  is 
soft,  and  is  a  bad  shipper.  Seth  Boyden  and 
Triomphe  de  Gand  have  also  done  Avell,  and 
Champion  has  proved  a  good  early  variety.  I 
have  made  trials  of  some  of  the  newer  sorts, 
not  enough,  however,  to  give  an  opinion  as 
yet ;  but  one  thing  is  certain,  if  you  cannot  get 
a  good  healthy  growth  on  the  plants  out  of 
doors,  you  cannot  get  plants  from  them  in 
proper  condition  to  force,  so  that  whatever 
variety  the  operator  selects,  he  must  be  sure 
of  a  healthy  growth  from  ilvhich  to  secure  his 
layers.  I  change  my  stock  from  farther  north. 
every  two  years." 

Strawberry-Bush.  A  common  name  for  Euony- 

mus  Americanus. 

StraAvberry  Geranium.     See  Saxifraga,. 

StraAwberry  Shrub.     See  Calycanthus  floridus. 

Strawberry  Spinach.     Blitum  capitatum. 

Strawberry  Tomato.     See  Physalis  Alkekerigi. 

Strawberry  Tree.     See  Arbutus. 

Streli'tzia.  Bird  of  Paradise  Flower.  Named 
in  honor  of  the  Queen  of  George  III.,  Char- 
lotte of  Mecklenburgh-Strelitz.  Nat.  Ord. 
Scitaminece. 

These  are  handsome  plants,  with  large, 
pale-green  leaves  and  singular,  richly-colored 
flowers.  S.  RegincB  is  the  most  common,  and 
perhaps  the  most  beautiful ;  its  flowers  are 
brilliant  orange  and  purple.  It  is  usual  to 
groAv  the  species  as  hot-house  plants,  but 
they  succeed  almost  equally  well  in  the  green- 
house, placed  in  large  pots  of  rich  loam  and 
kept  in  a  light  part  of  the  house  at  all  times, 
except  between  the  months  of  June  and 
September,  when  they  thrive  best  out  of 
doors.  They  Avill  thus  grow  and  floAver  finely. 
S.  N'icolai  is  a  splendid  arborescent  species, 
long  cultivated  in  European  gardens,  aad, 
until  1858,  when  it  flowered  at  St.  Petersburg, 
confounded  with  another  South  African  spe- 
cies, S.  Augusta.  The  geographical  range  of 
the  latter,  and  the  exact  locality  where  the 
former  species  grows  spontaneously,  are  still 


438 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


STR 

unknown.  The  species  are  all  natives  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  were  first  introduced 
in  .1773.  Propagation  is  slow,  and  is  effected 
by  suckers,  or  from  seed  when  it  can  be  ob- 
tained. 
Strepta'nthera.  From  streptos,  twisted,  and 
anthera,  an  anther :  alluding  to  the  shape  of 
the  anthers.     Nat.  Ord.  IridacecE. 

A  small  genus  (two  species)  of  dwarf,  bulb- 
ous, green-house  plants ;  natives  of  South 
Africa.  The  species  are  very  pretty  when  in 
flower,  and  are  increased  by  offsets. 

Strepta'nthus.  From  streptos,  twisted,  and 
anthos,  a  tlovver ;  alluding  to  the  twisted  claws 
of  the  petals  in  some  of  the  species.  Nat. 
Ord.  Crucifcrce. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  glabrous,  annual  or  per- 
■ennial  herbs,  natives  of  western  North  Amer- 
ica. Two  species,  S.  hyadnthoides  and  S.  ma- 
(flatus,  both  annuals,  have  been  introduced ; 
they  grow  from  one  foot  to  three  feet  in 
height,  and  when  in  bloom  their  deep  purple 
or  shaded  flowers  are  very  beautiful. 

Streptoca'rpus.  Cape  Primrose.  From  strep- 
tos. twisted,  and  carpos,  a  fruit;  referring  to 
its  long,  twisted  seed-pods.  Nat.  Ord.  Ges- 
leracecB. 

Very  neat  and  pretty  dwarf  plants  with  vel- 
vety leaves  and  lilac  flowers,  produced  freely 
all  the  summer.  They  may  be  grown  in  the 
green-house,  or  used  as  bedding  plants  for 
the  open  border,  where,  in  a  warm  situation, 
they  will  produce  a  multitude  of  flowers. 
They  will  bear  almost  any  treatment,  but  do 
best  in  pots  of  light,  sandy  soil,  with  plenty 
of  heat  in  the  early  stages  of  growth,  say  from 
March  to  May,  after  which  a  cool  house  or 
the  open  air  will  preserve  their  flowers  for  a 
long  time,  and,  being  produced  in  rapid  suc- 
cession, the  plants  will  be  quite  ornamental 
for  at  least  four  or  five  months.  They  are 
all  interesting  plants,  and  should  have  rest 
during  winter,  like  other  green-house,  herba- 
ceous perennials.  They  were  first  introduced 
from  Natal  in  1854,  and  are  propagated  by  di- 
vision or  by  seeds. 

Stre'ptopus.  From  streptos,  twisted,  and  pous, 
a  foot  or  stalk;  alluding  to  the  peduncles, 
which  are  abruptly  bent  near  the  middle. 
Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  genus  of  perennial,  herbaceous  plants,  na- 
tives of  Europe,  Asia  and  North  America. 
Three  or  four  of  the  species  are  in  cultiva- 
tion, and  are  interesting  plants  of  easy  man- 
agement.   Propagated  by  seeds  or  division. 

Streptoso'len.  From  streptos,  twisted,  and 
eolen,  a  tube;  referring  to  the  form  of  the 
corolla-tube.  The  only  species,  S.  Jamesonii 
(known  also  as  Browallia  Jamesonii),  is  a  very 
handsome,  green-house,  evergreen  shrub  in- 
troduced from  Columbia  in  1847.  It  bears  its 
exceedingly  showy,  bright  orange  -  colored 
floweli  in  large,  terminal  panicles,  and  is  of 
easy  culture ;  propagated  by  cuttings. 

Striate.    Marked  with  fine  longitudinal  lines, 

or  diminutive  grooves  or  ridges. 
Strict.    Very  straight  and  upright. 

Strigose.    Covered  with  sharp,  close-pressed, 

rigid  hairs. 
Stringy  Bark  Tree.    A  name  given  to  several 

species  of  Eucalyptjus, 


STR 

Striped  Squill.  A  common  name  for  Puach- 
kinia  scilloides. 

Strobila'iithes.  From  strobilus,  a  cone,  and 
anthos,  a  flower;  alluding  to  the  form  of  the 
inflorescence. 

A  large  genus  of  AcanthaceCB,  compi'ising 
herbs  and  shrubs,  scattered  over  tropical 
Asia  and  Africa,  having  blue,  violet, 'or  white 
flowers  and  generally  opposite  leaves.  A 
number  of  the  species  are  very  beautiful, 
showy,  green  house  plants  of  easy  culture, 
and  merit  a  place  in  every  collection.  They 
are  best  known  in  cultivation  as  Goldfussias, 
and  are  all  easily  increased  by  cuttings. 

Strobile,  Strobilus.  From  strobilos,  a  Fir-cone. 
A  scaly  fruit  composed  chiefly  of  a  number  of 
bracts  that  overlap  each  other  like  the  slates 
on  a  roof.  Lindley  defines  it  as  "an  imbri- 
cated, scaly  infloresence  ;  a  collection  of  hard 
scales  representing  distinct  flowers,  arranged 
spirally  but  closely  imbricated."  The  word 
Cone  is  employed  with  almost  the  same  mean- 
ing as  Strobile,  though  in  general  almost  re- 
stricted to  the  fruits  of  the  Conife.rce,  while 
the  latter  word  also  includes  the  fruits  of  the 
Hop  and  of  a  few  other  plants. 

Btroma'nthe.  From  Stroma,  a  couch,  and  an- 
thos, a  flower;  alluding  to  the  form  of  the  in- 
florescence.    Nat.  Ord.  Scitaminem. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome,  stove,  perennial 
plants,  natives  of  the  East  Indies  and  Brazil. 
One  of  the  most  useful  decorative  plants.  S. 
sanguinea  is  better  known  in  green-houses  as 
Maranta  or  Phrynium  sanguineum. 

Stropha'nthus.  The  name  derived  from  the 
Greek,  strophos.  a  twisted  cord  or  rope,  and 
anthos,  a  flower;  is  expressive  of  .the  chief 
peculiarity  of  the  flowers  in  this  genus  of 
Apocynacem,  which  comprises  about  eighteen 
species  of  shrubs  or  small  trees,  some  of  which 
are  climbing.  They  are  natives  of  tropical  Asia 
and  Africa.  Several  of  the  species  are  cultivated 
for  the  pretty  appearance  and  singularity  of 
their  flowers.  They  are  of  easy  management 
and  are  increased  by  cuttings. 

Stnuna.     A  cushion-like  swelling. 

Struma'ria.  From  struma,  a  tubercle,  the  style 
is  swollen  in  the  middle.  Nat.  Ord.  Amarylli- 
dacece. 

A  small  genus  of  interesting  bulbs  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The  flowers  are  red, 
white  or  pink,  somewhat  resembling  the 
Nerine,  to  which  this  genus  is  allied.  They 
are  of  dwarf  habit,  well  adapted  for  green- 
house culture,  and  succeed  with  but  little 
care,  the  main  requisite  being  to  secure  a 
good  growth  of  foliage  after  flowering,  as  the 
flowers  for  the  coming  season  will  correspofad 
in  size  and  strength  to  the  growth  of  leaves. 
They  were  first  introduced  in  1812,  and  are 
propagated  by  offsets. 

Stru'thiola.  From  Struthion,  a  little  sparrow ; 
alludiug  to  the  resemblance  of  the  seeds  to  a 
beak.    Nat.  Ord.  ThymelaceoB. 

A  genus  of  about  twenty  species  of  pretty, 
heath-like,  green-house  shrubs,  natives  of 
South  Africa.  Several  species  are  in  'Cultiva- 
tion, of  which  S.  erecta,  with  white,  and  St 
virgata,  with  pink  flowers,  are  the  most  desir- 
able. They  are  easily  increased  by  cuttings 
of  the  half-ripened  shoOts. 

Struthio'pteris.  From  atruthioa,  an  ostrich, 
and  pteris,  a  fern ;  resemblance  of  the  le^YQ^ 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


439 


STR 

or  fronds  to  its  feathers.    Nat.   Ord.  Polypo- 
diacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  Ferns,  with  strong, 
erect-growing  fronds.  S.  Gbrmanica,  popu- 
larly known  as  the  Ostrich  Fern,  is  common 
in  most  of  the  Northern  States.  The  species 
are  also  to  be  found  in  India  and  Japan.  Pro- 
fessor Gray  makes  S.  Pennsylvanica,  Willd., 
and  Onoclea  Slruthiopteris,  L.,  synonymous 
with  S.  Germanica. 

Strychnine  Plant.  The  common  name  of 
Slrychnos  Nux-vomica. 

Stry'chnos.  Nux  Vomica.  The  Greek  name  of 
the  Solanum.    Nat.  Ord.  Loganiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen  trees,  natives  of 
the  East  Indies.  S.  Nux-vomica  is  well  known 
from  the  seeds  that  bear  that  name,  and 
which  contain  an  active  principle  called 
Strychnia,  a  virulent  poison.  This  species  is 
a  tree  of  moderate  size,  much  branched,  and 
covered  with  dark  gray,  smooth  bark.  The 
flowers  are  small,  bell-shaped  and  nearly 
white.  The  tree  has  nothing  of  special  inter- 
est, if  we  except  its  power  for  evil.  The  seeds 
of  S.  potatorum  show  a  marked  contrast  to 
the  preceding.  They  are  an  important  article 
of  merchandise  in  the  Indian  bazaars,  being 
sold  for  the  purpose  of  clearing  muddy  water, 
the  vessels  containing  the  water  being  rubbed 
for  a  minute  or  two  round  the  inside  with  one 
of  the  seeds;  after  which,  by  allowing  the 
water  to  settle  for  a  short  time,  however  im- 
pure and  muddy  it  may  have  been  before,  it 
becomes  clear  and  wholesome. 

Stua'rtia.  Named  after  John  Stuart,  Marquis 
of  Bute.     Nat.  Ord.   Ternstromiacece. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful,  hardy,  deciduous 
shrubs,  allied  to  the  Camellia.  It  consists  of 
three  species,  two  of  which,  8.  Virginica  and 
S.  pr.ntagyna,  are  indigenous,  being  found 
from  Virginia  southward,  while  S.  pseudo  Ca- 
mellia is  a  Japanese  species  of  recent  intro- 
duction. The  commonest  and  best  known 
species  is  8.  Virginica,  which,  when  fully 
grown,  is  a  handsomely  shaped  bush,  of 
rounaed  and  spreading  growth,  and  reaching 
from  six  to  ten  feet  high.  Its  flowers  are  like 
a  single  Rose,  about  three  inches  across,  the 
petals  of  which  are  of  a  soft  creamy-white, 
surrounding  a  tuft  of  deep  crimson  stamens — 
a  charming  contrast  to  the  pale  green  foliage. 
S.  pentagyna  (syn.  Malachodendron  ovalum)  is  a 
rather  lai'ger  and  taller  growing  shrub,  but 
its  flowers  are  very  similar.  S.  pseudo-Ca- 
mellia (syn.  S.  grandiflora)  resembles  the  other 
two  in  growth,  foliage  and  habit,  but  its  flow- 
ers are  larger,  whiter,  and  have  the  stamens 
yellow  instead  of  red.  They  are  beautiful 
shrubs,  when  in  bloom,  and  merit  a  place  in 
everj'  collection  of  ornamental  shrubs.  Prop- 
agation may  be  effected  by  layering  or  by 
cuttings. 

Stub-wort.     An  old  name  for  Oxalis  Acetosella. 

|Style.  The  part  which  bears  the  stigma;  its 
use  is  to  support  the  stigma  in  such  a  position 
as  to  favor  polinatipn. 

iStylidia'ceae.  A  small  natural  order  of  herbs 
or  under  shrubs,  chiefly  Australian,  with  a 
few  species  from  New  Zealand,  the  Straits  of 
Magellan  and  tropical  Asia.  It  is  divided  into 
four  genera,  and  contains  nearly  one  liundred 
species,  of  which  Stylidium  itself  contains  the 
great  majority. 


STY 

Styli'dium.  From  stylos,  a  column ;  the  sta- 
mens and  style  are  joined  into  a  column. 
Nat.  Ord.  Stylidiacece. 

A  genus  of  evergreen  and  herbaceous  plants 
from  New  Holland.  They  are  all  neat  little 
green-house  plants,  each  of  the  numerous 
stems  producing  a  copiously-filled  spike  of 
small  rose-colored  flowers.  They  should  be 
cut  down  annually  after  flowering,  and  re- 
quire some  care  to  preserve  them  free  from 
mildew  through  the  damp  weather  of  winter. 
A  light,  airy  shelf  is  the  best  preventive,  and 
a  sprinkling  of  sulphur  on  the  affected  parts 
will  generally  remove  it.  They  were  first 
introduced  in  1824,  and  are  propagated  by 
seeds,  and  the  shrubby  kinds  by  cuttings  of 
the  young  shoots. 

Stylo'phorum.  From  stylos,  a  style,  and  phero, 
I  bear ;  indicating  one  of  the  distinctive  charac- 
ters.    Nat.  Ord.  Papaveracece. 

A  genus  of  hardy  plants  with  perennial 
rhizomes,  and  yellow  juice,  one  being  indige- 
nous, and  the  otliers  found  in  India  and  Japan. 
S.  Japonicum,  aslender-growing  plant,  about  a 
foot  high,  with  yellow,  Poppy-like  flowers, 
introduced  from  Japan  in  1840,  is  a  very 
pretty  species,  and  may  be  increased  by  seeds 
or  by  division.  S.'  diphyllum,  from  western 
North  America,  much  resembles  it;  so  much 
so  that  Robinson,  in  his  "English  Flower 
Garden,"  mentions  them  as  identical. 

Stylosa'nthes.  Pencil  Flower.  From  stylos,  a 
style,  and  anthos,  a  flower ;  alluding  to  the 
very  long  style.  A  genus  comprising  about 
fifteen  species  of  uninteresting  herbaceous 
plants,  natives  of  Asia,  Africa.,  North  America 
and  Brazil.  They  are  seldom  cultivated  except 
in  botanical  collections. 

Stypa'ndra.  From  stype  tow,  and  aner,  andros, 
an  anther;  alluding  to  tiie  downy  appearance 
of  the  stamens.     Nat.  Orel.  Liliacece. 

A  small  genus  of  half-hardy,  perennial  herbs, 
with  fibrous  roots,  natives  of  Australia.  The 
blue  flowers  are  borne  in  a  loose  terminal 
cyme,  and  the  species  will  grow  well  in  a  cool 
green-house  or  frame,  if  protected  in  severe 
weather.  They  succeed  best  in  a  sandy  loam, 
and  are  increased  by  division. 

Styphe'lia.  From  styphelos,  hard  ;  referring  to 
the  wood.     Nat.  Orel.  Epacridacece. 

A  genus  of  greenhouse,  evergreen  shrubs, 
harsh,  erect,  and  low-growing.  They  have 
usually  pink  or  scarlet  flowers,  axillary  and 
drooping.  S.  tubifiora  and  a  few  other  of  the 
species  are  very  beautiful  plants,  their  showy 
flowers  completely  covering  the  stems,  and 
remaining  several  weeks  in  perfection.  They 
should  be  grown  and  propagated  like  the 
Epacris. 

Styraca'ceae.  A  natural  orderof  trees  or  slirubs, 
mostly  natives  of  the  warmer  parts  of  Aus- 
tralia, Asia  and  America,  though  a  few  species 
are  indigenous.  The  two  principal  genera, 
Symplocos  and  Styrax,  are  considered  by  some 
botanists  as  types  of  two  distinct  orders,  but 
are  more  generally  regarded  as  tribes  only  of 
Styracacece.  The  two  balsams,  Storax  and 
Benzoin,  are  derived  respectively  from  S.  offi- 
cinalis and  S.  Benzoin.  Several  of  the  species 
are  employed  as  tea  and  for  dyeing  yellow  in 
the  Himalayas.  There  are  seven  genera  in  the 
order,  and  over  two  hundred  species.  Among 
the  smaller  genera,  Halesia,  or  the  Snow-drop 
Tree,  is  the  only  one  of  general  interest. 


440 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


STY 

Sty'rax.    Storas.    From  the  Arabic    Nat.  Or<J. 

Styracacece. 

A  genus  of  handsome,  flowering,  hardy, 
deciduous  shrubs  and  low-growing  trees,  well 
adapted  for  the  shrubbery  border.  Several  of 
the  species  are  common  on  the  margins  of 
swamps  from  Virginia  southward.  The  most 
important  species  is  *S.  Benzoin,  a  native  of 
Borneo  and  Sumatra.  It  yields  the  resin 
called  Benzoin,  which  is  employed  medicinally, 
and  also  in  tlie  manufacture  of  perfumes.  It 
is  used  in  the  Eoman  Catholic  churches  in  the 
composition  of  incense.  S.  officinale,  a  native 
of  the  Levant,  yields  a  balsamic  resin  called 
Storax.  Among  some  of  the  species  of  recent 
introduction  is  S.  serrulata  (syn.  S.  Japonica), 
linown,  from  its  white  Giant  Snow-drop-like 
"blossoms,  as  "Snow-flake  Flower."  It  is  a 
shrub  growing  about  four  feet  in  height, 
"blooming  about  mid-summer,  and  is  hardy  in 
the  vicinity  of  New  York.  S.  Obassia  is  one 
of  the  most  attractive  of  the  many  hardy 
shrubs  introduced  within  late  years  from 
Japan,  where  it  is  a  native  of  the  southern 
mountains  of  Kiusiu  and  Sikok.  Siebold,  who 
discovered  it  in  Japan,  attributes  to  it  no 
other  property  but  its  scent  of  Hyacinth.  The 
hardiness  of  this  very  ornamental  shrub,  or 
small  tree,  in  our  Northern  States  has  not 
been  entirely  established  yet.  All  are  propa- 
gated freely  from  cuttings. 

Sub.  As  a  prefix;  about,  nearly,  somewhat; 
as  Sub-cordate,  slightly  cordate ;  Sub-rotund, 
roundish;  Sub-axillary,  just  beneath  the  axil, 
etc. 

Suberose.    Corky  in  texture. 

Subsoiling.  This  is  indispensable  to  the  best 
culture,  either  in  the  garden  or  on  the  farm. 
On  soils  having  a  clayey  or  hard-pan  subsoil, 
the  subsoil  plow  sliould  be  used  at  least 
every  two  years.  It  accomplishes  the  work  of 
loosening  and  pulverizing,  and  thus  admitting 
air  to  a  depth  of  eighteen  or  twenty  inches,  or 
twice  the  usual  depth  turned  up  by  the  sur- 
face plow.  In  our  own  practice  in  our  stiff 
clay  soil,  we  use  it  nearly  every  alternate 
year.  The  subsoiler  now  used  stirs,  loosens 
and  pulverizes  the  soil,  but  does  not  in- 
vert it.  following  immediately  behind  in  the 
furrow  made  by  the  surface  plow,  of  course, 
or  the  necessary  depth  could  not  be  attained.. 
The  implement  is  piade  for  one  and  two 
horses.  On  light  sandy  subsoils  the  one- 
horse  size  is  sufficient,  but  for  clay  or  hard- 
pan  two  powerful  horses  are  necessary  to  get 
to  the  proper  depth  (see  Plowing).  When  sub- 
soiling  is  done  by  the  spade  it  is  called 
trenching  (which  see). 

Sub-species.  A  term  given  to  a  rank  lower 
than  that  of  Species,  but  higher  than  that  of 
Variety. 

Sub-Tropical  Garden,  This  term  is  applied 
to  a  portion  of  a  lawn  or  flower-garden  devoted 
during  summer  to  plants  arranged  with  the 
design  of  representing  tropical  vegetation. 
As  many  of  the  plants  used  are  natives  of 
tropical  countries,  they  are  only  available 
during  the  warmest  part  of  the  season,  but 
there  are  others  of  tropical  aspect  which  are 
hardy,  that  are  only  valuable  for  associating 
with  their  more  tender  brethren.  Next  to 
location,  the  most  important  provision  for 
such  a  garden,  is  shelter,  as  many  of  the  most 
useful  subjects  would  have  their  leaves  torn 


SUG 

and  disfigured  if  subjected  to  high  winds. 
Shade  and  moisture  are  also  necessary  t(fr 
many  Tree  and  other  Ferns,  Cycads  and 
Palms. 

If  the  size  of  the  garden  will  allow  it,  pec? 
haps  the  best  effect  is  accomplished  by  group- 
ing the  various  plants,  rather  than  planting 
them  promiscuously,  but  individual  taste 
must  regulate  design  in  arrangement.  Manj' 
useful  plants  may  readily  be  raised  from  seed 
each  spring  and  planted  out  in  rich  soil  about 
the  first  of  June.  Of  these  the  various  spe- 
cies of  Ricinus,  Solanums,  Nicotianas,  Albizzia 
{Acacia)  lophantha,  Wigundias,  and  varieties  of 
Zea,  are  especially  valuable,  and  as  they  are 
all  rapid  growers  they  make  large  specimens 
before  autumn.  Plants  of  Ailanlua  glandu- 
losus,  and  Catalpa  bignonioides,  cut  close  down 
every  spring  are  excellent  subjects  either  for 
massing,  or  for  single  specimens.  The  vari- 
ous sorts  of  Cannas  are  indispensable  for 
groups,  or  as  solitary  specimens  Colocasiaa, 
Amorphophallus  and  any  of  the  Arum  family  are 
all  desirable.  The  most  serviceable  amongst 
Palms  are  Livislona  australis,  L.  chinensis, 
Phcenix  dactylifera,  Ptychosperma  Cunningham- 
iana  (syn.  Seaforthea  eleqanS),  Chamcerops  hU' 
milis,  C.  excelsa  and  C.  Forlunei.  Cyc.as  circin- 
alis  and  C.  revoluta,  Mush  Ensele,  and  M. 
superba,  are  noble  plants  for  this  purpose,  the 
Tree  Ferns,  Alsophila  australis  and  A.  excelsa, 
Cyathea  dealbata,  Dicksonia  antarlica,  etc.,  may 
also  be  placed  in  sheltered  and  shady  places 
with  good  eff<'Ct.  The  yarious  A rundos,  Arundi- 
7iarias,  Bambusas,  Draccenas,  Cordylines,  Ery- 
thrinas,  Aralias,  Phormiums,  Gynerium,  Eula- 
lias,  Ficus,  etc.,  can  also  be  used  to  excellent 
advantage. 
Subulate,  Subuliform.  Awl-shaped;  linear, 
tapering  from  a  broadish  base  to  a  fine  point ; 
a  long,  narrow  triangle. 
Succise.  Abruptly  cut  or  broken  off,  or  appear-^ 

ing  to  be  so. 
Succulent.  Very  juicy  or  pulpy. 
Succulent  Plants.  Plants  possessing  thick, 
fleshy  leaves,  including  numerous  genera, 
very  varied  in  habit.  They  are  generally 
plants  requiring  protection,  especially  in  win- 
ter, though  a  few  are  perfectly  hardy.  The 
natural  orders  Caclacete  and  Ficoidece  include 
-a-large  number  of  Succulents,  many  being 
exceedingly  curious,  and  others  very  beauti- 
ful; For  carpet-bedding  purposes  many  of 
the  dwarf-crowing  species  are  invaluable,  and 
are  used  in  large  numbers,  more  especially 
various  species  of  Scdicm,  Sempervivum, Agave, 
Aloe,  Cotyledon,  Echeveria,  Crassula,  Opimtid, 
Mesembryanlhemum,  etc. 
Succory.    Another  name  for  Chicory.    See  CU 

chorium. 
Sucker.    A  shoot  thrown  up  by  a  plant  froni 

beneath  the  surface  of  the  ground. 
Sudorific.    Having  the  power  of  causing  per- 
spiration. 
Sufifruticose.     Half  shrubby ;    having  a  some- 
what shrubby  habit. 
Sugar  Beet.    See  Beta. 
Sugar  Berry.     Tlie  fruit  of   Celtis  occidentaliSt 

which  see. 
Sugar  Bush.     A  common  name  for  Protea  rMl* 

lifera. 
Sugar  Cane.     See  Saccharum  officinarum. 


AND  GENEBAL  HORTICULTUKE. 


Ut 


SUG 

Sugar  Pea,     A  name  given  to  edible-podded 

Peas. 

Sugar  Pine.     Pinus  Lavihertiana. 

Sulcata.  Grooved  longitudinally  with  deep  fur- 
rows. 

Sultan.    Sweet.     Centaurea  moschata. 

Sultan.    Yellow.     Centaurea  suaveolem. 

Sumach.    See  Rhus. 

Summer  Savory.     See  Satureia  hortensis. 

Summer  Sno-wflake.     See  Leucojum  oBstivum. 

Sunde-w.    See  Drosera, 

Sundrops.  A  name  given  to  (Enothera  fruti- 
cosa. 

Sunflower.     See  Helianthus.  

Sun  Plant.  A  popular  name  for  Portulaca 
grandiflora,  and  other  species. 

Sun  Rose.     See  Helianthemum. 

Sunshine  Plant.     Australian.    Acacia  discolor. 

Superior,  Growing  above  anything.  An  ovary 
is  superior  when  it  grows  above  the  origin  of 
the  calyx. 

Supine.    Lying  flat,  with  face  upwards. 

Supple-Jack.    See  Berchemia. 

Supra.  Above,  or  upon  anjiihing ;  as  supra-ax- 
illary, growing  above  an  axil ;  supra-foliace- 
ous,  growing  above  a  leaf. 

Supra-Decompound.  Many  times  compound; 
so  much  divided  that  the  number  and  mode  of 
division  cannot  be  precisely  ascertained,  as 
the  leaves  of  the  Fennel,  Carrot,  etc. 

Surculose.  Producing  suckers^  or  shoots  re-, 
sembling  them. 

Sutherla'ndia.  Named  in  honor  of  James  Suth- 
erland, one  of  the  first  superintendents  of  the 
Eoyal  Botanical  Garden,  at  Edinburgh,  and 
author  of  a  botanical  catalogue,  1683.  Nat. 
Ord,  Leguminosm. 

Very  showy,  half-hardy,  evergreen  shrubs, 
producing  freely  during  summer  axillary  clus- 
ters of  scarlet  flowers.  The  plants  are  too 
large  for  ordinary  green-house  culture,  and  do 
not  repay  the  cost  of  winter  protection  in  the 
border.  S.  frutescens,  the  Bladder  Senna  of 
the  Cape,  bears  bright  red  flowers  in  axillary 
racemes.  It  was  introduced  in  1683,  and  is 
often  found  under  the  name  of  Colutea  frutes- 
cens. 

Suture.  The  line  of  junction  of  contiguous 
parts  grown  together.  Sutural  dehiscence 
is  the  act  of  splitting  along  the  line  of  junction 
of  two  valves, 

Swainso'nia.  In  honor  of  Isaac  Swainson,  a 
celebrated  cultivator  of  plants  about  the  end 
of  the  last  century.  Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosa:. 
,A  ^enus  of.  over  twenty  species  closely 
resembling  Sutherlandia.  It  is,  however,  better 
adapted  for  pot  culture  in  the  green-house,  in 
which  case  the  young  wood  should  be  fre- 
quently cutback  in  spring;  and  after  flower- 
ing, the  stems  should  be  cut  down  to  prevent 
the  plants  from  becoming  straggling  and 
unsightly.  There  are  several  species  under 
cultivation,  having  purple,  red,  or  white  flow- 
ers, produced  singly  in  pairs  on  short  axillary 
peduncles.  Of  S.  galegifolia,  the  best  known 
species,  there  are  several  varieties  in  culti- 
vation, all  desirable  sorts.  It  was  first  intro- 
duced in  1800,  under  the  name   of  Colutea  ga- 


SWR 

legifolia,  and  is  easily  increased  by  cuttings  or 

by  seeds. 
Swallow-Wort.    A  name  given  to  the  genera 

Asclepias  and  Chelidonium. 
Swamp  Dogwood.     Ptelea  trifoliata. 
Swamp  Hickory.     Caryaamara. 
Sw^amp  Honeysuckle.    Azalea  viscosa. 
Swamp  Rose  Mallow.     Hibiscus  Moscheulos. 
Swamp  Sassafras   or    Laurel.      See  Magnolia 

glauca. 
Swan  River  Daisy.     See  Brachycome. 

Swa'rtzia.  Named  in  honor  of  Olaf  Swartz, 
M.D.,  of  Stockholm,  a  long  time  resident  of 
the  West  Indies  mid  author  of  "  Flora  Indise 
Occidentalis."    Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  nearly  sixty  species  of  plant- 
stove  trees,  with  one  exception  all  natives  of 
tropical  America.  S.  grandiflora  and  S.  pin- 
nata  are  in  cultivation,  but,  owing  to  their 
size,  are  seldom  met  with  except  in  large  or 
botanical  collections. 

Swedish  Juniper.  Juniperus  communis fastigiata. 

Sweet  Alyssum.    See  Koniga. 

S^weet  Amber.     Hypericum  Androsoemum. 

Sweet  Basil.     See  Ocimum. 

Sweet  Bay.    See  Laurus  nobilis  and  Magnolia 

glauca. 

Sweet  Brier.     See  Rosa  rubiginosa. 
Sweet  Chestnut.     Castanp.a  sativa. 
S-wreet  Cicely.     See  Osmorhiza. 
Sweet  Clover.     See  Melilotus  alba. 
Sweet  Pern.    See  Comptonia. 
Svsreet  Flag.     See  Acorus. 
Sweet  Gale.     See  Myrica  Gale. 
Svweet  Gum  Tree.    See'Liquidambar  8tyraciflucii< 
S"weet  Leaf.     See  Symplocus  iinctoria. 
S'weet  Marjoram.    See  Origanum  Majorana. 
Sweet  Pea.     See  Lathyrus  odoratus. 
Sweet  Pepperbush.    See  Clethra. 
Sweet  Potato.     See  Potato. 
Sweet  Scabious.     Scabiosa  atropurpurea. 
Svyeet-scented  Crab.     Pyrus  coronaria. 
Sweet-scented  Shrub.     Calycanthus  floridus. 
Sweet-scented     Verbena.      Aloysia    [Lippia) 
citrioidora. 

Sweet  Sop.    See  Anona. 

Sweet  Sultan.     Centaurea  moschata. 

Sweet  Vernal  Grass.     Anthoxanthum  odoratum. 

Sweet  William.    See  Dianthus  barbatus. 

Swe'rtia.  Named  after  E.  Sivei-t,  a  famous  cul. 
tivator  of  bulbs  and  flowers  in  Holland.  Nat. 
Ord.  Gentianacece. 

A  genus  of  annual  or  perennial  plants, 
mostly  hardy,  natives  of  Europe,  Asia  and 
northern  India.  The  leaves  are  used  in  their 
native  countries  medicinally.  S.  perennis  is 
an  interesting  and  singular  perennial,  with 
slender,  erect  stems,  growing  from  one  to 
three  feet  high,  terminated  by  erect  spikes  of 
flowers.  It  is  an  interesting  plant  for  the 
rock  garden.  Several  others  of  the  species 
are  in  cultivation  under  the  name  of  Ophelia, 
but  none  of  them  are  valuable  as  flowering 
plants. 


442 


HENDEBSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


SWI 

S^wiete'riia.  Mahogany.  In  honor  of  Gerard 
Van  Swieten,  a  Dutch  botanist  and  author. 
Nat.  Ord.  Meliacece. 

' '  The  Mahogany  Tree,  S.  Mahagoni,  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  West  Indies,  Central  America,  and 
Mexico,  and  is  one  of  the  most  majestic  of 
trees ;  for  though  some  rise  to  a  greater  height, 
this  tree,  liiie  the  Oaii  and  the  Cedar,  impresses 
the  spectator  with  the  strongest  feelings  of 
its  firmness  and  duration.  In  the  rich  valleys 
among  the  mountains  of  Cuba,  and  those  that 
open  upon  the  bay  of  Honduras,  the  Mahogany 
expands  to  so  huge  a  trunk,  divides  into  so 
many  massive  arms,  and  throws  the  shade  of 
80  many  shiny  green  leaves,  spotted  with  tufts 
of  pearly  flowers,  over  so  vast  an  extent  of 
surface,  that  it  is  difficult  to  imagine  a  vege- 
"table  production  combining  in  such  a  degree 
the  qualities  of  elegance  and  strength,  of 
beauty  and  sublimity.  The  Mahogany  tree  is 
found  in  great  quantities  on  the  low  and 
woody"  lands,  and  even  upon  the  rocks  in  the 
countries  upon  the  western  shores  of  the 
Caribbean  Sea,  about  Honduras  and-  Cam- 
peachy.  It  is  also  abundant  in  the  islands  of 
Cuba  and  Hayti,  and  it  used  to  be  plentiful  in 
Jamaica,  where  it  was  of  excellent  quality, 
but  most  of  the  larger  trees  have  been  cut 
down.  It  was  formerly  abundant  on  the 
Bahamas,  where  it  giew  to  a  great  height, 
with  the  trunks  four  feet  in  diameter.  When 
it  grows  in  favorable  situations  the  timber  is 
larger  and  plain  ;  the  better  portion,  such  as 
is  used  for  veneers,  comes  from  the  junction 
of  the  branches  with  the  body,  or  crotches,  as 
they  are  commonly  termed.  The  trees  that 
grow  in  rocky  and  exposed  situations  do  not 
grow  as  large,  but  the  timber  is  more  solid, 
has  a  greater  variety  and  shade  of  grain,  is 
much  stronger,  and  in  all  ways  preferable  for 
cabinet  work."  The  Baywood  and  Spanish 
Cedar  of  commerce  are  of  the  same  species, 
but  are  of  larger  growth,  and  the  wood  is  very 
coarse  and  soft.  It  is  used  principally  in  mak- 
ing cigar  boxes  or  similar  work. 

Swiss  Chard.    See  Beta. 

Swiss  Stone  Pine.     Pinua  Cembra. 

Sword  Lily.     A  popular  name  for  Gladiolus. 

Sya'grus.  The  old  Greek  name  of  a  Palm, 
mentioned  by  Pliny.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  small  genus  of  unarmed  Palms  now  in- 
cluded by  Bentham  and  Hooker  under  Cocos. 

Sycamore  Tree.  Acer  Psendo-platanus.  The 
name  is  also  applied  to  Plalanus  occidpntalis 
and  other  species.  The  Sycamore  of  the  New 
Testament  is  Ficus  Sycomorus  (syn.  Sycomorus 
anliquorum). 

Sylvestris,  Sylvaticus.     Growing  in  woods. 

Symphorica'rpus.  St.  Peter's  Wort.  Snow- 
berry.  From  gymphoreo,  to  accumulate,  and 
karpos,  a  fruit;  in  allusion  to  its  clustered 
bunches  of  fruit.    Nat.  Ord.  Caprifoliacpce. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  deciduous  shrubs,  common 
in  most  of  the  States.  Some  of  them  are  quite 
oi-namental,  and  are  cultivated  in  the  shrub- 
bery border.  They  grow  so  freely  and  sucker 
60  much  that  it  is  difficult  to  keep  them  un- 
der subjection.  8.  racemosus,  the  Snowberry, 
has  pinkish  flowers,  disposed  in  loose  racemes, 
which  are  succeeded  by  large  white  berries, 
which  are  very  ornamental,  and  remain  on 
the  bush  until  nearly  winter,  making  it  con- 


SYN 

spicuous  in  the  border..    The  variegated  varie- 
ty is  a  fine  plant. 

Symphya'ndra.  From  symphio,  to  grow  to- 
gether, and  aner,  andros,  an  antlier;  the 
anthers  are  connate.  Nat.  Ord.  Campanulacece. 
A  genus  of  hardy,  perennial  herbs,  natives  of 
the  Caucasus.  The  flowers  are  white,  yellow 
or  blue ;  large  and  often  nodding.  Propa- 
gated by  seeds  or  by  cuttings  in  spring. 

Sy'mphytum.  Comfrey  From  symphyo,  to 
make  unite,  and phyton,  a  plant;  in  reference 
to  its  healing  qualities.  Nat.  Ord.  Boraginaceoe. 
A  genus  of  coarse-growing,  weedy  plants, 
formerly  esteemed  for  their  medicinal  prop- 
erties, and  of  the  first  importance  in  a  col- 
lection of  herbs.  They  have  become  natural- 
ized in  this  country  from  Europe,  and  are 
common  around  old  gardens  and  in  moist 
places.  S.  officinalis  liUeo-marginalis  is  a  very 
ornamental,  hardy  variety,  the  leaves  being 
broadly  margined  with  creamy-white ;  it  is 
an  excellent  plant  for  the  herbaceous  ITorder. 
jS.  asperrimum  was  introduced  into  thi^  coun- 
try for  use  as  a  forage  plant  in  1875,  but  has 
proved  to  be  entirely  valueless  for  that  pur- 
pose.   Propagated  by  seeds  or  by  division. 

Symploca'rpus.  Skunk  Cabbage.  From  sym- 
ploke,  connection,  and  karpos,  fruit;  descrip- 
tive of  the  plant.     Nat.  Ord.  Aroidex. 

A  rather  coarse-growing  plant,  common  in 
swamps  and  wet  meadows  from  Vrrginia  to 
Maine.  S.  fcelidus.  the  only  known  species, 
is  the  common  Skunk  Cabbage,  and  is  readily 
known  by  its  skunk-like  odor  when  the  leaves 
are  bruised. 

Sy'mplocos.  From  symploke,  a  connection ; 
the  stamens  are  united  at  the  base.  Nat. 
Ord.  StyracacecB. 

A  large  genus  of  trees  and  shrubs,  broadly 
dispersed  over  the  warmer  parts  of  Asia,  Aus- 
tralia and  America.  The  leaves  of  S.  iinc- 
toria,  the  Horse  Sugar  or  Sweet-leaf  of  the 
Southein  States,  are  greedily  eaten  by  cattle, 
and  in  Georgia  and  Carolina  are  used  for  dye- 
ingyellow;  the  leaves  of  other  species  are 
used  for  the  same  purpose  in  Nepal.  In 
India  the  bark  of  8.  racemosa,  called  Lodh,  is 
used  both  as  a  dyeing  material  and  as  a  mor- 
dant for  other  dyes.  S.  Japonica,  with  yellow 
flowers,  introduced  from  Japan  in  1850,  and 
8.  sinica,  with  white  fragrant  flowers  from 
China,  are  both  cultivated  as  green-house 
shrubs.  A  still  later  introduction,  however, 
from  the  mountains  of  northern  Japan,  S. 
paniculatus,  has  white,  sweet-scented  flowers, 
and  ultra-marine-blue  fruit  making  the  shrub 
conspicuous  among  those  which  are  valued 
for  their  ornamental  fruit.  Mr.  Jackson  Daw- 
son, of  the  Arnold  Arboretum,  Boston,  assures 
us  that  itas  perfectly  hardy  there,  and  speaks 
of  it  as  one  of  the  very  best  of  late  introduc- 
tions to  our  list  of  hardy  shrubs. 

Synade'nium.  African  Milk  Bush.  From  syn, 
united,  and  aden,  a  gland ;  the  glands  of  the 
involucre  are  united  in  a  cup  or  disc. 

A  genus  of  Euphorbiacece,  closely  allied  to 
Euphorbia,  and  of  which  8.  Grantii,  an  African 
species,  introduced  in  1867,  is  cultivated  for 
its  bright  crimson  flowers,  which  are  showy 
and  attractive.  It  is  also  an  excellent  plant 
for  summer  hanging  baskets,  vases,  etc... 
especially  in  exposed  situations,  and  is  in- 
creased by  cuttings,  thoroughly  dried  at  the 
base  before  insertion. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


443 


SYN 

Syngenesious.  Having  the  anthers  united  at 
their  edges  so  as  to  forra  a  tube. 

Syngo'nium.  From  syn,  together,  and  gone,  the 
womb  ;  alluding  to  the  cohesion  of  the  ovaries. 
Nat.  Ord.  Aroidece,. 

S.  auritum,,  introduced  from  Jamaica,  the 
species  most  generally  found  in  cultivation,  is 
a  rather  coarse  gio wing  plant,,  useful  only  in 
large  collections.  S  V^ellozianum ,  S .  Wenlandii, 
S.  podophijllum-lf.neatum,  are  all  very  showy 
sons  and  can  b3  easily  increased  by  division 
of  the  stem  in  heat.  Any  old  plants  that  get 
too  tall  may  hnve  their  tops  cut  off  and 
inserted  as  larg'3  cuttings;  they  v^^ili  soon 
root  in  a  warm,  moist  atmosphere. 

Synno'tia.  Named  in  honor  of  W.  Synnot,  who 
collected  many  plants  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope ;  erroneously  spelled  Synettia.  Nat.  Ord. 
Iridaceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  three  very  pretty,  green- 
house, bulbous  plants,  now  generally  referred 
to  Gladiolus.  S.  bicolor  is  found  in  cultivation 
under  the  name  of  Ixia  bicolor. 

Synonym.  In  botany,  a  superseded  or  unused 
name. 

Sy'nthyris.  From  syn,  together,  and  tkyrsia,  a 
little  door;  in  allusion  to  the  closed  valves 
of  the  pod.     Nat.  Ord.  ScrophulariacecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  or  pilose  hardy,  herbaceous 
perennials,  with  thick  rhizomes,  natives  of 
northwest  America.  The  bluish  or  reddish 
flowers  are  borne  in  racemes  or  spikes  four 
to  six  inches  long ;  closely  allied  to  Veronica. 

Syri'nga.  The  Lilac.  Pipe  Tree.  From  syrinx, 
a  pipe ;  the  branches  are  long  and  straight, 
and  filled  with  medulla ;  hence  the  old  name  of 
the  Lilac,  Pipe  Tree.  The  English  name  of 
the  genus  is  from  lilac  or  lilng,  the  Persian 
word  for  the  flower.     Nat.  Ord.  Oleacece. 

A  genus  of  well-known,  deciduous  shrubs, 
with  purplish  or  white  flowers,  natives  of 
southeastern  Europe,  Persia,  northern  India 
and  China.  All  the  species  are  perfectly  hardy, 
and  are  easily  grown.  S.  vulgaris,  the  com- 
mon Lilac,  with  purple  or  white  flowers,  is  of 
doubtful  origin,  though  generally  credited  to 
Persia.  It  has  been  under  cultivation  for 
more  than' a  hundred  years,  and  from  the 
species  many  varieties  have  been  obtained, 
but  without  any  marked  peculiarities.  S. 
Peraica,  Persian  Lilac,  is  a  very  distinct 
species,  of  much  smaller  size,  rarely  growing 
more  than  six  feet  high ;  the  branches  are 
slender  and  straight,  the  leaves  are  smaller 
and  narrowed  at  the  base.  The  flowers  are 
produced  in  looser  panicles,  and  the  florets  are 
smaller,  giving  the  whole  plant  a  more  grace- 
ful appearance.  The  Rouen  or  Chinese  Lilac, 
S.  Chinensis,  known  also  as  S.  dubia  and  S. 
Rothomagensis,  is  intermediate  between  the 
common  and  the  Persian,  and  is  a  most  desir- 
able shrub.  The  large  growing,  S.  Emodi,ivom 
the  Himalayas,  is  only  suitable  for  large  shrub- 
beries, it  being  coarse  in  growth,  .and  not 
remarkable  for  its  flowers,  which  are  pale 
purple,  and  produced  after  those  of  the  com- 
mon Lilac  are  past.  There  is  also  a  variegated 
form  of  it.  The  Hungarian  Lilac,  S.  Josika&a, 
is  a  pretty  shrub,  and  valuable,  as  it  is  quite 
different  from  the  others.  It  grows  fully  six 
feet  high,  and  bears  erect  spikes  of  small, 
pale,  mauve  flowers.  The  new  S.  Japonica, 
known  also  as  S.  Amuremia  and  Ligu?trina 


SYR 

Amurensw,  is  a  most  valuable,  hardy,  flowering- 
shrub.  Its  hardiness,  vigorous  growth,  excel- 
lent habit,  ample  foliage,  and  dense  clusters 
of  creamy-white  floweps,  somewhat  resembling' 
those  of  the  Japanese  privet,  appearing  at  a 
season  when  few  trees  are  in  bloom  make  it 
one  of  the  most  desirable  of  the  small  trees 
recently  introduced  into  gardens.  The  fact 
that  it  loses  its  leaves  early  in  the  autumn, 
and  that  they  fall  while  still  green,  is  the  only 
drawback  which  has  yet  been  noticed  in  it  as- 
an  ornamental  plant.  S.  obluta  is  not  known 
in  a  wild  state ;  it  was  first  discovered  by 
Fortune  in  a  garden  at  Shanghai,  and  later  by 
the  Abbe  David  in  gardens  near  Pekin.  Its 
perfect  hardiness  in  this  climate  indicates  its 
northern  origin  It  flowers  ten  or  twelvedcys 
earlier  than  S.  vulgaris,  and  its  thick,  leathery" 
leaves,  which  are  never  attacked  by  mildew, 
turn  in  the  autumn  to  a  rich,  dark  russet 
color,  a  character  which  should  be  taken  ad- 
vantage of  by  hybridizers  to  secure  a  new 
race  of  Lilacs  with  the  large  inflorescence  of 
S.  vulgaris,  and  the  foliage  of  S.  oblala.  Seed- 
ling varieties,  many  of  them  much  superior 
in  size  and  color  to  the  species,  have  been 
originated  in  late  years  and  are  now  in  general 
cultivation.  Of  the  white  sorts,  the  best  at 
the  present  writing  are  Marie  Legrange,  Alba, 
magna.  Alba  virginalis  and  Alba  grandiflora. 
Of  the  colored  sorts  the  finest  is  Souvenir 
de  L.  Spath,  with  massive  clusters  of  very 
large,  richly-colored  flowers.  Charles  X. 
(an  excellent  variety  for  early  forcing)  is  a 
desirable  sort,  an<i  others  good  in  color  are, 
Alphonse  Lavallee,  Louis  van  Houtte,  Le  Gaul- 
ois,  Aline  Mocquery  and  Rubra  de  Marley. 
There  is  also  a  double-flowered  section  in  cul- 
tivation which  have  denser  flower-clusters, 
and  as  a  rule  last  longer  in  perfection  thaa 
the  single  varieties. 

Lilacs  are  now  'forced  in  largo  quantities 
for  cut  flowers,  and  when  blanched  pur© 
white  they  have  a  very  chaste  and  beautiful 
appearance.  One  of  the  best  and  most  useful 
for  this  purpose  is  the  variety  known  as 
Charles  X.  ;  its  panicles  of  flowers  are  much, 
larger  and  more  compact  than  the  Persian 
Lilac  of  our  gardens,  which  is,  however,  well 
adapted  for  similar  use.  If  forced  in  suffi- 
cient heat  the  coloring  matter  has  no  time 
to  forra  in  the  flowers,  consequently  the  col- 
ored sorts  are  as  useful  for  forcing  purposes 
as  the  pure  white  varieties.  All  the  species 
are  rapidly  increased  from  layers  or  from 
suckers,  the  only  trouble  being  that  they  in- 
crease so  fast  as  to  be  troublesome.  That 
the  Lilac  has  been  cultivated  for  centuries 
there  is  plenty  of  evidence.  We  have  person- 
ally gathered  specimens  growing  with  Pars- 
ley (Apium  petroaelinum)  in  the  debris  of  cas- 
tles in  Great  Britain  that  had  been  in  ruins 
for  over  three  hundred  years,  showing  that 
the  warlike  barons,  or  their  wives,  had  some 
taste  for  the  ornamental  as  well  as  the  use- 
ful, even  in  those  early  days. 

Syri'nga.  A  common  name  for  Philadelphus 
coronarius,  which  see. 

Syringo'dea.  A  small  order  of  pretty,  dwarf, 
green-house,  bulbous  plants,  closely  allied  to 
Ixia.  S.  pulchella  has  very  pretty,  pale,  purple 
flowers  nearly  two  inches  long,  with  filiform 
leaves.  Introduced  from  South  Africa  itx 
1873. 


444 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


T. 


TAB 

Tabebu'ia.    Said  to  be  the  native  name    in 
Brazil.     Nat.  Ord.  Bignoniacece. 

A  large  genu.s  of  plant-stove  trees  or  shrubs, 
natives  of  tropical  America ;  few  of  the  species 
are  in  cultivation.  They  require  the  same 
treatment  as  Tecorna,  under  which  genus  they 
are  sometimes  included.  T.  speclabilis  is  now 
given  as  the  correct  name  of  the  species  culti- 
vated as  Blgnonia  or  Tecoma  speclabilis. 
Tabernaemonta'na.  East  Indian  Rose  Bay. 
Named  in  honor  of  James  Theodore  TabernoB- 
monlanuH,  of  Heidelberg,  a  celebrated  physi- 
cian and  botanist.      Nat.  Ord.  Apocynacew. 

This  genus  is  composed  of  very  handsome, 
hot-house  shrubs,  with  deep  green  foliage  and 
large,  white  or  yellow  flowers,  possessing  an 
agreeable  fragrance.  After  blooming  they 
should  receive  a  moderate  pruning  to  keep 
Ihcjn  bushy  and  inci'ease  the  number  of 
flower  heads.  The  large,  leathery  leaves  of 
tJds  and  other  similar  genera  ate  inducements, 
in  the  way  of  shelter,  to  many  troublesome 
insects,  such  as  thrips,  scale  and  mealy  bug  ; 
to  eradicate  these,  and  keep  the  plants 
healthy,  tliey  siiould  be  frequently  washed, 
each  leaf  separately,  Avith  a  sponge  and  soap 
and  water,  or  the  latter  alone,  and  at  intervals 
receive  a  sprinkling  with  a  syringe  to  clean 
tliem  of  dust,  which  in  itself  is  prejudicial  to 
all  plants,  and  gives  encouragement  to  the 
insects  by  causing  a  languid  action  in  the 
liMves.  The  several  species  are  mostly 
natives  of  the  East  Indies,  but  a  few  are  dis- 
uibuted  throughout  the  West  Indies  and 
South  America.  T.  coronaria  flore-pleno,  the 
species  most  generally  cultivated,  bears  a 
]'ure  white  flower  something  like  a  Gardenia, 
and  is  very  fragrant  at  night.  It  is  sometimes 
met  with  under  the  old  name  of  Nerium  coro- 
tnirium.  Its  native  country  is  unknown,  but 
it  is  cultivated  throughout  India,  whence  it 
was  introduced  in  1770.  It  is  easily  in- 
cffeased  by  cuttings. 
Table,  Stage  and  Bench.  These  are  the 
different  terms  used  for  the  structure  whereon 
plants  are  set  in  the  green-house.  The  bench 
or  luble  more  particularly  refers  to  one  flat 
platform,  which,  if  in  the  front  of  the  green- 
house, is  from  three  to  four  feet  wide ;  if  in 
the  middle  or  centre  of  the  house,  seven  or 
oijflit  feet  wide,  and  from  two  to  three  feet  in 
height,  according  to  the  style  of  the  house. 
These  widths  and  heights  are  important  as 
being  the  most  convenient  for  use,  as  well  as 
to  show  the  plants  to  the  best  advan- 
tage. The  Stage  is  a  series  of  platforms, 
placed  usually  in  the  centre  of  the  green- 
hou.se,  being  of  various  widths,  from  one  to 
three  feet.  For  instance,  if  the  base  width  of 
the  platfc>rm  be  nine  feet,  three  stagings  of 
three  feet  each  would  be  required  (each 
elevated  a  foot  above  the  other)  to  make  the 
width.  This  style  of  green-house  benching, 
however,  is  less  to  be  recommended  than  one 
platform  of  the  same  height,  as  the  latter  is 
not  only  more  convenient  to  work  with,  but 
the  plants  show  on  it  to  better  advantage 
than  if  elevated  too  high. 


TAG 

The  green-house  benches  are  usually  made 
of  inch  boards,  but  in  our  own  practice  Ave 
have  for  the  past  three  years  had  all  the 
"sheeting"  for  our  benches  made  of  rough 
roofing  slate,  over  which  is  laid  half  an  inch 
of  cement.  These  materials  cost  only  about 
25  per  cent,  more  than  the  board  benches, 
and  are  an  immense  saving,  as  the  wooden 
benches  rot  out  from  the  heat  and  moisture 
in  four  or  five  years.  The  skeleton  or  frame- 
work of  the  benches  we  make  of  Yellow  Pine. 
If  the  frame-work  were  made  of  iron,  such 
benches  Avould  be  indestructible;  but  even 
with  the  pine  wood  frame-work  tliey  will 
stand  for  twenty  years,  as  the  cement  covei- . 
ing  laid  over  the  slates  prevents  the  water 
getting  to  the  wood  work.  Care,  however, 
must  be  taken  to  leave  spaces  every  ten  feet 
or  so,  where  the  water  can  escape  through 
the  bench.  For  the  material  covering  the 
bench  on  which  to  set  the  plants,  see  Drain- 
age. 

Taoaniahac.  A  common  name  for  Populus  bal- 
samiferd  or  the  Balsam  Poplar. 

Ta'cca.  The  Malay  name  of  the  species.  Nat. 
Ord.  Taccaceoi. 

A  genus  of  East  Indian  plants,  grown  by 
the  natives  for  their  bulbs,  which  resemble 
new  Potatoes,  and  contain  a  large  amount  of 
starch.  The  various  species  grow  in  the  open 
country;  T.  pinnatifida  is  generally  found  in 
sandy  places  near  the  sea.  The  leaf-stalks  of 
this  species  are  plaited  into  bonnets  by  the 
natives  of  the  Society  Islands,  but  the  princi- 
pal use  made  of  all  the  species  is  that  of  their 
tubers,  which,  resembling  new  Potatoes,  con- 
tain a  great  deal  of  starch,  known  as  South 
Sea  Arrowroot,  and  far  preferable  to  any  other 
Arrowroot  in  cases  of  dysentery.  The  tubers 
are  dug  up  after  the  leaves  have  died  away, 
and  are  rasped  and  macerated  four  or  five 
days  in  water,  when  the  fecula  separates  in 
the  same  manner  as  Sago  does.  It  is  largely 
employed  as  an  article  of  diet  throughout  the 
tropics,  and  is  a  favorite  ingredient  for  pud- 
dings and  cakes  in  the  South  Sea  Islands. 
The  species  are  rarely  seen  in  plant  collec- 
tions.   Syn.  Alaccia. 

Tacca'ceae.  A  small,  natural  order  of  perennial 
herbs,  with  creeping  or  tuberous  rhizomes, 
found  in  tropical  America,  Africa,  Asia  and 
the  Pacific  Islands.  The  order  consists  of 
two  genera,  Shizocapsa  and  Tacca,  and  in- 
cludes about  ten  species,  Alaccia  is  placed 
as  a  sub-division  of  Tacca. 

Taccada  Plant.  The  Malay  Eice  Paper  Plants 
(See  Scwvola.) 

Tacca'rum  The  name  is  adapted  from  Tacca, 
which  genus  they  resemble.  Nat.  Ord.  Aroi- 
dece. 

A  small  genus  of  tall,  tuberous  herbs,  na- 
tives of  Brazil.  Two  species,  T.  peregrinum 
and  T.  Warmingianum,  are  in  cultivation. 
They  are  very  showy,  large-leaved,  plant-stov^ 
species,  and  are  useful  for  lawn-decoration  ini 
summer.     Syns.  Endera  and  Ly»isligma. 


.TETRaGONa  (NEW  ZEALAND  SPINACH) 


TaKRaGON 


THRINAS  BRaZU-IENSIS.) 


TRACHELIUM  CffiEULECM. 


-1, -"..-LiE'Pj^i",™,— 

444       THYMUS  VULGARIS  (THYME). 


iIacsonia  (Van  voLXE»ai). 


THaUCTRUM  aQUILEGIFOLIUU. 


TAGETES  (MABIOOLD),  AFRICAN  ,  '  EI,  DOEADO. 


TAGETES  FIBT0LOSA  LTJTEA.^ 


TAGETES  8IGNATA   PU\nLA 


'«*GEI^E61MAR1CL0LD).  DWARF  GOLD_STRIPED,. 


TAGETES  (marigold),   AFRICAH-i 


TAGETES  (MiRJGOLJJ),    DWaEF  FRENCH,   GOLD  STRIPED.  |45 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


415 


TAG 

Tachiade'nus.  From  Tachia,  a  genus  of  the 
saoie  order,  and  aden,  a  gland ;  the  ovary  i$ 
surrounded  by  a  ring  of  glands  as  in  Tachia. 
Nat.  Ord.  GentianacecB. 

A  genus  of  herbaceous  or  somewhat  shrubby 
plants,  natives  of  Madagascar.  T.  carinatun 
is  a  pretty,  green-house  annual,  closely  re- 
lated to  Chironiar  Lisianthiis  and  Exacum,  and 
WHS  introduced  by  the  Rev.  William  Ellis  in 
1858,  who  brought  seeds  from  Madagascar. 
It  grows  freely,  branches  naturally  at  the 
base,  and  attains  the  height  of  a  foot  or  more. 
The  flowers  are  white,  with  the  lobes  of  the  ■ 
corolla  bright-purple,  produced  freely  in  au- 
tumn, and  lasting  over  a  month  before  fading. 
Seeds  should  be  sown  in  February  and  treated 
like  Gloxinias. 

Tacso'nia.  From  Tacso,  the  name  of  one  of  the 
species  in  Peru.     Nat.  Ord.  Pasaifloracem. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful  climbing  plants, 
closely  related  to  Pasaiflora,  having  the  same 
general  appearance,  and  the  same  structure 
of  stamens,  pistils  and  fruit,  but  dififering  in 
the  usually  long,  cylindrical  tube  of  the  calyx, 
which  is  furnished  with  two  crowns,  one  at 
the  throat,  and  the  other  near  its  base.  In 
T.  manicata,  however,  a  very  handsome 
species,  the  tube  scarcely  exceeds  in  length 
that  of  a  Passion  Flower.  The  species  are 
natives  of  Central  America  and  the  West 
Indies.  The  fruits  of  several  of  them,  as  T. 
mollissima,  T.  tripartita  and  T.  speciosa.  are 
edible.  T.  Buchanani  is  Passijlora  vitifolia, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  plants  of  the 
order.  The  Tacsonias  are  all  beautiful  plants 
and  worthy  a  place  in  any  collection.  They 
require  the  same  general  treatment  as  Passi- 
Aora,  and  are  propagated  in  the  same  way. 

Taeni'tis.  From  tainia,  a  fillet  or  ribbon ;  allud- 
ing to  the  linear  pinnee.  A  small  genus  of 
interesting  stove  ferns,  all  tropical,  but  not 
very  closely  allied.  I^ey  differ  principally 
from  Tceniopsis  and  Vularia  in  their  fronds 
being  all  net-veined. 

Tage'tes.  Marigold.  From  the  beauty  of  its 
flowers,  this  genus  was  named  after  Tages,  a 
Tuscan  divinity.     Nat.  Ord    CompositoB. 

Marigolds  are  old  favorites  in  our  gardens, 
particularly  those  known  as  African  and 
French  Marigolds.  The  former  (T.  erecta) 
have  uniformly  large  yellow  or  orange-colored 
flowers,  and  usually  attain  a  couple  of  feet  in 
height;  the  latter  (T.  patula)  are  more  dwarf, 
and  have  their  flowers  striped  of  a  deep 
brown-purple  and  yellow.  They  are  all  showy, 
especially  in  masses,  and  are  effective  for  dis- 
tant groups.  There  is,  liowever,  another 
species,  T.  signata  pumila  (syn.  T.  tenuifolia), 
preferable  for  bedding ;  it  is  more  compact  in 
habit ;  and  though  its  flowers  do  not  boast  the 
Vivid  coloring  of  the  French  Marigolds  (being 
entirely  yellow),  yet  they  are  produced  in 
such  long  succession  as  to  amply  compensate 
for  the  deficiency ;  besides  which,  the  scent, 
so  frequently  complained  of  in  the  others, 
is  in  this  so  much  reduced  as  to  be  no  longer 
unpleasant.  T.  lucida,  the  sweet-scented, 
Mexican  Marigold,  is  also  occasionally  grown 
in  gardens  and  is  very  showy.  These  com- 
prise all  that  are  worth  cultivating  as  orna- 
mental plants,  and  require  precisely  the  same 
treatment  as  other  hardy  annuals. 
Talau'ma.  The  native  name  of  the  South 
American  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Magnoliacex. 


TAM 

A  genus  of  trees  or  shrubs  remarkable  for 
their  fine,  fragrant  flowers.  There  are  about 
fifteen  species,  four  of  which  are  natives  of 
tropical  America  and  the  rest  of  Asia  and 
Japan.  Six  or  more  species  are  in  cultivation, 
but  are  found  only* in  large  collections.  Prop- 
agated principally  by  layers. 
Taliga'lea.  Said  to  be  the  native  name  in 
Guiana.     Nat.  Ord.  Verbenacece. 

Amasonia  is  now  the  correct  name  of  this 
genus.     (See  Amasonia.) 
Tali'num.    Supposed  to  be  from  thalia,  a  green 
branch;    referring    to    its    durable    verdure. 
Nat.  Ord.  Portulacacex. 

A  genus  of  annual  and  biennial,  succulent 
plants,  inhabiting  the  warmer  parts  of  both 
hemispheres,  but  chiefly  confined  to  sub-tropi- 
cal America.  T.  parens,  and  its  variety  with 
variegated  foliage,  a  native  of  Brazil,  is  a 
desirable  plant  for  the  border,  or  as  a  basket 
or  vase  plant,  being  well  adapted  to  stand  hot, 
dry  weather,  and  does  not  suffer  badly  if 
neglected.  The  variegated  variety  is  often 
used  as  a  white  line  for  ribbon  borders.  This 
species  is  used  in  Brazil  as  a  pot-herb,  and 
is  readily  propagated  by  seeds  or  cuttings. 
Introduced  in  1776. 
Talipot  Palm.  See  Corypha  umbraculifera. 
Tallow  Shrub.    A  common  name  for  Myrica 

cerifera. 
Tallow  Tree.    .See  Stillingia. 
Tamarack.     American  or  Black  Larch,  Hack- 
matack.   See  Larix  Americana. 
Tamarica'ceae.      A  natural  order  of  shrubs  or 
undershrubs,  found  chiefly  in  maritime  sands 
or    gravelly     places     near     rivers,     in    the 
temperate  and  warmer  regions  of  the  north- 
ern hemisphere,   and  also  in    South  Africa. 
The  two  principal  Asiatic  and  European  gen- 
era, Tamarix  and  Reaumuria,  are  regarded  by 
some  botanists  as  types  of  distinct  orders ; 
and  the  splendid  Mexican  genus,  Fouquiera, 
differing  chiefly  in  the  large  petals,   united 
into  a  tubular  corolla,  has  only  lately  been 
associated  with  the  Tamaricaceoe  as  a  third' 
tribe. 
Tamarind.     See  Tamarindus. 
Tamari'ndus.    Tamarind  Tree.     Tamar,  in  Arac' 
bic,  is  the  name  of  the  Date,  and  Indus,  In- 
dian,  literally  Indian  Date.     Nat.  Ord.  Papi- 
lionacecB. 

The  tree  that  furnishes  the  Tamarinds  lor 
preserves  is  a  native  of  the  East  and  West 
Indies,  Egypt  and  Arabia.  It  is  a  large, 
spreading  and  beautiful  tree,  and  its  grace- 
ful, pinnated  foliage,  and  racemes  of  fragrant 
flowers,  which  are  yellow  striped  with  red, 
and  its  purple  stamens,  give  it  an  elegant  ap- 
pearance. T.  Indica  is  the  only  known  spe- 
cies, and  this  varies  but  little  in  the  different 
countries  in  which  it  abounds.  Propagated 
frcrr^  <{uttings  and  by  seeds.  Introduced  in 
1633. 
Ta'marisk.    See  Tamarix. 

Ta'marix.  Tamarisk.  From  Tamaris,  now 
Tambro.  the  name  of  a  river  where  it  grows, 
on  the  borders  of  the  Pyrenees.  Nat.  Ord. 
Ta^naricacece. 

Tall-growing  shrubs,  m(!^.ly  natives  of  Eu- 
rope. A  great  many  speciefe  are  enumerated.' 
but  two  only  are  usually  met  in  collections  of, 
ornamental    shrubs.    These    are    T.    Oallicat 


U6 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


TAM 

the  French  Tamarisk,  and  T.  Germanica,  the 
German  Tamarisk.  The  French  Tamarisk  is 
far  the  handsomest,  and  will  thrive  in  almost 
any  soil  or  situation :  in  bleak  exposed  places 
on  the  seashore,  in  the  poorest  sandy  soils, 
it  never  fails  to  succeed  and  to  produce  its 
long,  terminal,  graceful  spikes  of  pinkish 
flowers.  It  will  do  equally  well  in  city  yards, 
that  are  exposed  to  sun,  soot  and  smoke.  It 
is,  in  short,  one  of  our  most  valuable  orna- 
mental shrubs.  The  Manna  of  Mount  Sinai 
is  produced  by  a  variety  of  T.  Gallica;  it  con- 
sists wholly  of  pure,  mucilaginous  sugar.  T. 
Africana  is  quite  commonly  grown.  The 
plants  are  easily  increased  by  cuttings. 
Tampico  Fibre.  See  Leopoldinia. 
Ta'mus.  Black  Bryony.  Ladies'  Seal.  The  old 
Latin  name  used  by  Pliny.  The  only  Euro- 
pean representative  of  the  Nat.  Ord.  Dios- 
coridacecB.  There  are  two  well-known  spe- 
cies, T.  communis,  the  Black  Bryony,  a  Brit- 
ish plant,  and  T.  cretica,  a  native  of  Greece 
and  the  Grecian  Archipelago.  They  are  both 
climbing  plants,  and  have  thick  tuberous 
roots,  sending  up  annual  stems  which  grow 
to  a  great  length.  Their  flowers  are  of  sepa- 
rate sexes,  borne  on  different  plants,  and  are 
produced  in  the  leaf  axils,  in  slender  branched 
racemes.  They  are  increased  by  divisions  of 
the  roots  or  by  seeds. 
Tanace'tum.  Tansy.  Derivation  of  name  un- 
known. Said  to  be  altered  from  Athanasia, 
immortal;  in  allusion  to  the  persistent 
flowers.    Nat.  Ord.  CompositcB. 

All  the  species  that  compose  this  genus  are 
hardy,  herbaceous  plants,  or  what  might  prop- 
erly be  called  weeds.  T.  halsamita,  a  very 
sweet-smelling,  hardy,  herbaceous  plant,  is  the 
Costmary  or  Alecost  of  old  gardens.  T.  vul- 
gare  is  the  common  Tansy  of  the  old  gardens 
and  roadsides.  It  was  formerly  introduced 
as  a  garden  plant,  and  took  a  prominent  posi- 
tion among  domestic  medicines,  but  is  now 
pretty  generally  discarded.  It  is  a  native 
of  Europe,  has  escaped  from  the  gardens,  and 
has  long  been  naturalized  in  the  United 
States.  T.  v.  crvtpum  is  a  very  elegant, 
dwarf  variety,  with  smaller,  emerald-green 
leaves,  which  are  very  elegantly  cut,  and  have 
a  crisped  or  frizzled  appearance . 
Tanghi'nia.  Ordeal  Tree.  Tanghin  is  the  native 
name  of  the  plant  in  Madagascar.  Nat.  Ord. 
Apocynacece. 

T.  venenifera,  the  only  species,  is  a  small, 
glabrous,  evergreen  tree,  with  rose-colored 
flowers  in  large  terminal  cymes,  each  sup- 
ported by  a  couple  of  bracts.  The  seeds  of 
this  plant  furnish  a  powerful  poison,  and 
were  formerly  used  as  an  ordeal  by  the  kings 
of  Madagascar.  The  seed  was  pounded,  and 
a  small  portion  given  to  each  person  to  be 
tried ;  those  in  whom  it  caused  vomiting, 
escaped;  but  to  those  whose  stomachs  re- 
tained it,  it  was  quickly  fatal  and  their  guilt 
was  then  held  to  be  proven. 
Tansy.  See  Tanacetum. 
.Tape  Grass.  See  Vallianeria. 
Tapeino  tes.  A  small  genus  of  Gesneracece,  for 
the  most  pari  now  included  in  Sinningia  and 
Gloxinia. 

Taper.  The  opposite  of  angular;  usually  em- 
ployed in  contradistinction  to  that  term  when 
speaking  of  long  bodies. 


TAR 

Tapioca  Plant.  A  common  name  for  Manihot 
viilisBima. 

Tap-Root.  A  root  which  penetrates  deep  and 
perpendicularly  into  the  ground  without  divid- 
ing. 

Tara'xacum.  Dandelion.  Name  supposed  to 
be  from  the  Greek  taraxo,  to  disquiet  or  dis- 
order ;  in  allusion  to  the  medicinal  effects  of 
the  plant.     Nat.  Ord.  Compoaitce. 

The  common  Dandelion,  T.  Dens-leonis,  is  a 
native  of  Europe,  but  has  become  so  thor- 
oughly naturalized  as  to  be  a  very  troublesome 
weed.  The  roots  have  powerful  medicinal 
properties  and  are  held  in  high  esteem  by  the 
Eclectic  practitioners.  The  leaves  are  used 
as  a  pot-herb,  for  which  purpose  the  plants 
are  grown  in  frames  by  the  market  gardeners 
of  nearly  all  large  cities.  It  is  also  used  as 
an  early  spring  "greens,  "  and  is  cultivated 
for  this  purpose  in  both  private  and  market 
gardens.  Of  late  years  a  great  improvement 
has  been  made  in  the  size  of  the  leaves  of  the 
cultivated  kinds.     Propagated  by  seeds. 

Taxe.  The  common  Vetch,  Vicia  sativa,  also 
Vicia  hirsuta  and  Erxum  Erviiia. 

Tares  of  Scripture.    See  Lolium  temulentum,. 

Ta'ro.  The  native  name  for  Colocasia  anti- 
quorum.  Thia  plant  forms  one  of  the  chief 
articles  of  diet  in  the  Pacific  Isles,  where  it 
is  largely  cultivated.  The  tubers  are  boiled 
or  baked,  or  made  into  bread,  and  the  young- 
leaves  may  be  eaten  like  Spinach ;  but  like 
the  tubers  they  require  to  be  well  cooked  to 
destroy  their  poisonous  properties  and  acrid- 
ity. Several  varieties  are  cultivated,  some 
being  better  for  one  mode  of  cooking,  some 
for  another.  Dr.  Seemann  relates  that  one 
kind,  called  "  Kurilagi,  "  was  pointed  out  to 
him  as  having  been  eaten  with  nearly  a  whole 
tribe  of  people,  in  the  island  of  Viti  Levu. 
This  tribe  having  given  great  offence  to  the 
ruling  chief  of  the  district,  was  condemned  to 
die.  Every  year  the  inmates  of  one  house 
were  baked  and  eaten,  the  empty  dwelling 
burned  down,  and  its  foundation  planted  with 
"Kurilagi."  The  next  year  when  thisTaro 
was  ripe,  it  was  the  signal  for  destroying  the 
next  house  and  its  inhaloitants,  and  the  plant- 
ing of  a  fresh  field  of  Taro.  After  many 
years  the  remaining  few  were  pardoned,  and 
allowed  to  die  a  natural  death,  and  in  1860 
one  old  woman  was  the  only  survivor  of  the 
tribe.     (Seemann's  "  Flora  Vitiensis.  ") 

Ta'rragon.  (Artemisia  Dracunculus.)  This,  like 
many  garden  plants  that  have  been  under  cul- 
tivation for  at  least  four  hundred  years,  is  of 
unknown  origin.  Opinions  are  divided  as  to 
whether  it  is  a  native  of  Siberia  or  the  South 
of  Europe.  It  is  a  hardy,  herbaceous  perennial, 
cultivated  for  its  leaves  and  young  shoots, 
both  of  which  are  used  as  an  ingredient  in 
salads,  soups,  stews,  pickles  and  various 
other  compounds.  Tarragon  vinegar,  so 
much  esteemed  as  a  fish-sauce,  is  made  by  an 
infusion  of  the  leaves  in  common  vinegar.  It 
is  propagated  from  seeds,  or  from  pieces  of 
the  root,  every  portion  of  which,  how<evep 
small,  will  grow  if  a  single  bud  is  left  on. 

Tartareous.  Having  ta  rough,  crumbling  sur- 
face. 

Tartarian  Honeysuckle.     See  Lonicera. 

Tartarian  Lamb.     See  Cibotium  Barometf^ 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


447 


TAS 

Tassel  Flower.    See  Cacalia. 

Tavernie'ra.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  B.  Taver- 
nier,  a  celebrated  traveler  in  the  Levant. 
Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoacB. 

A  small  genus  of  shrubs,  natives  of  the  East 
Indies  a«d  the  Orient.  T.  nummularia,  the 
East  Indian  Money-wort,  is  a  dwarf,  very 
bushy,  branching,  green-house  shrub,  with 
trifoliate,  fleshy,  obcordate  leaves,  and  ra- 
cemes of  rather  pretty,  red  flowers.  Only 
two  species  have  been  introduced. 

Taxa'ceae.  A  sub-order  of  Coniferm,  often  con- 
sidered as  a  distinct  order,  chiefly  by  their 
fruits  not  being  collected  in  cones,  each  ovule 
growing  singly,  unprotected  by  hardened 
scales. 

Taxo'dium.  Bald  Cypress,  Deciduous  Cypress. 
From  taxus,  the  Yew,  ^nd  aides,  like;  trees 
resembling  the  Yew.     Nat.  Ord.  ConifercB. 

T.  distichum,  the  deciduous  Cypress,  abounds 
in  the  Southern  States,  growing  as  far  north 
as  Delaware  and  southern  Illinois.  It  is  one 
of  the  most  valuable  trees  for  timber,  and  is 
considerably  grown  as  an  ornamental  tree  for 
the  lawn.  It  is  perfectly  hardy  as  far  north 
as  New  York.  Beautiful  specimens  are  often 
seen  on  lawns,  where  their  feathery  foliage 
renders  them  attractive  objects. 

Ta'xus.  Yew.  From  taxon,  a  bow;  the  wood 
anciently  used  for  bows  ;  or  from  taxis, 
arrangement,  the  leaves  being  arranged  on 
the  branches  like  the  teeth  of  a  comb.  Yew 
is  supposed  to  be  from  the  Celtic  word  iw, 
signifying  verdure ;  alluding  to  the  Yew  being 
an  evergreen.     Nat.  Ord.  Coniferce. 

A  genus  of  well-known  evergreen  trees, 
popularly  known  as  the  Irish  Yew.  They  are 
compact  in  habit,  their  branches  being  densely 
crowded  with  leaves ;  they  are  also  upright, 
the  branches  perpendicular,  giving  the  tree  a 
small  circumference  for  its  height.  On  this 
account,  it  is  a  favorite  tree  for  cemeteries 
and  churchyards.  There  is  a  native  species, 
T.  baccata  var.  Canadensis,  commonly  known 
as  Ground  Hemlock  or  American  Yew,  com- 
mon in  the  more  Northern  States,  on  moist 
banks  and  hills.  It  rarely  grows  more  than 
four  feet  high,  and  is  branching  and  straggling 
in  habit.  T.  baccata,  the  common  Yew  of 
England,  is  the  species  from  which  the  ancient 
English  bows  were  made.  Loudon  says :  *'  In 
the  days  of  archery  the  Yew  was  the  principal 
wood  used  for  the  bow  in  Britain,  and  in  the 
reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  of  England,  the  demand 
was  so  great  that  it  had  to  be  imported  from 
the  continent  of  Europe  into  Englandj  and 
various  laws  were  passed  concerning  it  from 
the  days  of  Edward  IV.  to  Elizabeth." 

Tea-Berry.  Canada  Tea.  A  local  name  some- 
times given  to  the  Wintergreeh,  OauUheria 
procumbens,  which  see. 

Tea-Plant  or  Tea-Tree.    See  Thea. 
African.     Lyciumafrum. 

American  Mountain.     OauUheria  procumbens. 
Australian.     Various  species  of  Leptospermum 

and  Melaleuca. 
Blue  Mountain.     Solidago  odora. 
Botany  Bay  or  Sweet.     Smilax  glycyphylla. 
Brazilian.     Stachylarpheta  Jamaicensis. 
Cape  Colony.     Helichrysum  serpillifolium. 
Ceylon.     Elmodendron  glaucum. 
Duke  of  Argyle's.     Lycium  barbarum, 
Malay.    Etigenia  variabilis. 


TEE 

Mexican.     Psoralea  glandulosa. 

New  Jersey.     Ceanothus  Americanua. 

New  Zealand.    Ltptospermum flavescena  and  L. 
acoparium. 

New  Zealand,  Sweet^c'ented.      Philadelphus 
aromaticus. 

Oswego.     Monarda  didyma. 

Paraguay.    See  Ilex  Paraguariensia. 

Tasmauian.     Melaleuca  squarrosa. 

Wild.     Amorpha  canescens. 

Winter  Berry.    Prinos  glabra. 
Teak  Tree.    Indian.    See  Tectona  grandis. 
Tear  Thumb.     A  name  commonly  applied  to 

several  species  of  Polygonum,  on  account  of 

their  rough,  beairded  stems,  which  lacerate 

when  handled. 
Teasel.     See  Dipsabus. 

Teco'ma.  From '  Tecomaxochitl,  the  Mexican 
name  of  the  species.    Nat.  Ord.  Bignoniacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  deciduous  and  green- 
house, evergreen,  climbing  shrubs,  consisting 
of  upward  of  fifty  species.  They  are  mostly 
South  American  plants.  T.  radicana,  or 
Trump,et  Creeper,  in  general  cultivation,  is 
a  native  species,  common  from  Pennsylvania 
to  Illinois  and  southward.  It  is  well  adapted 
for  covering  walls  or  arbors  in  exposed  places, 
being  perfectly  hardy  and  a  rapid  grower; 
the  flowers  are  large,  tubular,  and  a  brilliant 
orange.  T.  grandiflora  is  nearly  allied  to  T. 
radicana,  but  has  larger  flowers  of-ardeeper 
shade  of  orange.  These  two  species  are  com- 
monly known  as  Bignonias.  Some  of  the 
green-house  species  are  objects  of  great 
beauty,  but  as  they  -flower  in  summer,  they 
are  not  as  generally  grown  as  they  should  be. 
All  the  species  are  propagated  from  cuttings 
Qf  the  root  or  suckers. 

Tecophylae'a.  Chilian  Crocus.  Named  after 
Tecophila,  the  daughter  jjf  the  botanist  Bil- 
],otti.     Nat.  Ord.  Hemodoraceoe. 

T.  cyanocTocus,  the  only  species  yet  intro- 
duced, is  a  charming  little  Chilian,  bulbous 
plant,  growing  only  a  few  inches  in  height, 
having  narrow  leaves  and  erect  bell-shaped 
flowers,  of  an  intensely  deep  blue,  with  a  light; 
centre.  It  is  a  spring  flowerer,  and  nearly,  if 
not  quite;  hardy.     Introduced  in  1872. 

Te'ctona.  Teak  Tree.  From  Tekka,  its  Mala- 
bar name.    Nat.  Ord.  Verbenacem. 

This  is  a  celebrated  timber  tree  of  the  East 
Indies,  used  for  ship-building  in  preference  to 
all  other  woods,  because  of  its  strength,  great 
durability,  the  ease  with  which  it  can  be 
worked,  and  its  non-liability  to  be  injured  by 
the  attacks  of  Fungi.  Some  of  the  species 
have,  been  introduced  into  the  green-house. 
They  are  very  handsome  trees,  with  purple  or 
white  flowers,  but  their  size  prevents  their 
general  introduction. 

Tee'dia.  Called  after  J.  O.  Teede,  a  German 
botanist- and  traveler,  who  died  in  Surinam. 
Nat.  Ord.  ScrophulariacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house,  glabrous  or 
pubescent  shrubs,  natives  ef  South  Africa. 
Two  species,  T.  lucida  and  T.  pubescens,  have 
been  introduced.  They  have  small,  pink  flow- 
ers, borne  in  a  terminal,  leafy  thyrse,  and  are 
quite  pretty  plants  when  in  flower.  A  rich, 
light  soil  is  most  suitable  for  them,  and  prop- 
ajgation  may  be  effected  by  seeds  or  by  cut- 
tings. 


448 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


TEE 

Teesda'lia.  Named  after  Robert  Teesdale,  an 
English  botanist,  author  of  a  "Catalogue  of 
Plants  growing  about  Castle  Howard."  Nat. 
Ord.  CrucifercB. 

A  genus  of  two  species  of  inconspicuous, 
hardy,  annual  plants,  with  minute,  white  flow- 
ers and  rosulate  leaves,  natives  of  western 
Europe  and  the  Mediterranean  region. 

Tel'anthera.  From  televia,  complete,  and  an^ 
thera,  an  anther.     Nat.  Ord.  AmaranthacccB. 

Kept  up  by  Bentham  add  Hooker  as  a  sep- 
arate genus,  but  cultivated. under  the  name 
of  Altemanthera,  which  see- 
Telegraph  Plant.    A  popular  name  for  Desmo- 
diwm  gyrans. 

Tele'kia.  Name  not  explained;  -Nat.  Ord. 
Compositor. 

T.  cordatum,  the  only  species  under  cultiva- 
tion, is  a  fine,  robust,  herbaceous  plant,  with 
large,  cordate  leaves.  The  flower-heads  are 
of  a  rich  orange  color,  produced  in  cymose 
panicles;  it  is  a  plant  well  adapted  for  a 
shrubbery  border,  as  its  bloom  is  long  con- 
tinued, which,  ■\yith  its  handsome  foliage,  con- 
stitutes a  handsome  border  plant.  The  ro- 
bust stems  require  no  staking.  Native  of 
southern  Europe  ;  introduced  in  1825.  Prop- 
agation by  seeds  and  division  of  root  in 
spring.     Syn.  Buphlhalmum. 

Tele'phium.  Named  by  LinnsBus  after  Tele- 
phus,  a  son  of  Hercules.  A  genus  of  Illece- 
bracecB,  inhabiting  the  Mediterranean  region, 
and  found  also  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  T. 
Imperatri,  the  Tree  Orpine,  has  been  intro- 
duced, but  is  not  worth  cultivating. 

Telfai'ria.  Named  after  Charles  Telfair,  an  Irish 
botanist,  who  died  in  the  Mauritius,  1833. 
Nat.  Ord.  CucurbitacecB. 

T.  pedata,  the  best  known  species,  is  a  tall, 
climbing  plant,  a  native  of  Zanzibar,  intro- 
duced- in  1825,  but  rarely  grown,  the  room 
and  care  required  in  the  green-house  being 
considered  too  valuable  for  a  plant  only  re- 
markable for  its  curious  fruit,  which  often 
grows  three  feet  long,  and  six  to  eight  inches 
in  diameter,  containing  upward  of  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  circular  seeds,  about  an  inch  in 
diameter.  These  seeds  yield  an  excellent 
oil,  and  they  are.  moreover,  as  palatable  as 
almonds.  T.  occidentalis,  introduced  from 
West  Africa  in  1870,  is  said  to  be  cultivated 
for  its  seeds,  which  the  negroes  boil  and  eat. 

Telli'ma.  An  anagram  of  Mitella,  under  which 
this  genus  was. formerly  included.  Nat.  Ord. 
SaxifragacecB. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  erect,  annual  or  peren- 
nial plants,  natives  of  northwestern  America, 
resembling  the  Hewhera.  T.  grandiflora  has 
prettily  colored  and  veined  leaves,  like  Heu- 
chera  Richardsoni,  and  spikes  of  small,  yel- 
lowish, bell-like  flowers.  It  is  a  good  plant 
for  the  rock-garden,  and  is  increased  by  cut- 
tings. 

Telo'pea.  "Waratah.  From  telopas,  seen  at  a 
distance;  alluding  to  the  great  distance  at 
which  its  crimson-colored  flowers  may  be  seen 
in  its  native  country.     Nat.  Ord.  ProteacecB. 

The  brilliant,  scarlet  flowers  of  this  plant, 
which  are  conspicuous  even  at  a  great  dis- 
tance, are  said  to  have  been  one  cause  why 
the  coast  of  New  South  Wales  was  distin- 
guished by  its  first  visitors  as  Botany  Bay,  in 
allusion  to  the  great   accession  to    botany 


TEM 

likely  to  be  derived  from  a  country  where  the 
plants  appeared  so  different  from  those  of 
Europe.  The  flower  of  the  Waratah  may  be 
compared  to  a  gigantic  head  of  clover  of  the. 
most  intense  and  brilliant  scarlet,  but  it  is 
not  common,  probably  because  H  is  a  very 
difficult  plant  to  manage.  The  first  point  to 
be  attended  to  is  to  have  the  pot  in  which  it 
is  grown  thoroughly  well  drained,  and  the- 
next,  to  allow  it  abundance  of  light  and  air. 
It  is  propagated  by  cuttings  or  suckers,  which 
it  throws  up  in  abundance.  It  should  be  reg- 
ularly watered  in  the  flowering  season,  but  it 
may  be  kept  almost  dry  during  the  winter 
months. 
Temperature.  A  temperature  suited  to  the 
nature  of  the  plant  is  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant conditions  to  the  well-being  of  plants 
under  cultivation,  and  the  nearer  we  can  come 
to  the  conditions  of  temperature  and  moisture 
of  the  native  habitat  of  the  plant  the  nearer 
we  come  to  perfection  in  cultivation.  Thus 
we  find  that  in  our  garden  weeds,  the  Chick- 
weed  (Stellaria  media)  is  only  troublesome  in 
early  spring  and  in  the  fall,  when  the  average 
temperature  is  perhaps  50"  or  60°,  because  it 
is  a  native  of  a  country  (Britain)  where  there 
is  no  higher  average ;  while  our  too  familiar 
Purslane  {Portulaca  ole.racea)  only  rears  its 
head  to  injure,  in  the  dog  days, when  the  ther- 
mometer averages  70°  or  80°,  because  it  is  aa 
importation  from  the  tropics. 

A  large  proportion  of  Lima  Beans,  Sweet 
Corn,  and  other  tropical  vegetable  seeds,  annu- 
ally perish  by  being  sown  two  or  three  weeks 
tpo  early  by  our  impatient  amateur  horticul- 
turalists ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  colder 
blooded  Parsnip  or  Carrot  all  but  refuse  to 
germinate,  and  often  fail  to  grow  in  the  hot 
summer  weather^  Seeds  of  Calceolarias,  Cin- 
erarias, Primroses,  Pansies,  etc.,  which  in 
England  are  sown  and  germinate  freely  in 
July,  will  in  a  majority  of  cases  utterly  fail  if 
attempted  at  the  same  date  here,  where  we 
have  15°  to  20°  higher  temperature  and  a  drier 
atmosphere.  We^  hear  of  hundreds  of  failures 
of  this  kind  every  season,  which  are  laid  to 
the  quality  of  the  seeds  by  foreign  garden- 
ers, who  have  not  yet  had  experience  with 
our  American  climate.  The  same  seeds 
sown  during  the  months  of  February,  March, 
or  April,  or  September,  or  October,  would 
germinate  without  trouble,  because  the  tem- 
perature and  atmosphere  then  can  be  made 
inside  congenial  to  their  nature. 

The  same  necessity  for  congenial  tempera- 
ture exists  in  growing  in  matured  plants,  and 
one  of  the  main  causes  of  want  of  success  in 
cultivating  plants  under  glass  is"  a  want  of 
knowledge,  or  carelessness,  in  keeping  a  tem- 
perature unsuited  to  the  growth  of  the  plants. 
In  ordinary  green-house  collections  the  fault 
is  oftener  in  the  temperature  being  kept  too 
high  than  too  low,  for  it  is  usually  much  easier, 
requiring  far  less  watchfulness  by  the  person 
in  charge,  to  keep  up  a  high  temperature.  The 
injury  done  by  this  is  gradual,  and  will  not, 
like  the  action  of  frost  on  the  plants,  show  in 
the  morning.  In  consequence  of  this,  we  often 
see  the  greenhouses  containing  Camellias, 
Azaleas,  Pelargoniums,  Carnations,  etc.,  swel- 
tering under  a  continued  night  temperature 
of  60"  or  65°,  when  their  nature  demands  15* 
lower.  In  large  establishments,  where  there 
are  a  number  of  green-houses,  this  is  made  an 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


449 


TEM 

easy  matter  by  placing  the  proper  number  of 
four-inch  pipes  in  a  green-house  to  suit  the 
different  temperatures  for  example,  in  our 
own  establishment,  where  our  houses  are  uni- 
formly twenty  feet  wide,  for  a  temperature  of 
from  35"  to  40""  in  coldest  weather,  we  use  four 
runs  of  pipes,  that  is,  two  pipes  on  each  side ; 
for  40°  to  45°  we  use  five  pipes ;  for  45°  to  50°  we 
use  six  pipes ;  for  55°  to  60°  we  use  eight  pipes ; 
and  for  65°  to  70°  we  use  ten  pipes. 

It  is  true,  we  too  often  see  collections  of 
hot-house  and  green-house  plants  inter- 
mingled, and  attempts  made  to  grow  them 
which,  of  necessity,  result  in  failure  to  one  or 
the  other.  The  temperature  to  grow,  in 
healthy  condition,  Dracasnas,  Crotons,  Coleus, 
3ouvardias  or  Poinsettias  (hot-h-ouse  plants), 
would  not  be  likely  to  maintain  Azaleas,  Ca- 
mellias, Verbenas,  Carnations  or  Geraniums 
long  in  a  healthy  state.  The  same  rules  fol-^ 
low  as  to  the  propagating-house,  showing  the 
necessity  of  observing  the  requirements  of 
their  different  natures.  See  "Propagation  of 
Plants  by  Cuttings.  " 

The  subject  is  one  that  relates  to  so  many 
varieties  and  different  conditions  of  organism 
at  the  different  seasons  of  growth,  that  it  is 
impossible  to  convey  to  the'  inexperienced 
what  these  varieties  and  conditions  are  ;  but 
our  object  is  to  impress  upon  inexperienced 
readers  what  we  have  long  believed  to  be  an 
important  truth,  that  the  supplying  the 
proper  conditions  of  temperature  to  plants 
under  glass,  according  to  their  different  na- 
tures and  conditions,  has  as  much  to  do  with 
their  welfare  as  any  other  cause,  if  not  more ; 
and  that  often,  when  ascribing  the  unhealthy 
state  of  a  plant  to  uncongenial  soil  or  defec- 
tive drainage,  or  the  "damping  off"  of  some 
favorite  cutting  to  the  way  it  was  cut  or  the 
sand  it  was  put  in,  the  true  and  sole  cause  of 
failure  was  nothing  more  than  condemning 
them  to  an  atmosphere  uncongenial  to  their 
nature. 

Templeto'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  John  Temple- 
ton,  an  Irish  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 
A  genus  of  New  Holland  plants,  with  red  or 
yellow  axillary  flowers.  T.retusa,  the  "Coral 
Bush,"  and  two  or  three  other  species  are 
grown  in  green-houses  for  their  showy  flow- 
ers. Increased  by  cuttings  of  the  young 
wood. 

Te'naris.  Said  to  be  the  native  name  in  South 
Africa.     Nat.  Ord.  Asclepiadaceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  erect,  slender,  green-house, 
perennial  herbs,  natives  of  southern  Africa. 
T.  rostrala,  the  only  introduced  species,  has  a 
whitish  corolla,  densely  covered  towards  the 
base  with  purple  dots.  It  forms  a  slender 
bush  about  one  and  a  half  feet  high.  Intro- 
duced from  east  tropical  Africa  in  1885. 

Tendril.  The  twisting,  thread-like  process,  by 
which  one  plant  clings  to  another. 

Teosinte.  Euchlana  Mxuriana.  An  Introduc- 
tion from  Mexico,  the  seeds  of  which  were 
received  here  in  1879  from  the  Royal  Gardens 
at  Kew,  England.  It  had  been  previously 
sent  to  the  British  colonies  in  Africa  and 
other  tropical  latitudes,  where  the  reports 
from  it  as  a  fodder  crop  were  of  the  most  ex- 
travagant kind.  When  fully  developed,  it 
reaches  a  height  of  twelve  feet,  each  seed 
making  a  plant  having  from  one  hundred  to 
one  hundred  and  twenty  shoots,  when  planted 


TES 

five  or  six  feet  apart.  It  somewhat  resembles 
the  Pearl  Millet,  and,  like  it,  will  admit  of  re- 
peated cuttings  during  the  growing  season. 
Although  perennial,  it  will  probably  do  better 
if  treated  as  an  annual,  sowings  to  be  made 
every  season,  as  any  plant  of  that  luxuriance 
would  quickly  exhaust  the  soil  if  allowed  to 
remain  the  second  year.  As  it  is  closely  al- 
lied to  our  Maize,  or  Indian  Corn,  it  will 
likely  be  best  suited  for  the  Southern  States. 
Syn.  Reeana  luxurians. 

Tephro'sia.  Hoary  Pea.  From  tephros,  ash- 
colored  ;  in  allusion  to  the  color  of  tlie  foliage 
of  some  of  the  species.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumi- 
noscB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  and  green- 
house, herbaceous  plants.  Of  the  hardy  spe- 
cies, T.  Virginiana  is  the  more  common  and 
beautiful.  It  is  usually  found  in  clumps  from 
one  to  six  feet  in  diameter,  growing  on  dry, 
sandy  soils,  in  which  it  succeeds  finely,  and 
is  a  valuable  border  plant.  Its  flower  stalks 
are  about  a  foot  high,  and  flowers  creamy 
white  and  rosy  purple,  produced  in  terminal 
clusters  in  July.  It  is  very  common  in  the 
Northern  States,  and  is  far  more  showy  and 
attractive  than  many  of  our  prominent  gar- 
den flowers.  The  tender  varieties,  requiring 
the  protection  of  the  green-house,  are  diffi- 
cult to  manage,  and  do  not  repay  the  trouble 
by  their  short  season  of  flowers. 

Terebinth  Tree.  A  common  name  for  Pistachia 
Terehinthus. 

Teres,  Terete.  Tapering;  free  from  angles; 
cylindrical,  or  nearly  so. 

Terminal.  Borne  at;;  or  belonging  to,  the  ex- 
tremity or  summit. 

Termina'lia.  Myrobalan  Tree.  Olive-bark  Tree. 
From  terminvs,  end  ;  the  leaves  are  in  clusters 
at  the  ends  of  the  branches.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
brelacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  tropical  evergreens, 
found  occasionally  in  botanical  collections. 
The  fruits  of  several  of  the  species  form  an 
important  article  of  commerce  in  India,  being 
extensively  used  for  tanning  and  dyeing  pur- 
poses. They  are  known  in  commerce  under 
the  name  of  Myrobalans,  and  are  used  by 
calicoprinteirs  for  the  production  of  a  perma- 
nent black. 

Ternate.  Growing  in  threes ;  applied  to  a  leaf 
consisting  of  three  leaflets. 

Ternstroe'mia.  The  typical  genus  of  the  Nat^ 
Ord.  Ternstromiacece,  comprising  about  twen- 
ty-five species,  inhabiting  tropical  Asia  and 
America,  where  they  form  evergreen  shrubs 
or  trees.  The  flowers  are  not  very  showy, 
but  a  few  of  the  species  are  grown  for  their 
ornamental  foliage.  They  can  be  propagated 
by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened  wood. 

TernstrcBmia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  or 
shrubs,  chiefly  tropical,  and  many  of  them  of 
great  beauty.  The  most  important  economic 
product^of  this  family  is  Tea  [Thea  Chinensis), 
by  many  botanists  included  under  Camellia  as 
C.  theifera,  now  so  largely  used  all  over  the 
world.  The  order  comprises  about  thirty 
genera  and  two  hundred  species;  Gordonia^ 
Stuartia  and  Camellia  are  good  examples. 

Tessellated.  Checkered  ;  when  colors  are  dl& 
posed  in  small  squares. 

Testa.    The  skin,  or  integument  of  a  seed^ 


450. 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


TES 

Testaceous.  Brownish-yellow ;  resembling  un- 
glazed  earthenware  in  color. 

Testudina'ria.  Elephant's  Foot.  From  testudo, 
a  tortoise ;  resemblance  of  the  outside  roots. 
Nat.  Ord.  Dioscoreacem. 

A  very  singular  genus  of  plants,  with  enor- 
mous scalj'  roots  above  ground,  some  of  the 
species  resembling  an  elephant's  foot,  whence 
the  common  name.  From  these  roots  arise 
slender,  climbing  stems  to  the  height  of  thirty 
or  forty  feet,  with  small,  heart-shaped  leaves, 
and  axillary  racemes  of  inconspicuous,  green- 
ish-yellow howers.  The  plants  are  natives  of 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  are  rarely  met 
in  collections. 

Tetra.  This  term,  used  in  Greek  coriipounds, 
signifies  four ;  as  Tetraphyllous,  four-leaved; 
Tetrapterous,  four-winged,  etc. 

Tetrago'nia.  New  Zealand  Spinach.  From 
tetra,  four,  and  gonia,  an  angle  ;  in  allusion  to 
the  fruit  being  four-angled.  Nat.  Ord!  Ficoir 
dece. 

Plants  not  worth  cultivating,  except  T.  ex- 
pansa,  which  is  grown  as  a  substitute  for 
Summer  Spinach.     See  New  Zealand  Spinach. 

Tetragoni'aceae.  A  natural  order  included  un- 
der FicoideoB  as  a  sub-order. 

T^trane'ma.  From  tetra,  four,  and  nema,  a  fila- 
ment; the  genus  is  characterized  by  having 
four  stamens.     Nat.  Ord.  ScrophulariaceoB. 

T.  Mexicana,  the  Mexican  Fox-glove,  is  a 
very  pretty,  dwarf,  perennial  plant,  blooming 
all  summer.  The  flowers  are  purplish-violet, 
variegated  with  a  paler  color.  It  has  been  in 
cultivation  since  1843,  and  is  readily  increased 
by  seeds  or  by  divisions. 

Tetra'pterys.  From  tetra,  four,  and  pteron,  a 
wing ;  the  carpels  are  each  four-winged.  Nat. 
Ord.  Malpighiacem. 

A  large  genus  of  generally  climbing,  plant- 
stcve  shrubs,  natives  of  tropical  America. 
The  flowers  are  yellow  or  reddish  and  borne 
in  umbels  or  racemes,  often  panicled  and  gen- 
erally terminal.  Several  species  have  been 
introduced,  but  they  are  difficult  to  bloom  in 
cultivation. 

Tetraquetrous.  Having  four  very  sharp  and 
almost  winged  corners  or  angles. 

Tetrastichous.     Having  a  four-cornered  spike. 

Tetrathe'ca.  From  tetra  four,  and  theke,  a  cell; 
the  anthers  are  sometimes  four-celled.  Nat. 
Ord.  Tremandraceoe. 

A  genus  of  nearly  twenty,  species  of  very 
pretty,  small,  green-house  plants,  natives  of 
Australia.  They  resemble  Heaths  in  general 
appearance  and  require  the  same  treatment. 
Propagation  is  effected  by  cuttings  of  the 
young  wood  when  partially  firm.  T.  verticil- 
lata  is  now  called  Platytheca  galioides. 

Teu'crium.  Germander,  Wood  Sage.  Named 
after  Teucer,  a  Trojan  prince,  who  first  used  it 
medicinally.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiaim. 

Hardy,  half-hardy  and  tender  perennial,  bi- 
ennial, annual  and  shrubby  plants,  the  smaller 
kinds  of  -which  are  suitable  for  rock-work. 
Some  of  the  kinds  are  showy  border  flowers, 
and  others  handsome,  green-house  shrubs,  par- 
ticularly those  that  are  natives  of  Madeira. 
T.  Betonicum  is,  perhaps,  one  of  the  best  of 
these,  as  it  has  loose  spikes  of  fragrant  crim- 
son flowers.  T.  Canadense,  American  Ger- 
mander, is  common  in  low  grounds,  along 


THA 

fence-rows  or  waste  places.  It  is  a  species 
that  will  become  troublesome  if  not.  extermi^ 
nated.  It  is  not  worthy  a  place  in  the 
garden. 
Teysma'nnia.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  E.  Teyn~ 
mann,  director  of  the  botanic  garden  at  Buit- 
enzorg,  Java,  by  whom  T.  albifrons,  the  sole 
representative  of  the  genus,  was  discovered. 
Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

As  a  genus  it  is  closely  allied  to  Corypha, 
from  which  it  differs  mainly  in  habit,  its- 
leaves  bearing  more  resemblance  in  shape  to 
those  of  the  Musa  than  to  either  of  the  ordi- 
nary forms  of  Palm  leaves.  The  inhabitants 
of  Sumatra  call  this  Palm  the  Beluwan  or  Bel- 
awan-,  and  use  its  leaves  for  thatching  their 
houses,  for  which,  from  their  large  size  and 
entire  form,  they  are  admirably  adapted. 

Texan  Pride.      A  local  name  for  Phlox  Drwrnr- 

mondii. 
Thalamus.      The  receptacle  in  a  flower;  the 

part' on  which  the  carpets  are  placed. 

Tha'lia.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  Thalius,  a  Ger- 
man physician.     Nat.  Ord.  ScitamineoB. 

A  small  genus  of  aquatic  plants,  natives  of 
South  Carolina  and  the  West  Indies.  T.  deal- 
bata  is  one  of  the  most  stately  of  all  hardy 
aquatics,  quite  different  from  the  Cannas,  to 
which,  however,  it  is  closely  related.  It  is  a 
native  of  South  Carolina,  and  its  glaucous 
foliage,  and  elegant  panicles  of  purple  flowers, 
render  it  a  most  desirable  plant  for  the  cool 
aquarium  with  the  various  Nymphczas,  Cannas, 
Cyperus,  Papyrus  and  other  water  plants. 

Thali'ctrum.  Meadow  Eue.  From  thallo,  to 
grow  green;  in  allusicfn  to  the  color  of  the 
young  shoots.    Nat.  Ord.  RanunculaceoR. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  herbaceous  plants,  com- 
mon throughout  the  United  States  and  Europe. 
None  of  our  native  species  have  been  much 
introduced  into  the  flower  garden,  although 
many  of  them  are  worthy  of  a  place  there.  T. 
alpinum  is  a  dwarf  species  with  white  or  yellow 
flowers,  and  makes  a  pretty  plant  for  rock- 
work.  There  are  several  of  the  species  that 
are  grown  for  the  same  purpose.  T.  aquilegi- 
folium,  a  native  of  Austria,  is  a  very  pretty 
border  plant,  with  light  purple  flowers.  It  is 
propagated  by  division  or  from  seeds.  T. 
adiantifolium  and  T.  minus  are  most  desirable 
species,  forming  compact  tufts  from  twelve  to 
eighteen  inches  high,  very  symmetrical  and 
of  a  slightly  glaucous  hue.  They  may  be 
grown  altogether  for  their  leaves,  which  are 
pretty  enough  to  pass,  when  mingled  with, 
cut  flowers,  for  some  of  the  finer  species 
of  Maiden-hair  Ferns ;  they  are,  moreover, 
stiffer  and  more  lasting  than  Fern  fronds. 
For  this  purpose,  the  flower  stems,  which 
appear  in  May  and  June,  should  be  pinched 
off  to  encourage  the  growth  of  the  leaves. 
T.  tuberosum  grows  about  nine  inches  high.  In 
addition  to  its  graceful  foliage  it  has  an  addi- 
tional beauty  in  the  abundant  mass  of  yellow- 
ish; cream-colored  flowers  which  it  produces. 
T.  anemonoides  is  the  Eue  Anemone,  one  of  the 
most  charming,  as  well  as  one  of  the  earliest 
of  our  native  spring  flowers. 

Thallogens.  A  name  applied  by  Lindley  and 
others  to  comprise  those  cryptogams  which 
are  extremely  simple  in  their  structure,  and 
exhibit  nothing  like  the  green  leaves  of  the 
phoenogams.  "They  include  the  two  vast  tribes- 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE 


451 


THA 

of  Algce  and  Fungi,  of  which  latter  the  Lichens 
are  a  sub-division. 
Tha'lius.  A  fusion  of  root,  stem  and  leaves 
into  one  general  mass;  the  cellular  mass  of 
which  the  lower  cryptogamous  plants  are  en- 
tirely composed. 

Thamno'pteris.    Derivation  of  name  not  given. 
Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  bold,  evergreen  Ferns, 
with  simple  fronds,  having  the  general  appear- 
ance of  Asplenium.  The  typical  species  is 
often  called  Bird's-nest  Fern,  and  has  been 
severally  classed  as  Asplenium  nidus  and 
Neottopteria  vulgaris.  The  species  are  indige- 
nous to  the  East  Indies,  the  Pacific  Islands 
and  to  Australia. 

Tha'psia.   So  called  from  the  Island  of  Thapsos. 
Nat.  Ord.  Umbelliferce. 

A  small  genus  of  perennial  herbs,  natives  of 
the  Mediterranean  region  and  Madeira.  The 
only  species  of  interest  is  T.  garganica,  the 
Drias-plant,  celebrated  among  the  Moors  for 
its  healing  qualities.  The  roots  of  T.  edulis 
are  eaten  in  Madeira.     Syn.  Monizia. 

Thatch  Palms.     A  native  name  for  various  spe- 
cies of  Sabal,  Euterpe,   Thrinax,  etc. 

Thea.     Tea.     From  Tcha,  the  Chinese  name  for 
Tea.     Nat.  Ord.  Ternstromiacece. 

Thea  and  Camellia  belong  to  the  same  natu- 
ral order,  and  there  is  so  little  difference 
between  the  two,  botanically,  that  they  were 
formerly  classed  as  one.  Besides  the  well- 
known  Tea  plant,  there  are  but  five  species, 
all  natives  of  India,  China  and  Japan.  They 
are  all  evergreens,  either  shrubs  or  small 
trees,  with  thick,  shining  leaves  and  white  or 
rose-colored  flowers.  We  are  indebted  to  the 
"Treasury  of  Botany"  for  the  following  con- 
cise history  of  this  plant :  "The  native  coun- 
try of  the  Tea  plant,  like  that  of  many  others 
which  have  long  been  cultivated  by  man,  is 
uncertain.  Hitherto  the  only  country  in 
which  it  has  been  found  in  a  really  wild  state 
is  Upper  Assam ;  but  China,  where  it  has  for 
so  many  centuries  been  most  extensively  cul- 
tivated, has  not  yet  received  so  thorough  an 
exploration  by  Jjotanical  travelers  as  to  war- 
rant the  assertion  that  it  is  not  indigenous  to 
any  part  of  that  vast  empire.  A  Japanese 
tradition,  however,  which  ascribes  its  intro- 
duction into  China  to  an  Indian  Buddhist 
priest,  who  visited  that  country  in  the  sixth 
century,  favors  the  supposition  of  its  Indian 
origin.  It  was  at  one  time  commonly  sup- 
posed that  the  two  well-marked  sorts  of  Tea, 
Black  and  Green,  were  the  produce  of  distinct 
species;  but  Mr.  Fortune  has  proved  that  the 
Chinese  manufacture  the  different  kinds  indis- 
criminately from  the  same  plant ;  and  botan- 
ists are  now  pretty  generally  agreed  that  the 
two  supposed  Chinese  species,  called  T.  Bohea 
and  T.  viridis,  are  nothing  more  than  varieties 
of  one  and  the  same  species,  for  which  the 
Linneean  name,  T.  Chinensis,  is  adopted,  and 
of  which  the  Assam  Tea  plant  (sometimes 
called  T.  Assamica)  is  merely  a  third  variety, 
oi  perhaps,  indeed,  the  wild  type.  Botanists 
have  again  relegated  them  to  Camellia,  under 
the  name  of  C.  theifera.  Though  the  produce 
of  the  same  variety  of  the  Tea  plant,  the 
Black  and  Green  Teas  prepared  for  exporta- 
tion are  mainly  the  growth  of  different  dis- 
tricts of  China,  the  Black  Tea  district  being 
situated    in    the    provinces    of    Fokien    and 


THE 

Kiangsi,  and  the  Green  in  Chekiangand  Ngan- 
whi ;  but  the  two  kinds  may  be  produced  in 
either  district,  the  difference  being  caused 
solely  by  the  diverse  methods  of  preparation. 
For  the  manufacture  of  Black  Tea,  the  freshly- 
gathered  leaves,  freed  from  extraneous  moist- 
ure by  a  short  exposure  in  the  open  air,  are 
thrown,  in  small  quantities  at  a  time,  into 
round,  flat  iron  pans,  and  exposed  to  gentle 
fire-heat  for  about  five  minutes,  which  ren- 
ders them  soft  and  pliant,  and  causes  them 
to  give  off  a  large  quantity  of  moisture.  After 
this  they  are  emptied  out  into  bamboo  sieves, 
and  while  still  hot,  repeatedly  squeezed  and 
rolled  in  the  hands  to  give  them  their  twist 
or  curl.  They  are  next  shaken  out  into  large 
screens  and  placed  in  the  open  air  in  the  shade 
for  two  or  three  days ;  and  finally  exposed  in 
iron  pans  to  a  slow  and  steady  fire-heat  until 
completely  dried,  care  being  taken  to  keep 
them  in  constant  motion  to  prevent  burning. 
The  chief  difference  in  the  manufacture  of 
genuine  Green  Tea  consists  in  the  leaves 
being  so  long  exposed  to  the  air  after  rolling 
that  fermentation  does  not  take  place,  and  in 
not  being  subjected  to  such  a  high  tempera- 
ture in  the  finaldrying;  but  the  greater  part, 
if  not  the  whole,  of  the  Green  Tea  consumed 
in  Europe  and  America  is  colored  artificially 
by  the  Chinese  to  suit  foreign  trade.  The 
Chinese  distinguish  a  great  number  of  varie- 
ties of  Tea,  some  of  which  sell  for  $12.50  per 
pound;  but  these  fine  kinds  will  not  bear  a 
sea  voyage,  and  are  used  only  by  the  wealth- 
ier classes  in  China  and  Russia,  to  which 
country  they  are  carried  overland.  In  ordi- 
nary commerce  four  kinds  of  Black  and  six  of 
Gteen  Tea  are  recognized  ;  but  the  difference 
between  them  consists  chiefly  in  size,  the  sev- 
eral kinds  being  obtained  by  sifting.  "  The 
Agricultural  Department  at  Washington  has 
distributed  hundreds  of  thousands  of  Tea 
plants  in  different  sections  of  the  Southern 
States  and  experiments  at  this  date  of  writing 
aire  still  under  way,  with  little  hope  of  its 
introduction  being  of  any  advantage  to  the 
economic  industry  of  the  country. 

TJheca.  A  spore  case  ;  a  sac,  tube,  shell,  or  any 
kind  of  case  containing  spores. 

Theobro'ma.  Chocolate  Tree.  Linnseus  named 
this  tree  from  Theos,  a  god,  and  broma,  food ; 
poetically,  food  for  the  gods.  Chocolate  is  the 
Mexican  name  of  the  beverage  made  from  the 
pounded  seeds.     Nat.  Ord.  Sterculiacece. 

T.  Cacao, the  important  species  of  this  genus, 
is  a  native  of  the  West  Indies  and  Central 
and  South  America.  It  is  a  beautiful  tree, 
growing  from  twelve  to  sixteen  feet  high  ;  the 
leaves  are  lanceolate,  oblong,  bright  green; 
the  flowers  are  small,  reddish  and  quite  in- 
odorous. The  fruit  is  smooth,  of  a  yellow  or 
red  tinge,  from  six  to  ten  inches  in  length, 
and  about  three  inches  in  diameter;  the  rind 
is  fleshy,  about  half- an  inch  in  thickness; 
within  the  flesh  is  a  white  substance  of  the 
consistence  of  butter,  separating  from  the 
rind  when  ripe,  and  adhering  only  to  it  by  fila- 
ments, which  penetrate  it  ana  reach  to  the 
seeds.  Hence  it  is  known  when  the  seeds  are 
ripe  by  the  rattling  of  the  capsule  when  shaken. 
The  pulp  has  a  sweet  and  not  unpleasant  taste, 
with  a  slight  acidity.  It  is  sucked  and  eatea 
raw  by  the  natives.  The  seeds  are  about 
seventy-five  in  number.  When  fresh  they  are 
of  a  flesh-coloi-;  gathered  before  being  quitft 


152 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


THE 

ripe,  they  make  a  delicious  preserve.  The 
tree  bears  leaves,  flowers  and  fruit  all  the 
year  ttiTough ;  but  the  principal  seasons  for 
gathering  the  fruit  are  June  and  December. 
When  ripe,  the  fruit  turns  yellow  outside  and 
is  then  gathered  by  hand  and  afterward  split 
open  and  the  seeds  removed.  They  are  then 
made  to  undergo  a  slight  amount  of  fermen- 
tation, or  sweating,  lasting  from  one  to  two 
days,  for  the  purpose  of  developing  their  color, 
and  are  afterwards  exposed  to  the  sun  daily 
for  about  two  weeks,  or  until  they  are  thor- 
oughly dry,  when  they  are  packed  for  exporta- 
tion. 

Theophra'sta.  Named  after  Theophrastus,  the 
father  of  Natural  history.  Nat.  Ord.  Myrsin- 
aceoB. 

A  small  genus  of  tropical  shrubs,  with  un- 
branched  stems,  bearing  on  the  top  tufts  of 
holly-like  leaves,  from  the  axils  of  some  of 
which  the  racemes  of  flowers  are  produced. 
Several  of  the  species  are  in  cultivation  in  the 
green-house  and  are  highly  esteemed  for  their 
beautiful  foliage.  One  of  the  species,  T.  Jvs- 
scBi,  a  native  of  San  Domingo,  yields  a  seed 
from  which  the  natives  make  a  kind  of  bread. 
Young  plants  are  obtained  from  seeds  or  from 
cuttings.  Introduced  in  1818.  The  showy 
foliaged  species,  T.  imperialis,  is  now  placed 
under  Chrysophyllum,  which  see. 

Thermo'psis.  From  Thermos,  a  Lupin,  and 
ojisis,  resemblance ;  the  species  are  not  un- 
like Lupines.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  genus  of  North  Asiatic   and  American 

•  hardy,  perennial  plants,  with  palmate,  downy 
leaves,  and  yellow  flowers  in  terminal  clus- 
ters. T.  monlana,  a  native  species,  and  T. 
lanceolata,  from  Siberia,  are  both  in  cultiva- 
tion. They  are  increased  most  readily  by 
seeds. 

Thespe'sia.  From  thespesios,  divine.  T.  po- 
pulnea  is  frequently  planted  about  churches 
in  the  tropics.     Nat.  Ord.  MalvacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  tall  herbs  or  trees  found 
in  Madagascar,  the  West  Indies,  South  Amer- 
ica and  the  Pacific  Islands.  T.  populnea,  the 
best  known  species,  a  common  tree  on  the 
sea-shores  of  most  eastern  tropical  countries, 
forms  a  tree  forty  or  fifty  feet  high,  with  a 
dense  head  of  foliage,  on  account  of  which  it 
is  called  the  Umbrella  Tree  in  some  coun- 
tries, and  is  often  planted  for  the  sake  of  its 
shade  and  for  forming  avenues.  Its  leaves 
are  large  and  pointed,  and  its  very  showy 
flowers  are  yellow  in  color,  changing  to  pur- 
ple. The  wood  is  considered  almost  inde- 
structible under  -water,  and  is  therefore  used 
largely  for  buat-building.  its  durability  also 
rendering  it  valuable  for  cabinet-making  and 
building  purposes. 

Theve'tia.  Named  after  Andr.  Thevet,  a  French 
monk,  who  travelled  in  Brazil  and  Guiana. 
Nat.  Ord.  ApocynacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  shrubs  or  small  trees, 
found  from  Paraguay  to  Mexico.  The  flow- 
ers are  yellow,  borne  in  large,  terminal  cymes. 
Three  species  are  in  cultivation,  but  are  found 
only  in  large  collections.  They  are  propa- 
gated by  cuttings.     Syn.  Cerbera. 

Thibau'dia.  Named  in  honor  of  Thiebaut  de 
Bemeaud,  Secretary  of  the  Linneean  Society 
of  Paris,  and  a  botanical  writer.  Nat.  Ord. 
yacciniacem. 


THO 

A  beautiful  genus  of  evergrepn  shrubs,  in- 
habiting Peru  and  New  Grenada,  a  few  spe- 
cies being  also  found  in  the  East  Indies. 
They  have  thick,  leathery  leaves,  and  axillary 
racemes  of  very  handsome,  tubular  flowers, 
mostly  scarlet,  sometimes  tipped  with  green 
or  yellow.  But  few  of  the  species  are  under 
cultivation. 

Thimble-berry.     See  Rubus  orcidentalis. 

Thill  Grass.    Agrostis  perennis. 

Thistle.  A  common  name  for  the  species  of 
Carduus,  Cnicus,  and  other  plants. 

Blessed  or  Holy.  Carduus  benedictus  and  Sily- 
bum  Marianum. 

Canada  or  Cursed.     Cirsium  arverise. 

Cotton.     Onopordon  Acanthium. 

Fish-bone  or  Herring-bone.  Chamoepeuce  Co- 
saboncB. 

Fuller's.     Dipsacus  Fullonum. 

Globe.     Echinops  sphccrocephalus. 

Golden.     Scolymus  Hispanicus. 

Hedgehog.     The  genus  Echinocactus. 

Melon.     The  genus  Melocactus. 

Milk  or  Our  Lady's.  Silybum  (Carduus)  Mari- 
anum. 

Musk.     Carduus  nutans. 

Saffron.     Carthamnus  tinclorius. 

Scotch.     See  Scotch  Thistle. 

Sow.     So7ichus  oleraceus. 

Star.     Centaurea  Calcitrapa. 

Torch.     The  genus  Cereus. 

Yellow.     Aryemoue  Mexicana. 

Thistle  on  Thistle.     Onopordon  Acanthium. 

Thladia'ntha.  From  thladias,  compressed,  and 
antlie,  a  flower;  owing,  it  is  said,  to  the  plant 
being  first  described  from  a  pressed  specimen. 
Nat.  Ord.  Cucurbitacece. 

T.  dubia,  introduced  from  China  in  1864,  is  a 
handsome  perennial  with  long,  climbing  stems, 
bearing  a  profusion  of  bright  yellow  flowers, 
together  with  heart-shaped  leaves  of  an  agree- 
able, lively  green  color.  It  may  be  effectually 
employed  for  covering  arbors,  trellises,  etc. 

Thla'spi.  From  thlas,  to  bruise,  the  seeds  being 
bruised  as  a  condiment.  Nat.  Ord.  Cruciferce. 
T.  latifoUum  is  a  dwarf  but  vigorous  peren- 
nial, with  large  root-leaves  and  flowers  some- 
what like  Arabis  albida,  but  larger.  It  is  suit- 
able for  the  front  row  of  the  herbaceous  border, 
or  for  the  rock  garden,  and  is  increased  by 
division  or  by  seed.  None  of  the  other  species 
are  worth  cultivating. 

Thoma'sia.  Named  in  memory  of  Peter  and 
Abraham  Thomas,  collectors  of  Swiss  plants 
in  the  time  of  Haller.  Nat.  Ord.  Sterculiacece. 
A  genus  of  beautiful  green-house  shrubs, 
natives  of  the  southwestern  districts  of  Aus- 
tralia, having  purple,  bluish  or  white  flowers, 
and  often  lobed  or  cut  leaves.  The  genus 
comprises  over  twenty  species,  of  which  flve 
or  six  are  valued  as  elegant  green-house  plants, 
and  have  very  much  the  general  appearance 
of  some  species  of  Solarium. 

Thomas's  (St.)  Tree.  Bauhinia  variegata  and 
B.  tomentosa. 

Thomso'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  A.  T. 
Thompson,  author  of  "An  Introduction  to 
Botany."    Nat.  Ord.  Aroidece. 

A  genus  of  two  species  of  ornamental  stove- 
house  plants,  natives  of  the  Himalayas  and 
Khasya  Moimtains.  The  leaves  are  very  much 
divided,  and  the  stems  are  irregularly  spotted 


TKOSINTE  (EUCHLEHA). 


TiGBroiA  grandifloba  alba. 


TH0XA  OCCIDE^•IAUS  (SIB£RUN  AiiliOE  VIT^). 


TOMATO  (DWARF). 


TOR£^aA  ASIATICA. 


TBITONIA  AXTBEA. 


TEADESCANTIA  VIXTaTA. 


XOBSMIA  rOVSSZRl.       4Si 


A.ND   GENERAL   HORTICtlLTURE. 


453 


THO 

and  mottled  with  brown.  They  require  the 
same  culture  as  the  Caladium.  Syn.  Pytho- 
nium. 

Thorn.  A  common  name  for  various  species 
of  Acacia,  Cralcegiis,  etc. 

Thorn.      American  Black  or  Pear.       Cratcegus 
tomentosa. 
Christ's.  PaUurus  aculeatiia  and  Ziziphua  Spina- 

Christi. 
Oarland.    PaUurus  aculealus. 
Goat's.     Astragalus  Tragacantha, 
Jerusalem.     Parkinsonia  aculeata. 
Sea  Buck,  or  Willow.     Hippophce  rhamnoides. 
Wait-a-bit.      Uncaria  procumbens. 

Thorn  Apple.     See  Datura. 

Thorough-Tvax.     Buplerum  rotundifolium. 

Thorough-'wort.     Eupatorium  perfoliatum. 

Thoui'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Andre  Thouin, 
Professor  of  Agriculture,  at  Paris,  1747-1824:. 
Nat.  Ord.  Sapindacece. 

A  genus  of  shrubby  plants,  sometimes  climb- 
ing, natives  of  tropical  America.  T.  pinnata, 
the  only  species  introduced,  is  cultivated  in 
the  stove-house,  and  is  an  erect-growing 
plant  with  white  flowers,  disposed  in  terminal 
panicles.  It  is  increased  by  cuttings  of  the 
ripened  wood,  and  was  introduced  from  St. 
Domingo  in  1823. 

Three-leaved  Night-shade.  The  genus  Tril- 
lium. 

Three-seeded  Mercury.     Acalypha  Virginica. 

Three-thomed  Acacia.  The  Honey  Locust. 
Gleditschia  triacanthos. 

Thrift.     See  Armeria  vulgaris. 

Thri'nax.  From  thrinax,  a  fan  ;  the  shape  of  the 
leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful  West  Indian  Palms, 
commonly  called,  in  Jamaica,  Thatch  Palms, 
from  their  leaves  being  used  for  thatching. 
One  of  the  species,  T.  argentea,  the  Silver 
Thatch  Palm,  furnishes  the  leaves  which,  cut 
before  they  expand,  are  used  in  the  manufact- 
ure of  Palm-leaf  hats  or  chip  hats.  This  is  a 
beautiful  and  ornamental  species,  and  is  a 
great  favorite  in  all  collections  of  greeu-house 
Palms.  T.  Barbadensis,  T.  radiata  (syn.  T. 
elegans),  T.  elegantissima  and.T.  graminea,  are 
all  elegant,  neat-growing  Fan  Palms,  and  of 
easy  management.  They  were  first  introduced 
in  1800,  and  are  increased  by  imported  seeds. 

Throat-wort.  See  Trachelium.  Applied  also  to 
Campanula  Cen^icaria  and  Digitalis  purpurea. 

Thuja.  The  adopted  spelling  now  is  Tkuya, 
which  see. 

Thunbe'rgia.  Named  in  honor  of  Charles  P. 
Thunberg,  a  celebrated  botanist  and  traveler. 
Nat.  Ord.  AcanthacecB. 

A  genus  of  very  handsome,  climbing  plants. 
Some  of  the  species,  such  as  T.  alata,  T.  alba, 
T.  aurantiaca,  and  the  varieties  of  the  same, 
may  be  treated  as  haJf-hardy  annuals.  They 
usually  seed  freely  ;  the  seed  should  be  sown 
in  March  in  heat,  bringing  the  young  plants 
forward  in  the  same  temperature  till  May, 
when  they  may  either  be  transferred  to  the 
borders  of  the  flower-garden  to  be  trained 
against  a  wall,  or  suffered  to  creep  over  rock- 
work,  or  they  may  be  placed  in  large  pots 
having  a  trellis  attached,  where  they  form 
very  ornamental  subjects  for  the  green-house 
through  the  summer.     The  remaining  species, 


THU 

as  they  do  not  produce  seed  in  any  quantity, 
require  to  be  grown  in  the  green-house. 
Thoy  should  be  frequently  syringed  to  keep 
down  attacks  of  red  spider.  At  the  end  of 
the  growing  season  they  should  be  pruned 
closely  back  and  kept  dormant  through  the 
winter.  The  green-house  species,  T.  chrysops, 
however,  does  better  when  allowed  to  grow 
on  without  pruning,  nor  should  it  bo  re-potted 
more  than  once  a  year,  or  it  will  not  flower. 
The  pure  white,  T.  fragrans,  is  a  free-growing 
green-house  species,  and  its  flowers  are  last- 
ing and  very  sweet.  T.  laurifolia  (syn.  T.  Har- 
risii),  with  flowers  tubular  in  form  and  two 
inches  in  length,  of  a  bright  porcelain  blue, 
with  yellow  throat,  is  one  of  the  best  green- 
house climbeTs  we  have.  It  is  a  rapid  grower 
and  blooms  in  profusion  from  November  to 
May,  its  rare  blue  color  making  it  one  of  the 
most  attractive  green-house,  climbing  plants. 
The  beautiful,  climbing,  green-house  plant, 
known  in  cultivation  as  Hexacentris  Mysoreyisis, 
is  by  some  botanists  placed  under  this  genus. 
Meyenia  erecta,  introduced  from  western  Africa 
in  1857,  has  also  been  placed  here,  though  both 
are  better  known  in  cultivation  by  the  names 
given  above,  and  under  which  we  have  de- 
scribed them  in  this  work. 

Thu'nia.  Derivation  of  name  not  given.  Nat. 
Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  Orchids  from  tropical  Asia, 
formerly  referred  to  Phajus,  from  which  genus 
they  are,  however,  readily  distinguished  by 
their  growth ,  and  by  several  other  differences  of 
a  botanical  character.  T.  alba  is  one  of  the  best 
known  species ;  the  stems  of  this  plant  are 
round  and  usually  about  two  feet  high,  clothed 
with  leaves  from  the  base  upwards.  The 
flowers  are  produced  on  a  short,  terminal 
raceme  just  as  growth  is  finished;  the  sepal 
and  petals  are  pure  white ;  lip  white,  beauti- 
fully pencilled  along  the  centre  with  purple 
and  lilac.  The  spec-es  require  to  be  grown  in 
considerable  heat  and  treated  liberally  with 
water.  They  do  better  when  grown  in  pots 
than  on  blocks. 

Thu'ya.  Arbor  Vitae.  From  thyon,  a  sacrifice ; 
the  rosin  of  the  Eastern  variety  is  used  instead 
of  incense  at  sacrifices.     Nat.  Ord.  ConifercB. 

This  well-known  genus  of  evergreens  in- 
cludes some  of  the  most  beautiful  and  useful 
evergreen  shrubs  we  have  in  cultivation,  not 
only  for  single  plants  for  the  lawn,  but  for 
hedges,  either  high  or  low,  forwhich  they  are 
most  admirably  adapted.  The  common  Arbor 
VitsB,  T.  occidentalis,  is  the  parent  of  most  of 
the  varieties  grown  for  ornamental  purposes. 
It  is  common  from  New  York  to  Maine,  in 
moist  or  swampy  lands.  In  some  localities  it 
makes  a  tree  of  considerable  size,  valuable  for 
the  timber  it  yields,  known  as  White  Cedar. 
Of  this  species  there  is  a  beautiful  sport,  of 
globular  form,  with  golden,  green  foliage, 
known  as  Parson's  Arbor  Vitee,  It  is  of  slow 
growth,  broad  and  compact,  and  suitable  for 
cemeteries  or  any  situation  where  a  beautiful 
evergreen  is  wanted.  Hovey's  Arbor  Vita?  is 
a  seedling  from  the  common  Arbor  Vitas.  Its 
dwarf,  compact  habit  of  growth  makes  it  a 
splendid  plant  for  growing  in  tubs  for  winter 
decoration.  There  are  other  varieties,  with 
golden  foliage,  which  are  very  beautiful.  The 
Siberian  Arbor  Vitee  is  one  of  the  best  for 
hedges  or  lawns.  It  is  perfectly  hardy,  has  a 
deeper  color,  is  more  compact,  and  in  most. 


454 


HENDEESON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


THU 

respects  is  more  desirable  than  the  common 
sort.  Where,  when,  or  how  this  species  or 
variety  originated  is  unknown  to  the  best  au- 
thority we  have  on  evergreens,  Josiah  Hoopes, 
who  claims  it  to  be  a  variety  of  T.  occidentalis. 
That  it  did  not  come  from  Siberia,  as  its  name 
'Would  indicate,  is  certain.  There  are  several 
from  the  Pacific  coast  and  from  China.  T. 
orientalis  (syn.  Biota),  known  as  tlie  Chinese 
Arbor  Vitffi,  is  peculiar  from  its  flattened 
branches.  Thirty  years  ago,  when/ai  bouquets 
were  in  fashion,  this  was  used  almost  exclu- 
sively as  a."back  "  or  "frame  "  for  the  flowers, 
and  is  yet  in  some  parts  uf  the  country  used  for 
that  purpose.  There  are  a  number  of  seedling 
varieties,  differing  considerably  inhabit,  form 
and  shades  of  color  of  foliage,  all  desirable 
and  well  adapted  for  ornamental  purposes. 

'Thuyo'psis.  From  thuya  and  opsis,  a  resem- 
blance ;  referring  to  the  aflfinity  of  the  genus. 
Nat.  Ord.  ConifercB. 

T.  dolobrata,  the  only  species,  a  beautiful, 
tall,  evergreen  tree,  with  vigorous,  horizontal 
branches,  pendulous  at  the  extremities,  was 
introduced  from  Japan  about  1860.  Its  varie- 
gated variety  is  very  attractive  ;  the  branchlets 
being  flat  and  silvery  beneath,  make  it  look 
like  a  Lycopodium.  T.  borealis  is  now  placed 
under  Ciipressus  as  C.  Nutkoensia,  the  Nookka 
Sound  Cupressus. 

Thyme.    See  Thymus. 

Thymelaeaceae.  A  natural  order  of  shrubs  or 
small  trees,  remarkable  for  the  great  tenacity 
of  their  inner  bark.  There  are  about  forty 
genera  and  over  three  hundred  species,  a  few 
of  them  found  in  the  northern  hemisphere, 
rather  more  common  within  the  tropics,  but 
most  abundant  in  South  Africa  and  Australia. 
The  order  includes  these  well-known  genera: 
Daphne,  Pimelia,  Gyiidia,  Lagetta  and  Struthiola. 

Thymophy'lla  aurea.  A  neat  little  annual 
composite  from  Colorado,  of  dwarf  habit, 
fprming  a  branching  tutt  about  nine  inches 
in  diameter  and  four  inches  high.  The  flow- 
ers are  in  terminal  heads,  about  half  an  inch 
across,  resembling  a  single  Marigold  with  a 
bright  yellow  ray  and  disk.  It  is  of  easy 
culture  and  prefers  a  rather  dry  soil.  Syn. 
Lowellia  aurea. 

Thy'mus.  Thyme.  From  thumos,  courage, 
strength,  the  smell  of  Thyme  being  reviv- 
ing, or  from  thuo,  to  perfume ;  being  formerly 
used  for  incense  in  the  temples.  Nat.  Ord. 
LabiatoB. 

T.  vulgaYis,  the  Common  or  Garden  Thyme, 
a  native  of  Spain  and  Italy,  is  recorded  to 
have  been  introduced  to  Britain  in  1548.  Its 
uses  are  well  known.  In  the  south  of  France 
an  essential  oil  distilled  from  it  is  exported 
and  sold  as  Marjoram-oil,  for  which  it  is  sub- 
stituted. The  Romans  were  well  acquainted 
•with  Thyme,  which  was  one  of  the  plantS- 
recommended  to  be  grown  for  the  sake  of 
bees.  There  are  probably  a  hundred  acres  of 
Thyme  grown  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York,  and 
dried  for  flavoring  purposes.  The  broad-leaved, 
spreading  variety  is  the  kind  used,  the  upright 
being  useless  for  this  purpose.  The  seed  is 
thickly  sown  as  soon  as  the  ground  gets  warm 
in  spring,  and  the  plants  are  transplanted  in 
July,  in  rows  one  foot  apart,  with  nine  inches 
between  the  plants.  The  crop  matures  by 
October  of  the  year  it  is  planted.  It  is  com- 
jnon  throughout  Europe,   and  has  to  some 


TIG 

extent  become  naturalized  in  this  country. 
The  Lemon-scented  Thyme  is  a  hardy,  dwarf, 
trailing  evergreen,  possessing  the  most  agree- 
able perfume  of  any  of  the  species.  It  is  a 
variety  of  T.  serpyllum,  known  as  T.  citrio- 
dorus,  and  is  very  distinct  in  appearance  from 
the  wild  form.  The  branches  root  at  the 
joints  as  they  trail  along  the  ground.  It  is 
used  for  the  same  purposes  as  the  other  spe- 
cies, and  is  found  to  attain  its  greatest  per- 
fection when  grown  in  dry,  sandy  soil.  Its 
gold  and  silver  variegated-leaved  varieties 
are  much  used  in  ribbon  bordering,  and  are 
admirable  plants  for  hanging  baskets  and 
rustic  stands. 

Thyrsaca'nthus.  Thyrse-Flower.  From  thyi-- 
sos,  a  thyrse,  and  Acanthus.  Nat.  Ord.  Acan- 
thacetB. 

Aflne  genus  of  hot-house  plants,  containing 
a  number  of  shrubs  or  herbs,  natives  of  tropi- 
cal America.  They  have  large  leaves,  and  red 
fascicled  or  cymose  flowers,  in  a  long,  termi- 
nal raceme.  T.  Schomburgkianus,  much  better 
known  in  cultivation  as  T.  rutilans,  intro- 
duced from  New  Grenada  in  1855,  is  one  of 
the  finest,  and  is  highly  prized  for  its  long 
racemes  of  carmine-scarlet  flowers.  T.  calli- 
stachys  (sj-n.  Justicia  lUacina),  T.  nitidus  (sj'n. 
Justicia  nitida)  and  T.  strictus  {Justicia  longi- 
racemosa  of  gardens)  are  all  desirable  and 
beautiful  green-house  species.  They  require 
the  same  treatment  -ds  Justicia. 

Thyrse,  Thyrsiform.  A  kind  of  dense  paniclo 
like  that  of  the  Lilac. 

Thyrse  Flower.     See  Thyrsacanthus. 

Thyrso'pteris.  From  thyrsos,  a  bunch  or  ra- 
ceme, and pteris,  a  Fern;  alluding  to  the  con- 
tracted, fertile  portion  of  the  fronds.  Nat, 
Ord.  Polypodiaceoe,. 

T.  elegans,  the  only  species,  is  a  very  hand- 
some Fern,  not  unlike  a  robust-growing  Daval- 
lia.  The  fronds  grow  from  four  to  six  feet 
long,  one-third  of  which  is  naked,  and  are  of 
a  brilliant  green  color.  They  are  remarkable 
for  producing  on  the  same  frond,  distinct, 
contracted,  fertile  and  leafy  barren  portions. 
It  was  introduced  from  Juan  Fernandez  in 
1854,  and  requires  the  same  treatment  as  the 
Davallia. 

Thysano'tus.  From  thysanotos,  fringed ;  the 
three  inner  sepals  Jbeing  fringed.  Nat.  Ord. 
Liliacem. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house,  herbaceous 
perennials  from  New  South  "Wales,  producing 
singular,  purple,  Iris-shaped  flowers  on  slen- 
der scapes  about  a  foot  high.  They  are  not 
much  cultivated.     Introduced  in  1823. 

Tiare'lla.  From  tiara,  a  Persian  diadem  ;  allud- 
ing to  the  shape  of  the  capsules.  Nat.  Ord. 
Saxifragacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy,  perennial  plants, 
natives  chiefly  of  the  United  States,  one,  how- 
ever, being  found  in  the  Himalayas.  T  cordi- 
folia.  False  Mitre-wort,  the  most  common 
species,  resembles  Mitella  in  general  appear- 
ance and  is  well  suited  for  the  rock-work  or 
herbaceous  border. 

Tick  Seed.    The  genus  Coreopsis. 

Tick  Trefoil.     See  Deamodium. 

Tiger  Flower  or  Tiger  Iris.     See  Tigridia. 

Tiger  Lily.     Lilium  tigrinum. 

Ti'glium.    A  genus  now  included  under  Croton. 


AND  GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


455 


TIC 

Tico'rea.  The  name  of  T.  falida  in  Guiana. 
Nat.  Ord.  RutacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  trees  or  shrubs,  natives  of 
Brazil  and  Guiana.  T.fcztida  and  T.jasmini- 
Jlora,  both  bearing  white,  rather  showy  flowers, 
have  been  introduced,  but  are  seldom  found 
in  cultivation. 

Tigri'dia,  Tiger  flower.  From  tigria,  a  tiger, 
and  eidos,  like ;  in  reference  to  the  spotted 
flowers.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

A  small  genus  of  very  beautiful  Mexican 
bulbs,  introduced  in  1796.  The  flowers  are 
indeed  remarkable;  and  though  they  are  of 
very  short  duration,  lasting  only  about  half 
the  day,  they  are  produced  in  such  abundance 
in  succession  as  to  make  their  culture  desir- 
able and  interesting.  One  plant  will  continue 
flowering  for  two  or  three  months  in  succes- 
sion, and  during  the  whole  of  that  time  will 
make  a  splendid  display  in  the  garden.  Of 
the  several  species  or  varieties  introduced 
into  cultivation  there  are  but  two  that  succeed 
really  well,  and  they  rarely,  if  ever,  fail  of 
producing  an  abundance  of  flowers ;  these  are 
T.  conchiflora,  with  yellow  flowers,  and  T.  pav- 
onia,  with  bright,  dark  orange-red  flowers. 
T.  p.  grandijlora,  a  variety  of  the  preced- 
ing, has  larger  flowers  of  the  same  color. 
Each  of  these  is  spotted,  characteristic  of  the 
order.  T.  p.  grandijlora  alba  has  large  flowers 
of  a  pearl-white  color,  marked  at  the  base  of 
each  divison  with  large,  reddish-brown  or 
chestnut-colored  spots,  on  a  yellow  ground, 
forming  a  fine  contrast  with  the  white  petals. 
They  grow  freely  with  ordinary  garden  cul- 
ture, preferring  a  light,  rich  and  moist  soil, 
and  will  not  succeed  in  a  very  dry  situation. 
These  bulbs  flower  during  the  rainy  season  in 
Mexico,  and  they  consequently  require  con- 
siderable water  when  under  cultivation.  The 
bulba  require  to  be  taken  up  soon  after  the 
first  frost,  tied  up  in  bunches  of  convenient 
size,  without  cutting  olT  the  stems,  and  hung 
up  in  any  dry  room  free  from  frost,  where 
they  can  remain  until  the  time  for  re-planting. 
A  place  must  be  selected  where  they  cannot 
be  reached  by  mice,  which  are  very  destruc- 
tive to  the  bulbs. 

Tile-root.    See  Geissorhiza. 

Ti'lia.  Basswood,  Linden.  The  old  Latin  name 
used  by  Virgil  and  Pliny.  In  Dutch  it  is  called 
Linden,  in  Anglo-Saxon,  Lind,  and  in  English, 
Lime  Tree.    Nat.  Ord.  Tiliacece. 

A  genus  of  tall-growing,  deciduous  trees, 
common  throughout  this  country  and  Europe. 
The  European  Linden.  T.  EuropcBa,  has  larger 
leaves  than  our  native  species,  and  is  the  one 
that  is  usually  planted  as  an  ornamental  tree. 
T.  Americana  grows  to  a  great  size  in  this 
country,  and  furnishes  a  large  amount  of 
lumber,  used  chiefly  in  cabinet  work.  It  is 
soft,  of  a  reddish  tinge,  and  unfit  for  work 
requiring  strength,  or  where  it  is  exposed  to 
the  weather.  This  is  the  species  so  exten- 
sively used  as  a  street  tree  at  Washingt(my 
D.  C,  where  it  luxuriates.  T.  heterophylla 
has  larger  leaves  than  the  preceding ;  they  are 
smooth  and  bright  green  above,  and  silvery 
white  underneath.  It  does  not  grow  to  so 
great  a  size,  but  the  lumber  is  far  more  valu- 
able, being  almost  pure  white,  and  works 
more  easily  and  smoother.  The  two  species 
are  designated  as  Red  and  White  Basswood. 
The  inner  bark  of  the  Linden  is  popularly 


TIM 

known  as  Bass,  and  was  formerly  muoh  used 
for  tying,  but  is  now  almost  entirely  super- 
seded  by  Raffia,  which  see. 

Tilia'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees  'jr  shrubs, 
closely  allied  to  Malvacem  and  Sterculiacece, 
from  which  it  is  chiefly  distinguished  by  the 
stamens.  The  species  are  numerous,  espe- 
cially within  the  tropics,  though  found  dis- 
persed over  both  the  northern  and  southern 
temperate  regions.  Several  of  the  species 
furnish  good  cord.  Jute  is  manufactured 
from  the  bark  of  Corchorvs  capsularis,  and  the 
Tilia  Europma,  or  Linden,  furnishes  the  Rus- 
sian or  Archangel  mats. 

Tilla'ndsia.  Long  Moss,  Black  Moss,  Gray 
Moss  and  Florida  Moss.  Named  in  honor  of 
Eliaa  Tillands,  Professor  of  Medicine  at  Abo, 
Sweden.     Nat.  Ord.  Bromeliacem. 

An  interesting  genus  of  epiphytal  plants, 
natives  of  the  United  States  from  the  Caro- 
linas  and  southward,  the  West  Indies  and 
South  America.  They  generally  grow  upon 
trees  in  dense  forests.  *'  Some  of  these 
plants  serve  as  reservoirs  for  water,  which 
flows  down  the  channeled  leaves;  these  are 
dilated  at  the  base,  so  as  to  form  a  bottle-like 
cavity  capable  of  holdmg  a  pint  or  more. 
Travelers  tap  these  vegetable  pitchers  for  the 
sake  of  the  grateful  fluid  they  contain.  T. 
utriculata,  a  native  of  Jamaica,  and  many 
others,  have  this  desirable  property  of  stor- 
ing up  water.  Dr.  Gardner,  in  his  '  Travels 
iu  Brazil,'  relates  that  a  certain  species  of 
Utricularia  grows  only  in  the  water  collected 
in  the  bottom  of  the  leaves  of  a  large  Tilland- 
aia.  The  aquatic  plant  throws  out  runners, 
which  direct  themselves  to  the  nearest  Til- 
landsia,  and  there  form  new  plants;  and  in 
this  -way  no  less  than  six  Tillandsias  may 
sometimes  be  seen  connected  together."  All 
the  species  delight  in  abundant  sunlight,  a. 
high  temperature,  and  plenty  of  water  during 
summer.  In  winter  they  should  only  get 
enough  water  to  keep  the  soil  moist.  They 
are  exceedingly  beautiful  when  in  flower,  T. 
carinata,  T.  Morreni,  T.  psiltacina,  T.  splendens 
and  T.  Lindeni  being  perhaps  the  most  richly 
colored  of  the  geims.  A  number  of  species 
belonging  to  Chizmannia,  Allartia,  Bonapartea, 
Platystachya,  Pitcairnia,  Vriesia,  etc.,  are  now 
included  by  Hooker  and  Bentham  under  this 
genus,  which  contains  over  one  hundred  and 
twenty  species.  Florida  Moss  is  T.  usneoides, 
and  grows  as  far  north  as  the  Dismal  Swamp 
in  Virginia.  It  is  collected  in  great  quanti- 
ties, steeped  in  water,  or  buried  in  the  earth, 
until  the  outer  surface  is  rotted  off,  when  it 
leaves  a  dark,  coarse,  tough  fibre,  not  unlike 
horse-hair,  which  is  used  for  stuflBng  cush- 
ions, mattresses,  and  various  forms  of  uphol- 
stery. This  moss,  as  gathered,  is  used  to 
ornament  frames  or  rustic  work  in  drawing- 
rooms,  and  for  these  and  other  ornamental 
purposes  large  quantities  of  it  are  sent  annu- 
ally to  all  our  large  cities.  In  moist  rooms, 
like  a  conservatory,  it  will  grow  very  well 
when  thrown  loosely  over  a  frame,  or  sus- 
pended in  any  other  way.  It  is  a  singular 
circumstance  that  two  such  widely  different- 
appearing  plants  as  the  "  Florida  Mo^s"  and 
the  delicious  Pineapple  should  belong  to  the 
same  natural  order. 

Timothy.  Herd's  Grass,  Phleum  pratenae,  which 
see. 


456 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


TIN 

Q?ina'ntia.     Named  after  Tinant,  a  Belgian  bot- 
anist.    Nat.  Ord.  CommelinacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  herbaceous  plants  of  a 
somewhat  shrubby  habit,  natives  of  Central 
America.  T.fugax  erecta  is  a  half-hardy  per- 
ennial, closely  allied  to  Tradescantia.  It 
grows  well  in  any  garden  soil  and  is  most 
easily  increased  by  seeds.  It  is  found  in  cul- 
tivation under  the  names  of  Tradescantia 
erecta,  T.  latifolia  and  T.  undata. 
tri'nnea  Named  ifi  honor  of  Mdlle.  Tinne,  a 
traveler  in  Egypt.     Nat.  Ord.  Labiatoe. 

A  small  genus  of  woolly,  herbaceous  plants 
or  small  shrubs,  natives  of  tropical  Africa. 
T.  JEthopica,  the  only  introduced  species,  is  a 
hoary,  dwarf  shrub,  bearing  fragrant,  maroon- 
purple  flowers  very  freely  in  short  peduncles. 
It  was  introduced  in  1867  and  is  readily  in- 
creased by  cuttings. 
'ITipula'ria.  Crane-Fly  Orchis.  Named  from  a 
fancied  resemblance  of  the  flowers  to  insects 
of  the  genus  Tipula.     Nat.  Ord.  OrchidacecB. 

A  low-growing  Orchid,  rarely  found,  a  native 
of  the  Northern  States  from  Massachusetts 
to  Michigan.  The  flower  scape  is  from  twelve 
to  eighteen  inches  high,  and  bears  numerous 
small,  greenish  flowers  tinged  with  purple. 
Tissue.  The  material  out  of  which  the  elemen- 
tary organs  of  plants  are  constructed,  as  cells, 
fibres,  membranes,  etc. 
Titho'nia.  A  name  of  mythological  derivation, 
from  Tithonus,  the  favorite  of  Aurora.  Nat. 
Ord.  CompositcB. 

A  small  genus  of  half-hardy  annuals,  na- 
tives of  Mexico,  Central  America  and  Cuba. 
S.  tagetiflora,  cultivated  for  its  orange-colored 
flowers,  is  easily  raised  from  seeds  sown  in 
heat,  in  spring. 
Toad  Flax.  See  Linaria. 
Toad-Flovrer.     African.     A  common  name  for 

several  species  of  Stapelia. 
Toad  Stools.     The  common  name  of  various 
species  of    Fungi,   frequently    mistaken    for 
Mushrooms. 
Tobacco.     See  Nicotiana. 

Toco'ca.  A  name  used  by  the  natives  of  Gui- 
ana, and  applied  to  a  genus  of  Melastomaceoe, 
consisting  of  Brazilian  shrubs,  whose  leaf- 
stalks have  verj'  generally  attached  to  them 
a  kind  of  bladder,  divided  longitudinally  into 
two  compartments.  T..Guianerwis  is  in  culti- 
vation; in  its  native  habitat  its  fruits  are 
edible,  and  their  juice  is  sometimes  used  as 
ink.  The  various  Sphcerogijnes  aie  included 
by  some  botanists  under  this  genus. 
Todda'lia.  From  Kaka  Toddali,  the  name  of 
T.  aculeata  in  Malabar.  A  small  genus  of  Ru- 
tacecB,  confined  to  the  tropics  of  Asia  and 
Africa.  T.  aculeata  is  an  interesting  shnab, 
■widely  dispersed  through  tropical  Asia,  and 
extending  as  far  south  as  the  Mauritius.  The 
fresh  bark  of  the  roots  is  said  lo  be  used  as  a 
cure  for  the  remittent  fever  caught  in  the 
jungles  of  the  Indian  hills.  Three  species 
have  been  introduced,  which  are  readily  in- 
creased b\-  cuttings. 
Toddy  Palm.  A  common  name  fur  Caryota 
'ureni^. 

To'dea.  Named  in  honor  of  H.  J.  Tode,  of 
Meckleiil)urg,  an  experienced  mycologifet.  A 
small  gciius  of  Ferns  occuiring  principally  in 
South  AfriL^,  and  New  Zealand,   having  the 


TOM 

capsules  of  Osmunda,  but  the  habit  of  Polyit 
podium.  They  have  an  erect,  sometimes 
elongated,  caudex,  and  hi-pinnate  fronds, 
which,  in  the  group  Todea  proper,  are  thick 
and  firm  in  texture,  as  in  T.  barbara  (syn.  T. 
Africana).  The  group  Lepidopteris,  all  from 
New  Zealand,  have  pellucid,  membranaceous 
fronds,  and  are  among  the  most  beautiful 
dwarf  Ferns  in  cultivation.  T.  superba  is  a 
magnificent  plant  with  fronds  two  to  four 
feet  in  length.  They  thrive  best  in  a  cool 
house,  facing  the  north,  requiring  plenty  of 
shade  and  moisture,  and  will  even  stand  a  few 
degrees  of  frost  without  injury. 

Tofie'ldia.  False  Asphodel.  Named  after  Mr. 
Tqfield,  an  English  botanist  of  the  last  cen- 
turj'.    Nat.  Ord.  LUiacefz. 

A  genus  consisting  of  a  few  perennial 
plants,  natives  of  the  colder  parts  of  Europe, 
North  America  and  the  regions  of  the  Andes. 
The  three  native  species  have  short  racemes 
of  whitish  flowers,  and  are  found  from  the 
pine  barrens  of  New  Jersey  to  Maine,  Michi- 
gan and  northward.  None  of  the  species  have 
any  particular  interest  or  beauty. 

To'lmiea.  Named  by  Torrey  and  Gray  in  honor 
of  Dr.  Tolmie,  Surgeon  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Co.  at  Puget  Sound.  Nat.  Ord.  SaxifragacecB; 
T.  Menziesii,  the  only  described  species,  is 
a  hardy,  herbaceous  plant  with  a  perennial 
rhizome.  The  rather  large,  greenish,  nod- 
ding flowers  are  borne  on  a  slender,  elongated 
raceme.  It  propagates  naturally  and  freely 
by  adventitious  buds,  produced  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  leaf-stalk  with  the  blade,  in  the 
manner  of  Begonias.  It  is  a  native  of  North- 
west America  and  has  been  described  under 
the  names  of  both  Tiarella  and  Heuchera  Men- 
zieaii. 

Tol'pis.  Named  by  Adanson,  probably  "without 
any  meaning.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositm. 

A  genus  of  pretty,  hardy,  annual  or  peren- 
nial plants,  natives  of  the  Mediterranean 
region  and  the  Canary  Islands.  Several 
species  are  in  cultivation,  and  are  well  suited 
for  the  ornamental  border,  where  the  seeds 
can  be  sown  in  spring. 

Tolu  Balsam  Tree.  The  common  name  for 
Myroxylon  Toluiferum,  which  see. 

Tomato.  Lycopersicum  esculentum.  The  Tomato 
was  first  introduced  into  England  in  1596, 
and  it  was  for  many  years  grown  only  as  an 
ornamental  plant,  or  for  its  medicinal  pro- 
perties. It  was  then  known  by  the  common 
name  of  Love  Apple.  The  "  Virtues  "  of  the 
Tomato  were  described  as  follows  by  Parkin- 
inson  in  1629  ^  "  In  hot  countries,  where  they 
naturally  growe,  they  are  much  eaten  of  the 
people,  to  cool  and  quench  the  heate  and 
thirst  of  their  hot  stomaehes.  The  Apples  are 
also  boyled,  or  infused  in  oyle  in  the  sunno." 
The  Tomato  was  fiist  used  as  a  vegetable  in 
Italy,  and  soon  after  in  France  and  England  ; 
it  is,  however,  but  comparatively  little  grown 
in  the  open  air  in  England,  as  their  summers 
are  not  warm  enough  to' ripen  the  fruit  to 
anything  like  perfection  ;  but  it  is  a  favoi  itc 
fruit  there  grown  under  glass.  The  Tomato 
has  not  been  in  general  Ube  in  this  country  for 
more  than  fifty  years,  and  most  of  our  choice 
varieties  are  of  jecent  inti-oduction.  New 
varieties,  obtained  by  selection,  are  offered 
annually,  each  one  claiming  to  be  soperior  \n 


AND  GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


457 


TOM 

earliness  and  productiveness  ;  the  varieties  of 
late  introduction  are  undoubtedly  superior  to 
the  older  sorts,  earliness  and  solidity  being 
the  great  desiderata.  Tomatoes  are  now  ex- 
tensively grown  for  canning,  and  many 
thousands  of  acres  are  used  in  growing  tliem 
for  that  purpose.  They  are  also  forced  advan- 
tageously for  winter  use,  bringing  good  prices 
till  the  crop  from  Florida  comes  in. 

Tomato.  Cannibal's.  Solanum  anthropopha- 
gorum. 

Tomato.    Strawberry.     See  Physalis  Alkekengi. 

Tomentose.  Covered  with  dense,  rather  short, 
rigid  hairs,  so  as  to  be  sensibly  perceptible  to 
the  touch. 

Tonga  Plant.     See  Epipremnum. 

Tongue  Grass.  A  common  name  for  Lepidium 
sativum. 

Tongue-shaped.  Long,  flat,  but  thickish  and 
blunt;  like  the  leaves  of  some  Aloes. 

Tonguin  or  Tonga  Bean.     See  Dipterix  odorcUa. 

Toothache  Grass.     See  Otenium  Americanum. 

Toothache  Tree.     See  Xanthoxylum. 

Toothed.  Dentate ;  having  small  divisions  on 
the  margin. 

Tooth-violet.  The  popular  name  of  Dentaria 
bulbifera. 

Tooth'-wort.  A  common  name  for  Lathrma, 
also  for  Dentaria,  which  see. 

Top  Dressing.     See  Fertilizers. 

Torch  Lily,  Torch  Flower.  Popular  names  for 
Tritoma  (Kniphqfia). 

Torch  Thistle.  An  early  name  given  to  various 
species  of  Cereus. 

Tore'uia.  In  honor  of  Olof  Toren,  a  Swedish 
clergyman,  who  discovered  T.  Asiatica  and 
other  plants  in  China,  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulari- 
■acecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  beautiful,  trailing 
annuals  and  perennials,  natives  of  China  and 
the  East  Indies.  For  the  green-house  or  con- 
servatory these  plants,  with  their  numerous, 
dark-purple  flowers,  are  a  great  attraction. 
They  also  succeed  well  in  a  moist,  shady  bor- 
der, but  will  not  endure  our  hot,  sunny 
•weather.  They  are  all  readily  increased  by 
cuttings  or  from  seed.  T.  Fournieri,  is  an  up- 
right-growing plant  of  branching  and  grace- 
ful habit,  with  a  profusion  of  beautiful  violet 
flowers.  T.  Bailloni,  introduced  in  1878,  is 
an  entirely  distinct  species,  having  deep-yel- 
low and  maroon-colored  flowers.  All  make 
excellent  basket  or  vase  plants.  They  must 
be  kept  at  a  temperature,  in  winter,  of  not 
less  than  60°  at  night,  and  they  are  at  all 
times  impatient  of  being  chilled.  Propagated 
by  seeds  or  cuttings. 

Tormenti'lla.  A  small  genus  now  included  un- 
der Potentilla. 

Torne'lia.    A  synonym  of  Monstera. 

Torose.  Torulose.  A  cylindrical  body,  irregu- 
larly swollen. 

Torrey'a.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  John  Torrey, 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  American 
botanists.     Nat.  Ord.  Cornferct. 

This  genus  is  a  branch  of  the  Yew  family, 
and  is  represented  in  this  country  by  T.  taxi- 
folia,  a  native  of  Florida,  a  perfectly  hardy 
and  beautiful  species,  and  one  of   the    most 


TRA 

attractive  and  desirable  evergreens.     T.  Cali- 
fomica  is  known  as  the  California  Nutmeg. 

Tortilis.     Susceptible  of  twisting. 
(Totara  Pine.     Podocarpus  Totara. 

Touch-me-not,  Balsam,  Jewel  Weed,  is  ImpU' 
tiens  Noli-me-tangere,  a  marshy  plant,  common 
from  New  York  southward.    See  Impatiens. 

Toumefo'rtia.  In  memory  of  Joseph  Pitlon  de 
Toumefort,  the  distinguished  author  of  an 
arrangement  of  plants  under  the  title  of  "  In- 
stituttones  Ret  HebaricE,"  and  other  botanical 
works,  from  1694  to  1717 ;  his  first  work,  the 
'■'Institutiunes,"  laid,  the  foundation  of  the 
arrangement  now  followed,  called  the  Jus- 
sieuan,  or  Natural  System.  Nat.  Ord.  Borag- 
inacece. 

A  genus  of  evergreen,  twining  shrubs  in- 
habiting the  tropics  of  both  hemispheres,  and 
extending  as  far  north  as  the  Canaries  and 
Central  Russia.  T.  heliotropioides,  from  Buenos 
Ayres,  is  a  very  beautiful  species,  and  is 
occasionally  grown  for  its  pale-lilac  flowers, 
which  are  arranged  similar  to  those  of  the 
Heliotrope.  It  is  commonly  called  the  "Hardy 
Heliotrope,"  and  is  easily  raised  from  seeds 
in  spring. 

Tova'ria.     A  synonym  of  Smilacina. 

Tovomi'ta.  From  tovomile,  the  Caribbean  name 
of  T.  Guianensis.    Nat.  Ord.  Guttiferce. 

A  genus  of  shrubs  or  trees  with  resinous 
juice,, natives  of  tropical  South  America  and 
the  West  India  Islands.  Three  species  have 
been  introduced  to  cultivation,  but  are  seldom 
found  except  in  large  collections.  They  are 
generally  propagated  by  cuttings  of  the 
ripened  wood  in  sand. 

Toxicode'ndron.  From  toxicon,  poison,  and 
dendron,  a  tree ;  alluding  to  the  poisonous 
nature  of  the  fruit.     Nat.  Ord.  Apocynacece. 

A  genus  of  small,  rigid,  much-branched 
trees,  peculiar  to  South  Africa.  T.  capense, 
the  only  cultivated  species,  is  found  princi- 
pally in  botanic  gardens. 

Toxicophlae'a.  From  toxicon,  poison,  and 
phloros,  bark;  in  allusion  to  the  poisonous 
bark.  A  genus  of  Apocynacece  containing  one 
or  two  species  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
T.  spectabilia,  introduced  in  1872,  has  the  gen- 
eral appearance  of  an  Ixora,  and  bears  its  pure 
white,  exceedingly  fragi-ant  flowers  in  terminal 
and  axillarj  corymbs,  which  form  a  very  large, 
dense  spray,  often  over  two  feet  in  length.  It 
is  increased  readily  by  cuttings. 

Trache'lium.  Throatwort.  From  trachelod, 
the  neck ;  in  allusion  to  the  efficacy  of  the 
plant  in  diseases  of  the  throat;  hence  the 
common  name  Throatwort.  Nat.  Ord.  Cam- 
panulacece. 

"Very  pretty,  half-hardy,  biennial  plants, 
with  showy,  bell-shaped,  blue  flowers,  varying 
from  very  dark  blue  to  nearly  white,  natives 
of  the  Mediterranean  coast.  It  is  an  elegant 
plant  for  vases,  and  such-like  purposes.  Seeds 
should  be  sown  in  spring  for  flowering  the 
next  season,  and  the  plants  protected  by  a 
•frame  in  winter. 

Trachelospe'rmum.    From  trachelos,  the  neck, 
and  sperma,  a  seed;   alluding  to  the  apical' 
elongation  of  the  seed.     Nat.  Ord.  Apocyna* 
ceoR. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  shrubs,  na« 
tives  of  the  East  Indies,  Eastern  Asia  ancj 


.458 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


TEA 

Japan.  T.  Thunbergii,  known  generally  in 
gardens,  where  it  has  long  been  a  favorite, 
as  Rhyncospermum  jasminoides,  is  one  of  the 
best  plants  of  its  class,  and  is  equally  valu- 
able grown  as  a  specimen  pot-plant  or  as  a 
climber  on  the  rafters  or  back  wall  of  the 
green-house.  This  plant  is  now  a  conspicu- 
ous feature  in  the  gardens  of  some  of  the 
cities  of  the  Southern  States.  It  may  be  seen 
in  New  Orleans  climbing  to  the  third  stories 
and  completely  draping  some  of  the  largest 
houses  with  its  brilliant,  lustrous,  evergreen 
leaves;  the  delicious  perfume  of  the  pure 
white,  abundant  flowers  pervading,  during 
the  month  of  April,  the  whole  atmosphere  of 
the  neighborhood. 

Trachy'mene  Coerulea.  A  synonym  for  Didis- 
ctis  CcErulea. 

Tradesca'ntia.  Spiderwort.  Named  in  honor 
of  John  Tradescant,  gardener  to  Charles  First, 
who  introduced  the  first  species  to  Europe. 
Nat.  Ord.  CommelynacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  green-house  or  hardy, 
herbaceous  perennials,  natives  of  North  and 
tropical  America.  T.  Virginica,  the  common 
Spider-wort  or  Widow's-tears  of  the  gai'dens, 
is  an  interesting,  hardy  border  plant,  on  ac- 
count of  the  continual  succession  of  flowers, 
which  ai'e  freely  produced  all  season.  .It  has 
long,  grass-like  foliage,  and  the  flowers  are 
borne  in  terminal  clusters  on  stems,  one  to 
two  feet  in  height.  Besides  the  type,  which 
has  showy,  purple-blue  flowers,  there  are 
several  varieties,  one  with  double  violet,  one 
single  rose-colored,  one  single  lilac  and  one 
with  single  white  blossoms.  They  may  easily 
be  increased  by  division  in  spring.  Of  the 
tender  sorts,  T.  dis.color  (syn.  Rhoeo)  and  T. 
Warscewicziana  form  stately  plants,  with  the 
appearance  of  a  Palm  or  Pandanus,  and  are 
excellent  centre-plants  for  vases,  hanging 
baskets,  etc.  The  drooping,  or  creeping, 
sorts  are  also  desirable  plants  for  like  pur- 
poses. The  species  best  known  as  T.  zebrina, 
but  which  has  many  aliases  (see  Zebrina),  a 
native  of  South  America,  is  largely'  grown  as 
a  basket-plant,  and  also  as  a  house-plant, 
thriving  best  in  a  moist,  shady  situation,  but 
succeeding  well  in  the  dry  atmosphere  of  the 
sitting-room.  This  and  thespeoJes  known  as 
T.  repens.  and  its  beautifully  white  striped 
A-ariety,  T.  r.  vittata,  T.  aquafica  and  others, 
are  among  the  most  generally  grown  of  our 
house-plants,  where  they  are  known  as  "Wan- 
dering Jew."  They  grow  freely  in  water, 
making  a  drooping  fringe  of  from  two  to  four 
feet,  and  they  are  used  in  a  variety  of  forms 
in  the  window  culture  of  plants.  Cuttings  of 
the  green-house  species  root  readily  at  any 
season. 

Tra'gacanth  Gum  Plant.  Astragalm  Trago 
cantha. 

Tra'gia.  A  genus  named  in  honor  of  Tragus,  an 
ancient  German  botanist,  who,  according  to 
the  fashion  of  the  times,  assumed  a  classical 
title,  his  true  name  having  -been  Jerome  Bock. 
Nat.  Ord.  EuphorbiaceoR. 

A  genus  of  herbs  or  shrubs,  widely  distritn 
uted  in  sub-tropical  regions.  A  few  of  the 
species  have  been  introduced,  but  possess 
little  beauty  and  are  not  particularly  inter- 
esting. 

Tragopo'gon.  Goat's.  Beard.  Vegetable  Oy- 
ster.   From  tragos,  a  goat,  and  pogon,  a  beard ; 


TEA 

in.  allusion  to  the  long,  silky  beards  of  the 
seeds.    Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

Ornamental,  biennial  plants,  natives  of  Eu- 
rope, the  most  remarkable  of  which  are  T. 
pratensis,^he  popular  name  of  which  is  Go-to- 
bed-at-noon,  from  the  flowers  closing  in  the 
middle  of  the, day,  and  which  has  large,  yel- 
low flowers  and  very  curious  feathery  heads 
of  seeds ;  and  T.  porrifolius,  the  common  Sal- 
sify, or  Oyster  Plant,  which  has  purple  flow- 
ers, and  the  roots  of  which  are  extensively 
grown  and  highly  valued  as  a  vegetable.  It 
is  a  hardy  biennial,  native  of  Great  Britaia 
and  most  other  parts  of  Europe.  The  seeds 
should  be  sown  early  in  deep,  rich  soil.  Cult- 
ui-e  the  same  as  for  Carrots  or  Parsnips. 

Tragopy'rum.  Goat's  Wheat.  From  tragos,  & 
goat,  and  puros,  wheat.  Nat.  Ord.  Polygona- 
cem. 

T.  lanceolatum,  a  native  of  Siberia,  is  a 
dwarf,  ornamental  shrub,  about  two  feet 
high,  with  lanceolate  leaves,  producing  spikes 
of  white  or  pink  flowers  in  July  or  August. 
It  is  the  only  species  under  cultivation.  In- 
troduced in  1770. 

Trailing  Arbutus.    See  EpigcBa  repens. 

Transplanting.  As  nearly  all  fruit  and  orna- 
mental trees  and  shrubs  are  raised  first  in 
nurseries  and  removed  to  their  position  in  the 
orchard,  lawn  or  shrubbery,  and  as  upon  the 
success  of  the  operation  the  after  vigor  of  the 
plant  or  tree,  in  a  great  measure,  depends,  a 
few  hints  on  this  subject  may  be  of  interest. 

The  first  great  requisite  to  success  in  all 
kinds  of  planting  is  the  proper  preparation  of 
the  soil.  This  should  be  dry,  either  naturally 
or  made  so  by  thorough  draining,  and,  if  done 
on  a  large  scale,  should  be  well  prepared  by 
twice  plowing,  using  the  sub-soil  plow  after 
'the  common  one  at  the  second  plowing.  To 
ensure  a  good  growth,  the  land  should  be  in 
as  good  condition  as  for  a  crop  of  potatoes  or 
corn.  Of  course  the  methods  of  transplant- 
ing vary  considerably,  according  to  different 
plants  and  the  manner  in  which  their  roots 
are  disposed.  Trees  or  shrubs,  more  espe- 
cially when  received  from  a  nursery,  no  mat- 
ter how  carefully  they  may  have  been  lifted, 
lose  a  portion  of  their  roots,  and  conse- 
quently the  balance  that  existed  in  the  struct- 
ure of  the  tree  is  deranged.  This  must  be  re- 
stored by  proper  pruning,  adapted  to  the  size,, 
form  and  condition  of  the  tree  and  the  loss 
it  has  sustained.  When  lifting  a  tree  for 
transplanting,  it  is  best  to  tie  up,  with  some' 
soft  cord,  any  branches  that  may  be  near  the 
base,  and  to  commence  digging  a  trench  out- 
side the  line  to  which  it  is  calculated  the 
roots  will  reach.  Then  use  a  fork  from  the 
base  of  the  tree  outwa  rds  to  separate  the  roots, 
but  preserve  as  large  a  ball  of  earth  as  it  may 
be  convenient  to  move.  All  roots  which  may 
have  been  mutilated  had  better  be  cut  clean 
off  before  replanting. 

Planting. — In  planting,  holes  must  be  dug 
large  enough  to  admit  of  the  roots  of  the 
tree  to  spread  out  in  their  natural  position. 
The  tree  being  then  held  in  an  upright  posi- 
tion, the  roots  should  be  carefully  spread  and 
covered  with  the  best  of  the  surface-soil,  the 
tree  in  the  meantime  being  moved  gently  to 
enable  the  soil  to  fill  every  interstice  and 
bring  every  root  in  contact  with  the  soil. 
When  the  earth  is  partially  filled  in,  a  pail  of 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


459 


TRA 

water  may  be  thrown  in  to  settle  and  wash  in 
the  earth  around  the  roots.  Then  fill  in  the 
remainder  and  firm  gently  with  the  feet. 

Staking. — If  trees  are  tall  and  much  ex- 
posed to  winds,  a  stake  should  be  planted 
with  the  tree,  to  which  it  shoulfl  be  tied  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  avoid  chafing.  Large 
trees  may  be  secured  by  three  or  four  guys, 
fastened  firmly  to  stakes. 

Mulching.  —  When  the  tree  is  planted, 
mulch  it  as  far  as  the  roots  extend,  and  a 
foot  beyond,  with  five  or  six  inches  of  rough 
manure  or  litter.  This  is  particularly  neces-. 
sary  in  dry  ground,  and  is  highly  advanta- 
geous both  in  spring  and  fall  planting.  It 
tends  greatly  to  pi-event  evaporation  and  to 
keep  the  soil  moist,  even  in  dry  weather. 

Season  for  Transplanting. — The  advan- 
tages of  planting  deciduous  shrubs  and  trees 
■during  autumn  (say  from  October  1st-  to 
December  1st)  admit  of  no  question.  As 
transplanting  makes  inevitable  the  cutting  or 
disruption  of  a  large  portion  of  the  roots, 
these  cannot  throw  out  new  fibres  until  the 
broken  roo-ts  become  callused.  If  this  is  not 
completed  before  the  spring  drought  comes, 
there  is  much  danger  that  the  plant  will 
either  die  or  have  a  struggle  for  life,  during 
the  first  summer.  If  planted  in  autumn, 
however,  the  broken  roots  will  not  only  nave 
time  to  form  a  callus,  but,  as  the  soil  is  then 
■warm  and  congenial,  will  throw  out  small 
fibres  which  will  permanently  establish  the 
tree  or  shrub,  and  enable  it  to  start  with  vigor 
in  the  spring.  If  circumstances  •will  not  per- 
mit of  planting  until  spring,  it  is  better  to 
obtain  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs  in  the 
auttimn,  heel  them  carefully  in  a  slanting 
position,  where  the  callus  will  form,  and  they 
■will  be  ready  for  planting  as  soon  as  the 
ground  is  open  in  spring.  Autumn  planting 
is  especially  necessary  with  Larches,  Japan 
Quince,  Evergreen  Thorn  and  other  plants 
"which  become  excited  by  the  first  mild  days 
•of  spring,  and  in  that  condition  may  die  by 
transplanting.  The  exceptions  are  Magno- 
lias, Tulip  Trees,  etc.,  in  which  there  are  cer- 
tain structural  conditions  which  make  them 
succeed  best  in  spring  planting.  Many  Ev.er- 
.  greens  may  be  planted  to  advantage  during 
September,  more  especially  if  the  season  is  a 
moist  one,  and  the  ground  in  which  they  are 
planted  is  sufficiently  near  the  nursery  for 
them  to  escape  heating  or  the  roots  dTying 
out  in  transit. 

Herbaceous  Perennials. — A  large  num- 
bei;  of  the  hardy,  herbaceous  perennials,  if 
ftroperly  cared  for,  can  be  transplanted  with 
Isetter  results  in  the  latter  part  of  summer  or 
autumn  than  in  the  spiing.  All  early-flower- 
ing plants,  which  start  into  growth  as  soon  as 
the  snow  is  off  in  spring,  make  their  prepara- 
tion for  this  the  previous  autumn.  The  mid- 
dle or  last  of  August  is  about  the  proper 
season  to  transplant  such,  so  that  they  can 
finish  their  autumnal  growth  whenth^y  are  to 
remain  through  the  winter.  All  such  early 
flowering  plants  as  Violets,  Trilliums,  Ery- 
throniums,  Cypripediums,  etc.,  are  of  this 
class.  The  various  varieti«!8  oi  L.  speciosum, 
L.  Washinqtonianum,  L.  Hiimboldtii,  etc.,  we 
find  to  flower  better  the  following  season  if 
transplanted  early  in  autumn  than  if  left  until 
their  growth  had  matured  or  until  spring. 


TRE 

Tra'pa.  Water  Caltraps,  Water  Chestnut.  From 
calcitrapa,  an  ancient  insti'ument  in  warfare 
with  four  spikes;  the  fruit  of  some  of  the 
species  is  armed  with  four  spikes  or  horns. 
Nat.  Ord.  Onogracece. 

A  genus  of  aquatic  plants,  natives  of 
Europe,  India,  China  and  Japan.  They  are 
remarkable  for  the  shape  of  their  seeds,  some 
of  which  resemble  a  bullock's  head  and  horns. 
The  seeds  of  all  these  plants  abound  in  starch, 
and  are  much  used  as  food.  Those  of  T. 
nc.tans,  called  Jesuit's  Nuts  at  Venice,  are 
ground  into  flour  and  made  into  bread  in 
some  parts  of  Southern  Europe.  In  Kashmir, 
and  other  parts  of  the  East,  the  large  seeds 
of  T.  bispinosa,  which  are  sweet  and  edible, 
and  known  under  the  name  of  Tinghara  Nuts, 
are  common  food,  and  a  large  portion  of  the 
inhabitants  subsist  on  them  for  several 
months  of  the  year. 

Trape'lla  Sinensis.  This  is  a  highly  curious, 
floating,  aquatic  plant,  the  type  of  a  new 
genus  of  anomalous  structure,  referred  to  the 
Nat.  Ord.  Pedaliacece.  It  bears  a  strong  re- 
semblance to  Trapa  in  its  foliage,  but  there 
the  resemblance  ceases.  The  small  flowers 
have  a  funnel-shaped  corolla,  and  the  narrow 
seed-vessels  are  furnished  with  usually  three 
long,  rigid,  hooked  appendages,  something  in 
the  way  of  the  fruit  of  Martynia,  and  other 
members  of  the  same  order.  It  is  a  native  of 
Ichang  and  other  parts  of  China  and  Japan. 

Trapeziform.     Having  four  sides,  the  opposite 

ones  not  parallel. 
Trautvette'ria.     A  name  given  by  some  botan- 
ists to  Cimicifuga,  or  Actcea  palmata. 
Traveler's  Joy.     A  common  name  for  Clematis 

vitalba. 
Traveler's  Tree.      A  name  girven  to  the   Urania 

speciosa  of  Madagascar. 
Treacle  Mustard.     Erysimum  cheiranthoides  and 

Lepidium  campestre. 
Tread-softly,  Spurge    Nettle.      See    Jatropha 

urens. 
Treasure  Flo"wer.      A  common  name  for  Ga- 

zania. 
Tree  Fern.      A  common  name  for  Ferns  with  a 

tree-like  stem,  as  many  species  of  Alsophila, 

Dicksonia,  Cyathea,  etc. 

Tree  MaUo'w.     Lavatera  arborea. 
Tree  of  Chastity.     Vitex  Agnus-caatus. 
■yree  of  Heaven.     See  Ailantus. 
Tree  of  Sadness.     Nyctanthes  arbor-triatis. 
Tree  of  the  Sun.  A  Japanese  name  for  Retinas- 
pora  obtusa. 

Trefoil.    See  Trifolium. 

Bird's-foot.     Lotus  comiculatue. 
Crimson.     Trifolium  incanum. 
Yellow.     Medicago  lupulina. 

Trema'ndra.  From  tremo,  to  tremble,  and  an- 
dros,  a  male ;  the  anthers  vibrate  with  the 
least  movement  of  the  air.  Nat.  Ord.  Tre- 
mandracecB. 

This  genus  consists  of  but  two  known  spe- 
cies, both  small  green-house  shrubs,  natives 
of  New  Holland.  They  are  delicate  plants, 
covered  with  stellate  down,  and  have  axillary 
purple  flowers.  They  are  but  rarely  culti- 
vated, except  T.  verticillata,  whicla  is  a  very 
beautiful  plant,  and  has  long  been  a  favorite 


460 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


TEE 

in    choice   collections.      See    Telratheca   and 
Platytheca. 

Tremandra'ceae.  A  small  order  of  heath-like 
shrubs,  all  Australian,  with  small,  entire 
leaves  often  verticillate,  and  i-ed,  blue,  or 
rarely  white  flowers,  on  slender  axillary  ped- 
icels. The  order  contains  three  genera  and 
over  twenty  species. 

Trenching.  This  is  a  means  of  preparing  the 
soil  but  little  practiced  in  the  United  States, 
though  still  much  in  use  in  old  English  gar- 
dens. It  consists  in  making  a  trench  from 
one  and  a  half  to  two  feet  deep,  and  of  nearly 
the  same  width,  the  earth  from  which  is 
wheeled  to  the  rear  of  the  ground  to  be 
trenched ;  then  a  line  is  set  across  the  bed  to 
the  width  of  the  excavation  (one  and  a  half  or 
two  feet,  as  it  may  be) ;  the  top  spit  of  this  is 
thrown  in  the  bottom  of  the  trench,  the  under 
part  being  thrown  on  the  top ;  in  a  word, 
trenching  is  simply  reversing  the  soil,  turn- 
ing it  upside  down  to  such  a  depth  as  may  be 
decided  on.  The  practice  is  proper  enough  in 
soils  that  are  deep  enough  ;  but  when  trench- 
ing is  practiced  in  say  a  top  soil  only  twelve 
inches  deep,  and  a  clayey  sub-soil  is  thrown 
on  the  top,  or  even  mixed  well  with  the  top 
soil,  injury  may  be  done  to  the  soil  from 
which  it  will  never  recover.  A  sub-soil  of 
sand  is  not  quite  as  bad  thrown  on  the  top  or 
mixed  with  the  soil,  but  in  either  case  the  sub- 
soil should  only  be  loosened,  as  in  sub-soiling 
(which  see),  and  allowed  to  remain  without 
being  mixed  with  or  thrown  on  the  top  of  the 
soil  proper. 

Treve'sia.  Called  after  the  family  Treves  de 
Bonfigli,  at  Padua,  who  were  supporters  of 
botanical  research.    Nat.  Ord.  Araliacece. 

A  genus,  numbering  eight  or  nine  species, 
natives  of  tropical  Asia  and  the  Malayan  Archi- 
pelago. T.  eminens  and  T.  palmata,  the  best 
known  species,  have  beautiful,  large,  palmate, 
or  pinnately-divided,  leaves,  and  make  very 
ornamental  plants  for  a  warm  conservatory, 
and  are  propagated  easily  by  cuttings.  Syn. 
Gaatonia. 

Trevo'a.  Named  in  honor  of  Trevo,  a  Spanish 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Rhamnacem. 

A  small  genus  of  interesting  green-house 
shrubs,  natives  of  South  America.  T.  trinervis 
aud  T.  quinquenervia  are  in  cultivation,  fcut 
seldom  found  except  in  botanical  collections. 

Trew'ia.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  C  Treio,  of 
Nuremberg,  a  botanical  author.  Nat.  Ord. 
Euphorbiacece. 

A  small  genus  of  stove-house  plants,  natives 
of  the  East  Indies.  T.  nudiflora,  the  only  spe- 
cies in  cultivation,  thrives  best  in  a  compost 
of  sandy  loam  and  leaf  mould.  It  was  intro- 
duced in  1796,  and  is  readily  increased  by 
cuttings. 

Triadelphous.  Having  the  stamens  collected 
into  three  distinct  bundles,  the  filaments  of 
those  in  separate  bundles  cohering. 

Tria'nea.  Named  in  honor  of  M.  Jose  Triana,  a 
botanist  and  traveler  in  Columbia.  Nat.  Ord. 
HydrocharidacecB. 

A  genus  of  green-house,  stolonif  erous  plants, 
natives  of  Mexico  and  South  America,  now 
regarded  by  Bentham  and  Hooker  as  synony- 
mous with  Limnobium. 


TRI 

Trichl'nium.  From  trichinoa,  hairy ;  flowers 
covered  with  knotted  hairs.  Nat.  Ord.  Ama- 
ranthacecB. 

A  genus  of  annuals  and  herbaceous  peren- 
nials from  Australia.  The  flowers  of  some  of 
the  species  are  extremely  ornamental.  Their 
yellow,  crimson,  white,  or  pink  flowers,  are 
produced  in  terminal  heads  or  spikes.  The 
perennials  require  to  be  grown  in  the  green- 
house. The  annuals  should  be  started  in  seed 
boxes  in  February,  as  our  seasons  are  too 
short  for  their  development  if  the  seed  is 
sown  in  the  border. 

Trichoce'ntrum.  From  thrix,  trichos,  a  hair, 
and  centron,  a  spur  or  centre ;  alluding  to  the 
long,  thin  spur  of  the  labellum.  Nat.  Ord. 
OrchidacecB. 

A  considerable  genus  of  epiphytal  Orchids 
from  South  and  Central  America.  Most  of  the 
species  are  not  considered  worth  growing.  T. 
albo-purpureum,  from  the  Rio  Negro,  is  an 
exceedingly  beautiful  plant.  Petals  maroon- 
brown  inside,  and  yellowish-green  outside , 
lip  large,  white,  with  two  bright  purple  spots. 
T.  Pfavii  and  one  or  two  other  species  have 
very  beautiful  flowers.  They  should  be  growa 
on  blocks  or  cork,  or  in  small  baskets  in  a 
moderate  temperature.  They  bloom  freely, 
and  require  but  little  care.  Introduced  ia 
1835. 

Trioliode'sma.  From  thrix,  trichos,  a  hair,  and 
desmos,  a  bond ;  the  anthers  are  bound  to 
each  other  by  hairs.  Nat.  Ord.  BoraginacecB. 
A  genus  of  strigose  annuals,  natives  of 
India,  Egypt  and  South  Africa,  with  the  habit 
of  Borago  and  Cynogloasum.  T.  zeylaniciim, 
Ceylon  Borage,  the  only  species  in  cultivation, 
is  a  rather  coarse,  hardy  annual,  with  blue 
flowers,  thriving  under  ordinary  treatment. 

Tricholae'na.  From  thrix,  trichos,  a  hair,  and 
chlaina,  a  cassock.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminaceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  very  pretty  grasses,  gener- 
ally included  in  the  genus- PaniCMm.  A  few 
are  found  in  collections  of  ornamental  grasses 
in  the  green-house. 

Tricho'manes.  From  thrix,  trichos  a  hair,  and 
manos,  soft;  the  shining  stems  appear  like 
soft  hair.     Nat.  Ord.  PolypodiacecB. 

An  extensive,  varied,  and  beautiful  genus 
of  Ferns,  found  abundantly  in  the  moist, 
shady  woods  of  the  tropics  in  both  the  Old 
and  the  New  "Worlds.  T.  radicans,  a  beauti- 
ful species,  is  found  on  the  coast  of  Ireland. 
Many  of  the  species  are  cultivated  for  the 
beauty  of  their  fronds,  which  have  an  almost 
transparent  appearance.  Propagated  by  divis- 
ion or  from  spores.  Feea,  Hymenostachys, 
Involucraria,  Lacoslea,  Lecanium,  Microgonium 
and  Phlebiophyllum,  are  now  included  in  this 
genus,  which  comprises  over  one  hundred 
species. 

Trichone'ma.  From  thrix,  trichos,  a  hair,  and 
nema,  a  filament ;  stamens  clothed  with  mi- 
nute hairs.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacem. 

A  genus  of  beautiful  little  crocus-like,  bul- 
bous plants,  with  red,  yellow,  purple  and  white 
flowers,  borne  singly  on  slender  scapes.  They 
are  natives  of  Spain,  Italy,  and  the  Cape  x>t 
Good  Hope.  Like  most  bulbs  from  those 
localities,  they  require  to  be  grown  in  the 
green-house.  Propagated  by  offsets.  Intro* 
duced  in  1818.    Called  also  Romulea. 


460  TRITOMA  GRaNDIIXOBA  MAJOE. 


JaiFOUPM  BEPENS  (WHITE  CLOVER). 


TRICHOSANTHES. 


TKOP^OLDM  (TAlx;. 


TEOPiEOLDM  LOBBIANUM. 


TBOF£OLUM  fEKXAPHTLLDM. 


TROPaOLUM  PEEEGRINT7M  (OANABS  btt}T>  vhJK).         46* 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


461 


TRI 

Trichope'talum.  From  thrix,  trichos,  a  hair,  and 
petalon,  a  petal ;  tlie  inner  perianth  segments 
are  fringed.     Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecB. 

T.  stellatum,  the  only  described  species,  is  a 
curious,  half-hardy  perennial,  with  a  thick 
rhizome  and  greenish-white  flowers,  and  suc- 
ceeds best  if  planted  out  in  a  frame  from 
which  the  frost  is  entirely  excluded.  It  was 
introduced  from  Ciiili  in  1828,  and  is  increased 
by  division  of  the  rhizome. 

Trichopi'lia.  From  thrix,  trichos,  a  hair,  and 
pilion,  a  cap  ;  in  allusion  to  the  anthers  being 
concealed  below  a  cap  surmounted  by  tufts 
of  hair.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  very  beautiful  epiphytal 
Orchids,  natives  of  Central  America  and  the 
West  Indies.  The  Mowers  are  white,  yellow, 
pale  pitik,  or  greenish  white.  T.  suavis,  a 
species  from  Central  America,  is  one  of  the 
finest  of  the  genus.  Its  flowers  are  very  large, 
pale  nankeen  color,  with  vvliite  lip  very  clearly 
marked  with  lilac,  and  are  very  beautiful  and 
fragrant.  T.  coccinea,  T.  crisjja,  T.  frugrans 
and  T.  tortilis  are  all  desirable  kinds.  All  the 
species  may  be  grown  in  a  cool  house,  and 
succeed  best  in  pots.    Syn.  Pilumna. 

Trichosa'nthes.  Snake  Cucumber.  From  thrix, 
trichos,  a  hair,  and  anthos,  a  flower ;  the  flow- 
ers are  ciliated.     Nat.  Ord.  CucwrbitacecB. 

A  genus  of  climbing  annuals  from  China  and 
the  East  Indies,  commonly  known  as  Snake 
Cucumbers.  T.  an guina  {syn.  T.  colubrina)  is  a. 
very  curious  plant  with  white  flowers,  every 
petal  of  which  appears  surrounded  with  long, 
knotted  fringe.  The  leaves  and  tendrils  re- 
semble those  of  the  common  Cucumber ;  but 
the  fruit  is  curiously  striped,  and  is  so  long 
and  narrow  as  to  I'esemble  a  snake.  Speci- 
mens have,  indeed,  been  grown  more  than 
six  feet  long,  and  not  thicker  than  the  body 
of  a  common  snake.  The  plant  is  an  annual, 
a  native  of  China,  and  is  only  worth  cultivat- 
ing as  an  object  of  curiosity.  Many  botanists 
include  Eopepon  under  this  genus. 

Tricho'sma.  Hair  Orchid.  From  thrix,  trichos, 
hair,,  and  kosmos,  ornament.  Nat.  Ord.  Orchid- 
acece. 

T.  suavis,  the  only  introduced  species,  is  a 
very  scarce  and  distinct  epiphytal  Orchid,  in- 
troduced from  Assam  in  1840.  Its  flowers 
are  white,  striped  with  brownish-crimson ; 
very  showy  and  fragrant.  It  succeeds  best 
when  grown  in  a  well-drained  pot  or  pan,  and 
when  growing  must  be  kept  moderately 
moist;  as  it  has  no  pseudo-bulbs,  it  must 
never  be  allowed  to  get  quite  dry.  Syn. 
Ccdogyne  coronaria. 

Trichoste'ma.  Blue  Curls.  Fromthrix,  trichos, 
hair,  and  sterna,  a  stamen,  referring  to  the 
slender,  hair-like  stamens.  Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 
A  genus  of  native  plants  found  in  sandy 
fields  from  New  England  to  Kentucky.  They 
are  of  no  horticultural  value. 

Tricho'tomous.     Branching  in  threes. 

Trico'ryne.  From  treis,  three,  and  koryne,  a 
club;  in  allusion  to  the  form  of  the  capsules. 
Nat.  Ord.  Liliacem. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  perennials 
with  fibrous  roots,  natives  of  Australia.  The 
species  are  easily  increased  by  division,  but 
are  more  of  botanical  than  horticultural  inter- 
est. 


TRI 

Tricuspida'ria.  From  tricuspis,  three-pointed; 
alluding  to  the  petals.     Nat.  Ord.   TiliacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house  plants,  natives 
of  Chili.  T.  hexapetala  is  a  very  beautiful, 
free-flowering  shrub,  producing  pendulous, 
conical  blooms  of  thick,  waxy  texture,  resem- 
bling that  of  Lapageria  rosea,  and  of  the  same 
bright,  rose  color.  The  leaves  are  oblong- 
lanceolate,  serrated,  or  rarely  entire.  This  is 
the  only  species  yet  in  cultivation,  and  is 
propagated  by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened 
wood.     Sj'n.  Crinodendron  Hooker ianum. 

Tricuspidatus.     Having  three  points. 

Tricy'rtis.  Japanese  Toad  Lily.  From  treis, 
three,  and  kyrtos,  a  convex ;  alluding  to  the 
three  outer  sepals  having  bags  at  their  base. 
Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

T.  hirta,  the  best  known  species,  is  a  very 
beautiful,  hardy,  herbaceous  plant,  found  in 
China  and  Japan.  The  flowers  are  axillary,  in 
panicles  about  six  inches  long,  resembling,  in 
their  peculiar  form  and  markings,  some  of  the 
more  singular  Orchids.  This  plant  is  very 
desirable  for  the  open  border.  It  produces 
its  flowers  in  October  and  November,  at  which 
time  the  plant  may  be  removed  to  the  sitting- 
room,  and  they  will  remain  several  weeks  in 
flower,  after  which  they  may  again  be  returned 
to  the  border.  It  was  introduced  in  1855  and 
is  propagated  by  division. 

Tri'dax.  From  treis,  three,  and  akis,  a  point; 
alluding  to  the  ray  florets. 

A  genus  of  CompositcB,  natives  of  Central 
America  and  comprising  seven  or  more  spe- 
cies of  hardy  perennials  of  but  little  beauty. 
T.  bicolor  rosea  is  a  Mexican  half-hardy  annual 
of  comparatively  late  introduction  and  of  easy 
management.  Its  flowers  are  of  a  pleasing 
rose  color,  the  disk  florets  being  yellow,  and 
are  produced  in  profusion  during  the  whole 
season.  The  typical  T.  bicolor  has  the  ray 
florets  pure  white. 

Tridentate.  Trident  pointed  ;  when  the  point 
is  truncated  and  has  three  indentations. 

Trienta'lis.  Chickweed  Winter-green.  A  Latin 
term  signifying  one-third  of  a  foot  high,  in 
reference  to  the  stature  of  the  plants.  A 
small  genus  of  Primulacece,  the  species  of 
which  are  found  in  Europe  and  in  cold,  damp 
woods  from  New  Jersey  northwards.  They 
are  low,  smooth  perennials  with  simple,  erect 
stems,  bearing  a  whorl  of  thin,  veiny  leaves  at 
the  summit,  from  which  spring  one  or  more 
slender  peduncles  supporting  the  pretty, 
single,  white,  star-like  flowers. 

Trifid.    Split  half-way  into  three  parts. 

Trifoliate.  Composed  of  three  leaflets,  as  the 
leaves  of  Clover. 

Trifo'lium.  Clover,  Trefoil.  From  treis,  three, 
and  folium,  a  leaf ;  three-leaved.  Nat.  Ord. 
LeguminoscB. 

Of  this  very  extensive  genus  there  are  sev- 
eral species  under  cultivation  as  forage  plants. 
They  include  T.  pratense,  the  common  Red 
Clover,  a  native  of  Great  Britain  ;  T.  reflexum, 
Buffalo  Clover,  indigenous  in  New  York  and 
westward  ;  T.  repens.  White  Clover,  introduced 
from  Europe,  but  indigenous  in  the  Northern 
States ;  and  T.  hybridum,  or  Alsike  Clover,  a 
hybrid  variety  introduced  from  near  Stock- 
holm, Sweden.  This  is  a  very  hardy  peren- 
nial sort,  valuable  for  pasturage  and  soiling, 
and   being  very  productive  and   floriferous, 


462 


HENDEESON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


TBI 

bees  obtain  a  large  amount  of  honey  from  its 
fragrant  flowers.  It  is  valuable  for  sowing 
■with  other  grasses  and  clovers,  as  it  forms  a 
thick  bottom,  and  increases  the  yield  of  hay. 
It  is  well  suited  to  lands  liable  to  wash,  its 
long,  fibrous  roots  binding  the  soil  well.  T. 
fragiferum,  the  Strawberry  Clover,  is  spoken 
of  as  a  likely  plant  with  which  to  make  a  lawn 
that  will  remain  green  during  the  summer 
without  irrigation  in  dry  regions  like  cen- 
tral and  southern  California.  Its  stems  and 
branches  are  prostrate,  and  spread  over  the 
ground.  This  plant  is  very  tough  and  hardy, 
and  it  produces  freely,  heads  of  pale,  rose- 
colored  flowers,  which  resemble  ripe  straw- 
berries—a resemblance  which  is  the  origin  of 
the  specific  name.  A  lawn  composed  of  this 
plant  would  not  require  cutting.  Besides 
these  tliere  are  a  number  of  other  species 
that  have  been  considerably  cultivated,  but 
those  named  are  almost  wholly  preferred  for 
pasture  and  hay.  Those  who  are  accustomed 
to  consider  the  Trefoil  as  only  the  common 
Clover  of  the  meadows,  will  probably  be  sur- 
prised to  learn  that  there  are  nearly  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  species,  all  more  or  less  orna- 
mental. Some  of  these  are  perennials  and 
some  annuals ;  and  the  color  of  their  flowers 
varies  from  dark  crimson,  and  sometimes 
scarlet,  to  purple  on  the  one  hand,  and  to 
white,  cream-color,  and  pale  yellow  on  the 
other.  Some  of  our  dealers  in  hardy  herba- 
ceous plants  have  catalogued  a  few  of  the 
more  showy  species,  and  highly  recommend 
them  for  border  plants. 

Triginous.  Having  either  three  pistils  or  at 
least  three  distinct  styles. 

Trigonal.  Three-angled,  and  having  three  plain 
faces. 

Trigone'lla.  Fenugreek.  From  treis,  three,  and 
gonu,  an  angle ;  the  standard  of  the  flower  is 
flat,  while  the  wings  spread  and  give  it  a  tri- 
angular appearance.     Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

An  extensive  genus  of  herbaceous,  legumin- 
ous plants  inhabiting  central  Asia,  southern 
Europe  and  northern  Africa.  All  the  species 
possess  a  heavy  penetrating  odor.  T.  Fcenum- 
grcBcum,  commonly  known  as  Fenugreek,  is  an 
erect,  annual  plant,  about  two  feet  high,  a 
native  of  the  Mediterranean  region,  and  con- 
siderably cultivated  in  India  and  other  warm 
countries,  and  occasionally  in  this  country. 
The  seeds  of  Fenugreek  were  held  in  high  re- 
pute among  the  ancient  Egyptians,   Greeks 

•  and  Romans,  for  medicinal  and  culinary  pur- 
poses, but  at  the  present  day  their  use  in 
medicine  is  confined  to  veteiinary  practice, 
the  seeds  being  given  to  horses  when  a  tem- 
porary stimulant  is  required  or  desired.  It  is 
said  to  give  cattle  and  swine  good  appetites 
and  digestion.  The  seeds  have  a  powerful 
odor  of  coumarine,  and  are  largely  used  for 
flavoring  concentrated  cattle  foods,  and  for 
rendering  damaged  hay  palatable. 

TriU'sa.  From  trilix,  triple ;  in  allusion  to  the 
divisions  of  the  pappus.  Nat.  Ord.  Com- 
positcB. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy,  erect,  perennial, 
native  plants,  with  purplish  or  white  flower- 
heads.  T.  odoratissima,  sometimes  called  the 
Vanilla  Plant,  is  better  known  by  its  old 
name,  Liatris  odoratissima. 

Trillia'ceae.  A  natural  order  now  included  as  a 
tribe  of  LUiacece. 


TBI 

Trilli'um.  American  Wood  Lily.  Three-leaved 
Night-shade,  or  Wake  Robin.  From  trilix, 
triple ;  alluding  to  triple  parts  of  the  flowers 
and  leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacem. 

A  singular  and  beautiful  genus  of  hardy, 
perennial  plants,  natives  of  North  America 
and  Asia,  from  the  Himalayas  to  Japan.  T. 
grandiflorum,  one  of  the  best  of  our  native 
spring-flowering  plants,  is  probably  the  best 
known  species,  and  deservedly  so  on  account 
of  its  large  flowers,  snow-white  when  first  ex- 
panded and  changing  to  rosy-pink  with  age. 
T.  ovatum,  a  species  from  the  Pacific  coast,  is 
as  ornamental  as  T.  grandiflorum,  the  flowers 
being  pure  white  and  fully  as  large.  T.  erec- 
tum,  having  green  leaves  with  dark  purple 
flowers,  is  common  in  the  Eastern  States. 
T.  sessile  has  purple  flowers  and  the  foliage 
prettily  marked  and  blotched.  The  variety 
T.  sessile  Californicum  is  a  plant  much  larger 
in  all  its  parts,  with  the  marking  of  the 
leaves  and  flowers  much  brighter  in  color. 
This  is  a  very  desirable  plant  and  worth  cul- 
tivating for  its  foliage  alone.  They  succeed 
best  in  a  moist,  shady  situation  and  good, 
rich  vegetable  mould.  Several  of  the  species 
are  valuable  for  pot  culture,  and  when  grown 
in  this  way  may  be  easily  brought  into  bloom 
several  weeks  before  their  usual  flowering 
period.  They  are  tuberous  rooted  and  do 
not  divide  readily,  but  may  be  increased  rap- 
idly from  seed,  which  should  be  sown  as  soon 
as  ripe  in  a  frame,  where  it  may  be  shaded, 
or  sown  in  the  open  ground  and  slightly  cov- 
ered with  leaves. 

Trilobed  or  Trilobate.     Three-lobed. 

Trilocular.     Three-celled. 

Trime'zia.  From  treis,  three,  and  merizo,  to 
divide  ;  in  allusion  to  the  division  of  the  flow- 
ers.    Nat.  Ord.  Iridacem. 

A  small  genus  of  bulbous  plants,  natives  of 
the  West  Indies  and  South  America.  T.  Mar- 
tinicensis,  the  only  species  in  cultivation,  has 
bright  yellow,  very  fugaceous  flowers,  and  is 
seldom  seen  except  in  botanical  collections. 

Tricecius.  Having  male  flowers  on  one  indi- 
vidual, female  on  another,  and  hermaphi-odite 
on  a  third. 

Trio'lena.  From  treis,  three,  and  olene,  the 
arm ;  in  allusion  to  the  three  processes  from 
the  base  of  the  anthers.  Nat.  Ord.  Melasto- 
macecB. 

A  small  genus  of  pilose,  perennial  herbs, 
natives  of  Mexico,  Venezuela  and  New  Gren- 
ada. T.  scorpioides,  the  only  introduced  spe- 
cies, is  very  similar  to  Bertolonia  in  habit, 
and  has  curved  racemes  of  pretty,  rose-colored 
flowers.  It  is  propagated  by  seeds  or  by 
cuttings. 

Trio'num.     Now  included  under  Hibiscus. 

Trio'steum.  Feverwort.  Horse  Gentian.  From^ 
treis,  three,  and  osteon,  a  bone ;  three  bony 
seeds.     Nat.  Ord.  Caprifbliaceos. 

A  genus  of  coarse-growing,  hardy,  herba- 
ceous plants,  common  in  the  Middle  and 
Southern  States.  The  roots  of  one  of  the 
species  was  esteemed  by  the  Indians  as  a 
medicine.  They  are  of  no  horticultural  value. 

Tripartite.     Divided  into  three  parts  nearly  to 

its  base. 

Tripetalous.  When  a  corolla  consists  of  three 
petals. 


AND    GENERAL    HORTICULTURE. 


463 


TRI 

Tripha'sia.  From  triphasios,  triple ;  alluding 
to  the  number  of  sepals  and  petals.  Nat. 
Ord.  Riitaceoe. 

T.  trifoliata,  the  only  species,  is  a  spiny, 
evergreen  shrub,  a  native  of  southern  China, 
but  now  naturalized  in  many  parts  of  the  East 
Indies  and  also  cultivated  in  the  West  Indies. 
Its  fruits,  which  are  as  large  as  hazel-nuts, 
have  an  agreeable,  sweet  taste  when  ripe,  and 
are  sometimes  preserved  whole  in  syrup  and 
exported  under  the  name  of  Lime-berries.  It 
is  under  cultivation,  and  may  be  propagated 
by  cuttings. 

Tripinnate.  When  the  leaflets  of  a  bi-pinnate 
leaf  become  themselves  pinnate. 

Tri'psacum.  From  tribo,  to  thresh  ;  in  allusion 
to  the  purpose  to  which  its  grain  may  be  ap- 
plied.    Nat.  Ord.  GraminacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  grasses  confined  to  the 
Southern  States  and  to  South  America.  T. 
dactyloides,  commonly  called  Gama-Grass  and 
Buffalo  Grass,  is  common  from  Connecticut 
to  Illinois  and  southward.  This  is  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  remarkable  grasses,  grow- 
ing from  four  to  seven  feet  high,  with  leaves 
like  those  of  Indian  Corn  ;  in  the  absence  of  a 
better,  this  grass  is  sometimes  used  at  the 
South  for  fodder.  This  species  is  also  grown 
among  ornamental  grasses. 

Trise'tum.  From  treis,  three,  and  seta,  a  bris- 
tle, on  account  of  the  three  awns  of  the  flower. 
Nat.  Ord.  GraminaceoB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  annual  and  perennial 
grasses,  nearly  allied  to  the  oat-grass,  widely 
distributed  over  the  different  quarters  of  the 
globe.  They  are  chiefly  natives  of  the  tem- 
perate zones,  where  some  of  them  are  useful 
pasture  grasses.  T.  flavescens  and  T.  pubes- 
cens,  natives  of  Great  Britain,  are  considered 
valuable  for  agricultural  purposes ;  the  for- 
mer generally  forms  a  portion  of  all  produc- 
tive meadows. 

Trista'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  M.  C.  Tristan, 
a  French  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Myrtacece. 

A  genus  of  green-house  shrubs,  mostly  na- 
tives of  Australia.  They  are  very  pretty 
plants,  thriving  well  in  a  compost  of  loam 
and  sandy  peat.  T.  conferta,  the  Australian 
Turpentine-tree,  and  T.  neriifolia,  the  Water 
Gum-tree,  are  both  in  cultivation  and  are  in- 
ci-eased  by  cuttings  of  the  half-ripened  wood. 

Tristichous.     In  three  rows  or  ranks. 

Tritelei'a.  From  treis,  three,  and  teleios,  com- 
plete ;  the  parts  of  the  flower  and  fruit  are  in 
threes.     Nat.  Ord.  LiUacem. 

A  small  family  of  very  pretty  bulbs,  natives 
of  California  and  South  America,  often  con- 
founded with  Milla.  T.  uniflora,  or  Spring 
Star  Flower,  is  a  delicately  colored,  free- 
flowering,  hardy  plant,  four  to  six  inches  high. 
The  flowers  are  clear  white  with  a  grayish- 
violet  stripe  on  each  division  of  the  corolla. 
They  open  with  the  morning  sun,  are  conspic- 
uously beautiful  on  bright  days,  and  close  in 
dull,  sunless  weather.  It  comes  into  flower 
with  or  before  Scilla  Sibirica,  and  is  still  in 
effective  bloom  when  the  vivid  blue  of  the 
Squill  has  been  long  replaced  by  green  leaves. 
T.  laxa,  the  Californian  species,  has  glaucous 
leaves,  and  a  many  flowered  umbel  of  deep 
blue  flowers.  All  the  species  are  desirable, 
and  suited  either  to  green-house  culture  or 


TRI 

the  open  border.     They  were  first  introduced 
in  1832,  and  ai-e  propagated  by  offsets. 

Tri'ticum.  Wheat.  From  tritum,  rubbed ;  in 
allusion  to  its  being  originally  rubbed  down 
to  make  it  eatable.     Nat.  Ord.  GraminacecB. 

This  genus  includes  annual  and  perennial 
grasses,  some  of  which  are  the  most  useful 
and  important  plants  in  cultivation,  while 
others  are  the  most  troublesome  pests  the 
farmer  and  gardener  have  to  contend  against. 
T.  vulgare,  Wheat,  has  more  intrinsic  value 
than  any  other  plant  grown.  The  native 
country  of  the  Wheat  is  unknown ;  in  its 
present  form  it  is  older  than  history.  There 
is  no  record  of  it  having  been  found  growing 
wild.  Those  who  have  given  the  most  time 
and  study  to  ascertain  its  origin,  presume  it  is 
a  native  of  southern  Europe  and  Western 
Asia,  a  development  of  the  genus  jEqilops. 
This  is,  however,  mere  speculation.  Many 
varieties  of  Wheat  have  been  produced  by 
culture  and  cross-breeding,  without,  however, 
materially  changing  the  grain.  T.  repens  is 
the  pest  commonly  known  as  Couch  or  Quick 
Grass,  a  perennial  that  is  most  tenacious  of 
life,  and  which,  when  once  established,  will 
destroy  all  other  crops,  and  can  be  extermi- 
nated only  with  the  greatest  exertion  and 
difficulty. 

Tri'toma.  "Frora  treis,  three,  and  temno,  to  cut; 
in  allusion  to  the  three  sharp  edges  at  the 
ends  of  the  leaves.    Nat.  Ord.  LiUacem. 

The  Tritoma,  or  Red-hot  Poker  plant,  and 
also  Flame  Flower,  as  it  is  popularly  known, 
is  a  very  beautiful,  half-hardy,  herbaceous 
plant,  native  of  the  south  of  Africa.  The 
genus  consists  of  about  half  a  dozen  species, 
the  finest  being  T.  Uvaria  grandiflora,  a  plant 
admirably  adapted  for  single  clumps  on  the 
lawn,  or  among  shrubbery,  where  its  tali 
spikes  of  orange-red  flowers  make  an  effective 
display  from  August  until  December.  This 
plant  will  usually  live  through  the  winter 
in  the  latitude  of  New  York  without  pro- 
tection, if  planted  in  a  dry  soil;  but  it  will 
well  repay  the  slight  protection  required  of 
three  or  four  inches  of  dry  leaves  around  the 
stem  to  secure  it  against  all  danger  from 
frost.  The  flowers  are  not  at  all  injured  by  a 
few  degrees  of  frost,  and  it  is  not  an  uncom- 
mon sight  to  see  its  tall  spikes  in  perfect 
flower  in  December.  They  are  readily  in- 
creased by  seed  or  by  division  of  the  roots, 
which  should  be  done  in  early  spring.  This 
genus  was  first  introduced  in  1707,  and  is  now 
placed  under  Kniphofia  by  many  botanists, 
but  it  is  best  known  in  cultivation  as  Tri- 
toma. 

Trito'nia.  From  triton,  a  weathercock,  in  al- 
lusion to  the  variable  direction  of  the  stamens 
in  the  various  species.    Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

A  very  pretty  genus  of  low-growing,  bulbous 
plants,  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  The  flow- 
ers are  tubular,  borne  on  slender  scapes,  the 
colors  being  orange,  white,  yellow  and  blue. 
They  are  half-hardy  and  should  have  the  pro- 
tection of  a  frame  during  winter,  and  may  be 
allowed  to  remain  undisturbed  for  a  number 
of  years.  T.  aurea,  now  called  Crocosma 
aurea,  bearing  beautiful  orange-colored  flow- 
ers, is  one  of  the  best,  and  is  much  esteemed. 
They  were  first  introduced  in  1815,  and  are  in- 
creased by  offsets. 


464 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


TKI 

Tri'xis.  From  trixos,  triple;  alludini?  to  the 
three-celled,  triangular  capsule.  Nat.  Ord. 
CompositcE. 

A  genus  of  green-house  plants  of  variable 
habit,  natives  of  Central  and  South  America 
and  the  West  Indies.  T.  divaricata  auricu- 
lata  imd  T.  senecioides  are  interesting  plants 
with  white  or  yellowish-white  flowers  and 
may  be  increased  by  cuttings  or  by  seeds. 

Tro'llius.  Globe  Flower.  From  trol,  the  Ger- 
man for  round  ;  the  flowers  are  globular.  Nat. 
Ord.  Ranunculacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  yellow- flowered,  herba- 
ceous plants.  T.  laxus,  the  only  native  species, 
has  flowers  twice  the  size  of  the  Buttercup, 
of  a  pale  greenish  yellow  color.  T.  Europmus, 
a  native  of  Great  Britain,  has  much  larger 
flowers,  and  of  a  brighter  color,  and,  with  T. 
Asiaticus,  is  an  excellent  plant  for  the  her- 
baceous border  or  rock  garden.  They  are 
generally  increased  by  division  or  by  seeds, 
which,  however,  rarely  vegetate  theflrst  year, 
but  come  up  vigorously  the  following  spring. 

Tropaeola'ceae.  A  genus  now  included  as  a 
sub-order  of  Geraniacece. 

Tropaeo'lum.  Nasturtium,  Indian  Cress.  From 
tropaion,  a  trophy;  the  leaves  resemble  a 
buckler,  and  the  flowers  an  empty  helmet. 
Nat.  Ord.  Geraniacpce. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  annuals  and 
green-house  tuberous  and  herbaceous  peren- 
nials, all  natives  of  tropical  America.  The 
tuberous- rooted  varieties  are  confined  to  Peru. 
The  well-known  annual  plants,  called  Nastur- 
tiums, are  common  in  every  garden,  and  only 
require  sowing  with  the  other  hardy  annuals 
in  spring.  There  were  formerly  only  two  kinds 
of  the  annual  Tropseolums,  T.  major  and  T. 
minor,  but  since  1830  numerous  varieties  have 
been  raised.  One,  with  very  dark  flowers,  is 
called  T.  minor  alrosanguineum,  and  another, 
with  dark  stripes,  is  T.  minor  venustum.  The 
tali-growing  varieties  are  not  easily  surpassed 
for  covering  arbors  or  unsightly  objects ; 
while  the  dwarf  sorts  are  beautiful  plants  for 
the  mixed  flower  border  or  for  placing  in  beds 
by  themselves ;  they  are  exceedingly  compact 
and  floriferous.  As  the  double  varieties  do 
not  seed  they  must  be  increased  by  cuttings, 
which  root  readily  in  sand.  The  young  shoots 
of  these  plants  are  succulent,  and  taste  like 
the  common  land  Cress,  the  botanical  name 
of  which  is  Nasturtium,  and  hence  they  have 
received  their  popular  name.      Besides  the 

■  hardy  annual  kinds,  there  are  several  tender 
species,  most  of  which  are  kept  in  the  green- 
house. The  best  known  of  these  is  Tropceolum 
tricolorum,  with  flowers  marked  red,  black  and 
yellow,  which  has  tuberous  roots,  and  such 
very  weak  and  slender  stems  that  it  is  found 
necessary  always  to  train  them  over  a  frame 
or  trellis,  as  they  are  quite  unable  to  support 
:  themselves.  In  Paxton's  "  Magazine  of  Bot- 
any" it  is  stated  that  the  tuber  of  the  root 
should  not  be  buried,  but  only  placed  on  the 
surface  of  the  soil,  so  that  the  fibrous  roots 
may  penetrate  it.  This,  it  is  said,  will  en- 
large the  size  of  the  tuber  in  "  a  truly  aston- 
ishing manner;"  and  though  the  plants  will 
not  appear  healthy  the  first  season,  they  will 
afterward  become  extremely  vigorous.  It  is 
also  recommended  to  use  double  pots  for  these 
plants,  and  fill  up  the  interstices  with  river 
sand,   which  should  always  be  kept  moist. 


TSU 

Substantially  the  same  plan  has  been  followed 
in  this  country  for  many  years  and  found  to 
succeed  well.  T.  brachyceras  may  be  treated 
in  the  same  manner,  and  it  would  probably 
succeed  with  T.  tuberosum,  a  species  which  it 
is  very  difficult  to  throw  into  flower  under 
ordinary  treatment,  but  which  grows  best  in 
the  open  ground,  in  rich  soil,  and  with  plenty 
of  air  and  light.  T.  peregrinum,  the  Canary 
Bird  Flower,  was  formerly  considered  a  green- 
house plant,  but  it  is  now  found  much  better 
to  treat  it  as  a  half-hardy  annual,  raising  the 
seeds  on  a  hot-bed,  and  planting  them  out  in 
May  near  some  trellis- work  or  other  support, 
Avhich  the  plant  will  soon  cover  in  the  most 
graceful  manner,  producing  hundreds  of  its 
elegant  fringe-like,  pale-yellow  flowers.  Pro- 
pagated by  cuttings  and  by  seeds.  First 
introduced  in  1596. 

True  Love.     A  local  name  for  Paris  quadrifolia. 

Truffle.  Tuber  cibarium.  A  species  of  Fungus 
found  in  various  parts  of  Europe  and  much 
esteemed  as  a  rare  dish.  It  grows  under  the 
ground  and  was  formerly  sought  after  with 
dogs  trained  for  the  purpose,  but  is  now  usu- 
ally discovered  by  a  particular  species  of  fly 
hovering  over  the  place  of  its  growth.  It  is 
said  that  the  Truffle  has  been  found  in  the 
State  of  New  York. 

Trumpet  Creeper.     See  Tecomn  radicans. 

Trumpet  Flower.  A  common  name  for  vari- 
ous large,  trumpet-shaped  flowers,  as  Datura, 
Brugmansia,  etc. 

Trumpet  Honeysuckle.     A  common  name  for 

Lonicera  sempervirens. 
Trumpet  Leaf.     The  genus  Sarracenia. 
Trumpet  Lily.     Lilium  longijlorum,  also  Rich- 

ardia  jElhiopica. 
Trumpet  Weed.    Eupatorium  purpureum. 
Trumpets.     Sarracenia  flura. 

Truncate.  Blunt,  as  if  cut  off  at  the  end ;  as 
the  leaf  of  the  Tulip  tree. 

Tryma'lium.  From  irymalia,  a  perforation  ;  in 
reference  to  the  small  holes  at  the  top  of  the 
capsule.     Nat.  Ord.  RhamnacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  Australian  green  house 
shrubs  with  the  habit  of  PomaderrUi,  but  with 
smaller  flowers.  T.  odoratissimum  is  well  de- 
serving a  place  in  every  collection  of  green- 
house plants  on  account  of  its  snow-white 
flowers,  which  being  produced  in  numerous, 
loose,  drooping  panicles,  render  it  a  very 
beautiful  object  when  in  blossom ;  its  flowers 
are  also  deliciously  fragrant.  Ic  thrives  in  a 
compost  of  sandy  loam  and  leaf-mould,  and  is 
increased  by  cuttings. 

Tsu'ga.  The  Japanese  name  for  these  trees. 
Nat.  Ord.  ConifercB. 

Of  the  eight  species  that  compose  this 
genus,  two  belong  to  eastern  Asia,  one  to 
eastern  and  five  to  western  North  America. 
All  the  species  are  closely  allied,  and  were 
formerly  included  under  Abies.  T.  Canaden- 
sis, known  better  in  cultivation  as  Abies  Can- 
adensis, is  the  well-known  Hemlock  Spruce, 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  useful  of  our 
native  evergreens.  T.  Pattoniana  is  found  in 
the  highest  timber  regions  of  the  Sierra  Ne- 
vada, where  it  forms  a  large  tree.  In  a  young 
state  it  has  the  aspect  of  a  Juniper,  the  leaves 


AND   GENEKAL  HORTICULTURE. 


465 


TUB 

being  linear  and  pointed.  It  is  very  hardy, 
and  forms  a  beautiful,  erect,  densely  branched 
tree. 

Tubaeform.  Hollow,  and  dilated  at  one  extrem- 
ity like  the  end  of  a  trumpet. 

Tube.  The  part  of  a  mono-sepalous  calyx  or 
corolla,  formed  by  the  union  of  the  edges  of 
the  sepals  or  petals ;  also  applied  to  adhesions 
of  stamens. 

Tuber.     See  Truffle  {Tuber  cibarium). 

Tuber.  A  roundish,  underground,  succulent 
stem,  covered  with  buds,  from  which  new 
plants  or  tubers  are  produced,  as  the  Potato ; 
a  receptacle  of  vegetable  food. 

Tubercle.     Any  small,  warty  excrescence. 

Tuberose.     See  Polianthes  tuberosa. 

Tvdba'ghia.  In  honor  of  Tulbagh,  a  Dutch  gov- 
ernor of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  Nat.  Ord. 
LiliacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  evergreen  perennials,  na- 
tives of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  T.  violacea 
is  a  very  beautiful  plant.  The  flowers  are 
violet-purple,  produced  in  a  many-flowered 
umbel,  somewhat  like  those  of  the  Agapanthus, 
to  which  the  genus  is  allied.  Propagated  by 
division. 

Tulip.     See  Tulipa. 

Tu'lipa.     The  Tulip.     Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecB. 

The  Tulip  derives  its  name  from  the  Persian 
word  Thoulyban,  a  turban ;  an  Eastern  head- 
dress, sometimes  made  in  the  form  of  a  well- 
shaped  Tulip.  Tulips  are  divided  into  several 
classes,  and  of  these  we  shall  speak  in  the 
order  of  their  flowering.  The  single  and 
double  varieties  of  the  Due  Van  Thol,  of  which 
the  type  is  Tulipa  suaveolens  (from  the  Latin 
suavis,  sweet),  are  the  earliest  and  most  suit- 
able for  pot  culture  or  forcing.  If,  in  autumn, 
they  are  planted  singly,  in  small  pots  of  light, 
rich  soil,  they  will  flower  extremely  well  in  an 
ordinary  room,  and  contrast  flnely  with  Hya- 
cinths in  glasses.  They  should  be  frequently 
exposed  to  fresh  air,  and  will  flower  in  water 
like  the  Hyacinth,  but  with  less  certainty  and 
less  luxuriance  ;  hence  they  are  better  grown 
in  pots  of  soil.  The  Due  Van  Thol  was 
introduced  into  English  gardens  from  the 
south  of  Europe  in  1603,  The  Single  Early 
Tulip  {Tulipa  Gesneriana),  the  parent  of  our 
ordinary  garden  varieties,  is  a  native  of 
Asia  Minor,  the  Caucasus,  Calabria  and  cen- 
tral Italy.  Conrad  Gesner,  a  Swiss  naturalist, 
in  whose  honor  it  was  named,  flrst  made  it 
known  by  a  description  and  drawing  in  April, 
1559.  He  obtained  his  specimen  in  a  garden 
at  Augsburg,  where  it  was  grown  from  seed 
brought  from  Constantinople.  It  was  flrst 
flowered  in  England  by  Mr.  James  Garret,  an 
apothecary,  in  1577.  T.  Turkestanica  is,  per- 
haps, the  earliest-flowering  species  of  this 
numerous  family,  coming  in  with  the  earliest 
of  spring-flowering  bulbs.  It  is  perfectly 
hardy  and  has  pretty,  yellow  flowers,  which 
are  produced  as  many  as  six  on  a  stem.  This 
plant,  as  the  specific  name  implies,  is  a  native 
of  Turkestan.  We  are  indebted  to  Dr.  Regel, 
of  St.  Petersburg,  for  the  introduction  of  this 
and  many  other  interesting  plants.  Of  this 
class  of  Early  Single  Tulips  there  is  almost  an 
endless  variety.  They  have  received,  for  more 
than  two  hundred  years,  all  the  care  and  atten- 
tion that  could  possibly  be  bestowed  on  a 


TUL 

plant,  not  only  by  the  Dutch  florists,  but  by 
every  skilled  gardener  throughout  the  Old 
World.  Notwithstanding  the  "mania"  has 
passed  over,  one  of  the  Haarlem  florists  this 
season  (1889)  offers  eighteen  hundred  varieties. 
To  select  from  a  list  so  large  with  a  view  of 
pleasing  or  of  securing  the  most  desirable, 
would  be  to  play  a  game  of  chance.  Every 
color  and  shade,  except  black,  is  represented, 
either  alone  or  mixed,  striped,  or  shaded ;  in 
fact,  every  possible  combination  of  color  may 
be  obtained.  Double  Tulips  are  almost  as 
common  as  the  single,  many  of  them  very 
showy  and  desirable.  But,  like  all  others 
who  have  made  a  specialty  of  the  Tulip,  we 
could  never  admire  the  double  as  much  as  the 
single  varieties.  Late  flowering  or  Show 
Tulips,  of  which  so  much  has  been  said  and 
written,  have  been  grown  from  seed  by 
millions,  the  result  of  which  has  been  the 
acquisition  of  many  superb  varieties.  There 
is  a  singularity  in  Tulips  which  belongs  to  no 
other  flower.  The  seedlings  generally,  when 
they  flrst  bloom,  produce  flowers  without  any 
stripes  or  markings,  but  with  a  yellow  base, 
the  upright  portion  of  the  petals  being  self- 
colored,  brown,  red,  purple,  scarlet  or  rose. 
In  this  state,  when  they  have  been  grown  for 
years  without  variation,  they  are  called 
Breeders  or  Mother  Tulips.  These  are  planted 
every  year  until  they  break  into  stripes,  when, 
if  the  markings  are  flne,  or  different  from  any 
known,  they  are  named.  It  is  often  so  many 
years  before  tliey  break,  and  the  multiplica- 
tion in  the  breeder  state  is  so  rapid,  that  the 
border  soon  becomes  filled  with  this  self- 
colored  variety.  Each  person  who  has  broken 
one  claims,  and  has  a  perfect  right,  to  give  it 
a  name ;  but  much  confusion  naturally  exists, 
because  of  the  fact  that  different  names  have 
been  given  to  those  that  have  broken  almost  ex- 
actly alike.  In  a  bed  of  a  hundred  seedlings,  it 
is  not  probable  that  any  two  will  be  very  nearly 
alike  in  their  markings.  This  uncertainty 
adds  greatly  to  the  charm  of  Tulip  cultivation. 
The  hope  of  something  new  in  the  markings 
and  penciling  is  a  sufficient  stimulant  for  the 
enthusiast  to  persevere  in  his  labor  of  love 
until  he  has  found  one  worthy  of  a  name.  One 
singular  feature  in  the  Tulip  is,  that  after  it 
breaks,  it  ever  remains  the  same.  Show  Tulips 
are  divided  into  three  classes  :  1.  Byblcemens, 
such  as  have  a  white  ground,  variegated  with 
purple,  the  edges  well  feathered,  the  leaflets 
erect,  and  the  whole  forming  a  perfect  cup. 
2.  Bizarres,  having  a  yellow  ground,  varie- 
gated with  scarlet,  purple,  rose  or  violet.  3. 
Rosea,  with  white  ground,  variegated  with 
rose-color,  scarlet  or  crimson.  The  properties 
of  a  good  Tulip,  as  a  florist's  flower,  are :  1. 
The  cup  should  form,  when  quite  expanded, 
from  half  to  a  third  of  a  round  ball.  To  do 
this,  the  petals  must  be  six  in  number,  broad 
at  the  ends,  smooth  at  the  edges,  and  the 
divisions  between  the  petals  must  scarcely 
show  an  indenture.  2.  The  three  inner  petals 
should  set  closely  to  the  three  outer  ones,  and 
the  whole  should  be  broad  enough  to  allow  of 
the  fullest  expansion  without  quartering,  as  it 
is  called,  or  exhibiting  any  vacancy  between 
the  petals.  3.  The  petals  should  be  thick, 
smooth  and  stiff,  and  keep  their  form  well. 
4.  The  ground  should  be  clear  and  distinct, 
whether  white  or  yellow.  The  least  stain, 
even  at  the  lower  end  of  the  petal,  renders  a 


466 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


TUL 

Tulip  of  less  value.  5.  Whatever  be  the  dis- 
position of  colors  or  marks  upon  a  Tulip,  all 
the  six  petals  should  be  marked  alike,  and  be, 
therefore,  perfectly  uniform.  6.  The  feathered 
flowers  should  have  an  even,  close  feathering 
all  round  ;  and  whether  narrow  or  wide,  light 
or  heavy,  should  reach  far  enough  round  the 
petals  to  form,  when  expanded,  an  unbroken 
edging.  7.  If  the  flower  have  any  marking  be- 
sides the  feathering  at  the  edge,  it  should  be 
a  bold  mark  down  the  centre,  but  not  reach- 
ing the  bottom  of  the  cup.  The  mark  must 
be  similar  in  all  the  six  petals.  8.  Flowers  not 
feathered,  and  with  the  flame  only,  must  have 
no  marks  on  the  edges  of  tlie  flowers.  None  of 
the  colors  must  break  through  to  the  edge. 
The  color  may  be  disposed  in  any  form,  so  that 
it  be  perfectly  uniform  in  all  the  petals,  and 
does  not  go  too  near  the  bottom.  9.  The  color, 
whatever  it  may  be,  must  be  dense  and  de- 
cided. "Whether  it  be  delicate  and  light,  or 
bright,  or  dark,  it  must  be  distinct  in  its  out- 
line, and  not  shaded,  or  flushed,  or  broken. 
10.  The  height  should  be  eighteen  to  thirty- 
six  inches  ;  the  former  is  right  for  the  outside 
row  in  a  bed,  and  the  latter  is  right  for  the 
highest  row.  11.  The  purity  of  the  white  and 
the  brightness  of  the  yellow  should  be  per- 
manent ;  that  is  to  say,  should  stand  until  the 
petals  actually  fall.  Where  Parrot  Tulips 
originated  we  have  not  learned.  They  are 
ignored  by  those  florists  who  claim  the  right 
to  say  what  is  and  wliat  is  not  beautiful.  Not 
being  bound  to  observe  the  "laws"  that  regu- 
late the  form,  shape,  and  "perfect markings," 
we  prize  this  class  very  highly,  on  account  of 
their  singularly  picturesque  appearance.  The 
flowers  are  very  large  and  the  colors  exceed- 
ingly brilliant.  They  are  unequaled  for  groups 
iji  mixed  borders,  or  conspicuous  places  in 
front  of  shrubs.  The  varieties  of  this  class 
are  limited,  but  they  are,  nevertheless,  particu- 
larly beautiful. 

Culture  op  the  Tuiiip.  The  best  soil  for 
the  cultivation  of  the  Tulip  is  a  rich,  rather 
light,  well-drained  loam.  A  bed  of  sulficient 
size  for  planting  the  bulbs  should  be  dug  at 
least  twelve  inches  deep.  The  Tulips  should 
then  be  planted  six  inches  apart  each  way ; 
pressed  deep  enough  to  keep  them  in  their 
places,  and  covered  with  mould  to  the  depth 
of  three  inches  on  the  sides  of  the  bed,  and 
five  inches  in  the  centre.  This  precaution  is 
necessary,  that  water  may  not  stand  on  the 
bed  during  the  winter.  When  the  bed  is 
planted  and  covered  it  may  be  left  to  the 
weather  until  the  Tulips  come  up,  or  about 
the  1st  of  March.  Beds  of  Tulips  show  up  to 
much  better  advantage  if  they  are  carpeted 
with  small,  creeping  or  tufted  plants,  and 
there  are  many  hardy,  flowering  and  foliage 
plants  suited  for  the  purpose.  The  White 
Eock  Cress  {Arabis  albida),  and  its  variegated 
form,  Hepaticas,  Silene  pendula,  the  Ground 
Ivy  {Qlechoma  hederacea)  and  its  variegated 
form,  Lamiums,  Sedum  acre  aureum  the 
early  flowering  Violas,  Ajuga  reptans  rubra, 
Aubretias,  and  many  others,  make  excellent 
carpets  foi  beds  of  bulbs.  When  the  flowers 
appear,  if  they  are  protected  from  the  sun  by 
a  light  canvas,  the  period  of  bloom  may  be 
kept  up  for  three  or  four  weeks.  The  colors 
are  generally  better  if  not  shaded  at  all,  but 
in  that  case  the  bloom  would  be  soon  over. 
Sometimes  a  single  day's  hot  sun  would  com- 


TUE 

pletely  spoil  them.  When  the  flowers  begin 
to  fade,  they  should  be  cut  away  and  removed 
from  the  bed.  As  soon  as  the  stems  of  the 
Tulip  turn  yellow,  and  the  leaves  begin  to 
dry,  they  may  be  taken  up  and  put  in  a  cool, 
dry  place.  When  dry,  thoroughly  clean  off 
the  old  skin  and  dirt,  and  put  in  paper  bags, 
ready  for  planting  out  again  in  October.  Some 
of  the  double  varieties  are  very  showy  and 
beautiful,  and  as  they  are  later  in  flowering 
than  the  single  sorts  they  are  desirable  to 
lengthen  the  season  of  flowering.  The  Tulip 
is  also  now  extensively  forced  for  cut  flowei's 
during  the  winter  and  spring  months.  The 
method  of  culture  is  identical  with  that  of 
the  Eoman  Hyacinth  and  Paper  Narcissus. 
The  kinds  known  as  "  Single  Early "  are  the 
best  for  this  purpose.  The  following  are  a  lew 
of  the  most  desirable  sorts :  Belle  Alliance 
(Waterloo),  scarlet ;  Artus,  scarlet ;  Chryso- 
lora,  large  bright  yellow ;  Due  Van  Thol, 
various  colors ;  Duchesse  de  Parma,  red  with 
yellow  band;  Keizerkroon,  scarlet  and  yel- 
low ;  Queen  Victoria  (La  Eeine),  white ;  Eosa 
Mundi,  rose  and  white ;  Eose  Grisdelin,  deli- 
cate rose ;  Vermilion  Brilliant,  dazzling  ver- 
milion ;  Yellow  Prince,  etc. 

Tulip.  African.  A  name  given  to  the  genus 
i[cE7na7ithus. 

Tulip  Tree.     See  Liriodendron. 

Tulip  Tree  or  Fire  Tree,  of  Queensland.  See 
Stenocarpus. 

TuUp.  Wild,  of  California.  The  genus  Calo- 
chortus. 

Tulip  "Wood  Tree.  The  striped,  rose-colored 
wood  of  Physocalymnajloribunda. 

Tulip  Wood  Tree,  Australian.  Cupania  (Har- 
palia)  pendula. 

Tu'nica.  From  tunica,  a  coat ;  referring  to  the 
calyx,     Nat.  Ord.  CaryophyllacecB. 

Hardy  annuals  and  herbaceous  perennials, 
natives  of  southern  Europe  and  Central  Asia, 
and  allied  to  Dianthus.  A  few  of  the  species 
have  showy  flowers  in  spring.  They  are  in- 
creased by  division  or  from  seed. 

Tunicate,  Coated ;  invested  with  layers,  as  an 
Onion. 

Tu'pa.  Tupa  is  the  name  of  T.  Feuillei  in  Chili. 
Nat.  Ord.  Lobeliacece. 

This  is  a  genus  of  pretty  plants,  chiefly  na- 
tives of  Chili  and  Peru.  They  are  worth  cul- 
tivating on  account  of  the  beauty  and  singu- 
larity of  their  flowers.  They  are  treated  and 
propagated  like  the  Lobelia. 

Tupelo  Tree,    See  Nyssa. 

Tupida'nthus.  From  tupis,  tupidos,  a  mallet, 
and  a7ithus,  a  flower;  referring  to  the  shape 
of  the  flower-buds.     Nat.  Ord.  Araliacece. 

T.  calyptratus,  the  only  introduced  species, 
is  at  first  a  small,  glabrous,  erect  tree,  after- 
wards a  lofty  climber.  It  was  introduced 
from  India  in  1855,  and  is  increased  by  cut- 
tings, 

Tupi'stra.  Mallet  Flower,  From  tupis,  a  mal- 
let; alluding  to  the  peculiar  form  of  the 
stigma,     Nat.  Ord,  Liliacece. 

A  small  genus  of  stove-house  plants,  na- 
tives of  the  Himalayas,  Two  species  are  in 
cultivation,  but  are  grown  more  for  their  in- 
teresting flowers  than  for  their  beauty. 

Turbinate,    Top-shaped, 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


467 


TUB 

Turgid.    Swollen,  puffed  up. 
Turio.     A  scaly  sucker,  which  afterwards  be- 
comes a  stem,  as  in  Asparagus. 
Turkey  Corn.     A  common  name  for  Dicentra 

formosa. 
Turkey  Oak.     Quercus  Cerris. 
Tvirkey's  Beard.     See  Xerophyllum. 
Turkish  Rhubarb.     See  Rheum  palmatum. 
Turk's  Cap.     Melocaclus  communis. 
Turmeric.     See  Curcuma. 

Turmeric-Root.     A  common  name  for  Hydras- 
tis Canadensis. 
Tu'rnera.     Dedicated  by  Linnseus  to  the  mem- 
ory of    William    Turner,   author  of   "A  New 
Herbal,"  1551.     Nat.  Ord.  Turneracece. 

A  genus  of  very  handsome  plants  when  in 
flower.  Some  are  annuals,  and  others  green- 
house shrubs  and  herbaceous  plants,  with 
yellow  flowers,  some  of  which  resemble  those 
of  the  Thunbergia.  They  should  be  grown  in 
a  light,  rich  soil.  They  are  propagated  by 
cuttings  or  by  seeds.  Introduced  from  South 
America  in  1774. 
Turnera'ceae.  A  small,  natural  order,  consist- 
ing of  herbs  or  under-shrubs,  natives  chiefly 
of  tropical  Africa  and  America,  with  alternate 
leaves  and  yellowish  or  blue  axillary  flowers. 
The  order  embraces  three  genera  and  nearly 
eighty  species. 
Turnip.  (See  Brassica.)  The  field  and  garden 
Turnip  is  supposed  to  have  originated  by 
long  cultivation  of  the  wild  Brassica  rapa,  a 
native  of  Great  Britain  and  other  parts  of 
Europe.  At  what  period  it  was  first  brought 
into  notice  in  its  native  countries,  or  how  its 
improvement  from  its  native  wild  and  useless 
state  was  brought  about,  is  entirely  un- 
known. It  was  in  use  as  a  vegetable  before 
the  Christian  era,  but  we  have  no  account  of 
its  being  cultivated  to  any  extent  as  a  field 
crop  previous  to  1600.  It  does  not  seem  that 
there  was  any  rapid  development  in  its  im- 
provement worthy  of  mention  by  the  early 
writers  previous  to  1650,  but  from  that  period 
its  increase  in  cultivation  was  rapid,  and 
many  new  sorts  are  mentioned.  At  the  pres- 
ent day,  every  country  adapted  to  its  growth 
boasts  of  the  varieties  it  has  produced.  The 
Swedish  Turnip,  or  Euta  Baga,  one  of  the 
best  known,  originated  from  B.  campestris; 
its  varieties  are  numerous,  and  generally  cul- 
tivated. The  French  Turnip  is  considered 
sweeter  and  freer  from  any  acrid  properties 
than  most  others,  and  is  highly  prized  for  the 
table.  Several  varieties  are  designated  as 
American,  and  the  Purple  and  White  Strap- 
leafed  Turnips  justly  so,  but  where  or  by 
whom  they  originated,  or  the  parentage,  we 
are  without  knowledge.  We  only  know  that 
they  were  long  grown  here  previous  to  their 
being  known  in  Europe,  and  that  they  have 
always  been  regarded  as  American  varieties 
there.  A  variety  known  as  the  White  Egg, 
evidently  a  selection  from  the  Long  White 
or  Cow-horn  Turnip,  is  one  of  the  best 
for  the  table.  The  Turnip  is  used  both  as 
a  spring  and  fall  crop.  For  spring,  sow  as 
early  as  the  ground  is  dry  enough,  and  for 
fall,  in  the  latitude  of  New  York,  sow  Euta 
Bagas  in  July,  and  other  varieties  during  the 
latter  part  of  August  and  in  September,  ac- 
cording to  the  kind.     Seeds  may  be  sown  as 


TWI 

the  ground  becomes  vacant.  In  every  case, 
when  the  soil  is  dry,  firm  the  seeds  well  in 
the  soil  by  the  feet  or  by  rolling. 

Turnip.  Devil's.  A  common  name  for  Bryonia 
dioica. 

Turnip.  Indian.  A  common  name  for  AriscBma 
triphylla,  which  see. 

Turnip.  Lion's.  The  roots  of  Leontice  Leonto- 
petalum. 

Turnip-rooted  Celery.     Celeriac.     See  Celery. 

Turnip.  St.  Anthony's.  A  common  name  for 
Ranunculus  bulbosus. 

Turnsole.  Croton  tinctorium,  also  the  genus 
Heliotrope. 

Turpentine  Tree.  A  common  name  for  vari- 
ous species  of  Abies,  Pinus,  Pistacia,  Bursera, 
etc. 

Tu'rraea.  Named  in  honor  of  George  Turra,  once 
Professor  of  Botany  at  Padua,  and  author  of 
several  botanical  works.  Nat.  Ord.  Mella- 
ce(B. 

A  genus  of  tropical  shrubs  and  large  trees 
confined  to  the  Old  World.  Some  of  the  spe- 
cies have  edible  fruit,  and  a  few  are  grown  for 
the  beauty  of  their  flowers. 

Tu'rritis.  A  genus  of  Cruciferm  now  included 
under  Arabls. 

Turtle-Head.  One  of  the  popular  names  for 
Chelone,  which  see. 

Tussa'cia.  Named  after  F.  R.  de  Tussac,  a 
French  botanist,  who  wrote  a  "Flora  of  the 
Antilles"  in  1808.     Nat.  Ord.  Gesneracece. 

A  small  genus  of  plant-stove  herbs  with 
creeping,  branched  rhizomes,  natives  of  the 
West  Indies,  Guiana,  etc.  The  flowers  are 
yellow,  lined  with  purple  and  the  calyx  scar- 
let, forming  a  very  showy,  terminal  corymb  of 
flowers.  They  require  the  same  culture  as 
the  Gesnera,  to  which  they  are  closely  allied. 

Tu'ssilago.  Colt's  Foot.  From  tussis,  a  cough ; 
for  curing  which  the  flowers  have  been  em- 
ployed.   Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

Hardy  and  half-hardy  perennials,  natives 
of  central  Europe.  One  of  the  species,  T. 
Farfara,  is  common  in  wet  places  in  the 
Middle  and  New  England  States,  having  be- 
come thoroughly  naturalized.  The  variegated 
variety,  the  leaves  margined  with  creamy- 
white,  is  a  very  ornamental  plant,  and  can  be 
used  with  good  effect  in  shady  positions, 
Avhere  other  plants  will  not  thrive.  It  does 
well  as  an  edging  to  clumps  of  Ferns,  or  as  a 
ground-work  to  other  plants  with  graceful 
foliage.  T.fragrans  is  named  the  Winter  Helio- 
trope on  account  of  the  delicious  fragrance  of 
its  purplish  flowers  in  early  spring ;  a  waste 
corner  cannot  be  better  occupied  than  by  this 
sweet  flower.  They  are  of  easy  cultivation 
and  are  propagated  by  division  of  the  roots, 
which  are  inclined  to  increase  rapidly. 

Tutsan.     A  common  name  for  Hypericum  An- 

droscemum. 

T-wayblade.     See  Listera. 

Twig  Rush.  The  popular  name  for  the  com- 
mon bog  or  marsh  plant,  Cladium  mariscoides. 

Twin  Flower.    A  name  applied  to  LinncBa  bo- 

realis,  which  see. 
Twin  Flower.     Scarlet.     Bravoageminifiora. 


468 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


TVVI 

Twin  Leaf.  The  local  name  of  the  genus  Jeffer- 
sonia,  which  see.  The  plant  is  also  some- 
times called  Rkeumalism  Root. 

Tydae'a.  Derivation  not  given.  Nat.  Ord.  Ges- 
neracecB. 

A  genus  of  beautiful  herbaceous  plants,  na- 
tives of  the  mountains  of  New  Grenada. 
There  are  at  present  only  four  described  spe- 
cies, which  are  better  known  under  their  old 
name  of  Achimenes,  the  best  known  being  T. 
picta.  "They  are  erect,  robust  herbs,  with 
Ime  blotched  leaves  and  axillary,  bright-col- 
ored flowers.  The  calyx  is  connate  with  the 
ovary,  the  corolla  almost  funnel-shaped,  and 
five-lobed ;  the  stamens  are  included,  the 
ovary  surrounded  by  five  glands,  the  stigma 
five-cleft  and  the  fruit  a  capsule."  The  Ges- 
neracece  have  been  much  cut  up  and  divided  of 
late  years,  so  that  one  hardly  knows  whei'e  to 
look  for  the  plant  he  wants  to  find.  See  Achi- 
menes  and  Gesnera. 

Ty'pha.  Cat-Tail  Flag.  From  typhos,  a  marsh ; 
referring  to  the  habitat  of  the  species.  Nat. 
Ord.  Typhacece. 

T.  latifoHa,  the  common  Cat-Tail  Flag  of 
our  marshes,  a  native  of  Europe  and  the  East, 
has  become  naturalized  in  almost  all  parts  of 
the  United  States.  It  is  also  common  in  Eu- 
rope. A  species  with  narrow  leaves  is  more 
rare.  The  pollen  of  Typha  is  inflammable, 
like  that  of  Lycopodium,  and  is  used  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  it.    The  "Cat-Tail,"  in  the  minds 


ULM 

of  most  boys,  is  closely  associated  with  the 
"Fourth  of  July,"  being  largely  used  by  them 
for  "setting  off"  their  fireworks  and  crackers. 

Typha'ceae.  A  small  natural  order  of  reed-like 
'  plants,  growing  in  marshes,  ditches,  or  shal- 
low water,  with  long,  narrow,  parallel-veined 
leaves,  and  small  flowers  densely  packed  in 
cylindrical  spikes  or  heads.  There  are  very 
few  species,  but  some  of  them  are  dispersed 
over  nearly  all  parts  of  the  world.  They  form 
two  genera,  Typha  and  Sparganium. 

Typho'nium.  From  Typhon,  a  mythological 
giant.     Nat.  Ord.  AroidecB. 

A  genus  of  tuberous,  perennial  herbs,  differ- 
ing slightly  ootanically  from  Arum,  natives 
of  tropical  Asia,  the  Pacific  Islands  and  Aus- 
tralia. The  species  have  large,  showy  leaves, 
and  require  the  same  genei'al  treatment  as 
Colocasia. 

Tyto'nia.  Water  Balsam.  Named  after  J.r</iMr 
Tyton,  by  whom  many  of  the  oldest  inhabi- 
tants of  our  gardens  were  preserved.  Nat. 
Ord.  GeraniacecB. 

T.  natans,  the  only  species,  is  a  stove  aqua- 
tic, its  large  irregular  flowers  beautifully 
variegated  with  white,  red  and  yellow.  It 
should  bo  grown  in  rich,  loamy  soil,  in  large 
pots  or  pans  of  water,  in  a  warm  part  of  the 
green-house.  It  is  a  native  of  tropical  Asia, 
introduced  in  1810,  and  can  be  increased  V)y 
seeds  sown  in  spring.    Syn.  Hydrocera  trijlora. 


u. 


u 


gni.  A  genus  founded  on  a  single  Chilian 
species  which  was  at  first  referred  to  Eu- 
gpnia,  but  is  now  generally  placed  under 
Myrtus.  M.  Ugni  has  very  agreeably  flavored 
aromatic  fruit,  and  succeeds  admirably  in  the 
Southern  States.     See  Myrtus. 

U'hdea.  Z7.  bipinnatifida  is  a  stout-habited 
Mexican  composite  plant,  valuable  for  sum- 
mer decoration.  It  is  of  robust  growth,  attain- 
ing a  height  of  from  four  to  six  feet  in  deep, 
rich  soils.  The  branching  stems  are  clothed 
with  slightly  silvery  or  glaucous,  irregular  and 

.  deeply  cut  foliage.  In  sheltered  positions  on 
the  lawn  it  forms  ri^ble,  isolated  specimens, 
or  it  may  be  judicioasly  grouped  along  with 
dark-leaved  Ricinus  or  Cannas.  U.  pyrami- 
data  is  of  a  lighter  and  fresher  green  than 
the  preceding,  and  is  larger  m  habit,  having 
more  of  the  aspect  of  Malva  in  foliage.  They 
are  both  readily  propagated  from  cuttings, 
which  are  freely  produced  by  old  specimens 
taken  up  carefully  in  autumn  and  re-potted. 

U'lex.  Furze.  Gorse  or  Whin.  Said  to  be 
taken  from  the  Celtic  ac,  a  point ;  in  allusion 
to  its  prickly  branches.  Nat.  Ord.  Legumi- 
noscB. 

A  genus  of  very  beautiful,  evergreen  shrubs, 
with  yellow  flowers,  both  double  and  single, 
indigenous  to  Great  Britain  and  the  south  of 
Europe.  They  are  highly  esteemed  for  hedge 
plants,  and  the  young  tops  are  cut  and  fed  to 
cattle  and  horses ;  but  their  value  as  a  food 


plant  is  considerably  questioned.  None  of  the 
species  thrives  in  this  country,  being  too 
tender  for  our  Northern  States,  and  too 
impatient  of  our  ti'opical  summers  in  the 
South. 

UUginose.     Inhabiting  swampy  places. 

U'Ilucu3.  From  Ulluco,  the  Quitan  name. 
Nat.  Ord.   ChenopodiacecR. 

U.  tuberosa,  the  only  species,  is  a  half- 
hardy,  fleshy,  decumbent  herb,  with  a  stem 
throwing  out  thread-like  branches,  which, 
when  they  enter  the  earth,  produce  edible 
tubers.  The  plant  is  extensively  cultivated  for 
these  tubers  in  the  mountains  of  Bolivia  and 
Peru,  under  the  name  of  Oca-quina.  It  is  in- 
teresting, as  having  been  unsuccessfully  tried 
as  a  substitute  for  the  Potato.     Syn.  Melloca. 

Ulma'ceae.  Now  included  as  a  sub-tribe  of  Urli- 
cacem. 

TJ'Imus.  Elm.  Supposed  to  be  from  the  Saxon 
word  elm  or  ulm,  a  name  which  is  applied, 
with  very  slight  alterations,  to  the  trees  of 
this  genus  in  all  dialects  of  the  Celtic  tongue. 
Nat.  Ord.   Urticacece. 

This  genus  takes  the  first  rank  in  the  great 
army  of  American  trees.  When  asked,  "  What 
is  the  handsomest  tree  in  America  ?  "  we  un- 
hesitatingly say,  "  U.  Americana,  the  Ameri- 
can Water  or  White  Elm.  "  Of  the  several 
species  that  make  up  this  genus,  none  in  any 
respect  compares  with  this.  U.  fidva  is  the 
common  Bed  or  Slippery  Elm.     U.  racemosa 


TULIPA  GBEEGI. 


TULIP  (DOUBLE   SCARLET  TOUENESOL). 


TULIPA  GESNEEIANA   (SINGLE  TULIP). 


468 


TULIPS  (VARIETIES  OF). 


TULIP  (P ABBOT). 


VEKBENA   (types  OF) 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


469 


UMB 

is  the  Cork,  Hickory  or  Cliff  Elm.  U.  alata  is 
the  Winged  Elm  or  Whahoo  of  the  South  and 
West.  The  celebrated  English  Elm  is  U.  cam- 
pestris.  All  the  species  are  propagated  from 
seeds. 

Umbel.  An  inflorescence  in  which  the  stalks 
radiate  from  a  common  point  and  form  a  flat 
or  convex  surface  above,  as  in  the  Carrot.  It 
is  simple  or  compound. 

Umbellate.  Disposed  in  or  resembling  the  um- 
bels. 

Umbelli'ferae,  One  of  the  most  natural  and, 
consequently,  most  easily  recognized  orders 
of  plants,  but  one  of  the  most  difficult  to 
divide  into  well-defined  genera.  It  consists 
of  herbs,  often  strongly  scented,  with  small 
flowers,  usually  in  a  simple  or  compound 
umbel  which  has  given  the  name  to  the  ordei\ 
They  inhabit,  for  the  most  part,  woods,  bogs, 
marshes  and  dry  places,  principally  in  the 
northern  parts  of  the  northern  hemisphere. 
As  the  equator  is  approached  they  become 
less  known,  and  in  the  southern  hemisphere 
they  are  comparatively  rare.  Though  mostly 
herbs,  these  plants  sometimes  attain  a  gigan- 
tic size,  as  in  some  species  of  Heracleum  and 
Angelica.  Dr.  Welwitsch,  moreover,  mentions 
having  found  in  tropical  Africa,  in  the  region 
of  the  Golungo  Alto,  an  arboreous  umbellifer 
with  a  stem  one  foot  and  a  half  in  diameter, 
which  is  prized  highly  by  the  natives  for  its 
medicinal  properties  and  for  its  value  as  a 
timber  ti'ee.  This,  so  far  as  at  present  known, 
is  the  most  gigantic  plant  of  the  order.  The 
UmbelUferm  number  at  least  fifteen  hundred 
species,  divided  amongst  nearly  three  hundred 
genera,  many  of  which  are  important  as  pro- 
ducing articles  of  food  ;  many  are  poisonous  ; 
most  are  merely  unimportant  weeds ;  a  few, 
like  Astrar^ia,  are  furnished  with  gay  colors, 
and  thus  become  objects  of  decoration.  One 
of  them,  Bolax  Glebaria,  forms  huge  tussocks 
in  the  FalklandTslands,  resembling  hay-cocks. 
Of  the  harmless  species,  in  which,  with  a  little 
aroma,  there  is  no  inconsiderable  quantity  of 
acrid  watery  matter  or  gum-resinous  secre- 
tion, must  be  more  particularly  named  Celery, 
Fennel,  Samphire,  Parsley,  and  the  roots  of 
the  Carrot,  Parsnip  and  Skirret  {Sium  Sis- 
arum).  The  roots  of.  Eryngium  campestre  and  E. 
mari<m?im,  commonly  called  Eryngo,  are  sweet, 
aromatic  and  tonic.  The  aromatic  roots  of 
Meum  athamanticum  and  M.  Midellina  form 
an  ingredient  in  Venice  treacle.  Angelica 
Root  {Archangelica  officinalis),  is  fragrant, 
sweet  when  first  tasted,  but  leaving  a  glowing 
heat  in  the  mouth.  Others  are  gum-resinous, 
as  the  species  of  Ferula  and  Narthex,  yielding 
Asafoetida,  the  fetid  odor  of  which  is  supposed 
to  be  owing  to  sulphur  in  combination  with  a 
peculiar  essential  oil. 

Of  aromatic  and  carminative  fruits,  the 
most  celebrated  are  Anise  {Pimpinella  Anisum), 
Dill  {Anethum  graveolens).  Caraway  {Carum 
Carui)  and  Coriander  {Coriandrum  sativum). 
Besides  these,  great  numbers  of  less  note  are 
also  employed  for  the  same  reason,  the  chief 
of  which  are  the  Aj  wains  or  Ajowains  of  India 
(species  of  Ptychotis),  Honeywort  {Sison  Amo- 
m,um),  whose  fruits  smell  of  bugs,  and  Cummin 
{Cuminum  Lyminum),  now  only  used  in  veter- 
inary pi'^ctice.  Among  poisons.  Hemlock 
(Coniiim  maculatum)  holds  the  first  place.  An- 
thriscus  vulgaris  and  A.  sylvestris  are  not  so 


UNI 

dangerous,  .^thusa  Cynapium,  (Enanthe  cro- 
cata,  (E.  phellandrium,  Cicuta  maculata  and  C. 
virosa  are  other  poisonous  species. 

Umbellula'ria  Californica.  A  name  given  to 
Ocotea  or  Oreodaphne  Californica,  the  Califor- 
nian  Sassafras. 

Umbi'licus.  From  umbilicus,  the  navel ;  in  al- 
lusion to  the  concave  leaves  of  some  of  the 
species.     Nat.  Ord.  Crassulacece. 

A  genus  of  interesting  plants,  natives  of 
southern  Europe,  the  Levant  and  tropical 
Africa,  and  now  usually  placed  under  Cotyle- 
don. In  some  of  the  species  the  radical  leaves 
are  rosulate,  or  disposed  like  the  petals  in 
the  flower  of  a  double  Rose ;  others  have 
them  alternate  on  the  stalk ;  in  all  they  are 
fleshy.  The  flowers,  which  are  either  white 
or  yellow,  grow  in  branched  or  simple  ra- 
cemes. They  grow  naturally  in  dry,  stony 
places,  are  at  home  in  a  rock-work,  and  are 
often  used  for  carpet  bedding  and  edging. 
They  grow  well  in  pots,  and  require  the  same 
treatment  as  Echeverias  and  Sempervivums. 
Introduced  in  1732. 

Umbraculiform.    Umbrella-shaped. 

Umbrella  China  Tree.  A  variety  of  Melia 
Azedarach,  which  see. 

Umbrella  Grass.  The  common  name  of  Fuirena 
squarrosa.  It  is  common  in  sandy,  wet  placea 
from  Massachusetts  southward. 

Umbrella  Palm.     See  Kentia. 

Umbrella  Pine  or  Parasol  Fir.  See  Sciado- 
pitys. 

Umbrella  Tree.  Magnolia  Umbrella  and  M. 
tripetala,  also  Thespesia  populnea  and  Pan- 
danus  odoratissimus. 

Umbrosus,     Growing  in  shady  places. 

Uuarmied.  Destitute  of  spines  or  prickles; 
pointless. 

Unca'ria.  From  uncus,  a  hook;  the  old  peti- 
oles are  converted  into  hooked  spines.  Nat. 
Ord.  Rubiacece. 

A  genus  of  about  thirty  species  of  climbing, 
shrubby  plants,  natives  of  the  tropics.  The 
most  interesting  species,  U.  Oambier,  from 
which  the  Gambler  of  commei'ce  is  obtained, 
is  a  native  of  India  and  was  introduced  in 
1825. 

Uncinate.  Bent  or  curved  at  the  tip,  like  a 
hook. 

Undershrub.  A  small,  woody  plant,  the  ends 
of  its  branches  perishing  annually. 

Undulate.     Wavy  or  wavy-margined. 

Unguiculate.  Furnished  with  a  claw  (unguis) ; 
that  is,  a  narrow  base ;  as  the  petals  of  a  Rose, 
where  the  claw  is  very  short,  and  those  of 
Pinks,  where  the  claw  is  very  long. 

Uni.  In  compound  words,  one,  as  Unifoliate, 
Uniflorus,  etc. 

Unicorn  Plant.  A  common  name  for  Martynia 
lutea  and  M.  proboscidea. 

Unicorn  Root.  Unicorn's  Horn.  The  root  of 
Helonias  dioica,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  Penn- 
sylvania, Virginia,  etc. ;  used  as  an  anthel- 
mintic. 

Uniflorus.     Supporting  a  single  flower. 

UnifoUate.  When  a  compound  leaf  consists  of 
one  leaflet  only,  as  in  the  Orange-tree. 

Unilocular.     One-celled. 


470 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


UNI 

Uni'ola.  Sea-side  Oat.  From  urnis,  one ;  so 
called  by  Linnaeus,  owing  to  the  union  of  the 
glumes.     Nat.  Ord.  Graminactm. 

A  genus  of  grasses,  natives  principally  of 
the  Southern  States,  tf.  paniculata  and  U.  lati- 
folia  are  very  ornamental  and  well  worthy  of 
cultivation.  The  dried  spikes,  both  natural  and 
dyed  in  different  colors,  are  much  used  in 
bouquets,  etc.,  of  dried  flowers  and  grasses. 
U.  Palmcri,  collected  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Colorado  Kiver,  by  Mr.  Palmer,  and  described 
by  him,  is  interesting  as  supplying  the  Indians 
of  that  section  with  a  large  amount  of  grain. 
"  They  come  together  at  the  proper  season,  in 
April,  and  gather  this,  to  them,  important 
ai'ticle  of  food.  As  its  quantity  depends  on 
the  overflow  of  the  tides,  and  the  tides  are 
sure  10  occur,  they  have  an  assured  crop  with- 
out any  other  labor  than  gathering  and  caring 
for  the  grain.  *  *  *  The  grain  has  to  be 
cut  when  a  little  green  because  of  the  easy 
separation  of  the  spikelets.  In  order  to  dry 
the  heads  as  quickly  as  possible  large  fires 
are  made,  and  the  heads  are  piled  around  so 
that  the  flames  penetrate  between  them. 
"When  they  have  been  sufficiently  exposed  to 
the  fire  a  stick  is  used  to  thrash  the  heads, 
which  breaks  up  the  spikelets,  but  does  not 
separate  the  chaff  or  glumes  from  the  grain. 
The  dried  and  dissevered  spikelets  are  then 
taken  to  a  piece  of  ground  prepared  for  the 
purpose,  and  the  Indians  tread  upon  and  rub 
the  grain  between  their  feet  until  the  seeds 
are  shelled  out. 

"  This  process  is  more  easily  accomplished 
after  the  grain  has  been  exposed  a  while  to 
the  sun,  but  in  any  case  it  is  pi-etty  trying  to 
the  feet  because  of  the  sharp,  stiff  points  of 
the  chaff.  The  action  of  the  tide  knocks  off 
and  carries  away  considerable  of  the  grain, 
but  this  is  left  in  rows  at  the  edge  of  the  con- 
tiguous dry  land,  and  the  Indians  gather 
much  of  it  and  rub  it  out.  They  have  to  be 
expeditious  in  their  harvest,  as  wind  storms 
are  liable  to  arise  and  destroy  or  injure  the 
product  of  their  labors." — Garden  and  Forest. 

Upas  Tree.    See  Antiaris  toxicaria. 

Ura'nia.  Traveler's  Tree.  From  ouranios,  sub- 
lime ;  in  allusion  to  the  stateliness  of  the 
tree.     Nat.  Ord.  Scitaminem. 

U.  speciosa,  the  only  known  representative 
of  this  genus,  was  formerly  called  Ravenala 
Madagascar iensis.  It  is  a  magnificent  plant, 
having  a  palm-like  appearance,  and  is  called 
in  Madagascar  the  Traveler's  Tree,  because 
the  base  of  the  leaves,  when  cut,  yield  an 
abundant  and  refreshing  juice,  with  which 
travelers  allay  their  thiist.  The  leaves  are  of 
gigantic  size,  somewhat  like  those  of  Musa 
Ensete,  but  arranged  in  two  rows  on  opposite 
sides  of  the  stems.  Young  plants  are  obtained 
by  suckers  or  from  seed. 

Urceo'la.  A  genus  of  ApocynacecB,  consisting 
of  one  species.  U.  elastica,  a  large,  climbing, 
milky-juiced  shrub  or  tree,  frequently  with  a 
trunk  as  thick  as  a  man's  body,  found  only  in 
Borneo,  Sumatra,  and  other  islands  of  the 
Eastern  Archipelago,  where  its  milky  juice  is 
collected  and  forms  an  inferior  kind  of  Caout- 
chouc. It  produces  a  fruit  about  the  size  of 
an  orange,  much  relished  both  by  the  natives 
and  by  European  residents. 

Urceolate.  Pitcher-shaped,  contracted  at  the 
mouth. 


UBO 

UrceoU'na.  Urn-Flower.  From  urceoliis,  a 
small  cup  or  pitcher;  in  allusion  to  the 
smallness  of  the  cup,  or  nectary,  inside  the 
flower.     Nat.  Ord.  AinaryllidacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  handsome,  summer-bloom- 
ing, Peruvian  bulbs.  The  flowers  are  yellow, 
red  and  green.  They  grow  freely  in  the  open 
border  and  require  a  long  season  of  rest. 
They  may  be  kept  during  winter  like  the 
Tigridias,  and  planted  out  in  the  border  after 
all  danger  from  frost  is  past.  They  were 
introduced  in  1837,  and  are  propagated  by 
offsets.    Sj'n.  Pentlandia. 

Urens.    Stinging. 

XJrgi'nea.  From  the  name  of  an  Arab  tribe, 
Ben  Urgin,  in  Algeria.     Nat.  Otd.  Liliacece. 

A  genus  of  over  twenty  bulbous  plants  of 
little  interest.  The  bulbs  of  U.  maritima,  the 
old  Scilla  maritima,  are  known  in  medicine 
as  Squills.  The  species  are  natives  of  the 
Mediterranean  region,  and  have  large  bulbs, 
whence  proceed  the  leaves  and  long-stalked 
racemes  of  flowers,  the  latter,  however,  being 
produced  first. 

Urn  Flower.    See  Urceolina. 

Urope'dium.  From  oura,  a  tail,  and  podion,  a 
slipper;  in  allusion  to  the  long-tailed  petals. 
Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacem. 

A  genus  of  terrestrial  Orchids  nearly  re- 
lated to  Cypripedium.  It  consists  of  only  one 
described  species,  U.  Lindeni,  a  native  of  New 
Grenada,  which  is  found  growing  at  an  eleva- 
tion of  8,500  feet  above  the  sea  level.  It  dif- 
fers from  Cypripedium  in  its  broader,  flattened 
lip,  and  extremely  long-tailed  petals.  The 
leaves  are  about  a  foot  long,  oblique  at  the 
extremity,  shining,  and  fleshy  in  texture. 
The  flowers  are  solitary,  produced  on  long 
peduncles ;  the  sepals  are  ovate-lanceolate, 
yellow,  streaked  with  orange ;  tRe  petals  are 
linear-lanceolate,  extended  into  a  long,  nar- 
row tail,  a  foot  or  more  iu  length,  and  purple- 
orange  at  the  base.  This  is  a  remarkable  and 
very  interesting  plant,  which  should  find  a 
place  in  every  collection.  It  was  introduced 
in  1849,  and  requires  the  same  treatment  as 
Cypripedium.  This  genus  is  included  by  some 
authorities  under  Selenipedium. 

Urope'talum.  From  oura,  a  tail,  and  petalon,  a 
petal ;  the  petals  are  lengthened  into  tail-lika 
appendages.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacem. 

A  small  genus  of  Cape  bulbs,  very  singular 
and  interesting.  The  flowers  are  green,  or 
green  and  orange,  borne  on  slender  scapes  in 
terminal  racemes.  They  are  tender,  and 
must  be  kept  warm  and  dry  during  winter, 
and  planted  out  in  the  border  in  early  spring. 
They  were  fii'st  introduced  in  180iS,  and  are 
propagated  by  offsets.     Syn.  Dipcadi. 

Uroski'nnera  Spectabilis  is  the  sole  representa- 
tive of  a  Central  American  genus  of  Srrophu- 
lariacecB,  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  G.  Ure  Skin- 
ner, who  introduced  so  many  new  plants  from 
Central  America  to  our  gardens.  It  is  an 
undershrub  somewhat  resembling  in  habit 
certain  Gesneracea,  and  covered  in  all  parts 
with  soft  hairs.  The  rosy-violet,  rather 
large  fiowers,  are  arranged  in  terminal, 
crowded  panicles,  and  supported  by  filiform 
bracts.  It  was  introduced  from  Mexico  in 
1856,  and  may  be  increased  by  cuttings  in 
heat. 


AND   GENEKAL  HORTICULTURE. 


471 


URO 

Urospa'tha,  From  oura,  a  tail,  and  spatha,  a 
spathe ;  referring  to  tlie  long-pointed  spathe 
in  most  of  tlie  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Aroidece. 

A  genus  of  warm-liouse  Arads  with  thick 
rhizomes,  natives  of  tropical  America.  U. 
dehiscens  and  U.  sagitlifoUa  are  in  cultivation 
and  require  a  great  deal  of  water  when  grow- 
ing. They  may  be  propagated  by  division  of 
the  root-stock. 

Urospe'rmum.  Sheep's  Beard.  From  ouros,  a 
tail,  and  spermum,  a  seed ;  alluding  to  the 
beaked,  hard,  dry,  one-seeded  fruit.  Nat. 
Ord.  Composilce. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy,  annual  or  biennial, 
slightly-branched  plants,  natives  of  the  south 
of  Europe.  U.  JJalechampi  is  a  handsome 
biennial,  of  dwarf  tufted  growth,  producing 
heads  of  large,  lemon-colored  blossoms.  It 
thrives  in  any  light  soil  in  an  open  position 
and  is  quite  hardy.     Syn.  Arnopogon, 

Ursi'nia.  A  genus  of  CompositcB,  included  un- 
der Sphenogyne. 

Urti'ca.  Nettle.  From  uro,  to  burn  ;  in  refer- 
ence to  the  stinging  properties  of  most  of  the 
species.    Nat.  Ord.  Urticacem. 

The  Roman  Nettle,  U.  pilulifera,  is  some- 
times grown  in  gardens  as  an  ornamental 
annual,  but  the  sting  is  much  worse  than  that 
of  U.  dioica,  the  common  Nettle.  Some  of 
the  exotic  species  are  very  handsome ;  as,  for 
example,  U.  reticulata,  a  native  of  Jamaica, 
which  has  red  and  yellow  flowers  and  deep 
green  leaves.  The  stinging  effects  of  U.  uren- 
tissima  (Devil's  Leaf),  a  native  of  Timor,  are 
said  to  be  so  violent  as  to  last  for  twelve 
months,  and  sometimes  to  cause  death.  Many 
species  produce  excellent  fibre,  and  several 
are  considered  to  possess  medicinal  proper- 
ties. There  are  eeveral  native  and  natural- 
ized species,  all  troublesome  weeds. 

Urtica'ceae.  A  natural  order  consisting  of 
trees,  shrubs,  or  herbs,  from  almost  every 
part  of  the  globe,  with  alternate  and  lobed 
leaves  furnished  with  stipules  and  small,  in- 
conspicuous, unisexual  flowers,  usually  in 
cymes  or  heads,  not  in  catkins.  They  possess 
narcotic  qualities  and  yield  valuable  fibres. 
Cannabis  sativa  yields  the  well-known  Hemp, 
one  of  our  most  valuable  fibres.  It  is  im- 
ported in  large  quantities  from  Russia,  and 
is  produced  in  a  small  way  in  this  country. 
The  plant  grows  naturally  in  the  cooler  parts 
of  India,  and  there  develops  narcotic  quali- 
ties, which  seem  to  reside  in  the  resin  which 
covers  the  leaves.  What  are  called  Hemp 
Seeds,  used  for  the  food  of  birds,  are  in  real- 
ity Hemp  fruits,  each  containing  a  single 
seed.  Humulus  Lupulus,  the  well-known  Hop, 
possesses  both  tonic  and  hypnotic  properties, 
that  is,  a  power  to  produce  sleep.  The  scales 
of  the  Hop  heads  are  covered  with  resinous 
matter,  which  has  an  aromatic  odor.  Among 
the  other  important  numbers  of  this  order 
may  be  enumerated  the  Bread-fruit  Tree 
{Arctocarpus  incisa),  Elm  (Ulmvs),  Fig  {Ficus 
Carica),  India-rubber  Plant  (Ficus  elastica)  and 
Mulberry  {Morus  alba  and  M.  nigra).  Several 
of  the  species  are  valuable  as  timber  trees. 
It  includes  nearly  one  hundred  and  ten  gen- 
era and  fifteen  hundred  species. 

Usnea.    This  word  is  said  to  have  originated  in 
.  the  Arabic  achneh,  or  achnen,  which  is,  accord- 
ing to  Golius,  the  name  by  which  the  Arabian 


UVU 

physicians  designate  Lichens  in  general.  A 
genus  of  Lichens,  the  species  of  which  grow 
on  rocks  and  trunks  of  trees,  from  which  latter 
circumstance  they  are  often  called  Tree  Moss 
or  Tree  Hair.  Some  of  the  southern  species, 
as  U.  Melaxantha  are  magnificent.  In  the 
stems  of  this  (which  attains  a  considerable 
size),  concentric  zones  of  growth  have  been 
observed  by  Sir  J.  D.  Hooker. 

Ustilago.  From  iistits,  burnt;  in  allusion  to 
the  scorched  appearance  of  the  organs  of  the 
host-plants,  in  which  the  spores  are  developed. 
This  genus  is  interesting  as  including  the 
various  kinds  of  Smut  which  are  so  injurious 
to  grasses,  wheat,  corn,  etc. 

Utricle.  A  small',  bladdery  pericarp ;  any  thin, 
bottle-like  body ;  the  two  confluent  glumes  of 
Carex. 

Utricula'ria.  Bladderwort.  From  utriculus,  a 
little  bladder ;  applied  to  the  small  inflated 
appendages  of  the  roots.  Nat.  Ord.  Lentibu- 
lariacecB. 

A  genus  of  cudous  aquatic  plants,  common 
throughout  the  United  States.  They  are  par- 
ticularly interesting  in  that  during  the  early 
stage  of  the  plant,  the  small,  bladdei  -like  ap- 
pendages at  the  roots  are  filled  with  water ; 
but  when  the  flowers  are  ready  to  expt.nd 
they  become  filled  with  air.  After  the  season 
of  flowering,  the  vesicles  become  again  filled 
with  water,  and  the  plant  descends  to  ripen 
its  seeds  at  the  •  'Ottora.  U.  minor,  U.  vulgaris, 
U.  minor  and  U.  neglecta  are  worthy  of  being 
grown  as  curiosities.  U.  Endresii  (pale  lilac), 
introduced  from  Costa  Rica  in  1874,  and  U. 
montana  (white),  from  the  West  Indies  in 
1871,  very  beautiful  stove-house  epiphytes 
with  showy.  Orchid-like  flowers,  are  often 
grown  in  the  Orchid-house,  and  suc(!eed  best 
in  baskets  of  fibry  peat  and  sphagnum,  sus- 
pended near  the  glass.  U.  Humboldtii  and  U. 
reniformis  grow  best  in  large  pans  of  sphagnum 
partially  plunged  in  water.  They  are  very 
beautiful  and  interesting  plants. 

Utriculiform.     Having  the  shape  of  a  bottle. 

Uva'ria.  From  uva,  a  cluster  of  grapes ;  allud- 
ing to  the  fruits  of  some  of  the  species.  Nat. 
Ord.  AnonacecB. 

A  genus  of  twining  or  climbing  shrubby 
plants,  natives  of  tropical  Africa  and  Asia. 
Several  species,  formerly  included  here,  are 
now  referred  to  other  genera.  U.  Kirkii  is  a 
medium-sized  undershrub,  and  JJ.  Ztj/lanicum, 
a  large  woody  climber.  Both  thrive  in  a  com- 
post of  sandy  loam  and  leaf  mould,  and  are 
increased  by  cuttings  of  the  ripened  wood  in 
heat. 

Uvula'ria.  Bellwort.  The  plants  were  formerly 
used  in  diseases  of  the  uvula;  whence  the 
name.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  small  genus  of  very  handsome,  hardy, 
herbaceous  perennials  with  lily-like  flowers, 
borne  solitary,  or  rarely  in  pairs,  on  slender 
peduncles,  from  the  uppermost  leaves.  The 
flowers  are  bright  and  greenish  yellow.  U. 
grandiflora  grows  from  one  to  two  feet  high, 
with  long,  clear  yellow,  drooping  flowers,  very 
attractive  in  early  summer.  It  is  an  excellent 
plant  for  a  partially  shaded  position  in  the 
rock-garden.  There  are  several  other  species 
common  throughout  the  United  States,  in  rich, 
moist,  shady  woods. 


472 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


Y. 


VAO 

Vacca'ria.    Cow  Herb.    Named  from  vacca,  a 
cow.     Nat.  Ord.  Caryophyllacece. 
A  coarse-growing,   hardy,  herbaceous  per- 
ennial,  formerly  called   Saponaria  Vaccaria. 
It  was  introduced  into  the  garden,  but  has 
escaped  and  become  common  in  waste  places. 

Vaccinia'ceae.  A  natural  order  consisting  of 
much-branched  shrubs  or  small  trees,  often 
evergreen,  with  alternate,  undivided  leaves 
without  stipules,  the  flowers  growing  solitary 
or  in  racemes,  often  richly-colored,  and  the 
fruit,  usually  a  berry,  frequently  edible.  The 
species  are  numerous  in  the  temperate  and 
colder  parts  of  the  world,  especially  in 
swamps  or  sub-alpine  countries,  and  on  moun- 
tain chains  within  the  tropics.  They  are  dis- 
tributed into  about  twenty-five  genera  and 
over  three  hundred  species,  the  greater  num- 
ber being  included  in  Vaccinium  and  Thibau- 
dia. 

Vacci'nium.  High-bush  Cranberry,  Blueberry, 
Bilberry.  An  ancient  Latin  name,  whether  of 
a  berry  or  a  flower  is  not  satisfactorily 
known.     Nat.  Ord.   Vacciniacem. 

An  extensive  genus  of  interesting  shrubs, 
many  of  which  are  indigenous  to  the  United 
States,  and  others  to  Europe  and  the  East 
and  West  Indies.  V.  macrocarpa  of  some 
authors  is  the  Large  or  American  Cranberry, 
common  in  bogs  North  and  West.  V.  stami- 
neum  is  the  Squaw  Huckleberry,  common  in 
dry  woods  from  Maine  to  Michigan.  V.  uligi- 
nosum  is  the  Bog  Bilberiy,  a  low-growing  spe- 
cies, common  in  high  elevations  in  New  Eng- 
land and  New  York.  V.  corymbosum  is  the 
common  or  Swamp  Blueberry,every  where  com- 
mon except  southward.  V.  Vitis-Idma —the 
vino  of  Mount  Ida — is  the  Cow-berry  found 
sparingly  in  this  country  but  common  in 
Britain.  The  beautiful,  white-berried,  green- 
house shrub,  V.  leucobotrys,  though  rarely 
seen  in  collections  in  this  country,  is  well 
worthy  of  cultivation.  It  was  introduced  un- 
der the  name  of  Epigynium  leucobotrys  from 
Bengal  in  1859.  There  are  many  other  spe- 
cies and  varieties,  the  slight  difference  in 
them  noticeable  only  by  the  botanist.  For 
the  common  Cranberry  and  its  culture,  see 
Oxycoccus. 

Vagiuate.    Sheathed;  surrounded  by  a  sheath. 

Valdi'via.  So  called  from  the  town  of  Valdivia  in 
Chili.  A  genus  of  Saxifragacece,  consisting  of  a 
single  species.  It  is  a  singular  and  ornamen- 
tal, small,  half-hardy,  evergreen  shrub,  with 
short,  erect,  pyramidal  panicles  of  pretty 
rose-colored  flowers,  the  tube-like  portion  of 
which  is  angular,  and  the  tips  of  the  petals 
recurved ;  the  flowers  are  three-quarters  of 
an  inch  long.    Introduced  in  1863. 

Valerian,    See  Valeriana. 

Valeria'na.  Said  by  some  to  be  named  after 
Valerius,  who  first  used  it  in  medicine ;  others 
assert  that  it  is  derived  from  valere,  to  be  in 
health,  on  account  of  the  medicinal  qualities 
of  V.  officinalis.  Nat.  Ord.  Valerianacem. 
Hardy  perennials,  most  of  them  showy  bor- 


VAL 

der  plants  of  easy  culture.  Some  of  them 
have  long  been  in  cultivation.  Those  best 
known  are  natives  of  Switzerland.  The  golden- 
leaved  variety  of  V.  Phu  is  a  highly  effect- 
ive plant,  particularly  in  spring,  when  its 
foliage  is'  newly  developed.  It  is  of  tufted, 
neat  habit,  gruws  freely  in  any  soil  and  is  per- 
fectly hardy.  There  are  several  native  spe- 
cies, from  which  the  tincture  of  Valerian  is 
obtained.  All  the  species  are  propagated  by 
division. 

Valeriana'ceae.  A  natural  order  consisting  of 
annual  or  perennial  herbs,  usually  strong- 
scented  or  aromatic  (especially  their  roots), 
with  rather  small,  but  often  elegant,  flowers 
in  terminal  cymes  or  panicles.  They  a^-e 
found  in  temperate  climates,  chiefly  in  the 
mountains  of  the  northern  hemisphere  or  of 
South  America.  The  medicinal  qualities  of 
the  order  have  been  known  from  ancient 
times,  and  the  plants  now  take  rank  at  the 
head  of  the  vegetable  anti-spasniodics.  About 
a  dozen  genera  are  included  in  the  order,  and 
nearly  three  hundred  species.  Centranthus, 
Valeriana  and  Valerianella  are  the  most  famil- 
iar examples. 

Valeriane'Ua.  Lamb's  Lettuce,  Fetticus,  Corn 
Salad.  A  diminutive  of  Valerian.  Nat.  Ord. 
Valerianacece. 

A  genus  comprising  about  fifty  species  of 
small,  hardy,  annual  herbs,  with  repeatedly- 
forked  stems,  natives  of  Europe,  North  Africa, 
Western  Asia  and  North  America.  V.  olitoria, 
a  native  of  Great  Britain,  generally  known  as 
Fetticus,  is  the  only  species  of  economic  in- 
terest. It  is  used  as  a  salad  and  is  sown  and 
cultivated  exactly  as  Spinach.  It  is  also 
grown  to  a  large  extent  IJy  the  German  gar- 
deners around  New  York  in  cold  frames,  as 
an  early  spring  salad.     Syn.  Fedia  olitoria. 

Valerian  Greek.  A  common  name  for  Pole- 
monium  carideum,  which  see. 

Valerian.     Bed  or  Spur.     Centranthus  ruber. 

VaUisne'ria.  Eel  Grass,  Tape  Grass.  Named 
in  honor  of  A.  Vallisneri,  an  Italian  botanist. 
Nat.  Ord.  Hydrocharidacem. 

A  genus  of  aquatic  plants,  common  in  slow- 
running  waters,  remarkable  on  account  of  the 
extremely  curious  manner  in  which  the  pro- 
cess of  fertilization  is  effected.  The  male  and 
female  flowers  are  on  different  plants,  and  the 
latter  rise  on  long  spiral  stalks,  which  grad- 
ually uncoil  above  the  surface  of  the  water, 
while  the  latter  are  produced  at  the  bottom. 
Before,  however,  the  anthers  burst  to  dis- 
charge the  pollen,  the  male  flowers  detach 
themselves  from  their  stalks,  and  rise  up  to 
the  surface,  on  which  they  float  like  little 
white  bubbles.  After  the  pollen  has  been 
distributed  over  the  stigmas,  the  male  flow- 
ers wither,  and  the  spiral  stalks  of  the 
females  coil  up  again  so  as  to  draw  the  seed- 
vessel  under  the  water,  that  it  may  ripen  at  the 
bottom  and  burst  when  just  in  the  proper 
place  to  deposit  its  seeds.  Nothing  can  be* 
more  beautiful  than  the  whole  arrangement; 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTUKE. 


473 


VAL 

and  nothing  can  show  more  strikingly  the  ad- 
mirable manner  in  which  the  wonderful 
economy  of  nature  is  carried  on.  V.  spiralui, 
the  best  Itnown  and  only  species  in  our  waters, 
is  admirably  adapted  for  growing  in  the  aqua- 
rium. Besides  being  a  beautiful  evergreen, 
one  of  the  essentials  for  the  aquarium,  one 
can,  by  growing  it,  witness  that  wonderful 
and  interesting  phenomenon  in  plant  life. 

Vallo'ta.  Scarborough  Lily.  Named  in  honor 
of  Pierre  Vallot,  a  French  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
AmaryUidaceoe. 

V.  purpurea,  the  only  known  species,  is  a 
native  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  where  it  is 
found  in  boggy  places.  It  is  an  evergreen 
bulb,  producing  its  splendid  spikes  of  brilliant 
scarlet  blossoms  (not  purple,  as  the  name  im- 
plies) in  August,  and  occasionally  at  other 
periods.  It  is  one  of  the  most  showy  of  the 
interesting  family  to  which  it  belongs,  and  the 
little  care  required  to  grow  it  makes  it  par- 
ticularly desirable.  It  does  best  with  ordinary 
pot  culture,  requiring  liberal  watering,  except 
for  a  few  months  in  winter.  The  bulbs  should 
notoftenbe  separated,  but  occasionally  shifted 
into  larger  pots  when  they  become  thoroughly 
root-bound.  Too  frequent  shiftings  are  in- 
jurious to  this  bulb ;  they  do  much  better 
when  pinched,  and  it  is  not  an  uncommon 
occurrence  to  see  twenty-five  flower  spikes, 
with  five  or  eight  flowers  each,  at  one  time, 
from  a  ten-inch  pot  of  the  bulbs.  They  increase 
rapidly  from  offsets,  which  may  be  picked  off 
the  top  of  the  pot  without  disturbing  the  main 
bulbs.  They  may  be  grown  successfully  in 
the  border,  and  dried  off  in  winter,  like  the 
Gladiolus,  except  that  they  should  be  taken  up 
after  a  slight  frost  and  packed  away  in  boxes 
of  earth,  without  disturbing  the  tops,  water- 
ing only  once  or  twice  during  the  winter. 
There  are  two  or  tlixee  varieties,  differing  only 
in  the  size  of  the  flowers.    Introduced  in  1774. 

Valo'nia.  A  commercial  name  for  the  large 
capsules,  or  Acorn  cups,  of  Quercus  JEgilops, 
which  are  used  for  tanning,  dyeing  and  mak- 
ing ink. 

Valora'dia  plumbaginoides.  A  synonym  of 
Plumbago  Larpentce. 

Valvate.  United  by  the  margins  only,  as  the 
valves  of  a  capsule. 

Valves.  The  doors  by  which  various  bodies 
open ;  the  term  is  also  applied  to  the  pieces 
into  which  a  capsule  splits. 

Va'nda.  Vanda  is  the  Sanscrit  name  of  the 
original  species  of  this  genus.  Nat.  Ord. 
Orchidacete. 

A  genus  of  magnificent  epiphytal  Orchids 
from  tropical  Asia.  Several  of  the  species 
are  found  in  our  best  Orchid  houses,  where 
they  are  most  conspicuous  objects,  both  on 
account  of  the  size  and  beautiful  colors  and 
markings  of  the  flowers,  and  for  their  deli- 
cious fragrance.  The  plants  may  be  attached 
to  blocks  of  wood  or  cork,  and  suspended 
from  the  roof  of  the  house.  From  March  till 
May  the  heat  should  range  from  70*  to  90", 
or  even  more  in  sunny  weather,  and  every 
morning  and  evening  they  should  be  sur- 
'  rounded  with  vapor,  besides  an  application  of 
water  from  the  syringe  once  a  day.  From 
May  till  September,  which  with  us  is  the 
blooming  season,  the  same  degree  of  heat 
should  be  maintained,  but  with  a  diminution 
of  the  moisture  as  the  flowers  advance ;  and 


VAR 

afterward,  through  the  winter,  moisture  may 
be  withheld,  and  the  temperature  reduced  to 
60".  Some  of  the  species  have  been  under 
cultivation  since  1810.  V.  tricolor,  one  of  the 
best,  was  introduced  in  1846.  Of  this  species 
there  are  some  fifteen  or  more  varieties,  all  of 
great  beauty.  V.  co^rulea,  a  most  lovely  light- 
blue  species,  introduced  from  Khasyain  1H49, 
requires  less  heat  than  the  other  kinds,  and 
sometimes  succeeds  best  under  green-house 
treatment.  They  are  propagated  by  carefully 
detaching  the  lateral  shoots,  when  about  six 
inches  long. 

Vani'lla.  An  alteration  of  Vaynilla,  which  is  a 
diminutive  of  Vaina,  a  Spanish  word,  signify- 
ing a  sheath ;  in  reference  to  the  cylindrical 
pod  being  like  the  sheath  of  a  knife.  Nat. 
Ord.  Orchidaceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  tropical,  climbing  Orchids, 
one  of  the  most  important  of  the  whole  fam- 
ily, not  because  of  its  flowers,  but  for  the 
commercial  value  of  the  fruit,  which  is  uni- 
versally used  in  the  preparation  of  extracts 
for  flavoring.  The  best  Vanilla  is  the  prod- 
uce of  V.  planifolia,  a  native  of  Mexico 
(Chapman,  in  his  "Flora  of  the  Southern 
States,"  credits  Curtiss  as  having  found  this 
species  on  the  borders  of  the  Everglades), 
but  several  other  South  American  species  are 
also  used.  The  flowers  of  this  genus  are 
white,  striped  with  red,  and  quite  insignifi- 
cant; these  flowers  are  succeeded  by  pods 
about  six  inches  in  length  and  one-fourth  of 
an  inch  in  diameter.  The  pod  contains,  be- 
sides its  numerous  seeds,  a  black,  oily 
and  balsamic  substance,  which,  recently 
gathered,  is  humid,  and  its  odor  is  said 
to  produce  intoxication.  The  pods  are  gath- 
ered during  the  last  three  months  of  the 
year,  and  are  carefully  dried  by  exposure  to 
th-e  sun's  rays  until  they  are  made  warm,  in 
which  state  they  are  wrapped  in  woolen 
cloths  to  promote  and  absorb  evaporation. 
When  thoroughly  cured  they  are  ready  for 
shipment.  The  extract  is  obtained  by  cut- 
ting the  pods  in  small  pieces,  and  pulverizing 
in  a  mortar  containing  about  four  parts  of 
fine  glass  to  one  of  Vanilla.  It  requires  a 
great  amount  of  labor  to  get  the  Vanilla  fine 
enough  for  the  dilute  alcohol  to  act  upon  it 
in  a  manner  that  will  secure  the  whole.  After 
the  pulverized  mass  has  been  in  alcohol  for 
several  days,  it  is  filtered  through  paper,  and 
is  fit  for  use. 

Vanilla  Plant.  The  popular  name  of  Liatris 
odoratissima. 

Vanilla  or  Seneca  Grass.  See  Hierochloe  bo- 
realis. 

Variabilis.  Presenting  a  variety  of  character ; 
as  when  leaves  are  variously  modified  on  the 
same  plant. 

Variegated.     Irregularly  colored. 

Variegated  Laurel.     Aucuba  Japonica. 

Variegated  Rush.     See  Scirpus. 

Variety.  A  term  indicating  a  lower  grade  or 
subdivision,  next  to  the  species ;  as  the  dif- 
fei'ent  sorts  of  Pears,  Apples,  Geraniums, 
Roses,  etc. 

A  variety  can  only  be  propagated  with  cer- 
tainty by  grafts,  cuttings,  bulbs,  tubers,  or 
any  other  method  which  produces  a  new 
plant  by  the  development  of  one  or  more 
buds  taken  from  the  old  one. 


474 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


VAR 

Variolate.  Marked  as  if  by  the  pustules  or  pit- 
tings  of  small-pox. 

Varnish  Tree.  A  common  name  for  Ailantus 
glandulosus,  Rhus  vernicif era,  etc. 

Vascular,  Furnished  with,  or  relating  to  ves- 
sels or  ducts. 

Vasculum.  A  botanist's  collecting-box.  The 
term  is  also  applied  to  a  pitcher-shaped  leaf. 

Vas9S.  These  are  formed  of  iron,  stone,  earth- 
enware etc.,  and  are  usually  raised  on  a  pedes- 
tal to  a  height  of  four  or  five  feet.  They  aie 
of  various  sizes  and  patterns.  The  bowls  for 
the  soil  vary  in  depth  from  six  to  eighteen 
Inches ;  but  in  all  cases  holes  must  be  made 
in  tlie  bottom  (if  not  already  there")  to  allow 
free  drainage  for  water,  for,  without  these 
(and  some  are  made  without  them),  the  soil 
would  soon  get  saturated  and  sour.  Almost 
the  same  character  of  plants  is  used  for  plant- 
ing vases  as  for  window  boxes  (which  see).  A 
very  beautiful  pi-aetice  is  now  in  use  to  plant 
them  in  early  spring  with  Pansies,  which  re- 
main in  bloom  until  June,  the  time  at  which 
the  summer  plants  are  ready  to  be  planted  to 
take  their  place.  Vases  are  usually  exposed 
to  the  full  force  of  the  sun  on  the  open  lawn, 
and,  consequently,  require  a  great  deal  of 
watering  to  keep  them  in  good  condition.  By 
mulching  the  surface  with  moss  during  sum- 
mer, evaporation  will  be  checked  and  a  great 
deal  of  labor  saved. 

Vauqueli'nia.  A  genus  of  Rosacem  comprising 
one  species  with  saw-toothed  leaves  and  pure 
white  flowers.  It  was  first  described  by  Dr. 
Torrey  as  Spireea  Californica,  but  was  referred 
to  its  right  genus  by  Mr.  Watson.  It  is  a  na- 
tive of  Mexico,  Arizona,  etc. 

Vegetable  Fire-cracker.      A  common  name  for 

Brodiaca  coccinea. 
Vegetable  Hair.      A  name  given  to  Tillandsia 

tutneoides. 
Vegetable  Horse-hair.    The  fibre  of  Chammrops 

humilis. 
Vegetable  Ivory-nut.     See  Phytolephas. 

Vegetable  Marrow  or  Midshipman's  Butter. 

See  Persea. 

Vegetable  Marrow.  An  English  name  for  a 
variety  of  summer  Squash.  The  one  usually 
grown  is  about  nine  inches  long  and  four  to 
five  in  diameter.  It  is  used  in  every  stage  of 
its  growth,   and  is  particularly  tender    and 

■  sweet.  It  is  grown  in  all  respects  like  the 
several  varieties  of  our  summer  Squashes. 

Vegetable  Mercury.    See  Frandscea. 

Vegetable  Oyster.     See  Tragopogon  porrifolius. 

Vegetable  Sheep.  A  name  given  to  Cibotium 
Burometz. 

Veins.  The  small  ribs  or  branches  of  the  frame- 
work of  leaves. 

Vei'tchia.  Named  in  honor  of  the  late  James 
Veitch,  of  Chelsea,  London;  the  leading  nur- 
seryman of  his  day.     Nat.  Ord.  PalmacecB. 

A  beautiful  genus  of  Palms  closely  allied  to 
Kentia,  with  which  they  are  often  confounded. 
Two  species  are  described,  and  are  valued 
ornaments  of  our  stoves.  Introduced  from 
the  New  Hebrides  and  Fiji  in  1868  (syn.  Ken- 
tia). The  name  was  formerly  applied  by  Dr. 
Lindley  to  a  curious  Japanese  conifer,  since 
proven  to  be  a  monstrous  state  of  some  Picea. 


VEN 

Ve'Ua.  Said  to  be  Latinized  from  Veler,  a 
Celtic  name  for  such  a  plant.  Nat.  Ord.  Cm- 
cifercE. 

A  small  genus  of  much-branched,  half- 
hardy  shrubs,  natives  of  Spain.  V.  Pseudo- 
cytisus,  the  species  most  generally  cultivated, 
has  large,  yellow  flowers,  with  long,  dark 
purple  claws  and  entire  leaves.  It  may  be 
increased  by  cuttings  in  spring. 
Vellei'a.  Named  after  Major  Velley,  who  was 
greatly  interested  in  Algm.  Nat.  Ord.  Goode- 
niacece. 

A  genus  of  green-house,  perennial  h(^rbs, 
having  a  short,  thick  stock  and  radical  leaves, 
natives  of  Australia.  Their  flowers  are  yel- 
low, like  those  of  the  Goodenia,  and  they  are 
closely  allied  to  Euthales. 
Vello'zia.  Named  after  Velloz,  a  Portuguese 
naturalist,  who  edited  the  works  of  Vandelli 
on  Brazil.     Nat.  Ord.  AmarillidacecB. 

The  Vellozias  are  like  perennial  Lilies,  and 
grow  from  two  to  ten  feet  high,  having  trunks 
as  large  as  a  man's  body,  branching,  and  hav- 
ing tufts  of  leaves  on  the  top  like  the  Yucca. 
The  flowers  are  large,  white,  blue  or  violet, 
produced  singly  or  on  slender  scapes  from 
the  tips  of  the  branches.  They  are  showy 
and  attractive  features  in  the  mountain  re- 
gions of  Brazil  and  Australia.  Syn.  Barbacenia. 
Velthei'mia.  Named  in  honor  of  F.  A.  Velt- 
heim,  a  German  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  LiliacecB. 

Large-growing  bulbs  from  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope.  The  flowers  are  flesh-color  and 
of  but  little  beauty,  though  of  long  duration. 
V.  viridifolia  has  beautiful,  broad,  shining, 
green  leaves,  with  undulated  margins  and  a 
flower  scape  one  to  two  feet  long.  It  is  a 
very  interesting  and  showy  species.  The 
bulbs  rest  the  entire  summer,  and  come  into 
bloom  in  early  winter.  They  are  grown  from 
seed,  which  they  produce  freely.  The  bulbs 
rarely  divide  or  make  offsets.  Introduced  in 
1781. 

Velvet  Flower,  A  common  name  for  Amaran- 
thu8  caudatus. 

Velvet  Grass,    See  Holcus. 

Velvet  Leaf.  Abutilon  AvicenncB  and  Lavatera 
arborea. 

Venation.  The  arrangement  of  veins  in  a  leaf, 
etc. 

Veni'dium.  Meaning  of  the  name  not  given. 
Nat.  Ord.  CompoHitm. 

A  genus  of  green-house  or  half-hardy,  per- 
ennial plants,  natives  of  southern  Africa.  V. 
calendulaceum  is  a  low-growing  plant,  some- 
what of  a  trailer,  bearing,  in  summer,  a  pro- 
fusion of  showy.  Marigold-like,  yellow  blos- 
soms. Cuttings  put  in  in  August  root  freely, 
or  plants  may  be  readily  raised  from  seeds 
sown  in  spring.  It  is  the  best  of  the  genus 
and  well  worthy  of  cultivation. 

Venose.    Veiny ;  having  many  branched  veins. 

Ventila'go.  From  ventilo,  to  be  exposed  to  the 
wind,  and  ago,  to  drive  away;  in  allusion  to 
the  fruit  being  winged,  and  scattered  by  the 
wind.     Nat.  Ord.  RhamnacecB. 

A  genus  of  stove-house,  climbing  shrubs, 
found  all  over  the  tropics.  V.  madraspatana 
is  the  only  species  in  cultivation,  and  is  rarely 
seen  except  in  botanical  collections. 

Ventilating.  Or  "  Airing,"  as  gardeners  call 
it,  is  an  important  operation  in  growing  plants 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


475 


YEN 

under  glass,  and  ignorance  or  carelessness  in 
ttie  work  often  results  in  dire  disaster  to  the 
contents  of  the  hot-bed,  green-house  or  grap- 
ery. It  often  happens,  when  inexperienced 
carpenters  undertake  the  erecting  of  green- 
house structures,  that  they  are  built  with  en- 
tirely inadequate  means  of  ventilation,  so  that, 
no  matter  how  careful  the  person  in  charge 
may  be,  he  has  not  the  means  allowed  to  pro- 
vide sufficient  ventilation.  In  a  span-roofed 
green-house  or  grapery,  having  a  base  width 
of  twenty  feet,  the  glass  roofs  sloping  to  the 
east  and  west  will  be  each  about  thirteen  feet, 
making  twenty-six  feet  in  the  span.  To  prop- 
erly ventilate  a  structure  of  this  kind,  mov- 
able sashes,  not  less  than  thirty  inches  in 
width,  extending  the  entire  length  of  the  roof, 
should  be  hinged  to  the  apex  on  the  east  side. 
The  sashes,  when  lifted  up  by  the  patent 
ventilating  apparatus,  are  raised  from  one 
inch  to  thirty  inches,  as  desired,  the  entire 
length ;  thus,  when  fully  up,  about  one-tenth 
part  of  the  entire  glass  roof  is  thrown  open 
for  ventilation  ;  and  in  hot  days  this  is  often 
found  to  be  none  too  much.  In  a  series  of 
green-houses,  requiring  different  tempera- 
tures, it  is  a  good  plan  to  mark  the  maximum 
and  minimum  allowed  for  ventilation  close 
to  each  thermometer,  so  that  the  workman  in 
charge  of  ventilating  can  be  held  to  account- 
ability ;  for  example,  if  70  is  the  degree  re- 
quired, let  the  maximum  of  temperature  be 
75°  and  the  minimum  65*^,  allowing  a  range  of 
ten  degrees.  The  patent  ventilating  appa- 
ratus usually  costs  about  fifty  to  seventy-five 
cents  per  running  foot ;  but  it  is  indispensable 
to  a  well-regulated  green-house  or  grapery, 
from  its  power  to  grade  the  amount  of  venti- 
lation to  suit  all  weatheis.  In  the  use  of  por- 
table sashes  for  hot-beds  or  frames,  the  best 
way  to  ventilate  is  to  raise  the  sash  at  the 
back  by  pieces  of  wood  so  notched  that  from 
one  inch  to  five  or  six  inches  can  be  given  as 
required. 

Ventral.  Belonging  to  that  side  of  a  simple 
pistil,  or  other  organ,  which  looks  towards  the 
axis  or  centre  of  the  flower ;  the  opposite  of 
dorsal. 

Ventricose.  Inflated,  or  swelled  out  on  one 
side. 

Ventriculose.     Abounding  in  veinlets. 

Venus'  Fly-trap.     See  Dionma  muscipula. 

Venus'  Hair.  A  common  name  for  Adiantum 
Capillus  veneris. 

Venus'  Lookiug-Glass.  See  Specularia  specu- 
lum. 

Venus'  Navel-wort.     See  Omphalodes. 

Venus'  Slipper.     See  Cypripedium  insigne. 

Vera'trum.  False  or  White.  Hellebore.  From 
vere,  truly,  and  aler,  Ijlack ;  in  allusion  to  the 
color  of  the  roots.     Nat  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  herbaceous,  coarse-grow- 
ing plants,  with  large,  coarse^  fibrous  roots, 
which  are  very  poisonous.  V.  viride,  a  species 
common  in  swamps  and  marshy  grounds,  is 
popularly  known  as  White  Hellebore  or  In- 
dian Poke.  The  powdered  roots  of  this 
species  and  V.  album  are  used  to  destroy 
Caterpillars,  Rose  Beetles  and  other  insects. 
It  is  the  base  of  some  of  the  so-called  Persian 
Insect  Powders,  which  should  therefore  be 
used  with  care. 


VER 

Verba'scum.  Mullein.  Aaron's  Club.  Said  to 
be  from  barbascum,  bearded ;  in  allusion  to 
the  bearded  filaments.  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophu- 
lariaceoe. 

An  extensive  genus  of  rather  coarse-grow- 
ing, more  or  less  woolly,  biennial  or  perennial 
herbs,  natives  of  Europe,  northern  Africa  and 
west  and  central  Asia.  V.  Chaixi  or  V.  ver- 
nale,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  is  a  true  per- 
ennial and  is  one  of  the  most  showy  of  the 
species.  It  grows  to  the  height  of  ten  feet 
and  its  large,  green  leaves  are  extremely 
effective.  The  color  is  good  and  the  panicle 
of  flowers  enormous.  The  quantity  of  yellow 
flowers  with  purplish  filaments  that  are  borne 
on  one  of  these  great  branching  panicles  is 
something  marvelous.  It  is  well  suited  for 
the  back  of  a  mixed  border,  for  grouping  with 
other  plants  of  remarkable  size  or  form  of  foli- 
age, or  for  placing  here  and  there  in  open 
spaces  in  the  shrubbery.  V.  phoRniceum  is  a 
very  handsome  species,  distinct  from  all  the 
others  by  the  flowers  being  of  various  hues, 
but  usually  of  a  violet-blue,  overlying  a  yel- 
low ground  striped  with  violet.  It  is  of  slen- 
der growth,  from  two  to  four  feet  high,  and  the 
flowers,  which  are  large  and  showy,  are  pro- 
duced numerously  in  long  spikes. 

Verbe'ua.  Vervain.  Said  to  be  from  its  Celtic 
name,  Ferfcen.    Nat.  Oi'd.   Verbenacece. 

The  beauty  of  this  extensive  genus  is  well 
known,  and  needs  no  comment.  They  are  all 
peculiarly  adapted  for  growing  in  beds  in  the 
flower-garden  and  are  extensively  grown  for 
that  purpose.  As  a  dec-  irative  plant  they  are, 
comparatively,  of  recent  introduction.  Our 
garden  varieties  have  all  originated  from  the 
following  species  :  V.  melindres,  a  low,  creep- 
ing plant  with  intense  scarlet  flowers,  intro- 
duced from  Buenos  Ayres  in  1827.  V.  Tweedi- 
ana,  of  freer  growth  and  more  upright  habit, 
umbels  larger,  and  florets  more  profuse,  but  of 
a  less  vivid  color,  was  introduced  in  1834  from 
Brazil.  V.  teucrioides,  a  taller-growing  spe- 
cies, of  much  coarser  habit,  with  flowers  of 
pure  white,  in  narrow-pointed  spikes,  and 
very  fragrant,  was  introduced  from  Monte- 
video in  1837.  V.  multifida,  with  lilac-purple 
flowers,  was  introduced  from  Peiu  in  1818. 
These  species  we  understand  were  first  intro- 
duced to  this  country  liy  W.  C.  Brackenridge, 
of  Baltimore;  and  Robert  Buist,  of  Philadel- 
phia, quick  to  see  their  adaptability  as  bed- 
ding plants,  was  the  first  to  cross-breed  them 
and  introduce  many  new  sorts,  the  parents  of 
the  many  varieties  now  in  commerce.  Several 
species  have  been  found  in  the  United  States, 
and  among  them  V.  montana,  a  hardy  peren- 
nial from  the  Rocky  Mountains,  a  very  free- 
flowering  species,  with  flowers  of  a  bright 
rose,  changing  to  lilac — a  decided  acquisition 
to  the  flower-garden.  V.  aubletia,  with  spikes 
of  showy,  purple  flowers,  a  hardy  biennial,  is 
found  in  Illinois  and  westward.  V.  venosa  is 
a  beautiful,  half-haidy  perennial  species  in- 
troduced from  Brazil  in  183U,  not  so  well 
known  as  it  deserves.  Its  lilac  or  bluish  flow- 
ers are  produced  in  great  profusion  rendering 
it  a  first-rate  subject  for  bedding,  especially 
if  mixed  with  silver-leaved  Geraniums.  It  is 
easily  kept  through  the  winter,  and  if  its 
fleshy  roots  are  stored  thickly  in  boxes,  any 
number  of  plants  may  be  propagated  in  the 
spring  from  the  young  shoots  that  are  abund- 
antly produced.     It  is  easily  raised  from  seed 


476 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


VER 

which  should  be  sown  four  months  before  the 
plants  are  wanted,  as  the  seed  is  frequently 
slow  in  germinating.  Verbenas  are  easily 
grown  from  seed,  which  should  be  sown  in  a 
hot-bed  or  the  green-house  in  early  spring, 
and  once  pricked  out  before  planting  in  the 
flower-bed.  Plants  from  seed  will  be  more 
vigorous  than  from  cuttings ;  but  when  spe- 
cial colors  are  wanted  seedlings  cannot  be  de- 
pended upon.  At  the  low  price  the  plants  are 
now  sold  in  the  markets,  it  is  cheaper  to  buy 
them  than  to  grow  them  from  seed ;  but  when 
the  amateur  is  not  convenient  to  the  florist, 
the  supply  can  be  easily  kept  up  from  seed. 
In  growing  Verbenas,  successive  plantings 
should  not  be  made  on  the  same,  ground  ;  the 
less  frequt^ntly  the  better.  It  is  not  that  they 
exhaust  the  soil  that  renders  a  change  neces- 
sary, but  when  grown  more  than  once  on  the 
same  spot,  they  are  far  more  liable  to  be 
attacked  by  the  Aphis  at  the  roots,  which  is 
fatal  to  them.  The  varieties  selected  by  flo- 
rists in  the  United  States  are  far  superior  to 
those  of  Europe,  so  that  for  the  past  twenty 
years  hardly  any  importations  have  been  made 
of  either  seeds  or  plants.  The  plant  is  better 
suited  to  our  climate,  and  is  far  more  exten- 
sively cultivated  here  than  in  Europe.  The 
Verbena  delights  in  a  sweet,  turfy  loam ; 
clayey  or  sandy  soils  should  be  avoided  in  the 
selection  of  the  bed. 

Verbena  Oil  Plant.     A  name  given  to  Andro- 
pogon  Schcenanthus. 

Verbena.      Sand.      A  common  name  for  Abro- 
nia. 

Verbena. 
dora. 


Sweet  Scented.     See  Aloysia  citrio- 


Verbeua'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  trees,  shrubs 
or  herbs,  widely  scattered  over  the  warmer 
parts  of  the  globe,  and  especially  abundant  in 
south  temperate  regions,  a  few  genera  only 
being  found  in  Europe,  northern  Asia  and 
North  America.  Teak,  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant timbers  in  the  world,  is  the  wood  of 
Tectona  grandis.  The  well-known  Lemon 
Verbena,  Aloysia  (Lippia)  citrioidora,  and  sev- 
eral species  of  Lantana  are  used  as  Tea.  The 
order  is  distributed  into  over  fifty  genera  and 
nearly  seven  hundred  species.  Clerodendron, 
Lantana,  Verbena  and  Vitex  are  good  exam- 
ples. 

Verbesi'na.  Crown  Beard.  Altered  from  Ver- 
bena, which  some  of  the  species  are  supposed 
to  resemble.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  genus  of  annual  or  perennial  herbs  or 
shrubs,  natives  of  the  West  Indies,  California, 
Texas  and  Mexico.  V.  encelioides  is  a  showy, 
half-hardy  species,  one  to  two  feet  high,  with 
broad  clusters  of  yellow  flowers.  V.  gigantea, 
an  ornamental  shrub  from  Jamaica,  about  six 
feet  high,  forms,  when  young,  a  very  pleasing 
plant  for  decorative  purposes,  its  round,  green 
stems  being  covered  with  large,  winged,  pin- 
nate leaves  of  a  glistening,  delicate  green 
color  and  very  elegant  outline.  V.  pinnatifida 
is  a  roughish,  half-shrubby  species,  with  a 
winged  stem  and  woolly,  oval  leaves  with 
lobed  or  toothed  margins.  They  may  be  in- 
creased by  seeds  or  divisions ;  the  shrubby 
species  by  cuttings.     Syn.  Ximeneaia. 

Verei'a.     A  synonym  of  Kalanchoe. 

Vermicular.     Worm-shaped. 

Vernal.    Appearing  in  spring. 


VEE 

Vernal-Grass.  The  common  name  for  Anthox- 
anthum  odoratum. 

Vernation.  The  arrangement  of  leaves  in  a 
bud. 

Vernicose.  Covered  with  natural  varnish  ;  ap- 
pearing as  if  varnished. 

Verno'nia.  Iron  Weed.  Named  in  honor  of 
William  Vernon,  a  botanical  traveler  in  North 
America.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  very  large  genus  of  herbs  or  shrubs, 
chiefly  tropical,  but  found  most  copiously  in 
the  warmer  parts  of  America.  V.  Novebora- 
censis  is  common  on  low  grounds  near  the 
coast,  from  Maine  to  Virginia,  and  with  V. 
fasciculata  on  the  prairies  and  river-banks  in 
the  Western  States,  Ohio  to  Wisconsin  and 
southward. 

Vero'nica.  Speedwell.  The  derivation  of  the 
word  is  doubtful ;  perhaps  the  flower  of  St. 
Veronica.     Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulariacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of,  for  the  most  part, 
hardy  ornamental  plants,  well  adapted  for  tlie 
borders  of  the  flower  garden.  Their  stature 
varies  from  creeping  plants  to  others  three  or 
four  feet  high.  The  prevailing  color  is  blue, 
though  white,  pink,  red  and  purple  are  found 
among  them.  The  green-house  species  are 
most  generally  shrubby  and  deserve  atten- 
tion, being  easy  to  grow  and  flower,  and  they 
are  handsome  in  foliage,  habit  and  inflores- 
cence. This  class  delights  in  a  mixture  of 
leaf  mould  and  loam,  and  with  plenty  of  root- 
room  speedily  make  fine  specimens.  The  spe- 
cies usually  met  in  the  green-house  are  from 
New  South  Wales.  The  hardy,  herbaceous . 
species  are  distributed  throughout  the  tem- 
perate regions  of  both  continents.  The 
shrubby  kinds  are  generally  increased  by  cut- 
tings ;  the  herl)aeeous  or  annual  sorts  by  di- 
vision or  by  seeds. 

Verrucose.      Warty ;    covered  with  wart-like. 

sessile  elevations. 

Versatile.  Turning  freely  on  its  support,  swing- 
ing to  and  fro. 

Verschaffe'ltia.  Named  in  honor  of  Ambrosius 
Verschaffelt,  a  nurseryman  of  Ghent,  who  wrote 
a  work  on  Camellias  in  1848.  Nat.  Ord.  Paf- 
macece. 

V.  splendida,  the  only  recognized  species, 
was  introduced  from  the  Seychelle  Islands  in 
1864.  It  is  a  very  handsome  stove-house 
species  with  cuneate-obovate,  deeply-incised 
leaves,  three  to  five  feet  long.  The  stem  is 
six  to  twelve  inches  in  diameter  and  with 
the  leaf-sheaths  and  petioles  verj'  spiny  when 
young.  It  is  known  in  cultivation  as  Regelia 
magnifica,  R.  majestica  and  R.  princeps. 

Vertex.    The  apex  of  an  organ. 

Verticillate.     Arranged  in  whorls. 

Vertico'rdia.  Juniper  Myrtle.  From  verto  to 
turn,  and  cor,  cordis,  a  heart ;  a  title  of  Venus, 
to  whom  the  Myrtle  was  sacred.  Nat.  Ord. 
Myrtaceoe. 

A  genus  of  green-house  shrubs,  much  re- 
sembling the  Heaths  or  Diosmas,  natives  of 
Australia.  They  are  of  easy  culture  in  a  com- 
post of  sandy  loam  and  leaf-mould,  and  are 
readily  increased  by  cuttings  of  the  half- 
ripened  shoots. 


TICIA  FABA   (ENGLISH    BROAD   BEAN). 


VIOXOUIA.  KEUIA   (AMAZON  WATEB  LILT). 


AND  GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


477 


VER 

Vervain.     See  Verbena. 
Blue  American.     Verbena  hastaia. 
Rocky  Mountain.     Verbena  montana  {V.  Au- 
bletia). 

Vesica'iia.  From  vesica,  a  bladder  or  blister ; 
alluding  to  the  inflated  pods.  Nat.  Ord.  CVw- 
cifercB. 

A  genus  of  about  twenty  species  of  annual 
or  perennial  herbs,  natives  of  North  America, 
Europe,  Asia  and  the  Andes.  A  few  species 
are  Avorthy  of  cultivation,  the  others  being 
straggly  and  weedy  in  appearance.  The  best 
known  are  V.  grceca  and  V.  utriculata,  which 
have  both  been  long  in  cultivation  and  flour- 
ish on  dry,  sunny  parts  of  the  rock-garden  in 
dryish  soil.  They  are  easily  increased  by 
seeds. 

Vesicle.    A  small  bladder  or  air  cavity. 

Vesicular,  Vesiculose.     Inflated,  bladdery. 

Vesli'ngia.  Named  after  John  Vesling,  once 
Professor  of  Botany  at  Padua.  Nat.  Ord. 
Compositce. 

A  small  genus  of  tropical  African  annuals 
with  yellow  flower-heads.  According  to  Ben- 
tham  and  Hooker,  Guizotia  is  the  proper  name 
of  this  genus. 

Vespertine.  Appearing  or  expanding  early  in 
the  evening. 

Vespu'ccia.  Commemorative  of  Amerigo  Ves- 
pucci.    Nat.  Ord.  Alismaceoe. 

A  small  genus  of  aquatic  plants,  natives  of 
tropical  South  America.  Limnocharis  Hum- 
boldtii  has  been  referred  to  this  genus,  but  is 
now  placed  by  Bentham  and  Hooker  under 
Hydrocleis  as  H.  Commersoni. 

Ve'stia.  Chilian  Box  Thorn.  Named  in  honor 
of  L.  C.  de  Vest,  Professor  at  Gratz,  1776- 
1840.     Nat.  Ord.  Solanaceoe. 

V.  lycioides,  the  only  described  speeies,  is 
an  interesting,  erect,  branching,  green-house 
shrub,  with  yellow  flowers,  pendulous  from 
the  tips  of  the  branches.  It  was  introduced 
from  Chili  in  1815,  and  is  propagated  by  cut- 
tings. 

Vetch.   The  common  name  for  the  genus  Vicia. 
Bastard  or  Bladder.     The  genus  Phaca. 
Bitter.    See  Orobus. 
Bitter  Black.     Erviim  Ervilia. 
Bush.     Vicia  sepium. 
Chickling.      A  common    name    for  Lathyrus 

salivus. 
Common.     Vicia  saliva. 
Crown.     A  popular  name  for  the  genus  Coro- 

nilla. 
Hor^e-shoe.     Hippocrepis  comosa. 
Indian.     Ervum  dispersmum. 
Kidney.     Anlhyllis  vulneraria. 
Liquorice.     A  common  name  for  Astragalus 

glycyphyllos. 
Milk.     See  Astragalus. 
Tufted.     Vicia  Cracca. 
Wood.     Vicia  sylvatica  and  V.  Americana. 
Yellow-flowered.     Vicia  lutea. 
Vetchling.    Meadow.     Lathyrus  Nissolia. 
Pea.     Lathyrus  pisiformis. 
Yellow-flowered.     Lathyrus  Aphaca. 
Vibu'rnum.    Arrow-wood,  Laurustinus.     From 
vieo,  to  tie,  because  of  the  pliability  of  some 
of  the  branches.     Nat.  Ord.  CaprifoliacecB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  ornamental  shrubs, 
generally  with  terminal  corymbs  of  white 
flowers.    One  of  the  best  known  species  is 


VIC 

V.  tinus,  popularly  known  as  Laurust  inus,  an 
evergreen  bush  or  low  shrub,  with  white 
flowers  that  are  rose-colored  in  the  bud.  It  is 
a  desirable  house  plant  (when  it  can  be  kept 
at  a  low  temperature),  as  it  is  easy  of  cultiva- 
tion and  keeps  in  flower  nearly  the  whole  win- 
ter. It  thrives  flnely  in  the  Southern  States, 
planted  in  the  open  border.  V.  Lentago,  a 
native  species,  common  from  Maine  to  Georgia, 
is  a  very  handsome,  losv-growing  tree,  and  well 
worth  a  place  on  the  lawn.  Its  rich  green  foli- 
age and  profusion  of  flowers  in  spring,  and  its 
numerous  clusters  of  fruit  and  richly-colored 
foliage  in  autumn,  enhance  its  value  as  an 
ornamental  tree.  This  is  commonly  known  as 
Sweet  Viburnum  or  Sheep  Berry.  The  Way- 
faring Tree  or  Hobble-bush  {V.  lantanoides)  is 
another  interesting  small  tree ;  and  V.  cotini- 
folium  is  a  beautiful  species  from  Nepal.  The 
most  interesting  kind  of  Viburnum  grown  in 
small  gardens  is,  however,  the  Gueldres,  or 
Guelder  Rose,  or  Snowball  Tree,  V.  opulus. 
This  is  a  deciduous  shrub,  found  in  Europe 
and  Asia,  as  well  as  plentifully  in  this  country 
northward,  and  southward  along  the  AUegha- 
nies.  The  sterile  variety  of  this  species  (var. 
sterilis,  the  Snowball  Tree)  may  be  found  in 
every  shrubbery,  and,  though  so  common,  is 
still  among  the  best  of  all  shrubs.  In  a  wild 
state  its  principal  beauty  lies  in  its  bright  red 
berries,  which  are  edible,  and  are  used  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  Cranberries,  whence  its  common 
name,  Ci-anberry  Tree .  V.  plicatum,  from  N  orth 
China,  is  a  most  beautiful  hardy  species,  and  of 
better  habit  than  the  preceding.  It  is  a  dwarf- 
spreading  bush,  with  deeply  wrinli.led  foliage. 
In  summer  every  branch  is  wreathed  with 
clusters  of  snow-white,  sterile  flowers,  larger 
and  whiter  than  those  of  the  common  Snow- 
ball Tree.  It  likes  a  warm,  sheltered  situar 
tion,  and  is  a  shrub  of  the  highest  merit. 
Most  of  the  Viburnums  are  hardy.  They  are 
generally  propagated  by  layers,  but  cuttings 
will  strike  freely  if  kept  moist,  and  in  a  shady 
situation.  When  transplanted,  the  evergreen 
species  should  be  removed  in  October  or 
November,  as  they  have  few  fibrous  roots, 
and  are  very  apt  to  be  killed  by  a  continuance 
of  dry  weather  if  they  are  transplanted  in 
spring. 

Vi'cia.  Vetch.  Tare.  From  vincio,  to  bind 
together ;  referring  to  the  clasping  tendrils, 
Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosce. 

A  very  extensive  genus  of  hardy  climbing 
annuals  and  herbaceous  climbing  perennials. 
Some  are  common  weeds,  while  others  are 
grown  for  food  for  all  kinds  of  cattle.  V.faba 
(syn.  Faba  vidgaris),  the  English  or  Broad 
Windsor  Bean,  and  more  particularly  its 
varietj'^,  V.  f.  equina,  the  Horse  Bean,  are 
largely  grown  in  Europe  for  this  purpose. 
They  are  mostly  natives  of  Europe,  a  few  spe- 
cies only  being  found  in  this  country.  The 
ornamental  species  are  generally  pretty  climb- 
ing plants,  with  purplish  flowers ;  some  of  the 
kinds,  however,  have  white,  some  pink, others 
blue,  and  others  pale  yellow  flowers.  All  the 
kinds  grow  freely,  though  they  thrive  best 
when  the  soil  is  deep  and  sandy.  They  are 
propagated  by  seeds  or  division  of  the  roots. 

Victo'ria.  Named  in  honor  of  Queen  Victoria  ot 
Great  Britain.     Nat.  Ord.  Nymphcecece. 

A  magnificent  genus  of  plants,  consisting  of 
one  species,  as  some  think,  or  three  species, 


478 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


VIG 

according  to  others.  Dr.  Masters,  in  the 
"Treasury  of  Botany,"  speaking  of  these 
noble  plants,  says:  "They  are  aquatic 
plants,  with  thick,  fleshy  root-stocks,  marked 
with  the  scars  of  former  leaves,  and  sending 
upward  numerous  long,  cylindrical  leaf-stalks, 
which  are  traversed  in  the  interior  by  several 
air-canals,  the  larger  of  them  arranged  with 
much  regularity,  and  are  thickly  covered  on 
the  outside  by  slout  conical  prickles.  These 
prickles  have  spiral  vessels  and  a  small  cavity 
in  their  interior,  opening  by  a  little  pore  at 
the  top.  From  the  under  surface  of  the  base 
of  the  leaf-stalks  numerous  adventitious  roots 
are  given  out.  The  blade  of  the  leaf  is  pel- 
tate, circular  in  outline,  and  when  fully 
developed  is  from  six  to  twelve  feet  in  diam- 
eter, its  margin  uniformly  turned  upward  to 
the  extent  of  two  or  three  inches,  so  that  the 
leaves,  when  floating,  have  the  appearance  of 
so  many  large,  shallow  trays.  The  upper  sur- 
face of  the  leaf  is  of  a  rich  green  color,  and 
studded  with  little  boss-like  prominences. 
The  lower  surface  is  of  a  deep  purple  or  violet 
hue,  and  traversed  by  several  very  prominent 
nerves,  which  radiate  from  the  centre  to  the 
margin  of  the  leaf,  and  are  connected  one 
with  another  by  smaller  nerves  running  trans- 
versely, so  that  the  whole  of  the  under  sur- 
face is  divided  by  compartments  into  a  num- 
ber of  irregularly  quadrangular  spaces  or  cells. 
The  nerves  themselves  are  permeated  by  air 
canals,  and  covered  by  strong  spines.  Thus 
the  enormous  leaves  are  well  adapted  to  float 
on  the  water :  and  the  extent  of  surface 
exposed  is  so  great  that  a  considerable  weight 
can  be  supported  without  submerging  them. 
Even  a  child  of  twelve  years  of  age  may  be 
borne  up,  if  the  precaution  be  taken  of  first 
placing  on  the  leaf  a  small  piece  of  board,  to 
prevent  the  feet  from  tearing  and  slipping 
through  its  surface.  The  flower-stalk  has  a 
similar  outward  appearance  to  that  of  the  leaf, 
but  is  stouter,  and  its  air-canals  are  arranged 
in  a  different  manner.  The  flower  bud  before 
expansion  is  pear-shaped.  The  calyx  is 
adherent  below  to  the  ovary,  and  is  here  cov- 
ei-ed  with  prickles ;  its  limb,  however,  is  des- 
titute of  these  appendages,  and  is  divided  into 
four  ovate  deciduous  sepals,  of  a  rich  purple 
tint  externally,  and  whitish  internally.  The 
petals  are  very  numerous,  in  several  rows, 
and  (as  in  our  common  Water  Lily)  exhibit  a 
gradual  transition  in  their  form  to  that  of  the 
stamens,  so  that  it  is  somewhat  difficult  in  all 
cases  to  decide  where  the  one  set  of  parts 
ceases  and  the  others  begin.  The  outer  petals 
are  rather  larger  than  the  sepals  or  lobes  of 
the  calyx,  oblong,  concave  and  white,  the 
inner  ones  gradually  becoming  narrower,  more 
pointed,  and  of  a  beautiful  deep  rose  color. 
When  fully  expanded  the  outer  petals  are  bent 
downward,  while  the  central  rose-colored 
ones,  with  the  stamens,  remain  erect;  and 
thus  a  noble  appearance  is  presented,  as  of  a 
central  rose-colored  crown  supported  by  a 
series  of  pure  white  and  most  gracefully 
curved  petals.  The  stamens  are  numerous,  the 
outer  ones  somewhat  lance-shaped,  gracefully 
curved,  of  a  fine  rose-color,  and  having  two 
linear  anther  cells  on  the  inner  face,  near,  but 
not  quite  extending  to  the  top.  Within  these 
fertile  stamens  are  other  sterile  ones,  smaller 
in  size,  less  highly  colored,  arching  over  th<' 
stigmas,  to  which  they  approximate  also  in 


VIC 

color  and  form.  The  ovary  is  adherent  to  the 
calyx  tube,  somewhat  globular  or  top-shaped, 
its  upper  portion  hollowed  like  a  cup,  and  pre- 
senting in  the  centre  a  little  rounded  or  con- 
ical knob.  Along  the  upper  margin  of  the  cup 
are  placed  the  stigmas,  fleshy,  pointed  bodies, 
somewhat  flattened  at  the  sides  and  bent  in 
the  middle,  so  that  their  points  project  over 
the  cup  toward  the  centre.  Each  stigma  has 
a  prominent  line  along  its  upper  surface,  run- 
ning down  to  the  central  knob,  which  is  thus 
the  focus  of  a  series  of  ridges,  radiating 
toward  the  stigmas.  The  interior  of  the  ovary 
contains  numerous  cavities  corresponding  to 
the  stigmas,  and  each  containing  several 
ovules.  The  fruit,  when  ripe,  is  a  sort  of 
globular  berry,  thickly  beset  with  formidable 
prickles.  The  seeds  escape  by  the  rotting  «if 
the  outer  portions  of  the  fruit.  These  noble 
plants  inhabit  the  tranquil  rivers  of  South 
America,  especially  those  which  are  tributary 
to  the  Amazon.  They  differ  in  the  size  of  the 
seeds  and  other  particulars;  but  when  it  is 
remembered  how  variable  aquatic  plants  are, 
it  is  better,  for  the  present  at  least,  to  con- 
sider them  as  forms  of -one  rather  than  dis- 
tinct species.  Generically,  Victoria  is  most 
nearly  allied  to  Euryale,  but  it  is  distinguished 
by  the  deciduous  sepals,  by  the  gradual  tran- 
sition in  the  form  of  the  petals  to  that  of  the 
stamens,  by  the  more  numerous  cavities  of 
the  ovary,  and  other  particulars.  The  leaf  of 
Euryale  is,  however,  an  exact  miniature  copy 
of  that  of  the  Victoria,  save  that  it  is  not 
turned  up  at  the  margin. 

"  The  earliest  traveler  who  discovered  this 
plant  was  Hsenke,  in  1801.  Bonpland  subse- 
quently met  with  it ;  but  M.  D'Orbigny  was 
the  first  to  send  home  specimens  to  Paris  in 
1828.  They  were,  however,  neglected  or  over- 
looked. In  a  work  published  some  few  years 
after  this  time,  M.  D'Orbigny  mentions  having 
discovered  the  plant  in  the  Elver  Parana  in 
Guiana.  It  was  known,  he  says,  to  the  natives, 
by  the  name  of  Irupe.  in  allusion  to  the  shape 
of  the  leaves,  which  resembles  that  of  the 
broad  dishes  used  in  the  country.  The  Span- 
iards call  the  plant  Water  Maize,  as  they  col- 
lect the  seeds  and  eat  them  roasted.  In  1832 
a  German  traveler  found  it  in  some  tributaries 
of  the  Amazon;  but  it  was  not  until  the  late 
Sir  Robert  Schombui-gk  discovered  it  in  the 
Berbice  River,  in  British  Guiana,  in  the  year 
1837,  that  public  attention  was  drawn  to  the 
magnificent  plant."  Sir  Robert,  in  a  letter  to 
the  Royal  Geographical  Society,  thus  describes 
his  first  sight  of  the  plant:  "It  was  on  the 
first  of  January,  1837,  while  contending  with 
the  difficulties  that  nature  interposed  in  differ- 
ent ways  to  hinder  our  progress  up  the  River 
Berbice,  that  we  arrived  at  a  part  where  the 
river  expanded  and  formed  acurrentless  basin. 
Some  object  on  the  southern  extremity  of  this 
basin  attracted  my  attention,  and  I  was  unable 
to  form  an  idea  what  it  could  bo ;  but,  animat- 
ing the  crew  to  increase  the  rate  of  their  pad- 
dling, we  soon  came  opposite  the  object  which 
had  raised  my  curiosity,  and,  behold,  a  vege- 
table wonder !  All  calamities  were  forgotten. 
I  was  a  botanist,  and  felt  myself  rewarded! 
There  were  gigantic  leaves,  five  to  six  feet 
across,  fiat,  with  broad  brim,  light  green 
above  and  vivid  crimson  beneath,  floating  on 
the  water;  while  in  character  with  the  wonder- 
ful foliage,  I  saw  luxuriant  flowers,  each  con- 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


479 


VIO 

Bisting  of  numerous  petals,  passing  in  alter- 
nate tints  from  pure  wliite  to  rose  and  pink. 
Tiie  smooth  water  was  covered  witli  tlie 
flowers ;  and  as  I  rowed  from  one  to  tlie  other 
I  always  found  something  new  to  admire." 
In  1845  Mr.  Bridges,  an  English  traveler, 
while  riding  along  the  River  Yacouma,  a 
tributary  of  the  Mamore,  came  across  a  large 
colony  of  the  Victoria,  and  succeeded  in  col- 
lecting a  quantity  of  ripe  seeds,  which  he  took 
with  him,  soon  thereafter,  to  England.  Some 
of  them  he  intrusted  to  Sir  John  Paxton  at 
Chatsworth,  who  succeeded  in  producing  the 
plant  in  November,  1849,  and  presented  a 
flower  to  the  Queen  at  Windsor  Castle,  where 
a  brilliant  assemblage  met  to  admire  the  new 
and  beautiful  treasure. 

It  was  first  successfully  grown  and  flowered 
in  tins  country  about  1852,  by  Mr.  Caleb  Cope, 
of  Philadelphia,  who  built  a  house  and  tank 
expressly  for  its  culture.  Since  then  it  has 
been  flowered  in  many  places,  and  is  still  one 
of  the  chief  attractions  during  the  summer 
season  in  the  piincipal  botanic  gardens  of 
Europe.  Mr.  Sturtevant,  of  Bordentown, 
New  Jersey,  has  for  several  years  flowered 
it  with  great  success  in  the  open  air  by  treat- 
ing it  as  a  tender  annual.  The  seeds  are 
started  in  winter  or  early  spring,  in  water 
kept  at  a  uniform  temperature  of  from  eighty 
to  ninety  dej>;rees.  After  germination  they 
are  potted  and  shifted  on  as  they  require  it. 
Early  in  June  they  are  planted  out  in  a  bed 
of  very  rich  soil,  in  a  tank  fully  exposed  to 
the  sun  and  which  is  artificially  heated  until 
hot  weather  sets  in.  It  produces  leaves  six 
feet  across,  one  plant  covering  a  space  thirty 
feet  in  diameter ;  the  flowers  are  from  twelve 
to  sixteen  inches  across,  and  the  first  night 
they  open  tliey  are  of  a  lovely  white,  with  a 
perfume  resembling  that  of  Pineapples,  often 
perceptible  at  a  distance  of  some  rods.  The 
second  night  the  flowers  have  changed  to 
pink  and  have  lost  their  perfume.  It  may  be 
grown  with  every  chance  of  success  in  open 
ponds  in  the  Southern  States.  In  1886  Mr. 
Sturtevant  flowered,  for  the  first  time,  a  crim- 
son-flowered Victoria  regia,  the  chief  differ- 
ence of  which  from  the  type  is  its  more 
robust  habit  and  that  the  flowers,  which  are 
also  white  the  first  day,  change  on  the  second 
day  to  a  deep  crimson. 

Victorian  Do§rwood.    Prostranthera  lasianthos. 

Victorian  Hazel.     Pomaderris  apetala. 

Vieusseu'xia.  Named  in  honor  of  M.  Vieus- 
seux,  a  Swiss  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacexs. 

Small  bulbs  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
usually  known  as  the  Peacock  Iris,  on  account 
of  their  very  brilliant  flowers,  varying  from 
white  to  crimson  and  purple.  They  are  not 
hardy  but  will  grow  well  with  partial  protec- 
tion, like  most  of  the  Cape  bulbs.  They  are 
rapidly  increased  by  offsets.  Introduced  in 
1776.     Syn.  Morcea. 

Vi'gna.  In  memory  of  Dominic  Vigni,  a  com- 
mentator on  Theophrastus,  1625.  Nat.  Ord. 
Legu/ninoscB. 

A  genus  of  about  thirty  species  of  trailing 
and  climbing  plants,  allied  to  Dolichos,  the 
principal  distinction  Ijeing  the  yellow  flowers 
and  cylindrical  seed-pods,  while  the  Dolichos 
has  purple  and  white  flowers,  and  flattened 
pods.    The  genus  is  chiefly  South  American ; 


VIN 

one  or  two  species  being  found  in  the  South- 
ern States.    Propagated  by  seeds. 

Viguie'ra.  Named  after  Alexander  Viguier,  of 
Montpellier,  who  wrote  a  work  on  Poppies, 
1814.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositor. 

A  genus  of  annual  or  perennial  herbs,  rarely 
shrubs,  natives  of  the  warmer  parts  of  Amer- 
ica. They  resemble  the  Helianthus,  and  only 
one  or  two  are  in  cultivation.  Harpalium 
rigidum  is  placed  under  this  genus  by  some 
botanists. 

Vi'lfa.  Rush  Grass.  Name  unexplained.  Nat. 
Ord.  GraminacecB. 

Under  this  genus  Steudel  describes  one 
hundred  and  twenty-three  species  which  have 
an  extensive  geographical  range,  from  Mex- 
ico through  the  southern  hemisphere  to  New 
Holland.  Some  of  the  annual  species  are 
pretty  and  are  cultivated  on  that  account. 

Villare'sia.  Named  after  Matthias  Villarez,  a 
Spanish  botanist,     Nat.  Ord.  Olacacece. 

A  genus  of  evergreen,  climbing  shrubs  or 
trees,  natives  of  tropical  Australia,  the  Indian 
Archipelago,  Brazil  and  Chili.  V.  mucronata, 
the  only  species  yet  introduced,  forms  a 
showy,  evergreen,  stove-house  shrub,  bear- 
ing white  flowers  in  paniculate  heads.  It  was 
introduced  from  Australia  in  1879,  and  may  be 
increased  by  cuttings  or  by  seeds.  Syn.  Cit- 
ronella. 

Villa'rsia.  Named  in  honor  of  D.  Villars,  a 
famous  French  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Gentia- 
naoecE. 

A  small  genus  of  aquatic  plants  and  herba- 
ceous perennials.  The  flowers  are  in  axillary 
clusters  or  terminal  panicles,  and  mostly  of  a 
yellow  color.  V.  nymphceoides,  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, and  one  of  the  finest  species,  is  an  aqua- 
tic of  easy  culture,  and  well  adapted  for  the 
aquarium. 

Villose.  Villous.  Shaggy;  covered  with  soft, 
close,  loose,  long  hair. 

Vilmori'nia.  Named  after  P.  L.  Vilmorin,  a 
famous  French  cultivator,  who  wrote  on  Legu- 
minous plants,  1825.  Nat.  Ord.  LeguminoscB. 
A  small  genus  of  erect,  stove-house  shrubs, 
natives  of  San  Dt)mingo.  V.  multiflora,  the 
only  introduced  species,  is  sometimes  found 
under  the  name  of  Clitoria  multiflora. 

Vimina'ria.  Australian  Rush  Broom.  Victo- 
rian Swamp  Oak.  From  vimen,  a  twig ;  the 
appearance  of  the  species  is  that  of  a  bundle 
of  twigs,  being  destitute  of  leaves.  Nat.  Ord. 
LegumiitoscB. 

V.  denudata,  the  only  described  species,  is 
a  vei-y  interesting  and  curious  plant,  bearing 
small,  orange-colored  flowers  in  long  terminal 
racemes.  It  is  found  generally  in  botanical 
collections,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings  of 
the  half-ripened  shoots. 

Vimiueous.  Having  long,  flexible  shoots  or 
twigs  ;  like  many  Willows. 

Vi'nca.  Periwinkle.  Creeping  Myrtle.  Prob- 
ably from  vinculum,  a  band  ;  in  allusion  to  the 
suitableness  of  the  shoots  for  making  bands. 
Nat.  Ord.  ApocynaceoB. 

A  well-known  genus  of  hardy,  herbaceous, 
evergreen,  trailing  plants,  and  green-house, 
low-giowing,  woody  herbs.  V.  major  and 
V.  minor  are  respectively  the  Lai-ge-leaved 
Periwinkle  and  the  Common  Periwinkle,  known 
in  common  cultivation  as  Myrtles.  They  are 
natives  of  Europe  and  have  long  been  in  cul- 


480 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


VIN 

tivation.  They  are  much  used  in  cemeteries 
for  covering  graves,  the  deep  green  of  the 
leaves  contrasting  with  the  delicate  blue  flow- 
ers. There  are  varieties  with  gold  and  silver- 
edged  leaves,  not  quite  hardy  in  the  Northern 
States,  but  considerably  grown  for  basket 
plants  and  conservatory  decoration.  V.  rosea, 
the  Madagascar  Periwinkle  or  Old  Maid,  is  a 
beautiful  green-house  plant  with  rose-colored 
flowers.  This  species  and  its  varieties,  one 
with  pure  white  flowers,  the  other  white  with 
a  crimson  eye,  grow  from  twenty  to  thirty 
inches  high,  and  are  completely  covered  with 
flowers  the  entire  summer.  They  do  quite  as 
well  planted  in  the  open  border  as  when 
grown  in  the  green-house.  They  were  intro- 
duced from  the  East  Indies  in  1758,  and  are, 
consequently,  tender,  requiring  nearly  as 
high  a  temperature  as  Coleus  or  Bouvardia. 
These  plants  may  be  grown  from  cuttings  or 
from  seed,  the  latter  being  preferable.  The 
seed  should  be  sown  in  the  hot-house  or  hot- 
bed about  the  flrst  of  January,  in  an  average 
temperature  of  not  less  than  70'^,  and  grown 
on  in  the  same  manner,  and  planted  in  the 
flower-garden  at  the  same  time  as  other 
tender-bedding  plants.  Planted  eighteen 
inches  apart  each  way,  they  completely 
cover  the  ground.     Syn.   Catkaranthus. 

■Vinceto'xicum.  From  vincere,  to  conquer,  and 
toxicum,  poison  ;  in  allusion  to  supposed  anti- 
dotal powers.     Nat.  Old.  Asclepiadacece. 

A  genus  of  erect  or  twining  perennial  herbs 
or  sub-shrubs,  natives  of  temperate  and  warm 
regions,  but  rare  in  the  tropics.  The  culti- 
vated varieties  are  all  hardy,  and  are  best 
known  as  Cynanchum. 

Vine.     Any  trailing  or  climbing  stem. 
Alleghany.     See  Adlumia  cirrhosa. 
Australian.     Vitis  hypoglauca  and  V.  acetoaa. 
Balloon.     See  Card ioaper mum. 
Condor.     Gonobolus  Cundurango. 
Currant.     Vitis  vinifera  var.  Corinthiaca. 
Cypress.     See  Quamoclit  vulgaris. 
Elephant's.     Cissus  latifolia. 
Fragrant  Wild.     Vitis  riparia. 
Glory.     The  genus  CHanthus. 
Golden.     Stigmaphyllon  ciliatum. 
Granadilla.     Passijiora  quadrangidaris. 
Grape.     The  varieties  of  Vitis  vinifera,  V.  Lab- 

rusca,  V.  vulpina,  etc. 
Grape-flower.     The  genus  Wistaria. 
Hedge.     Clematis  Vitalba  and  C  Virginiana. 
Kangaroo,  or  Kankuru      Cuisus  Anttirtica. 
Madeira.     Boussingaultia  Basseloides. 
Maple.     Menispermum  Canadense. 
Matrimony.     Lycium  vulgare. 
Milk.      A  name  sometimes  used  for  Periploca 

grceca. 
Of  Sodom.      Supposed  to  be  the  Colocynth, 

Citridlus  Colocynthus. 
Pepper.     Ampelopxis  bipinnata. 
Pipe.     ArUitolochia  Sipho. 
Poison.     Rhus  to.vicotlendron. 
Potato.  A  common  name  for  IpomcBapandurata. 
Silk.     Periploca  grceca. 
Silver.     A  popular  name  for  Scindapsus  argy- 

rcea. 
Silver  of  the  West  Indies.     Pothos  argyrcea. 
Smilax.     See  Myrsiphyllum. 
Squaw.     Mitchella  repens. 
Strainer.     Luffa  anitangula. 
Variegated.   Vitis  ( Cissun)  heteropkilla  variegata. 
Wild-wood.     Ampelopsis  quinquefolia. 


VIO 

Vinealis.  Growing  wild  in  vineyards. 
Vinegar  Tree.  Rhus  tiphyna  and  Rhus  glabra, 
Viola'ceae.  A  natural  order  consisting  of  herbs 
and  shrubs,  usually  with  alternate  and  simple 
leaves,  furnished  with  stipules  and  axillary 
flowers,  either  solitary  or  in  cymes,  racemes 
or  panicles.  The  flowers  are  often  large  and 
showy,  and  the  capsule  of  the  greater  num- 
ber of  genera  opens  in  three  very  elastic 
valves.  There  are  between  two  and  three 
hundred  species  known,  and  over  twenty  gen- 
era dispersed  over  nearly  all  parts  of  the 
globe.  Many  of  the  species  are  well  known 
in  cultivation. 

Violet.     See  Viola. 

Adder's.     Goodyera  pubescens. 

Bird's-foot.     Viola  pedata. 

Bog.     The  genus  Pinguicula. 

Cape.     lonidium  Capense. 

Corn.     Sjjecularia  hybrida. 

Dame's.     Hesperis  matronalis. 

Dog's-Tooth.     Erythronium  Dens-canis. 

Dog's-Tooth.  American.  Erythronium  Ameri- 
canum. 

False.     Dalibarda  repens. 

Fringed.     The  genus  Thyaanotus. 

Green.     See  Solea. 

Mercury's.  An  old  name  for  Campanula  Me- 
dium. 

Neapolitan.     Viola  odorata  var.  pallida  plena. 

New  Holland.     Erpetion  reniforme. 

Pyrenean.     Viola  cornuta. 

Kouen.     Viola  Rothomagenaia. 

Russian.     Viola  suavis. 

Siberian.     Viola  uniflorn. 

Spurless.     The  genus  Erpetion. 

St»urred.     Viola  calcarata. 

Tooth.     Dentaria  bulbifera. 

Water.     Holtonia  palustris  and  H.  inflata. 

Violet  Wood  or  Myall  Wood,  of  Australia. 

Acacia  homalophylla. 
Of  Brazil.    Supposed  to  be  a  species  of  Trip- 

tolomcea. 
Of  Guiana.     Andira  violacea. 

Vio'la.  Violet,  Heart's-ease,  Pansy.  The  old 
Latin  name  used  by  Virgil,  etc.,  similar  to  the 
Greek  Ion.     Nat.  Ord.  Violaceoe. 

This  genus  consists  of  more  than  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  species,  indigenous  in  North 
America,  Europe,  Asia,  China  and  Japan. 
Some  of  the  species  occupy  a  prominent  posi- 
tion in  the  flower  garden  and  the  commercial 
green- house.  The  genus  includes  V.  odorata, 
the  well-known  hardy  English  Violet,  and  its 
many  varieties,  so  common  in  cultivation. 
This  species,  by  common  consent  called  Eng- 
lish Violet,  is  indigenous  throughout  Europe, 
parts  of  Asia,  ('hinaand  Japan.  It  is  unques- 
tionably the  Violet  of  the  ancients,  as  it  is 
correctly  described  by  Dioscorides,  wlio  rec- 
ommends it  for  its  medicinal  virtues,  as  well 
as  for  its  fragrance  and  beautj'.  Of  this  species 
there  are  many  varieties,  and  of  these  some 
are  white,  some  blue,  some  purple,  light  and 
dark,  and  both  single  and  double.  The  most 
interesting  and  the  most  generally  cultivated 
are  the  Neapolitan  and  Russian  Violets,  and 
of  each  of  these  there  are  varieties  with 
distinctive  names.  The  Russian  Violets  are 
credited  to  the  species  V.  suavis  by  some 
writers ;  Loudon,  however,  says  they  are 
varieties  of  V.  odorata.  Of  the  double  kinds 
the  Neapolitan  (light  blue),  and  Maria  Louise 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


481 


VIO 

(dark  blue),  are  the  varieties  most  gen- 
erally cultivated.  Svvanley  White,  and  sev- 
eral other  double  white  varieties,  are  also 
cultivated,  and  ai'e  prized  more  for  their 
anomaly  than  for  their  intrinsic  beauty.  Mad. 
Millet,  a  double  red  or  carmine-colored  va- 
riety, is  also  grown  to  some  extent,  on  account 
of  its  novel  and  unexpected  color.  Of  the 
single  sorts  the  Russian,  Schoubrunn,  and 
the  Czar  are  the  best.  They  are  grown  in 
frames  and  in  green-houses  with  and  without 
artificial  heat.  Formerly  they  were  more 
grown  in  cold  frames  thaa  in  green-houses, 
but  many  of  the  growers  have  abandoned 
frames,  and  grow  them  in  small  houses,  giving 
only  sufficient  heat  to  protect  the  plants  from 
frost.  Some  grow  them  in  pots,  while  others 
plant  them  out  on  the  bench ;  each  way  has 
its  earnest  advocates,  and  either  way  will 
give  good  flowers,  largely  in  proportion  to  the 
care  given ;  and  there  is  no  plant  grown  that 
requires  more,  or  will  usually  better  repay 
that  which  is  given.  The  essential  in  Violet 
culture  is  a  strong  calcareous  soil,  one  that 
will  retain  moisture  without  becoming  sod- 
dened  ;  a  low  temperature  (not  to  exceed  40*^ 
at  night,  or  60°  during  the  day,  ventilating 
whenever  practicable)  without  bottom  heat, 
the  water  applied  without  wetting  the  foliage, 
and  the  plants  kept  clean  from  decayed  leaves 
and  runners.  With  these  attentions,  failures 
in  Violet  culture  will  be  rare,  without  them 
success  will  be  equally  rare.  Of  late  years, 
in  all  sections  of  the  country,  the  Violet  has 
been  subject  to  a  disease,  a  spotting  and  yel- 
lowing of  the  leaves,  which  has  been  com- 
pletely destructive  in  a  great  majority  of  cases. 
The  cause  of  this  I  believe  to  be  from  the 
same  source  as  that  affecting  the  Rose,  Car- 
nation, and  many  other  kinds  of  plants  used 
for  forcing  in  winter,  namely,  that  the  con- 
tinued high  temperature  necessary  to  produce 
flowers  is  contrary  to  what  the  nature  of  these 
plants  demands — a  season  of  rest  in  winter; 
this  being  in  part  denied  them,  the  plants  are 
weakened  in  vitality  and  consequently  become 
more  or  less  a  prey  to  disease.  To  avert  that 
as  much  as  possible,  cuttings  should  be  taken 
from  the  runners  of  the  Violets  in  October, 
rooted  and  kept  in  cold  frames  over  winter, 
which  gives  them  the  necessary  season  of 
rest,  and  planted  out  at  one  foot  apart  each 
way  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  dry  enough  to 
work  in  spring ;  by  midsummer  they  will  have 
started  to  grow  freely,  from  that  time  until 
the  middle  of  September  be  careful  that  all 
runners  are  pinched  off,  so  that  the  whole 
force  of  the  root  can  be  used  to  form  the 
crowns  for  flowering,  exactly  as  Strawberry 
runners  are  pinched  off  to  produce  fruit.  The 
plants  thus  prepared  for  flowering  about  l;he 
end  of  September  are  dug  up  with  balls  and 
potted  in  seven  or  eight-inch  pots,  or  planted 
in  five  or  six  inches  of  soil  in  the  benches  of 
the  green-house  at  a  foot  apart.  Shade  and 
water  for  a  few  days  until  they  have  made 
young  roots,  after  which  give  all  the  ventila- 
tion possible  until  November.  The  numerous 
beautiful  varieties  of  "bedding  Violets"  so 
much  used  and  admired  in  Britain,  where 
they  fiower  profusely  all  summer,  originated 
in  a  cross  between  Viola  cornuta,  a  native  of 
Switzerland  and  the  Pyrenees,  ^nd  V.  pyrolcB- 
flora  {lutea),  introduced  from  Patagonia  in  1851. 
They  are  admirable  plants  for  spring  bedding, 


VIS 

but,  unfortunately,  will  not  stand  our  hot, 
dry  summers.  American  travelers  in  Europe 
import  tens  of  thousands  of  these  annually, 
only  to  be  disappointed  in  finding  that  they  are 
entirely  unsuited  to  our  hot,  dry  atmosphere. 
There  are  several  of  our  native  species  worthy 
of  cultivation  in  the  border,  particularly  whei'e 
there  is  considerable  shade ;  the  best  of  these 
is  Viola  pedata,  or  Bird's-foot  Violet,  a  species 
that  abounds  in  many  parts  of  the  country, 
but  nowhere  more  plentifully  than  what  is 
termed  the  Plains  of  Long  Island,  where,  in 
early  spring  may  be  seen  acres  of  ground  com- 
pletely covered  with  these  mauve-colored  flow- 
ers, sparingly  mixed  with  its  varieties,  with 
pure  white,  and  light  blue  with  purple  striped 
flov\  ers.  This  species  improves  by  cultivation, 
and  can  be  removed  from  its  native  home 
without  the  slightest  danger  of  failure.  An 
important  feature  is  that  it  will  grow  any- 
where, in  sun  or  shade,  preferring  a  light 
sandy  soil.  In  a  favorable  situation  the  fl(  )wers 
will  be  an  inch  across,  and  produced  in  such 
abundance  as  to  completely  cover  the  bed. 
Where  they  can  be  used  as  a  border  plant, 
they  are  very  effective.  The  species  of  the 
greatest  importance  as  a  florist's  or  as  a  gar- 
den flower  is  V.  tricolor  (the  Pansy  or  Heart's- 
ease,  which  see).  All  of  the  species  are 
interesting,  but  are  too  numerous  to  be  spe- 
cially noticed. 

Viper  Gourd.  A  name  given  to  Trichosanthes 
anguina. 

Viper's  Bugloss.    See  Echium. 

Viper's  Grass.     See  Scorzonera. 

Virens.     Green. 

Virgatus.  Twiggy;  producing  many  weak 
branches,  slender,  straight  and  erect. 

Virgi'lia.  Lamarck  dedicated  this  genus  to 
the  poet  Virgil,  whose  "  Georgics "  contain 
many  things  interesting  to  botanists.  Nat. 
Ord.  LeguminosoR. 

V.  capensis,  the  only  species  introduced,  is 
a  green-house  shrub  with  rosy-purple  flowers, 
introduced  from  South  Africa  in  1767.  It  is 
seldom  found  in  cultivation.  The  beautiful, 
hardy  tree  known  in  cultivation  as  V.  lutea  or 
Yellow-wood  is  now  transferred  to  Cladrastis 
as  C.  tinctoria,  which  see. 

Virginian  Cowslip  or  Lungwort.  The  com- 
mon name  of  Mertensia  Virginica,  sometimes 
called  Pulmonaria  Virginica,  a  rather  pretty, 
herbaceous  plant,  occasionally  grown  in  the 
ornamental  border.    See  Mertensia. 

Virginian  Creeper.  See  Ampelopsis  quinque- 
folia. 

Virginian  Date-Palm.    Diospyros  Virginiana. 
Virginian  Poke.      Phytolacca  decandra. 
Virginian  Silk.     Periploca  grceca. 
Virginian  Snakeroot.    Aristolochia  serpentaria. 
Virginian  Spiderwort.    Tradescantia  Virginica. 
Virginian  Stock.    See  Malcolmia. 
Virgin's  Bovsrer.    See  Clematis   Virginiana. 
Virgin  Tree.     Sassafras  Parthenoxylon. 
Viridis.     Green. 

Visca'ria.  Rock  Lychnis.  From  viscus,  bird- 
lime ;  in  allusion  to  the  glutinous  stems  of  the 
species.     Nat.  Ord.  Garyophyllacem. 

These  are  handsome,  hardy  annuals,  par- 
ticularly   V.  oculata,  whose  pretty  pink  and 


482 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


VIS 

purple  flowers  are  very  pleasing.  They  make 
the  best  appearance  when  sown  in  masses, 
which  may  be  done  in  April  and  May,  to 
afford  a  display  through  the  whole  of  the  sum- 
mer months.  Many  of  the  plants  of  this 
genus  are  now  included  in  Lychnis,  which 
see. 

Viscid,  Viscous.  Clammy ;  sticky  from  a  tena- 
cious coating  or  secretion. 

Vi'scum.  Mistletoe.  From  viscus,  bird-lime ; 
on  account  of  the  sticky  nature  of  the  ber- 
ries.    Nat.  Ord.  Loranthacece. 

We  copy  from  Mrs.  Loudon's  "Gardening 
for  Ladies  "  a  description  of  V.  album, :  "This 
curious  parasite  can  hardly  be  called  orna- 
mental, though  it  may  be  sometimes  intro- 
duced with  effect  to  give  an  air  of  antiquity 
to  newly-planted  pleasure-grounds.  It  grows 
best  on  old  cankered  Apple  Trees,  but  it  may 
be  made  to  take  root  on  even  a  young  tree, 
by  pressing  a  berry  on  a  crack  in  the  bark, 
and  then  tying  oiled  paper  over  it.  As,  how- 
ever, the  male  and  female  flowers  of  the 
Mistletoe  are  on  separate  plants,  the  berries 
are  not  always  fertile.  It  is  an  error  to 
suppose  that  the  Mistletoe  grows  generally 
on  the  Oak,  as  it  is  extremely  rare  on  that 
tree  in  England.  '  Dr.  Bull,  in  a  paper  in  the 
"Journal  of  Botany"  (ii.  73),  mentions  only 
seven  authentic  instances  of  the  growth  of 
the  Mistletoe  on  the  Oak  in  this  countrj-' 
— Dr.  Masters.  It  is  found  most  commonly 
on  the  Apple  and  next  on  the  Hawthorn ;  it 
is  also  found  on  the  Lime,  the  Sycamore,  the 
"Willow,  the  Poplar  and  the  Ash,  occasionally 
on  the  Cherry  and  sometimes,  though  rarelj', 
on  Pines  and  Firs.  Wlien  the  seeds  begin  to 
grow,  they  send  out  first  one  or  two  roots, 
which  ascend  for  a  short  time  and  then  turn 
back  to  the  bark,  on  which  they  fix  them- 
selves, like  the  sucker  of  an  insect.  The 
other  end  afterward  detaches  itself  from  the 
tree  and  becomes  leaves  and  shoots.  The 
roots  of  the  Mistletoe  descend  between  the 

.  bark  and  the  young  wood,  and  no  intimate 
union  takes  place  between  the  old  wood  of 
the  parasite  and  its  supporter.  The  wood  of 
the  Mistletoe  is  of  a  very  fine  pale  yellowish 
tinge,  and  it  is  as  hard  and  of  as  fine  a  grain 
as  box,  which  it  greatly  resembles,  while  that 
of  the  thorn  is  dark  brown."  The  never- 
lessening  demand  for  the  Mistletoe  for  use  at 
the  Christmas  Holidays  in  England  has  of 
late  years  induced  nurserymen  to  begin  its 
cultivation  on  the  Apple,  which  is  now  done 
to  an  extent  that  keeps  the  "boughs"  at  a 
reasonable  rate.  The  English  steamers  often 
bring  over  a  supply  for  Christmas  in  New 
York,  but  we  have  never  seen  it  arrive  in  per- 
fection, the  berries,  the  chief  attraction  of 
the  plant,  having  mostly  dropped  off.  The 
American  Mistletoe,  or  False  Mistletoe,  is 
Phoradendron  fiavescens,  common  in  New  Jer- 
sey, southward  and  westward,  where  it  has 
in  many  instances  proved  destructive  to  the 
forest  trees  upon  which  it  fastens  itself. 
Though  not  so  ornamental  as  the  English 
Mistletoe,  it  is  now  used  in  large  quantities 
during  the  holidays  as  a  substitute  for  it. 
See  Phoradendron,  page  319. 

Vi'smia.  Wax-Tree.  Named  in  honor  of  M. 
de  Visme,  a  merchant  of  Lisbon.  Nat.  Ord. 
HypericacecB. 


VIT 

A  genus  of  trees  or  shrubs,  found  princi- 
pally in  tropical  America,  only  four  of  the 
species  being  found  in  western  tropical  Africa. 
They  have  four-sided  branches,  opposite,  often 
glandular,  dotted,  entire  leaves,  and  terminal 
panicles,  or  cymes  of  yellow  or  greenish  flow- 
ers. V.  ijruianensis,  a  species  found  in  Guiana, 
Brazil,  Surinam  and  Mexico,  furnishes  the 
rosin  known  as  American  Gamboge  or  Gutta- 
Gum. 

Vi'snea.  Named  after  a  Lisbon  merchant  named 
VisTie,  who  was  interested  in  botany.  Nat. 
Old.  TernstromiacecB. 

V.  Mocanera,  the  only  recognized  species 
(so  named  by  Linnaeus  on  account  of  the  fruit 
being  supposed  by  some  authors  to  have  been 
the  Mocan,  which  was  made  into  a  kind  of 
syrup  and  largely  employed  by  the  aboriginal 
inhabitants  of  the  Canary  Islands),  is  a  green- 
house shrub  with  the  habit  and  inflorescence 
of  Eurua.  It  was  introduced  to  cultivation  in 
1815,  and  is  propagated  by  cuttings. 

Vita'ceae.  A  small  natural  order,  nearly  allied 
to  RhamnacecB,  differing  slightly  in  their  flow- 
ers, but  more  in  their  habits.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  the  small  genus  Leea,  they  are 
tall  climbers,  remarkable  for  the  anomalous 
structure  of  their  wood.  Besides  the  great 
genus  Vitis,  this  order  includes  Cissus,  Ampe- 
lopsis,  Pterisanthes  and  Leea. 

VitelUnus.  Dull  yellow,  just  turning  to  red; 
the  color  of  the  yolk  of  an  egg. 

Vi'tex.  From  vieo,  to  bind ;  in  allusion  to  the 
flexible  branches.    Nat.  Ord.  Verbenacece. 

A  genus  of  about  sixty  species  of  woody 
plants,  mostly  tropical,  a  few  reaching  as  far 
north  as  tlie  Mediterranean.  The  plants  of 
this  genus  are  very  aromatic,  and  the  leaves 
and  bark  of  some  of  the  species  are  used 
medicinally  in  India.  V.  Agnus-castus,  Chaste- 
tree,  with  long,  petiolate,  divided  leaves  and 
pale  lilac  flowers,  is  perhaps  the  best  known 
species,  having  been  in  cultivation  since  1670. 
It  is  hardy  in  the  Southern  States.  V.  tri- 
foliata,  the  Indian  Wild  Pepper,  introduced 
from  India  in  1739,  is  also  in  cultivation. 
They  are  easily  increased  by  cuttings. 

Vi'tis.  Vine.  From  the  Celtic  gwid,  pro- 
nounced vid ;  signifying  the  best  of  trees. 
Wine  is  derived  from  the  Celtic  word  gwin. 
Nat.  Ord.  Vitacem. 

A  large  genus  comprising  over  two  hundred 
species  of  climbing  plants,  of  which  the  well- 
known  Grape-vine  is  the  most  important  rep- 
resentative. It  has  a  wide  geographical 
range,  but  is  principally  found  in  the  north- 
ern hemisphere,  the  majority  of  its  species 
being  natives  of  tropical  and  tempei-ate  Asia 
to  as  far  north  as  Japan  and  North  America. 
"  The  Grape-vine,  V.  vinifera,  is  a  native  of 
the  southern  shores  of  the  Caspian  Sea  and 
Armenia.  Associated  with  the  Fig,  it  follows 
the  shores  of  the  Black  Sea  as  far  as  the 
Crimea.  Alphonse  de  Candolle  states  that  it 
grows  spontaneously  throughout  the  lower 
region  of  the  Caucasus;  in  the  north,  but 
more  especially  in  the  southern  parts  of  that 
chain ;  in  Armenia,  and  on  the  southern 
shores  of  the  Caspian  Sea,  and  he  adds : 
'  There  can  be  no  doubt  from  historical  tes- 
timony and  that  of  botanists  that  this  was 
the  original  country  of  the  Vine.  But  no  spe- 
cies of  Vitis  is  wild  in  Europe.'  " — Treasury  of 
Botany. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


483 


VIT 

Although  the  hardy  varieties  of  Grapes  do 
well  in  nearly  all  parts  of  the  country,  there 
are  few  sections,  with  the  exception  of  Cali- 
fornia, where  the  European  or  foreign  Vine 
does  well  in  the  open  air.     For  this  reason, 
the  only  certain  method  of  obtaining  these 
fine  varieties  in  perfection  is  by  the  use  of 
the  Cold  Grapery.    There  is  no  addition  to  a 
country    home    from    which    such    a    large 
amount  of  satisfaction  can  be  obtained  at  so 
small  an  outlay  as  from  a  Grapery  for  grow- 
ing the  different  varieties  of  foreign  Grapes. 
As  this  fruit  can   be  obtained  at  a  trifling 
original  outlay,  and  with  but  little  attention 
in  the  cultivation  afterward,  we  will  briefly 
describe  the  methods  in  use  here,  which  are 
much  simpler  than  those  in  Europe,  from  our 
having  brighter  sunshine  during  the  summer 
months.     As  to  the  size  and  construction  of 
the  Vinery,  there  are  now  architects  in  every 
large   city  competent    to    give  plans.       For 
early   forcing,   or  perhaps  in    all  Graperies 
where  artificial  heat  is  used,  the  "lean  to," 
as  it  is  called,  is  preferable  facing  south  or 
southeast,   and  wherever  there  is  building, 
wall  or  perpendicular  rocii,  this  style  can  be 
constructed  very  cheaply ;  the  two-third  span 
green-house  (now  considered  the  best  model 
for    rose-forcing)  is   more    sightly  and    will 
answer  equally  well ;  while  for  Cold  Graperies, 
or  those  not  heated  artificially,  the  curvilinear 
or  span-roofed  is  the  best.     The  "lean  to" 
or  "two-third    span"  may  be  eighteen    or 
twenty  feet  wide  and  of  any  desired  length, 
giving  a  length  of  rafter  of  from  twenty  to 
twenty-four  feet.     The  general  width  for  a 
"curvilinear"  house  is  twenty-five  feet,  giv- 
ing about  fifteen  feet  of  a  rafter  on  each  side. 
The  formation  of  the  border  in  which  the 
Vines  are  to  be  planted  is  a  matter  of  the  first 
importance;  for  if  that  has  been  improperly 
made,  all  else,  no  matter  how  well  done,  will 
fail  to  accomplish  good  results.    The  outside 
border  for  the  Grapery  (and  for  Cold  Graperies 
that  is  ail  that  is  required)  need  not  be  more 
than  one  and  a  half  feet  in  depth ;   and  the 
width,  to  begin  with,  need  not  be  more  than 
ten  feet,  though  twenty  feet  are  none  too 
much  for  the  necessities  of  the  roots  when  the 
Vines  have  attained    two    or    three    years' 
growth,  so  that  it  is  just  as  well,  Avhen  time 
will  permit,  to  make  the  border  of  its  full 
width  at  once.     In  forming  the  border  the 
natural  ground  should  be  excavated  to  the 
required  depth  of  eighteen  inches,  the  bottom 
having  a  fall  of  at  least  half  an  inch  to  the 
foot  from  the  front  wall  of  the  Grapery  to  the 
extremity  of  the  border,  where  a  drain  of  suf- 
ficient capacity  must  be  made  to  rapidly  carry 
off  the  water.    In  our  own  practice  we  prefer 
to  cover  the  bottom  over  with  an  inch  or  two 
of  cement,  to  prevent  the  roots  penetrating 
into  the  cold  subsoil ;  though,  if  the  subsoil 
is  of  sand  or  gravel,  there  is  no  particular 
necessity  for  this.     An  excellent  compost  for 
the  formation  of  the  Vine  border  is  made  by 
using  say  nine  parts  of  sod  taken  from  the 
surface  of  any  good  pasture  land  ;  if  the  soil 
be    heavy,   however,   it    should  be  liberally 
mixed  with  lime  rubbish,  brick-bats,  or  any 
material  of  that  nature,  so  that  it  does  not 
become  too    heavy    and    sodden.      To    nine 
parts    of    such    compost   one-tenth    part   of 
broken   bones   should   be  thoroughly  mixeil 
through  it.     When  filling  the  excavation,  at 


VIT 

least  five  inches  should  be  allowed  for  settling ; 
so  that,  if  the  excavation  is  eighteen  inches 
deep,  the  compost  should  be  filled  in  to  a 
depth  of  twenty-two  or  twenty-three  inches. 

Amateurs  planting  Graperies  commonly 
desire  to  start  with  Vines  that  are  two  or  three 
years'  old,  but  such  as  have  had  much  experi- 
ence with  stocking  new  Graperies,  know  that 
a  one-year-old  Vine  that  is  well  ripened,  bet- 
t(!r  answers  the  purpose  than  those  of  greater 
age ;  in  fact,  it  is  a  question  whether  a  Vine 
started  from  an  eye  in  February  or  March, 
and  planted  in  June,  will  not  by  September 
make  as  fine  a  cane  as  one  of  any  greater  age. 
As  such  Vines  are  not  very  easily  ti-ansport- 
able  or  even  procurable  at  all  by  iDeginners, 
the  best  thing  they  can  do  is  to  procure  well- 
grown  one-year-old  Vines  and  plant  them  in 
spring,  but  not  too  early — say  May  in  this 
latitude,  or  just  when  their  buds  are  begin- 
ning to  start  if  kept,  as  they  should  have  been, 
in  a  cool  place.  It  is  best  to  shake  the  soil 
from  the  ball  of  the  young  Vines  that  have 
been  grown  in  pots,  although  the  disentangle- 
ment or  spreading  of  the  roots,  to  which  so 
much  importance  is  by  some  attached,  is  of 
no  consequence.  In  planting,  the  roots  are 
set  outside,  drawing  the  tops  through  the 
apertures  formed  in  the  wall,  a  little  higher 
than  the  border  (if  there  is  one)  inside  the 
house. 

Only  a  single  shoot  is  allowed  to  grow,  and 
this  is  cut  back  in  November  or  December  to 
the  bottom  of  the  rafter,  or  about  three  or 
four  feet  from  the  ground.  If  desirable,  a 
bunch  or  two  may  be  taken  from  each  of  the 
Vines  the  second  year,  although  it  will  some- 
what weaken  them  to  do  so.  It  is  therefore 
preferable  to  repeat  the  same  operation  of 
growing  one  shoot  only  again  to  the  top  of  the 
rafter.  This  shoot  may  now  be  cut  back  to 
say  eight  feet  from  the  ground,  and  will  this 
year  (the  third  after  planting)  give  a  good 
crop,  which  is  taken  from  the  lateral  or.side 
shoots,  still  allowing  the  main  or  leading 
shoot,  as  before,  to  get  to  the  top  of  the 
rafter ;  for  the  Vine  is  not  strong  enough  yet 
to  bear  fruit  the  whole  length  of  the  cane. 
The  fourth  year  after  planting  it  may  be  cut 
back  to  within  five  or  six  feet  of  the  top,  and 
the  fifth  year  will  be  able  to  bear  a  full  crop 
the  entire  length  of  the  rafter,  which,  in  a 
house  of  twenty-five  feet,  span-roofed,  will  be 
about  sixteen  feet  long,  or  in  a  lean-to  of 
twenty  feet  wide,  about  twenty-five  feet.  The 
variety  best  fitted  for  the  Cold  Grapery  is  the 
Black  Hamburg.  In  a  house  requiring  twenty 
Vines  we  should  advise  twelve  Black  Ham- 
burg, and  the  balance  selected  from  the  fol- 
lowing list  of  old  and  established  kinds : 
Royal  Muscadine,  Buckland's  Sweet-Water, 
White  Frontignan,  Trentham  Black  and 
Charlesworth  Tokay. 

Protecting  the  Vines  in  Cold  Graperies  is  of 
great  benefit.  About  the  simplest  way  to  do 
so  is  to  run  a  board  along  eighteen  inches  or 
so  from  the  front  wall.  After  pruning  the 
Vines  (which  may  be  done  at  any  time  after 
they  drop  their  leaves),  they  are  to  be  taken 
down  from  the  wires  and  laid  down  between 
this  boarding  and  the  front  wall,  and  the 
space  entirely  filled  up  with  soil  or  sand. 
It  is  necessary,  though,  to  watch  that 
ground  mice  do  not  get  to  the  Vines,  as 
they    might    destroy   them    by    eating   tha 


484 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


YIT 

bark.  We  have  found  that  Vines  so  cov- 
ered up  keep  admirably,  and  that  the  plan  is 
less  liable  to  draw  vermin  than  -when  they  are 
covered  with  straw  or  hay.  Tliey  are  usually 
covered  up  about  the  middle  of  December, 
and  are  not  uncovered  or  otherwise  disturbed 
until  the  first  of  May,  when  they  are  lifted  up 
and  tied  to  the  wires,  which  are  one-sixteenth 
galvanized  iron,  and  run  across  the  rafters  fif- 
teen inches  apart  and  fifteen  inches  from  the 
glass.  The  training  followed  is  what  is  called 
the  "spur"  sj'stem,  which  is  simply  to  allow 
one  cane  or  shoot  to  each  Vine  (planted  three 
or  four  feet  apart)  and  pruning  the  side-shoots 
or  "  bearing-wood"  annually  back  to  one  eye. 
In  the  summer  treatment  of  the  Cold  Gi'apery 
the  principle  must  never  be  lost  sight  of  that 
to  keep  the  Vines  in  perfect  health,  a  tempera- 
ture of  not  less  than  65"  at  night,  with  15"  or 
20-'  higher  during  tne  day,  is  always  necessary. 
Any  rapid  variation  downward  is  certain  to 
result  in  mildew.  The  floor  of  the  Grapery 
should  be  kept  sprinkled  with  water  at  all 
times,  unless  in  damp  weather,  from  the  time 
the  buds  start  until  the  fruit  begins  to  ripen, 
except  during  the  period  the  Vines  are  in 
flower,  when  it  should  be  dispensed  with  until 
the  fruit  is  set.  In  dry  weatlier,  copious 
watering  is  necessary  for  the  border  outside. 
The  summer  pruning  of  the  Grapery  consists 
simply  in  cutting  off  the  laterals,  or  side- 
shoots  which  start  from  where  the  leaf  joins 
the  stem,  to  one  leaf.  In  winter,  three  or  four 
inches  of  well-rotted  stable  manure  is  spread 
over  the  border,  and  over  that  six  inches  of 
leaves  or  litter;  this  is  raked  off  in  spiing, 
and  the  manure  forked  in,  the  objei't  being  to 
feed  tbe  roots  from  the  top  of  the  border.  We 
are  so  much  impressed  with  the  advantage  of 
covering  up  the  Vines,  both  tops  and  roots, 
that  we  practice  it  even  with  the  liardy  varie- 
ties out  of  doors,  with  the  veiy  best  results, 
having  found,  by  actual  experiment,  that  when 
covered  up  they  are  less  subject  to  mildew. 
All  plants  of  a  half-hardy  character  may  be 
kept  in  the  Cold  Grapery,  such  as  Roses,  Pome- 
granates, Oranges,  Crape  Myrlhs,  Pampas 
Grass,  Tritomas,  Carnations,  etc.,  care  being 
taken  that  the  pots  or  tubs  in  which  they  are 
planted  are  plunged  in  leaves,  tan,  or  some 
such  substance,  so  that  the  roots  do  not 
freeze.  The  Cold  Grapery  makes  an  excellent 
poultry-house  in  winter,  only,  if  put  to  that 
use,  care  must  be  taken  that  the  buried  Vines 
are  secure  against  tlie  scratching  of  the  hens. 
In  the  construction  of  the  Grapery  for  forc- 
ing by  artificial  heat,  the  best  plan  is  the  '  'lean- 
to"  style,  previously  described.  This  should 
face  the  south,  or  southeast,  so  that  it  will 
get  all  the  sunlight  possible  in  the  win- 
ter and  spring  months,  for  forcing  is  often 
begun  in  December  and  Januarj',  so  as  to  have 
the  fruit  ripe  in  April  and  Mriy.  A  skillful 
grower  will  usually  ripen  his  crops  in  four 
months  or  a  little  more,  but  not  all  kinds 
alike,  as  some  naturally  ri|)en  earlier  than 
others  with  precisely  the  same  treatment.  In 
forcing  Grapes,  it  is  essential  to  have  the  bor- 
der outside  covered  up  with  leaves  or  manure 
of  sufficient  dei)th  to  prevent  the  frost  getting 
to  the  roots;  as,  if  heat  is  api)lied  inside  to 
the  Vines  while  the  roots  arefrozen,  it  will 
injure  them  seriously.  When  Vines  are  started 
to  force  very  early,  say  January  1st,  sufficient 
covering  of  manure    and  leaves    should    be 


VIT 

placed  on  the  border  to  raise  the  temperature 
of  the  soil  to  at  least  60°,  if  the  best  results 
are  to  be  obtained.  If  started  five  or  six 
weeks  later,  so  much  covering  would  not  be 
necessary.  No  matter  at  what  season  the 
Grapery  is  started,  the  temperature  to  begin 
with,  say  for  the  first  three  weeks,  should  not 
exceed  fifty  degrees  at  night,  with  the  usual 
day  temperature  of  10"  to  15''  higher,  increas- 
ing gradually  until  the  buds  begin  to  be  devel- 
oped, which  will  be  from  five  to  six  weeks,  to 
a  temperature  of  65°  at  night,  with  15^  higher 
in  the  daytime.  In  another  four  or  five  weeks 
the  frixit  will  be  set,  wlien  the  temperature 
may  run  from  70°  to  75°  at  night,  with  the  10° 
to  15°  higher  during  the  day.  When  the 
berries  are  about  the  size  of  small  peas,  it  is 
indispensable  to  thin  nearly  half  of  them  out 
Avith  the  Grape  scissors,  else  they  will  not 
attain  half  their  size,  and  the  bunches  will  be 
so  compact  that  it  will  be  impossible  to  detach 
the  berries  without  mashing  them.  Inex- 
perienced Grape-growers  almost  invariably 
err  in  leaving  the  berries  too  thick  on  the 
b  inch,  and  often,  also,  too  many  bunches  on 
the  Vines,  which  not  only  results  in  the  fruit 
being  inferior  in  quality,  bat  no  more  weight 
even  is  obtain<'d.  In  regard  to  kinds  to  plant, 
we  should  here,  as  in  the  Cold  Giapery,  choose 
a  large  proportion  of  the  Black  Hamburgh, 
next  the  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  Maddresfield 
Court  Muscat,  and  then  Trentham  Black,  Mus- 
cat Hamburg,  GoUh-n  Champion,  GrosColman, 
Barbarossa  and  Lady  Dowues'  for  late,  Chas- 
selas  de  Fountainbleau  for  early,  Grizzly  Eron- 
tignan,  Alicante,  and  similar  good  kinds.  For 
market.  Black  Hamburgh  and  Muscat  of  Alex- 
au.iria  are  found  to  be  the  most  profitable. 

If  proper  attention  has  been  given  in  forcing 
the  Grapery  to  the  right  degrees  of  tempera- 
ture and  moisture,  there  should  be  no  mildew; 
but  as  a  preventive  in  case  of  accidents,  it  is 
safest,  as  soon  as  firing  begins,  to  paint  the 
hot-water  pipes  with  a  mixture  of  lime,  or  lin- 
seed oil  and  sulphur.  The  pipes,  when  heated, 
evaporate  the  sulphur  fumes,  which  are  cer- 
tain to  destroy  the  germs  of  mildew,  and  also 
Red  Spider,  Avhich  sometimes  infests  vineries 
ki'pt  at  a  high  temperature.  (See  Insects.) 
Accidents  olten  occur  by  leaving  the  Avater  in 
the  pipes  in  the  Graperies  at  the  season  they 
are  resting  and  exposed  to  frost.  Avhich  is 
often  scA'ere  enough  to  freeze  tlie  Avater,  Avhich, 
expanding,  bursts  tlie  pipes.  It  is  always 
safest  not  to  Avait  until  fall  to  empty  thein, 
but  to  do  so  as  soon  as  firing  is  stojiped  in  the 
spring  and  summer.  It  is  often  customary, 
after  pruning  the  Vines,  to  peel  the  l«.ose  bai'k 
from  the  canes  and  AA^ash  them  Avith  a  mixture 
of  sulphur  and  lime,  to  destroy  insects;  but 
there  is  no  necessity  for  this,  in  our  opinion, 
if  the  practice  of  burying  up  the  stems  in  the 
soil  is  resorted  to,  as  described  in  our  instruc- 
tions for  the  Cold  Grapery.  We  have  resorted 
to  this  practice  f(.)r  many  years,  and  though 
Ave  haA'e  never  either  peeled  off  the  rough  bark 
or  washed  them,  we  have  never  been  troubled 
A\'itli  insects  of  any  kind. 

Vitis  labrusra  and  V.  vulpina,  the  wild 
Grapes  of  our  own  country,  are  quite  dis- 
tinct species  from  the  Avine  Grape  of  Europe, 
being  usually  much  stronger  in  their  groAvtii 
Avith  larger  and  more  leathery  foliage,  and, 
in  their  native  state,  with  a  peculiar  foxy  odor 
or  flavor  and  more  or  less  hardness  of" pulp. 


y^/^A^ 


.-=^*'8  ^g^ 


■Mife.-  a.-iL*m--?^i^.fe^^^:ai^^3te-^>- 


VITIS  (NIAGAEA  GRAPE). 


vms  (beighton  gbafe). 


VITIS  (MOORE'S  KAIiLY   (illAPE). 


Vine  (WYOMrNG  red  ob&pe),        485 


AND   GENERAL   HORriCULTURE. 


485 


VIT 

These  traits  are  rapidly  disappearing  under 
cultivation,  and  now  the  better  varieties  of 
the  native  Grapes  are  among  the  most  valu- 
able of  our  fiuits,  and  the  vineyard  culture  of 
the  Grape  is  fast  assuming  a  chief  place 
among  the  industrial  interests  of  the  country, 
not  alone  for  food,  but  for  wine.  Just  now 
the  subject  of  wine  has  a  peculiar  signifi- 
cance for  the  American  vineyardist.  The 
Phylloxera  having  destroyed  in  some  cases, 
and  materially  injured  in  others,  some  of 
the  most  noted  vineyards  in  Europe,  espe- 
cially in  France,  real  wine  has  become  rare, 
except  in  some  old  cellars,  where  it  has  been 
stored  for  years.  To  keep  up  the  supply 
resort  has  been  had  to  fictitious  wines  of  all 
descriptions,  and  adulterations  of  a  very 
hurtful  nature  have  been  practiced  to  such 
an  extent  that  the  French  government  has 
lately  interfered  to  prevent  it  as  far  as  possi- 
ble. If  the  American  vineyardist  shall  now 
step  forward  and  supply  the  home  market 
with  pure,  high  class  wines,  he  will  not  only 
be  able  to  retain  it,  but  also  find  a  foreign 
market  for  all  not  wanted  at  home.  The 
Grape  should  be  regarded  as  an  article  of 
food  rather  than  a  luxury,  and  it  is  becom- 
ing more  and  more  regarded  in  that  light* 
and  there  need  be  no  fear,  with  our  rapidly 
increasing  population,  that  the  demand  will 
not  always  be  in  advance  of  the  supply.  That 
many  portions  of  the  country  are  suited  to 
the  successful  culture  of  the  Grape  is  abund- 
antly shown  by  the  vineyards  already  estab- 
lished ;  in  fact,  there  are  but  few  States  in  the 
Union  where  some  one  variety  of  the  Grape 
may  not  be  profitably  grown,  and  even  unfa- 
vorable localities  may  often  be  made  to  yield 
a  supply  for  the  family,  by  affording  the  vines 
a  little  protection  above  ground  and  proper 
drainage  beneath. 

The  following  general  directions  may  be  of 
service  to  many  :  For  more  detailed  instruc- 
tions we  would  refer  to  Downing's  Fruits  and 
Fruit  Trees  of  America,  or  to  the  excellent 
woi'ks  of  Fuller  or  Hussman  on  this  subject. 
Grapes  can  be  grown  in  any  soil  provided  it 
is  well  drained  and  in  good  condition.  For  a 
vineyard  a  strong,  loamy  or  gravelly  soil  is 
preferable,  and  a  warm,  sunny,  open  exposure 
is  indispensable.  One  or  two  years'  old  Vines 
are  the  most  satisfactory  and  may  be  planted 
in  rows  six  to  eight  feet  apart  and  four  to 
eight  feet  in  the  row  according  to  the  habit  of 
the  Vine,  whether  it  is  a  vigorous  grower  like 
the  Concord,  or  a  short-jointed  grower  like 
the  Delaware.  When  planted  they  should  be 
cut  back,  leaving  only  two  or  three  eyes  or 
buds.  For  vineyard  culture  the  long,  re- 
newal system  is  most  practiced ;  by  it  the 
Vine  the  first  year  is  permitted  to  make  but 
one  leading  shoot,  all  the  other  buds  or  eyes 
being  rubbed  off  leaving  only  the  strongest, 
which  should  be  trained  perpendicularly  to  a 
stake  the  first  year.  The  second  year  this 
cane  is  cut  down  again  to  two  eyes,  and  these 
are  grown  to  two  long  canes.  The  third  year 
one  of  these  canes  is  cut  down  to  two  buds 
and  the  other  to  four  buds,  the  former  being 
permitted  to  make  two  good  long,  stout, 
canes  and  the  latter  to  produce  about  four  or 
six  clusters  of  fruit,  all  the  ground  shoots 
being  rubbed  away.  These  two  canes  are 
allowed  to  grow  as  long  as  they  will  and  are 
trained  upright,  the  other  on  which  the  fruit 


VIT 

is  grown  is  trained  at  an  angle  of  about  forty- 
five  degrees,  and  when  it  has  set  its  fruit  is 
stopped  back  by  pinching  three  or  four 
leaves  beyond  the  fruit.  The  following  season 
or  fourth  year,  the  fruiting  cane  of  tliis  year 
is  cut  down  to  two  buds  and  the  two  canes  of 
this  year's  growth  are  cut  to  four  or  more 
buds  for  fruit  bearing  and  trained  at  an  angle 
of  forty-five  degrees  each  way,  the  two  buds 
on  the  bearing  cane  of  last  year  make  canes 
for  the  succeeding  year's  bearing. 

In  the  garden  culture  of  the  Grape  it  is  just 
as  necessary  to  secure  a  perfectly  open,  sunny 
exposure,  for  although  it  will  make  vigorous 
growths  in  the  shade  of  trees  or  buildings,  yet 
the  crop  will  be  poor  and  fiavorless  and  the 
Vines  likely  to  fall  a  prey  to  mildew.  The 
system  of  pruning  and  training  pursued  in  the 
garden  is  the  upright  or  spur  method.  The 
first  season's  growth  is  cut  back  to  two  buds 
and  the  following  season  the  two  shoots  pro- 
duced are  brought  down  to  a  horizontal 
position  and  fastened  each  way  to  the  lower 
horizontal  rail  of  the  trellis,  being  shortened 
at  the  distance  of  three  or  four  feet  from  the 
root.  These  will  form  the  base  from  wliich  to 
start  the  upright  shoots,  which  form  the  per- 
manent fruiting  canes,  and  should  be  from 
fifteen  to  eighteen  inches  apart.  The  follow- 
ing season  a  crop  of  lateral  shoots  will  be 
produced  from  the  upright  leaders  which  may 
be  allowed  to  bear  from  one  to  three  bunches 
upon  each.  Afterwards  it  is  only  necessary 
at  tlie  pruning  season  to  cut  back  these  lateral 
shoots  or  fruit-spurs  an  inch  or  so  long  and 
a  new  fruit-producing  lateral  will  annually 
supply  its  place,  to  be  again  cut  out  at  the 
winter's  pruning.  Though  this  system  gives 
the  largest  crops  and  is  the  most  generally' 
practiced,  it  is  nevertheless  certain,  that  the 
renewal  system  always  yields  the  largest  and 
finest  fruit.  If  the  vine  is  fully  exposed  to  the 
sun  it  will  require  very  little  summer  pruning ; 
in  faot  none,  except  stopping  the  young 
shoots  three  joints  beyond  the  furthest  bunch 
of  Grapes  at  midsummer,  for  the  leaves  being 
intended  by  Nature  to  elaborate  the  sap  the 
more  we  can  retain  of  them,  the  larger  and 
higher-flavored  will  be  the  fruit;  careful  ex- 
periments having  proved  that  there  is  no 
more  successful  mode  of  impoverishing  the 
crop  of  fruit  than  that  of  pulling  off  the 
leaves. 

Although  Grape-vines  are  hardy  in  nearly 
all  sections,  yet  in  any  locality  where  the 
thermometer  falls  to  zero  it  is  beneficial  to 
lay  them  down  close  to  the  ground,  and  cover 
them  up  with  rough  litter  before  the  approach 
of  severe  weather  in  winter,  allowing  it  to 
remain  on  in  spring  until  the  buds  begin  to 
swell,  when  the  Vines  are  uncovered  and  tied 
up  to  the  trellis  or  stake.  If  covered  in  this 
way  they  should  be  pruned  befoi-e  being  laid 
down.  Pruning  may  be  done  at  any  time 
from  November  to  March.  It  is  a  common 
belief  that  Grape-vines  should  be  pruned  only 
at  certain  seasons.  The  weather  must  not 
be  too  cold,  otherwise  it  is  supposed  they  may 
be  injured  if  then  pruned.  Again,  they  must 
not  be  pruned  late  in  the  spring,  else  the  sap 
oozing  from  the  cuts  may  bleed  them  to 
death.  Let  me  say  that  both  these  notions 
are  utter  nonsense.  The  pruning  of  any  tree 
or  vine  in  the  coldest  weather  cannot  possibly 
injure  it,  and  the   "bleeding"  or  running  of 


486 


HENDERSON'S  HA.NDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


VIT 

the  sap  after  any  ordinary  pruning  can  no 
more  hurt  the  Vine  than  the  blood  flowing 
from  a  pin  scratch  would  weaken  a  healthy 
man.  This  method  of  covering  up  the  Grape- 
vine is  not  commonly  practiced,  but  we  are 
satisfied  thixt  in  exposed  positions  it  is  well 
worth  the  trouble.  I  have  practiced  it  with 
Vines  now  over  twenty  years  old,  embracing 
some  twenty  varieties.  My  soil  is  a  stilt' clay, 
very  unsuitable  for  the  Grape ;  yet  these 
Vines  have  kept  clear  of  mildew  when  my 
neighbor's  Vines,  a  few  hundred  yards  off, 
have  been  seriously  injured  by  it.  I  have 
long  believed  that  intense  cold  is  hurtful  to 
even  such  plants  as  we  call  hardy,  but  the 
wonderful  vigor  of  these  old  Vines  seems 
good  evidence  of  the  advantage  of  our  method 
of  treatment.  The  litter  used  in  covering 
(which  has  become  well  rotted  by  spring)  Is 
spread  over  the  border,  acting  both  as  a  sum- 
mer mulch  and  fertilizer. 

Diseases.  The  Mildew  and  Black  Kot  are 
diseases  which  most  affect  the  success  of 
grape  culture  in  this  country.  For  the  for- 
mer sulphur  is  the  best  remedy,  applied  while 
the  leaves  are  wet.  On  a  large  scale  it  is  ap- 
plied by  a  bellows  made  for  the  purpose. 
Experiments  made  during  the  past  few  years 
with  preparations  of  copper-sulphate  for  the 
prevention  of  Mildew  have  seemed  to  indicate 
that  these  mixtures  were  also  antidotes  for 
Black  Eot.  The  preparation  considered  the 
best  is  what  is  known  as  tiie  Bordeaux  mixt- 
ure. (See  Insecticides.)  This  mixture  should 
be  sprayed  on  the  vines  at  intervals  of  ten 
days  to  two  weeks  during  the  summer.  This 
can  be  done  with  any  of  the  force-pumps  with 
a  nozzle  that  delivers  the  liquid  in  the  form 
of  mist.  Many  enclose  the  best  clusters  of 
all  their  grapes  in  paper  bags  to  preserve 
them  from  the  spores  of  the  Black  Kot,  and 
state  that  it  is  very  efficacious.  These  spores 
are  invisible  to  the  naked  eye,  but  they  float 
about  in  the  air,  and  lodging  on  the  skin  of 
the  grape,  are  ready  to  germinate  under  fa- 
vorable conditions  of  moisture  and  tempera- 
ture. To  prevent  their  coming  in  contact 
with  the  grapes,  the  clusters  are  enclosed  in 
paper  bags,  the  mouth  reaching  over  the  cane, 
folded  and  secured  with  a  pin.  This  method 
also  secures  the  fruit  from  the  attacks  of 
bees,  wasps,  etc.,  which  are  often  very  de- 
structive. 

Varieties.  There  are  so  many  really  good 
varieties  now  in  cultivation,  many  of  them 
succeeding  better  in  some  localities  than  in 
others,  that  it  is  difficult  to  make  a  selection 
of  a  few  of  the  best  sorts.  For  hardiness, 
delicious  flavor  and  size  of  fruit  we  consider 
the  following  the  best  in  their  respective  col- 
ors. (For  description  see  nursery  catalogues.) 

"White.  Niagara,  Moore's  Diamond,  Sa- 
lem, Martha  and  Duchess.  Red. — Brighton, 
Delaware,  Agawam  (Rodgers'  No.  15)  and 
Wyoming  Red.  Black. — Worden,  Moore's 
Early,  Concord,  Merrimac  and  Wilder  (Rod- 
gers' No.  9). 

The  varieties  named  in  this  list  have  been 
selected  with  a  view  to  have  fruit  in  succes- 
sion from  August  to  October,  and,  besides,  to 
have  a  selection  of  such  colors  as  will  be  most 
desirable  when  dished  on  the  table,  which,  in 
the  great  variety  of  shades  which  we  now 
have  in  this  delicious  fruit,  makes  a  most 
beautiful  ornament. 


VOL 

Propagation  of  the  Grape  is  done  by  nur- 
serymen in  green-houses  similar  to  that  used 
for  propagating  florists'  plants ;  but  most  of 
the  varieties  can  be  grown  with  fair  success 
by  cuttings  in  the  open  air.  The  cuttings 
(made  from  the  young,  well-ripened  shoots  of 
the  previous  year's  growth)  may  be  made 
with  two  or  three  buds  or  eyes,  planted  in 
rows,  say  one  foot  apart  and  three  inches  be- 
tween the  cuttings,  and  set  so  that  the  top 
eye  or  bud  only  is  above  ground.  The  situa- 
tion where  the  cuttings  are  placed  should  be 
well  exposed  to  the  sun,  the  soil  rich  and 
deep,  and  of  sandy  or  light  character.  Care 
must  be  taken  that  the  cutting  is  well  firmed 
in  the  soil ;  and  if  sawdust  or  some  other 
non-conducting  material  is  sifted  over  them 
(covering  all  up  but  the  buds),  success  will  bo 
greater,  as  this  will  prevent  the  sun  from 
baking  and  drying  up  the  soil.  The  cuttings 
may  be  made  from  tlie  prunings  at  any  time 
during  winter,  and  kept  in  a  damp  cellar  or 
buried  outside  in  sand  until  planted  in  the 
cutting-bed  in  the  spring. 

Vitta.  Vittae.  The  oil  tubes  of  the  fruit  of  the 
UmbellifercB. 

Vitta'ria.  From  vitta,  a  riband ;  alluding  to 
the  narrow  fronds.  A  genus  of  tropical  Ferns 
having  grass-like  subcoriaceous  fronds  with 
free  veins.  They  are  very  interesting  plants, 
though  not  of  much  significance  except  in  a 
botanical  collection. 

Vittate.    Striped  length-wise. 

Vivia'na,  Named  in  honor  of  Domenico  Viviana, 
a  professor  and  botanist  of  Genoa.  Nat.  Ord. 
Geraniacece. 

A  genus  of  undershrubs  and  herbs,  natives 
of  South  America.  They  have  opposite  ovate 
leaves,  covered  with  white  down  on  the  under 
surface,  and  bearing  white,  pink  or  purple 
flowers  in  terminal  panicles.  They  are  pretty 
green-house  plants  but  are  not  often  seen  in 
cultivation. 

Viviparous.  Bearing  young  plants  in  the  place 
of  flowers  or  seeds. 

Vochy'sia.  Vochy  is  the  Guiana  name  of  V. 
Guiunensis;  sometimes  spelled  Vochisia,  Nat. 
Ord.  VochysiacecP: 

A  genus  of  generally  tall  trees,  natives  of 
Brazil,  Guiana,  Eastern  Peru  and  New  Gren- 
ada, the  flowers  of  which  are  arranged  in 
highly  ornamental  panicles  and  are  generally 
of  a  yellow  or  bright  orange  color.  When  in 
bloom  they  present  a  magnificent  spectacle, 
accompanied  by  a  penetrating,  often  violet- 
like odor.  V.  Guianensis  and  V.  tomentosa  are 
in  cultivation  and  are  increased  by  cuttings 
of  the  ripened  wood. 

Vochysia'ceae.  (Vochyacece.)  A  small  natural 
order  of  trees  or  climbing  shrubs,  often  of 
great  beauty,  with  opposite,  entire  leaves,  and 
yellow,  white,  pink  or  purple  flowers  (usually 
very  showy)  in  terminal  racemes  or  panicles. 
Little  is  known  of  the  properties  of  these 
ti-ees,  beyond  the  hardness  of  the  timber 
which  some  of  them  supplj',  and  the  position 
of  the  order  in  the  Natural  system  is  as  yet 
unsettled. 

Volkame'ria.  Named  for  J.  G.  Volkamer,  a 
German  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  VerbenacecE. 

This  genus  is  closely  allied  to  Clerodendroiu 
but  is  botanically  distinguished  from  it.     The 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


487 


VOL 

two  best  authenticated  species  are  V.  aculeata 
and  V.  Acerbiana  horn  Nubia.  Tliey  succeed 
well  in  a  compost  of  sandy  loam  and  leaf 
mould,  and  are  increased  by  cuttings.  Syn. 
Clerodendron. 

Volubilis.      Twisting  or  twining  round  some 

other  body. 
Volute.     Rolled  up  in  any  way. 

Voy'ria.     From  Voyra,  the  name  of  a  species  in 
Guiana.     Nat.  Ord.  Gentianacere. 

A  genus  of  tropical  American  plants  con- 
nectin^'  Genlianacece  with  Orobanchacece,  inas- 
much as  tlie  species  are  parasitical  on  tlie 
trunks  of  old  trees,  and  have  only  minute, 
scale- like  leaves.  The  tuberous  roots  of  V. 
rosea  are  of  a  reddish  color  externally  and 
white  within,  they  are  baked  and  eaten  in 
Guiana  like  Potatoes. 


WAL 

Vrie'sia.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  W.  de  Vriese, 
Professor  of  Botany  at  Amstei-dam,  Holland. 
Nat.  Ord.  BromeliucecB. 

This  genus  is  the  most  remarkable  of  the 
Natural  Order  to  which  it  belongs.  There  are 
but  few  species,  the  most  interesting  being 
V.  speciosa  (syn.  Tillandsla  splendent),  a  native 
of  Brazil.  The  beauty  of  this  species  consists 
in  the  tall  spike  of  brilliant  scarlet  bracts, 
from  which  the  flowers  are  produced.  The 
flowers  are  yellow  and  quite  transient,  but 
the  rich  color  of  the  bracts  continues  a  long 
time.  The  plant  has  the  general  appearance 
of  the  Billbergia,  and  requires  the  same  treat- 
ment. Introduced  in  1844.  This  genus  is  now 
included  under  Tillandsia  by  some  authors. 

Vulnerary.     Useful  in  the  cure  of  wounds. 

Vulviform.     Like  a  cleft,  with  projecting  edges. 


w. 


Waahoo  or  Burning  Bush.     Euonymus  atro- 
purpureus. 

Wachendo'rfia.  Named  in  honor  of  J.  E. 
Wachendorf,  a  Dutch  botanist.  Nat.  Ord. 
HcRinodoracecE. 

A  small  genus  of  Cape  plants,  usually  of- 
fered in  seedsmen's  catalogues  as  bulbs,  more 
from  their  Ixia-like  flowers  than  the  shape  of 
their  roots.  They  all  have  rhizomes  or  un- 
derground stems,  in  the  scales  of  wliich  buds, 
like  little  bulbs,  form,  by  which,  when  de- 
tached, some  of  the  species  are  propagated. 
The  flowers  are  yellow  or  violet,  scattered  on 
slender  scapes  about  a  foot  high.  The  species 
are  nearly  evergreen,  but  not  hardy.  They 
should  be  grown  in  pots,  which  should  be 
large  for  the  size  of  the  plant,  and  allowed  a 
partial  rest  soon  after  flowering,  which  is  in 
midsummer.  Introduced  in  1770.  Syn.  Pedi- 
lonia. 

Wahlenbe'rgla.  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  George 
Wuhlenberg,  author  of  "Flora  Lapponica," 
etc.     Nat.  Ord.  Campanulacece. 

This  genus  consists  of  hardy  annuals  and 
perennials,  with  a  few  tender  annuals.  They 
are  mostly  natives  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
Like  the  whole  of  the  order,  these  are  very 
pretty  plants.  The  herbaceous  perennial 
species,  one  of  the  best  of  which  is  W.  grandi- 
fiora,  of  which  there  are  white  and  blue  vari- 
eties, are  very  handsome.  Seed  sown  in  June 
will  give  fine  flowering  plants  the  next  sea- 
son. The  annuals  should  be  raised  in  heat  in 
the  spring,  and  planted  out  when  danger  from 
frost  is  passed.    Introduced  in  1816. 

Wai'tzia.     In    honor    of   F.   A.    C.    Waitz,   an 
Eastern  traveler.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  genus  of  showy  "everlasting  flowers," 
all  of  which  are  half-hardy,  growing  from  one 
to  two  feet  high,  and  bearing  beautiful  pink 
or  yellow  flowers.  Natives  of  Australia,  and 
requiring  a  warm  soil  and  situation  for  their 
perfect  development. 

"Wake  Robin.     A  common   name  for   Trillium 
cemuum,  also  for  Arum  maculatum. 


Waldstei'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  Cotmt  von 
Waldstein,  a  German  botanist  and  author.  A 
small  genus  of  Rosacece,  comprised  of  four 
species  of  hardy,  creeping,  perennial  plants, 
with  the  aspect  of  some  of  the  Potentillas. 
The  leaves  are  palmately  divided,  and  the 
flowers  yellow  in  terminal  corymbs.  They 
are  natives  of  central  and  eastern  Europe, 
northern  Asia  and  America,  and  are  rather 
pretty  plants,  thriving  in  ordinary  soil.  W. 
fragarioides  (Barren  Strawberry)  is  common 
on  the  Alleghanies.  Syns.  Dalibarda  and  Co- 
mar  ops  is. 

Walking-Fern.     A  name  sometimes  given  to 

Lycopodimn  alopecuroides. 
Walking-Leaf  or  Walking-Fern.     A  common 

name  for  Camptosorus  rkizophyllus. 
Walks.      It  was  Downing,  we  believe,  who  laid 
down  the  common-sense  rule,  that  in  the  lay- 
ing out  of  walks  or  drives  in  the  garden  or 
pleasure-ground,  there  "  never  should  be  any 
deviation  from  a  straight  line  unless  for  some 
real  or  apparent  cause."      So,  if  curved  lines 
are  desired,  trees,  rock,  buildings  or  mounds 
must  be  placed  at  the  bend  or  curve,  as  a 
reason  for  going  round  such  obstacles.      If 
any  one  doubts  the  necessity  for  this  rule,  let 
him  observe    the    effect  produced    on   level 
ground,  where  a  line  runs  in  corkscrew  fash- 
ion, as  is  sometimes  seen  in  the  space  between 
the  house  and  the  street.      The  absurdity  is 
apparent,  for  no  matter  what  leisure  one  may 
have,  to  be  compelled  to  go  a  roundabout  way 
to  reach  a  point  where  there  is  no  apparent 
reason  or  necessity  for  it,  is  certain  to  grate 
on  the  senses ;  yet  ridiculous  as  this  is,  such 
cases  are  by  no  means  rare,  as  there  is  a  pre- 
vailing notion  that  such  walks  or  drives  must 
be  curved  lines  (the  curve  being  the  line  of 
beauty),  whether  the  necessities,  natural  or 
artificially  formed  for  such  lines,  are  present 
or  not.      Often  the  formation  of  new  grounds 
IS  totally  ruined  in  this  way.     The  proprietor 
entirely  ignorant  of  what  is  wanted,   places 
himself  in  the  hands  of  some  ignorant  gar- 
dener, who  pretends  to  a  knowledge  of  what 


488 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OP   PLANTS 


WAL 

strictly  belongs  to  the  trained  landscape  en- 
gineer. As  well  njiglit  he  expect  the  avei'age 
bricklayer,  working  for  two  or  three  dollars 
per  day,  to  plan  and  supervise  the  erection  of 
his  dwelling-house  as  the  average  gardener, 
to  whom  he  pays  $50  or  $60  a  month,  to  lay 
out  his  carriage  drives  and  lawn ;  for  the  one 
is  oftentimes  equally  as  much  a  matter  of 
taste  and  skill  as  the  other.  In  suburban 
residences,  where  the  house  is  not  more  than 
a  hundred  feet  or  so  from  the  street,  a  drive 
is  best  made  by  having  an  entrance  at  each 
side  of  the  lot,  so  that  the  carriage  can  enter 
at  one  gate  and  go  out  at  the  other,  presuming 
that  the  width  of  the  ground  is  500  feet,  and 
the  distance  from  the  street  to  the  front  door  is 
150  feet.  Then  the  foot-walk  should  be  in  a 
straight  line  direct  from  the  street  to  the  front 
door.  The  width  of  the  roads  or  walks  must  be 
governed  by  the  extent  of  the  grounds.  For 
the  carriage-way  the  width  should  not  be  less 
than  ten  feet,  and  for  foot-walks  five  feet. 
Often  gardens  of  considerable  pretensions 
have  the  walks  not  more  than  three  feet  wide, 
where  it  is  utterly  impossible  for  two  persons 
to  walk  abreast  without  getting  their  dresses 
torn  or  faces  scratched  by  overhanging 
branches.  Of  course,  it  is  another  matter 
when  the  garden  plot  is  limited  to  the  width 
of  a  city  lot  (25  or  50  feet),  then  such  economy 
of  space  is  perfectly  excusable.  The  character 
of  the  soil  must  in  a  great  measure  determine 
the  manner  of  making  the  walk  or  road.  Every 
one  must  have  noticed  that,  after  a  heavy 
rain,  uupaved  streets  in  some  districts  remain 
next  to  impassible  for  many  hours,  while  in 
others,  after  the  same  amount  of  rainfall,  they 
are  comparatively  drj'.  This  is  entirely  due 
to  the  nature  of  the  subsoil,  which,  if  gravelly 
or  sandy,  will  quickly  allow  the  water  to  pass 
off;  if,  however,  the  subsoil  is  of  clay,  then 
provision  must  be  made  for  ample  drainage, 
else,  no  matter  of  what  material  the  walk  or 
road  is  composed,  unless  the  water  passes 
through  it  or  off  it  rapidly,  it  will  never  be 
satisfactory. 

Wall-Cress.     The  genus  Arabis. 

Wall  Fern.     Polypodium  vulgare. 

Wall  Flower.     See  Cheiranthus. 
Fairy.     Erysimum  pumilum. 
Western.     Erysimum  Arkansanum. 
Alpine.     Erysimum  ochroleucum, 

Walli'chia.     Named  after  Dr.  Nathaniel  Wallich, 

■  Superintendent  of  the  Botanical  Garden,  Cal- 
cutta, and  author  of  several  valuable  works  on 
Indian  plants.     Nat.  Ord.  PalmacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  dwarf,  tufted,  stove-house 
palms,  natives  of  the  East  Indies.  W.  caryo- 
toides  and  W.  densijlora  are  both  in  cultivation, 
and  require  a  strong,  rich  soil  and  a  warm, 
moist  temperature.  They  are  increased  by 
seeds  when  procurable,  or  by  gradually  sepa- 
rating the  suckers  so  as  to  allow  them  to  make 
suflacient  root  before  they  are  quite  detached. 

Wall-Pennywort.  A  common  name  for  Coty- 
ledon umbillicus. 

Wall-Pepper.    A  name  given  to  Sedum  acre. 
Wall-Rue.     The  popular  name   of  Asplenium 

Ruta-muraria. 
Walnut.     The  common  name  of  Juglans  regia. 
Walnut.     Black.     Juglans  nigra. 
Wandering  Jew.     A  common  name  for  Trades- 


WAR 

cantia  zebrina  (see  Zebrina) ;   also   applied  to 
Saxifraga  sarmentosa. 

Wanghee,  Whangee.  The  names  given  to  some 
Eastern  canes;  species  of  Phyllostachys,  im- 
ported in  large  quantities  for  the  manufacture 
of  walking-sticks. 

Waratah.     See  Telopia  speciossima. 

Wardian  Case.  This  is  a  neat  contrivance, 
used  for  such  plants  as  require  a  moist,  still 
atmosphere,  such  as  Ferns,  Mosses,  the 
so-called  "insect-eating"  plants,  as  Nepen- 
thes, Sarracenias,  Dionceas,  etc.,  or  tropical 
plants  grown  for  the  beauty  of  their  leaves, 
as  Bracoenas,  Crotons,  Marantas,  Caladiuma, 
etc.  The  Wardian  Case  has  a  base  or  tray 
made  of  Black  Walnut,  Oak  or  other  ornamen- 
tal wood  about  six  inches  deep  and  lined  with 
zinc,  and  glass  sides  and  hinged  top ;  or  the 
tray  is  made  of  terra  cotta  or  other  earthen- 
ware. They  are  made  of  various  sizes,  the 
average,  however,  being  about  twenty-four 
inches  long  and  sixteen  inches  in  width  and 
height.  They  should  be  elevated  on  a  stand 
to  a  height  that  will  allow  its  contents  to  be 
best  seen,  as  the  plants  used  for  that  purpose 
should  be  such  as  will  bear  the  closest  inspec- 
tion for  richness  of  shading  or  curious  con- 
struction of  leaves.  When  the  Wardian  Case 
is  first  filled  with  plants,  it  should  be  given 
water  sullicient  to  reach  to  the  bottom  of  the 
soil,  but  not  enough  to  make  the  soil  too  wet. 
The  top  of  the  case  is  hinged,  so  that  it  can 
be  lifted  to  allow  the  escape  of  moisture, 
which,  when  in  excess  when  the  case  is  closed, 
will  be  known  by  its  trickling  down  the  sides 
of  the  glass.  Usually  it  will  be  sufficient  to 
raise  the  lid  an  inch  or  so  every  day  or  two  to 
keep  the  glass  f I'ee  from  this  moisture  ;  and 
no  ventilation  is  necessary  except  to  get  rid 
of  this  excess,  as  the  closer  it  is  kept  the 
better  it  is  for  the  welfare  of  the  peculiar 
class  of  plants  suited  for  it.  The  effectiveness 
of  the  Wardian  Case  depends  a  gri-at  deal  on 
the  arrangement  of  the  plants,  the  tallest  and 
most  conspicuous  being  in  the  centre,  with 
the  smallest  towards  the  edges,  vaiying  the 
interest  on  all  sides  of  it  by  contrasting  the 
different  colorings  and  forms  of  tiie  leaves. 
The  Wardian  Case  sliould  be  placed  in  a 
position  where  it  does  not  get  the  direct  sun- 
light. The  plants  with  which  it  is  usually 
filled  are  natives  of  shady  woods  or  marshes, 
where  thej'  are  sheltered  from  winds  and  in 
partial  shade,  and  the  nearer  tlu-ir  natural 
condition  can  be  imitated  in  the  Wardian  Case 
the  better.  Ferneries,  so  called,  require  sub- 
stantially the  same  character  of  plants  and 
the  same  treatment,  the  only  real  difference 
being  that  they  are  round,  and  the  glass 
covering  is  what  is  known  as  a  bell  glass. 

Wa'rrea.  Named  after  F.  Warre,  a  botanical 
collector.     Nat.  Ord.   Orchidacece. 

A  small  genus  of  Orchids  from  Central  and 
South  America,  resembling  Ma.cillaria.  They 
are  of  neat  habit,  and  produce  their  showy 
flowers  freely.  W.  cyanea  is  remarkable  for 
the  deep  blue  color  of  its  lip,  pure  blue  being 
rarely  found  among  Orchids.  This  genus 
succeeds  best  in  pots  in  leaf-mould  and  sphag- 
num moss.  They  require  no  rest,  and  may 
be  grown  in  a  moderately  warm  house. 

"Warszewicze'lla.  A  jrenus  of  OrchidacecB,  now 
included  under  Zygopetalum. 


AND  GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


489 


WAS 

"Washingto'nia.  The  generic  name  now  adopted 
by  some  botanists  for  two  species  of  Cali- 
forniau  Palms,  W.filtfera  Sind  W.  robusta.  The 
former  is  known  in  cultivation  as  Brahea  and 
Pritchardia  Jilamentosa. 

"Washington  Thorn.  A  common  name  for  Cra- 
tcegua  cordata,  found  from  Virginia  southward 
along  the  Alleghanies,  etc. 

"Waited  Gourd.     Cucurbita  Pepo  verrucosa. 

"Water  Aloe  or  "Water  Soldier.  Common  names 
for  Strulioides  aloides. 

Water  Anemone.  A  common  name  for  Ranun- 
culus aqualilis. 

"Water  Archer.     Sagittaria  Sagittifolia. 

Water  Arum.  The  popular  name  of  Calla 
palustris. 

"Water  Beech.  A  popular  name  for  Carpinvs 
Americana. 

"Water  Chestnut.     See  Trapa. 

"Water  Chinquapin.     See  Nelumbium. 

"Water-cress.     See  Nasturtium. 

"Waterfall.  A  "Waterfall  or  Cascade  is  a  decided 
improvement  where  a  running  stream  passes 
through  a  park  or  lawn,  and  is  formed  by  first 
constructing  a  bank  of  masonry  presenting  an 
inclined  plane  to  the  current  and  rendering  it 
impervious  to  water  by  the  use  of  cement ; 
and  next  by  varying  the  ridge  of  the  bank  and 
the  bed  of  the  stream  below  it  with  fragments 
of  rock,  so  chosen  and  placed  as  not  to  pre- 
sent a  character  foreign  to  what  nature  may 
be  supposed  to  have  produced  there.  The 
adjoining  ground  frequently  i-equires  to  be 
raised  at  such  places,  but  may  be  harmonized 
by  the  judicious  planting  of  shrubs  or  trees. 

"Water  Flag.     Iris  Fseud-acoris. 

Water  Gladiole.  A  name  given  by  Gerarde  to 
the  Flowering  Rush,  Butomus  umbellatiui. 

"Water  Hemlock.     See  Cicuta. 
"Water    Hemp.      See    Acnida    cannabina    and 
Bidens  tripartita. 

"Water  Horehound.     Lycopus  EuropcBus. 

"Watering.  This  is  one  of  the  most  important 
operations  in  the  indoor  culture  of  plants, 
and  one  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  get 
a  proper  knowledge  qf  without  actual  expe- 
rience, as  the  circumstances  are  so  various 
when  water  should  be  given  or  withheld,  that, 
were  we  to  write  a  volume  on  the  subject,  it 
would  not  be  of  as  much  value  as  a  year's 
actual  practice.  There  are,  however,  some 
general  rules  that  it  will  help  the  beginner 
to  keep  in  mind.  One  important  rule  is, 
never  to  water  a  plant  until  it  is  dry.  What 
this  condition  of  dryness  is,  is  governed  not 
altogether  by  the  indications  of  the  soil  being 
diy  on  the  surface,  but  also  by  the  vigor  of 
the  plant.  A  good  rule  is  to  rap  the  side  of 
the  pot  with  the  knuckles ;  if  dry,  it  should 
have  a  ringing  sound,  and  should  have  suffi- 
cient water  given  it  to  penetrate  the  entire 
ball ;  if  a  dull  and  solid  sound,  the  plant 
requires  no  water.  A  luxuriant  plant,  grow- 
ing in  a  temperature  of  70"^  or  80°,  with 
indications  of  dryness  on  the  surface  of  the 
pot,  should  receive  sufficient  water  to  satu- 
rate the  soil  to  the  bottom  ;  while  a  plant  that 
has  been  cut  down  for  cuttings,  or  by  any 
other  reason  defoliated,  and  thus  lessened  in 
vigor,  should  not  be  watered  until  almost  at 


WAx 

the  point  of  Wiiting.  Again,  experience  tells 
us  that  soft-wooded  plants,  such  as  Gerani- 
ums, Fuchsias  or  Heliotropes,  will  recuperate 
even  when  dried  to  wilting,  if  thoroughly 
soaked,  while  hard- wooded  plants,  such  as 
Azaleas,  Heaths  or  Camellias,  under  the  same 
circumstances,  would  fail  to  recover.  All 
succulent  plants,  such  as  Cacti,  Sedums, 
Echeverias,  etc.,  will  admit  of  being  kept 
nearly  entirely  dry  during  the  dormant  sea- 
son; and,  although  they  will  exist  with  but 
little  water  even  for  twelve  months,  yet, 
when  their  proper  season  of  growth  begins 
(which  will  be  indicated  by  the  developing  of 
the  buds  or  shoots),  they  require  water  nearly 
as  regularly  as  the  ordinary  class  of  soft- 
wooded  plants. 

The  degree  of  atmospheric  moisture  kept  in 
the  green-house  greatly  determines  the 
amount  of  water  required  at  the  roots,  and 
a  proper  degree  of  atmosplieric  moisture  is 
indispensable  for  the  welfare  of  the  plants. 
When  firing  in  winter  sufficient  to  raise  the 
temperature  to  50  degrees,  or  in  dry  weather 
at  other  seasons,  this  moisture  can  either  be 
had  by  evaporating  pans  on  the  pipes  or  by 
syringing,  judgment  being  used,  of  course,  by 
the  state  of  the  atmosphere ;  for  in  wet  or 
muggy  weather  the  artificial  means  of  pro- 
ducing moisture  should  be  stopped.  It  is 
claimed  by  some,  that  plants  should  be 
watered  or  syringed  by  water  at  the  same 
temperature  as  the  house.  When  this  can 
be  done  without  inconvenience,  it  may  be  as 
well  to  do  so ;  but  we  have  proved  by  over 
twenty-five  years'  extensive  experience,  that 
it  is  not  a  necessity^  for  we  rarely  use  water 
at  a  higher  temperature  than  45  degrees, 
either  in  watering  or  syringing,  and  have 
never  known  an  instance  where  injury  was 
done.  The  ordinary  watering  of  plants  from 
sowings  or  plantings  in  the  open  ground  in 
dry  weather  we  believe  to  be  of  little  avail,  if 
it  is  not  sometimes  a  positive  injui-y,  unless 
the  circumstances  are  such  that  the  plants 
can  be  completely  flooded  or  irrigated. 
"Water  Leaf.     A  common  name  for  the  genus 

Hydrophyllum,  which  see. 
Water  Lemon.     Passiflora  laurifolia. 
Water  Lettuce.     See  Pistia. 
"Water  Lily.     See  Nymphcea  odorata. 

Blue.     Nymphma  scuttfolia.     Syn.  N.  cyanea. 
Chinese.     Nelumbium  speciosum. 
Egyptian.     Nymphcea  Lotus 
Florida.     NymphoRaflava. 
Royal  or  Victoria.      Victoria  regia. 
Yellow.     Nuphar  lutea. 
"Water  Locust.     Gleditschia  monosperma ;  found 
from    South    Carolina    southward,   generally 
near  the  coast,  reaching  its  greatest  develop- 
ment on  the  bottom  lands  of  southern  Arkan- 
sas, Louisiana  and  eastern  Texas. 
"Water  Maize.     Victoria  regia. 
"Water  Melon.     Citrullus  vulgaris.    The  cultiva- 
tion of  the  Water  Melon  is  in  all  respects 
similar  to  that  of  the  Musk  Melon  or  Cucum- 
ber, except  that  being  a  larger  and  stronger 
growing  plant  it  requires  to  be  planted  at 
greater  distances  apart.     It  delights  in  a  light, 
sandy  soil,  and  will  not  grow  satisfactorily  on 
heavy,  clayey  soils.   It  is  now  one  of  the  staple 
crops  in  many  of  the  Southei'n  States,  hun- 
dreds of  tons  being  shipped  to  the  northern 
and  western  markets  every  season.      At  the 


490 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


WAT 

date  of  -m-iting,  the  most  approved  kinds  are, 
Phinney's  Early,  Rattlesnake  or  Gipsey,  Iron- 
clad Mammoth  and  "  Green  and  Gold."  Many 
other  sorts  are,  of  course,  favorites  in  different 
sections  of  the  country. 

"Water  Milfoil.     See  Myriophyllum. 

Water  Nymph.  One  of  the  popular  names  of 
Nymphma  odorata. 

Water  Oak.  Quercus  aquatica,  and  sometimes 
Q.  paluslris. 

Water  Parsnip.  The  common  name  of  the 
genus  Sium,  poisonous  aquatic  plants. 

Water  Pennywort.  A  popular  name  for  aquatic 
plants  belonging  to  the  genus  Hydrocotyle, 
■which  see. 

Water  Pepper.  A  common  name  of  the  Poly- 
gonum Hydropiper,  which  is  also  called  Smart- 
weed. 

Water  Pimpernel  or  Brookweed.  The  common 
name  of  marshy  weeds  belonging  to  the  genus 
Samolus. 

Water  Plantain.    See  Alisma  Plantago. 

Water  Plants.  The  numerous  water  plants 
are  now  grown  to  such  perfection  in  many  of 
our  parks  and  private  gardens  that  we  deem 
it  advisable  to  devote  a  special  article  to  them, 
though  they  will  be  found  elsewhere  described 
in  their  order.  Many  have  been  deterred 
from  attempting  their  culture  by  the  idea 
that  a  special  green-house  and  tank  must  be 
built  for  their  accommodation,  and  though 
the  various  species  can  be  had  in  flower 
almost  all  the  year  round  in  sut-h  a  structure, 
they  may  be  grown  with  great  success  out-of- 
doors  and  made  to  form  one  of  the  most 
attractive  features  of  the  garden  or  lawn 
during  the  summer  months.  They  may  be 
successfully  grown,  in  large  tubs  or  half-bar- 
rels in  the  open  aivf  either  on  the  surface  or 
sunk  in  the  ground. 

A  very  effective  and  inexpensive  plan  is  to 
arrange  the  tubs  in  connection  with  a  rock- 
erj%  a  large  tub  in  the  centre  being  placed 
somewhat  higher  than  the  rest,  and  connected 
by  pipes  or  by  pieces  of  rubber  hose,  so  that 
the  overflow  from  the  large  tub  runs  from  one 
to  the  other,  changing  the  water  in  all.  Oil 
barrels  cut  in  two  make  excellent  tubs. 

The  space  around  the  tubs  is  tilled  with 
good,  rich  compost,  held  in  place  by  large 
stones,  in  which  foliage  and  flowering  plants, 
such  as  tuberous-rooted  Begonias,  Sedums, 
Caladiums,  Palms,  etc.,  are  planted.  The 
effect  produced  in  this  manner  is  really  beau- 
tiful. 

They  can,  however,  be  grown  to  much 
greater  perfection  if  allowed  plenty  of  room  in 
a  tank  or  pond  made  especially  for  their 
reception.  This  should  be  in  a  warm,  sunny 
situation  on  the  lawn  or  elsewhere,  where  by 
judicious  planting  of  the  background  with 
Ferns,  Musas,  Bamboos,  Caladiums,  Cannas, 
etc.,  they*  may  be  shown  off  to  much  better 
advantage,  and  the  tropical  idea  of  the  scene 
sustained. 

For  the  more  tender  kinds  it  is  necessai-y.in 
•st^s  latitude,  to  make  the  bottom  of  cement  or 
concrete,  as  the  water  is  then  more  readily 
heated  by  the  sun  and  retains  its  heat  better. 
As  several  of  the  species  are  i-ampant  growers  it 
is  advisable  to  have  partitions  made  for  them 


WAT 

so  that  they  will  be  confined  within  proper 
limits.  Means  ought  also  be  provided  for 
emptying  the  tank  of  water  when  desired,  and 
also  a  waste-pipe  near  the  top  for  overflow, 
so  that  fresh  water  may  be  run  in  occasion- 
allj'  to  prevent  stagnation. 

They  may  also  be  grown  in  the  base  of  a 
fountain,  but  they  will  not  flourish  if  the 
spray  is  allowed  to  fall  on  the  leaves. 

Most  of  the  species  do  not  require  the  water 
to  be  over  two  feet  in  depth,  but  if  the  larger 
species  are  desired  it  will  be  necessary  to 
sink  holes  a  foot  or  more  deep  and  four  feet 
wide  to  hold  sufficient  soil  for  their  reception. 
The  various  species  (which  should  have  been 
started  in  the  green-house)  may  be  planted 
out  in  the  beginning  of  June  when  they  will 
soon  commence  to  bloom,  continuing  until 
the  first  frost.  If  it  is  desired  to  enjoy  the 
longest  possible  season  of  bloom  in  the  open 
air,  the  pond  may  be  located  near  the  green- 
house and  some  connection  made  with  the 
hot-water  boiler.  Waste  steam  from  a  factory 
or  other  concern  could  be  utilized  for  this 
purpose. 

The  best  soil  for  growing  all  kinds  of 
aquatic  plants  is  a  good,  rich,  fibrous  loam, 
with  a  liberal  admixture  of  well  rotted  stable 
or  cow  manure.  Rich  mud  from  the  bed  of  a 
pond  or  sluggish  stream  is  also  good,  but  we 
consider  the  first-mentioned  the  best.  The 
compost  should  be  well  mixed,  placed  in  the 
tank  with  a  good  layer  of  clean  sand  on  the 
top  to  purify  the  water  and  px'event  muddi- 
ness. 

These  conditions,  viz.,  still,  warm  water 
and  rich  compost,  favor  the  growth  of  a  low 
form  of  vegetable  life,  called  confervse,  or 
green  scum,  which  becomes  very  unsightly 
and  troublesome  unless  eradicated.  As  the 
result  of  several  years'  experience,  we  are 
quite  positive  that,  if  abundance  of  Gold-fish 
are  kept  in  the  tank  or  pond,  there  will  be  no 
trouble  in  this  direction. 

InnumeraVjle  kinds  of  aquatic  insects  breed 
in  the  water,  and  some  of  their  larvte  prey 
upon  the  leaves  of  the  Lilies,  but  the  common 
water-snail  is  the  greatest  enemy  of  aquatic 
plants.  The  Gold-fish  assist  very  materially 
in  destroying  these  larvee  and  snails,  but  we 
have  found  a  complete  preventive  of  injury  to 
the  foliage  from  this  source  by  keeping  in  the 
tank,  in  addition  to  the  Gold-fish,  some  of 
the  common  spotted  Sun-fish.  They  are  car- 
nivorous in  habit  and  very  alert  and  active. 
Moreover,  it  is  impossible  for  mosquitoes  to 
breed  in  a  Water  Lily  basin  in  which  abun- 
dance of  the  above-named  fish,  or  those  of 
similar  habit,  are  kept.  Their  beautiful  ap- 
pearance, and  the  ease  with  which  they  may 
be  taught  to  feed  from  the  hand  (though  it 
must  not  be  done  too  frequently),  make  them 
charming  adjuncts  to  the  Water  Garden.  If 
the  tank  is  two  feet  or  more  in  depth,  they 
can  be  left  in  it  all  winter  with  perfect  safety 
in  this  latitude.  Thus  one  ojajection  to  locat- 
ing these  tanks  or  ponds  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
dwelling-house  is  removed. 

Sometimes,  toward  autumn,  brown  aphides, 
or  plant  lice,  become  troublesome  on  the  Lily 
leaves.  We  have  found  a  weak  solution  of 
kerosene  emulsion  (see  Insecticides)  to  be  a 
perfectly  safe  remedy  without  any  injury 
whatever  to  the  plants. 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


491 


WAT 

The  many  species  that  can  be  successfully- 
grown  and  flowered  in  the  open  air  in  this 
latitude  are  described  in  their  proper  place  in 
this  work,  but  for  convenience  we  here  group 
them  together. 

NiGHT-BLOOMiNO  Watek  Lilies.  Unlike 
our  native  NymphcEU  odorata,  some  species 
open  their  flowers  at  night,  beginning  about 
eight  o'clock  and  remaining  expanded  until 
about  ten  o'clock  the  next  morning,  each 
flower  opening  three  nights  in  succession. 

The  following  will  be  found  the  most  de- 
sirable of  this  class :  Nymphcea  Devoniensis 
(rosy  red  with  scarlet  stamens),  N.  rubra 
(brilliant  red),  one  of  the  parents  of  the  fore- 
going, N.  Slurtevanti  (a  semi-double  variety, 
with  rosy-red  flowers,  not  so  free  flowering  as 
the  others),  N.  dentata  (a  native  of  Sierra 
Leone,  with  white  sweet-scented  flowers),  N. 
Lotus  (pure  white)  and  N.  Ampla  (sulphur- 
white),  strongly  banana-scented. 

The  day-flowering  and  other  ornamental 
water-plants  we  group  together:  NymphcBa 
scutifolia  (syns.  N.  ccBridea  and  N.  cyanea) 
(lavender  blue),  N.  Zanzibarensis,  unquestion- 
ably the  deepest  colored  and  finest  of  all  the 
blue  Water  Lilies  known,  there  are  several 
varieties  of  it  now  in  cultivation :  Nelumbium 
speciosum,  Limnocharis  Humboldtii  and  L. 
Plumieri,  Ouverandra  fenestralis,  Pontederia 
crassijjes  major,  Pondeteria  azurea,  Pistia  stra- 
tioides,  Salvinia  Trianma,  Azolla,  etc.  Myrio- 
phyllum  Proserpinacoides,  a  comparatively  new 
introduction  from  Brazil,  is  also  desirable,  on 
account  of  the  exquisite  beauty  of  its  leaves, 
which  are  arranged  in  whorls  along  the  stem, 
and  are  as  finely  divided  as  the  most  delicate 
Fern.  Hedichiums,  Cannas,  Richardias,  Papyrus 
antiquorum,  Cyperics  alternifoUus,  and  other 
plants  may  be  partially  immersed  and  will  add 
largely  to_  the  beauty  of  the  arrangement, 
especially  if  used  as  a  background. 

Many  of  our  hardy  aquatic  plants  can  also 
bo  introduced,  and  will  be  found  of  great  ser- 
vice—iV^mp/icea  odorata  and  its  rose  and  yel- 
low colored  varieties,  Nelumbium  luteum, 
Limnanthemum  Lacunosum,  Aponogeton  Dis- 
tachyon,  Trapa,  the  various  Sagiitarias,  Callus, 
Pondeterias,  etc. 

In  conclusion,  we  cannot  do  better  than 
quote  from  Mr.  Sturtevant,  the  pioneer  of 
water-plant  culture  in  America.  See  '  'Possibili- 
ties of  Aquatic  Gardening"  in  "Gardening 
for  Pleasure,"  pages  121-125 : 

"  One  argument  in  favor  of  cultivating 
tropical  Lilies  in  the  open  air  is,  that  larger 
leaves  and  flowers  are  obtained,  and  in  case  of 
the  colored  kinds,  greater  depth  of  color  than 
under  glass.  Another  argument  is,  the  grand 
effect  which  may  be  produced  on  the  lawn  or 
in  any  part  of  the  pleasure  ground.  Let  us 
suppose  that  you  wish  to  have  an  aquatic  gar- 
den, flfty,  sixty  or  a  hundred  feet  in  diameter. 
We  will  not  build  it  in  the  stiff  form  of  a  circle 
or  oval,  but  the  outline  shall  be  irregular, 
with  here  and  there  a  small  bay,  across  which 
we  will  throw  a  rustic  bridge  to  a  miniature 
peninsula.  Somewhere  on  the  margin  we  will 
build  a  rustic  summer-house.  It  shall  be  a 
two-story  affair,  for  sometimes  we  shall  want 
to  view  our  pets  from  an  elevated  position ; 
for,  unlike  our  fellow-creatures,  they  smile 
upon  us  when  we  look  down  upon  them.  If 
we  have  a  rocky  ledge  in  our  grounds,  let  us 
place  our  pond  near  it.    Now,  let  us  suppose 


WAT 

that  all  has  been  planted,   established,  and 
come  to  midsummer  perfection.     Some  morn- 
ing,   before  the   night-blooming  Lilies   have 
begun  to  take  their  midday  sleep,  let  us  as- 
cend the  low  tower  and  take  a  view  of  the 
picture.    There,    beneath  us,    is    the    noble 
Nymphcea    dentata,   covering  a  space  twenty 
feet  in  diameter,  some  of  its  leaves  two  feet 
across,    and  its    milk-white    flowers    twelve 
inches  across ;  there  is  the  grand  N.  rubra, 
with  its  immense  cups  of  glowing  carmine; 
and,  there,  queen  of  them  all,  is  N.  Devonien- 
sis, surpassing  in  brillianoy  of  flower,  if  not  in 
size  of  leaf,  the  famous   Victoria  regia.     Then 
come  groups  of  these   same  Lilies,  planted 
more  thickly;  and  though  the  flowers    are 
smaller,  yet  they  are  more  numerous  and  just 
as  brilliant.     Yonder,  a  little  bay  is  filled  with 
Egyptian  Lotus,  its  pink  and  white  flowers, 
on  stalks  three  feet  abo\  e  the  water,  looking 
like  immense  tulips.     Next  is  a  mass  of  the 
American    Lotus,    with    its     sulphur-yellow 
flowers ;    some   of    its  floating    leaves    have 
strayed  out  into  an  open  space,  and  are  thirty 
inches  in  diameter.     Let  us  descend  and  walk 
along  the  border  of  our  little  lake.     Here  is  a 
plantation  of  the  lovely  blue.iV^.  scutifoUa;  you 
perceive  its  fragrance  before  you  come  near 
it.     Next  is  the  beautiful  Yellow  Lily  from 
Florida;  and  our  own  sweet  Water  Lily  is  not 
forgotten,  for  it  is  here  in  masses.  Associated 
with  it  are  its  charming  new,  rose-colored  va- 
riety, N.  odorata  rosea,  and  the  delicate  pink- 
tinted  one.     Here  are  JSf.  candidissima  and  iV. 
alba  rosea, -with  their  waxy  petals,  similar  in 
color  to  some  of  the  others,  but  having  their 
own  distinctive  merits  and  attractions.    The 
favorite  Calla  of  our  winter  gardens  lifts  its 
white  trumpets  towards  the  sky,  and  numer- 
ous smaller-flowered  aquatics  are  found  in 
profusion  along  the  edge  of  the  water.     Com- 
ing around  to  the  Lotuses  again,   we    find 
growing  near  them,  in  Shallow  water,  great 
clumps  of  the   Egyptian  Papyrus,   with    its 
plumy  heads  on   stalks  six  feet  high.     Now 
let  us  look  at  some  of  the  plants  which  asso- 
ciate well  with  water,  and  help  form  a  back- 
ground for  our  picture.    Scattered  along  the 
margin  we  find  groups  of  ornamental  grasses, 
Eulalias,    Erianthus,    and     Pampas    Grass. 
Yonder,  on  our  little  peninsula,  stands  a  noble 
Banana  {3Iusa  Ensete),  twelve  feet  high.     Far- 
ther on  is  a  clump  of  the  tall  Bamboo  {Arundo 
Donax),    and   its  variegated   variety.     There 
are  groups  of    Cannas,   and   a  large    Palm, 
brought  from  the  green-house  to  spend  the 
summer  in  the  open    air.     Another  stately 
plant  is   Colocasia  odorata,   with   a  tree-like 
trunk  and  fine,   large  leaves.    What  is  this 
great-leaved  plant  near  the  water's  edge?    It 
is  Gunnera  scabra  (the  Giant  Rhubarb),  with 
leaves  six  feet  in  diameter.     Now  do  you  wish 
to  give  your  friends  a  glimpse  of  fairyland? 
Then  illuminate  your   grounds,    and  "^invite 
them  to  an  evening  fete  or  garden  party.  The 
Lotuses  and  hardy  Lilies  have  closed  their 
flowers,  but  the  night-blooming  Water  Lilies 
offer  us  a  feast  for  the  eyes  at  night.     Place 
large  lamps,  with  reflectors,  in  such  a  position 
as  to  throw  a  powerful  light  directly  upon  the 
flowers;  or,  perhaps,  Edison's  magic  lamps 
are  available,  and  you  suspend  a  number  of 
them  in  mid-air  over  the  water.   Now  the  red 
Lilies  fairly  glow  with  color,  and  are  far  more 
beautiful  than  by  daylight.     The  water  is  like 


492 


HENDEESON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


WAT 

a  mirror,  and  in  its  depths  you  behold  another 
glorious  picture — a  perfect  image  of  the  flow- 
ers themselves.  The  large,  star-like  white 
ones  keep  company  with  the  red  in  their  night 
Avatches,  and  are  not  unworthy  companions 
for  them.  Look  around  atthe  floating  leaves, 
the  numerous  buds  which  will  open  with  to- 
morrow's sun,  the  tall  shields  of  the  Lotus, 
the  rich,  tropical  foliage  on  the  banks,  the 
rustic  arbor  covered  with  myriads  of  the  sil- 
very blossoms  of  tlie  Moon  Flower  (IpomcBa  or 
Calonyctioft,  grandijlora),  and  tell  me  if  this  is 
not  a  fairy  scene.  And  having  taken  a  view 
of  the  Water  Lily  Garden  by  daylight  and  by 
lamplight,  will  you  not  acknowledge  that  in 
all  that  is  reallj'  beautiful  it  far  surpasses  the 
most  elaborate  exhibition  of  carpet-bedding? 
"Perhaps  you  will  say  this  is  a  fancy 
sketch.  Our  answer  is,  that  it  has  been  so 
far  realized  that  we  do  not  hesitate  to  place 
such  a  garden  as  we  have  described  among  the 
list  of  '  Possibilities  of  Horticulture '  in 
America." 
Water  Purslane.      A  common   name   for  Lud- 

wigia  pabistris  and  Peplis  porlula. 
Water  Rice,     See  Zizania. 
Water  Shield.      A  common  name  of  one  of  the 

Water  Lily  family,  of  the  genus  Brasenia. 
Water  Soldier.     See  Stratiotes. 
Water  Violet.  Hotloniainfiata,  a  white-flowered, 
aquatic  perennial,  common  in  the   Southern 
States. 
Water  White  Oak.     Quercus  lyrata. 
Water  Willow.     American.     See  Dianthera. 
Water-Avort.     Elatine  Americana. 
Watso'nia.     Bugle  Lily.     Named  in  honor  of 
W.  Watson,  a  celebrated  Loudon  apothecary. 
Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

A  genus  of  half-hardy  bulbs  from  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope,  formerly  classed  with  the 
Gladiolus,  to  which  genus  they  are  closely 
allied,  and  to  which  they  bear  a  close  resem- 
blance. They  require  the  protection  of  a 
frame  during  winter,  or  they  may  be  grown 
successfully  in  the  green-house,  where  their 
long  spikes  of  brilliant  flowers,  scarlet,  pink, 
flesh,  white  and  purple,  make  a  magniflcent 
appearance.  This,  like  others  of  its  class, 
receives  but  little  attention  in  this  country, 
where  flowers  are  so  abundant  from  early 
spring  until  winter,  that  do  not  require  any 
special  care  or  protection.  The  beauty  of  the 
flower  garden  in  June  would  be  far  greater  if 
a  little  attention  were  paid  to  the  growing  of 
what  is  known  as  Cape  Bulbs,  the  only  require- 
ment being  a  cold  frame  of  any  desired  size, 
and  the  bulbs  protected  against  hard  frosts, 
but  more  particularly  against  rains,  too  much 
moisture  during  the  season  of  rest  being  very 
destructive  to  the  whole  class.  The  gorgeous 
flowers  that  the  many  species  and  varieties 
afford  in  June  amply  repay  the  slight  cost  and 
care  in  producing  them.  The  Watsonias  are 
produced  freely  from  offsets.  Introduced  in 
1754.  Syns.  Meriana  and  Neuberia. 
Wattle.  An  Australian  name  applied  to  vari- 
ous species  of  Acacia  and  Citharexylum. 
Wax-Flower.     See  Hoya. 

Wax-Flower.      Clustered.      Stephanotis   flori- 

bunda. 
Wax-Myrtle.      A   common    name    for    Myrica 

cerifera,  which  see. 


WEI 

Wax-Palm.     See  Geroxylon. 
Wax-Pink.     A  common  name  for  several  spe- 
cies of  Mesembryanthemum. 

Wax-Plant.  The  common  name  for  Cerinthe 
major. 

"Wax-Tree.     See  Vismia  Guianensis. 

Wax-work.  The  climbing  Bitter-Sweet,  Celas- 
trus  scandens,  is  sometimes  called  Wax-work, 
from  the  appearance  of  its  orange-colored 
pods.     See  Celastrus. 

Wayfaring-Tree.     See  Viburnum  Lantana. 

We'bera.  Named  in  honor  of  G.  H.  Weber, 
Professor  at  Kiel  and  author  of  several  bo- 
tanical works.     Nat.  Ord.  Rubiacece. 

A  genus  of  stove-house  trees  and  shrubs, 
natives  of  tropical  Asia,  Africa  and  Australia. 
Only  one  or  two  species  are  in  cultivation. 
Syns.  Ceriscus,  Stylocoryne  and  Tarenna. 

Wede'lia.  Named  for  G.  W.  Wedel,  a  German 
botanist,  Professor  at  Jena.  Nat.  Ord.  Gom- 
positoB. 

A  genus  of  annual  or  perennial  herbs  or 
shrubs,  widely  distributed  throughout  the 
tropical  regions.  The  several  species  in  cul- 
tivation are  interesting  from  a  botanical 
standpoint  only. 

Weeds.  All  plants  are  so  called  that  come  up 
spontaneously  in  the  ground  where  crops  are 
sown  or  planted,  no  matter  what  they  are ; 
for,  if  not  wanted  there,  no  matter  how  orna- 
mental they  may  be,  they  are  out  of  place, 
and  should  be  cut  down  as  weeds.  Annual 
weeds  are  the  most  troublesome  on  cultivated 
grounds,  but,  if  taken  in  time,  are  easily  kept 
down  by  use  of  the  steel  rake,  which,  if  used 
before  the  weeds  appear  above  the  surface, 
makes  this  part  of  cultivation  a  simple  matter. 
(See  Rake.)  It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  for 
the  welfare  of  crops  that  weeds  should  never 
get  a  headway ;  for  not  only  is  the  labor  of  de- 
stroying them  doubled  or  quadrupled,  but 
they  are  generally  the  grossest  kind  of  feed- 
ing plants,  which  thus  deprive  the  crop  of  its 
legitimate  food.  The  evil  of  neglect  to  de- 
stroy weeds  is  not  conflned  to  one  season ; 
for  when  allowed  to  go  to  seed,  the  penalty  is 
paid  year  after  year,  often  for  four  or  five  years 
after,  the  seeds  coming  up  as  plowing  or  dig- 
ging brings  them  to  the  surface  for  germina- 
tion. We  can  call  to  mind  instances  where 
market  gardens,  cultivated  in  close  seed 
crops,  were  rendei'ed  almost  useless  in  the 
hands  of  slovenly  owners.  When  ground  gets 
into  this  condition,  the  only  remedy  is  to 
grow  crops  such  as  Cabbage,  Potatoes  or 
Corn,  which  have  vigor  enough  to  crowd 
down  an  excessive  crop  of  weeds.  If  land  is 
filled  with  the  seeds  of  weeds,  such  crops  as 
Onions,  Carrots,  Parsnips,  Strawberries  or 
Spinach  will  rarely  pay  for  the  labor  of  clean- 
ing. 

Weeds  in  Lawns.     See  Lawns. 

Weeping  Cherry.     Cerasus  semperfiorens. 

Weeping  Willow.     See  Salix  Babylonica. 

Weige'lia.  Named  in  honor  of  C.  E.  Weigel,  a 
botanical  writer,  and  author  of  "  Observ. 
Botan."  in  1772.     Nat.  Ord.  CaprifoliacecB. 

This  genus  of  very  ornamental,  hardy,  de- 
ciduous shrubs  was  introduced  from  China 
and  Japan  in  1843  by  Mr.  Fortune,  to  whom 
we  are  indebted  for  many  rare  and  beautiful 


■WHITLAVIA   GRANDIFLORA. 


VITIS   (PBTJNING  VINE  WITH  TWO   SHOOTS).  PRUNING  VINE  WITH  AEM8. 


WATER  MELON   (KOLb's  GEM). 


VmS  (SECTION  OP  rORCIN(i   GRAPERY). 


WATER  MELONS  (FIELD  OF). 


WABHINGTONIA  (BRAHEa)  FILAMENTOSa 


WATER   PLANTS  IN  CENTRAL   PARK,    NEW   YORK. 


493 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


493 


WEI 

plants  and  flowers.  It  is  safe  to  say  there  is 
no  shrub  more  deservedly  popular,  or  one 
that  has  been  more  rapidly  disseminated.  All 
the  species  are  ornamental,  and  should  be 
found  in  every  collection  of  choice  shrubs. 
W.  rosea  is  tlie  original  species;  its  flowei's 
are  produccnl  in  great  profusion  in  axillary 
<3lusteis.  W.  amabilis,  the  largest  of  the  spe- 
cies, is  looser  and  more  spreading  in  hab- 
it, witli  very  dark-red  flowers.  W.  hortensis 
nivea,  a  species  introduced  from  Japan  in 
1863,  is  one  of  the  best.  It  is  a  vigorous 
grower  of  drooping  habit;  the  flowers  are 
pure  white,  produced  in  great  abundance  in 
June  and  July,  with  occasional  flowers  dur- 
ing tlie  suuimer.  W.  rosea  variegata  is  a 
splendid  variety,  with  variegated  foliage 
(green  mottled  with  yellow),  contrasting  finely 
with  dark-leaved  shrubs  or  evergreens.  Many 
new  varieties  have  been  introduced  of  late 
years,  chiefly  crosses  from  W.  grandiflora. 
These  have  been  given  distinct  names  which 
may  be  found  in  any  general  nursery  cata- 
logue. To  make  this  genus  flower  freely  they 
should  be  well  pruned  in,  during  summer, 
thus  giving  the  shorter  shoots  so  formed  a 
ehance  to  ripen  off.  All  the  species  are  in- 
creased by  cuttings,  which  will  grow  if  taken 
off  in  autumn  and  planted  in  the  open  border. 
Weigelias  are  sometimes  placed  botanically 
under  the  genus  Diervilla,  which  also  includes 
other  species,  our  native  D.  trifida  and  D.  ses- 
siliflora  being  among  them. 

"Weinma'nnia.  White  Alder.  Named  after  J. 
W.  Weinmann,  of  Ratisbon,  author  of  several 
botanical  works.     Nat.  Ord.  Saxifragacece. 

A  large  genus  of  plant-stove  shrubs,  natives 
of  the  tropics,  few  of  which  are  in  cultivation. 
The  bark  of  some  of  the  species  has  been  used 
in  Peru  for  tanning  leather,  and  it  has  also 
been  employed  in  the  adulteration  of  Peruvian 
Bark.     Syn.  Leiospermum. 

We'lfia.  Named  in  honor  of  the  last  King 
of  Hanover.    Welf  or  Guelph.     Nat.  Ord.  Pal- 

'    macecB. 

A  small  genus  of  very  beautiful  Palms, 
allied  to  Geonoma.  The  foliage  has  a  peculiar 
and  beautiful  bronzy  color  while  unfolding. 
In  the  younger  stages  the  leaves  are  simply 
bilobed;  but  as  the  plants  develop  they  be- 
come pinnate.  They  are  natives  of  Costa  Rica 
;ind  New  Grenada.  Young  plants  are  obtained 
from  seed. 

"Wsllingto'rda.  A  synonym  of  Sequoia,  which 
see. 

"Welsh  Onion.     Allium  fislulosum. 

"Welsh  Poppy.     See  Meconopsis  Cambrica. 

"Wel-wi'tschia.  Named  in  honor  of  D.  Frederic 
Welwitsch,  a  celebrated  botanical  traveler. 
Nat.  Ord.   Gnetacem. 

W.  mirahilis,  the  only  species,  is  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  productions  of  the  vegetable 
kingdom.  It  was  discovered  by  Dr.  Welwitsch 
in  the  dry,  sandy  country  of  the  Mossamedes, 
in  western  Africa.  The  two  leaves  were  at 
first  described  as  being  simply  persistent 
cotyledons  enormously  developed,  but  such 
is  not  the  case ;  the  two  cotyledons  last  for 
some  time,  and  then  the  true  leaves  appear. 
They  spring  from  two  deep  grooves  in  the 
trun\,  six  feet  or  more  in  length,  quite  flat, 
linear,  very  leathery,  splitting  with  age  into 
innumerable   thongs   that  lie  curling  on  the 


WHI 

surface  of  the  soil.  The  trunk  is  obconical, 
about  two  feet  long,  rising  a  few  inches  only 
above  the  soil,  with  the  appearance  of  a  flat 
two-lobed  depressed  mass,  sometimes  four- 
teen feet  in  circumference.  When  fully  grown, 
it  is  dark  brown,  hard  and  cracked,  the  lower 
part  forming  a  stout  tap-root  buried  in  the 
soil.     It  was  flrst  introduced  in  1868. 

"Wendla'ndia.  Named  in  honor  of  M.  Wend- 
liutd,  a  Hanoverian  botanist.  Nat.  Ord.  Ru- 
biacece. 

A  genus  consisting  of  trees  or  shrubs,  na- 
tives of  the  East  Indies.  The  flowers,  which 
are  white,  pink  or  yellow,  are  borne  in  densely 
flowered,  terminal  panicles.  There  are  about 
sixteen  species  described,  of  which  some  two 
or  three  are  in  cultivation.  They  require 
stove-house  temperature,  and  are  increased 
by  cuttings. 

■Werne'ria.  Named  in  honor  of  A.  G.  Werner, 
Professor  of  Mineralogy  at  Friburg,  1750-1817. 
Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  genus  of  dwarf  perennial  plants,  natives 
of  the  Andes  of  South  America.  W.  rigida, 
the  only  introduced  species,  thrives  in  a  light 
soil,  and  may  be  increased  bj^  division  of  the 
roots,     Syn.  Doronicum  Peruvianum. 

"Western  "Wall-Plo-wer.  This  name  has  been 
applied  to  the  flowers  of  the  Erysimum,  Arkan- 
sanum  (Treacle  Mustard),  because  they  are  as 
large  as  those  of  the  Wall-Flower.  See  Ery- 
simum. 

"Western  Tew.  A  name  given  to  Taocus  brevi- 
folia. 

"West  Indian  Cabbage  Palm.    See  Oreodoxa. 

"Whahoo  or  "Winged  Elm.     See  Ulmus  alata. 

"Whangee  or  Wangee  Cane.  Phyllostachys 
nigra. 

"Wheat.    See  Triticum. 

Whin  or  Furze.  The  common  name  for  Ulex 
EuropcBus. 

"Whin.  Petty  or  Needle.  The  common  name 
for  Genista  Anglica. 

"White  Alder.  One  of  the  popular  names  of  the 
genus  Clethra,  also  given  to  Platylophus  trifo- 
liata  which  see. 

"White  Ash.    See  Fraxinus. 

White  Bladder  Flower.  A  name  applied  to 
Physianthus  albens. 

White  Cedar.  A  name  applied  to  Thuya  occi- 
dentalis  and  Cuj)ressus  thyoides. 

"White  Clover.     See  Trifoliumrepens. 

"White  Cypress.     Taxodium  distichum. 

"White  Daisy,  Ox-Eye  Daisy.  See  Leucanthe- 
mum  vulgare. 

White  Hellebore,     See  Veratrum  viride. 

White  Laurel.     See  Magnolia  glauca. 

"White  Lettuce.  Rattlesnake  Root.  The  popu- 
lar name  of  the  common  weed  Nabalus  albus. 

"White  Oak.    See  Quercus. 

"WTiite  Pine.     See  Pinus  Strobvs. 

"White  Snake  Root.  See  Eupatorium,  Agera- 
toides. 

"White  Spruce.     See  Abies  alba. 

"White  Thorn.    Hawthorn.     See  Cratcegua. 

"White  "Water  Lily.     See  Nymphcea. 

"White  Weed.     See  Leucanthemum  vulgare. 


4:94 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


WHI 

"Wliite  "Wood.  A  name  applied  to  Liriodendron 
tulipifera,  Tilia  Americana,  etc. 

Whitfie'ldia.  Named  after  T.  Whitfield,  a  col- 
lector of  African  plants.  Nat.  Ord.  Acan- 
thacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental  stove-house 
shrubs,  natives  of  tropical  Africa.  W.  lateritia, 
the  only  introduced  species,  has  showy 
orange-red  flowers  and  coriaceous,  ovate, 
evergreen  leaves.  It  is  increased  by  cuttings 
of  the  young  wood. 

"Whitla'via.  Named  in  honor  of  F.  Whitlaw,  an 
Irish  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Hydrophyllacece. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy  annuals  of  low 
growth,  from  California,  producing  freely 
handsome  white  or  violet  blue  flower's.  They 
are  very  effective  in  any  department  of  the 
flower  garden,  whether  in  beds,  borders  or 
ribbons.  They  require  the  same  treatment 
as  other  hardy  annuals.     Introduced  in  1854. 

■Whitloof  or  Witloof.  A  local  name  for  a 
variety  of  Chicory. 

■Whitlo-w  Grass.  The  genus  Draba  and  Paro- 
nychia. 

Whorl.  Similar  organs  arranged  in  a  circle 
round  an  axis,  as  tiie  leaves  of  some  Lilies. 

"Whortleberry.     See  Gaylussacia  and  Vaccinium. 

■Widdringto'nia.  African  Cypress.  Formerly 
included  in  the  genus  Thuya,  but  now  consti- 
tuting a  distinct  group  of  the  Cupressineous 
division  of  Coniferce.  The  species  consist  of 
trees,  natives  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and 
have  crowded,  alternate  leaves,  not  opposite, 
as  in  Thuya.  W.  Cupressoides,  better  known 
as  Thuya  cupressoides,  is  cultivated  as  a  half- 
hardy  evergreen.     Introduced  in  1799. 

"Widow.  Mournful.  A  common  name  for 
Scabiosa  atroparpurea. 

Widow's  Tears.  A  popular  name  for  Tra- 
dcHcantia  Virginica. 

"Wiga'ndia.  Named  in  honor  of  John  Wigand, 
a  Bishop  of  Pomerania.  Nat.  Ord.  Hydro- 
phyllacece. 

A  small  genus  of  ornamental-leaved  plants 
from  Mexico  and  Caraccas.  The  leaves  are 
immense,  being  three  fei't  long  by  one  and  a 
half  in  width,  richly  veined,  and  the  stems 
covered  with  crimson  hairs.  W.  macrophylla 
(syn.  W.  Caracasana),  a  most  beautiful  spe- 
cies, is  a  magnificent  plant  for  massing 
on  large  lawns,  or  for  planting  as  single 
specimens  on  smaller  grounds.  W.  Vigieri, 
is  also  an  excellent  ornamental  species  much 
used  in  sub-tropical  gardening.  Plants  of 
this  genus  should  be  grown  annually  from 
seed  ;  though  the  plant  is  a  perennial,  old 
plants  lose  all  their  beauty  of  foliage  and  get 
scraggy.  Young  plants  may  be  had  by  sow- 
ing the  seed  in  the  green-house  or  a  hot-bed, 
and  growing  them  on  until  the  time  for  plant- 
ing out.  For  small  gardens  none  of  the 
plants  are  desirable,  as  they  require  room, 
light  and  air  to  grow  them  in  perfection. 
They  were  first  introduced  in  1837. 
"Wig-Tree.     A  name  applied  to  Rhus  cotinus. 

"Wild  Allspice,  Fever  Bush.    Local  names  of 

the  genus  Lindera,  which  see. 
Wild  Apple.    Garland  Flowering.    See  Pyrus 

spectabilis. 
Wild  Balsam  Apple.    The  fruit  ol  Echinocyatis 

lobctta,  a  genus  of  Cucurbitacece. 


WIN 

"Wild  Bean.     Phaseolus  perennis. 

Wild  Bergamot.     Horse  Mint.      See   Monarda 

fi^tulosa. 

"Wild  Chamomile.     See  Matricaria. 

Wild  Clary,     Salvia  Verbenaca. 

"Wild  Comfrey.  Cynoglossum  Virginicum,  a 
troublesome,  obnoxious  weed,  common  espe- 
cially westward. 

"Wild  Elder.  Aralia  hispida,  sometimes  called 
Bristly  Sarsaparilla. 

"WUd  Geranium.     See  Erodium. 

"Wild  Ginger.     Asarum  Canadense. 

"Wild  Guelder  Rose.     See  Viburnum. 

"Wild  Hyacinth.     See  Camassia. 

"Wild  Lily  of  the  "Valley.     See  Smilacina. 

"Wild  Liquorice.  Galium  lanceolatum  and  Abrus 
precatorius. 

"Wild  Marjoram.     See  Origanum. 

"Wild  Mustard.     See  Sinapis. 

"Wild  Oat  Grass.  A  popular  name  of  the 
genus  Danthonia,  which  see. 

"Wild  Olive.     See  Elceagnus. 

"Wild  Pink.     Silene  Pennsylvanica. 

"Wild  Potato  "Vine.  Ipomcea  pandurata.  Some- 
times called  Man  of  the  Earth,  on  account 
of  the  size  and  shape  of  the  tubers. 

"Wild  Radish.     Raphanvs  raphanislrum. 

"Wild  Rice.     See  Zizania. 

"Wild  Sarsaparilla.     See  Aralia  nudicaulis. 

"Wild  Sensitive  Plant.  See  Cassia  nictitans,  a 
low-growing  annual  plant,  closely  resembling 
the  Sensitive  Plant. 

"Wild  Service  Tree.     See  Pyrus. 

"Wild  Snow-ball.  A  common  name  for  Ceano- 
thus  Ainericanus. 

"Willdeno'via.  Named  in  honor  of  C.  L.  Will- 
denow.  Professor  of  Botany  at  Berlin,  1765- 
1812.     Nat.  Ord.  RcAtiaceoe. 

A  genus  of  interesting  green-house  plants 
with  rush-like,  leafless  stems ;  natives  of 
southern  Africa.  W.  teres,  probably  the  only 
cultivated  species,  thrives  in  a  compost  of 
loam  and  leaf-mould  and  may  be  increased  by 
division.     Syn.  Nematanthus. 

"WUleme'tia.  Named  in  honor  of  P.  R.  Willemet, 
author  of  "  Herbarium  Mauritianum."  Nat. 
Ord.  Rhamnacece. 

W.  Africana,  the  only  species,  is  a  pretty, 
glabrous,  green-house  shrub,  with  cymes  or 
panicles  of  white  flowers.  It  is  a  native  of 
southern  Africa,  and  is  readily  increased  by 
cuttings.  It  is  also  in  cultivation  under  the 
name  of  Noltia  Africana. 

•"Wniow.     See  Salix. 

"Willo^w.     French  or  Persian.    Epilobium  angus- 

tifolium. 
"Willow  Grass.     Polygonum  amphibium. 
"Willow  Herb.     See  Epilobium. 
"Willo^w  Oak.     Quercus  Phellos. 
"Wind  Flower.     A  popular  name  for   Gentiana 

Pneumonanthe,  and  the  genus  Anemone. 

"Window  Gardening.  This  is  yearly  becoming 
more  popular  with  us,  and  in  all  our  best- 
y.ppointed  hotels,  window  boxes  or  stands  of 
plants  are  seen,  often  arranged  with  exquisite 
taste.     The  plants  selected  are  usually  such. 


AND   GENEKAL  HORTICULTUKE. 


495 


WIN 

as  are  attractive  for  their  beauty  of  foliage, 
rather  than  flower,  as  few  plants  can  be 
found  whose  flowers  will  long  remain  perfect 
in  the  dry  atmosphere  of  our  sitting  or  dining- 
rooms.  The  plants  best  fitted  for  such  pur- 
poses are  found  to  be  Palms,  Cordylines, 
Aspidistras  (variegated),  Ophiopgon,  Antheri- 
cum  vittatura,  Crotons  and  Draceenas,  the 
Screw  Pine  (Pandanus),  etc.,  for  winter,  and 
Caladiums,  Coleuses,  fancy-leaved  Begonias, 
Petunias,  and  many  others  for  summer. 
When  flowering  plants  are  used  for  temporary 
decorations,  Piiniulas,  Cyclamens,  Azaleas, 
Passifloras,  Camellias,  Mignonette,  Sweet 
Alyssum,  Heliotrope,  Carnations,  Koses,  or 
other  flowering  plants  having  fragrance  are 
selected.  The  boxes  used  in  window  gardening 
are  made  of  a  great  variety  of  materials,  such  as 
wood,  terracotta,  iron,  rusticor  wicker  work, 
etc.  But  as  the  box  is  only  a  medium  to  hold 
the  plants,  the  latter  should  be  the  object  of 
attraction,  and  not  the  box,  so  that  any  ordi- 
nary box  made  of  pine  will  answer  a  tem- 
porary purpose  just  as  well  as  an  expensive 
one,  as  the  sides  soon  become  covered  up 
with  the  drooping  or  creeping  plants. 

The  window  box  should  be  made  of  a  length 
to  suit  the  size  of  the  window  sill,  and  from 
eight  to  twelve  inches  wide,  with  a  depth  of 
from  four  to  six  inches.  On  a  visit  to  London 
some  years  ago  we  found  that  the  rivalry  of 
the  occupants  of  houses  in  window  gardening 
even  exceeded  that  in  their  door  yards,  the 
windows  of  the  houses  on  each  side  of  the 
street  to  four  and  five  stories  in  height,  for 
miles  in  length,  presenting  a  scene  of  bright 
colors  perfectly  dazzling,  markedly  among 
which  were  the  blue  of  the  Lobelia,  the  yellow 
of  the  golden  Moneywort,  and  the  scarlet  of 
the  Tropeeolura,  forming  drooping  curtains  of 
these  brilliant  colors,  often  to  a  length  suf- 
ficient to  reach  the  window  below.  The  plants 
used  in  arranging  the  window  box  are  so  much 
a  matter  of  taste  that  we  will  not  here  make 
suggestions,  other  tlian  to  say  that  the  best 
efifect  is  had  by  makin^j  the  inner  row  of  plants 
of  a  bushy  nature,  say  Geraniums,  Begonias, 
Coleus,  Heliotrope,  etc.,  interspersed  with 
Ficus,  Pahns,  or  other  decorative  plants  ;  while 
for  the  outer  row  to  droop,  Lobelias,  Nastur- 
tiums, Golden  Moneywort,  Petunias,  etc., 
may  be  used.  Individual  taste,  however,  is 
sure  to  govern  the  selection. 
Wind-Root.  A  local  name  for  Asclepias  tube- 
rosa. 

Wind  Rose.  Papaver  Argemone  and  Roemeria 
hyhrida. 

Wine  Palm.     East  Indian,  PhoEtiix  sylvestris. 

Wings.  The  lateral  petals  of  a  Pea  flower ;  the 
flat,  membraneous  appendages  of  some  seeds, 
as  those  of  many  Conifers  and  the  Maples. 

Winter  Aconite.     See  Erantliis. 

Winter-berry,  Black  Alder.  See  Prinos  and 
Ilex. 

Winter  Bloom.  A  common  name  for  Hamame- 
lis  Virginica. 

Winter  Cherry.  A  name  given  to  Physalis 
Alkekengi. 

Winter  Cress.  {Barbarea  vulgaris.)  This  is  the 
common  Winter  Cress,  a  plant  which  is  some- 
times used  as  a  salad,  but  is  rarely  cultivated. 
The  species  was  probably  introduced  and  is 
quite  common  in  the  North  and  West. 


WIN 

Winter  Daffodil.     Sternbergia  lutea. 

Winter  Flowering  Plants.  The  most  desira- 
able  plants  for  winter  flowering  may  be 
divided  into  the  two  sections,  usually  desig- 
nated green-housft  and  hot-house  plants; 
the  former  requiring  a  night  temperature 
of  from  forty-five  to  fifty  degrees,  while 
the  latter  will  not  thrive  in  a  lower  night 
temperature  than  from  sixty  to  sixty-five 
degrees.  Whether  the  plants  are  grown 
in  the  parlor  or  sitting-room  of  a  private 
dwelling,  or  in  a  green-house,  specially  con- 
structed for  their  culture,  the  conditions 
should  be  as  nearly  as  possible  the  same ; 
that  is  a  uniformity  of  temperature  and  an 
avoidance  of  dry  atmosph<^re.  It  is  easy 
enough  in  the  green-house  to  get  a  properly 
humid  atmosphere  by  sprinkling  the  paths 
with  water;  but  in  a  room  in  the  dwelling- 
house,  the  only  thing  that  can  be  done  is  to 
see  that  some  method  of  evaporating  water  to 
supply  a  moist  atmosphere  is  attached  to  the 
stove,  furnace,  or  whatever  may  be  the 
source  of  heat.  If  plants  are  kept  in  a 
sitting-room  or  parlor,  an  east,  southeast 
or  south  aspect  should  be  chosen.  Plants 
of  the  class  that  may  be  grown  at  an 
average  temperature  of  fifty  degrees  at  night 
are  Azaleas,  Abutilons,  Ageratums,  Carna- 
tions, Cinerarias,  Catalonian  and  Cape  Jes- 
samines, Camellias,  Callas,  Chorizemas,  Gera- 
niums of  all  kinds,  Hyacinths,  Polyanthus, 
Narcissus,  Early  Tulips,  Cyclamens,  Paris 
Daisies,  Fuchsias,  Mahernias,  Primulas,  Ste- 
vias,  Koses  and  many  other  species  known 
generally  as  green-house  plants. 

Of  the  second  class,  or  hot-house  plants,  we 
name  the  folloM'ing :  Begonias,  Bouvardias, 
Clerodendrons,  Euphorbias,  Epiphyllums 
Heliotropes,  Poinsettias,  many  of  the  hardier 
Orchids,  etc.  The  many  species  of  Palms, 
Pandanus,  Ficus,  Crotons,  Ferns,  and  other 
plants  grown  for  their  ornamental  foliage, 
also  thrive  better  in  a  warm  temperature, 
though  many  plants  will  do  well  in  either; 
but  we  make  this  distinction  as  a  guide  to 
those  having  a  choice  of  temperature,  in 
order  that  they  may  select  the  plants  that 
are  best  adapted  to  that  at  their  command. 
In  a  green-house,  particularly  if  heated  by  a 
flue,  there  is  often  a  difference  of  five  or  ten 
degrees  between  one  end  and  the  other;  and 
in  such  a  case  the  plants  named  in  the  first 
class  must  be  placed  at  the  cool  end,  and 
those  of  the  second  class  at  the  other. 

One  of  the  most  troublesome  pests  of  plants 
grown  in  the  green-house  or  the  sitting-room 
in  winter  is  the  Aphis,  or  "Green  Fly,  "  as  it 
is  termed.  There  is  no  dilficulty  in  getting 
rid  of  it  in  the  green-house,  when  it  is  sepa- 
rate from  the  dwelling;  all  that  is  necessary  is 
to  get  some  tobacco  stems  (such  as  are  thrown 
out  as  refuse,  by  cigar  makers),  and  sprinkle 
them  with  water  so  that  they  become  slightly 
damp.  About  half  a  pound  or  so  for  a  green- 
house twenty-five  by  twenty  feet  is  placed 
over  a  small  handful  of  shavings,  only  enough 
to  light  the  dampened  tobacco,  as  too  many 
shavings  might  injure  the  plants  by  smoke. 
The  burned  tobacco  stems  give  out  a  smoke 
that  is  quickly  fatal  to  the  "  Green  Fly.  "  To 
thoroughly  prevent  the  least  appearance  of 
this  insect  the  green-house  should  be  fumi- 
gated every  four  or  five  days.  If  the  green- 
house is  attached  to  the  dwelling,  so  that  the 


496 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


WIN 

tobacco  smoke  would  find  its  way  into  the 
rooms,  recoujse  may  be  tiad  to  another 
remedy :  take  the  same  waste  tobacco  stems 
and  steep  them  in  water  until  the  li(iuid  is  of 
the  color  of  strong  tea.  With  this  water 
syringe  the  plants  freely  twice  a  week. 
Another  plan  is  to  sprinkle  the  leaves  with 
water  and  tlien  sliake  snuff  or  tobacco  dust 
over  them. 

The  "Eed  Spider"  is'  another  pest  to 
winter-blooming  plants,  even  worse  than  the 
Aphis,  and  wherever  it  is  seen  you  may  be 
certain  that  the  atmosphere  lias  been  too  dry, 
and  very  likely  the  temperature  too  hot,  as  it 
is  rarely  found  in  a  cool,  damp  atmosphere. 
The  treatment  for  this  insect  in  the  green- 
house is  copious  syringings  with  water ;  but 
where  only  a  few  plants  are  grown  in  the 
house  it  is  best  to  go  over  the  leaves,  especi- 
ally on  the  under  side,  with  a  wet  sponge  or  a 
brush.  When  the  plants  are  not  too  large  to 
handle  easily,  if  they  are  dipped  into  water  at 
a  temperature  of  140  degrees,  they  will  be  im- 
mediately cleared  of  all  their  insect  enemies, 
not  only  without  the  least  danger  to  the  most 
tender  foliage,  but,  as  the  leaves  get  a  good 
cleansing,  with  manifest  advantage  to  their 
well-being.  The  Red  Spider  is  so  minute  that 
it  is  hardly  distinguishable  by  the  naked  eye, 
but  its  destructive  effects  are  quickly  per- 
ceivable, as  the  leaves  upon  which  it  works 
soon  become  brown,  and  if  they  are  closely  ex- 
amined, particularly  the  under  side,  the  minute 
insect  will  be  seen  in  great  numbers. 

Another  troublesome  insect  among  plants 
that  are  grown  in  a  high  temperature  is  the 
"Mealy  Bug."  The  insect  is  flat,  and  whit- 
ish brown,  usually  nestling  at  the  axils  of  the 
leaves,  where  it  is  covered  with  a  white  powder, 
making  it  easily  distinguishable.  This  is  one 
of  the  most  annoying  of  all  insects  that  attack 
plants,  and  until  a  few  years  ago  no  certain 
remedy  was  known  ;  but  we  have  now  in  "Fir 
Tree  Oil,"  mixed  in  the  proportion  of  one  pint 
to  ten  gallons  of  water,  and  syringed  on  once 
a  week,  a  certain  remedy  against  mealy  bug, 
scale,  red  spider,  and,  in  fact,  nearly  all  insect 
life.  The  use  of  it  must  be  continued  once 
each  week,  or  the  remedy  will  not  be  effec- 
tual. Where  only  a  few  plants  are  grown  the 
same  remedy  can  be  applied  with  a  soft  brush 
or  sponge  on  the  leaves.     (See  Insecticides.) 

In  plant  growing  in  pots,  nothing  indicates 
so  much  the  skill  and  knowledge  of  the  cultiva- 
tor as  handsome,  healthy  plants  in  snjall  sized 
pots  ;  amateur's  conservatories  are  sometimes 
more  conspicuous  for  the  show  of  red  flower 
pots  than  for  green  leaves  and  gay  flowers. 
There  is  no  set  time  for  repotting  soft-wooded 
plants,  as  Geraniums,  Fuchsias,  Coleus,  etc. — 
many  need  changing  every  two  or  three 
months,  while  hard-wooded  plants,  such  as 
Camellias,  Azaleas,  etc.,  may  probably  need  it 
but  once  every  year  or  once  every  two  or 
three  j'ears.  Hard  wooded  plants  are  greatly 
benefited  by  giving  them  a  top  dressing  of 
fresh  earth  mixed  with  a  little  bone-dust  two 
or  three  times  a  year.  Amateurs  invariably 
overpot  their  plants.  In  repotting,  many 
plants  will  be  found  to  have  but  few  roots ; 
these  require  a  portion  of  the  ball  removed — 
place  them  in  smaller  pots,  encourage  them 
to  make  new  roots,  and  in  a  short  time 
they  will  have  fine,  healthy  tops.  The  proper 
way  for  potting  plants  is,   after  they  have 


WIN 

been  given  proper  drainage,  put  in  a  little 
soil  (care  being  taken  to  have  the  plant  a 
little  below  the  surface  of  the  pot,  sufficient 
to  allow  for  watering) ;  place  your  plant  in 
the  centre  of  the  pot  with  one  hand  and  with 
the  other  heap  up  the  soil  loosely  in  the  pot ; 
give  the  pot  a  sharp  rap,  pressing  the  soil 
with  the  thumb  firmly  around  the  plant.  In 
potting  large  plants,  such  as  Camellias,  Aza- 
leas, etc.,  a  flat  stick  must  be  used  to  firm  the 
soil  around  the  plant ;  otherwise  it  will  not 
be  packed  as  firmly  around  the  edges  as  is 
essential  for  good  results.     (See  Potting.) 

The  rapid  growth  of  plants  of  every  kind, 
when  the  roots  are  confined  in  a  small  pot, 
soon  exhausts  the  soil,  and  it  is  often 
necessary  to  apply  manure  in  a  liquid 
state  to  keep  the  plant  in  good  condition.  As 
a  general  thing,  we  use  none  in  our  own 
practice,  preferring  to  shift  the  plants  into 
fresh  soil  at  the  proper  time.  When,  how- 
ever, it  is  inconvenient  to  shift  winter-flower- 
ing plants  into  larger  pots,  they  will  be  great- 
ly benefited  by  stirring  up  the  soil  on  the 
surface  of  the  pots  to  the  depth  of  an  inch  or 
so,  or  down  to  where  the  young  roots  appear, 
replacing  it  by  rich,  fresh  soil  to  which  one- 
twentieth  of  bone-dust  has  been  added.  Guano 
or  other  concentrated  manures  may  also  be 
advantageously  applied  in  a  liquid  form,  but 
the  safest  and  best  of  all  liquid  manures  is 
that  made  from  cow-dung,  it  will  never  hurt 
the  most  tender  plants ;  like  all  other  liquid 
manures  it  should  only  be  applied  when  the 
pot  is  well  filled  with  roots,  and  the  toil  is 
moderately  dry.     (See  Manures.) 

"Wintergreen.     See  Gaultheria  and  Pyrola. 

"Wintergreen  Chick-weed.  See  Trienlalis  Ameri- 
cana. 

Wista'ria.  Grape-Flower  Vine.  Named  in 
honor  of  Caspar  Wistar,  once  Professor  ol 
Anatomy  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 
Nat.  Ord.  LeguminosoB. 

A  small  genus  of  hardy,  deciduous  plants, 
unquestionably  the  most  ornamental,  hardy, 
flowering  climbers  we  possess.  Their  lovely 
panicles  of  dark  purple,  light  purple,  and 
pure  white  flowers,  single  and  double,  pro- 
duced in  the  most  wonderful  profusion  under 
almost  any  circumstances,  are  altogether 
without  a  rival.  With  one  exception,  they  are 
all  natives  of  China  and  Japian.  "W .  Sinensis 
was  introduced  in  1818,  and  for  many  years 
was  grown  as  a  green-house  plant,  until  it 
was  accidentally  found  to  fee  hardy.  In  1844, 
W.  Sinensis  alha,  a  variety  with  pure  white 
flowers,  was  originated.  A  variety  with  double 
flowers  was  introduced  from  Japan,  its  native 
country,  in  1869,  by  Francis  Parkman,  of  Bos- 
ton. The  flowers  of  this  species  are  quite 
fragrant,  and  very  beautiful.  It  is  still  quite 
rare.  There'  are  several  other  species  or 
varieties  from  the  same  countries,  all  merito- 
rious. W.  magnifica  is  a  very  fine  late-flowering 
variety  with  purple  flowers.  The  Japan  Wis- 
tarias are  much  finer  than  the  Chinese.  A  few 
years  since  Mr.  Thomas  Hogg  sent  home  from 
Japan  a  very  choice  collection,  and  among 
them  W.  Japonica,  with  purple  flowers,  W. 
Japonica  alba,  with  white  flowers,  W.  longi- 
racemosa,  pui'ple,  with  panicles  exceeding 
thirty  inches  in  length,  also  a  double  variety 
of  this,  with  fragrant  flowers.  In  addition  to 
these,  he  sent  a  species  with  glossy  leaves 


YUCCA  FILAMENTOSA. 


WISTABIA   SINENSIS. 


^rAlLIXOWEB  (DOUBLE). 


ZKA  MAYS   (INDIAN  CORN). 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


497 


WIS 

dotted  with  gold ;  and  another  species  which 
grows  only  three  or  four  feet  high,  and  flow- 
ers in  July  and  August.  W.  frutescens,  a 
native  species,  with  bluish-purple  flowers,  of 
which  there  is  also  a  white  variety,  is  com- 
mon from  Virginia  to  Illinois  and  southward. 
It  is  an  elegant  plant  of  similar  habit,  though 
not  quite  so  productive  of  flowers,  and,  unlilie 
the  other  species,  the  flowers  are  developed 
with  the  foliage.  The  English  sparrow  is 
very  fond  of  the  "buds  of  the  Wistaria,  and 
sometimes  robs  the  plant  of  much  of  its 
beauty.  All  the  WMarias  are  increased  read- 
ily from  seeds  or  from  layers.  Syn.  Glycine. 
Wista'ria.    Tuberous-rooted.    A  common  name 

for  Apios  tuberosa. 
Witch  or  "Wych  Elm.     Uhnus  montana. 
"Witch  or  Wych  Hazel.     See  Hamamelis. 
Witches'  Fingers.      A  popular  English  name 

for  Digitalis  purpurea. 
Witches'  Thimble.    A  common  name  for  Silene 

maritima. 
Witch  Knots.  This  name  is  given  to  the 
curious  tufted  bunches  of  small  twigs  that  fre- 
quently occur  on  the  larger  branches  of  Birch, 
Plum,  Horn-beam  and  other  trees.  The  twigs 
are  usually  swollen,  and  both  they  and  the 
sickly-looking  leaves  upon  them  are  duller 
green  than  usual,  and  frequently  show  a 
slight  velvety  surface.  They  are  the  work  of 
very  minute  Fungi,  belonging  to  a  lowly 
group  of  Ascomycetes.  The  mycellium  of  the 
Fungi  lives  on  the  tissues  of  the  leaves  and 
bark  of  the  host-plants,  and  the  velvety  ap- 
pearance results  from  the  outgrowth  over  the 
whole  epidermis  of  their  organs  of  reproduc- 
tion. 
Witheri'ngia.  Commemorative  of  W.  Withering, 
a  British  botanical  author,  1776.  Nat.  Ord. 
SolanacecB. 

A  small  genus  of  shrubs  or   small  trees, 

natives  of  South  and  Central  America  and  the 

West  Indies.     The   species  are  now  mostly 

included  under  Solanum. 

Withe-Rod.     A  common  name   for    Viburnum 

nudum. 
Withy.     Salix  viminalis  and  S.  fragilis. 
Witse'nia.      In   honor  of  M.  Witsen,  a   Dutch 
patron  of  botany.     Nat.  Ord.  Iridacece. 

A  small  genus  of  green-house,  herbaceous 
plants,  with  showy  blue,  purple,  or  yellow 
flowers,  natives  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
W.  corymbosa,  introduced  from  southern 
Africa  in  1803,  closely  resembles  the  Iru>,  but 
has  small  flowers.  It  flowers  during  summer, 
and  is  propagated  by  division. 
Woad.    Dyer's.     A  common   name    for  Isatis 

tinctoria. 
Woad- Waxen  or  Wood-'waxen.      One  of  the 

common  names  of  Genista  tinctoria. 
Woad,     Wild.     Reseda  luteola. 
Wolf-berry.  The  popular  name  of  Symphoricar- 

pus  occidentalis. 
Wolfs-bane.     See   Aconitum.     Known   also  by 

the  common  name  of  Monk's-hood. 
Wolfs  Clavy.    A  common  name  for  Lycopodium 

clavatum. 
Wood  Ashes.    See  Fertilizers. 
Wood  Betony.     The  common  nam,)  of  Pedicio- 
laris  Canadensis,  which  see. 


WOR 

Voodbine.  The  popular  name  of  Lonicera 
qrata,  one  of  our  native  Honeysuckles.  A 
name  also  inappropriately  applied  to  Ampe- 
iopsis  quinquefolia  and  Bignonia  radicans. 

Wood  Fern.  The  genus  Aspidium;  also  a 
name  applied  to  Polypodium  vulgare. 

Woodfo'rdia.  Named  for  J.  Woodford,  who 
wrote  an  account  of  the  plants  around  Edin- 
burgh, Scotland,  in  1824,  Nat.  Ord.  Lythra- 
ceiB. 

W.  floribunda,  the  only  species,  is  a  low, 
shrubby  plant,  with  long,  spreading  branches 
and  bright  scarlet  flowers  in  short  panicled 
cymes,  on  axillary  peduncles.  It  is  a  native  of 
India,  and  requires  a  stove-house  to  grow  it 
to  pei'fection.  It  can  be  increased  by  cuttings 
or  seeds. 

Wood  Grass.  A  common  name  of  some  of  the 
varieties  or  species  of  Sorghum,  or  Broom 
Corn. 

Wood  Lily,  A  common  name  for  Pyrola  minor 
and  various  species  of  Trillium. 

"Wood  Nettle.     See  Laportea  Canadensis. 
Wood  Pea  or  Wood  Vetch.      Orobus  sylvatica. 
WoodrufiF.     See  Asjjerula. 
Wood  Rush.     See  Luzula. 
Wood  Sage.     See  Teucrium. 

Wo'o3sia.  Named  in  honor  of  Joseph  Woods, 
a  British  botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacem. 

A  small  genus  of  very  beautiful,  low-growing 
Ferns.  Several  of  the  more  beautiful  species 
are  natives  of  this  country,  and  are  common 
in  the  mountains,  north  and  west.  Several 
species  are  also  found  in  Europe  and  Brazil. 
They  are  easily  grown  in  the  green-house, 
and  are  increased  by  division  or  from  spores. 

Wood  Sorrel.     See  Oxalis. 

Wood  Violet,  A  common  name  for  Viola  syl- 
vatica. 

Woodwa'rdia,  Chain  Fern.  Named  in  honor 
of  Thomas  Jenkinson  Woodward,  an  English 
botanist.     Nat.  Ord.  Polypodiacece. 

Very  handsome  native  and  exotic  Ferns  of 
easy  culture.  Some  of  the  species  produce 
little  hairy  bulbs  at  the  axils  of  the  leaves, 
which  either  drop  off  and  strike  root  in  the 
ground,  or  vegetate  while  attached  to  the 
parent,  plant,  a  feature  that  is  common  in 
many  other  Fei'ns. 

Woolly  Beard  Grass.     See  Erianthus. 

Working  Roots.  This  term,  we  believe,  was  first 
used  by  the  author  in  Practical  Floriculture, 
to  distinguish  the  young  white  roots  emitted 
from  the  dry  or  old  roots,  and  is  well  appli- 
cable from  the  fact  that  it  is  only  when  these 
young  white  roots  are  emitted  that  a  plant 
begins  to  grow,  the  buds  or  shoots  starting 
simultaneously  with  these  young  roots.  For 
example,  when  we  take  a  dormant  Rose  that 
has  been  grown  in  a  pot,  no  matter  how  well 
it  may  be  supplied  with  old  roots,  there  is  no 
healthy  development  of  leaves  and  flowers 
until  the  emission  of  young  roots.  When  we 
plant  out  such  plants  as  Celery,  Cabbage  or 
Strawberries,  in  the  garden,  the  young  or 
"Working  Roots"  emitted  from  the  main 
roots  are  certain  indications  ^nat  the  plant 
has .  started,  and  that  their  growth  and  future 
development  is  fairly  assured  against  drought 
or  other  causes ;  but  if  the  "  Working  Roots  " 


493 


HENDEKSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF   PLANTS 


WOE 

are  not  emitted,  then  there  is  yet  danger  of 
the  plants  failing. 

Worm  Grass.    See  Spigelia. 

Wo'nnia.  Named  in  honor  of  0.  Wormius,  a 
Danish  naturalist.     Nat.  Ord.  Dilleniaceoe. 

A  genus  of  very  showy  trees,  some  of  them 
growing  to  a  very  large  size,  natives  of  the 
Malayan  Peninsula,  Ceylon,  Australia  and 
Madagascar.  W.  Burbridgei,  from  Borneo, 
the  finest  species  yet  in  cultivation,  has  broad, 
handsome  leaves,  contracted  and  decurrent, 
into  a  very  broad  petiole,  which  expands,  and 
is  amplexicaul  at  the  base.  The  pale,  golden 
yellow  flowers  are  three  inches  in  diameter, 
borne  on  a  simple  peduncle  two  to  four  inches 
long.  It  is  much  valued  also  for  its  excellent 
timber,  which  bears  some  resemblance  to 
Oak.     Syn.  Lenidia. 

Worms  or  Caterpillars.  Popular  names  for 
Scorpitirus  vermiculata. 

Worm  Seed.  The  seed  of  Chenopodium  anthel- 
minticum.  The  utricle  which  surrounds  the 
seed  contains  a  volatile  oil,  which  is  con- 
sidered a  worm-destroying  medicine. 

Wonnvyood.    See  Artemisia. 

Wri'ghtia.  Palay  or  Ivorj'  Tree.  Named  after 
William  Wright,  a  Scotch  physician  and  bot- 
anist.    Nat.  Ord.  Apocynace-ce. 

A  genus  consisting  of  shi-ubs  or  small, 
sometimes  scandent  and  aerial-rooting  trees, 
natives  of  the  eastern  hemisphere,  ranging 
from  Silhet  to  Nepal  and  western  Australia. 
Flowers  red,  white  or  yellow,  in  terminal 
or  sub-axillary,  sessile  cymes.  W.  tinctoria 
furnishes  an  inferior  kind  of  indigo,  and  the 
wood,  which  is  pure  white,  close-grained  and 
ivory-like,  is  highly  valued  for  turning,  car- 
ving and  inlaying.  They  grow  well  in  a  com- 
post of  loam  and  leaf-mould  and  are  readily 
increased  by  cuttings. 

Wulfe'nia.  Named  in  honor  of  F.  X.  Wulfen, 
a  botanical  author.  Nat.  Ord.  Scrophulari- 
acecB. 


XAN 

A  small  genus  of  perennial  herbs  with  thick 
rhizomes,  natives  of  the  mountains  of  central 
Europe  and  Asia.  They  are  well  adapted  for 
the  rock-garden  or  flower-border,  their  beauti- 
ful blue  flowers  being  very  ornamental  when 
in  full  blossom.  W.  Carinthiaca  is  a  remark- 
ably dwarf,  almost  stemless,  evergreen  herb, 
twelve  to  eighteen  inches  high,  bearing,  in 
summer,  showy  spikes  of  purplish-blue, 
drooping  flowers.  It  is  found  only  on  one  or 
two  mountains  in  Carinthia.  W.  Amherstiana, 
from  the  Himalayas,  is  another  very  showy, 
perfectly  hardy  species,  growing  freely  in  any 
position  in  the  rock-garden,  but  preferring  a 
shadj'  spot  and  a  light,  rich  soil.  They  re- 
quire to  be  protected  by  a  frame  in  winter, 
and  are  propagated  by  division  or  seeds. 

Wu'lfBa.  Named  in  honor  of  John  C.  Wulff, 
author  of  "  Flora  Borussica. "  Nat.  Ord. 
Composites. 

A  small  genus  of  tropical  American  perennial 
herbs,  with  yellow  or  orange-yellow  flowers. 
W.  maculata,  the  only  species  introduced,  is  of 
easy  culture  in  any  light  soil,  and  may  be  in- 
creased by  seeds  or  by  division. 

Wu'rmbea.  Named  in  honor  of  F.  Van  Wurmb, 
Secretary  to  the  Academy  of  Sciences  at 
Batavia.     Nat.  Ord.  Melanthacece. 

A  genus  of  bulbous  or  tuberous  green-house 
plants,  natives  of  southern  Africa  and  Aus- 
tralia. W.  campanulata,  the  best  known  spe- 
cies, and  its  varieties  are  very  showy  and  in- 
teresting w^hen  in  flower.  They  succeed  well 
in  a  compost  of  sandy  peat  and  loam,  and  are 
easily  increased  by  seeds  or  by  offsets. 

Wych  Elm.     Ulmus  montana. 

Wye'thia.  Named  after  N.  B.  Wyeth,  the  dis- 
coverer of  this  genus  in  northwestern  Amer- 
ica.    Nat.  Ord.   Compositoe. 

A  genus  of  hardy,  perennial  plants,  of 
which  W.  angustifolia  is  the  only  species  of 
interest.  None  of  them  are  of  any  horticul- 
tural interest. 


Xanthi'sma.      From  xanihisma,    yellowness  ; 
alluding  to  the  color  of  the  flowers.     Nat. 
Ord.  Composite^. 

X.  Texanum,  the  only  species,  is  a  showy, 
hardy  annual  or  biennial,  with  heads  of  bright 
yellow  flowers.  Seeds  may  be  sown  in  the 
open  border  in  April.  Syn.  Centauridium. 
Xa'nthium.  From  xanthos,  yellow ;  the  plants 
were  formerly  used  by  the  Greeks  to  dye  their 
hair.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

A  genus  of  coarse-growing,  annual  plants, 
principally  weeds ;  of  no  horticultural  value. 
Xantho'ceras.  The  only  species,  X.  sorbifolia, 
is  a  low-growing  tree,  a  native  of  the  moun- 
tains of  northern  China,  belonging  to  the 
natural  order  Sapindaceoe. 


It  is  a  beautiful  tree,  with  leaves  resem. 
bling  those  of  Pyrus  Aucuparia ;  the  flower* 
white,  with  a  purple  eye,  and  a  yellow  spot  at 
the  base  of  each  petal.  It  is  still  very  rare  in 
gardens. 

Xanthorhi'za.  (Some  adopt  the  orthography 
Xanthorrhiza,  following  the  analogy  of  Xan- 
thorrcBa,  etc  )  Yellow  Root.  From  xantho8^ 
yellow,  and  rhiza,  a  root ;  the  roots  being  of 
a  deep  yellow  color.  Nat.  Ord.  Ranuncula- 
cece. 

X.  apifolia,  the  only  known  species,  is  an  in- 
teresting, half-hardy,  evergreen  shrub,  with 
pretty,  dark-purple  flowers  in  early  spring.  It 
is  common  along  the  mountains  from  Florida 
northward.    It  is  propagated  by  suckers. 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


499 


XAN 

Xanthorrhce'a.  Black  Boys,  Grass-tree.  Frora 
xanthos,  yellow,  and  rheo,  to  flow;  alluding 
to  the  yellow  juice.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

Amongst  the  many  curious  forms  of  the 
vegetable  kingdom,  the  Grass-tree  of  Austra- 
lia is  one  of  the  most  interesting,  and  forms 
a  conspicuous  feature  in  the  landscape  of  that 
country;  most  of  the  species  having  thick 
trunks,  like  those  of  Palms,  covered  with  a 
dense  coating  formed  of  the  persistent  bases 
of  old  leaves,  glued  together  by  the  red  or 
yellow  resin  with  which  these  plants  abound, 
and  usually  burnt  and  blackened  outside  by 
bush-fires.  The  leaves  are  long,  wiry  and 
grass-like,  and  are  borne  in  a  dense  tuft  at 
the  top  of  the  stem  and  hang  down  grace- 
fully all  around  it;  their  long  flower-stalks 
rising  out  of  the  centre,  and  sometimes  grow- 
ing as  high  as  fifteen  or  twenty  feet,  bearing 
at  the  top  a  dense,  cylindrical  flower-spike, 
resembling  that  of  the  Typha,  made  up  of  a 
mass  of  scales  out  of  which  the  flowers  pro- 
trude. In  general,  its  presence  is  indicative 
of  a  poor  soil,  therefore  it  is  one  of  those 
plants  which  give  life  to  the  sterility  of  a  great 
portion  of  Australia.  When  the  plants  have 
been  denuded  of  their  leaves  and  their  bodies 
blackened  by  the  bush-fires,  they  have  been 
compared  to,  and  even  mistaken  for,  black  men 
holding  spears,  hence  their  colonial  name, 
Black  Boys.  Their  leaves  afford  good  fodder 
for  cattle,  while  the  natives  eat  the  tender 
white  centre  of  the  top  of  the  stem. 
Xanthoso'ma.  From  xanthos,  yellow,  and 
soma,  a  body ;  alluding  to  the  large,  lobed,  de- 
pressed, yellow  stigma.  Nat.  Ord.  Aroidem. 
A  genus  of  about  twenty-five  species  of  milky, 
perennial  herbs,  with  erect  root-stocks,  arrow- 
shaped  leaves,  and  a  yellow  spathe  rolled 
round  at  the  base.  They  are  natives  of  tropi- 
cal America,  and  some  of  the  species  are  use- 
ful as  summer  decorative  plants.  Propagated 
by  cutting  up  the  root-stock  into  small  pieces 
and  starting  them  in  heat. 
Xanthoxyla'ceae.  A  tribe  of  Nat.  Ord.  Rutacece. 
Xantho'xylum.  Prickly  Ash,  Toothache  Tree. 
From  xanthos,  yellow,  and  xylon,  wood;  the 
roots  are  yellow.     Nat.  Ord.  Rutacem. 

This  is  a  rather  extensive  genus,  having  a 
wide  geographical  range,  with  representatives 
in  most  of  the  tropical  countries  of  the  world 
and  in  some  parts  of  the  temperate  regions. 
The  species  differ  considerably  in  appearance, 
some  being  very  large  ti-ees,  while  others  are 
erect  or  climbing  shrubs  ;  and  they  are  often 
furnished  with  prickles  on  their  branches  and 
leaf-stalks.  The  leaves  are  alternate  and  com- 
pound, either  pinnate  (either  with  or  without 
an  odd  terminal  leaflet),  trifoliate,  or  rarely 
reduced  to  a  single  leaflet,  the  leaflets  being 
usually  marked  with  pellucid  dots.  Their 
flowers  are  small,  unisexual,  and  disposed  in 
variously  formed  axillary  or  terminal  panicles. 
The  ripe  fruits  split  into  two  pieces,  and  con- 
tain one  or  two  shining  black  seeds.  The 
fruits  of  most  of  the  species  have  an  aromatic, 
pungent  taste,  like  pepper.  Those  of  X.  pipe- 
ritum,  a  Japanese  species,  are  called  Japan 
Pepper;  and  those  of  X.  /tas/iYearetheTej-bul 
of  northern  India,  where  they  are  used  for 
intoxicating  fish.  The  genus  is  represented 
in  the  United  States  by  a  few  species.  X. 
Americanum,  Northern  Prickly  Ash,  is  a 
prickly  shrub  with  yellowish-green  flowers, 


XIM 

which  appear  before  the  leaves.  It  is  remark  • 
able  for  its  pungent  qualities.  The  bark, 
when  chewed,  is  said  to  cure  the  toothache ; 
whence  one  of  its  popular  names.  Toothache 
Tree.  X.  Garolinianum,  the  Southern  Prickly 
Ash,  is  a  small  tree  with  very  sharp  prickles, 
found  on  the  coast  of  Virginia  and  southwai'd 
Syn.  Zanthoxylum. 

Xera'nthemum.  From  xeros,  dry,  and  anthemon, 
a  flower;  alluding  to  the  dry  nature  of  the 
flower ;  which  retains  its  form  and  color  for 
years.     Nat.  Ord.  CompositcB. 

Hardy  annuals  of  the  easiest  culture,  merely 
requiring  to  be  sown  where  they  are  desired 
to  bloom.  The  flowers,  from  their  peculiar 
dry  character,  may  be  preserved  a  very  long 
time  alter  they  are  cut  from  the  plants,  and 
this  circumstance  has  given  rise  to  the  Eng- 
lish name.  Everlasting.  The  sevei-al  species 
are  natives  of  the  south  of  Europe  and  the 
Levant.  Some  of  them.have  been  under  cul- 
tivation more  than  two  hundred  years.  Sow 
through  April  and  May  in  the  open  border,  or 
in  a  hot-bed,  and  transplant  in  March. 

Xerone'ma.  From  xeros,  dry,  and  nema,  a 
thread ;  the  filaments  dry  and  persistent. 
Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

X.  Moorei,  the  only  species,  is  an  elegant 
and  interesting  stove-house  perennial,  intro- 
duced from  New  Caledonia  in  1878.  It  grows 
about  two  feet  high  with  the  leaves  clustered 
at  the  base  of  the  flower  stem,  bearing  erect, 
bright  crimson  flowers,  about  half  an  inch 
long.  It  is  readily  increased  by  seeds  or  by 
division  of  the  root-stocks. 

Xerophy'llum.  Turkey's  Beard.  From  xeros, 
dry,  and  phyllon,  a  leaf ;  in  reference  to  the 
dry,  grassy  leaves.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  small  genus  of  interesting,  hardy,  herba- 
ceous plants,  mostly  natives.  X.  asphodeloides, 
one  of  the  most  interesting  species,  is  a  native 
of  the  Pine  barrens  of  New  Jersey  and  south- 
ward. It  has  long,  very  narrow,  bristle- 
shaped  leaves,  which  form  a  dense  tuft,  from 
which  rises  a  stem  bearing  a  large  raceme  of 
showy  white  flowers  in  June.  They  are  pro- 
pagated by  seeds  or  from  division,  and  suc- 
ceed well  in  any  dry  situation. 

Xero'tes.  Named  after  xerotes,  dryness,  be- 
cause of  the  aridity  of  the  herbage.  Nat.  Ord. 
Jmicacece. 

A  genus  of  over  thirty  species  of  herbaceous, 
perennial  plants,  natives  of  Australia.  They 
succeed  well  in  light,  rich  soil  and  are  readily 
propagated  by  division.    Syn.  Lomandra. 

Ximene'sia.  Named  in  honor  of  Joseph  Ximenes, 
a  Spanish  apothecary.     Nat.  Ord.  Compositce. 

These  are  interesting  Mexican  plants  of 
which  X.  enceloides  is  the  best  known  species. 
It  is  now  generally  included  under  Verbesina, 
which  see. 

Xime'iiia.  Named  after  F.  Ximene.%  a  Spanish 
Monk,  who  wrote  on  Mexican  plants  in  1615. 
Nat.  Ord.  Olacacece. 

A  small  genus  of  trees  or  shrubs,  one  species 
of  which  is  widely  dispersed  over  the  tropics 
of  both  the  Old  and  New  World.  X.  flori- 
bimdum,  the  species  mostly  cultivated,  has 
white,  fragrant  flowers,  and  bears  an  edible 
fruit.  It  is  called  by  various  names,  Seaside, 
Hog,  or  Mountain  Plum,  False  Sandalwood, 
etc.  The  fruits  have  an  aromatic  flavor,  but 
are  a  little  rough  to  the  palate.    X.  Americana 


500 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


XIP 

is  common  on  all  the  south  Florida  Keys  as  a 
spreading  shrub,  sometimes  with  stout,  nearly 
prostrate  stems  ten  or  twelve  feet  long,  and 
eight  or  ten  inches  in  diameter  at  the  ground. 

Xi'pMon.  A  genus  of  Iridarece  scarcely  differing 
from  Iris  except  in  the  eliaracter  of  the  root- 
stocJi,  which  is  a  bulb  instead  of  a  rhizome. 
They  are  natives  of  the  Mediterranean  region, 
Abyssinia,  etc.,  and  include  several  old  gar- 
den favorites.  X.  Sisyrinchium  has  been  con- 
sidered the  type  of  a  distinct  genus  {Gynand- 
iris) ;  it  has  been  in  cultivation  since  the  days 
of  GerarJe,  who  call.s  it  Spanish  Nut  an<l  says 
that  it  "is  eaten  at  the  table  of  rich  and  de- 
licious persons  in  sallads  or  otherwise."  X. 
latifolium  (Iris  xiphioides)  is  the  English  Iris 
of  florists  and  old  writers. 

Xylophy'Ua.  A  genus  of  EuphorbiacecB  now  in- 
cluded under  Phyllanthus. 


YUL 

Xylo'steum.  A  genus  now  included  under  Lo- 
nicera. 

Xyrida'ceae.  A  small  natural  order  of  peren- 
nial, rush-like  herbs,  growing  often  in  watery 
places.  It  includes  two  species,  Abolboda  and 
Xyris,  and  less  than  fifty  species. 

Xy'ris.  Yellow-eyed  Grass.  From  xyros, 
acute ;  the  leaves  terminate  in  points.  Nat. 
Ord.  XyridaceoB. 

A  genus  of  curious  plants  mostly  indige- 
nous, though  some  are  natives  of  tropical  Asia 
and  Africa.  They  are  all  sedge-like  plants, 
with  narrow  radical  leaves,  and  small  flower- 
heads  terminating  the  simple  scapes,  the 
yellow  petals  being  very  fugacious.  They  are 
of  no  special  interest.  X.  operculata,  intro- 
duced from  Australia  in  18o4,  is  the  most 
showy  species  and  is  generally  cultivated  as 
a  green-house  perennial. 


Y. 


Yam.    The  common  name  of  the  large,  tuber- 
ous roots  of  several  species  of  Dioscorea, 
used  as  food.     See  Dioscorea. 

Yang-Mae.  Myrica  Nagi,  a  sub-acid,  esculent 
fruit  of  Japan  and  China,  somewhat  resem- 
bling the  fruit  of  the  Arbutus.  It  is  probably 
identical  with  M.  integrifolia. 

Yard  Grass.  A  common  name  for  the  genus 
Eleusine.  It  is  also  known  as  Crab  Grass. 
See  Eleusine. 

Yarrow.     See  Achillea  millefolium. 

Yaupon.  The  name  of  a  tea  or  drink  made 
from  the  leaves  of  the  Ilex  Cassine  by  the 
North  Carolina  Indians. 

Yellowr  Berries.  The  dried,  unripe  berries  of 
Rhamnus  infectorius,  imported  from  the  south 
of  Europe  for  the  use  of  dyers. 

Yellow-eyed  Grass.  The  common  name  of  the 
genus  Xyris,  a  curious  rush-like  plant,  com- 
mon in  New  Jersey  and  southward.  See 
Xyris. 

Yellow  Iris.     Iris  Pseudo-acorus. 

YeUow  Jessamine  of  the  Southern  States,  is 
Gelseinium  sempervirens. 

Yellow  Poccoon.     See  Hydrastis. 

Yellow  Pond  Lily.     See  Nuphar. 

Yellow  Rattle.     See  Rhinanthus  Crista-galli. 

YelloAV  Rocket.     Barbarea  vulgaris. 

Yellow  Root.     See  Hydrastis  and  Xanthorhiza. 

Yellow  Star  of  Bethlehem.     Gagea  lutea. 

Yellow  Star-flower.     Sternbergia  lutea. 

Yellow  Sultan.     Centaurea  suaveolcns. 

Yellow  Trefoil.  Medicago  lupuUna.  An  excel- 
lent fodder  plant  when  mixed  with  grasses. 

Yellow  Weed.     Dyer's.     Reseda  luteola. 

Yellovsr  Wood.  Cladrastis  tinctoria,  or  Virgilia 
lutea,  a  small  and  handsome  deciduous  tree, 
with  showy  white  flowers  drooping  from  the 
ends  of  its  branches,  common  on  rich  hill- 
sides, from  Kentucky  southward. 
Yew.     See  Taxus. 


Youth  and  Old  Age.     A  popular  name  of  the 

Zinnia,  which  see. 

Youth-'wort,  An  English  name  for  Drosera 
rotundifoUa. 

Yu'cca.  Adam's  Needle,  Spanish  Bayonet,  Bear 
Grass.  Yucca  is  the  name  of  the  plant  in 
Peru.     Nat.  Ord.  Liliacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  evergreen  plants, 
closely  allied  to  Draccena  and  Cordyline,  with 
leaves  somewhat  like  the  Aloe.  Y.filamentosa, 
popularly  called  Adam's  Needle,  is  common 
from  Virginia  south v.ard  to  Mexico  and  Cen- 
tral America,  and  is  a  beautiful  plant  for 
cemetery  or  lawn  decoration.  Many  of  the 
species  are  hardy  enough  to  withstand  our 
winters  North,  and  are  desirable  plants,  as 
well  for  the  flowers  as  the  foliage.  The  flow- 
ers are  produced  on  an  erect,  branching  spike, 
often  six  feet  high,  proceeding  from  the  heart 
of  the  plant.  It  is  not  uncommon  for  a  single 
spike  to  furnish  three  hundred  blossoms, 
which  are  creamy  white  and  very  showy. 
The  half-hardy  or  tender  species  may  be 
grown  in  pots  or  tubs  and  kept  dormant 
through  the  winter  in  a  cellar  or  room  free 
from  frost.  They  grow  freely  in  any  soil, 
preferring  a  light,  sandy  one.  Y.  aloifolia  va- 
riegata  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  our 
green-house,  ornamental-leaved  plants.  Its 
propagation,  which  is  by  cuttings,  is  slow, 
and  hence  it  is  always  a  scarce  and  expensive 
plant.  F.  filamentosa  variegata  somewhat  re- 
sembles it  in  its  young  state,  and  has  occa- 
sionally been  sold  for  it ;  but  it  is  far  inferior. 
Most  of  the  herbaceous  species  of  the  genus 
seed  freely,  and  are  thus  rapidly  increased. 
The  bruised  roots  of  all  the  Yuccas  were  for- 
merly used  very  extensively  by  the  natives 
on  the  Pacific  slope  as  a  substitute  for 
soap,  and  at  the  present  time  it  is  not  an 
uncommon  sight  to  see  the  semi-civilized 
Indian  and  her  Mexican  half-sister  still  using 
this  vegetable  soap,  which  they  call  "  Amole," 
in  the  Mexican  villages,  and  as  far  north  aa 
Utah. 

Yulan.     Magnolia  conspicua. 


AND   GENERAL  HORTICULTURE. 


501 


z. 


ZAL 

Zala'cca.    Said  to  be  the  name  of  this  genus  in 
the  Moluccas.    Sometimes  spelled  Salacca. 
Nat.  Ord.  Palmacece. 

A  genus  composed  of  seven  or  eight  species 
of  stemless  Palms,  natives  of  Assam  and  the 
coast  of  Burmah  and  Malacca,  mostly  growing 
in  large  masses  in  wet  places,  and  forming 
dense  tufts,  rendering  the  jungles  almost  im- 
passible. They  have  long,  pinnate  leaves, 
which,  being  very  coriaceous,  render  them 
good  subjects  for  decorative  purposes. 

Zaluzia'nskia.  Named  after  Dr.  Adam  Zaluzi- 
ansky,  a  botanist  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
Tliis  is  now  given  as  the  correct  name  of  the 
genus  Nyclerinia. 

Za''in  a.  From  zamia,  loss ;  in  allusion  to  the 
barren  appearance  of  the  male  flowers.  Nat. 
Ord.  Cycadacece. 

An  extensive  genus  of  very  beautiful  and 
remarkable  plants,  intermediate  between  the 
Ferns  and  Palms.  They  are  natives  of  the 
West  Indies,  Central  America,  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  and  southeastern  Africa,  where 
they  frequently  constitute  a  conspicuous 
feature  in  the  vegetation.  These  extraordi- 
nary plants  are  remarkable  for  their  bony 
fronds  or  leaves,  which  are  for  the  most  part 
armed  with  spines  or  sharp  angles.  The  spe- 
cies, Z.  horrida,  has  thorns  several  inches  in 
length  and  as  hard  as  horn.  Several  oi  the 
species  are  known  in  cultivation  and  are 
objects  of  much  interest.  They  require  a  hot- 
house, and  should  be  grown  in  sandy  loam. 
Rapid  progress  in  growth  is  material  to  the 
perfect  development  of  the  leaves,  and  this  is 
only  secured  by  heat  and  moisture.  They 
may  be  propagated  by  suckers,  but  these, 
with  all  other  Cycads,  are  now  largely  imported 
by  firms  in  New  York  and  other  large  cities, 
mostly  from  Central  America,  and  thus  plants 
are  obtained  at  once  from  their  native  habitat 
that  would  take  many  years  to  grow  by  the 
slow  processes  of  artificial  propagation. 
When  received  they  are,  of  course,  in  a  dor- 
mant state,  without  roots  or  leaves,  and 
should  be  placed  in  partially  damp  moss,  in  a 
temperature  of  70  degrees,  until  they  begin  to 
grow. 

Zante  Currant.  This  is  not  a  Currant  as  is 
generally  supposed  from  its  name,  but  rather 
a  Grape,  the  fruit  of  a  variety  of  Vitis  Vinifera, 
commonly  called  Black  Cornith  or  Zante 
Currant.  It  is  a  seedless  Grape,  produced  in 
long,  slender  bunches;  a  native  of  the 
Levant. 

Zante-wood.  The  wood  of  Chloroxylon  Swieti- 
ana  and  Rhus  Cotinus. 

Zanthorhi'za.     See  Xanthorhiza. 

Zanthoxy'lum.     See  Xanthoxylum 

Zapa'nia.  A  name  applied  to  that  section  of 
the  genus  Lippia,  in  which  are  placed  those 
species  which  have  a  flattened  calyx  and 
capitate  flowers.  Thoy  are  creeping,  Verbena- 
ceous  plants,  producing  an  abundance  of 
flowers  in  umbels  in  Augu.:,t  and  September; 
natives  of  South  America. 

Zauschne'ria.  Californian  Fuchsia.  Hum- 
ming-bird's   Trumpet.      Named  in  honor  of 


ZEB 

M.    Zauschner,   a   German.      Nat.    Ord.    Ona- 
gracccB. 

Z.  California,  the  only  known  species,  is  a 
hardy,  herbaceous  plant,  native  of  California. 
It  is  of  branching  habit,  and  produces  large 
racemes  of  Fuchsia-like  flowers,  bright  crim- 
son and  very  showy.  It  makes  a  handsome 
pot  plant,  and  is  also  very  showy  in  the  bor- 
der. Propagated  by  division  or  from  seed. 
Introduced  in  1847. 

Ze'a.  Maize,  Indian  Corn.  Linnaeus  named 
this  genus  from  zao,  to  live ;  in  reference  to 
the  nutritive  properties  of  the  plants.  Nat. 
Ord.  Graminacece. 

Indian  Corn,  Zea  Mays,  is  unquestionably 
an  American  plant,  having  been  found  under 
cultivation  by  the  Indians  on  the  discovery 
of  the  New  World.  It  is  said  to  grow  wild  in 
some  of  the  West  Indian  Islands  and  in  Cen- 
tral and  South  America.  There  is  only  one 
ascertained  species,  although  numerous  va- 
rieties have  been  produced.  The  many  varie- 
ties are  so  distinct  in  their  general  habit  of 
growth,  size  and  shape  of  the  kernel  as  to 
raise  the  question  of  their  being  distinct  spe- 
cies, which,  however,  is  not  probable.  We 
know  of  no  other  plant  that  so  readily  adapts 
itself  to  circumstances,  or  one  that  will  so 
completely  change  its  habit  of  growth  in  so 
short  a  time.  The  writer  once  brought  a  few 
ears  of  Corn  from  near  Quebec,  the  farthest 
point  north  that  Corn  is  known  to  ripen. 
The  stalks  from  which  the  ears  were  taken 
were  not  three  feet  high,  yet  each  produced 
two  small  ears  of  very  hard  Corn  of  excellent 
quality.  This  seed  was  sown  in  central  New 
York  at  the  same  time  and  under  the  same 
conditions  as  other  Corn,  only  in  a  separate 
field.  This  crop  came  to  maturity  in  less  than 
sixty  days  after  planting,  ready  for  the  har- 
vest. The  next  year  the  best  seeds  of  the  crop 
were  sown,  in  confidence  of  similar  results ; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  it  adapted  itself  to  the 
climate,  and  took  the  same  length  of  time  to 
grow  and  ripen  as  the  common  sorts,  and  it 
also  grew  to  as  great  a  height,  which  was 
fully  two  feet  higher  than  it  grew  the  first 
year.  From  that  fact  it  is  easy  to  see  what 
great  changes  may  be  brought  about  by  culti- 
vation. The  varieties  known  as  Sweet  or 
Sugar  Corn  are  best  suited  for  use  in  the  un- 
ripe state.  They  have  been  greatly  improved 
in  the  past  twenty  years  by  careful  selection, 
and  thousands  of  acres  of  these  kinds  are 
grown  for  canning,  particidarly  the  variety 
known  as  Sto well's  "  Evergreen."  Z.  Japon- 
ica  variegata  is  a  beautifully  striped  white  and 
green  variety  and  is  unsurpassed  as  a  "Varie- 
gated Grass."  It  requires  exactly  the  same 
culture  as  the  ordinary  Maize  ;  though,  being 
variegated,  its  growth  is  weakened,  and,  under 
the  same  conditions,  it  grows  one-third  lower 
than  the  ordinary  green  sorts.  It  can  be  used 
with  fine  elTect for  the  "  back  row  "  or  "  centre" 
of  large  beds  in  massing. 

Zebra  Grass.     See  Eulalia  Zebrina. 

Zebra  Plant.  A  common  name  for  Calathea 
Zebrina. 


502 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  PLANTS 


ZEB 

Zebra  Wood.  A  name  given  to  Myrtus  fra- 
grans  and  Guetiarda  speciosa  ;  also  to  the  genus 
Omphalobium,  which  see. 

Zebri'na  pendula.  A  name  proposed  for  the 
plant,  best-known  as  Tradescantia  tricolor,  T. 
Zebrina  or  Cynanotis  vittata. 

Zehne'ria.  A  sj'nonym  of  Pilogyne,  which  see. 
The  correct  name  Is  now  given  as  Melothria. 

Zenobi'a.  Named  after  the  famous  Empress  of 
Palmyra  who  lived  iu  the  third  century.  Nat. 
Ord.  Ericacece. 

Z.  speciosa  is  a  dense  growing  shrub, 
about  three  feet  high  when  fully  grown.  The 
flowers,  white  and  wax-like,  are  in  form  like 
those  of  Lily  of  the  Vallej',  and  are  produced 
abundantly  in  loose,  drooping  clusters  in  sum- 
mer. It  is  a  native  of  the  Southern  States, 
and,  consequently,  not  quite  hardj\  It  is 
known  in  cultivation  as  Andromeda  Cassiniae- 
folia  and  A.  speciosa. 

Zephyra'nthes,  Zephyr  Flower.  From  zephyros, 
the  west  wind,  and  arithos,  a  flower.  Nat.  Ord. 
AmaryllidacecB. 

A  very  beautiful  genus  of  hardy  and  half- 
hardy  bulbous  plants,  natives  of  the  Southern 
States,  South  America,  and  the  West  Indies. 
The  flowers  are  white,  pink  and  rose-colored, 
and  are  produced  singly  on  slender  scapes 
about  six  Indies  high.  One  of  the  best  species 
is  Z.  Atamasco,  generally  known  as  Amaryllis 
Atamasco,  and  in  our  gardens  as  Faiiy  Lilj-. 
This  species  has  beautiful  pink  flowers, 
which  are  produced  in  great  abundance 
during  the  entire  summer.  The  bulbs  may 
be  planted  in  the  open  border  early  in  spring, 
and,  with  slight  protection  during  winter,  they 
may  remain  undisturbed  a  number  of  years. 
The  bulbs  are  about  one  and  a  half  inches  in 
diameter  and  two  inches  long,  and  increase 
rapidlj^  by  offsets.  It  is  a  native  of  the  south- 
ern and  southwestern  States.  Z.  Candida,  a 
species  with  pure  white  flowers  and  small, 
rush-like  leaves,  is  a  native  of  Lima  and 
Buenos  Ayi-es.  The  bulbs  are  quite  small, 
and  grow  in  large  clusters.  It  is  very  free 
flowering  and  nearly  hardy,  aud  was  intro- 
duced in  1822. 

Zephyr-Flower.     See  Zephyranthes. 

Zi'ohya.  In  honor  of  Countess  Molly  Zichy,  a 
noble  Austrian  lady,  fond  of  botany.  Nat. 
Ord.  Leguminosce. 

These  are  handsome  green-house  climbers, 
closely  related  to  Kennedya,  from  which  they 
are  chiefly  distinguished  by  having  their 
flowers  arranged  in  whorls  on  the  end  of  an 
attenuated  foot-stalk.  They  require  plenty  of 
■water,  both  at  the  roots  and  over  the  foliage 
in  dry,  hot  weather,  and  a  support  for  their 
flexile  stems.  The  trellis  should  be  as  large 
as  may  be  conveniently  attached  to  a  pot,  as 
they  extend  over  a  considerable  space.  In  the 
autumn  the  branches  should  be  pruned 
closely  back,  and  the  plants  kept  torpid 
through  the  winter.  The  several  species  that 
constitute  this  genus  are  natives  of  Swan 
River,  and  were  introduced  in  1834.  Propa- 
gated by  seeds  or  cuttings. 

Zi'ngiber.  Ginger.  The  Indian  name.  Nat. 
Ord.  Scitaminem. 

The  most  important  species  of  this  genus 
is  Z.  officinale,  the  roots  or  rhizomes  of  which 
furnish  the  well-known  Ginger  of  commerce. 
This  plant  is  believed  to  be  a  native  of  Asia. 


ZIZ 

It  was  naturalized  in  the  "West  Indies  soon 
after  their  discovery  by  the  Spaniards ; 
indeed,  at  so  early  a  period  that  it  is  scarcely 
believed  to  be  an  exotic,  and  is  supposed  to 
have  been  found  indigenous  on  the  islands. 
Acosta  relates  that  a  person  named  Francisco 
de  Mendoza  first  transplanted  it  from  the  East 
Indies  into  New  Spain,  where  its  cultivation 
was  diligentlj'  pursued  by  the  Spanish  Ameri- 
cans to  a  considerable  extent,  as,  from  the 
testimony  of  the  same  author,  22,053  cwt. 
were  exported  thence  to  Europe  in  1547.  This 
plant  is  now  extensively  cultivated  in  the 
West  Indies,  especially  in  Jamaica,  from 
whence  we  receive  our  main  supply.  There 
ai-e  several  varieties  of  Ginger  known  in 
commerce ;  they  are,  however,  of  the  same 
species,  as  the  white  and  black  ginger  simply 
indicate  a  different  method  of  preparation. 
Ginger  is  also  largely  grown  in  the  East 
Indies  and  Africa,  but  not  of  so  good  a  quality 
as  that  of  the  West  Indies. 

Zingibera'ceae.  A  tribe  or  sub-order  of  Scita- 
minece. 

Zi'nnia.  Named  in  honor  of  John  Godfrey  Zinn, 
a  Professor  of  Botany  at  Gottingen.  Nat. 
Ord.  CompositcB. 

An  extensive  genus  of  hardy  annuals,  na- 
tives of  Mexico.  When  first  introduced  the 
Zinnia  received  but  little  attention,  as  the 
flowers  were  single,  the  colors  not  so  bright, 
nor  the  plant  so  effective  as  the  double  varie- 
ties now  under  cultivation.  The  double  vari- 
eties were  first  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Vilmorin 
in  Paris,  in  1861.  They  originated  in  India 
from  the  comnion  single  Mexican  varieties, 
and  the  seeds  were  sent  to  France  in  1858. 
Great  improvement  has  been  made  within  the 
last  ten  years  in  this  flower,  and  our  own  flo- 
rist and  seed-growers  have  been  foremost  in 
this  work.  The  finest  strains  of  this  flower 
are  now  to  be  had  of  the  seed-growers  near 
New  York.  Some  of  the  varieties  are  truly 
magnificent ;  the  dull,  dingy  colors  have  given 
place  to  bright  scarlet,  clear  rose,  pure  white, 
orange,  canary  yellow,  etc.,  and  the  flowers 
are  perfect  in  shape,  and  evenly  imbricated 
like  a  Caifiellia.  Zinnias  require  but  little  at- 
tention, aud  will  grow  well  almost  anywhere. 
For  perfection  of  flower,  the  seed  should  be 
sown  early  in  a  hot-bed  or  the  green-house, 
and  once  or  twice  pricked  out  before  planting 
in  the  open  border.  Set  the  plants  two  feet 
apart  each  way,  and  they  will  completely 
cover  the  ground  early  in  summer.  They 
will  commence  to  flower  in  June,  and  remain 
until  killed  by  frost.  The  flower  lasts  a  long 
time,  looking  cheerful  until  the  seed  is  quite 
ripe.  The  fact  of  the  flowers  remaining  so 
long  perfect  has  given  the  plant  one  of  its 
common  names,  "  Youth  and  Old  Age." 

Ziza'uia.  The  Greek  name  of  Darnel.  The  mod- 
ern plants  have  no  relation  to  the  ancient, 
being  natives  of  America.  Nat.  Ord.  Gramir 
nacecB. 

These  are  native  plants.  Z.  aquatica,  a 
large,  reed-like,  aquatic  plant,  is  quite 
common  in  marshes  and  on  the  margins  of 
waters  at  the  South  and  West,  and  was  for- 
merly largely  collected  by  the  Indians  for 
food.  It  is  a  favorite  food  with  wild  ducks 
and  other  aquatic  birds  during  the  fall  and 
winter  months,  and  is  a  familiar  object  to 
sportsmen.  A  correspondent  of  the  "American 


AND  GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


503 


ZIZ 

Agriculturist,"  1878.  Mr.  E.  Valentine,  of  Wis- 
consin, says  he  has  sold  a  thousand  bushels 
of  this  Wild  Rice  during  the  past  five  years. 
The  "  Agriculturist "  says  :  "  It  is  the  thick 
growth  of  this  Rice  that  makes  the  borders  of 
the  Delaware  such  a  favorite  resort  for  gun- 
ners in  the  Reed  Bird  season,  and  elsewhere 
it  attracts  numerous  ducks.  Mr.  V.  says  that 
he  has  sent  the  seeds  to  nearly  every  State 
and  Territory,  to  be  planted  along  water 
courses  to  attract  wild  fowl.  It  is  also  sown 
in  artificial  fish  ponds  to  afford  cover  and 
shade  for  the  young  fry,  a  purpose  for  which 
it  is  especially  suited.  It  succeeds  best  where 
there  is  a  muddy  bottom,  and  six  inches  to 
two  feet  of  water,  and  care  should  be  taken  to 
place  it  where  its  roots  will  be  covered  with 
water  at  all  times."     Syn.  Hydropyrum. 

Zizi'phora.  From  Zizi,  which  is  said  to  be  the 
Iiidiaia  name  of  the  flower,  and  j^/toreo,  I  bear. 
Nat.  Ord.  Labiatce. 

A  genus  of  about  twelve  species  of  hardy, 
dwarf,  aimual  herbs,  or  diffuse  sub-shrubs; 
natives  of  Central  and  Western  Asia,  and  the 
south  Mediterranean  region.  Some  three  or 
four  species  are  in  cultivation,  and  are  of  in- 
terest in  a  herbaceous  collection. 

Zi'zyphus.  Jujube.  Zizouf,  in  Arabic,  is  the 
name  of  the  Lotus.     Nat.  Ord.  Rhamnacum. 

An  interesting  genus  of  plants,  inhabitants 
of  both  hemispheres.  They  are  all  very  pretty, 
and  deserve  to  be  grown  in  every  collection. 
The  green-house  and  hot-house  species  do 
well  with  ordinary  treatment.  The  genus  is 
chiefly  characterized  by  having  a  fleshy,  berry- 
like fruit,  containing  a  one,  two  or  three- 
celled  stone,  with  a  single  flattened  seed  in 
each.  The  spegies  are  mostly  stiff  shrubs,  or 
sometimes  small  trees  with  more  or  less  spiny 
branches,  their  aliernate,  three-nerved  leaves 
being  furnished  with  one  or  two  thorny  stip- 
ules. The  fruits  of  several  of  the  species  have 
an  agreeable  flavor.  Z.  vulgaris,  the  best 
known  species,  when  fully  developed  attains 
a  height  of  t-hirty  feet.  The  fruits  of  this 
species  are  commonly  eaten  in  Europe,  both 
in  a  fresh  and  a  dried  state,  and  afford  the 
Jujubes  of  the  shops,  or  rather  used  to,  for 
they  are  now  chiefly  made  up  of  gum  and 
sugar,  and  a  little  tartaric  acid,  without  the 
Jujubes.  The  fruits  are  rather  acid  when 
fresh,  but  when  dried  they  are  more  agreeable, 
and  are  given  to  allay  cough.  Perhaps  the 
most  useful  purpose  to  which  this  species  can 
be  applied  is  ia  hedge  plant.  Mr.  William 
Smith,  the  superintendent  of  the  Botanic 
Garden  at  Washington,  D.  C,  has  been  ex- 
perimenting with  it  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  thinks  it  has  no  equal  as  a  hedge  plant, 
and  pi-edicts  that  it  is  certain  to  be  largely 
used  for  that  purpose.  It  is  perfectly  hardy 
at  Washington,  and  it  is  Mr.  Smith's  opinion 
that  it  is  likely  to  prove  hardy  a  great  deal 
farther  north.  Z.  Jujuba,  an  East  Indian 
species,  yields  an  excellent  dessert  fruit,  and 
is  largely  cultivated  by  the  Chinese,  who  rec- 
ognize a  great  number  of  varieties,  differing 

.  in  the  shape,  color  and  size  of  the  fruits. 
Those  of  one  variety  are  called  Chinese  Dates, 
from  their  resemblance  to  that  fruit.  Z.  Lotus, 
an  African  species,  is  one  of  the  plants  sup- 
posed to  have  yielded  the  seductive  sweet 
fruits  from  which  the  ancient  Lotophagi  took 
their   name.      Another  African    species,   Z. 


ZYG 

Baclei,  is  the  Lotus  mentioned  by  Mungo 
Park  as  being  used  for  making  into  bread, 
tasting  like  gingerbread,  and  also  for  the  pre- 
paration of  a  pleasant  beverage.  Z.  spina- 
Christi  is  supposed  by  some  to  have  furnished 
the  crown  of  thorns  put  on  our  Saviour's  head. 
Propagated  by  cuttings  or  from  seed.  First 
introduced  in  1640. 

Zomica'rpa.  From  zomo,  a  skirt,  and  karpos,  a 
fruit ;  the  pericarp  of  the  fruit,  when  ripe, 
bursts  at  the  bottom  and  remains  covering 
the  seeds  like  a  skirt.     Nat.  Ord.  Aroidem. 

A  small  genus  whose  species  are  natives  of 
Brazil.  The  leaves  appear  before  the  flowers 
and  are  cut  into  flve  segments.  They  make 
rather  pi-etty,  decorative  plants,  requiring, 
like  all  the  rest  of  the  family,  plenty  of  water 
during  the  growing  season.  Z.  PUhonium  is 
regarded  as  an  antidote  in  cases  of  serpent 
bites.  The  plants  grow  about  a  foot  high  and 
are  increased  by  seeds,  or  by  division.  Intro- 
duced in  1860. 

Zonal  Geranium.     See  Pelargonium. 

Zygade'nus.  From  zigos,  a  yoke,  and  aden,  a 
gland ;  the  glands  are  arranged  in  pairs.  Nat. 
Ord.  Liliacece. 

A  genus  of  smooth,  somewhat  glaucous, 
herbs,  with  creeping  rhizomes  or  coated  bulbs, 
grass-like  leaves,  and  panicles  of  rather  large, 
greenish-white  flowers.  The  best  known  and 
most  ornamental  species  are  all  natives  of 
America,  from  Maine  to  Mexico.  Propagation 
may  be  readily  effected  by  division,  or  by 
seed. 

Zygope'talum.  From  zygos,  a  yoke,  Rnd pelalon, 
a  petal ;  in  allusion  to  the  adhesion  of  the 
segments  of  the  perianth  by  their  bases  in  the 
original  species.     Nat.  Ord.  Orchidacm. 

A  genus  of  very  handsome,  free-flowering 
Orchids,  natives  of  South  America.  They  are 
terrestrial  evergreens,  and  generally  flower 
during  the  winter  or  early  spring  months, 
which  makes  them  desirable.  The  pseudo- 
bulbs  should  be  well  elevated  in  potting  and 
have  plenty  of  water  in  the  growing  season, 
which  is  usually  from  May  to  September; 
after  which  less  moisture  is  required  until 
their  season  of  blooming.  They  will  succeed 
well  in  an  ordinary  green-house,  and  are 
propagated  by  division.     Introduced  in  1828. 

Zygophylla'ceae.  A  natural  order  of  shrubs  or 
herbs,  rarely  trees ;  natives  of  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  the  Cape  de  Verde  Islands  and 
the  Levant.  Several  of  the  genera  have 
medicinal  properties.  The  species  are  widely 
dispersed  and  are  divided  into  seventeen 
genera,  including  Tribulus,  Zj'gophyllum,  and 
Guaiacum. 

Zygophy'llum.  Bean  Caper.  From  sygon,  a 
yoke,  and  phyllon,  a  leaf ;  alluding  to  the  pairs 
of  leaflets.  A  genus  of  trees,  shrubs  and  per- 
ennial herbs,  giving  its  name  to  the  Nat.  Ord. 
ZigophyllaceoR. 

The  species  are  natives  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  the  Cape  de  Verde  Islands,  the  Levant 
and  Australia.  Their  very  handsome  flowers 
are  red  or  white,  generally  with  a  purple  or 
red  basilar  spot.  Several  of  the  species  have 
medicinal  properties;  the  flower-buds  of 
E.  Fabago  are  used  instead  of  capers,  and  the 
seeds  of  E.  coccineum  are  employed  by  the 
Arabs  in  place  of  pepper.  Propagated  by  cut- 
tings or  by  seeds  when  obtainable. 


504 


HENDEKSONS  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


GLOSSARY. 


BOTANICAL  nomenclature  being  in  a  great  measure  descriptive,  it  has  been 
thought  that  in  addition  to  the  etymological  notes  on  the  individual  genus 
names  already  given,  a  glossary  of  the  designations  of  the  various  species  and  sub-species 
would  be  a  useful  addition  to  a  book  of  this  popular  character,  as  conveying  an  intelH- 
gible  indication  of  the  distinctive  features  of  the  plants  under  consideration.  These 
species-designations  stand  in  relation  to  the  genera  as  adjective  to  noun,  and  being 
expressed  in  Latin,  follov?-  the  grammatical  rules  of  that  language  in  so  far  that 
they  must  agree  with  the  noun  in  number,  gender  and  case.  For  instance  :  adjectives 
ending  in  us  take  a  in  the  feminine  and  um  in  the  neuter,  thus  :  alius,  high,  masculine; 
alia,  feminine  ;  altum,  neuter.  Masculine  and  feminine  adjectives  ending  in  r.s  in  the 
neuter  usually  end  in  e,  as  nobilix,  masculine  and  feminine  ;  nobile,  neuter.  Adjectives 
ending  otherwise  than  these  (for  instance,  ax,  eff,  ans,  ens,  eps,  on,  etc.)  retain,  generally, 
the  same  termination  for  all  genders.  The  designations  ending  in  oides,  phylla  and 
folia  have  been  but  sparingly  used,  as  they  are  for  the  most  part  self-descriptive  ;  e.  g., 
anemonoides,  anemone-like ;  acanthophylla,  acanthus  leaved ;  adiantifolia,  adiantum 
leaved,  etc. 


A 

A  in  composition  signifies 
without,  as  apliylla,  witiiout 
leaves,  etc. 

abbreviata shortened 

abortiva imperfect 

abscissa clipped 

acaulis stemless 

accedens yielding 

acerba sour 

acerosa  needle  pointed 

acicularis needle  leaved 

aeinacifolia. .  .scimetar  leaved 

acniopetala sharp  petaled 

acris biting 

aculeata  spiny 

acuminata sharp  pointed 

acuta sharp  pointed 

adnata  adhering 

adspersa scattered 

adunea hooked 

eemula rival 

ffinea bronzy 

eeranthe air  flower 

eesculifolia,  horse-chestnut 
leaved. 

eestivalis summer 

SBstuans glowing 

affinis related  to 

agglomerata collected 

aggregata.. gathered  together 

alata winged 

alba white 


albicans vehitish 

albinata whit«  marked 

ulcicornis elk's-horn-like 

alienata   foreign 

alnifolia alder  leaved 

alpestris    rocky 

alveolata honeycombed 

amabilis lovely 

amara : . . .  bitter 

amblyodon blunt  toothed 

amoena pleasing 

amplexicaulis. .  .stem  clasping 

ampliata enlarged 

ampuUacea flask-shaped 

anceps two  edged 

androgjma hermaphrodite 

androus,  in  words  of  Greek 
derivation,  refers  to  the  sta- 
mens ;  as,  diandrous,  two 
stamened  ;  polyandrous, 
many  stamened,  etc. 

Anglica English 

angusta    narrow 

angustifolia  . . .  .narrow  leaved 

anisata    anise  scented 

anisophylla ....  unequal  leaved 

annotina year-old 

annua annual 

annulata ringed 

anopetala erect  petaled 

antherosa large  anthered 

antherotes    ...    brilliant 

antiacantha.    .opposite  spined 

apetala without  petals 

aphylla destitute  of  leaves 


apiculata,    terminating    in    a 
sliort  point  or  tip. 

apifera bee  bearing 

apiifolia parsley  leaved 

apoda stemless 

apodantha . .  stalkless  flowered 
appendiculata,  having  appen- 
dages. 

applicata inclined 

aptera  ...    wingless 

aquatica living  in  water 

aquifolia holly  leaved 

arachnoidea cobwebby 

aranifera spider  bearing 

arbuscula like  a  little  tree 

arborea tree-like 

arcuta    bent 

ardens glowing 

arenaria  ...  - sand  loving 

areolata,  marked  out  into  dif- 
ferent spaces. 

argentea    silvery 

arguta    sharp 

argyrites    silvery 

argyrophylla  . . .  silver  leaved 
argyrostigma  .  .silver  spotted 
arietina  .....  ram's-head-like 

arifolia  arum  leaved 

aristata    awned 

armata armed 

armillata braceleted 

arrecta  erect 

articulata jointed 

arundinacea reed-like 

arvensis field 


AND   GENERAL   HOETICULTURE. 


505 


aspera rough 

aspeirima very  I'ough 

assiinilis similar 

assurgens increasing 

atomaria dotted 

atrata blackened 

atrosanguinea dark  red 

atrovirens dark  green 

attenuata thin,  narrowed 

augusta smooth  stalked 

aurantiaca orange 

aurea golden 

auriculata eared 

australis southern 

axilaris,  flowering  in  the  axils 

of  the  leaves, 
azurea blue 

B 

baccata berry  bearing 

bacillaris staff-like 

barbasca bearded 

barbata bearded 

basilaris base  branching 

bella  .  .• handsome 

bellidifiora.  - . .  .daisy  flowered 

.betuloides birch-like 

bi  or  bis,  as  a  prefix,    means 

twice;  as,  bi-articuiata,  two 

jointed ;  bi-aurita,two  eared, 

etc. 

bicamerata two-arched 

bicoriiis    two-horned 

bidentata double  toothed 

bifida half  divided 

binata.  .gi'owing  two  together 

bitumenosa pitchy 

blanda charming 

borealis northern 

brachy,  from  brachys,  short; 
f  compounded      with      other 

Greek  roots,  as 
brachybotrya.  .short  bunched 
brachynema,      having     short 

filaments. 

brachyodon short  toothed 

brachy phylla. ..  .short  leaved 
brachypoda  ....  short  stalked 
brachypteron.  broadly  winged 

bracteata bracted 

brevi,   short;   as,   brevistylis, 

short  stemmed, 
brevicaulis. . .  .short  stemmed 

brevifolia     short  leaved 

buccosa inflated 

bulbifera bulb  bearing 

buliata blistered 

butryacea buttery 

buxifolia box  leaved 

c 

caduca falling  off  soon 

csBsia bluish    gay 

c8Bspitosa tufted 

calamelanos. .  .beautiful,  dark 

calantha beautiful  winged 

calcarata spurred 

calcarea  . . .  .growing  on  chalk 

calceiformis shoe-shaped 

calendulacea  . .  .  marigold-like 
callosa.  furnished  with  harden- 
ed or  protuberant  spots. 
calophylla. . .  .beautiful  leaved 
caloptera. . .  .beautiful  winged 
calura beautiful  tailed 


calycina,    large  calyx  or  cup- 
shaped, 
calyculata,   having  bracts  re- 
sembling an  additional  calyx 

calyptrata covered 

campanulata bell-shaped 

campylacantha. curved  spined 

cancellata  latticed 

candicans white 

Candida Avhite 

canescena hoary 

cannabina hemp-like 

capilare hair  like 

capitata. . .  .flowering  in  heads 

capreolata tendriled 

capi'ina goat-like 

cardiochlsBna  . . .  heart-formed 

carinata keeled 

carnea flesh  colored 

carnosa fleshy 

caryophylla clove  scented 

caiyophyllacea .  carnation-like 

casta chaste 

cathartica purgative 

catopteron .  downward  winged 

caudata tailed 

caudescens stemmed 

cauliflorus stem  flowei'ing 

cava hollow 

celatocaulon,  concealed  stem- 
med. 

centeteria many  spined 

cerasoides cherry-like 

cerefolia chervil  leaved 

cereola waxy  fruited 

cerifera wax  bearing 

cernua drooping 

cervina  stag  horned 

chlorantha. .  .greenish  yellow 
chloronema. .  .green  threaded 
chlorophora. .....   green  dye 

chlorophylla green  leaved 

chromatella yellow 

chrysantha  .  .golden  flowered 
chrysoleuca.  .yellowish  white 
chrysophylla. .  .golden  leaved 
chrysostachys.  .golden  spiked 
chrysostoma. golden  mouthed 
chrysotricha. ..  golden  haired 

ciliaris hair  fringed 

ciliolata fringed  leaved 

cincinnata curled 

cincta girdled 

ciherea ashy  gray 

cinnabarina vermilion 

cirrhosa tendriled 

citrina  lemon  colored 

citrosma lemon  scented 

clavata  club-shaped 

claviculata tendriled 

clypeata buckler-shaped 

coartata. . . .  crowded  together 

coccinea red 

cochlearis spoon-shaped 

cochleata shell-shaped 

codonodes bell  bearing 

eoelestis sky  blue 

coelosperma  . . .  .hollow  seeded 

coei'ulea blue 

collina growing  on  hills 

colorata colored 

colpodes...    .  deeply  hollowed 

comans hairy 

communis common 

commutata changed 

eomosa tufted,  hairy 

complexa embracing 


complicata  . .  folded  together 

compta    decked 

conchifiora shell  flowered 

concinna.    neat 

concolor one-colored 

conferta cluster  flowered 

eongesta crowded 

conjugata mixed 

connata joined  at  the  base 

consobrina related 

contorta twisted 

contrayerba vermifuge 

convoluta rolled  together 

corallina coral  flowered 

cordata heart-shaped 

cordifolia heart  leaved 

cordigera heart  bearing 

coriacea leathery 

cornea horny 

cornigera horn  bearing 

cornuta horned 

coronata crowned 

corticicola epiphytal 

coruscans  .    glittering 

corymbiflora.  cluster  flowered 
corymbosa. . .  cluster  flowered 

corynodes helmet  flowered 

costata ribbed 

crassicaulis  . . .  thick  stemmed 

crassipes thick  stalked 

crenulata scolloped 

crinita hairy 

crispa  ......  crispy  or  curled 

cristata crested 

crocata saffron  colored 

crocea . .  .saffron  colored 

cruciata.      cross-shaped 

cruenta bloody 

cryptocarpa hidden  fruited 

cucullata hooded 

cultrata knife-shaped 

cultriformia knife-shaped 

cuneiformis  ....  wedge-shaped 

cupreata coppery 

curta shortened 

cuspidata. . .  .abruptly  pointed 

cyanea blue 

cyanococca. . . blue  fruited 

cyanophylla blue  leaved 

cyatheaformis  ....  cup  shaped 

cymbiformis boat-shaped 

cymosa . , . .  flowering  in  cymes 

D 

dsedalea adorned 

daphnites ,  glistening 

dasycarpa thick  fruited 

dasyphylla thick  leaved 

dealbata whitened 

debile weak 

deca,  in  words  of  Greek  deriva- 
tion, ten ;  as,  decandrous, 
with  ten  stamens;  decapet- 
ala,  etc. 

decipiens deceiving 

declinata..  turned  to  one  side 

decora comely 

decumana huge 

decurrens,  prolonged  below 
the  insertion,  as  in  the 
leaves  of  the  thistle. 

decussata cross  leaved 

deflexa.    .    .  turned  downward 

delecta select 

deltoidea  . .  triangular-shaped 
demissa low 


506 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


dendroidea tree-like 

dentata  toothed 

deuticulata finely  toothed 

dependens hanging 

depressa. .  .pressed  downward 
di,  in  Greek  compounds,  two ; 

as,  didyma,  twin,  etc. ;  diga- 

mous,  having  flowers  of  two 

sexes,  etc. 

diaphana transpai'ent 

dicarpa two-fruited 

dichora two-colored 

dichotoma forked 

diformis two-formed 

diffusa spreading 

digitata finger  leaved 

dilitata ...  swollen 

dimidiata halved 

dimorpha two-formed 

dioica,  bearing  female  flowers 

on  one  plant  and  male  on 

another. 

diphylla twin  leaved 

diptacantha  .    .  .double  spined 

diptera. two-winged 

discoidea disk-like 

discolor two-colored 

dissecta finely  divided 

dissitiflora . . .  distant  flowered 

disticha two-ranked 

diurna day  flowering 

divaricata,     obtusely     spread 

asunder 

divergens leaning 

diversiflora.  .variable  flowered 

dolabriformis axe-shaped 

dolichocentra  . . .  long-spurred 

dolosa deceiving 

drupacea. . .   like  a  stone  fruit 

dubia doubtful 

dulcis sweet 

dumosa low 

dura hard 

duriuscula slightly  hard 

E 

E,  or  ex,   as   a  prefix,  means 
destitute  of ;    as,    ecostata, 
ribless ;  exalbuminous,  with- 
out albumen,  etc. 
ebracteata.  .destitute  of  bracts 

eburnea ivory-like 

echinata prickly 

edentata toothless 

edulis edible 

effusa.  .very  loosely  spreading 

egregia distinguished 

elata   tall 

elegans beautiful 

emarginata  . . .  notched  leaved 

eminens showy 

ennea,  nine  ;  as  in 

enneandrea nine  stamens 

enueaphylla nine-leaved 

ensata sword-shaped 

epherma transient 

epi,    in     Greek     compounds, 
upon ;  as,  epicarp,  the  outer- 
most layer  of  a  pericarp,  etc. 
epigaea,  growing  on  or  close  to 

tlie  ground, 
epiphylla. growing  upon  a  leaf 
equilateral. having  equal  sides 

eriantha woolly  flowered 

ericordes. heath-like 

erinacea prickly 


erioearpon hairy  fruited 

eriostemon . .  woolly  stamened 

erosa bitten 

erubescens blushing 

erythrocheeta red  bristled 

erythropa red  stemmed 

erythropheea bright  red 

esculenta. ...    edible 

etiolata blanched 

euchila beautiful  lipped 

ev^ecta extended 

exaltata  lofty 

excelsa tall 

excisa bluntly  cut 

exculta adorned 

eximia  .....(choice)  excellent 

exorhiza rooting  outward 

exotica foreign 

exsculpta cut  out 

exserta,  protruding  beyond,  as 

the    stamens    out     of    the 

corolla, 
exsurgcns rising 

F 

falcata sickle-shaped 

falciformis sickle-shaped 

falcinella finely  hooked 

fallax deceptive 

farinacea mealy 

fasciata banded 

fciscicularis in  bundles 

f astigiata ...    .  peaked 

fastuosa prickly  stalked 

felosma heavy  smelling 

fenestralis window  leaved 

ferox fierce,   spiny 

ferruginea rusty 

filamentosa thready 

filifera thread  bearing 

filipendula,    hanging   from    a 

thread. 

filipes thready 

fiiubriata fringed 

firma solid 

fissa divided 

fistulosa pipe  stalked 

flabelliformis fan-shaped 

flaccida weak 

flagifera rod-shaped 

flammea fiery 

fiava golden 

flavescens yellowish 

flexa bending 

floralenta slow  flowering 

floribunda many  flowered 

florida flowery 

fluviatilis,  belonging  to  flowing 

water. 

foeniculacea fennel  leaved 

foetida stinking 

foliolosa slightly  leaved 

foliosa leafy 

forraosa.  ^ beautiful 

fossulata grooved 

fragrans fragrant 

f  rondosa leafy 

frutescens shrubb}' 

fruticosa shrubby 

fulgens brilliant 

fulva tawny 

f  unesta deadly 

funifera rope  bearing 

f  urcata forked 

furens      maddening 

f urfuracea scaly,  mealy 


fusca brown 

fuscescens dark  brownish 

fusiformis spindle-shaped 

G 

galeata helmeted 

geminiflora twin  flowered 

gemmata twin 

gemmipara bud  bearing 

gibberosa warted 

gibbosa protuberant 

gigas giant 

glabella smoothish 

gladiata sword  shaped 

glandulosa  ....  bearing  glands 
glauea. .  milky  white,  glaucous 

glaucina    .  bluish  gray 

glaber smooth 

glabrata glabrous 

glacialis icy 

gladiata sword-shaped 

glastifolia wood  leaved 

glaucescens bluish  gray 

glaucophylla gray  leaved 

globosa ....  round  or  spherical 

glomerata clustered 

glumacea,  grass-like  -  llowei'ed 

glutinosa adhesive 

glycyphyllos  ....  sweet  leaved 

gracillima most  graceful 

gracilis slender 

Greeca Greek 

graminea grassy 

grandiceps large  crested 

grandis splendid 

grata pleasing 

graveolens strong  smelling 

guttata spotted 

gymnandra. . .  .  naked  anthered 

gymnocarpa naked  fruited 

gyrosa,   turned  round  like    a 
crook. 

H 

hfematocephala. . .  .red  headed 

htematodes bloody 

hamata hooked 

harpeodes scimeter-like 

hastata halbert-shaped 

liebegyna blunt  styled 

hecistophylla,  smallest  leaved 

hepta,     the    Greek    numeral 

seven,  used  as  a  prefix ;  as, 

heptandra,  seven-stamened, 

etc. 

herbacea,   of    a    soft    texture 

like  an  herb, 
heteracantha. .  .various  spined 
hetero,  in  Greek  derivatives, 
unlike ;     as,     heterocarpus, 
bearing  two  kinds  of  fruit, 
etc. 
hcterophylla. .  .various  leaved 
heteroptera.  .  .various  winged 
hexa,    in    Greek    derivatives, 
six ;    as,    hexandra,    having 
six  stamens,  etc. 

hexagona six-sided 

hians gaping 

hippocrepiformis,     horseshoe- 
shaped. 

hircina    goat  scented 

hlrsuta very  hairy 

hirta hairy 

hirtipes hairy  stalked 


AND   GENERAL   HOETICULTURE. 


507 


hispida  ...    bristly 

histionantha sail  flowered 

holosericea all  silky 

hortensis garden 

humifusa prostrate 

humilis dwarf 

hybrida,  a  cross  breed  be- 
tween individuals  of  two 
species. 

hyemalis winter 

hygrophylla  . .  moisture  loving 
hypo,  in  Greek  derivatives,  un- 
der,  as   hypoglottis,   under 
tongued. 
hypocrateriformis,  salver- 
shaped, 
hypogsea,    flowers     or    fruits 
borne  under  ground. 

hypophylla under  leaved 

hystrix bristly 

I 

ianthina violet 

ignea fiery 

illustris bright 

imbricata imbricated 

immarginata  . . .  not  margined 
immersa,  growing  wholly  un- 
der water. 

implexa.    ..... interwoven 

insequalis unequal 

incana hoary 

incarnata flesh  colored 

incisa cut 

inclaudens never  closing 

incurva bent  inward 

inermis unarmed 

rners idle 

inflata swollen 

inflexa  .  .abruptly  bent  inward 

infracta broken 

infundibuliformis,     funnel- 
shaped, 
innata  . . .    .borne  on  the  apex 

inops meagre 

inquinans. . .  .stained  flowered 

insignis remarkable 

integrifolia entire  leaved 

introrsa facing  inward 

invisum unseen 

involucrata,  covered  with  an 
involucre. 

involuta rolled  inward 

ionoptera violet  winged 

irrorata bedewed 

isochroma one  colored 

isophylla equal  leaved 

J 

Japonica from  Japan 

jubata bearded 

juglandifolia  . .  .walnut  leaved 
juncea  .  .• rush-like 

L 

labiata two  lipped 

labrosa large  lipped 

laehnoides woolly 

lachnopoda downy  footed 

laciniata    cut  leaved 

lactiflora milk  flowered 

lacunosa pitted 

lacustris lake  loving 

laevigata  . . .  .smooth  stemmed 


leevis smooth 

lagenaria bottle-shaped 

lanata woolly 

lanceolata lance  leaved 

lanigera woolly 

lanipes woolly  stalked 

lanuginosa ....  slightly  woolly 

lasiandra woolly  stamened 

lasiantha hairy  anthered 

lasioglossa hairy  lipped 

lateritia brick  colored 

latifolia broad  leaved 

laxa    loose  flowered 

leguminosa, bearing  a  fruit  like 

a  peapod. 

leiantha    smooth  flowered 

leiorhiza  .......  white  rooted 

lenta pliant 

lentiginosa dusty  dotted 

lepida neat,  charming 

lepidota scaly 

leptocladis.  .Blender  branched 
leptoneura  ....  slender  nerved 
Jeptophylla  . . .  .slender  leaved 
leptosepala  . . .  narrow  sepaled 
leptostachya  . .  slender  spiked 

leucocarpa wiiile  fruited 

leuGocephala. . .  .white  headed 

leucocheila white  lipped 

leuconeura white  veined 

leucophsea dusky  white 

leucophthalma  . . .  .white  eyed 

leucophylla white  leaved 

leucorhoda white  and  rose 

leucoxyla white  wooded 

lignosa woody 

ligularis strap  shaped 

ligustrina privet-like 

liliacea .• lily-like 

limbata,  having  a  colored  or 

dilated  surface, 
linearis,  having  the  two  sides 

parallel. 

lineata lined 

lingualata tongue  shaped 

linifera  thread  bearing 

linophylla flax  leaved 

lito  rails,  .growing  on  the  shore 

litum daubed 

lobularis small  lobed 

lonchitis spar  like 

longaeva long  lived 

longicolla long  necked 

longicuspis long  pointed 

longipes long  stalked 

longipila long  haired 

lophantha..  .  crest  flowered 
lorata.  .strap  or  thong-shaped 

lorif olia strap  leaved 

lucida shining 

ludibunda sportive 

lunata half-moon-like 

lupulina hop  headed 

lurida dingy  brown 

lutea : . . . .  yellow 

lutescens yellowish 

luxata discolor 

lyi-ata lyre-shaped 

M 

macradenia large  glanded 

macrandra ....  large   anthered 

macrantha large  flowered 

macrocarpa large  fruited 

macrochila large  lipped 

macrophylla large  leaved 


macroplectron  ..long  spurred 

niacropoda large  footed 

macropus long  stalked 

macrorhiza large  rooted 

macrospeila ....  broad  stained 
macrostachya. . .  .large  spiked 

macrura long  tailed 

raaculata spotted 

major  (majus) greatest 

nialacophylla soft  leaved 

maleolens. ..  .strong  smelling 

mamosa nippled 

manicata,    gloved ;      covered 

with  a  woolly  coat,  which 

may  be  stripped  off  whole. 

margaritacea pearly 

marginata bordered 

marina sea 

marmorata marbled 

marmorea spotted 

mascula male 

media intermediate 

megaceras great  horned 

megaphylla. . large  leaved 

megapotamica big  river 

megasperma large  seeded 

melaleuca black  and  white 

melanocaulon  . . .  black  leaved 
melanococca. .    .  .black  seeded 

melanopus black  stalked 

melanoxylon  .  .black  stemmed 

meliosa honey  scented 

mellifera honey  bearing 

membranacea,  thin  and    soft 

like  a  membrane. 

micans glittering 

micranthera small  spined 

micromeris. ..  .small  flowered 

microphylla small  leaved 

microptera small  winged 

microscypha. . . .  small  capped 

minax  projecting, 

miniata vermilion 

minor least 

mirabilis wonderful 

miriantha many  flowered 

miriophylla many  leaved 

mitis small 

mitriformis mitre-shaped 

molinifera headed 

mollis    soft 

mollissima very  soft 

monanthema  ....  one-flowered 
moniliformis,    formed    like    a 

necklace. 

monoceras one-horned 

monophylla one-leaved 

monoptera single  winged 

monostachya one-spiked 

montana     . .  .mountain  loving 

mucronata sharp  pointed 

multi,    in   Latin    derivatives, 

many  ;  as,  multiceps,    many 

branched,  etc. 
multicaulis. . .  .many  stemmed 

multifida many  cleft 

mundula    neat 

munita armed 

muralis growing  on  walls 

muricata,   rough,   with    short 

and  hard  points. 

musaica mosaic-like 

muscipula fly  catcher 

muscosa mossy-like 

mutabilis changeable 

myriostigma many  dotted 


508 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


nana dwarf 

napiformis turnip-shaped 

nasuta large  nosed 

natans floating 

navicularis boat-shaped 

nebulosa clouded 

nemoralis wood 

nervosa nerved 

nidus nest-shaped 

niger black 

nigrescens black 

nitida shining 

nivea snow  white 

nivealis    snowy 

noctiflora night  flowering 

nodosa knotted 

Novee  Angliee,  of  New  England 
Noveboracensis  . . .  .New  York 

nucifera nut  bearing 

nuda iiaKed 

nudicaulis naked  stemmed 

nutans nodding 

o 

ob  is  used  in  the  composition 
of  Latin  technical  terms  to 
indicate  that  a  thing  is  in- 
verted ;  as,  obovate,  in- 
versely ovate ;  obcordate, 
inversely  cordate,  etc. 
obliqua,  referring  to  shape, 
unequal  sided. 

oblonga oblong  leaved 

obryzata refined 

obtusata Wuntish 

occidentalis western 

ocellata eye  spotted 

ochracea ochre  colored 

ochrantha.  .yellowish flowered 
ochreata,  furnished  with  tubu- 
lar stipules  (ochrea). 

ochroleuca yellowish  white 

octa,  eight,  in  such  words  as 
octagynia,  having  eight  pis- 
tils ;  octamerous,  the  parts 
in  eight,  etc. 

octhodes tubercled 

oculata ■ eyed 

odora sweet  scented 

odoratissima,  very  sweet 

scented, 
officinalis    (belonging    to    the 
shop);    applied    to    plants, 
etc.,  used  in  medicine  or  the 
arts. 

oleifera oil  bearing 

olens stinking 

oleracea esculent  (eatable) 

oligantha few  flowered 

oligophylla few  leaved 

olivaris olive  green 

onusta loaded 

operculata.  covered  with  a  lid 
oppositifolia. .  opposite  leaved 
orbiculata ..  circular  in  outline 
oreophylla... mountain  loving 

orientalis eastern 

ornata beautiful 

ornithopoda bird's  foot 

ornithoryncha bird  billed 

ovata egg-shaped 

ovulata,     ovulifera;      bearing 
seeds  or  bodies  destined  to 
become  plants, 
oxycarpa sharp  fruited 


oxygona sharp  angled 

oxypetala sharp  petaled 

oxyphylla sharp  leaved 

P 

pachyphylla thick-leaved 

padifolia cherry  leaved 

paleacea chaffy  or  scaly 

pallida pale 

palmata,  divided  so  as  to  re- 
semble a  hand. 

paludosa marsh  loving 

palustris marsh 

pandurata fiddle-shaped 

panduriformis. .  .fiddle-shaped 

papilionacea butterfly-like 

papillaris conical 

papulosa,  bearing  small,  round 
projections. 

papyracea paper  white 

parasitica,  living  on  the  juices 
of  other  plants. 

pardalina leopard  marked 

parvifolia        small  leaved 

parvula little 

parvum small 

patens spreading 

patula slightly  spreading 

pauciflora few-flowered 

pavonia peacock-like 

pectinata comb  leaved 

pedatitida,  cut  into  lobes,  the 
lateral  ones  of  which  do  not 
radiate  from  the  petiole  like 
the  rest. 

pedicellata slightly  stalked 

pedunculata stemmed 

peliorhynchus  .  pigeon  beaked 
pellucida.  .bright,  transparent 

peltata shield-like 

pelvif ormis . .  open  cup-shaped 

pendula drooping 

pennata feather-like 

pennicillata . . .  hair  pencil-like 

pennigera winged 

penninervis feather  nerved 

penta,  in  Greek  derivatives 
five  ;  as  pentadactylon,  five- 
fingered. 

pentagyna five-carpelled 

pentaphylla five-leaved 

percussa sharp  pointed 

peregrina foreign 

perfoliata,  when  the  stem 
appears  to  pass  through  the 
leaf, 
perforata. .  pierced  with  holes 
perigyna.  .  .borne  on  the  calyx 
pertusa. .  having  slits  or  holes 
petiolata. . .  having  foot  stalks 

petrroa growing  on  rocks 

pheea duslcy 

phcenicea.' purple 

phylla,  a  leaf,  used  in  conjunc- 
tion with  numerals  ;  as  di- 
phylla,  two-leaved ;  tetra- 
phylla,  four-leaved. 

Picta painted 

pileata,  having  a  cap  or  lid 
like  the  cap  of  a  mushroom. 

pilifera bearing  hairs 

Pilosa hairy 

pilosiuscula slightly  hairy 

pinifolia pine-leaved 


pinnata,  a  compound  leaf  with 
leaflets  arranged  along  the 
sides  of  a  common  petiole. 

pinnatifid pinnately  cleft 

piperita pepper-like 

pisiformis pea-shaped 

planicaulis flat  stemmed 

platantha broad  flowered 

platycarpa broad  fruited 

platyclada flat  branched 

platyglossa broad  tongued 

platyphylla broad  leaved 

platyptera broad  winged 

pleiochroma many  colored 

Plicata plaited 

plumbea lead-colored 

plumosa feathery 

poculiformis cup-shaped 

podophylla..foot  stalk  leaved 
poly,  in  Greek  compounds  nu- 
merous ;       as,      polyantha, 
many  flowered,  etc. 

polyacantha many  spined 

polycarpa many  fruited 

polycephala many  headed 

polydactyla many  fingered 

polyuria lily-like 

polylopha many  ciested 

polymorpha many  formed 

polyphylla many  leaved 

polyrhizon many  rooted 

polystachya many  spiked 

pomeridiana afternoon 

pomifera,    apple,    pear,     etc., 

bearing, 
porporophylla. .  .purple  leaved 

porrigens extending 

potomophylla. .  .swamp  loving 

prrecox early 

praastans excelling 

preetexa bordered 

prasina grass  green 

princeps magnificent,  chief 

prionophylla saw  leaved 

procera tall 

procumbens trailing 

prolifera bulb  bearing 

propendens,  hanging  forward 
and  downward. 

propinqua allied 

pruinosa frosty 

psittacina parrot-like 

pterocephala wing  headed 

pteroneura wing  nerved 

pubens downy 

pubeseens downy 

pubifolia downy  leaved 

pudibunda modest 

pudica chaste 

pugionif ormis.  .dagger- shaped 

pulchella pretty 

pulcher showy 

pulla russet 

pulverulenta powdery 

pulvinaris cushioned 

pumila    dwarf 

punctata spotted 

punctilobula dotted  lobed 

pungens stinging 

punicea reddish  brown 

piisilla small 

pustulata blistered 

putens • foetid 

pycnacantha. .  .densely  spined 

pygmffia dwarf 

pyrophylla fiery  leaved 


AND  GENEKAL  HORTICULTUKE. 


509 


Q 

quadrangulata . . . .  four-angled 
quadri,  in  Latin   compounds, 

lour;   as,  quadrifida,  four- 

cieft,  etc. 

quadrifida  four-cleft 

quaternata,      succeeding      by 

fours. 

quercifolia oak  leaved 

quinata,in  fives;  in  compounds, 

quinque ;    as,    quinquefolia, 

five-leaved,  etc. 

racemosa . .  clustered 

radiata,  spreading  from  a  com- 
mon centre. 

radicans rooting 

ramentacea scaly 

ramifiora branch  flowered 

ramosa branched 

reclinata. .  .turning  downward 

recta erect 

recurvata. ...    .bent  backward 

reflexa oent  backward 

ref racta bent  back 

reniforme kidney-shaped 

repanda wavy  leaved 

repens creeping 

replicala  folded  back 

reptans creeping 

reticulata netted 

re trosa. ..  .directed  backward 
retusa. . .  .notched  at  the  apex 

revoluta  rolled  back 

rhizanthera root  flowered 

rhizophora rooting 

rhizophylla frond  bearing 

rhizophyta  creeping 

rhodantlia rose  flowered 

rhodocineta red  bordered 

rhomboidea  .  .like  a  rhombus 

rigens stiff 

rigida stiff 

ringens gaping 

riparia river  bank 

rivalis brook  loving 

rosacea rosy 

rostrata beaked 

I'otata wheel-shaped 

rotundifolia round  leaved 

rubella    reddish 

rubescens red 

rubiginosa rusty 

rubioides madder-like 

rubra red 

rubrovenosa red  veined 

rufa brownish  red 

rufescens rusty  colored 

ruflnervis red  veined 

rugiloba. ....  .wrinkled,  lobed 

rugosa wrinkled 

runcinata,   saw  -  toothed,    the 

teeth  turned  backwards, 
rupestris . . .  growing  on  rocks 

rupicola .rock  loving 

ruthenica Russian 

rutilans reddish 

s 

saccata  .' bagged 

saccif  era bag  bearing 

sagittata  . .  arrow-head  shaped 

salicifolia willow  leaved 

Baligna     willow-like 


saltatoria .dancing 

samhucifolia elder  leaved 

sancta sacred 

sanguinea bloody 

sapida savory 

sarcodes flesh-like 

sarmentosa,    producing     run- 
ners 

sativa cultivated 

saxatilis growing  on  rocks 

scabra rough 

scabrida rough 

scandens climbing 

scariosa tough  and  dry 

sceptra    princely 

schidigera spine  bearing 

schizantha. ..... .cut  flowered 

schizodon cut  toothed 

schizopetala cut  petaled 

scintillans glistening 

sclerocarpa hard  fruited 

sclerophylla hard  leaved 

scuta shielded 

scutellata salver-like 

secunda side  flowering 

segeta  cornfleld 

segregata kept  separate 

semi,  in  Latin  compounds, 
means  half,  as  semi-amplexi- 
caulis,  half  stem  clasping; 
semi  -  cordata,  half  heart- 
shape  (divided  lengthwise) 
semperfloreus.  .ever  flowering 

sempervirens evergreen 

senilis aged  looking 

sepia hedge 

septemloba seven  lobed 

sepulta enclosed 

sericea silky 

serotina,  flowering  or  fruiting 
late 

serratifolia saw-toothed 

sessilis stalkless 

setacea bristly 

setigera,  covered  with  bristles 

setulosa bristly 

sex,  six,  as  sexangulare,  six- 
angled,  etc. 

signata distinct 

simplex simple 

simplicicaulis,  slightly 
branched. 

sinuata wavy 

smaragdina. ..  .emerald  green 
sobolifera,    producing    young 
plants  from  the  root. 

somnifera sleep  causing 

sororia sisterly 

sparsa scattered 

spathulata spatula-shaped 

speciosa showy 

spectabilis showy 

speluncae cavern 

sphacelata,  scorched  or  with- 
ered, 
sphserocephala.  .round  headed 
spicata  ..... .borne  on  a  spike 

spicigera ear  bearing 

spiloptera spotted  winged 

spinifex thorny 

spinosa spiny 

spiralis spiral 

spuria counterfeit 

squamosa scaly 

squarrosa,  when  scales,  small 
leavesor  other  bodies  spread 
rigidly  at  right  angles. 


staurophylla cross  leaved 

stellata star-like 

stenopetala  .  .narrow  petaled 
stenophylla. .  .  .narrow  leaved 
stenoptera  . . .  .narrow  winged 

sterilis bai  ren 

stigmatica dotted 

Btigraosa branded 

stipitata short  stalked 

stolonifera,  producing  creep- 
ing roots  and  shoots. 

straminea straw  colored 

striata sti  iped 

slricta  upright 

strigosa,  bearing  little,  rigid, 

unequal  hairs, 
strobilacea. ..... .cone  fruited 

strumosa,  swollen  on  one  side 

only, 
suaveolens  . . .  .sweet  smielling 

sub,  as  a  prefix,  means  some- 
what or  slightly;  as  sub- 
cordate,  slightly  heart 
shaped,  etc. 

suberosa cork  barked 

subhirtella  .    .somewhat  liairy 

subulata    awl-shaped 

succedanea,    coming     in    the 

place  of  another, 
succisa,  as  if  cut  off  at  the 

end. 
suffruticosa,  low  and  shrubby, 
or  shrubby  at  the  base. 

sulcata grooved 

surculosa  ....    ......  suckered 

suspensa hanging  down 

sylvatica from  the  woods 

T 

t«eniosa banded  leaved 

tanacetifolia tansy  leaved 

tardiflora late  fiowering 

taxifolia yew  leaved 

tecta concealed 

teetora roof  loving 

tenacissima ,very  tough 

tenax ...  tough 

tenella small 

tenuifolia  slender  leaved 

tergeminata  thrice  twin 

terminalis,  belonging  or  re- 
lating to  the  summit. 

ternata growing  in  threes 

tesselata,  variegated  by 

squares, 
testacea,  of  a  pale  brown  color 
tetra,   in    Greek    compounds, 
four ;  as,  tetrastichous,  with 
four  vertical  ranks,  etc. 

tetracantha four-spiked 

tetracopis four-bladed 

tetragona   tour-angled 

teti-andra four-anthered 

tetraspis four-horned 

thalamifiora,  with  the  sta- 
mens, etc.,  inserted  in  the 
receptacle. 

theifera tea  bearing 

thurifera incense  bearing 

thyrsiflora  . .  .panicle  flowered 

tibicinis cowhorn-like 

tigrina tiger  spotted 

tinctoria. . . . .  .colored  (dyer's) 

tomentosa,  densely  and  closely 

hairy, 
torta twisted 


510 


HENDEKSON'S   HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


torulosa slightly  twisted 

toxica very  poisonous 

tri,  in  compound  words,  three  ; 
as,  triangulata,  three-an- 
gled, etc. 

triacauthos three-spined 

trichodes ...  hair-like 

trichosantha.  .  .hairy  flowered 
trichotoma,  branches  divided 
in  threes. 

tricolor three-colored 

tricuspidata three-spined 

tridactyla three-fingered 

trifasciata three-banded 

trifida divided  in  three 

triflora three-flowered 

triglochin three-hooked 

triphylla three-leaved 

tripteron three-winged 

triquetrum three-sided 

tristis sad 

truncata. . .  .blunt,  as  if  cut  off 

tuberculata warted 

tuberosa, . .  .producing  tubers 

tubifera  .    tube  bearing 

tubulosa tubular 

tunicata coated 

turbinata top-shaped 

turgida swollen,  puffed  up 

TJ 

uliginosa swamp  loving 

umbellata.  flowering  in  umbels 
umbraculifera,  umbrella  bear- 
ing, 
umbilicata,   depressed  in  the 
centre,  like  the  navel. 


umbonata,  having  a  top  in  the 
centre  like  that  of  the  an- 
cient shield. 

umbrosa ...  shade  loving 

uncinata hooked 

undulata waved 

unguiculata  . . .  .bearing  claws 
uni,  in  Latin  compounds  one  ; 
as,    unifoliata,    one-leaved, 
etc. 

uniflora one-flowered 

unilateralis one-sided 

unita joined 

urceolata piicher-shaped 

urophylla caudate  leaved 

urostachj'a tall  spiked 

ustulosa scorched 

utilis useful 

utriculata bladdery 

Y 

vaginata sheathed 

valida strong 

varia variable 

varicosa,    swollen    here    and 

there. 

variolosa. variegated 

velutina,  velvety,  covered  with 

very  fine    and    close,    soft, 

velvety  hairs. 

venenata poisonous 

venosa  veined 

ventricosa inflated 

venusta charming 

vera true 

verccunda modest 

vernalis spring 

vernicosa wax  bearing 

verrucosa warty 


versicaria bladdery 

versicolor. . .  .various  colored 

verticillata whorl  leaved 

vesca edible 

vesiculata,  as  if  composed  of 
small  bladders. 

vespertiiionis bat-like 

vespertina.  .evening  flowering 

vestita clothed 

vexillaria.  .having  a  standard 
villosa,    long,     shaggy,    with 

long,  loose  hair, 
viminacea,  bearing  long,  flex- 
ible twigs. 

viminalis twiggy 

virens vigorous 

virgata twiggy 

virginalis pure 

viridis green 

viscosa clammy 

viticulosa,  producing  small 
suckers  or  stolons. 

vitifolia vine  leaved 

vittata striped 

vivipara,  bearing  young  plants 
in  the  place  of  flowers  and 
seeds. 

volubilis twining 

voluta rolled  leaved 

vulgaris common 

X 

xanthina yellow 

xanthocoma. ..  .yellow  haired 
xantholeuca.  .yellowish  wliite 
xylocarpa wood  fruited 

z 

Zelanica from  Ceylon 


PMCTICAL  HINTS  TO  AMATEURS 

AS  TO 

SEASONABLE  WORK 

IN   THE 

Green-house,  flower,  fruit  and  vegetable  (jArden. 


THROUGHOUT  this  work  we  have  been  particular  in  stating  the  season  at  which 
the  different  gardening  operations  should  be  performed,  still  it  may  be  of 
service  to  many  to  suggest,  briefly,  in  calendar  form,  the  work  that  may  be  per- 
forined  during  each  month  of  the  year.  The  dates  given  are  mostly  for  the  Eastern 
and  Middle  States.  The  reader  must  vary  operations,  earlier  if  in  the  South,  later  if 
in  the  North. 


JA^N^UARY. 


Gkeen-house  and  Window  Plants.  —  As 
this  is  usually  the  coldest  month  of  the  year, 
and  also  that  in  which  we  have  tlie  least  sun- 
shine, particular  attention  must  be  paid  to  air- 
ing, watering,  syringing,  etc.  But  little  venti- 
lating need  be  done;  but  when  it  does  become 
necessary  to  do  it,  caution  must  be  used.  Be 
careful  to  raise  the  ventilating  sash  only  so 
high  that  the  heated  air  from  the  green-house 
will  be  able  to  drive  back  the  outer  air  to  such 
an  extent  as  not  to  chill  the  plants.  For  exam- 
ple, occasionally,  after  a  very  cold  night,  where 
severe  firing  has  been  necessary  to  keep  up  the 
required  temperature,  say  to  sixty  degrees,  it 
happens  that  the  sun  comes  out  bright  during 
the  following  day,  so  that  by  noon,  or  before, 
the  temperature  may  be  at  a  hundred  degrees 
inside  the  green-house,  though  outside  it  may 
be  nearly  at  zero.  In  such  case  the  raising  of 
the  sashes  an  inch  or  two  will  rapidly  lower  the 
temperature  of  the  green-house,  so  that  an  hour 
or  so  of  such  ventilating  would  be  all  that  is 
required.  As  little  fresh  air  can  be  given, 
insects  are  to  be  watched  this  month  closely. 
By  the  use  of  fire-heat  a  dry  atmosphere  will  be 
created,  in  which  the  Eed  Spider  luxuriates. 
Nothing  answers  so  well  for  its  destruction  as 
copiously  syringing  the  plants  at  night,  and 
splashing  the  paths  with  water,  as  it  cannot 
exist  to  an  injurious  extent  in  a  moist  atmos- 
phere. The  Aphis,  or  "green  fly,"  must  also 
be  destroyed,  or  it  will  soon  cause  great  injury 
to  the  plants.  (See  Insects.)  The  leaves  of  Win- 
dow Plants  should  be  sponged  often  to  keep  the 
dust  from  filling  up  the  pores  of  the  leaves. 
Tepid  water  should  be  used,  with  a  little  soap 
or  Fir-tree  oil  dissolved  in  it,  and  any  plant, 
small  enough  to  handle,  that  shows  signs  of 
red  spider  or  other  insect  enemy,  if  dipped  in 
water  heated  to  140  degrees,  will  be  instantly 
cleansed  without  having  received  the  least  in- 
jury from  the  bath.  Plants  should  be  occasion- 
ally turned  round  to  prevent  their  growing  one- 
sided. Hyacinths  and  other  bulbs  which  were 
placed  in  boxes  or  pots  last  autumn  may  now  be 
brought  to  the  light,  the  best  rooted  and  most 
forward  will  give  the  earliest  flowers.    They 


should  be  well  supplied  with  water,  and  these, 
as  well  as  all  soft  wooded,  free-growing  plants, 
will  be  benefited  by  an  occasional  watering  with 
liquid  manure.  The  plants  to  bloom  this  month 
are  Primulas,  Cinerarias,  Cyclamens,  Bouvar- 
dias,  Roman  Hyacinths,  Early  Tulips,  Callas, 
Azaleas,  Camellias,  Carnations  and  many  others. 
Such  plants  as  Agaves,  Echeverias  and  other 
succulents  should  be  kept  dry  and  allowed  all 
the  sun  possible. 

FiiOWEK  Garden. — Though  at  this  season  of 
the  year  there  is  but  little  chance  to  do  much 
in  the  flower  garden,  yet  it  is  an  excellent  time 
to  make  any  necessary  improvements  or  altera- 
tions before  the  hurry  of  spring  sets  in.  Such 
work  as  grading  or  draining  may  be  pushed 
forward.  Now  is,  also,  a  good  time  to  remove 
all  stones,  roots,  etc.,  which,  when  practicable, 
may  be  utilized  in  forming  a  rock-garden,  or,  if 
piled  up  picturesquely  in  a  heap  and  covered  in 
the  spring  with  vines,  creepers,  etc.,  form  often 
quite  an  attractive  adjunct  to  a  gardener  lawn 
If  not  already  done,  all  hardy  Vines,  Shrubs, 
Evergreens,  etc.,  will  be  much  benefited  by  a 
liberal  top-dressing  of  well-rotted  manure. 

Fruit  Garden. — Pruning  or  mulching  can  be 
done  if  the  weather  is  such  that  the  workman 
can  stand  out.  No  plant  is  injured  by  being 
pruned  in  cold  weather,  though  the  pruner  may 
be. 

Vegetable  Garden.  —  In  the  Northern 
States  little  can  be  done  in  this  department 
this  month,  except  to  prepare  manure,  bean- 
poles and  pea-sticks,  and  get  sashes,  tools,  etc., 
in  working  order ;  but  in  sections  of  the  coun- 
try where  there  is  but  little  or  no  frost,  the 
hardier  kinds  of  seeds  and  plants  may  be  sown 
and  planted,  such  as  Asparagus,  Cabbage,  Cau- 
liflower, Carrot,  Leek,  Lettuce,  Onion,  Parsnip, 
Peas,  Spinach,  Turnip,  etc.  In  any  section 
where  these  seeds  can  be  sown  in  the  open 
ground,  it  is  an  indication  that  hot-beds  may 
be  begun  for  the  sowing  of  such  tender  vegeta- 
bles as  Tomatoes,  Egg  and  Pepper  Plants,  etc., 
though,  unless  in  the  extreme  Southern  States, 
hot-beds  had  better  not  be  started  before  the 
first  of  February. 


512 


HENDEBSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


FEBRUARY. 


Gbeen-house  and  "Window  Plants. — As  the 
clays  begin  to  lengthen,  indoor  plants  seem  to 
take  a  fresh  start  and  begin  to  grow  and  flower 
vigorously.  Many  of  the  sorts  will  require  re- 
potting; Gesneras,  Gloxinias,  Achimenes,  and 
kindred  tubers,  may  now  be  looked  over,  and  a 
portion  of  them  potted  and  placed  in  a  warm 
corner  to  start  for  early  flowering.  OldFuchsias, 
Geraniums,  Abutilons  are  now  sending  forth 
strong,  young  shoots,  which  may  be  propagated 
as  soon  as  they  are  large  enough  to  handle. 
Annuals  for  early  summer  blooming,  such  as 
Petunias,  Verbenas,  Cobtea  scandens,  Cannas, 
Castor  Oil  Beans,  Centaureas,  etc.,  should  now 
be  sown  In  shallow  pans  or  boxes  and  trans- 
planted as  soon  as  fit  to  handle.  Tuberoses 
for  early  flowering,  and  Dahlia  roots,  if  put  in  a 
gentle  bottom  heat,  will  now  start,  the  former  to 
be  potted  ofif  as  soon  as  the  young  roots  appear, 
and  the  young  shoots  of  the  latter  propagated  in 
the  usual  way.  The  general  directions  as  to  venti- 
lation, cleanliness,  etc.,  for  January  apply  to  this 
month ;  insects  being  rigidly  kept  down,  and 
sufficiency  of  water  with  an  occasional  supply 
of  liquid  manure  being  given  to  such  plants  as 
begin  to  grow  freely. 

Flower  Garden. — But  little  can  be  done 
here,  only  to  follow  the  instructions  given  last 
month.  Prune  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs,  and 
give  the  lawn  and  grass  plots  a  good  top-dressing 
of  well-rotted  manure,  orwhat  is  better,  of  bone- 
meal  ;  there  are  no  weed  seeds  in  the  latter. 


Fkuit  Garden. — In  the  Northern  States, 
little  can  be  done  except  to  prune  any  trees  or 
vines  that  have  not  yet  been  seen  to,  and  to 
clear  the  limbs  of  any  moss,  fungus  or  insects 
that  may  be  harboring  under  the  old  bark.  In 
many  Southern  States  this  will  be  the  best 
month  for  planting  fruit  ti'ees  and  plants  of  all 
kinds,  particularly  Strawberries,  Raspberries, 
Blackberries,  Pear  and  Apple,  while  Grape-vines 
will  do  well  a  month  later. 

Vegetable  Garden.— Leaves  from  the  woods, 
horse-manure,  and  any  litter  that  may  be  col- 
lected, should  be  tui'ned  over  several  times  and 
thoroughly  mixed  together,  so  as  to  get  it  sweet- 
ened preparatory  to  forming  hot-beds  (see  Heat- 
ing by  hot-beds)  on  which  Early  Cabbages,  Let- 
tuce and  Radishes  may  be  sown  as  soon  as 
the  frame  or  hot-bed  is  in  condition.  It  is  now 
the  proper  season  to  force  Asparagus,  Rhubarb, 
Sea-kale,  etc.,  as  they  will  (being  so  out  of  sea- 
son) give  great  satisfaction  to  many  epicures. 
As  Parsley  seed  germinates  but  slowly  some 
should  be  sown  for  early  planting.  Mint  may 
also  be  had  by  putting  a  few  plants  in  the  hot- 
bed. Manure  that  is  to  be  used  for  the  crops 
should  be  turned  and  broken  up  as  fine  as  possi- 
ble ;  for  the  moi-e  completely  manure  of  any  kind 
can  be  mixed  with  the  soil,  the  better  will  be 
the  crop,  and,  of  course,  if  it  is  dug  or  plowed 
in  in  large,  unbroken  lumps,  it  cannot  be  prop- 
erly commingled. 


MARCH. 


Green-house  and  Window  Plants.— As  the 
spring  advances,  and  more  light  and  sunshine 
prevail,  plants  soon  begin  to  show  the  stimulus 
by  vigorous  and  rapid  growth.  It  is  necessary, 
therefore,  to  examine  all  plants  that  are  grow- 
ing vigorously,  and,  when  deemed  necessary, 
shift  into  larger-sized  pots.  (See  Potting.)  The 
propagation  of  plants  such  as  Alternantheras, 
Coleus,  Achyranthes,  etc.,  to  supply  the  flower 
garden  may  also  be  continued  with  vigor,  and 
those  propagated  last  month  should  be  growing 
luxuriantly,  and  be  shifted  into  larger  pots  as 
required.  They  must  not  be  allowed  to  suffer 
for  water  or  moisture,  and  will  always  show  the 
benefit  of  being  well  syringed  or  watered  over- 
head. On  fine  days  air  must  be  admitted  freely 
to  all  plants,  carefully  avoiding  cold  draughts. 
Insects  of  all  sorts  must,  of  course,  be  kept 
down,  and  copious  waterings  of  manure-water 
will  be  advantageous  to  all  plants  likely  to  get 
pot-bound.  House  plants  should  be  kept  as 
near  the  glass  as  convenient,  and  should  be 
turned  round  frequently  to  prevent  them  from 
becoming  one-sided.  All  climbers,  such  as 
Bignonias,  Cissus,  Passion-flowers,  etc.,  planted 
in  tubs  or  in  the  borders  of  the  green-house  or 
conservatory,  should  have  a  liberal  top-dressing 
of  rich  compost ;  all  the  old  top  soil  possible 
removed  before  it  is  applied.  Flower  seeds 
sown  last  month  will  be  large  enough  to  prick 
into  shallow  boxes  of  good  soil  as  opportunity 
may  offer,  and  may  be  kept  there  until  ready  to 
plant  in  the  open  border.  Cannas  may  now  be 
divided  and  potted,  also  Colocasias  and  other 
ornamental  Arads  ;  Lemon  Verbenas,  Hibiscus, 
Hydrangeas,  and  other  plants  that  have  been 


kept  dormant  all  winter,  top-dressed  or  re- 
potted, and  started  to  grow  for  summer  use. 

Flower  Garden. — All  planting  and  pruning 
of  vines,  shrubs  or  trees  must  be  flnis.hed  as 
soon  as  possible  this  month,  and  vines  and 
climbers  that  require  it  tied  up.  Any  removal 
of  shrubs  to  prevent  overcrowding,  or  trim- 
ming in  overgrown  specimens,  must  be  attended 
to  without  delay ;  single  specimens  are  always 
admirable  objects.  The  herbaceous  border  may 
be  re-arranged,  the  rock-garden  overhauled,  and 
walks  and  roads  attended  to,  with  new  gravel, 
etc.,  whenever  the  weather  will  admit,  and 
thoroughly  rolled.  The  bulb  beds  should  be 
gradually  uncovered,  lawns  raked  off  and  top- 
dressed  (if  not  done  before)  with  rich,  well- 
rotted  manure,  bone-meal,  or  similar  fertilizer; 
new  lawns  may  also  be  sown  if  soil  is  dry  enough, 
and  flower-beds  dug  up,  to  have  them  in  good 
order  for  the  spring  planting,  and  all  improve- 
ments, such  as  grading,  draining,  sodding,  etc., 
finished  up  as  soon  as  possible, 

Frtjit  Garden. — Planting  may  now  be  done 
safely  in  light,  dry  soils  in  many  sections,  still 
it  is  not  advisable  to  plant  before  the  ground  is 
dry.  It  is  bad  to  do  so  even  in  light  soils,  but 
it  is  uttf-r  destruction  in  stiff  and  clayey  ones. 
Great  care  should  also  be  exercised  that  the 
roots  are  not  frozen  when  exposed,  for  although 
a  tree  or  plant  will  receive  no  injury  ichen  its 
roots  are  in  the  soil,  should  a  frost  come  after 
planting,  yet  the  same  amount  of  freezing  would 
greatly  injure  the  plant  if  the  roots  were  uncov- 
ered and  exposed.  Thousands  of  trees  and 
plants  fail  every  year  from  this  cause.  They 
are   exposed  for  sale  in  our  markets  with  no 


AND   GENEEAL   HOETICULTUEE. 


513 


protection  to  the  roots ;  even  the  experienced 
purchaser  rarely  has  sufficient  knowledge  to  be 
certain  whether  the  roots  of  a  tree  have  been 
injured  by  being  frozen  or  dried  up  by  the  cold 
winds  of  March. 

Vegetable  Garden. — Early  Peas,  Onions, 
Parsnips  and  the  various  vegetable  seeds  recom- 
mended for  the  Southern  States  in  January  can- 


not be  planted  too  soon  after  the  ground  is  in 
working  order.  Hot-beds  must  now  be  started, 
and  Tomatoes,  Egg  Plants,  Sweet  Potatoes, 
etc.,  forwarded  for  early  planting.  In  the  more 
Southern  States  the  tender  sorts  of  vegetables, 
such  as  Melons,  Okra,  Egg  Plant,  Squash,  Sweet 
Potatoes,  Tomatoes,  etc.,  may  be  planted  as 
soon  as  the  weather  is  settled. 


APHIL. 


Green-house  and  Window  Plants. — Plants 
of  every  description  will  now  require  increased 
water  and  ventilation,  and  on  fine  days  a  slight 
shading  to  prevent  the  sun  from  burning  the  fo- 
liage. (See  "Shading.")  Due  attention  must  also 
be  paid  to  shifting  into  larger  pots,  when  neces- 
sary, and  also  to  increase  the  space,  when  prac- 
ticable, by  putting  the  hardier  sorLs  out  in  cold- 
frames.  It  is  better  to  throw  away  a  few  of  the 
older  and  less  desirable  plants  now,  than  to  risk 
their  becoming  weak  and  spindling  by  overcrowd- 
ing. Cuttings  may  still  be  made  of  Verbenas, 
Coleus,  Petunias,  Ageratums,  Achyranthus  and 
all  other  plants  intended  for  summer  decoration  ; 
the  more  advanced  plants  should  be  topped  back 
to  make  them  sturdy  and  bushy.  Tender  annuals 
may  also  be  sown  and  pricked  out  in  boxes  or 
pots  and  placed  in  cold-frames  for  later  use. 
On  the  first  appearance  of  insects,  measures 
must  at  once  be  taken  to  exterminate  them,  es- 
pecially on  Calceolarias  and  Cinerarias,  which 
will  now  be  coming  into  flower,  and  are  the 
most  showy  and  useful  plants  at  this  season. 
(See  "  Insects.")  See  that  nothing  suffers  for 
want  of  water  and  keep  the  atmosphere  moist  by 
syringing  freely. 

Flower  Garden. — This  is  a  busy  month  in 
the  flower  garden.  BuJbs,  and  all  tender  plants 
that  have  been  covered  for  protection  during 
winter,  may  now  be  uncovered  and  the  other  beds 
forked  over  and  put  in  order  to  receive  the 
spring-blooming  plants  such  as  Pansies,  Daisies, 
Forget-me-nots,  Polyanthus,  etc.,  which  may  be 
planted  out  from  the  cold-frames  as  soon  as  the 
weather  appears  settled,  thus  making  room  to 
harden  oft"  the  more  forward  of  the  bedding 
plants.  All  Eoses  should  now  be  pruned 
and  tinl  up,  and  syringed  occasionally  with 
tobacco,  soap  or  some  other  insecticide,  to  pre- 
vent the  attack  of  the  rose-slug  next  month  ; 
this  insect  is  easily  destroyed  while  young.  All 
vines  and  creepers  on  walls  or  screens  should 
be  pruned  and  tied  up ;  herbaceous  plants,  such 


as  Dielytras,  Phloxes,  Helianthus,  Delphiniums, 
etc.,  may  be  divided  and  replanted,  and  a  plant- 
ing of  Gladioluses  for  early  flowering  made. 
This  is  also  an  excellent  season  to  sow  Grass 
seed  to  improve  the  lawn,  or  to  sow  for  new 
lawns,  following  it  by  a  slight  top-dress- 
ing of  bone  meal  or  lawn  fertilizer  and  a 
good  rolling  to  level  it  thoroughly  for  the 
mower. 

Fruit  Garden. — All  new  plantations  of  Grape 
vines,  Strawberries,  Easpberries,  Blackberries, 
etc.,  should  be  made  without  delay,  and  those 
that  have  been  laid  down  during  winter  uncov- 
ered and  tied  up  to  stakes  or  trellises.  Straw- 
berries that  have  been  covered  up  by  leaves  or 
straw  should  be  relieved  around  the  plant, 
leaving  the  covering  to  act  as  a  mulch  and  keep 
the  fruit  clean. 

Vegetable  Garden. — Whenever  the  soil  is 
in  good  condition  no  time  should  be  lost  in  sow- 
ing the  hardier  sorts  of  vegetable  seeds,  such  as 
Cabbages,  Beets,  Parsnip,  Lettuce,  Onions, 
Parsley,  Peas,  Eadishes,  Spinach,  etc. ;  this 
should  be  done  in  all  cases  by  the  middle  of  the 
month,  wherever  practicable,  for  if  these  varie- 
ties of  vegetables  are  delayed  until  the  hot 
weather  in  May,  they  will  not  be  so  early,  nor 
will  they  produce  such  good  crops.  Asparagus 
arid  Ehubarb  should  also  be  uncovered,  the 
beds  forked  over  lightly  and  fresh  plantations 
made  when  necessary.  All  Potatoes,  especially 
those  for  early  use,  must  also  be  planted  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  small  sowings  made  of 
Thyme,  Marjoram,  Sage,. Fennel,  Dill  and  other 
herbs,  without  which  no  garden  is  complete. 
Cabbage  and  Cauliflower  plants.  Onion  sets, 
Shallots,  etc.,  should  also  be  planted  as  soon  as 
the  weather  is  favorable.  Tomatoes,  Egg-plants, 
Peppers  and  other  tender  plants  may  still  be 
sown  in  the  hot-bed.  Sweet  Potatoes  put  in  to 
produce  sprouts  to  plant  out  next  month,  and 
a  few  Cucumbers  in  hills  to  remain  there  and 
come  in  for  early  use. 


MAY. 


Green-house  and  Window  Plants. — Many 
of  the  plants  so  carefully  wintered  over  will 
now  be  in  full  bloom,  and  except  on  very  cold 
nights  firing  in  the  green-house  may  be  dispensed 
with ;  still,  during  the  first  of  the  month  care  * 
must  be  exorcised  in  ventilating,  on  account 
of  the  cold  winds.  It  will  now  be  necessary  to 
partially  shade  the  glass,  which  may  be  done 
either  by  "burlaps"  on  rollers  overhead, 
or  more  cheaply  and  simply  by  syringing  the 
glass,  outside,  with  a  thin  mixture  of  white  lead 
and  naphtha,  spattering  it  on  more  thickly  every 
week  or  two  as  the  sun  ^rows  stronger.  (See 
"Shading.")  Azaleas  will  now  be  at  their  best 
and  will  fully  repay  the  care  bestowed  on  them. 
As  soon  as  they  are  done  bloomingthey  should  be 


pruned  into  shape,  and  after  being  kept  close 
and  moist  for  a  short  time  till  they  break,  re- 
potted for  next  season,  and  about  the  end  of  the 
month  placed  with  Camellias  and  kindred  plants 
in  a  slightly  shady  place,  out-of-doors,  where 
they  may  be  freely  syringed  and  attended  to 
during  summer.  The  various  plants  that  have 
done  duty  during  winter  should  now  be  looked 
over;  those  that  do  best  in  pots  repotted, 
while  many  will  recuperate  better  if  planted 
in  the  open  border  for  the  summer.  All 
climbers,  such  as  Cissus,  Passifloras,  Steph- 
anotis,  Allamandas,  should  be  tied  up  and 
kept  in  order,  and  syringed  freely  every  day 
to  keep  them  clean  and  healthy,  while  the 
many  varieties  of  Achimenes,  Gloxinias,  Bego- 


m 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK  OF  PLANTS 


nias,  etc.,  with  Caladiums,  Crotons,  Dracaena'?. 
Maiantas,  etc.,  will  keep  the  green-houte 
gay  till  warm  weather  sets  in.  Poinsettias, 
Catalonian  Jessamines  and  other  plants  in- 
tended for  winter  blooming  should  now  be  re- 
potted, and  Calla  Lilies  that  have  done  flowering 
placed  in  a  shady  place,  where  the  pots  can  be 
turned  on  their  sides  and  left  to  dry  off  until 
time  to  repot  them  in  fall.  • 

Flower  Gakden.— The  vacant  beds  in  the 
flower  garden  should  now  be  in  order  to  receive 
the  plants  intended  for  them,  which,  with  the 
exception  of  the  more  tender  sorts,  may  be 
planted  as  soon  as  the  weather  is  settled.  For- 
get-me-nots, Pansies,  Daisies,  Polyanthus  and 
other  spring  flowering  plants  are  now  at  their 
best,  and  if  they  have  been  judiciously  planted 
will  be  quite  a  feature  in  the  garden.  The 
rock-garden  is  also  very  interesting  at  this 
season,  as  it  has  been  for  some  time,  the  various 
early  plants,  such  as  Hepaticas,  Anemones, 
Snowdrops  and  other  early  bulbous  plants,  being 
most  interesting.  New  lawns  or  grass  plots  if 
not  sown  before,  should  be  sown  at  once ;  none 
but  the  best  selected  seed  should  be  used  for 
this  purpose.  Permanent  lawns  should  be 
mown  and  rolled  as  occasion  requires,  edges 
trimmed  nicely  and  all  flower  beds  kept  free  of 
weeds.  Annuals  for  early  flowering  that  have 
been  sown  in  the  frame  or  green-house  may  now 
be  planted  out,  and  such  hardy  sorts  as  Sweet 
Alyssum,  Mignonette,  Candytuft  and  Phlox 
Drummondii  sown  in  the  open  border.    Cuttings 


of  Chrysanthemums  if  started  now  will  make  flne 
phmts  for  falLflowering.  As  soon  as  Hyacinths, 
Tulips,  etc.,  are  done  flowering,  if  their  room 
is  wanted,  they  should  be  carefully  taken  up 
and  heeled  in,  in  some  out-of-the-way  corner 
where  they  may  ripen  off  their  bulbs. 

Frtjit  Garden.— Many  of  the  smaller  fruits 
may  yet  be  planted,  though  with  less  prospect 
of  success  than  if  done  earlier.  As  the  various 
insect  pests  make  their  appearance,  they  must 
be  checked  at  once ;  a  free  application  of  to- 
bacco dust  mixed  with  Persian  powder,  dusted 
on  liberally,  will  be  found  very  efficacious.  It  is 
still  better,  however,  used  as  a  preventive ;  for 
if  the  insects  once  get  a  foothold  they  are  hard 
to  dislodge.  The  hoe  and  cultivator  must 
be  kept  constantly  at  work,  not  only  to 
keep  down  Aveeds,  but  to  loosen  and  aerate 
the  soil. 

Vegetable  Garden.  —As  the  ground  gets 
warm,  seeds  of  all  the  more  tender  vegetables, 
as  Cucumbers,  Melons,  Squash,  Corn,  Lima 
Beans,  Okra,  etc.,  may  be  sown,  and  Cabbage, 
Cauliflower,  Lettuce,  etc.,  from  the  earlier  sow- 
ings transplanted.  Toward  the  end  of  the 
month,  if  the  weather  looks  settled.  Tomatoes, 
Egg-plants,  Peppers,  Sweet  Potatoes,  etc., 
should  be  planted  out,  and  succession  crops  of 
Peas,  Beans,  Corn,  Lettuce  and  other  vegeta- 
bles planted  every  week  or  two.  Field  cro|>s, 
such  as  Mangels,  Carrots,  Parsnips,  etc.,  should 
also  be  sown  and  ail  necessary  work  promptly 
attended  to 


JUXE. 


Green-house  and  Window  Plants. — The 
bulk  of  the  bedding  and  other  plants  being  now 
planted  out  or  placed  out-of-doors,  the  green- 
house may  be  utilized  to  grow  such  tropical 
plants  as  may  be  desired  during  the  summer 
months.  If  kept  moist  and  well  shaded,  fine 
specimens  of  Dracaenas,  Palms,  fancy  Cala- 
diums, Ferns,  Crotons,  etc.,  will  render  it  very 
attractive.  A  few  of  the  smaller  growing  Nym- 
phseas  or  other  water  plants  grown  in  tanks 
or  under  other  appropriate  conditions,  will  give 
it  additional  attraction  during  the  season. 

All  plants  that  requirelt  should  be  repotted, 
and,  with  few  exceptions,  should  be  pinched 
back  to  make  them  branching  and  stocky. 
Others  that  require  it  may  be  trained  and  made 
to  grow  in  any  desired  form.  Syringing,  both 
outside  and  indoors,  should  be  regularly  at- 
tended to,  to  keep  down  insects ;  and  the  plants 
are  much  benefited  by  the  pathways  being 
sprinkled  occasionally  with  water. 

Flower  Garden.— All  the  spring  flowering 
plants  have  now  been  removed,  and  their  places 
filled  with  those  plants  already  selected  to  give 
the  most  desirable  results  during  the  season. 
Cannas,  single  and  double  Dahlias,  Asters,  Mari- 
golds, Zinnias,  etc.,  may  now  be  planted  ;  they 
will  bloom  until  frost,  and  are  exceedingly  useful 
for  cutting  from.  Staking  and  tying  up  strong 
growing  plants  should  always  be  attended  to— 
neglect  in  this  matter  often  ruins  the  appear- 
ance of  the  garden  for  the  season.  Verbenas, 
Petunias  and  plants  of  similar  habit  should  be 
pegged  down  sothatthe  beds  may  be  thorougli- 
ly  covered.  Lawns  should  be  mown  frequently, 
the  grass  edgings  trimmed,  and  walks  frequent- 
ly rolled,  if  necessary,  and  kept  in  good  order. 
Grass  Seed  for  new  lawns  may  yet  be  sown. 


Fruit  Garden. — We  cannot  too  strongly  en- 
force the  necessity  of  thinning  out  the  fruit  of 
Apples,  Pears,  Peaches,  etc.,  which  have  set 
their  fruit  thickly.  By  so  doing  much  finer 
fruit  is  produced,  the  flavor  is  much  supei'ior, 
and  the  weight  at  least  equal.  This  is  equally 
true  of  Grape-vines  or  any  other  fruits  that  may 
have  set  too  thickly.  All  small  fruits  are  much 
benefited  by  having  a  mulching  of  some  sort 
placed  around  them,  Strawberries  in  particular; 
if  they  have  been  overlooked,  the  cut  grass 
from  the  lawn  is  an  excellent  material  to  keep 
the  fruit  from  getting  sanded  and  spoiled  by 
heavy  rains.  Judicious  summer  pruning,  or 
pinching  out  the  centre  of  the  young  growth, 
at  this  season,  will  not  only  keep  the  young 
trees  in  better  shape,  but  make  them  more 
fruitful. 

Vegetable  Garden. — During  this,  the  busi- 
est month,  all  growing  crops  need  constant 
attention.  Thin  out  all  plants  that  require  it, 
and  keep  all  crops  clean  by  weeding  and  hoeing. 
At  this  season  weeds  are  very  apt  to  get  a 
strong  foothold  unless  they  aie  carefully 
watched.  Keep  the  hoe  and  rake  going;  a 
man  will  hoe  and  rake  over  six  times  the  sur- 
face of  soil  when  the  weeds  are  quite  small 
that  he  would  do  if  tlie  weeds  were  six  inches 
higher.  A  succession  of  Corn,  Beans,  Cucum- 
bers, Beets,  Lettuce,  Okra,  Martynias  for  pic- 
kles, should  now  be  planted,  and  Lima  Beans, 
both  pole  and  dwarf,  as  soon  as  the  soil  is 
warm  enough.  Sweet  Potatoes  will  yet  do  well 
if  planted  in  a  suitable  location.  If  Tomatoes 
are  desired  to  be  handsome  fruited  and  fine 
flavored,  they  should  be  trained  up  to  stakes  or 
trellises.  Attend  to  Cabbage  Worms  and  look 
out  for  Potato  Bugs.  ,  (See  "  Insecticides.") 


AND   GENEKAL   HORTICULTURE. 


515 


JULY. 


Green-house  and  Window  Plants.— At  this 
season  a  copious  supply  of  water  must  be 
given,  both  at  the  root  and  overhead.  In  the 
green-house  especially,  sprinkle  the  paths  and 
benches  in  the  evening  to  keep  up  a  moist 
atmosphere  during  the  night.  Use  every  effort 
to  keep  everything  clear  of  such  insects  as 
Green  Fly  and  Red  Spider.  If  the  house 
is  kept  shaded,  almost  all  so-called  stove 
plaqts  can  be  grown  successfully  in  the  green- 
house during  the  summer  months.  The 
plants  from  the  green-house  that  may  have 
been  plunged  out-doors  must  be  watched 
when  they  require  i-epotting;  and  where 
the  roots  have  run  through  the  pots,  they 
should  also  be  occasionally  turned  round, 
to  break  them  off;  for  if  this  is  not  done  now, 
it  would  seriously  injure  the  plant  when  taken 
up  in  the  fall,  if  the  roots  have  run  through  the 
pot  and  deep  into  the  soil.  Many  of  them 
will  require  to  be  pinched  back  occasion- 
ally to  keep  them  bushy,  and  Chrysanthemums 
for  winter  blooming  topped  in  and  turned 
around.  Carnations,  Bouvardias  and  other  plants 
for  winter  blooming  should  be  pinched  back. 
Azaleas,  Oranges,  Camellias  and  plants  of  a  like 
character  will  be  much  impx-oved  by  being 
syringed  eveiy  clear  evening,  care  being  taken 
at  the  same  time  that  they  are  not  over- 
watered. 

Flower  Garden.  —  The  usual  routine  of 
mowing,  weeding,  etc.,  must  be  attended  to, 
all  irregular  growth  trimmed  back,  the  various 
early  flowering  shrubs  pruned  (see  "Pruning  "), 
and  the  flower  beds  trimmed  and  kept  neat. 
Nothing  gives  such  an  air  of  neatness  and 
beauty  to  a  well  kept  garden  as  a  well  kept 
lawn,  and  neatly  kept,  well  rolled  walks.  The 
rock-garden  must  also  be  kept  in  good  order ; 
all  weeds  removed,  and  any  plants  that  are 
growing  too  large  or  strong,  shortened  back. 
Dahlias,  Roses,  Gladioluses,  as  well  as  many 


herbaceous  perennial  and  annual  plants,  will 
now  require  staking.  Be  careful  to  proportion 
the  size  of  the  stake  to  that  of  the  plant,  and  do 
not  tie  it  too  tightly.  Stakes  painted  green  look 
best,  and  the  square  are  nearly  as  good  as  the 
round  ones,  and  much  cheaper.  Give  the  Cos- 
mos, lovely  for  its  feathery  foliage  and  single, 
Dahlia-like  flowers,  a  long  stake,  and,  once  in  a 
while,  run  a  spade  down  near  its  roots  to  check 
its  rampant  growth  and  throw  it  into  flower; 
it  will  well  repay  the  trouble.  All  vines  and 
creepers  should  be  trained  up,  and  all  super- 
fluous growth  pruned  away.  If  the  weather 
is  moist  it  will  yet  do  to  sow  Grass  Seed 
for  new  lawns. 

Fkuit  Garden.  —  As  recommended  last 
month,  thin  out  all  Apples,  Peaches,  Pears, 
etc.,  which  have  set  their  fruit  thickly,  as  by 
so  doing  an  equal  weight  is  secured,  much  finer 
fruit  and  superior  flavor.  Summer  pruning  is 
still  useful ;  a  little  practice  will  soon  show  its 
advantage.  If  there  are  any  signs  of  mildew  on 
the  Grape-vine  leaves,  dust  them  over  with  dry 
sulphur,  choosing  a  still,  warm  day.  The  fruit 
will  now  be  gathered  from  the  Strawberries; 
and  if  new  beds  are  to  be  formed,  the  system 
recommended  of  layering  the  plants  in  small 
pots  is  the  best.     (See  "  Strawberries.") 

Vegetable  Garden.— Succession  crops  of 
Beans,  Corn,  Cucumbers,  Lettuce,  etc.,  may 
still  be  sown,  and  in  some  sections  of  the  coun- 
try Ruta-baga  Turnips  for  the  main  winter 
crop.  Cabbage,  Celery  and  Cauliflower  should 
also  be  planted,  more  especially  Celery  for  a 
main  crop.  Tomatoes  should  be  kept  tied  up 
to  stakes  or  trellises,  and  the  fruit  well  exposed 
to  the  light.  Sweet  Potatoes  should  also  be 
held  up,  and  the  vines  moved  occasionally  to 
prevent  their  rooting  at  the  joints.  Cucumbers 
for  pickles  should  now  be  sown,  and  Endive  for 
fall  use.  (See  directions  given  under  these  sep- 
arate heads.) 


AUGUST. 


Green-house  and  Window  Plants. — Nearly 
all  that  is  necessary  during  this  month  is  to 
follow  the  instructions  given  for  July.  Hanging 
Baskets,  Vases,  etc.,  require  constant  attention, 
and  all  climbers  and  other  plants  should  be 
syringed  fi-eely,  and  kept  clear  of  insect  pests. 
Plants  intended  for  winter  flowering  should  be 
forwarded  by  being  repotted,  and  kept  bushy 
by  being  pinched  back  occasionally.  Primulas, 
Calceolarias,  Cinerarias,  etc.,  should  be  sown, 
and  preparations  made  for  propagating  such 
plants  as  may  be  required  for  winter  or  spring 
flowering.  Chrysanthemums  must  not  be 
neglected,  as  the  pots  are  now  full  of  roots  and 
will  require  water  twice  or  three  times  a  day. 
Cuttings  struck  at  this  season  make  excellent 
dwarf  plants  for  the  window  or  green-house, 
generally  flowering  a  week  or  two  later  than 
the  old  plants.  AH  such  work  as  painting, 
glazing,  seeing  to  boilers,  etc.,  is  now  in  ordei-, 
and  should  be  attended  to,  before  the  press  of 
autumn  work  comes  along. 

Flower  Garden.— Here,  as  in  the  green- 
house, the  routine  of  work  is  the  same  as  last 
month.  No  pains  should  be  spared  to  keep  the 
garden  beautiful;  all  dead  leaves  and  flowers  i 


should  be  removed  and  the  edgings  and  walks 
kept  neat  and  clean.  The  grass  should  be  rolled 
frequently,  and  mown  as  often  as  necessary  ;  in 
very  dry  weather  it  may  be  advisable  to  water 
it  frequently  to  keep  it  from  becoming  parched 
and  brown ;  one  of  the  improved  lawn  sprinklers 
is  excellent  for  this  purpose.  Tea  and  other 
autumn  flowering  Roses  will  be  benefited  by  an 
occasional  supply  of  manure  water;  all  tall 
growing,  herbaceous  and  other  plants  should 
be  staked  up,  the  soil  loosened  occasionally, 
and  all  weeds  kept  down.  Sow  Grass  Seed  for 
new  lawns  if  not  too  dry. 

Fruit  Garden.— During  the  early  part  of  the 
month .  summer  pruning  may  still  be  practiced 
with  advantage.  Spring-planted  Strawberries, 
and  also  those  that  have  fruited,  will  now  be 
making  "  runners  "  or  young  plants  freely.  All 
runners  should  be  kept  cut  off  close  to  the  old 
plant  when  not  wanted  for  new  plantations, 
so  that  the  full  force  of  the  roots  is  expended 
in  maturing  the  "  crowns  "  or  fruit  buds  forthe 
next  season's  crop.  New  plantations  may  also  be 
made — the  sooner  they  are  planted,  the  heavier 
the  next  season's  crop  will  be.  (See  "Straw- 
berries.") Cut  away  the  old  stems  of  Raspberries 


516 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


and  Blackberries  that  have  borne  their  fruit, 
and  thin  out  the  young  shoots  to  three  or  four 
canes  to  eacli  hill  or  plant.  If  tied  to  stalies 
and  topped  when  four  or  five  feet  high,  they  will 
make  stronger  canes  for  fruiting  next  year. 

Vegetable  Garden.  —  All  planted  crops 
should  be  hoed  deeply  and  kept  free  from  weeds. 
Such  herbs  as  are  now  in  flower  may  be  dried  in 
a  shady  place  for  winter  use.     Euta-baga  Tur- 


nips sown  last  month  will  require  thinning,  and 
the  various  soft  varieties,  such  as  Eed  Top 
Strap  Leaf,  White  Globe,  "White  Egg,  etc.,  and 
Eadishes  for  winter  use,  may  be  sown  up  to  the 
end  of  the  month.  Onions  will  in  most  sections 
now  be  ready  for  harvesting.  This  condition 
will  be  known  by  the  tops  becoming  yellow  and 
falling  down.  They  are  best  dried  by  being  placed 
in  some  dry  shed  in  thin  layers.  (See  "  Onions.") 


SEPTEMBER. 


Geeen-house  and  Window  Plants. — To- 
ward the  end  of  the  month,  in  many  sections 
of  the  country,  the  various  green-house  plants 
will  require  to  be  housed,  care  being  taken  to 
keep  them  as  cool  as  possible  during  the  day. 
Plants  that  have  been  plunged  out  during  sum- 
mer will  require  to  be  examined  as  to  drainage, 
and  receive  a  top-dressing  of  good,  rich  soil ; 
many  of  them  may  require  shifting  into  lai-ger 
pots,  though  this  should  have  been  attended  to 
last  month.  Cuttings  of  plants  required  for  next 
season's  use  should  now  be  made,  as  fall  root- 
ed cuttings  generally  bloom  more  freely  than 
winter  struck  plants,  and  are  preferable  to  old 
plants.  This  is  true  of  what  is  known  as  bed- 
ding plants,  such  as  Geraniums,  Fuchsias,  Ver- 
benas, Heliotropes,  etc. ;  but  with  Eoses  and 
other  plants  of  a  woody  nature,  larger  plants 
are  usually  the  best.  Eoman  Hyacinths,  Early 
Tulips  and  other  Dutch  bulbs  should  be  planted 
as  soon  as  received,  especially  for  an  early  crop, 
and  seeds  of  Pansies,  Daisies,  Mignonette, 
Sweet  Aiyssum,  Candytuft,  etc.,  should  now  be 
sown,  and  Chrysanthemums  should  not  be 
pinched  back  later  than  the  first  of  the  month. 

Flowee  Garden. — The  general  routine  of 
work  recommended  for  last  month  Avill  suffice 
for  this.  Lawns,  grass  edgings  and  walks  kept 
neat  and  tidy,  improve  the  appearance  of  the 
garden  tenfold.  Cuttings  of  all  bedding  plants 
may  now  be  taken  off  without  injuring  the  effect 
of  the  beds,  and  generally  make  stronger  and 
better  plants  for  the  following  season  if  struck 
early.  Violets  that  are  wanted  for  winter  will 
now  be  growing  freely,  and  the  runners  should 
be  trimmed  off  as  recommended  for  Strawberries 
last  month.  French  and  Afi'ican  Marigolds, 
Cosmos,  Single  and  Double  Dahlias  and  other 
autumn  flowering  plants  are  now  at  their  best, 
and  should  be  staked  and  tied  up  as  they  re- 
quire it.  This  is  the  best  fall  month  for  sowing 
lawn  Grass  for  new  lawns,  though  by  careful 


preparation  of  soil  and  rolling,  new  lawns  can 
be  made  in  any  month  from  end  of  March  to 
beginning  of  November. 

Fruit  Gaeden. — All  transplanting  should  be 
done  as  early  as  practicable ;  it  is  not  necessary 
to  wait  till  all  the  leaves  are  off  before  doing  so. 
If  the  roots  have  been  badly  mutilated,  reduce 
the  head  proportionately,  cutting  away  what- 
ever may  not  mature,  and  see  that  the  earth  is 
well  packed  about  the  roots.  If  not  already  done, 
attend  to  Blackberries,  Easpberries  and  other 
small  fruits  as  recommended  last  month.  New 
plantations  of  Strawberi-y  plants  may  still  be 
made  from  the  runners  that  have  been  layered 
in  pots.  The  sooner  in  the  month  they  are 
planted,  the  stronger  they  will  be  for  next 
season's  crop.  These  plants  will  soon  make 
runners,  which  must  be  trimmed  off  to  throw  the 
strength  into  the  crowns  for  next  season's  fruit- 
ing. 

Vegetable  Gaeden. — The  main  crop  of  Spin- 
a(fh  and  Sprouts  for  spring  use  may  now  be  sown, 
and  early  Celery  banked  up  fully,  while  even  the 
latest  planted  should  be  "handled"  so  as  to 
have  it  in  close-together  heads  when  placed  in 
winter  quarters.  (See  "Celery.")  Early  sorts  of 
Turnips  niay  yet  be  sown,  though  there  is  little 
chance  of  their  being  a  full  crop.  Onions  that 
were  not  harvested  last  month  should  now  oe 
attended  to  or  they  will  not  amount  to  much. 
Seeds  of  Cabbage,  Cauliflower  and  Lettuce  to 
raise  plants  to  be  placed  in  cold-frames  should 
be  sown  in  this  latitude  from  the  lOth  to  the 
20th  of  this  month,  and  when  large  enough  to 
handle,  pricked  off  into  cold-frames  two  to  three 
inches  apai't  for  the  winter,  although  this  plan 
is  little  used  now,  the  plan  being  to  sow  for 
early  plants  in  January  and  Februarj'.  (See 
"Cabbage"  or  "Cauliflower.")  Late  sown  Beets, 
Carrots,  etc.,  will  now  be  coming  in,  and  are 
the  more  valuable  on  account  of  their  sweet- 
ness and  tenderness. 


OCTOBER. 


Geeen-hotjse  and  Window  Plants. — As  the 
season  advances  it  becomes  necessary,  espe- 
cially North,  to  house  all  tender  plants,  for 
which,  of  course,  preparations  have  already 
been  made.  Unless;  the  nights  become  cold 
enough  to  chill  the  plants  inside  of  the  house, 
they  are  better  without  fire  heat,  though  the 
green-house  at  this  season  should  never  be 
allowed  to  fall  below  fifty  de«rees  at  night. 
When  there  is  indication  that  the  night  is  likely 
to  be  cold,  let  down  the  sashes  that  have  been 
raised  for  ventilation  early  in  the  afternoon, 
and  thus  shut  up  the  heated  air  until  next  day. 
If  the  thermometer  falls  to  forty  or  forty-five 
degrees  outside,  a  slight  fire  should  be  started 


in  the  green-house,  as  Eoses,  particularly  at 
this  season,  are  easily  hurt  by  a  sudden  chill. 

Carnations,  Camellias,  Azaleas  and  Eoses  will 
do  just  as  well,  or  even  better  if  kept  in  a  cold- 
frame  until  the  middle  of  November,  thus  giv- 
ing them  a  rest  before  forcing  begins.  See  that 
all  Camellias,  Azaleas  and  other  hard-wooded 
plants  are  thoroughly  clear  of  insects  befoi'e 
being  housed ;  it  will  make  the  winter's  work  all 
the  easier.  "  ' 

Flower  Gaeden. — Unless  in  a  very  favorable 
season,  by  the  middle  of  the  month  frost  has 
cleared  off  all  Dahlias,  Marigolds,  Cosmos  and 
other  plants  that  make  the  autumn  months  so 
gay.    Ail  the  fall  bulbs,  such  as  Hyacinths,  Tu- 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


517 


lips,  Narcissus,  Crocus,  etc.,  should  now  be 
planted,  hardy  bulbs  transplanted  where  neces- 
sary, and  preparations  made  for  winter. 

Dahlias,  Tuberoses,  Gladiolus,  Cannas,  Cal- 
adiums,  Tigridias,  and  all  tender  bulbs  or  tubers 
that  are  planted  in  the  spring,  should  be  taken 
up  by  the  end  of  the  month,  dried  and 
stowed  away  in  some  dry  place  free  from  frost 
during  winter. 

Fkuit  Gaeden. — All  transplanting  should  be 
attended  to  early  this  month  if  not  already  done, 
to  give  the  trees  a  chance  to  get  well  estab- 
lished before  winter.  If  planting  is  deferred  to 
the  last  of  the  month,  the  ground  around  the 
roots  should  be  mulched  to  the  thickness  of 
three  or  four  inches  with  leaves,  straw  or 
rough  manure,  as  a  protection  to  the  roots 
against  frost.  Strawberries  that  have  been 
layered  in  pots  may  yet  be  planted,  and  all  run- 


ners carefully  removed  from  earlier  plantings. 
Vegetable  Garden. — Toward  the  last  of 
the  month  Beets,  Parsnips,  Carrots,  Sweet  Po- 
tatoes, and  all  other  roots  not  designed  to  be 
left  in  the  ground  during  winter,  should  be  dug 
and  housed  or  pitted.  Celery  will  now  be  in 
full  growth,  and  will  require  close  attention  to 
earthing  up,  and  during  the  last  part  of  the 
month  the  first  lot  may  be  stored  away  in 
trenches  for  winter.  (See  "  Celery.")  Lettuce 
for  winter  use,  if  planted  in  cold-frames  or  in 
tiie  green-house,  will  be  ready  for  use  by  Christ- 
mas. Cabbage  and  Cauliflower  plants,  from 
seed  sown  about  the  middle  of  last  month, 
should  now  be  pricked  out  in  cold  frames,  and 
Rhubarb  and  Asparagus,  if  wanted  for  winter 
use,  should  be  taken  up  and  stored  free  from 
frost,  to  be  forced  in  the  green-house  or  pit,  as  de- 
sired, during  winter.  (See  "ForcingVegetables.") 


I^OVEMBER. 


Green-house  and  Window  Plants.— There 
is  nothing  so  prejudicial  to  the  well-being  of 
green-house  plants  as  too  much  fire-heat  early  in 
the  season.  Though  frost  may  now  be  expected 
and  must  be  guarded  against  when  necessary, 
it  is  better  to  follow  the  advice  given  last  month, 
and  close  up  the  ventilators  early,  thus  shut- 
ting in  the  natural  heat,  which,  however,  should 
not  be  allowed  to  fall  imder  fifty  degrees, 
unless  for  Camellias,  Azaleas,  Carnations,  etc.^ 
which  will  succeed  better  if  kept  at  a  night 
temperature  of  forty  degrees.  The  fix'st  batches 
of  Roman  Hyacinths,  Early  Tulips,  etc.,  may 
now  be  started  along  gently.  Insects,  especially 
on  the  young growtns  of  Roses  and  many  "soft- 
wooded  plants,"  will  soon  get  troublesome 
unless  kept  rigidly  in  check.  Where  fire-heat  is 
necessary  be  careful  to  keep  up  the  proper  sup- 
ply of  moisture  by  syringing,  sprinkling  the 
paths,  etc.  In  the  window,  Chysanthemums' 
will  be  at  their  best  during  this  month,  and 
Prinjulas  and  Cyclamens  beginning  to  show 
flower.  All  plants  must  be  kept  clear  of  insects, 
and  where  the  plants  are  not  too  lai'ge  one  of 
the  best  modes  of  doing  so  is  to  invert  the  pot, 
dipping  the  head  of  the  plant  in  water  heated 
to  110  degrees  for  a  few  seconds.  This  not  only 
kills  green  fly,  red  spider,  and  other  insects, 
but  removes  all  dust,  etc.,  from  the  leaves. 

Flower  Garden.— Where  Chrysanthemums 
have  not  been  hurt  by  frost  the  flower  garden 
should  still  be  showy,  and  even  where  protection 
has  to  be  given  them  they  may  often  be  made  to 
give  an  excellent  show  during  the  early  part  of 
the  month  ;  otherwise  there  is  little  left  to  do  but 
to  clear  off  dead  stalks,  straw  up  tender  Roses, 
vines,  etc.,  and  wherever  there  is  an  opportunity 
to  dig  up  the  borders,  as  it  will  greatly  facili- 
tate spring  work.  All  evergreens  are  much 
benefited  at  this  season  by  a  top-dressing  of  fresh 
loam  or  well-rotted  manure.  In  the  flower  gar- 
den variety  is  always  pleasing,  and  now  is  a  good 
time  to  study  how  to  have  it  arranged  differently 
next  season  at  little  cost.  It  is  often  as  easy 
and  as  pleasing  to  have  change  at  small  expense 
as  when  a  large  sum  is  involved.  All  beds  where 
Hyacinths  or  other  fall  bulbs  have  been  planted, 
had  better  be  covered  with  rough  litter  or  leaves 
to  the  depth  of  two  or  three  inches.  It  is  always 
risky  to  spread  manure  on  lawns,  unless  it  is 
thoroughly  rotted.  If  such  can  be  procured  a 
good  top-dressing  applied  now  will  show  its 
good  effect  the  following  season. 


Fruit  Garden. — Grape  vines  and  fruit  trees 
may  be  pruned  anytime  this  month,  and  if  wood 
of  the  vine  is  wanted  for  cuttings,  or  cions  of 
fruit  trees  for  grafts,  they  should  be  tied  in 
small  neat  bunches,  and  buried  in  the  ground 
until  spring.  The  mulching  recommended  for 
Strawberries  may  also  be  put  on  during  the  last , 
of  the  month,  especially  in  cold  localities.  It  is, 
however,  generally  not  advisable  to  apply  it  till 
just  before  winter  sets  in,  in  December. 

Vegetable  Garden. — All  roots  required  for 
winter  use  that  have  not  already  been  dug  and 
housed,  should  be  attended  to  by  the  middle  of 
the   month,   or  in  this  latitude  they  may  get 
frozen  in  until  spring  if  left  longer.     Celery  that 
is  to  be  stored  for  winter  use  should  be  put 
away  before  the  end  of  the  month  in  all  places 
north  of  Richmond,  Va.     South  of  that  it  may 
be  left,  in    most  places,   in    the    rows  where 
grown,  if  covered  up.  (See  "Celery.")  Asparagus 
beds  should  have  a  heavy  dressing  of  rough 
manure  three    or  four   inches  thick,   and    all 
Onions,  Cabbage,  Sprouts,  Spinach  or  Lettuce 
plants  that  are  outside  should  be  covered  with 
two  or  three  inches  of  leaves,  salt  hay  or  straw, 
to  protect  them  during  winter.     Cabbages  that 
have  headed  may  be  usually  preserved  against 
injury  by  frost  until  the  middle  of  next  month, 
by  simply  pulling  them  up  and  packing  them 
close  together  in  a  dry  spot  in  the  open  field 
with  the  heads  down  and  roots  up.     On  the  ap- 
proach of  cold  weather  in  December  they  should 
be  covered  up  with  leaves  as  high  as  the  tops 
of  the  roots ;  or,  if  the  soil  is  light,  it  may  be 
thrown  over  them  if  leaves  are  not  convenient. 
Cabbages  so  packed  will  keep  until  March,  if 
the  covering  has  not  been  put  on  too  early. 
If  only  a  few  are  grown,  these  and  Cauliflower 
may  be  hung  up  in  a  cool  cellar,  and  will  keep 
in  good  condition  for  weeks.     The  cold  frames 
where  Cabbage,  Lettuce  or  Cauliflower  plants 
have  been    planted    will  now   require    regular 
ventilation  by  lifting  up  the  sashes  in  warm 
days,  and  on  the  approach  of  very  cold  weather, 
straw  mats  or  shutters  will  be  a  great  protection 
to  the  plants.   For  the  Cauliflower,  this  protec- 
tion is  absolutely  necessary  in  this  latitude. 
All  vacant  ground  should  be  rough  dug,  plowed 
or  subsoiled  whenever  practicable  to  destroy 
insects,  and  have  the   soil  well  mellowed  for 
crops  in  spring. 


518 


HENDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF    PLANTS. 


DECEMBER. 


Gbeen-house  and  Window  Plants. — Win- 
ter is  now  witli  us,  and  all  tender  plants  re- 
quire the  closest  attention.  The  generality  of 
house  plants  suffer  more  from  being  kept  too 
close  and  warm  than  from  any  other  cause. 
This  should  be  guarded  against,  and  the  rooms 
well  ventilated  on  all  favorable  occasions.  If 
Red  Spider  or  Green  Fly — the  two  great  ene- 
mies of  house  plants — show  themselves,  an 
occasional  syringing  with  water  at  a  temper- 
ature of  140"  is  very  effectual,  and  is  much  pref- 
erable for  window  plants  to  tobacco  smoke.  For 
the  green-house,  however,  a  gentle  smoking 
with  tobacco  stems  once  or  twice  a  week  as  a 
preventive  is  much  the  best  practice.  Some  of 
the  late  Clirysanthemums  will  still  be  in  bloom, 
and  Primulas,  Cyclamens,  Azaleas,  Callas,  etc., 
should  now  make  the  green-house  quite  gay.  The 
early  Tulips  and  Roman  Hyacinths,  Crocuses, 
etc.,  will  also  be  coming  in,  and  should  be  suc- 
ceeded by  a  fresh  batch  every  week  or  ten  days. 
The  Amaryllis  is  also  a  good  winter  blooming 
plant,  and  there  are  now  so  many  species  and 
varieties  that  some  may  be  had  in  flower  all 
winter. 

FiiOWEH  Gakden. — There  is  but  little  to  do 
here  this  month.  All  necessary  pruning  of 
shrubs  or  trees  should  now  be  done ;  weakly 
and  weather-beaten  evergreens  are  much  im- 
proved by  pruning.  As  trees  in  most  places 
are  generally  planted  thickly  for  immediate 
effect,  a  few  should  be  thinned  out  every  year 
to  give  the  rest  a  chance  to  develop,  and  where 
they  are  not  removed,  judicious  pruning  is  an 
advantage.  Branches  should  be  cut  off  close  to 
their  source,  so  that  the  wound  may  heal  over. 
It  is  now  a  good  time  to  top-dress  flower  beds 
and  lawns  with  well  rotted  manure,  and,  if  not 
yet  done,  gather  all  the  "bag  worms"  from 
Arbor  Vitees  and  other  evergreens.  Many  choice 
or  half  tender  herbaceous  plants  in  the  rock- 
garden  may  be  wintered  through  by  a  pane  of 
glass  placed  over  them  to  keep  off  the  rain  and 


Fkuit  Garden.— All  Blackberries,  Raspber- 
ries, Grape  vines,  etc.,  in  such  sections  of  the 
country  where  protection  from  severe  fi'ost  is 
desirable,  should  be  laid  down  this  month  and 
covered  with  a  few  inches  of  soil,  rough  litter 
or  leaves.  An  annual  washing  to  the  stems  and 
branches  of  fruit  trees,  with  any  alkali  that  is 
most  easily  procurable,  is  of  great  benefit.  It 
not  only  removes  all  Funguses  and  eggs  of 
injurious  insects,  but  leaves  the  limbs  clean  and 
healthy.  Surface  manuring  is  also  of  great 
benefit.  Any  leafy  matter,  road  scrapings,  etc., 
can  be  utilized ;  fruit  trees  rarely  suffer  from 
too  rich  feeding  when  applied  to  the  surface. 
Strawberries,  if  not  already  mulched,  should  be 
attended  to  at  once. 

Vegetable  Gaeden. — Very  little  can  now 
be  done  in  this  department,  except  in  making 
preparations  for  the  following  season.  Spinach 
and  other  plants  in  need  of  protection  should 
have  it  before  the  middle  of  the  month,  and  the 
final  covering  given  to  Celery  in  trenches  or 
roots  in  pits,  and,  if  not  already  done.  Aspara- 
gus beds  should  have  a  liberal  coating  of  ma- 
nure ;  Bean-poles,  Pea-brush  and  stakes  of 
all  kinds  looked  ovei",  the  tool-house  put  in 
order,  and  everything  prepared  for  spring  oper- 
ations. 

Snow  that  accumulates  on  cold  frames  or 
other  glass  structures  should  be  removed,  par- 
ticularly if  the  soil  that  the  glass  covers  was 
not  frozen  before  the  snow  fell.  If  frozen,  it 
may  remain  on  the  sashes  longer;  for  the 
plants,  if  frozen,  are,  of  course,  dormant,  and 
would  not  be  injured  by  being  deprived  of  light 
for  eight  or  ten  days. 

Whenever  it  is  practicable,  all  empty  ground 
should  be  dug  or  plowed  this  month,  and  trench- 
ing or  subsoiling  should  be  done,  wherever  ne- 
cessary and  time  or  opportunity  will  permit.  AU 
such  operations,  when  performed  in  the  fall, 
not  only  benefit  the  soil,  but  greatly  facilitate 
work  in  the  spring. 


USEFUL  TABLES  AND  MEMORANDA. 


THE  following  Tables  of  Useful  Information  have  been  carefully  compiled  from 
reliable  authorities,  and,  we  believe,  may  be  depended  on  as  being  accurate. 
Questions  relative  to  operations  connected  with  the  soil  are  continually  cropping  up. 
To  cope  with  these  requires  a  certain  amount  of  technical  knowledge,  and  it  is  to 
provide  such  that  we  introduce  these  memoranda  in  this  work. 


TEMPERATURE,    RAIK,   Etc. 


Temperature.  The  average  temperature  in  the 
temperate  zones  being  autlioritatively  given 
as  fifty  degrees  Fahrenheit,  it  may  be  interest- 
ing and  instructive  to  many  to  Icnow  the 
average  temperature  at  different  points  in  the 
United  States,  and  at  cities  in  various  parts 
of  the  world. 


STATE 

CITY 

Average 
Summer 
'I  enip. 

Average 

Winter 

Temp. 

Yearly 

Mean 

Temp. 

DEG. 

DEG. 

DEG. 

Alabama, 

Mobile, 

81 

53 

fi7 

Arkansas, 

Little  Rock, 

79 

46 

63 

California, 

San  Francisco, 

57 

52 

55 

Colorado, 

Denver, 

70 

30 

50 

Dakota, 

Fort  Randal, 

67 

11 

39 

Delaware, 

Wilmington, 

68 

b7 

53 

D.  of  Colum'a, 

Washington, 

74 

36 

55 

Florida, 

Jacksonville, 

82 

59 

70 

Georgia, 

Atlanta, 

75 

40 

58 

Idaho, 

Boise  City, 

71 

32 

52 

Illinois, 

Chicago, 

68 

22 

45 

Indiana, 

Indianapolis, 

69 

40 

55 

Ind.  Territory, 

Fort  Sill, 

79 

40 

60 

Iowa, 

Des  Moines, 

72 

24 

48 

Louisiana, 

New  Orleans, 

82 

56 

69 

Maine, 

Augusta, 

63 

25 

44 

Maryland, 

Baltimore, 

74 

34 

54 

Massachusetts 

Boston, 

69 

28 

49 

Michigan, 

Detroit, 

70 

27 

49 

Minnesota, 

St.  Paul, 

67 

17 

42 

Mississippi, 

Vicksburg, 

81 

50 

66 

Missouri, 

St.  Louis, 

74 

29 

52 

Montana, 

Helena, 

65 

20 

43 

Nebraska, 

Omaha, 

74 

25 

50 

Nevada, 

Carson  City 

67 

34 

51 

New  Hamp., 

Hanover, 

56 

28 

42 

New  Mexico, 

Santa  Fe, 

66 

30 

49 

New  York, 

New  York, 

72 

32 

52 

N.  Carolina, 

Charlotte, 

78 

43 

61 

Ohio, 

Cincinnati, 

74 

35 

55 

Oregon, 

Portland, 

71 

35 

53 

Pennsylvania, 

Philadelphia, 

74 

3J 

54 

Rhode  Island, 

Block  Island, 

67 

33 

50 

S.  Carolina, 

Charleston, 

81 

52 

67 

Tennessee, 

Nashville, 

79 

41 

60 

Texas, 

Austin, 

81 

50 

66 

Utah, 

Salt  Lake  City, 

73 

31 

52 

Vermont, 

Lunenburgh, 

65 

17 

42 

West  Virginia, 

Helvetia, 

67 

34 

51 

Wisconsin, 

Milwaukee, 

67 

23 

45 

Wyoming, 

Cheyenne, 

65 

27 

46 

CITY 

COUNTRY 

Ss  .Us . 

<32H 

<?e: 

>.Sh 

DEG. 

DEG. 

DEG. 

Bombay, 

India, 

83 

77 

80 

Calcutta, 

India, 

86 

72 

79 

Cape  Town, 

S.  Africa, 

70 

58 

64 

Dublin, 

Ireland, 

60 

42 

51 

Edinburgh, 

Scotland, 

58 

38 

48 

London, 

England, 

61 

37 

50 

Madrid, 

Spain, 

74 

42 

58 

Melbourne, 

Australia, 

65 

49 

57 

Paris, 

France, 

65 

38 

52 

Pekin, 

China, 

81 

27 

54 

Rome, 

Italy, 

74 

45 

59 

Singapore, 

Str.  of  Malafca, 

91 

79 

85 

St.  Petersburg, 

Russia, 

60 

17 

38 

Sydney, 

Australia, 

69 

54 

62 

An  Inch  of  Rain.  An  English  acre  consists  of 
6,272,640  square  inches,  and  an  inch  deep  of 
rain  on  an  acre  yields  6,272,640  cubic  inches 
of  water,  which,  at  277,274  cubic  inches  to  tne 
gallon,  makes  22,622.5  gallons;  and  as  a  gal- 
lon of  distilled  water  weighs  10  lbs.,  the  rain- 
fall on  an  acre  is  226,223  ibs.  avoirdupois.  At 
2,000  Ibs.  to  the  ton,  an  inch  deep  of  rain 
weighs  113,127  tons  per  acre,  or  for  every 
lOOtli  of  an  inch  considerably  over  a  ton  of 
water  falls  per  acre. — Builder. 

"Weight  of  Water.  Water. — A  cubic  inch  of 
water  weighs  .0361  lb.  ;  a  gallon  10  lbs.  ;  a 
cubic  foot,  62.32 lbs.,  or  measures  6.23  gallons, 
or  a  cubic  foot  of  water  may  be  set  down  at 
as  equal  to  6)4  gallons. 

Thermometric   Scales,    French  and  English. 


Centigrade. 

Reaumur. 

Fahrenheit. 

Boiling  point. . 

100     deg. 

80    deg. 

212  deg. 

93.3    ■■ 

74.6    •• 

200     " 

82.2    - 

65.7     " 

180     " 

71.1    " 

56.8    " 

160     " 

60.0    " 

4«0     " 

140    •• 

48.8    " 

39.1    " 

120     " 

43  3    " 

34.6     " 

110     " 

37.7    " 

30.2     " 

100     " 

32.2    " 

25.7    •■ 

90     •« 

2G.6    " 

21.3    " 

8'»     •• 

21.1    " 

16  8    " 

70    " 

15..5    " 

12.4     " 

60    •• 

lU.O    " 

80     " 

50     " 

4.4    " 

3.5     •• 

40     " 

Freezing  point. 

—    " 

—      " 

32     " 

520 


HEXDERSON'S   HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


THE    SOIL. 


Absorptive  Powers  of  Soil.  100  lbs.  of  pure 
clay  absorbs  70  lbs.  of  water,  while  the  same 
weight  of  pure  saud  absorbs  25  lbs.  ;  clay 
loam  absorbs  50  lbs.  ;  chalk,  45  lbs. ;  loamy 
sand.  40  lbs.,  and  calcareous  sand,  25  lbs. 
Schubler's  experiments  show  that  1,000  tons  of 
pulverized  soils  will  absorb  moisture  when 
exposed  to  the  atmosphere,  as  follows :  sandy 
clay,  2(Uons;  loamy  clay,  30  tons;  stiff  clay, 
36  tons,  and  garden  mould,  45  tons. 

Cohesive^  Powers  of  Soil.  If  the  cohesive 
power  of  pure  clay  is  taken  as  the  standard 
and  stated  at  100,  pure  sand  being  placed  at 
zero,  the  cohesive  power  of  loamy  clay  Is  63; 
sandy  clay,  57;  humus,  8,  and  arable  soil,  33. 

Weight  of  Various  Soils.  A  ton  of  common 
loamy  earth  measures  21  cubic  ft. ;  of  clay,  17,^2 
cubic  ft.  ;  gravel,  18  cubic  feet ;  sand, 23)^  cubic 
ft. ;  marl,  18  cubic  ft.  ;  chalk,  14  cubic  ft. 


Bui's  of  Dug  Soil.  A  wheelbarrow  will  hold 
about  one-tenth  of  a  cubic  yard  of  soil.  When 
dug,  soils  of  various  kinds  increase  in  bulk, 
as  follows  :  earth  or  clay,  one-fourth  ;  sand 
and  gravel,  one-twelfth ;  chalk,  one-third ; 
I'ock,  one-fourth. 

When  thrown  into  permanent  heaps  or 
embaakmeuts  of  considerable  size,  earth  and 
clay  subside  to  about  one-sixth  in  bulk,  and 
fall  vertically  about  one-flfth ;  sand  and 
gravel  decline  in  bulk  one-fifteenth  on'^an 
average,  and  in  height  one-fourth. 

The  Angle  of  Repose  of  Soils  w^hen  Thrown 
Up  in  Slopes.  The  following  soils  will  re- 
main permanent  when  at  the  angles  named  : 
clay,  drained,  45'^;  claj',  wet,  16*^;  compact 
earth,  50"  ;  vegetable  earth,  28°  ;  shingle,  39°  ; 
gravel,  40";  sand  in  its  usual  conditions,  22"^; 
dry  sand,  38". 


MAXURES   Al^D   FERTILIZERS. 


Rotted  Stable  Manure.  In  the  vicinity  of 
New  York  this  is  usually  sold  by  the  load  of 
2,000  lbs. ;  but  in  the  Eastern  States  the 
measurement  is  made  by  the  cord,  containing 
usually  two  and  one- half  to  three  loads,  or 
5,000  to  6,000  lbs. ;  much  depending  upon  the 
condition  of  the  manure. 

Soluble  Ingredients  in  a  Ton  of  Fresh 
Farm-yard  Manure  Water,  1,482>2  lbs.; 
soluble  organic  matter,  55}^  lbs.  ;  soluble 
silica,  5>^  lbs.;  phosphate  of  lime,  6^^  lbs; 
lime,  11^  lbs. ;  magnesia,  y^  lb ;  potash,  12^^ 
lbs. ;  soda,  1>^  lbs. ;  chloride  of  sodium,  % 
lbs  ;  sulphuric  acid,  1>^  lbs. ;  carbonic  acid 
and  loss,  4^4  lbs. 

Soluble  Ingredients  in  a  Ton  of  Rotted 
Farm-yard  Manure.  Water,  1,68914  lbs.  ; 
soluble  organic  matter,  83  lbs.;  soluble  silica, 
53^  lbs. ;  phosphate  of  lime,  814  lbs. ;  lime, 
2>|  lbs. ;  magnesia,  1  lb.  ;  potash,  10  lbs. ; 
soda,  y^  lb. ;  chloride  of  sodium,  %  lbs. ;  sul- 
phuric acid,  \)A  lbs. ;  carbonic  acid  and  loss, 
2%  lbs. 

Constituents  in  a  Ton  of  Various  Manures. 

Pekuvian  Guano. —  Ammonia,  221  ig  lbs.; 
potash,  66>^  lbs. ;  soda,  37  lbs.  ;  phosphoric 
acid,  283  lbs. ;  sulphuric  acid,  93 Vo  lbs.,  and 
chlorine,  62  lbs. 

Night  Soiii.— Ammonia,  17  lbs. ;  potash,  2ii; 
lbs. ;  soda,  4>^  lbs.  ;  phosphoric  acid,  120  lbs."; 
sulphuric  acid,  2>^  lbs.,  and  chlorine,  2)^  lbs. 

NiTKATE  OF  Soda.— Ammonia,  364  lbs.,  and 
soda,  81^  lbs. 

Sulphate  op  Ammonia.— Ammonia,  470 
lbs.,  and  sulphuric  acid,  1,357  lbs. 

Sulphate  of  Lime.— Sulphuric  acid,  1,317 
lbs. 

Common  Salt.— Soda,  813  lbs.,  and  chlorine. 
1,187  lbs. 

Fresh  Bones.— Phosphoric  acid,  580  lbs., 
and  ammonia,  145  lbs. 

Mixed  Ukine.— Ammonia,  18V^  lbs. ;  pot- 
ash, 2  lbs. ;  phosphoric  acid,  1V^  lbs. ;  soda, 
5>^  lbs. ;  sulphuric  acid,  3%  lbs.,  and  chlorine, 
1>^  lbs. 

Soot. — Ammonia,  50  lbs. ;  chlorine,  22 1^ 
lbs. ;  sulphuric  acid,  194  lbs.  ;  phosphoric 
acid,  5%  lbs. ;  soda,  2V^  lbs.;  magnesia,  %y^ 
lbs.,  and  potash,  7  lbs. 


Value  of  Manure  according;  to  Professor 
Johnston.  Placing  farm-yard  manure  as  the 
standard,  100 ;  value  of  the  mixed — that  is, 
solid  and  liquid — excretion  of  the  cow  is  9:5, 
of  the  horse  54,  of  the  pig  64.  The  liquid  ex- 
cretion of  the  cow  is  91 ;  solid  do.,  125  ;  liquid 
excretion  of  the  horse,  16  ;  solid  do.,  73. 

"Weight  of  Manure  to  apply  to  diSFerent 
Crops,  per  Acre.  Potatoes,  15  to  30  ton  3; 
mangel  wurzel,  20  to  30 ;  carrots,  12  to  20 ; 
hops,  25  to  40 ;  beans,  12  to  20  tons. 

Artificial  Manures. —  Peruvian  guano, 
250  to  500  lbs. ;  nitrate  of  soda  and  potash,  250 
lbs. ;  salt,  250  to 500 lbs. ;  soot,  1,000  to  1,500  lbs. 

Weight  of  Manures.  Of  night  soil,  a  ton 
measures  eighteen  cubic  feet.  Dung  with 
manure  retained ;  a  cubic  yard  weighs  a  ton. 
If  manure  when  first  taken  from  the  cattle 
boxes  in  a  fresh  state  is  supposed  to  weigh 
100,  it  will  in  a  half-rotted  state  weigh  only 
80,  or  will  have  lost  one-fifth;  when  fully 
rotted,  50,  having  lost  one-half.  Crushed 
bones  weigh  about  1,000  lbs.  to  the  cubic 
yard ;  bones  calcined,  about  one-half  the 
above;  animal  charcoal,  about  2,000  lbs.  to 
the  cubic  yard;  marl,  about,  3,750  lbs;  phos- 
phate of  lime,  about  3,000  lbs.,  and  street  or 
road  detritus,  about  one  ton. 

Inorganic  Constituents  returned  to  the  soil 
in  Tw^elve  Tons  of  Farm-yard  Manure  to 
the  Acre.  Potash.  201  lbs. ;  soda,  67  lbs. ;  lime, 
337  lbs. ;  magnesia,  35  lbs. ;  chlorine,  12  lbs.; 
sulphuric  acid,  84  lbs. ;  phosphoiic  acid,  108 
lbs. ;  soluble  silica,  269  lbs. ;  nitrogen,  165  lbs 

Ingredients  and  Proportions  in  Making  Su- 
perpliosphate  of  Lima,  according  to  Ander- 
son. 42  lbs.,  or  one  busliel  of  bones,  17}^  lbs. 
of  sulphuric  acid,  9  lbs.  of  water  and  10  bush- 
els of  ashes ;  the  bones  to  be  sprinkled  with 
the  water,  before  the  acid  is  employed.  The 
amount  thus  made  will  be  sufficient  for  an 
acre.  The  following  is  the  mode  of  making 
it:  The  cistern  should  be  made  of  lead  or 
strong  wood ;  the  bones  should  be  spread  in 
small  quantity  upon  the  bottom  of  the  cistern 
and  the  acid  gradually  poured  in  upon  them 
from  the  watering  vessel,  which  should  be 
made  of  lead,  and  at  the  same  time  a  quantity 
(proportionate  to  the  acid)  of  boiling  water. 


AND   GENERAL   HORTICULTURE. 


521 


Medium  Rotted  Boue  Manure — Decomposed 
•with  Potash. 

ANALYSIS.  Per  Cent. 

Phosphoric  Acid 3.33 

Equivalent  to  Bone  I  «  on 

Pliosphale  of  Lime  j 

Nitrogen 2.57 

Equivalent  to  Ammonia 3.11 

Potassa  (Potash):' 3.10 

Equivalent  to  Sulphate  of  Potassa 5.80 

Rotted  Boue  Manure,  Plain. 

_^^.>'  ANALYSIS.  Per  Cent. 

.  BIrosphoric  Acid 5.44 

Equivalent  to  Bone  )  g  gg 

Phosphate  of  Lime  j 

Nitrogen 2.48 

Equivalent  to  Ammonia 3.02 

Analysis  No.  1  Peruvian  Guano. 

Moisture  at  212«  F 13.16 

Potash 2.62 

Nitrogen 7.76 

Total  Phosphoric  Acid 14  28 

Stones 4.6^ 

Equivalent  to  Ammonia 9.42 

Equivalent  to  Bone  Phosphate 31.17 


Permanent  Pasture   Fertilizer,   High  Grade. 

ANALYSIS.  Per  Cent. 

Ammonia 4      to    43^ 

Phosphoric  Acid,  total 10     to  12 

Potash  as  Sulphate  and  Muriate. .  S}^  to    4)^2 

Analysis  of  Pure  Raw  Knuckle  Bone  Meal. 

MECHANICAL  ANALYSIS.  Per  Cent. 

Passed  holes  ^  inch 76 

"      ^    "    21 

"      1^     "    _^ 

100 

CHEMICAL   ANALYSIS. 

Per  Cent.  Lbs.  per  Ton. 

Nitrogen 3.82  76.4 

Phosphoric  Acid 25.61  512.2 

Blood  and  Bone  Fertilizer. 

Per  Cent. 

Ammonia  from  Blood  and  Bone  3 

Phosphate  of  Lime,  nearly  all  soluble  and 

available,  except  ^  per  cent 26 

Potash,  actual     3 

Sulphate  of  Potash 5  to  6 


CROPS. 


The  following  Table  will  assist  Farmers  or 
Gardeners  in  making  an  Accmrate  Esti- 
mate of  the  Amount  of  Land  in  Different 
Fields  under  Cultivation: 


10 rods  X  16  rods.. 

. .  1  acre. 

220  feel 

X  198  feet 

. .  1  acre. 

8    •'     x20    "    .. 

110     " 

X  369     " 

..  1    " 

5     "     x32     "    .. 

60     " 

x726     " 

..  1    " 

4    "     x40     "     .. 

120     " 

x363     '• 

..  1    " 

5  yds.  X  968  yds.. 

200    " 

X  108.9" 

■  •  M     " 

10    "     x484    "   .. 

100     '' 

X  145.2  " 

. .  H    " 

20     "     x212    "   .. 

100     " 

X  108.9" 

40     "     xlJl    "  .. 

Average  Number  of  Seeds  contained  in  One 
lb.  of  the  various  Cereal  Crops.  Wheat, 
10,000 ;  barley,  15,000  ;  oats,  18,000  to  20,000  ; 
rye,  20,000  ;  beans,  900  to  1,000  ;  peas,  1,800  to 
2,000  ;  flax,  100,000 ;  hemp,  24,000. 

Average  Quantity  of  Seed  Sown  to  an  Acre : 

IN   DKILLS. 

Beets 5  to    6  pounds. 

Carrots 4  to    5  " 

Dwarf  Beans 13^  bushels. 

Early  Peas  3 

Marrowfat  Peas .              3  " 

Onions 5  to    6  pounds. 

Onions  for  sets 60  to  80  " 

Onion  sets,  per  acre,  accord- 
ing to  size 8  to  10  bushels. 

Potatoes  (cut  tubers) 12  to  14  " 

Parsnips 5  to    6  pounds. 

Radishes 9  to  10  " 

Salsify 6  to    8 

Spinach 10  to  12 

Turnip l>^to    2 

IN   HILLS. 

Corn 8  to  10  quarts. 

Cucumbers 2  to    3  pounds 

Muskraelons 2  to    3       " 

Pole  Beans 8  to  10  quarts. 

Pumpkin 2  to    3  pounds 

Squash 2  to    3       " 

Watermelons 4  to    5       " 


Quantity    of   Seed    Required    for 
Number  of  Plants: 


Asparagus 1  oz. 

Cabbage 1  oz.  1 

Cauliflower 1  oz.  1, 

Celery 1  oz.  2 

Egg  Plant  1  oz.  1 

Endive 1  oz.  3 

Leek 1  oz.  1 

Lettuce 1  oz.  3 

Marjoram 1  oz.  1 

Pepper 1  oz.  1 

Rhubarb 1  oz. 

Sage • ■ 1  oz.  1 

Savory 1  oz.  2 

Thyme 1  oz.  4 

Tomato 1  oz.  1 


a    Given 

About. 

500  plants. 

,500 

,000 

,000 

,000 

,000 

,500 

000 

,500 

,000 

500 

,000 

,000 

,000 

,500 


Quantity   of   Seed    Required    for    a    Given 
Number  of  Hills : 

Corn 1  qt.  to  200  hills. 

Cucumbers 1  oz.  to  125     " 

Muskmelon  1  oz.  to    60     " 

Pole  Beans,  Limas 1  qt.  to  100     ♦' 

Pole  Beans,  Wax 1  qt.  to  150     " 

Pumpkin .1  oz.  to    50     " 

Squash 1  oz.  to    50     " 

Watermelon 1  oz.  to    30     " 

Quantity    of   Seed   Required    for 
Length  of  Drill : 

Asparagus 1  oz. 

Beet 1  oz. 

Beans,  Dwarf 1  qt.  100 

Carrot I  oz.  100 

Endive 1  oz.  100 

Okra I  oz.    40 

Onion 1  oz.  100 

Onion  sets 1  qt.    50 

Parsley I  oz.  125 

Parsnips 1  oz.  200 

Peas  1  qt.    75 

Radishes I  oz.  100 

Salsify 1  oz.    70 

Spinach 1  oz.  100 

Turnip 1  oz.  150 


Given 

60  feet  of  drill. 
50 


522 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF   PLANTS 


Table  Showing  the  Amount  of  Seed  Neces- 
sary for  an  Acre,  and  the  Number  of 
Pounds  to  the  Bushel: 

,                                            No.  lbs.  No.  lbs. 

to  Bu.  to  Acre. 

Alfalfa 60  12  to    15 

Alslke  Clover 60  5  to      8 

Barley 48  75  to    90 

Buckwheat 48  50  to    75 

English  Bye  Grass 28  75  to  100 

Flax 56  28  to    42 

Hemp 44  30  to    60 

Henderson's  Mixed  Lawn  Grass 21  75  to  100 

Hungarian 48  40  to    50 

JohusonGrass 25  25  to    30 

Kentucky  Blue  Grass 14  40  to    50 

Millet 50  40  to    50 

Oats 2  to  3  bushels 

Orchard  Grass 14  45  to    50 

Peas,   Field 60  120  to  1«0 

Ked  Clover 60  12  to    14 

RedTop 14  30  to    40 

Rye 56  75to    90 

Sugarcane  50  6  to     8 

Timothy 45  25  to    40 

Wheat 60  60to    90 

White  Dutch  Clover    60  5  to     8 

Average  Gross  Produce  per  Acre  of  the 
Cereal  Crops.  Wheat,  20  to  25  bushels; 
oats,  35  to  40  bushels ;  barley,  35  to  40  bush- 
els; rye,  25  to  30  bushels;  peas,  25  bush- 
els. 


Weights  of  various  Farm  Crops.      Two  and 

one-fifth  cubic  feet  of  new  wheat  weighs  112 
lbs. ;  oats,  3.65  cubic  feet,  112  lbs. ;  barley,  2.38 
cubic  feet,  112  lbs. ;  straw,  In  its  usual  condi- 
tion, weighs  31^  lbs.  per  cubic  foot — it  maybe 
compressed  to  weigh  nearly  6  lbs.  per  cubic 
foot ;  haj'  in  like  manner  will  weigh  respect- 
ively 5  and  8  lbs.  per  cul^ic  foot.  A  bushel  of 
grain  when  lying  on  the  floor  occupies  a  space 
of  one  square  foot,  with  a  depth  of  15 1^  inches. 
Turnips,  about  1,000  lbs.  to  the  cubic  yard ; 
ruta-bagas,  about  1,3.50  lbs. ;  mangel  wurzel>*, 
about  1,100  lbs. ;  potatoes,  about  l,250J|hs., 
and  carrots,  about  1,100  lbs.  to  the  cubic  yard. 
A  ton  of  Timothy  hay  in  stack  or  mow,  well 
pressed,  measures  480  cubic  feet,  or  6x8x10 
feet.  A  ton  of  mixed  Timothy  and  clover 
measures  520  feet.  A  ton  of  mixed  meadow 
grasses  measures  600  feet. 
A  ton  of  loose  straw  measure  900  feet. 

Average  Weight  per  Acre  of  the  Root  and 
Hay  Crops.  Turnips,  20  to  30  tons  ;  carrots, 
25  tons ;  potatoes,  6  to  12  tons ;  hay,  1  to  2 
tons  ;  clover  hsby,  2  tons. 

Average  Weight  of  the  Straw  of  the  Cereal 
Crops  per  Acre.  Wheat,  3,000  to  3,500  lbs.  ; 
oats,  2,000  to  2,500  lbs. ;  barley,  2,100  to  2,500 
lbs. ;  rye,  4,000  to  5,000  lbs. ;  peas,  2,700  lbs. 


STOCK. 


Value  of  different  Foods  compared  ■with  Hay. 
One  hundred  pounds  of  good  meadow  hay  are 
estimated  to  be  equivalent  in  feeding  value  to 
80  lbs.  of  clover,  or  vetch  hay,  200  lbs.  of  po- 
tatoes, 460  lbs.  of  beet-root  with,  and  250  lbs. 
without,  the  leaves,  250  lbs.  of  carrots,  400  lbs; 
of  wheat  straw,  300  lbs.  of  barley  and  oat 
straw,  25  lbs.  of  beans  or  peas,  50  lbs.  of  oats 
and  500  lbs.  of  green  clover  or  vetches. 

To  Produce  1  lb.  of  Flesh  in  Fattening  Stock. 

It  is  calculated  that  it  takes  the  consumption 
of  either  100  lbs.  of  turnips,  50  lbs.  of  pota- 
toes, 25  lbs.  of  milk,  9  lbs."  of  oatmeal,  7  lbs. 
of  barley  meal,  73^  lbs.  of  bread,  the  same 
quantity  of  flour,  and  7  lbs.  of  peas  or  beans. 

Rate  of  Pulsation  of  the  Animals  of  the  Farm. 

The  horse,  32  to  38  pulsations  per  minute  ;  an 
ox  or  cow,  25  to  42  ;  a  sheep,  70  to  79  ;  the  ass, 
48  to  54 ;  goat,  72  to  76 ;  tlie  dog,  90  to  100 ; 
the  cat,  110  to  120;  the  rabbit,  120;  the  Guinea- 
pig,  140 ;  of  fowls,  the  hen,  140 ;  the  duck, 
135. 

Periods  of  Gestation  of  Farm  Animals.  Cow, 
from  240  to  321  days ;  mare,  322  to  419 ;  ewe, 
146  to  161  days ;  sow,  109  to  143  days  ;  rabbit, 
20  to  35  days. 

Time  Occupied  to  Hatch  Eggs  by  various 
Birds.  Hen,  21  days ;  duck,  28  days  ;  turkey, 
26  days  ;  goose,  30  days  ;  pigeon,  18  days. 

Amount  of  Air  required  for  Ventilation  Pur- 
poses by  Man  and  by  the  Animals  of  the 
Farm.  If  it  be  correct  that  when  respiration 
is  performed  naturally,  there  are  about  eight- 
een respirations  in  one  minute,  and  1,080  in  an 
hour ;  and  that  by  each  respiration  a  pint  of 
air  is  sent  into  the  lungs,  that  is,  eighteen 
pints  in  a  minute,  or  more  than  two  hogsheads 
in  an  hour,  the  effect  impurity  may  produce  is 
evident.  When  the  body  is  in  a  state  of 
health  there  will  be  seventy-two  pulsations  of 
the  heart  in  a  minute.  Every  pulsation  sends 
to  the  heart  two  ounces  of  blood.     Thus  144 


ounces  are  sent  for  purification  to  the  lungs 
every  minute.  The  blood  performs  a  com- 
plete circuit  of  the  system  in  110  seconds. 
These  figures  show  how  great  is  the  need  for 
the  air  we  breath  to  be  pure  and  wholesome. 

The  minimum  amount  of  space  required  to 
keep  a  man  in  a  healthy  condition  is  600  cubic 
feet ;  this  is  often  the  allowance  for  a  horse, 
which  should  have  double  that  amount  of 
space  at  least ;  some  idea,  therefore,  may  be 
obtained  of  the  unhealthy  condition  of  stables. 
The  cow  may  be  set  down  as  requiring  at 
least  as  much,  if  not  more,  than  a  horse,  so 
that  1,400  cubic  feet  per  cow  should  be  al- 
lowed. It  has  been  calculated  that  the  horse 
inspiring  eight  times  per  minute,  requires 
48,000  cubic  inches  of  air  per  hour.  The 
quantity  of  carbonic  acid  gas  created  by  the 
respiration  of  this  volume  of  air  per  hour  is 
one  cubic  foot,  containing  two  ounces  or 
thereabouts  of  solid  carbon.  To  this  source 
of  deterioration  of  the  purity  of  the  air  of  a 
cow-house,  is  to  be  added  that  arising  from 
the  cutaneous  perspiration  of  the  animal, 
which,  with  pulmonary  perspiration,  results 
in  the  evolution  of  a  weight  of  watery  excreta 
equal  to  fifteen  pounds  every  twenty-four 
hours ;  add  to  these  sources  of  impurity  those 
arising  from  the  liquid  and  solid  excreta 
voided  by  the  animal,  and  some  idea  of  the 
state  of  the  air  in  a  badly  ventilated  cow- 
house may  be  formed.  The  amount  of  air, 
then,  which  from  the  above  data  is  required 
for  each  animal  is  6,000  cubic  feet,  acd  this 
space  given  to  a  cow  house  of  ample  dimen- 
sions will  give  house  room  for  four  animals, 
thus  allowing  each  1,500  cubic  feet  of  air  per 
hour ;  so  that  to  give  to  each  the  supply  of 
four  times  this,  the  air  will  require  to  be 
changed  four  times  every  hour.  Each  window 
frame,  in  the  open  spaces  or  chinks  connected 
with  it,  passes  some  eight  cubic  feet  per  min- 
ute ;  a  door  will  pass  at  least  double  that 
quantity. 


FORESTRY,   Etc. 


Table  Showing  the  Number  of  Trees  or 
Plants  that  can  be  Planted  on  an  Acre,  at 
the  distances  apait  given: 


Gx    6feet 1.210 


5'.x5' 
5x5 
5x4 
5x  3 
5x2 
5x1 
4x4 
4x3 
4x2 
4x1 
3x3 
3x2 
3x  1 
2x  2 
2x1 
1  X    1 


..  1,417 
. .  1,742 
..  2,178 
..  2.904 
..  4,356 
..  8,712 
..  2,722 
..  3,630 
. .  5,445 
..10,890 
..  4,840 
. .  7,260 
..14,520 
. .  10,890 
..21,780 
..43,660 


All  CoNiFEE^  and  EvERGiiEEN  Tkee-Seeds 
require  to  be  kept  in  a  cool,  dry  spot  (prefera- 
bly in  dry  sand)  until  tlie  time  of  sowing. 
Cliestnuts,  Walnuts  and  similar  seeds  should 
be  planted  in  the  fall,  or  kept  in  moist 
sand  or  moss,  as  they  lose  their  germinating 
power  by  too  long  exposure  to  the  air.  Apple, 
Pear,  Quince  seeds,  with  Cherry  and  Peach 
pits,  also  those  with  hard  shells,  like  Magno- 
lias, Locust,  etc.,  should  be  placed  in  boxes  of 
sand  and  well  frozen  before  being  sown  in 
spring,  to  soften  their  hard  outer  coating, 
otherwise  they  may  not  vegetate  until  the 
second  year  after  sowing.  If  this  has  been 
overlooked,  they  may  be  soaked  in  hot  water 
for  a  few  hours  before  planting.  Osage  orange 
seeds  invariably  require  this  treatment.  The 
seeds  of  other  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs, 
with  few  exceptions,  may  be  planted  dur- 
ing the  spring  months  with  every  chance  of 
success. 
Fkuit  and  Tree  Seeds.  In  raising  Fruit 
or  Tree  seeds  it  is  well  to  remember  that 
some  varieties  germinate  very  easily,  while 
others  will  lie  dormant  a  whole  season 
before  commencing  to  grow.  The  reason 
for  this  depends  generally  on  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  seeds  have  been  treated  be- 
fore sowing,  though  often  seeds  of  a  given 
species  gathered  and  sown  at  the  same  time 
will  show  great  irregularity  in  germinating, 


some    of   them    coming    up  weeks    or  even 
months  before  others. 
Number  of  Tree  Seeds  to  the  Poimd, 

About. 

Ailantus 20,000 

Alder 100,000 

Ash,  American  White 10,000 

Ash,  European   5,000 

Apple 12,000 

Arborvitte,  American 30,000 

Arborvitee,  Chinese 40,000 

Barberry 8,000 

Beech,  European 1,000 

Birch,  White 500,000 

Black  or  Yellow  Locust 3,000 

Box  Elder  15,000 

Catalpa  Speciosa 20,000 

Teas'  Japanese  Hybrid 50,000 

Cedar,  Eed  8,000 

Cherrj^  Black 4,000 

Cherry,  Pits 1,000 

Chestnut,  Sweet 100 

Elm,  American  and  European 50,000 

Fir,  Balsam 80,000 

Fir,  Scotch 70,000 

Hawthorn 6,000 

Hemlock  Spruce 100,000 

Hickory  Nuts 50 

Honey  Locust 2,500 

Hornbeam 10,000 

Kentucky  Coffee  Tree 200 

Larch 100,000 

Linden,  European 5,000 

Maple,  Mammoth 7,000 

Norway 7,000 

Soft 2,000 

Sugar 7,000 

Sycamore  6,000 

Mulberry,  sorts 200,000 

Norway  Spruce 70,000 

Osage  Orange 10,000 

Papaw 400 

Peach 200 

Pear 15,000 

Pine,  Austrian 25,000 

Quince 15,000 

Sweet  Gum 20,000 

Tulip  Tree 20,000 

Walnuts 25 


maso:ntiy,  well  digging  aio)  lumber. 


Stone  and  Brick  "Work.  One  square  foot  of 
8-in.  wall  requires  16  bricks ;  12-in.  wall,  24 
bricks;  16-in.  wall,  32  bricks;  18-in  wall,  3G 
bricks.  One  perch  of  stone  work  is  24^^ 
cubic  feet,  or  16)^  square  feet,  18  inches 
thick. 

Cement  and  Mortar.  One  barrel  of  cement 
and  two  barrels  of  sand  will  make  mortar  suf- 
ficient for  600  to  700  bricks.  One  barrel  of 
cement  to  four  of  sand  and  gravel  will  make 
nine  square  yards  of  concrete  floor,  three  inches 
thick.  One  barrel  of  lime  with  ten  bushels  of 
sand  will  make  mortar  for  1,000  bricks.  One 
barrel  of  lime  and  ten  bushels  of  sand  will 
make  plaster  for  forty  square  yards  of  sur- 
face ;  half  a  bushel  of  long  hair,  or  a  half 
more  of  short  hair,  will  be  required.  One 
hundred  laths  and  500  nails  will  cover  four 
and  a  half  square  j^ards.  A  square  yard  of 
plastering  requires  three-fourths  of  a  bushel. 
A  hod  of  mortar  is  half  a  bushel. 


On  Determining  the  Size  of  Cisterns  for  Rain 
Water.  The  size  of  cisterns  should  vary  ac- 
cording to  their  intended  use.  If  they  are  to 
furnish  a  daily  supply  of  water  they  need  not 
be  so  large  as  for  keeping  supplies  for  sum- 
mer only.  The  average  depth  of  rain  which 
falls  in  this  latitude  rarely  exceeds  six  to 
seven  inches  for  two  months.  The  size  of  the 
cistern,  therefore,  need  not  exceed  that  of  a 
body  of  water  on  the  whole  roof  of  the  build  • 
ing  seven  inches  deep.  To  ascertain  this 
amount  multiply  the  length  by  the  breadth  of 
the  building,  reduce  this  to  inches,  and  divide 
the  product  by  231,  and  the  quotient  will  be 
gallons  for  each  inch  of  depth.  Multiplj'ing 
by  seven  will  give  the  full  amount  for  two 
months'  rain  falling  upon  the  roof ;  divide  by 
313^,  the  quotient  will  be  barrels.  Cisterns 
intended  only  for  drawing  from  in  times  of 
drought  should  be  about  three  times  the 
preceding  capacity. 


524 


HENDERSON'S  HANDBOOK   OF  .1     ANTS' 


Contents  of  a  Round  Cistern  in  Gallons  and 
Number ,  of  Bricks  required  for  each  foot 
in  Depth: 


Gallons. 

Barrels. 

Bricks. 

8     feet  in  diameter. . . . 

376 

12>i 

292 

S}i  • .... 

424 

14 

308 

9       ••      " 

480 

15% 

326 

9>i    '•      - 

533 

17>i 

340 

10       "    •" 

5T9 

19 

360 

11        "      " 

690 

23 

418 

12        

840 

28 

452 

13        "      •• 

992 

33 

484 

11        "      " 

1.151 

38^ 

520 

15        "      " 

1,321 

44 

559 

A  circle  encloses  the  largest  space  of  any 
figure  for  the  same  length  of  line.  A  circular 
cistern  is  therefore  the  cheapest.  The  fol- 
lowing table  gives  the  differences  of 

Area  of  Square  and  Round  Cisterns. 

Squabk. 
Diameter  Length  of  Wall.       Area  of  Surface. 

8  feet 32  feet.  64  square  feet. 

10    "  40     "  100       " 

12     "  48     "  144      " 


Round. 

Diameter.                       Length  of  War  Area  of  Surface. 

lOfeet 31^'ifeet.  78 3i  square  feet 

12    "  ....; 37?i     "  112 

15     " 47         "  117 

Twice  the  diameter  of  a  cir-cle  or  a  square 
gives  four  times  the  tin-d  in  square  feet ;  twice 
the  diameter  of  a  cube  gives  eight  times, the 
solid  contents  in  cubic  fo^;  half  the  diameter 
gives  one-fourth  of  the  area,  iir  one  eighth  of 
the  cubic  contents. 

Well  Digging.  Quantity  of  e%^gg|\„  ":^  ed 
for  each  foot  in  depth  of  d'*;^-'  "•  \  ..aineus  s: 
3ft.,  261  cubic  yards;  3.^  f  '•.  .,  307  (lP:t)ic 
yards;  3  ft.  6  in.,  356  o  .^Z.\^.s;  i  ft.,  465 
cubic  yards  ;  4  ft.  6  in.,  589  ouoic  yards ;  and 
5  ft.,  727  cubic  yards. 

"Weight  of  Timber.  English  oak  weighs  50 
lbs.  to  tlie  cubic  foot;  American  oak,  47; 
Baltic,  46  ;  mahogany,  Honduras,  40  ;  and 
Spanish,  55 ;  larch,  35 ;  ash,  50 ;  bircli,  48 ; 
beech,  51;  elm,  39;  poplar,  32;  red  pine,  40; 
yellow  pine,  33 ;  Danzic  fir,  35 ;  and  Memel 
lir,  38  lbs.  to  the  cubic  foot. 


WEIGHTS   AND   MEASURES. 

Table  for  Converting  Sundry  Weights  and  Measures 

Into  the  Metric  System,  and  the  reverse  ;  constructed  on  the  basis  of  the  tables  published  in  the 
Smithsonian  Eeport  for  the  year  1805,  prepared  by  Henry  G.  Hanks. 


|1|2|3|4|6|6|7|       8|9 

No.    1.  Inches  to  millimeters |    25.40  |    50.80  |    76.20  |    101.60  |    127.00  |    152.40  |    177.80  1    203.20  |    228.60 

•'     2.  Cubic  feet  to  liters |    28.32  |    56.63  |    84.95  |    113.27  |    141.59  |    169.90  |    198.22  |    226.54  |    254.85 

"     3.  Liters  to  cubic  inches  |    61.02  |  120.05  |  183.07  |    244.09  |    306.12  |    366.14  |    427.16  |    4(>M.iy  |    549.21 

•'     4.  Cubic  inches  to  cubic  centimetf  IS.  ..  1    16.39  |    32.77  |    49.16  |      65.55  |      81.94  |      98.32  |    114.71  |    131.10  |    147.48 

"      5.  Hectoliters  to  wine  gaUous |  26.417  |  62.834  |  79.251  |  105.668  |  132.085  |  158.502  |  184.919  |  211.336  |  237.753 

"     6.  Wine  gallons  to  liters |    3.785  |    7.571  |  11.356  |    15.142  |    18.927  |    22.713  |    26.498  (    30.283  |    40.069 

"      7.  Liters  to  fluid  ounces |    33.81  |    67.63  |  101.44  |    135.26  |    169.07  |    202.88  |    236.70  |    270.51  |    304.32 

"      8.  Fluid  ounces  to  centiliters |    2.957  |    6.915  |    8.872  |    11.829  |    14.787  |    17.744  |    20.702  |    23.659  |    26.616 

"      9.  KUogramsto  avoirdupois  pounds....  |  2.2046  |  4.4092  |  6.6138  |    8.8184  |  11.0230  |  13.2276  |  15.4322  |  17.6368  |  19.8414 

'•    10.  Avoirdupois  pounds  to  grams |    453.6  (    907.2  |  1360.8  |    1814.4  |    2268.0  |    2721.6  |    3175.2  |    3628.8  |    4082.4 

"    11.  KUogramsto  avoirdupois  ounces....  1    35.27  |    70.55  |  105.82  |    141.09  |    176.37  |    211.64  |    246.92  |    282.19  |    317.46 

••    12.  Avoirdupois  ounces  to  grams     |    28.35  |    66.70  |    85.05  |    113.40  |    141.75  |    170.10  |    198.45  |    226.80  |    255.15 

"    13.  KUograms  to  troy  ounces |  32.150  |  64.301  |  96.451  |  128.602  |  160.752  |  192.903  |  225.053  |  257.203  |  289.354 

"    14.  Troy  ounces  to  grams |  31.104  |  62.208  |  93.311  |  124.415  |  155.519  |  186.623  |  217.727  |  248.830  |  279.934 

"    15.  Grams  to  grains |  15.432  |  30.864  |  46.297  |    61.729  |    77.161  |    92.593  |  108.025  |  123  458  |  138.890 

"    16.  Grains  to  grams |  0.0648  |  0.1296  |  0.1944  |    0.2592  |    0.3240  |    0.3888  |    0.4536  |    0.5184  |    0.5832 

The  above  table  will  be  found  to  meet  all  the  requirements  of  the  assayer  and  chemist.  The  following  example  will 
explain  its  use  :  Suppose  the  capacity  of  a  tank  or  cistern  is  found  by  uieasurement  to  be  82  cubic  feet,  and  the  number 
of  liters  is  required!  Kefer  to  table  No.  2,  and  find  that  8  cubic  feet  =  226.54  liters.  Eighty  cubic  feet  will  be  ten  timee 
as  much.    Therefore  :  80  cubic  feet  =  2265.40  liters. 

2  cubic  feet  =      56.03  liters. 


82  cubic  feet  =  2322.03  liters. 


French. 

Metre. 

Millimetre, 

.001 

Centimetre, 

.01 

Decimetre, 

.1 

Metre, 

1 

Decametre, 

10 

Hectometre, 

100 

Kilometre, 

1000 

Myriametre, 

10,000 

Metrical  or  Modern  System : 

LINEAR   MEASURE 

Englisk. 
or  .039371  inches, 
or  .39371 
or  3.9371 
or  39.371 
or  393.71 
or    3937.1 

or     39371       "       or  'e'  mile, 
or  393710       "     or  6 J  mile ^. 

The  basis  or  unit  of  the  system*  is  the  metre, 
which  is  the  ten-millionth  part  of  the  terres- 
trial arc  from  the  equator  to  the  pole,  and  the 
length  of  which  in  English  measure  is  1.0936 
yards,  or  3.2809  feet,  or  as  above  in  inches. 
By  multiplying  the  metre  respectively  by  10, 
lOOi  1,000  and  10,000,  we  obtain  thedeca,  hed,o, 
kilo  and  m.yria  metre  respectively ;  and  by 
dividing  the  metre  by  10,  100  and  1,000,  we  ob- 
tain the  ded,  centi  and  milli  metre  respectively. 


SUPERFICIAL   MEASURE. 

English. 
155  square  incbea. 


is  equal  to 


10.764  square  feet. 
11.%    square  yards. 


French. 
A  milliare 

A  centare    ...  " 

A  declare     ...  " 

An  are,  the  unit  of  square  measure, 

is  equal  to  1  square  decametre,  or     119.6  " 

A  decare     ...        is  equal  to       1196  '■ 

A  hectare    ...  "  2.472  square  acres. 

SOLID    MEASURE. 

English. 
is  equal  to    01.028  cubic  inches. 
"  IJ  square  yards. 

610.28 
"  3.63170  cubic  feet. 


French. 
A  miUistere 

A  square  metre. .        .  " 

A  centiare   ...  " 

A  decistere  .        . .  ' ' 

A  ttere,  the  \uiit  of  solid  measure,  is 

equal  to  1  cubic  metre,  or 
A  decastere         .        .        is  equal  to 
A  hectastere        .        .  " 

A  kilostere  .        .  " 


35.317 
13.08  cubic  yarda. 
130.8 
1308  " 


